The Hyundai Kona has been the best-selling small crossover in Canada for the past four years. 24,579 units have been sold in 2022. Will history repeat itself with the second generation debuting for 2024? One thing’s for sure: inflation has its dirty hands all over it.
With pricing details announced today by Hyundai, we can tell you that the 2024 Kona is roughly $3,000-$5,000 more expensive across the line than its predecessor.
The base Kona Essential FWD now starts at $25,999 (plus $1,925 freight and PDI), an increase of $3,350. It’s the same thing with the AWD variant, which carries a sticker of $27,999 for 2024.
Photo: Hyundai
To be fair, the Kona’s exterior design and interior environment have been dramatically revised for the new generation. There’s also more space for passengers and cargo (now 723 liters in the trunk instead of just 544 liters), while standard content is more generous than ever. The list includes 17-inch alloy wheels, the Hyundai Smartsense suite of advanced safety features and even a 12.3-inch touchscreen incorporating a next-generation infotainment system with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity.
The naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine continues to produce 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft. of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission. It can be found in the mid-range models, as well, including Preferred FWD ($28,499), Preferred AWD ($30,499) and Preferred AWD with Trend Package ($32,499).
Next up are the Kona N Line and N Line Ultimate, two sportier models with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine delivering 190 horsepower and 195 lb-ft. of torque through a new eight-speed autobox. Their base MSRP is $35,499 and $38,499, respectively. For the former, that represents a major hike of $5,300. The latter is fully equipped, of course, and offers first-class features such as ventilated front seats, a premium Bose audio system with eight speakers and advanced parking assistance technologies.
Photo: Julien Amado
“Since its arrival on the market in 2018, the Kona has become a true benchmark in its category and a no-brainer choice for Canadian consumers looking for a dynamic, versatile and affordable vehicle,” says Steve Flamand, executive director of product, corporate , IT and digital strategy at Hyundai Canada. “With this second generation, we are proud to offer a vehicle that is even more suited for the needs of Canadians while maintaining a competitive pricing strategy.”
By the way, the high-performance, 276-horsepower Kona N is not returning at the moment. As for the popular Kona Electric, also completely redesigned for 2024 and offering an estimated 418 km of range, pricing will be announced at a later date, Hyundai says. Customers will enjoy new features such as a frunk, one-pedal driving, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability and a Smart Regenerative System that adjusts regeneration according to real-time traffic conditions.
The Car Guide will get the opportunity to test drive the new Kona in a couple of weeks, so don’t miss our review.
Photo: Hyundai
