Hyundai Kona SUV to Make India Debut @ Auto Expo 2018

2018 Hyundai Kona has been confirmed for Indian debut at Auto Expo. However, the entry will only be a showcase and not a launch plan till date. What comes first is that Hyundai will use the same grill on every car in the lineup. It suits the Kona in all ways as higher bonnet complements the use of thick armor style panels on front fascia.

Except for its bold character, basic profile and almost everything stays the same as 2017 variant. The headlights are slim and offer a unique stance to Kona from different quarter angles. The overall dimensions are lesser than that of India spec Creta. Rivals in this segment includes Nissan Kicks and Toyota C-HR, all of them presently missing from the Indian market.

Kona’s top spec model for the US comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen, optional all wheel drive and loads of other lifestyle enhancing features. The wheel arcs are bolder than before while turbocharged engines are now on offer for the best ever driving experience in international markets.

Hyundai’s 1.6L, four cylinder turbocharged engine is good for 175 HP. It is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission. However, this engine comes with front wheel drive as standard. The two lower spec variants of Kona are offered with 147 HP, naturally aspirated 2.0L petrol engine with six speed automatic gearbox.

2018 Hyundai Kona comes with automatic emergency braking, blind spot alert, active lane control and automatic high beam assist in the US market. Unfortunately, these are only available on the top spec Kona Ultimate. The car will arrive soon on Indian shores while its launch is not presently on the charts.

A report even claims that Hyundai Kona will use an electric power-train in India. The Indian segment differentiation does not allow brands to bring product with length slightly more than 4 meters as it falls within a higher tax segment due to its length constraint. The same can be said true for the new Volkswagen Polo as it even measures few mm over the 4 meter mark.