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The Hyundai Kona is a very bold Juke rival
Much styling, optional 4WD and up to 174bhp: Hyundai's mini SUV isn't messing about
This is the Hyundai Kona. It’s a little SUV to take on the likes of the Nissan Juke, Renault Captur and Vauxhall Mokka X.
Unlike all of those, it looks genuinely rugged, with proper rubber wheel arches (Hyundai calls it ‘protective armour’), while there’s optional four-wheel drive.
Its big draw will be its styling. Taking influence from the Juke, perhaps, it’s unashamedly bold. There’s a lot of styling in there, actually; the split running lights and headlights appear to be nods to both the Juke and Citroen’s new mini SUV, while there’s Hyundai’s new Audi-esque grille and all manner of other flourishes. The bonnet vent and rear pillars are particularly interesting.
It’s a global car, so it’ll be sold in Europe, America and Hyundai’s Korean home market, with a slightly different setup depending on where it’s sold. So there’ll be differing engine choices and tweaked suspension for each market. In Europe, expect a handful of turbocharged petrols and diesels, with a 118bhp 1.0-litre petrol likely to be the best value.
There will be a 174bhp 1.6-litre petrol, too, which ought to make the Kona pretty quick in a class of sensible cars; 7.7sec to 62mph quick, in fact. Hyundai promises the Kona will be fun to drive, and there’s a bespoke suspension setup depending on whether you go for front- or four-wheel drive.
Hyundai is overtly aiming this car at “the Millennial demographic”, so there’s tons of customisation available inside and out, a head-up display (spot the little glassy square in the pic above), wireless phone charging and all sorts of active safety tech.
Ultimately, though, these things are probably bought for their looks. So tell us: do you think Hyundai’s got it right with the Kona?
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