Photo: Hyundai
When the Toyota Prius starts at £24,245 while returning up to 67.2 miles to the gallon, there’s no denying that Hyundai has a winning formula with the Kona Hybrid. A bit cheaper and capable of 67.3 miles to the gallon, the subcompact crossover is expected in the United Kingdom this September with unlimited mileage over the course of the five-year warranty.
“The New Kona Hybrid joins the 1.6 and 2.0 Tucson 48V Hybrids, 39-kWh and 64-kWh Kona Electric models, and the Nexo Hydrogen Fuel Cell to form one of the industry’s strongest eco-friendly SUV lineups,” said Ashley Andrew. And you know what? The managing director of Hyundai Motor UK has a point if you look at what Toyota offers in this part of the world for 2020.
Once the leader of electrification, the Japanese automaker has been left behind by pretty much everyone in terms of electrification while the Prius sub-brand has lost its charm with the eco-friendly public. Even Hollywood A-listers who embraced the Prius back in the day are now flocking to Tesla, which goes to show that resting on one's laurels is a recipe for stagnation in this industry.
Starting at £22,495 for the Kona Hybrid SE, the newcomer takes its mojo from a 105-PS gasoline engine and a 44-PS electric motor. The 1.6-liter powerplant is connected to a six-speed DCT which sends the suck-squeeze-bang-blow to the front wheels, translating to 11.2 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph) and a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph). Trim levels with more equipment (think Premium and Premium SE) are 0.4 seconds slower in terms of acceleration.
Galactic Grey is the only standard color for the exterior of the Kona Hybrid, and the remaining shades are priced at £565. No fewer than three safety packages are available, and their availability depends on the trim level chosen by the customer. The question is, what sort of equipment comes standard?
Even the SE is generous in its specification, featuring 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, climate control, an electronic parking brake, and 16-inch wheels wrapped in eco-friendly tires to bring the point home.
Once the leader of electrification, the Japanese automaker has been left behind by pretty much everyone in terms of electrification while the Prius sub-brand has lost its charm with the eco-friendly public. Even Hollywood A-listers who embraced the Prius back in the day are now flocking to Tesla, which goes to show that resting on one's laurels is a recipe for stagnation in this industry.
Starting at £22,495 for the Kona Hybrid SE, the newcomer takes its mojo from a 105-PS gasoline engine and a 44-PS electric motor. The 1.6-liter powerplant is connected to a six-speed DCT which sends the suck-squeeze-bang-blow to the front wheels, translating to 11.2 seconds to 100 km/h (62 mph) and a top speed of 185 km/h (115 mph). Trim levels with more equipment (think Premium and Premium SE) are 0.4 seconds slower in terms of acceleration.
Galactic Grey is the only standard color for the exterior of the Kona Hybrid, and the remaining shades are priced at £565. No fewer than three safety packages are available, and their availability depends on the trim level chosen by the customer. The question is, what sort of equipment comes standard?
Even the SE is generous in its specification, featuring 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, rear parking sensors, lane keep assist, driver attention alert, climate control, an electronic parking brake, and 16-inch wheels wrapped in eco-friendly tires to bring the point home.
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