New Hyundai Kona is the latest SUV to go on sale and it’s named after the Hawaiian coast
The SUV market shows no sign of slowing as Hyundai's new Kona breaks cover with entry level model to go on sale in November for just £15,000
ANOTHER day and another SUV as the Hyundai Kona is the latest to enter the market.
The Korean manufacturer is late to the party but is aiming its £15,000 offering at young buyers when it hits dealers at the end of the year.
And Hyundai is enticing youngsters in with the Hawaiian name - a coast on the western side of the idyllic, sunny island.
Beyond the beach-themed name, part of the appeal is a bold striking look that sets it apart from rivals like the Citroen C3 Aircross and Nissan Juke.
The large grille, twin headlights and black body cladding certainly stand out while the low sloping roofline hides its size with just standard-fit roof bars hinting at its SUV status.
The interior is slightly more understated with much copied from the latest Hyundai i30 with just a few touches of bright plastic trim to match the outside paintjob - just make sure your Hawaiian shirt doesn't clash.
For young drivers tempted into the Kona the technology on offer will be well received too.
There's an eight-inch touchscreen sat-nav incorporated into the dash that comes with free map updates for 10 years.
But if you can't stretch to that option Kona offers a seven-inch screen compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There's a head-up display, too, and a Krell sound system.
From launch, the Kona will have two petrol engines - an entry-level 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder that's good for 175bhp and 0-62mph in 7.9 seconds.
The 1.0-litre is manual only and front-wheel drive while the more powerful option offers automatic and four-wheel drive.
A 1.6-litre diesel will be added to the range shortly after launch while EVs may be added in the future.
At 1,800mm wide, 1,550mm high and 4,165mm long, the Kona is slightly longer and wider than the Juke but that sloping silhouette means its not as tall.
It means that it's slightly bigger inside than rivals, too, and the 361-litre boot is a fraction larger than the Juke.