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Australia, this is your favourite small SUV…
Despite its polarising looks, the Hyundai Kona has taken the Australian market by storm, no doubt helped by its sprawling range of variants and wide availability of a fuel-efficient hybrid drivetrain.
It has clearly resonated with Australian new-car buyers, because 22,769 Konas were registered in 2025 – more than any other small SUV, and over 2500 units ahead of the Chery Tiggo 4 and MG ZS.
Of that total of 22,700-plus units registered, 10,407 or 45 were registering. The Kona is Australia’s fifth-most popular hybrid car of last year, with 7 per cent being hybrids – making it the most popular vehicle in Australia for people to buy an Hyg.
That’s a good reason for that, too.’ It’d be an appropriate way to say ‘I don’t want it in the first place I can think of myself and what is wrong with me? It’s a good, practical and relatively cheap . plus there’s a lot of on-board tech and goodies depending on the variant, going out with near-luxury standard features.
The 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium N Line, the pinnacle of a sporty petrol-electric range and’suede-line cabin’ are on test here.
Is this fully-loaded variant the best of the bunch? Read on to find out…
How much does the Hyundai Kona cost?
Kona was re-designed for the 2026 model year (MY26), and ended of 1 in its Koni lineup, with an end to the original. This is 6T AWD version but with a new mid-spec Elite trim level.
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
| — | — |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona 2.0 | $32,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona 2.0 Elite | $35,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid | $36,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona 2.0 Elite N Line | $39,450 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Elite | $39,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona 2.0 Premium | $41,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Elite N Line | $43,450 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona 2.0 Premium N Line | $44,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium | $45,950 |
| 2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid Premium N Line | $48,950 |
The Hybrid Premium starts from $45,950 plus on-road costs, but our tester’s optional N Line Package adds a further $3000 to the price – so $48,950 before on-roads give or take. It appears the range has seen a minor $250 price rise since the MY26 range was detailed last July.
When he writes, the base Kona 2 is written. 0 FWD and Kona Hybrid (HEV) are both $36,490 and $39,990 drive-away ads; the latter will go up slightly to $38,990 D/A from March 2026.
The Kona is also available for the first quarter of 2026, which starts at $45,990 drive-away for base Standard Range and $49,990 D/A for Extended Range. Plusher Premium spec, which is only available with the Extended Range battery, runs from $59,990 drive-away.
For more details on Hyundai Kona deals, click here.
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What is the Hyundai Kona like on the inside?
The Kona’s interior presentation is very impressive at first glance, with some of the best tech integration in this class.
Dual 12 . A 3-inch display is the interior of high-spec models, featuring a driver’s instrument cluster and the central infotainment touchscreen.
It’s the same tech you’ll find in the most expensive Hyundais – including the $100,000-plus Ioniq 9 electric people mover – so the fact you can get all that in a compact economy car is pretty noteworthy.
As we have said in previous reviews of the Kona and other models within the Hyundai-Kia group, ccNC (Connected Car Navigation Cockpit) screens are crisp, snappy response and smooth animations; full feature set.
Along with the already omni-functional native software, there is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard; Bluelink connected car services such as online navigation and over-the-air updates.
It is a solid but not quite standout sound, with clear sound and good depth with solid bass.’ Bose eight-speaker premium audio system provides the most accurate level of sound in its history (and high quality) for an individual who has been given by his headphones at least once before it was released on September 11, 2008.
All nicely trimmed are high-traffic surfaces and touch points such as the seats, steering wheel or armrests in the doors and between the front seats (the N Line Package brought flourishes of red throughout the entire length).
The Kona’s cabin is made entirely of hard, scratchy plastics and is fashioned out of the wood-cutting, scrapy Plastiks that said. But if you first look at it well, a quick poke and prod around shows several areas where Hyundai has tried to save some money.
The interior of the N Line with its leather/Alcantara trim is cool, but I personally prefer the optional light leather interior in the standard Kona Premium. Regardless of the type of car you choose, even better, your front seats are heated and cooled, as well as a heated steering wheel.
Certainly there’s plenty of space The big, cupholder-equipped centre console to the phone tray with wireless telephone charger and shelf that sits ahead of the front passenger on the dashboard.
Moving into the back, the Kona belies its compact dimensions by offering a spacious second row for the class.
The launch of the second generation Kona marked Hyundai’s EV-focused packaging, which allowed the Korean brand to offer a flat rear floor and tall cabin (higher folk (like 6’1′′ me) plenty of space.
Other notable features include directional rear air vents, a pair of USB-C charging outlets, net-type rear seat pockets, bottle holders in the doors and ‘fold-down centre armrest with cupholders’.
The ISOFIX anchors are also used on the outboard seats by parents, and top-tether points behind all three rear seats for child seats can be used as top tee points.
A healthy 407 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats in use is provided by the Kona, which has grown to 1241L folded and expands further back.
The Kona HEV retains a space-saver spare wheel under the boot floor instead of tyre repair kit, unlike an increasing number of electrified vehicles, too.
| Dimensions | Hyundai Kona |
| — | — |
| Length | 4350mm – Standard 4385mm – N Line |
| Width | 1825mm |
| Height | 1585-1590mm |
| Wheelbase | 2660mm |
| Cargo capacity | 407L – rear seats up 1241L – rear seats folded |
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
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What’s under the bonnet?
The Kona Hybrid’s 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol-electric drivetrain will be familiar to those who have driven a Kia Niro or Hyundai i30 Sedan HEV.
| Specifications | Hyundai Kona HEV |
| — | — |
| Engine | 1.6L 4cyl HEV |
| Engine outputs | 77kW at 5700 rpm 144Nm at 4000rpm |
| Electric motor outputs | 32kW + 170Nm |
| System outputs | 104kW + 265Nm |
| Battery | 1.32kWh Li-ion |
| Transmission | 6-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1410-1525kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 3.9L/100km |
| Fuel economy (as tested) | 4.4L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 38L |
| Fuel requirement | 91-octane regular unleaded |
| CO2 emissions (claimed) | 89g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 5 |
| Braked towing capacity | 1300kg |
During the course of a week we had more than 300km mixed driving (with ‘urban and city commuting mixed in with highway and freeway stints) our indicated fuel consumption was achieved.
Despite 15 per cent up on the claim, our record fuel consumption number is an impressive real-world figure and as a bonus does Kona HEV saves cheaper 91-octane unleaded.
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
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How does the Hyundai Kona drive?
There’s a lot to like about the way the petrol-electric Kona handles itself on the road.
Though the power and torque of its system seems to be meagre, it’s 170Nm available from rest (and also iron out any hesitation you would normally feel when an auto off the line with a dual-clutch) is used.
A quick start on cold starts will see the petrol engine burn and buzzes away at a low idle to warm up, and once it’s ready to go you’ll be surprised by how much Kona HEV will lean on its electric motor relative to something from Toyota stable.
On flat roads you’ll often see the Hyundai drive up to 40km/h with only the e-motor (the petrol engine just firing up as the speeds go down) in traffic. When you have the feeling of Kona shifting gears even in EV mode as the electric motor is mounted inside the transmission, but it’s easy to use for this purpose.
This feeling is a small gripe with Hyundai’s dry-clutch DCT, which shifts from first into second and sometimes to third in some way as it moves from the initial to two. When shifts in dual-clutch auto are meant to be snappier, it’s odd that this is and almost feels like slurring through its early ratios.
But when you’re moving there’s not much to complain about. The Kona is a nice, well-hushed SUV and handles more like’short hatchback rather than top-heavy wagon’ because, in fact, that’s what it actually does.
When did I think that it could use a seventh cog though – much like the six-speed conventional ‘box in Hyundai’s and Kia’d turbocharged hybrids, this was because at freeway speeds or sometimes while driving at 60km/h the Kona held revs very high (probably not helping fuel consumption) and the 1 (1. This is a buzzy 6-litre petrol engine that can cause slight and constant vibration through the steering wheel.
In N Line guise, the Kona HEV has smaller 18-inch alloy wheels than the 19s in Premium trim of the petrol-only model; extra chub added another layer of suppleness to the main ride (especially in the city where you’re likely to roll over drain covers, tram tracks and the like) with that additional rubber.
But it sucks on the firmer side, so larger hits will find out very quickly what limits of said suppleness are. It’s almost never crashy even over patchy inner-city roads, but it’t quite as settled as something like the locally tuned Kia Seltos or some of its softer-sprung competitors.
This steer is a fine balance, being relatively light weight but very accurate and feel like’very well balanced’. The N Line branding is keeping its almost sporty setup in line with the slogan, but it’s also not too focused if you go for the standard Premium.
When you get it on the open road and if it sits around the 2000rpm mark all the time, that’s pretty happy there too. A relative to its competitors, road and wind noise is kept at acceptable levels; the powertrain intelligently shuffles between power sources as it does around town too – often you’ll see it go into EV mode at 100km/h.
Hyundai’s drivers support system is also generally well calibrated, according to the company’s driver assistance systems. The driver attention monitor is much less overbearing than I remember, and the audible speed limit assist can be easily muted by a long press of the… er… muted button.
This is likewise the case of the Kona’s adaptive cruise and lane centring functions, as is the Premium’S Blind Spot View Monitor which adds a visual aid to go with the audible one. Except the side cameras, everything else is pretty standard across range — too much so except for the phraser.
One thing that has been missing is Hyundai-Kia’s Highway Driving Assist, which automatically combines adaptive cruise and lane centring functions with navigation data for proper semi-autonomous assistance on the highway.
While the current systems are roughly 95 per cent of that work, new models from the brand’s stable can also help with lane changes and adjust speed for corners on the highway and such.
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
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What do you get?
The Premium sits atop the Kona lineup in Australia.
2026 Hyundai Kona (base) equipment highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels (NEW)
- Auto LED headlights – reflector-type
- Auto high-beam
- Dark grey roof rails
- Heated, power-folding exterior mirrors
- Proximity entry with push-button start
- Remote start
- ‘Basic’ digital instrument cluster
- 4.2-inch driver supervision display
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Over-the-air updates
- Bluelink connected car services
- Leather-appointed steering wheel
- Leather-wrapped shifter – Kona 2.0
- Paddle shifters – Hybrid
- Shift by Wire – Hybrid
- ‘Open-type’ centre console – Hybrid
- Dual-zone climate control with rear air vents
- LED interior lighting
- Fold-down rear armrest
- Height-adjustable front seats
- 2-way driver lumbar adjust
Kona Elite adds:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Rear privacy glass
- Silver-painted skid plates
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Leather upholstery
- Heated front seats
- 10-way power driver’s seat
- 8-way power passenger seat
- Paddle shifters
- Shift by Wire
- ‘Open-type’ centre console
- Electrochromic rear-view mirror
Kona Premium adds:
- Remote Smart Parking Assist
- Projector LED headlights
- LED indicators
- Full-width front light bar
- Sunroof with power sunshade
- Acoustic laminated/solar windshield
- Power tailgate
- 12.3-inch digital instrument clusters
- Satellite navigation
- 8-speaker Bose sound system
- Ambient lighting
- Cloth headliner
- ‘Premium Relaxation’ front seats
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Driver’s seat memory
- Heated outboard rear seats
- Heated steering wheel
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
Options
A special test car was fitted with the optional N Line Package, which adds $3000 to Premium and $3500 to Elite – our test vehicle.
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N Line Package adds – over Kona Premium:
- 18-inch N Line alloy wheels
- Body-coloured cladding
- N Line exterior styling
- Bumpers
- Skid plates
- Side effects
- N Line wing-type rear spoiler
- N Line badging, wheel centre caps
- N Line leather-appointed, Alcantara upholstery
- N Line steering wheel
- Dark metal interior trim highlights
- Active Red air vent, seat accents
- Dark metal interior trim highlights
- N Line chrome twin-tip exhaust
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
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Is the Hyundai Kona safe?
The Hyundai Kona has a four-star ANCAP safety rating based on testing conducted in 2023.
| Category | Hyundai Kona |
| — | — |
| Adult occupant protection | 80 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 84 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 64 per cent |
| Safety assist | 62 per cent |
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- 7 airbags, incl. front-centre airbag
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Junction assist
- Blind-spot assist
- Intelligent Speed Limit Assist
- Multi-collision brake
- Parking sensors – front, rear
- Rear cross-traffic assist
- Reversing camera
- Safe exit warning
Kona Premium adds:
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Parking Collision Avoidance Assist Reverse
- Surround-view camera
- Side parking sensors
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
comparison tool
How much does the Hyundai Kona cost to run?
A standard five-year, unlimited kilometre new-vehicle warranty is provided for the Kona; HEV and EV batteries are eight years or 160,000km –whichever comes first “The Hyundai Electric Vehicles (HEV) battery”
| Servicing and Warranty | Hyundai Kona Hybrid |
| — | — |
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – Standard 7 years, unlimited kilometres – Service activated 8 years, 160,000 kilometres – HEV/EV battery |
| Roadside assistance | 12 months – Standard Lifetime – Service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 5 years or 75,000 kilometres |
| Average annual service cost | $601.40 |
| Total capped-price service cost | $3007 – 5 years |
The six-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty is extended for cars registered since June 2025 if all scheduled services are completed by a Hyundai dealer and the service was complete.
Lifetime roadside assistance cover is also offered if you continue to service your Kona within the Hyundai network.
To see how the Hyundai Kona lines up against the competition, check out our
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childcareman.xyz’s Take on the Hyundai Kona
This small SUV is one of our best picks in its segment, and was a nice reminder for my week with the Kona HEV.
This is a good alternative to Toyota’s range of hybrid crossovers and passenger cars, which offers’more interesting drive with lower fuel economy. But if it is not quite China-cheap, the value equation remains strong and there’s a good range of personalisation options to really make your own.
The only way to shell out more than $50,000 on-the road for this full-loaded Premium N Line spec is that the sub-$40,000 drive away entry level Kona Hybrid and the mid-spec Elite have far more kit and space than the car you see here.
If there is any other competitor in this segment that can beat the Kona HEV’s all-round skills, I don’t know if it will be until next generation Kia Seltos comes later this year. The BYD Atto 2 (not everyone who wants to go all-electric), is a good EV alternative, and the Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid offers that solid Toyota buying experience but is more expensive and’very boring.
A lovely Mazda CX-30 with its petrol-only powertrain lineup is much thirstier, while the Nissan Qashqai e-Power gets very expensive when you try to match the top-spec Kona’s extensive list of standard features.
So, that’s why the Kona Hybrid is still a top contender in the small SUV class – I just think it’s worth spending an extra few grand on N Line extras or even some of the Premium’.
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