From around October this year, Hyundai Australia will finally have a small SUV to rival the Honda HR-V and Nissan Qashqai.
Codenamed ‘OS’, the Korean B-segment Hyundai Kona crossover was teased a few weeks ago, with the company promising class-leading cabin space and sorted driving dynamics.
The new small SUV will fill a glaring hole in the company’s local range, where it will sit below the just-updated, hugely popular Tucson (pictured below).
The small SUV market owns almost 10 per cent market share led by the Mazda CX-3, yet Hyundai has not competed there since the death a few years ago of the top-selling ix35.
The company offers the Creta in China and the i20 Active in European and select Asia-Pacific markets, but not for us.
The Kona will arrive just a few months after the all-new PD-generation i30 small car, with which it is expected to share many key components – including much of its architecture and suspension.
On top of this, Hyundai Australia’s Sydney-based engineering division will do its usual suspension work to localise the car to suit our roads.
Given its i30 underpinnings, one might speculate that car’s base 120kW/203Nm 2.0-litre engine could feature, though the company is playing its cards close to its chest.
You might also speculate that many elements of the PD i30’s cabin will carry over, including the floating tablet screen with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections (possible spy pic below).
Whatever the case, given Hyundai is Australia’s number-four brand, the Kona will give all the usual suspects, including the new Toyota C-HR, Mitsubishi ASX and soon-to-be-launched new Subaru XV, a serious run for their collective money.
The arrival of the i30 and Kona isn’t all the Korean brand has coming soon. A fastback version of the i30 is expected in 2018, as is a new Santa Fe, new Veloster and the Ionq electric car.
Also, don’t forget the launch of the i30 N hot hatch and the Genesis luxury sub-brand before 2017 is finished. Yeesh.
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