There’s is little wonder why there’s so much talk and anticipation for the Proton X50 at the moment and that may spell trouble for the new Hyundai Kona. For a car that’s expected to be priced at under RM100k, there’s is more value in the Proton X50 for what it costs than anything Malaysians have ever seen.
But it’s not almighty and all-conquering. There is a reason why cars like the Picanto and Iriz can exist and thrive despite the Perodua Myvi’s sheer dominance. Some people just want different things and not everyone wants to be seen in the same clothes or driving the same car.
Enter the Hyundai Kona, perhaps the freshest face in the compact crossover segment (in Malaysia, at least) that’s crowded with the likes of the Toyota C-HR, Mazda CX-3 and the Honda HR-V.
There will be three different variants for the Kona with two different engine options available. There’s a 1.6-litre turbocharged engine paired to Hyundai’s very own 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and a 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated engine paired to 6-speed automatic.
The 1.6-litre turbocharged engine with 177 hp and 265 Nm is only reserved for the highest variant while the lower two variants will be powered by the 2.0-litre engine with 149 hp and 180 Nm.
As for the exterior, well, suffice to say, it stands out much more than the interior ever will. Does that mean it’s inferior to the Proton X50? Only one way to find out!
