Following the announcement last month teasing the arrival of the new Kona facelift, Hyundai Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) has now confirmed via a teaser video on Facebook that the new compact crossover will be launched here on the 16th of April, approximately a week and a half from now!
The new facelift model will arrive here in Malaysia just less than six months since the Hyundai Kona first debuted here, though that was largely due to unfortunate timing – the new facelift was unveiled globally just a month or so before the Kona was launched here in Malaysia.
While the funky exterior styling of the Hyundai Kona was largely brought over to this new model, the facelift exercise has also given the compact crossover a more grown-up, sportier look – particularly on the N-Line variant, seen above in red.
The regular trim meanwhile sports a more rugged look, with chunky plastic claddings surrounding the bottom half of the front fascia. Either way, booth variants get a new slimmed-down grille, alongside slimmer discrete daytime-running lights and sleeker main headlights, now split into three beams.
The letterbox-like slit on top of the main grille has been removed on the regular Kona, where you’ll now find the Hyundai logo, though it remains on the N-Line trim, now split into three segments.
Moving to the rear, the taillights now feature a new wider light signature to emphasise its width, while the separate combination light cluster below get a new clear glass cover. The N-Line Kona gets a sportier rear bumper with built-in diffuser slats, while the regular model gets a silver decorative trim on a black chunky cladding bumper.
Moving inside, the dashboard architecture gets an ever-so-slightly tweak, with a “disconnected” centre console and a more horizontal button layout for the climate control buttons. The funky neon green surrounds on the air vents have also been replaced by satin aluminium for a more sophisticated, grown-up look.
New features on the inside include a new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, paired to a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment display – though the availability of these items will obviously be dependent on the variant, and how HSDM decides to spec our Malaysian models.
Other new niceties include a new electronic parking brake, alongside new ambient lighting around the central cup holder and front foot wells, height-adjustable front seats, as well as additional USB ports.
Hyundai’s SmartSense advanced driver assistance system has also been updated with new features such as Smart Cruise Control with stop and go function and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, as well as better detection for cyclists, pedestrians and low-light operation. As before, expect to see this only on the range-topping variant.
HSDM mentioned in the previous announcement that the new Hyundai Kona facelift will be powered by the SmartStream G2.0 two-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine, which makes 149 hp and 180 Nm of torque, with power sent exclusively to the front wheels via Hyundai’s Intelligent Variable Transmission CVT gearbox.
Curiously, the press release makes no mention of the 177 hp 1.6-litre turbocharged mill found on the current range-topper. No indications if we will be seeing it on the new facelift, though it’ll certainly be quite an interesting prospect if we get an N-Line Kona with the more-powerful engine, no?
GALLERY
