2022 Hyundai Kona Officially Unveiled With New Looks, N Line Model

Published on September 2, 2020 in New Models by Guillaume Rivard

Hyundai didn’t waste time revealing its updated and redesigned Kona following last week’s teasers.

New looks, new tech and the first-ever Kona N Line for sporty drivers are the main highlights. Let’s go over the details…

A Bolder, Meaner Kona

Standing 40 mm longer than the outgoing model, the new Kona pushes the design envelope even further with a completely redesigned grille and lights. The front bumper is new, as well, incorporating a contrasting material that adds symmetry to the entire fascia and forms what Hyundai calls “a unique and robust armour.” You like or not?

The sides appear unchanged beyond the newly styled 17- and 18-inch wheel options, while the refreshed taillights feature horizontally stretched graphics. The new rear bumper, which follows the protective armour concept of the front, also uses a contrasting material.

Five new exterior colours are available including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Cyber Grey and Misty Jungle. Each one can be combined with the Phantom Black two-tone roof. The latter also comes with matching mirror housings.

More Refined and High-tech

Inside, the new Hyundai Kona boasts a slighlty more refined environment along with extra cargo capacity and rear-seat legroom. The air vents and some of the controls have been redesigned, while new ambient lighting illuminates the centre cup holders as well as the passenger and driver side footwells.

The interior is completed by new colours and materials. New seat cover options include a black woven houndstooth design, cloth seats with black and grey embossing, and perforated black leather seats. An electronic parking brake was added as a new convenience feature in response to customer demand. Heated rear seats are now available, too.

As standard, the multimedia display is increased from seven to eight inches and offers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. On higher trim levels, it expands to 10.25 inches and also comes with a split-screen function and multiple Bluetooth connections. A slick new 10.25-inch digital cluster is available in front of the driver.

Kona N Line

Hot on the heels of the new Elantra N Line sedan, the Hyundai Kona is adding a sporty N Line model. The grille (adorned by a unique badge), lower front bumper, air intakes and lighting units all get an N-style treatment for a racier and more aerodynamic appearance.

There are significant differences on the sides, as well, like the spectacular 18-inch diamond-cut wheels and body-coloured cladding around the wheel arches and rocker panels. In the rear, there’s a larger roof spoiler and a prominent central aerodynamic diffuser in a contrast colour to the body as well as one-side twin exhaust tips.

Inside, the Kona N Line is all-black except for the distinctive red stitching, metal pedals and N logo on the gear shift and seats.

Increased Safety

The new Hyundai Kona goes a couple of steps further to protect occupants. Smart Cruise Control is upgraded to include the stop-and-go function. Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist is enhanced too, engaging the vehicle’s differential brakes to prevent a collision if another vehicle is detected near the rear corner and the driver attempts to change lanes.

Other enhancements/additions include Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, Lane Following Assist and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist. Providing peace of mind to parents with young children, the Kona will offer Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Warning.

What About the Drive?

Revised springs and dampers combine with upgraded stabilizer bars for better ride comfort and isolation, Hyundai says. The tires now have less rolling resistance, while, several parts of the vehicle have been updated to reduce noise, vibration and harshness.

Additionally, engineers fine-tuned the steering system for more linearity and balance across the complete speed range, making sure to give the N Line model specific calibration to match the character of the vehicle.

There’s no word on powertrains, which likely means the 147- and 175-horsepower engines will return unchanged. The new Kona N Line is expected to use a 1.6-litre turbo engine delivering just over 200 horsepower.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona will arrive in Canadian showrooms next spring. The updated Kona Electric, which will carry over the powertrain and driving range (415 km) of the current version, will be revealed soon.