Prices for the Kona 1.6 Turbo and N Line are RM 146,888 and RM 156,888 respectively.
Despite the showrooms still being shut due to the ongoing MCO, there are nevertheless a few new cars launches occurring over here in recent time. And perhaps two of the most exciting are the new Kona 1.6 Turbo and N Line, which has just been added to Hyundai Malaysia’s local lineup.
While bookings for both these hot little crossovers have opened two weeks ago already, there were still nevertheless a few key details missing during that prior announcement. Chief among them being the prices of these Konas, which has since been revealed recently to be RM 146,888 and RM 156,888 (both inclusive of sales tax exemption) for the 1.6 Turbo and N Line respectively.
Delving a little deeper into their spec sheets meanwhile, both these newly launched boosted Konas share the same Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi four-cylinder under the hood, which is mated to a 7-speed dual clutch transmission that drives solely the front wheels. Touted to be the most powerful B-segment SUV currently on sale in Malaysia, both variants are claimed to pump out a healthy 198 PS of power and 265 Nm of torque, equating to a century sprint time of 7.7 seconds.
Now moving on to their designs, the N Line is perhaps the easiest to distinguish from the rest of the Kona lineup locally, thanks to it coming with a significantly more aggressive front fascia with larger air intakes and a large black rear diffuser with twin exposed rear tailpipes. This first ever N Line Hyundai to land locally also nets racy body-coloured body cladding to complement its sporty side skirts, not to mention dual-tone paint scheme and 18-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels too.
The Kona 1.6 Turbo on the other hand shares much the same exterior and interior design as the existing 2.0 Active trim level locally, but with subtle add-ons like a roof rack and the two-tone colour combination. Hiding behind its 18-inch alloy wheels too up front are larger 17-inch ventilated disk brakes, presumably to better reign in those extra horses found under the hood.
As for what lies within these boosted Konas, both feature the same 8-inch central infotainment display as its naturally aspirated counterparts. All variants of this Hyundai compact crossover also come with the typical tech toys like keyless go folding mirrors, a rear view camera and a suite of passive safety tech.
Exclusive to the turbocharged Kona variants however are additional interior niceties like a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, interior ambient lighting, a wireless charging pad, in addition to heated and cooled front seats. Both these more expensive trim levels also feature a boat-load more active safety tech, that includes Lane Following Assist (LFA), Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), High Beam Assist (HBA) and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go.
Only available though on the N Line Konas is a black leather-suede upholstery, embellished with red stitching and adorned metal pedals, an N-branded gear lever, steering wheel and seats. The 1.6 Turbo variant is offered instead with a light beige interior option, which can be specced in place of the standard single-tone black leather cabin colour.
Even with the showrooms being shut, interested parties for these two hot little Konas can still place their bookings through Hyundai Malaysia’s Cl!ck to Buy online shopping platform for a RM 300 fee. Just remember too that every purchase of the N Line could serve as a prod for the South Korean automaker to launch further sportier models over here, such as the full fat Kona N for instance.
PRESS RELEASE: Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors (HSDM) today unveiled its top range B-SUV Kona which includes the exciting all-new 1.6 N Line variant and the powered-up 1.6 Turbo. The 1.6 N Line is priced at *RM156,888 while the 1.6 Turbo is priced at *RM146,888 (*Applicable to Peninsula Malaysia, OTR price is inclusive of the Penjana Sales Tax waiver but excludes insurance).
The 1.6 Turbo is upgraded with various enhancements that makes it even more appealing to customers who lead active lifestyles. The Kona N Line, on the other hand, is distinguished by signature fascia, body colour claddings and N Line specific design accents.
Both the 1.6 T-GDi variants are equipped with the powerful Smartstream G1.6 T-GDi, a turbocharged inline four-cylinder petrol engine that is paired with a Smartsteam 7DCT – 2nd generation of 7-speed Dual Clutch Transmission that produces 198PS of power at 6,000rpm and 265Nm of torque at 1,600-4,500rpm. The Smartstream engine offers dynamic performance with a smoother, comfortable driving experience, reduced emissions and better fuel efficiency.
“The top range Kona is the most powerful B-SUV in the market. The SUV’s ‘fun to drive’ characteristics and powerful performance will definitely put a smile on the face of anyone who drives it. The Kona’s distinctive design and fun colours is inspired by the Kona’s positive spirit,” said Mr Low Yuan Lung, Managing Director of HSDM.
These new variants are also fully equipped with the Hyundai Smartsense active safety and driving assistance technologies. Included in the Hyundai Smartsense suite are Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Smart Cruise Control with Stop and Go that keeps the SCC running even when the vehicle comes to a complete stop. Other features are Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA), Driver Attention Warning (DAW) with Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA), Rear Occupant Alert (ROA), Safe Exit Warning (SEW) and High Beam Assist (HBA) that allows for hands-free operation of the high and low beam headlights when oncoming traffic is detected.
The Kona 1.6 Turbo shares the same exterior and interior design as the new Kona 2.0 Active variant, except for a roof rack and two-tone body colour which are exclusive to the 1.6 Turbo variants. Among the exterior design highlights are a striking new front-end design with eye-catching, protective cladding panels, wide thin LED DRLs and a centre grille with a wide distinctive shape. The main bumper fascia also connects smoothly to the wheel arch claddings, forming a unique and robust armour in a contrasting material to the main body. At the rear, the new taillights feature horizontally stretched graphics.
KONA N Line features a sporty and progressive design. Its front bumper is harmoniously connected and unified with the body colour treatment of the wheel arch claddings. Instead of the Kona 1.6 Turbo and 2.0’s rugged skid plate, the N Line version features a characteristic N-style aerodynamic lip with low-lying corner fins for a road-hugging appearance. Larger, more technical air intake features are further distinguished by a unique mesh design and surface treatment.
On the sides, the body colour claddings and new rocker panels are complemented by the dedicated 18-inch alloy wheel design. The rear bumper incorporates a large central aerodynamic diffusor in a contrast colour to the body as well as a one-side double muffler. The bumper fascia is formed with sharply creased corners and N-style fins for better air flow.
The Kona 1.6 Turbo N Line and 1.6 Turbo come with five exterior colours, including Surfy Blue, Dive in Jeju, Ignite Flame, Pulse Red, and Misty Jungle. Each colour comes with the Phantom Black two-tone roof. The two-tone roof also comes with matching mirror housings. This contributes to its sporty and sleek appearance and gives customers more options for personalization and self-expression. In addition, these latest variants come with new 18-inch wheel designs.
The interior of the Kona N Line comes with a dedicated N Line colour package in one-tone black leather combined with suede as well as a ventilated and heated seat function for the driver and the front passenger. In addition, the distinctive red stitching, metal pedals and N logo on the gear shift, steering wheel and seats all contribute to a sportier look and feel.
Both the Kona variants also feature the new layout design similar to the Kona 2.0, which among them include a new console area, 10.25-inch digital cluster in addition to the 8-inch AVN screen with multiple Bluetooth connections and also wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, an electric parking brake, new ambient light technology that illuminates the centre cup holders as well as in the passenger and driver side footwells, and new aluminium finish rings around the speakers and air vents.
As an alternative to the dark interior, the Kona 1.6 Turbo is also available with a light beige interior trim, accentuating the fresh look seen in the door panels and seats.
The KONA comes with a five-year or 300,000km (whichever comes first) warranty and a 3-year or 50,000km (whichever comes first) free maintenance service. Interested parties can book online via Hyundai’s new online shopping platform, Cl!ck to Buy (www.hyundai.com.my/clicktobuy/) or contact any of the Hyundai authorised showrooms. Customers can also call Hyundai’s Customer Careline at 1-300-13-2000 for more information.
