New Models
New Models

2021 Hyundai Kona price and specs: Price rises up to $2140 for new look, more tech

Small SUV updated for the new year with sporty N Line grades, new look, updated tech.


  • 2021 Hyundai Kona price and specs detailed
  • Small SUV facelifted with updated design
  • Larger digital instrument and infotainment displays added
  • Sporty N Line grades introduced with turbo power
  • Prices increased from $1000 to $2140

Pricing and specifications for the 2021 Hyundai Kona have been announced.

Hyundai's small SUV has undergone a significant facelift for 2021, introducing updated styling, new technology and a pair of performance-oriented N Line variants for the first time.

Six variants will be offered with the new range, with two powertrains available depending on variant: 'Kona' (replacing the existing Go), Active, Elite, Highlander, N Line and N Line Premium.

Base 'Kona', Active, Elite and Highlander grades seek power from a new 2.0-litre naturally-aspirated four-cylinder petrol engine, developing 110kW of power and 180Nm of torque.

Whereas the outgoing 2.0-litre engine employed a six-speed torque-converter automatic, the new model switches to a CVT automatic shared with the Kia Seltos, with eight simulated 'gear ratios'.

Fuel economy is rated at 6.2L/100km on the combined cycle – a 20 per cent improvement over the outgoing model.

N Line and N Line Premium grades step up to a redesigned 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, sending 146kW of power and 265Nm of torque to all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Those figures represent a 16kW increase over the outgoing model's 1.6-litre turbo engine, but are 4kW down on the 150kW produced by the related i30 N Line hatch.

Opening the range is the eponymous Kona, priced from $26,600 plus on-road costs (up $1900).

Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, an 8.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, a reversing camera and Bluetooth, a 4.2-inch driver information display, wireless phone charging, a rear USB port, height-adjustable cloth front seats, power windows (with driver one-touch up/down), roof rails, a luggage net and 'Quiet mode'.

There's also manual air conditioning, an electric parking brake, tyre pressure monitoring, automatic halogen headlights, halogen tail-lights and LED daytime-running lights.

Standard safety equipment from the base grade includes autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, lane following assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality, driver attention monitoring, and Rear Occupant Alert (prompting the driver to check for passengers or pets left in the rear seats when exiting the vehicle).

Stepping up to the $28,200 before on-road costs Active grade – up $2140 – adds 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, rear parking sensors, power-folding heated side mirrors, rear privacy glass, 'solar control' glass, front-seat map pockets and a centre armrest with cupholders for the second row.

Sitting above the Active is the Elite, priced from $31,600 plus on-road costs (up $1000).

It picks up a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite navigation, climate control (with an auto defogger), keyless entry, push-button start, remote start from the key fob, a Harman Kardon eight-speaker premium sound system, front fog lights, a gloss black grille, Carbon Grey body cladding, rain sensing wipers and an acoustic windscreen.

It also gains safety technologies including Safe Exit Warning (notifying passengers of oncoming obstacles in the path of the side doors), blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, the latter two capable of both detecting and braking for obstacles.

Sitting atop the 2.0-litre range is the Highlander, priced from $38,000 plus on-road costs (up $1340).

Additional features over the Elite include 18-inch wheels with Continental tyres, LED headlights, indicators and tail-lights, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, power-adjustable driver and passenger seats with heating and ventilation, a head-up display and ambient cabin lighting.

Other features over lesser grades include a glass sunroof, automatic high beams, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats and front parking sensors, with a black contrast roof available as an option (though it deletes the sunroof).

Opening the sport-focused line-up is the Kona N Line, priced from $36,300 plus on-road costs.

It mirrors the Elite for standard specification, and adds the aforementioned 1.6-litre turbo engine, N Line-specific 18-inch alloy wheels (with Continental tyres), multi-link independent rear suspension, a sports suspension tune and 305mm front brakes.

It also features leather sports seats, red contrast stitching, piping and trim inserts, metallic pedals and a full N Line body kit with bespoke bumpers, side skirts and badging.

Sitting atop the entire line-up is the flagship N Line Premium, priced from $42,400 plus on-road costs.

Aside from the N Line-specific additions introduced on the 'base' N Line, the N Line Premium matches the Highlander for standard equipment, including goodies such as LED lights, a fully-digital instrument cluster, heated seats and more.

Seven exterior paint colours are on offer across the range, comprising Atlas White, Dark Knight, Phantom Black, Surfy Blue, 'Dive in Jeju', Ignite Flame (orange) and Pulse Red. Some colours command a $595 premium.

Options are limited to the aforementioned premium paint, plus $295 beige leather trim for the Highlander, and a no-cost black contrast roof on Highlander and N Line Premium.

A five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty is standard.

Alongside the petrol-powered variants detailed above, the all-electric Kona Electric will go on sale in March, with the high-performance Kona N to follow later in 2021, likely mid-year.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is on sale now.

2021 Hyundai Kona Australian pricing

  • Kona – $26,600 (up $1900)
  • Kona Active – $28,200 (up $2140)
  • Kona Elite – $31,600 (up $1000)
  • Kona Highlander – $38,000 (up $1340)
  • Kona N Line – $36,300
  • Kona N Line Premium – $42,400

Note: All prices exclude on-road costs.


MORE:Hyundai Showroom
MORE:Hyundai News
MORE:Hyundai Reviews
MORE:Hyundai Kona Showroom
MORE:Hyundai Kona News
MORE:Hyundai Kona Reviews
MORE:Search Used Hyundai Kona Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used Hyundai Cars for Sale
MORE:Hyundai Showroom
MORE:Hyundai News
MORE:Hyundai Reviews
MORE:Hyundai Kona Showroom
MORE:Hyundai Kona News
MORE:Hyundai Kona Reviews
MORE:Search Used Hyundai Kona Cars for Sale
MORE:Search Used Hyundai Cars for Sale
Alex Misoyannis

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.

Read more about Alex MisoyannisLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent