North American Version of Hyundai Kona Debuts Next Week
The 2018 Hyundai Kona heading to North America will make its debut at the 2017 L.A. Auto Show.
Already on sale in overseas markets, don’t expect to see any major changes to the North American version of the crossover. For our market, the Kona will be available with a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, while a more powerful turbocharged 1.6-liter engine will be available with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. The standard model has a six-speed automatic transmission, while the more powerful turbocharged engine is paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.
When it goes on sale in the U.S., four trim levels will be offered: SE, SLE, Limited, and Ultimate. Both the standard SE and SLE models are powered by the 2.0-liter engine, while the Limited and Ultimate trims have the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.
SEE ALSO: 2018 Hyundai Kona Quick Spin
Designed to compete against the Honda HR-V, Mazda CX-3, and Toyota C-HR, the Kona is relatively late to the subcompact crossover segment. AutoGuide.com, however, already had the opportunity to take a quick spin in the Korean-spec Kona earlier this year, coming away with a positive impression.
Look for more details on the U.S.-spec Hyundai Kona next week once it debuts in Los Angeles.
Discuss this story on our Hyundai Kona Forum
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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