Facelifted Hyundai Kona on sale in January 2021

• Facelifted Kona revealed with tweaked styling
• New sporty N Line trim level introduced
• Prices start from £21,060

The facelifted Hyundai Kona will be available to order from 18 January 2021, starting from £21,060. Hyundai has released full prices and specifications, which include a new sporty N Line model, updated styling and revised technology. Elsewhere, the base petrol engine now includes mild-hybrid electrical assistance.

It will continue to be a direct rival for small SUVs including the Ford Puma, SEAT Arona, Renault Captur and Nissan Juke.

2021 Hyundai Kona UK prices and specs

The refreshed Kona is nearly £3,000 more expensive than the pre-facelift model, with the SE Connect trim now the cheapest version. It gets 17-inch alloy wheels, air con, automatic headlights and a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. Alongside this is an eight-inch touchscreen with smartphone mirroring and a rear-view camera.

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The sporty-looking N Line trim is next, starting at £23,590. It adds rear parking sensors, auto wipers, climate control and ambient lighting, plus a larger touchscreen with in-built sat nav and the ability to connect to Hyundai’s BlueLink phone app. Premium is a mere £70 more than N Line, and has an electric handbrake, heated front seats and a speed limit warning.

Kona Ultimate models also include a sliding sunroof, LED headlights, electric front seats and extra safety features for £25,700. You can pick the hybrid powertrain on all but N Line trims, with prices ranging from £23,530 for SE Connect models to £28,830 for Ultimate spec cars.

Styling

In standard trim, the facelifted Kona gets a new wider front grille with a larger lower air intake, slimmer headlights and LED daytime running lights, plus a restyled front bumper with contrasting silver bodywork trim.

The rear features minor changes limited to a redesigned bumper and tweaked lights. New 17- and 18-inch alloy wheel designs also feature.

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A new N Line trim adds a sportier looking front bumper with wider front fins and a deeper front spoiler with black contrasting trim. It also gets three small air intakes on the nose, colour-matched bodywork cladding, 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, and a restyled rear bumper with a diffuser and twin-exhaust pipes.

Interior and technology

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The interior has also undergone several minor changes, with the addition of ambient interior lighting, a restyled centre console that houses the electronic handbrake switch, and aluminium trim on the air vents and speaker grilles. Heated rear seats are available on the options list, and rear passengers get a USB charging port.

The N Line model gets aluminum pedals and red contrasting trim on the seats, gearstick, steering wheel and air vents.

A new 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster can now be specced in the Kona for the first time, which we’ve already seen in the new Hyundai i20. The standard infotainment touchscreen is now eight-inches in size, and features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen is also available, featuring live parking assistance, and is capable of supporting multiple Bluetooth connections via a split-screen function.

Updated safety technology includes the addition of Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, which alerts the driver if the vehicle in front begins to move without the driver responding. A new Lane Following Assist function has also been added, which automatically keeps the car in the centre of the lane while driving. The car’s smart cruise control has been updated to full stop and go functionality, and the blind spot assistance now features collision avoidance. Every Kona now also gets E-Call assistance, which can automatically call the emergency services in the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed.

Engines and chassis

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The facelifted Kona gets minor revisions to its suspension setup, which, according to Hyundai, offers improved ride quality. The car’s steering has also been updated to give it a more connected feel.

For the time being, all standard Konas are powered by a turbocharged 1.0-litre petrol engine with mild-hybrid assistance, producing 118bhp.

The Kona Hybrid retains its 1.6-litre petrol engine and electric motor setup from the pre-facelift car, and the Kona Electric will also carry over its electric powertrain.

See how the current Kona stacks up against the best small SUVs you can buy now.