It could be said that currently, the Koreans pull the car off the European market. Positioned as leaders in some of the most important market segments, manufacturers such as KIA and Hyundai monopolize thousands of sales throughout the Old Continent by resisting supply problems better than the competition. With an offer as varied as it is attractive, the new electric Hyundai KONA is destined to be a success. It’s not just us saying it, but it’s also something they fervently expect within the company.
It was yesterday when all the details of the KONA EV were finally revealed. With a radically different aesthetic, the electric SUV has gained a lot of presence for its shapes and also for its size. After having increased its height, the KONA now reaches 4.35 meters in length, standing on the barrier that separates segments B and C. It could be considered one of the smallest compact SUVs on the market or one of the largest urban SUVs. The strategy regarding the format is not a simple matter of chance.
As the CEO of Hyundai in Europe, Michael Cole, has recognized, the size responds to one of the many requests from customers. In the search for more interior space, the overall size has grown 15 centimeters compared to the previous generation. The Hyundai Tucson, the company’s best-selling model in our market, is just 15 centimeters larger. “Customers asked us for more interior space and a wider tailgate. We complied”. Chief designer, SangYup Lee, told Automotive News Europe.
The arguments for the electric KONA to succeed do not end there. In addition to a competitive asking price, at least the previous generation, all the performance figures are considerably improved over its predecessor, although it maintains the same K3 platform. With powers between 156 and 218 horsepower and two sizes of batteries, 48.4 and 65.4 kWh of net capacity, the maximum range set in the WLTP approval cycle reaches 490 kilometers. A range that places it as one of the best models in the category, whether in the B or C segment.
With all the data on the table and taking a look at its closest competition, the electric KONA aspires to be a success inside your home. Cole himself has acknowledged that sales expectations are very high for the electric SUV. In the previous generation model, the electric version represented 40% of the sales mix. Last year it closed the course in ninth place among the best-selling electric models in Europe, with a drop of 4.2% compared to 2021. Hyundai expects the new generation to raise the prospects to represent 60% of the total sales of the family.
Although Hyundai has just made the presentation, it will still take a few months to see it circulate on the streets. The Koreans will begin the deployment in South Korea and will later expand activities to other areas. In Europe, the first units are expected to be available starting in the fall. For Spain, the schedule indicates that the launch will take place at the end of the year, so it will be considered a 2024 model. As for its prices, which are not yet official, we expect the minimum figure to be around 32,000 euros, including offers and promotions.
