Hyundai is about to get busy in 2019 with 13 new models planned to launch in the next year. One of these could be a new Hyundai SUV that would slot below the Kona.
Details are sparse at the moment, but the upcoming entry-level Hyundai SUV would sit under the Kona in the Hyundai utility vehicle lineup. It would be the gateway into the Korean automaker’s SUV family that also includes the Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe and upcoming Hyundai Palisade.
In an interview with Motor Trend, Hyundai’s Head of Global Design SangYup Lee said the new SUV would not look like the Kona. Instead, it would look more like a traditional subcompact SUV with an emphasis on functionality as opposed to sportiness.
The 2019 Hyundai Kona has been a hit since it launched last year. Fun and dynamic, it’s also priced competitively and is the only model in its segment to offer two engine choices. The only real issue with the Kona is that it’s not very spacious inside and its trunk is on the small side as well. Could Hyundai get away with making an even smaller SUV?
With the Kona starting at $21,099, there’s space to go lower pricing-wise. The obvious direct competitor would be the Nissan Kicks which starts at just under $18,000. The Kicks, on the other hand, is more spacious than the Kona. If Hyundai wants to make an appealing entry-level sport utility vehicle, they will have to make the cargo area at least as spacious as the Kona. If they can make it more versatile, that would be a plus.
Other New Hyundai Vehicles Coming in 2019
The 13 upcoming new vehicles in 2019 include Hyundai, Genesis, and Kia vehicles. Hyundai already confirmed they would redesign the Hyundai Sonata mid-size sedan this year. A new Genesis SUV is planned as well and will be based on the current G80. The Palisade and its brother the Kia Telluride are also part of this new slew of models.
2019 Hyundai Kona Images Gallery
