Third-gen 2028 Hyundai Kona spotted without cladding

Key highlights:

• New Kona drops heavy camouflage, revealing a traditional crossover shape
• Turbo 1.6-litre petrol and a Seltos Hybrid powertrain possible for the 2028 Kona
• Hyundai to skip the SX2 facelift, with next-gen Kona expected in Australia by late 2027

The third-generation 2028 Hyundai Kona is starting to show its true shape, and after several heavily camouflaged sightings, the latest prototype has finally shed most of its cladding in sightings recorded by Carscoops.

Hyundai appears ready to move the Kona towards a more traditional crossover SUV shape, with a curvier front, sharper bodywork and a completely different rear design. It looks inspired by the bold Hyundai Crater Concept’s Art of Steel design.

Kona gets a radical new face

The redesigned Kona wears a curvaceous front end with an upper shark nose that appears to incorporate an illuminated bar, and it looks noticeably thicker than the Seamless Horizon Lamp used on the current model.

Below it sit mid-mounted headlights and what appears to be an active shutter grille, and its slats look split into several sections rather than forming one continuous grille.

A wide lower intake and pronounced front lip complete the front-end treatment.

Overall, the prototype looks very close to an image that surfaced in July and reportedly showed the crossover SUV without camouflage, but it’s not an exact match.

Updated Kona exterior

The Kona gets flush-mounted door handles and more streamlined bodywork, while an upward-sweeping beltline creates a relatively small greenhouse. An angular roof adds more visual definition, while aerodynamically optimised wheels complete the profile.

The result moves the Kona away from the softer shapes of the current model and gives it a more conventional crossover appearance.

The rear could represent the biggest visual change. The new Kona features an angular rear window and a pronounced spoiler instead of the current model’s controversial design.

Hyundai also appears to have fitted a wider, more practical liftgate, and a rounded bumper sits underneath, with a ‘hidden’ exhaust integrated into the design.

Also read: Extended-range electric Santa Fe is coming to Australia

Cabin remains under wraps

The new interior could not be seen in these latest spy shots, but the interior is expected to adopt a minimalist layout and introduce Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment system.

Screen sizes could include 12.9-inch, 14.6-inch, or 17-inch, as the brand has not confirmed which screen sizes will feature in the new Kona.

Potential powertrain

The new Kona could share a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with the 2027 Kia Seltos, and that engine produces 142kW / 264Nm. 

There could also be a hybrid option, based on the powertrain planned for the Seltos. Kia has confirmed plans for a Seltos Hybrid that pairs a 1.6-litre engine with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission, which differs from the regular Seltos, which uses an eight-speed automatic transmission.

In Korea, this hybrid engine produces 77kW, while the electric motor adds another 32kW, taking the output to around 110kW.

Hyundai skips the current Kona facelift in Australia

Australian buyers currently have three core Kona powertrain choices which combine a 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine, a 1.6-litre petrol-electric hybrid and a fully electric EV. These powertrains span three primary trim levels: Base, Elite and Premium, with N Line styling packages.

Hyundai has reportedly cancelled the planned mid-life facelift for the current SX2-generation Kona and is fast-tracking development of the next generation.

That means Hyundai Australia could move straight from the current SX2 Kona to an all-new Kona, with its local debut heavily expected around late 2027.

The timing would give the new Kona a substantially different look, a refreshed cabin and potentially new petrol and hybrid powertrain options.