The hot selling Hyundai Kona is only a couple of years old, but the company still wants it to look as fresh as it can while also avoiding a mid-life crisis at the same time. With that in mind, the Korean car giant has confirmed that the Kona is going to be receiving a light nip and tuck, and has even provided a glimpse into what the 2021 model year will bring to the tiny CUV.
The front fascia is still just as expressive as ever, but the full LED headlights are sharper looking than before in the upper and lower clusters. The front bumper also appears to have received some attention, with the N-Line model maximizing the amount of sportiness that it has. Speaking of the N-Line, that model features a sporty mesh front grille, beefier front air intakes, and three small nostrils that appear to be air intakes. We have to wait and see if the trio of vents is indeed functional, but we wouldn’t be shocked if they are there more for a design statement versus being a formal performance enhancement.
Another key difference between a standard Kona and the range topping N-Line is the placement of the Hyundai badge, with lesser Kona’s having it on top of the bumper. In contrast, N-Line models have it placed front and center in the grille, with a smaller N-Line badge being placed further away in the same centrally mounted position. We suspect that a similar freshening is in store for the rear end too, but unfortunately, Hyundai only chose to preview the frontward portion of the CUV in its release. Hyundai also revealed that the reworked front skid plate is supposed to give it an “armored appearance” but we will have to wait until a later date to see if it indeed succeeds in doing that or not.
The bigger question here is whether the Kona N will be making its debut at the same time as its lesser cousins, or if Hyundai is saving that model as a special treat at a later date. The N model has been spotted testing at various tracks around the world, and when it does appear, it will most likely be powered by the Veloster N‘s 275 horsepower 2.0 liter four cylinder engine, with an eight speed dual clutch automatic being the lone transmission choice. As for the N-Line, we suspect that it will follow the same script as others of its breed, with the 201 horsepower 1.6 liter turbocharged four cylinder managing performance duties.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.