A camera-shy prototype finally showed its face, and the next Hyundai Kona looks like it raided the closet of its electric siblings. Caught completely undisguised on Korean roads, the redesigned SUV trades busy body lines and black plastic for a calmer, boxier shape that feels straight out of the Ioniq playbook.
- The next Kona ditches its plastic cladding for a taller, cleaner look tied to the Ioniq family.
- Hyundai may fold the Kona and Creta into one global model built with help from GM.
- A range of gas, hybrid, and possibly electric powertrains is on the table for the 2027 model.
Hyundai only revealed the current second-generation Kona back in December 2022, so a full redesign this soon feels quick. Instead of a light mid-cycle touch-up, the company went further and prepped a proper overhaul aimed at the 2027 model year. After a few rounds of camouflaged mules, an uncovered prototype turned up in Korea, and the bare sheetmetal tells the whole story. This Kona stands taller and more upright than the one it replaces.
A Shape Pulled Closer to the Ioniq Cars
The most obvious change is what’s missing. Gone is the chunky unpainted plastic cladding that wrapped the old car, and losing it makes the SUV look more grown up. A two-tone treatment adds to that effect, pairing gray pillars with matte silver bodywork. The flanks drop the diagonal creases of the outgoing model in favor of smoother, cleaner surfacing. The greenhouse is new too, with a straight belt line that runs back to a more upright tail.
Up front, Hyundai kept the split-headlight setup that has defined recent Konas. The main light units look much smaller now, while the full-width LED bar runs thicker than before. The bumper below is more sculpted, with smaller air intakes and what appears to be a covered grille. Some of the rugged flavor traces back to the Crater concept, but the tidy surfacing pushes the whole design toward the Ioniq EV lineup. It splits the difference between outdoorsy attitude and modern electric-era styling, which is why a quick glance might fool you into thinking it plugs in.
One Model to Cover More Ground
The styling is only part of what’s changing. Reports point to Hyundai wanting to merge the Kona and Creta into a single global model, which makes sense given how close the two already sit in size and price. There’s also chatter that the platform underneath could be shared with the next Chevrolet Tracker, thanks to an agreement Hyundai struck with General Motors.
Size could creep up as well. Nothing is confirmed, but the Kona might grow to follow its mechanical cousin, the Kia Seltos, which stretches to 4,430 mm (174.4 inches). For reference, today’s Creta measures 4,330 mm (170.5 inches) and the current Kona is a touch longer at 4,350 mm (171.3 inches). A slightly bigger footprint would help the Kona settle neatly between the smaller Bayon and the larger Tucson in Europe, filling the gap that sits between subcompact and compact SUVs. That puts it head to head with the VW T-Roc, Toyota C-HR, Honda HR-V, and Mazda CX-30.
Bigger Screens Without Losing the Buttons
Inside, expect the cabin to follow the Ioniq 3 with a digital cockpit and larger displays. Those screens run Hyundai’s new Pleos Connect infotainment, which is built on Google’s Android. The good news for anyone tired of poking at menus is that Hyundai plans to keep physical controls for the functions people use most. A slightly larger body should also free up more room for passengers and their gear.
Powertrain choices look flexible and will vary by market. The lineup may include a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter, a turbocharged 1.6-liter, and a self-charging 1.6-liter hybrid in front- and all-wheel-drive forms. Hyundai might keep a fully electric version around too, and there’s even talk of adding a range-extender setup for buyers who want electric driving with a gas backup.
When You’ll See It on the Road
The unified third-generation Kona and Creta is expected to break cover within the next few months, most likely wearing a 2027 badge. If the undisguised prototype is any hint, Hyundai is betting that a calmer, Ioniq-flavored look will age better than the busy design it replaces. For shoppers cross-shopping small SUVs, that means a familiar name with a fresh face, more interior space, and a wider spread of engines to pick from. It’s shaping up to be one of the more interesting redesigns in a crowded corner of the market.
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