All-wheel-drive turbo-petrol versions of the Hyundai Kona SUV have been axed in Australia, while mid-spec Elite grades have been added to the line-up.
- 2026 Hyundai Kona pricing and specifications
- 1.6-litre turbo-petrol AWD powertrain axed in Australia
- Mid-spec Elite variants added, smaller wheels for base Kona
- Priced from $32,700 before on-road costs
Turbocharged petrol versions of the Hyundai Kona have been axed in Australia, leaving the small SUV range without an all-wheel-drive option.
The 2026 Hyundai Kona is not available to order with its all-wheel-drive 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, while its front-wheel-drive non-turbo 2.0-litre petrol and 1.6-litre hybrid powertrains remain available.
A Hyundai Australia spokesperson said the 1.6-litre all-wheel-drive powertrain – exclusive to the N Line and Premium N Line grades – accounted for 10 per cent of Kona sales in 2024 and 2025, compared with 51 per cent for the 2.0-litre and 34 per cent for the hybrid.
MORE: 2024 Hyundai Kona Hybrid N Line review
“As part of our strategy to simplify the Kona model line-up, we decided to discontinue the 1.6T [all-wheel drive] powertrain,” the spokesperson said.
Hyundai Australia did not confirm whether the Federal Government’s newly introduced New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) was a factor in this decision, with the turbo-petrol AWD rated at 174 grams of CO2 emissions per kilometre, compared to 149g/km for the 2.0-litre and 88g/km for the hybrid.
This strategy has seen the removal of base N Line variants, while there are new Kona Elite grades to slot between the Kona base model and Kona Premium, including hybrid and N Line versions.
MORE: 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid review
The Kona base grade – now starting from $32,700 before on-road costs, $200 more than before – has also lost its 18-inch alloy wheels for smaller 17-inch items, with no other specification changes.
Along with the previously standard 18-inch alloy wheels, the Kona Elite adds black leather-accented upholstery, power-adjustable and heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, heat-insulated UV windows, and rear privacy glass.
The non-hybrid Elite also gains a shift-by-wire gear selector, an ‘open-type’ centre console, and paddle shifters, while these features are standard on all Kona Hybrid models, including the entry-level version.
MORE: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 price and specs: Most expensive car to wear Korean brand’s badge
Previously a $1500 option, a panoramic sunroof is now standard in the Kona Premium, with a $2200 price rise over the 2025 model – or $700 more than an equivalent version optioned with the sunroof.
The standard Kona Premium also gains cloth-knit headlining and retains its Light Shale Grey or Sage Green leather upholstery – instead of black – as a $295 option, depending on the exterior colour selected.
Year-to-date, the Hyundai Kona is Australia’s most-popular small SUV, with 11,241 reported as sold by the end of June, ahead of more-affordable Chinese models, the MG ZS (10,177), GWM Haval Jolion (9029) and Chery Tiggo 4 (7996).
MORE: 2025 Mazda CX-5 price and specs
The 2026 Hyundai Kona will arrive in local showrooms next month.
Most small SUVs sold in Australia are front-wheel-drive-only, but models with all-wheel-drive – either as standard or as an option – include the Mazda CX-30, Toyota Corolla Cross, Subaru Crosstrek, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross and Renault Duster.
The most-affordable all-wheel-drive Hyundai SUV in Australia is now the $48,600 before on-road costs Tucson Elite 1.6-litre turbo-petrol, while hybrid AWD versions of the Tucson start from $52,600.
2026 Hyundai Kona price in Australia
- Kona 2.0-litre FWD automatic: $32,700 (up $200)
- Kona Hybrid 1.6-litre FWD automatic: $36,700 (up $200)
- Kona Elite 2.0-litre FWD automatic: $35,700 (new)
- Kona Elite N Line 2.0-litre FWD automatic: $39,200 (new)
- Kona Elite Hybrid 1.6-litre FWD automatic: $39,700 (new)
- Kona Elite Hybrid N Line 1.6-litre FWD automatic: $43,200 (new)
- Kona Premium 2.0-litre FWD automatic: $41,700 (up $2200)
- Kona Premium N Line 2.0-litre FWD automatic: $44,700 (up $2200)
- Kona Premium Hybrid 1.6-litre FWD automatic: $45,700 (up $2200)
- Kona Premium Hybrid N Line 1.6-litre FWD automatic: $48,700 (up $2200)
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs. FWD is short for front-wheel drive.
2026 Hyundai Kona standard features include:
- 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/60 tyres, space-saver spare (down from 18 inches)
- Dusk-sensing LED headlights (reflector type)
- LED daytime-running lights and tail-lights (with halogen rear indicator bulbs)
- 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, AM/FM/DAB+ digital radio, over-the-air updates
- Rear-view camera
- Bluelink connected-car technology
- Keyless (proximity-key) entry and start
- Six-speaker sound system
- Dual-zone climate-control air conditioning with rear air vents
- Leather steering wheel, gear shifter and door armrests
- Cloth seat upholstery
- Height-adjustable front seats with two-way driver lumbar support
- Front seatback storage pockets
- Rear-seat centre fold-down armrest
- LED interior lighting
- Heated and power-folding side mirrors
- Electronic parking brake
- Torsion-beam rear suspension
- Seven airbags (including centre airbag)
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle detection, intersection support
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
- Lane-keep assist
- Lane following assist
- Blind-spot monitoring (detection and braking)
- Rear cross-traffic alert (detection and braking)
- Traffic sign recognition
- Door exit warning
- Driver fatigue monitor
- Auto-dipping high beam
- Tyre pressure monitoring
2026 Hyundai Kona Hybrid adds (over Kona):
- Multi-link independent rear suspension
- Virtual Engine Sound System
- Regenerative braking
- Torque vectoring
- ‘Shift by wire’ gear shifter
- Open-type centre console
- Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
2026 Hyundai Kona Elite adds (over Kona and Kona Hybrid):
- 18-inch alloy wheels with 215/55 tyres
- Black leather-accented upholstery
- Heated front seats
- 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Heat-insulated windows
- Rear privacy glass
- Silver-painted skid plates
- ‘Shift by wire’ gear shifter (2.0-litre petrol only; already standard on hybrid)
- Open-type centre console (2.0-litre petrol only; already standard on hybrid)
- Steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (2.0-litre petrol only; already standard on hybrid)
2026 Hyundai Kona Premium adds (over Kona Elite):
- Panoramic glass sunroof with power sunshade (now standard)
- Cloth knit headlining (new)
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Projector-beam LED headlights
- LED ‘horizon’ front parking light
- Front and rear LED turn indicators
- Power tailgate
- Satellite navigation with live traffic updates
- Eight-speaker Bose premium sound system
- Driver’s seat memory function
- Ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel
- Heated outboard rear seats
- Ambient cabin lighting
- Blind-spot camera (Blind Spot View Monitor)
- Rear autonomous emergency braking
- 360-degree camera
- Remote Smart Parking Assist (automatic entry/exit from parking spaces from the key fob when standing beside the car)
- Dark grey body cladding with silver ‘skid’ plates
2026 Hyundai Kona N Line versions add (over Kona Elite/Premium):
- 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/45 tyres (2.0-litre non-turbo petrol)
- 18-inch N Line alloy wheels (hybrid only)
- N Line exterior styling (bumpers, side skirts, skid plates, body-coloured cladding)
- Black mirror caps and side window trim
- Gloss black rear roof spoiler
- Leather and Alcantara seat upholstery
- N Line sports steering wheel
- Dark grey and red interior highlights
- Black headlining
- Alloy pedal covers
- Sport scuff plates
- For Kona Elite only (as already standard on Kona Premium model):
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- Projector-beam LED headlights
- LED ‘horizon’ front parking light
- Front and rear LED turn indicators
Options include:
- Light Shale Grey or Sage Green interior – $295 (Kona Premium only)
- Metallic or mica premium paint – $595 (all models)
Available colours include:
- Atlas White (no cost, all models)
- Cyber Grey metallic ($595 extra, N Line models only)
- Ecotronic Grey mica ($595 extra, all except N Line models)
- Neoteric Yellow (no cost, N Line models only)
- Soultronic Orange mica ($595 extra, N Line models only)
- Ultimate Red metallic ($595 extra, all models)
- Mirage Green (no cost, all except N Line models)
- Denim Blue mica ($595 extra, all except N Line models)
- Abyss Black mica ($595 extra, all models)
The post 2026 Hyundai Kona price and specs: Turbo-petrol AWD axed, new Elite grades added appeared first on Drive.