Cancel that Toyota Hybrid order? 2023 Hyundai Kona Hybrid to launch with specs that rival the Corolla Cross and C-HR

June 26, 2023June 26, 2023 Bruce Newton 4411 Views hybrid, Hyundai, kona, Toyota

Hyundai’s Australian hybrid challenge just got serious with pricing and spec for the new 2023 Kona Hybrid that will have Toyota paying attention.

The 2023 Hyundai Kona Hybrid undercuts the Toyota C-HR hybrid on price and beats it on power and claimed fuel economy.

Its starting price is basically the same as the Toyota Corolla Cross and it has better fuel economy if not more power.

The smaller Toyota Yaris Cross is cheaper, but it is also less powerful and either slightly less or more thirsty depending on spec.

Hyundai has vowed to add electrified models of one type or another across its model line in Australia and the Kona is the second to go petrol-electric hybrid after the far more expensive Santa Fe large SUV that starts at $63,000.

The Korean brand’s next hybrid will be the i30 sedan, while the Tucson medium SUV is also expected to soon offer a petrol-electric powertrain so it can take on the top-selling Toyota RAV4 hybrid.

Hyundai’s hybrid attack has been triggered by Toyota’s huge success with that powertrain. It sold more than 70,000 hybrids in Australia in 2022. Underlining that success, the next C-HR due in 2024 in Australia will only have a hybrid powertrain.

The Kona Hybrid will go on-sale in the fourth quarter of 2023 at the same time as the second generation battery electric Kona EV.

It will be offered in four models grades; Kona, Kona N Line, Kona Premium and Kona Premium N Line.

Pricing announced this week starts at $36,000 plus on-road costs, progresses to $40,000 for the N Line, $43,500 for the Premium and $46,500 for the Premium N Line.

The Kona Hybrid is powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder that makes 77kW and 144Nm.

Combined with a 32kW/170Nm permanent magnetic synchronous e-motor, the outputs are 104kW/265Nm driving the front wheels via a six-speed dual clutch transmission..

The e-motor is powered by a 1.32kWh Li-ion polymer battery pack.

The ADR combined fuel consumption claim for the Kona Hybrid is 3.9L/100km.

That’s better than the 4.3L/100km managed by the 1.8-litre 90kW C-HR and 2.0-litre 146kW Corolla Cross.

While the 1.5-litre Yaris Cross produces 85kW and claims 3.8L/100km as front-wheel drive and 4.0L/100km as an all-wheel drive.

The 2023 Hyundai Kona Hybrid shares much of its equipment with the orthodox petrol-fuelled Kona models that launch this month, including a significant upgrade of safety systems and the addition of Bluelink telematics.

The new Kona is also bigger inside and out compared to its predecessor, but it’s also heavier and the petrol models thirstier than before.

The cheapest 2.0-litre petrol Kona is now priced at $32,000, a rise of almost 19 per cent compared to its predecessor.