Kona wins North American Utility Vehicle of the Year

The Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric SUV models were together named the winner of the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.

It’s the first time a Hyundai SUV model has won the category, the award from the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year automotive media jury announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

“Kona is an affordable, stylish and functional compact SUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue active lifestyles of all kinds,” Hyundai Motor America chief operating officer Brian Smith says.

“It’s setting new standards for its segment, with appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features. We know our customers are going to agree with the top media confirming this impressive award.”

Both the Kona and Kona Electric are built on all-new SUV platforms.

The Kona Electric has more than 400km range and offers standard fast-charging capability, a feature for which many competitors charge extra.

Its platform has been developed to give customers SUV-like ground clearance and an elevated, command seating position to provide better visibility and comfort on long journeys, as well as easy access,

The media jury comprises an independent panel of top journalists and analysts from 54 media outlets in the United States and Canada.

Already in New Zealand, the Kona Electric SUV will launch in Australia during the first half of 2019.