It seems Hyundai has bypassed a traditional mid-cycle update for the Kona, advancing directly to a complete structural redesign for the compact SUV’s third generation. An undisguised pre-production prototype of the new model, internally designated SX3, was recently photographed in South Korea by social media user EWVexillary, revealing a clear departure from the outgoing model’s styling.
The redesign abandons the diagonal character lines and extensive unpainted plastic cladding that defined the outgoing generation. Instead, the new Kona adopts a taller, boxier silhouette, which seems to be heavily influenced by the Crater Concept and the brand’s dedicated IONIQ electric vehicle range.
The front fascia retains a split-headlight configuration, though the primary lighting units are reduced in size and situated below a thicker full-width LED light bar. The flanks feature clean, flat surfacing with a subtle two-tone pillar treatment, while the roofline extends backwards to a more upright tailgate section.
Underneath the revised exterior, Hyundai is set to reposition the Kona as a Software-Defined Vehicle. The cabin architecture is expected to be heavily derived from the forthcoming IONIQ 3 (pictured below), featuring dual screens on separate panels for the instrument cluster and central infotainment system. This hardware runs Hyundai’s new Android Automotive-based Pleos Connect software.
Despite the digital focus, the interior is likely to retain some physical buttons for core climate and media functions. A column-mounted electronic gear selector frees up the centre console, probably bringing in the bridge-style layout which seems to be the fashion at the moment.
Powertrain details indicate a heavy reliance on electrified internal combustion options alongside pure battery-electric models. An all-wheel drive hybrid variant is expected to integrate a dedicated electric motor on the rear axle, boosting total system output to around 133kW, up from the current hybrid’s 110kW figure.
Now that the cat is out of the bag, official images and specs will probably be revealed very soon. Australian specs will no doubt follow.
