If you never thought you’d see a Hyundai Kona towing a trailer, then here’s your day made. The CarBuzz spy photographers have just captured the all-new 2028 Kona in one of its last tests before it’s ready for sale. Pulling a heavy trailer in extreme heat in Spain as part of its durability requirements.
Just don’t expect to see it again, because the last Kona didn’t offer a tow rating in the US, and we don’t think this one will, either.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The current Hyundai Kona appears to be getting a very short life cycle, even by Hyundai’s standards. It went on sale in the US in late 2023, which means that right about now is when we would expect to see a refresh making the rounds and launching soon.
Instead, this is an all-new SUV. Our spies tell us it’s based on the same platform as the brand-new Kia Seltos, though that’s also the one used under the current Kona.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
The styling is a huge change. The roofline is much more upright, and the funkiness of the first two generations of the compact crossover is gone.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
While we’re sad to see that go, it seems to be the direction Hyundai’s lineup is taking. The Kona and Venue were the last to have this design language as the rest of the brand’s offerings transition to a much more square, aggressive look. It’s already on the Santa Fe and coming soon to Elantra and Tucson and probably more.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Less camouflage than we’ve seen before reveals more of the SUV’s lines, though clearly some are still hidden. We can see the low-mount headlights and active aero grilles in the front and that Hyundai seems to have ditched the LED light bar in the rear.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
But the square wheel arches we’re expecting and heavily sculpted lower doors are still buried under layers of padding.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
Our spies say to expect the 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid under the hood just like the Seltos. It will also offer vehicle-to-load for running household-style electronics, a rare feature on a hybrid model that’s usually reserved for EVs.
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
An eAWD model will use an electric motor to power the rear tires instead of a physical connection. That one should deliver 178 hp, with the front-drive delivering in the region of 154 hp. We expect it to offer an all-electric model like both the first- and second-generation Kona models, possibly expanding range over the 260 miles offered by the current generation.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
This new Kona seems bigger and more conservatively styled than the prior models. It feels like the Kona will be jumping up a segment, and the upcoming Tucson grew 2.3 inches to help it do that. The current Kona is already seven inches longer than the original, so maybe the more mature look makes sense?
Hyundai Kona spy photoCarBuzz/Valnet
We still don’t know for sure when the new Kona will be revealed, but we expect to see it early next year. It could then go on sale almost immediately in Korea, though traditionally Hyundai models take a few months to a year longer to make it to the US. Hyundai has already announced 2027 model year details for the Kona, which means this newcomer will arrive for the 2028 model year at the earliest.
