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The Hyundai Kona is a carry-over model for 2023, but the 2024 model is expected to get major updates to compete with the upcoming Honda HR-V. The Hyundai Kona is made on the same platform as the Kia Seltos, and that crossover is getting a fairly substantial update for 2024. Hyundai launched the Kona as a 2018 model and hasn’t changed it much since. So, after several years of anchoring Hyundai’s small SUV lineup, it looks like 2024 will be the year that it gets updated.

The 2023 Kona is the same as the 2022

Front angle view of blue 2023 Hyundai Kona, highlighting its release date and price
2023 Hyundai Kona | Hyundai

The 2022 and 2023 Hyundai Kona is in the class with the Toyota C-HR and Honda HR-V. The HR-V is getting a major update for 2023, and the Kona will have to step up soon to compete. The 2022 Kona starts at $21,300 and all-wheel drive is an option. The base SE version starts at $21,300 and the SEL trim, which comes with heated seats, automatic temperature control and more, starts at $23,100. The Limited starts at $28,600 and comes standard with smart cruise control, a larger screen, and more driver aids.

For 2022, Hyundai launched the Kona in N-line trim. N cars include a 195-horsepower engine that turns this budget runabout into a high-performance corner carver. The N-version also gets a quick-shifting seven-speed automated dual-clutch transmission and some extra interior goodies, like an eight-way power driver’s seat and a special shift lever. The N line starts at $25,840. It’s unclear what the updates would mean to the electric Hyundai Kona.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona updates include new trim

Like its corporate cousin the Kia Seltos, the Kona should get a facelift in 2024. According to CarScoops, the interior will be inspired by the Ioniq-5 as well as some new lighting. The spy shots we’ve seen, however, don’t show much of the details of the 2024 Kona. The Seltos facelift changed the front and rear with new trim and lighting and updated the interior to look more like the Genesis luxury-SUV interiors.

We’re expecting the 2024 Hyundai Kona to keep its current engine options. The 2022 and 2023 Hyundai Kona come standard with a 147-horespower 2.0-liter four cylinder engine.

What the Honda HR-V updates mean for the Hyundai Kona

2023 Honda HR-V Sport on a city street
2023 Honda HR-V Sport | Honda

The biggest competitor for the Kona is the Honda HR-V. The new HR-V is based on the new Civic platform, which means it will be larger and more powerful than the 2022 HR-V. The 2023 HR-V grows by 11 inches, which means a longer wheelbase and more room inside. The 2023 Honda HR-V pricing starts at $23,650, which is a slight increase over the 2022 SUV. It comes in three versions, base LX, Sport, and EX-L.

The base LX now comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Honda Sensing tech. The Sport version starts at $25,650 and adds heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, and 18-inch wheels. The EX-L starts at $27,450 and adds a power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate, and a larger 9.0-inch touch screen. A 158-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder is standard, and all-wheel-drive is a $1,500 option on all trims.

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.