hyundai has its eye on safety for its smallest suv; the subcompact kona suv has stellar crash test scores and for 2019 gets additional safety features as standard equipment. hyundai announced today that the 2019 kona starts at $20,970, $490 more than model-year 2018 versions (all prices include destination).
for 2019, all kona models starting with the base se trim are equipped with the smartsense safety suite; it bundles the automaker's forward collision warning with emergency braking, lane keep assist and driver attention warning systems.
previously, to get these advanced active safety features you had to upgrade to an sel or ultimate trim; a $1,500 tech package for the sel added all three systems. all these safety features were standard on the top-of-the-line ultimate model, however.
also newly standard for 2019 are a few convenience features, including an additional front usb charging port and soft-touch front door armrests and inserts. lastly, sunset orange joins the color lineup for 2019.
the 2019 kona competes in a crowded class of subcompact suvs and appears to be a good value among competitors that include the 2019 honda hr-v, which starts at $21,515 but doesn't offer the same level of safety features on its base model. another competitor, the 2019 mazda cx-3, also is priced higher and offers safety equipment similar to the kona, even on the base model.
the 2019 kona is on sale now.
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