Hyundai Kona freshened with more tech, N Line trim

LOS ANGELES — Hyundai's Kona subcompact crossover is receiving a moderate makeover for the 2022 model year, arriving in the spring with redesigned styling at both ends along with a sporty N Line variant.

The Kona, introduced for the 2018 model year, has been a major hit for the Korean automaker. U.S. sales tallied 76,253 last year, an increase over the 73,326 in 2019.

For 2022, there are also interior updates for the Kona, Hyundai said Tuesday.

"A new console is disconnected from the instrument panel to stress the horizontal layout," the company said. "An optional electronic parking brake is now available on premium trims as a convenience feature. New ambient lighting illuminates the cup holder and foot wells."

The biggest change for the freshened Kona is the addition of an N Line sport model that deletes the black cladding around the wheel arches in favor of body color. Overall, the N Line has a more "road-oriented" look compared to the rugged vibe of the standard Kona.

The Kona N Line is equipped with the 1.6-liter turbocharged engine with 195 hp from the Limited trim of the standard model. Lower trims of the crossover come with a non-turbo 2.0-liter engine with 147 hp, Hyundai said.

The battery-electric version of the Kona also features a new appearance, particularly at the front. "The former dimpled grille area has been replaced with a sleek new aerodynamic shape with a prominent horizontal character line," the automaker said.

Hyundai is working on a track-ready version of the crossover. The Kona N, with a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and a new dual-clutch automatic transmission, is likely to be presented in production form later this year. It will be the automaker's first performance crossover.