Key Points
- The 2026 Hyundai Kona is priced from $26,950 (all prices include $1,600 destination charge).
- N Line appearance package dropped
- Up to 31 mpg combined
With a base price of just $26,950, the Hyundai Kona is one of the most affordable SUVs currently on the market. It’s offered as an electric vehicle as well, but here we’ll only cover the gas-powered versions.
Related: Is the 2024 Hyundai Kona a Good SUV? 6 Pros, 3 Cons
What’s New?
For 2026, Hyundai drops the monochromatic N Line trim levels, meaning every Kona wears contrasting black fenders. Otherwise, the subcompact SUV is unchanged. Additionally, the SEL is further broken down into the SEL Sport and SEL Premium.
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Hyundai Kona is on sale now. Full pricing is as follows; front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available for $1,500 on all trim levels.
- SE: $26,950
- SEL Sport: $28,275
- SEL Premium: $30,150
- Limited: $34,250
Trim Levels and Safety Features
The entry-level Kona SE rides on 17-inch alloy wheels and features keyless entry and start, remote start and LED exterior lighting. Its spacious interior is fitted with manually adjustable cloth seats, a six-speaker audio system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety technologies on the entry-level Kona SE include forward collision warning with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-centering steering, a driver-attention monitor, road-sign recognition and automatic high beams.
One step up, the SEL Sport wears black 18-inch wheels and adds heated side mirrors, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and wireless phone charging. The SEL Premium gains 19-inch wheels and silver bumper trim. Inside, the SEL Premium features synthetic leather upholstery and upgraded trim, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and ambient lighting.
At the top of the Kona lineup, the Limited boasts a moonroof, a hands-free power liftgate and Hyundai’s Digital Key 2, which allows owners to use a smartphone or smartwatch as a key and to remotely monitor the vehicle. Interior upgrades on the Limited include ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. The Limited adds a 360-degree camera system, blind spot cameras and automated parking.
Read More Hyundai Kona News:
- 2025 Hyundai Kona Adds New Trim Levels, Starts at $25,745
- Best New Cars for $30,000 or Less
- 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric Adds N Line, Priced From $34,270
- Here’s What’s New at Hyundai for 2026
- Research the Hyundai Kona
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The Kona SE and SEL Sport are powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It makes 147 horsepower and 132 pounds-feet of torque and is paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission. In the SEL Premium and Limited, a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder generates 190 hp and 195 pounds-feet; it’s mated to an eight-speed automatic.
With FWD, the 2.0-liter engine returns an EPA-rated 29/34/31 mpg city/highway/combined in the SE and 28/35/31 in the SEL Sport. The difference is due to the stop-start system that shuts the engine down when the vehicle is stationary, such as while sitting at a traffic light; stop-start is standard on the SE and not available on the SEL Sport. The AWD SE is rated at 27/29/28 mpg and the AWD SEL Sport at 26/29/27 mpg. The 1.6-liter–powered Kona is rated at 26/31/28 mpg with FWD and 25/28/26 mpg with AWD.
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