Hyundai sells the Kona in both Korea and the US, and its exterior dimensions match. What you can put under the hood doesn’t. Korea sells a hybrid that isn’t on Hyundai America’s 2027 Kona pages, and Hyundai America’s newest Kona Electric page is for the 2025 model year.
This guide compares the current Kona lineups: which powertrains each country lists, what the two shared gas engines are rated at, all-wheel drive, fuel economy and prices.
How we checked
Korean specs, fuel economy and prices come from Hyundai Korea’s pages for the Kona, Kona Hybrid and Kona Electric. US figures come from Hyundai Motor America’s media site: the 2027 Kona model page, its fuel economy page, and its specifications and pricing documents.
We didn’t use dealer sites, reviews or forums. Where a figure is our own conversion, we say so.
The short answer
Both countries sell the Kona with a 2.0 gas engine or a 1.6 turbo. Korea also sells a Kona Hybrid and a Kona Electric. Hyundai America’s 2027 Kona pages list only the two gas engines.
Who sells what
- 2.0 gas: Korea and the US. Korea shows no AWD option for it; the US does.
- 1.6 turbo gas: Korea and the US, with front- or all-wheel drive in both.
- Hybrid: Korea. Not listed on Hyundai America’s 2027 Kona pages.
- Electric: Korea, with two battery sizes. Not on Hyundai America’s 2027 pages.
The gas and hybrid Konas share one body. Hyundai Korea lists the Kona at 4,350 mm long, 1,825 mm wide on a 2,660 mm wheelbase, or 4,385 mm long for the N Line. Converted, the standard figures are 171.3, 71.9 and 104.7 inches, the same as Hyundai America’s 2027 spec sheet.
The Kona Hybrid (Korea)
The Korean hybrid doesn’t use either gas engine. It pairs a non-turbo 1.6 with a 32 kW electric motor and a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission. Hyundai Korea rates the engine at 105 PS and the whole system at 141 PS, about 139 hp by our conversion.
It’s the most efficient Kona with a gas tank. The hybrid’s government-reported figure is 19.8 km/L combined on 17-inch wheels and 18.1 km/L on 18-inch wheels. In US terms that’s about 47 and 43 mpg by our conversion.
The price list shows no HTRAC or 4WD option for the hybrid, so it appears to be front-wheel drive only. It comes in five trims, from Modern (모던) to Black Exterior (블랙 익스테리어).
The Kona Electric
In Korea, the Kona Electric comes with a 48.6 kWh Standard battery or a 64.8 kWh Long Range battery. Hyundai Korea quotes 417 km (about 259 miles by our conversion) on a charge for the Long Range on 17-inch wheels without the built-in dashcam.
It also lists a 10 to 80% fast charge in 39 minutes on a 350 kW charger. That figure comes from Hyundai’s own lab tests at room temperature, and the page notes that battery temperature, charger output, battery wear and outside temperature change it. Our guide to EV charging in Korea covers how charging and rates work.
In the US, Hyundai America’s media site lists Kona Electric pages for each model year from 2019 to 2025, and none for 2026 or 2027. The 2025 page lists 261 miles of range for the SEL and Limited and 200 miles for the SE with the Standard Range battery.
We couldn’t confirm from these pages whether a newer US Kona Electric is on sale, so check Hyundai’s US site before you compare.
The two gas engines both countries share
2.0 with IVT. Hyundai Korea rates the 2.0 at 149 PS and 18.3 kgf·m. By our conversion that’s 147 hp and 132 lb-ft, the figures Hyundai America lists. Both countries pair it with an IVT, Hyundai’s continuously variable transmission.
1.6 turbo with an 8-speed automatic. Here the power ratings differ. Hyundai Korea lists 198 PS (195 hp by our conversion) and 27.0 kgf·m (195 lb-ft) from 1,600 rpm. Hyundai America lists 190 hp and 195 lb-ft from 1,700 rpm.
The torque figure matches, but the power figure is about 5 hp apart. Neither page explains why.
All-wheel drive
In Korea, HTRAC all-wheel drive is a ₩2,030,000 option on the 1.6 turbo, bundled with downhill brake control and a multi-link rear suspension. It’s listed on four of the six turbo trims. The 2.0 price list shows no HTRAC option.
In the US, Hyundai America lists HTRAC AWD as an option on every 2027 trim, for both the 2.0 and the 1.6 turbo. That makes an all-wheel-drive 2.0 Kona something the US offers and Korea doesn’t list.
Official fuel economy
Korean figures are government-reported (정부 신고 연비) in km/L. These are the combined figures from Hyundai Korea’s Kona and Kona Hybrid pages.
| Korean version | Combined, km/L | In US mpg (our conversion) |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0, 2WD | 13.6 (17 in) to 13.0 (18–19 in) | 32.0 to 30.6 |
| 1.6 turbo, 2WD | 13.0 (17 in) to 12.2 (18–19 in) | 30.6 to 28.7 |
| 1.6 turbo, AWD (HTRAC) | 11.2 (18–19 in) | 26.3 |
| 1.6 hybrid, 2WD | 19.8 (17 in) to 18.1 (18 in) | 46.6 to 42.6 |
The hybrid is also rated at 18.9 km/L on 17-inch wheels with the built-in dashcam (빌트인 캠) fitted.
Hyundai America lists these combined figures for the 2027 Kona:
- 2.0 (SE, SEL Sport): 31 mpg with FWD, 27 with AWD
- 1.6 turbo (SEL Premium, Limited): 28 mpg with FWD, 26 with AWD
The Korean and US figures come from different test procedures, so treat the conversions as a rough guide, not a direct match. Our Kia K8 guide has a km/L converter if you want other units.
What the Kona costs
These are starting prices from Hyundai Korea’s price lists (as of November 1, 2026) and Hyundai America’s 2027 Kona pricing sheet (effective July 29, 2026).
| Market | Version and trim | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Korea | 2.0, Modern (모던) | ₩23,930,000 |
| Korea | 1.6 turbo, Modern | ₩24,630,000 |
| Korea | Hybrid, Modern | ₩30,380,000 before tax benefit, ₩29,380,000 after |
| Korea | Electric Standard, E-Value+ (이-밸류 플러스) | ₩43,680,000 before tax benefit, ₩41,520,000 after |
| Korea | Electric Long Range, Modern Plus (모던 플러스) | ₩48,030,000 before tax benefit, ₩45,660,000 after |
| US | 2.0, SE FWD | $25,500 |
| US | 1.6 turbo, SEL Premium FWD | $28,425 |
Korean hybrid and electric prices are listed before and after a tax benefit (세제혜택 전/후). We haven’t covered EV purchase subsidies here. The 1.6 turbo tops out at ₩32,450,000 for the N Line, before options.
US prices are MSRP and exclude a $1,650 freight charge, taxes and fees. AWD adds $1,500 on each US trim by our arithmetic, and the Limited AWD tops the list at $34,035. We haven’t converted between won and dollars, since exchange rates move.
Hi-Pass, the highway toll unit, is a ₩200,000 option on the Modern 1.6 turbo in Korea. Our guide to Korean highway tolls and Hi-Pass explains how it works.
Searching for a Kona in Korea
On Korean sites, search 코나 (Kona). Add 하이브리드 for the hybrid or 일렉트릭 for the electric version. For the gas car, 1.6 터보 or 2.0 narrows it to one engine.
If you’re buying in Korea, our guide to buying a used car in Korea as a foreigner covers the paperwork. Our car tax guide covers the yearly tax, and if you’re weighing a bigger Hyundai, our Tucson guide covers the new model Korea got first.
Where to check
- Korean specs and prices: Hyundai Korea’s Kona, Kona Hybrid and Kona Electric pages, each with a price tab (in Korean)
- US Kona: 2027 Kona on Hyundai America’s media site, with links to the specifications, pricing and fuel economy
- US Kona Electric: 2025 Kona Electric on Hyundai America’s media site
Last checked: November 4, 2026. Sources: Hyundai Korea Kona, Kona Hybrid and Kona Electric pages and price lists (as of November 1, 2026); Hyundai Motor America media site pages for the 2027 Kona (model page, fuel economy, specifications of July 15, 2026, pricing effective July 29, 2026) and the 2025 Kona Electric. Conversions of Korean figures into hp, lb-ft, inches, miles and mpg are our own.
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