Initial specification and pricing released.

THREE petrol engine choices across four variants will feature in the latest generation of Hyundai Kona when it lands, potentially within eight weeks, but those seeking the electric won’t see that choice until next year.

Hyundai New Zealand has confirmed it is still keen to keep the compact sports utility as primarily a front-drive petrol car, likely to keep in price sectors that the battery-wed type simply cannot reach, due to cost restraint.

The entry car, with a 2.0-litre engine, and a dearer hybrid that marries to a 1.6-litre will both offer in standard and more expensive N-Line configurations.

The entry choice Kona Active is $42,990. Its 110kW/180Nm engine marries to a continuously variable transmission. The N-Line edition is $49,990.

The same Active trim in with the 146kW/ 265Nm hybrid associates the powertrain with a six-speed dual clutch automatic. It’s $52,990 standard and $59,990 in N-Line.

These powertrain choices will also configure with a higher-trimmed Elite specification. Pricing for those models has yet to be released.

Hyundai NZ has indicated their range topper will be a Kona Limited N Line, also with the 1.6-litre hybrid drivetrain, for $65,990. It has a non-hybrid 1.6-litre turbo model, in eight-speed auto with all-wheel-drive, for $64,990.

Alloy wheels, LED headlights and taillights and dual-zone climate control re standard fare. Fundamental safety and driver assistance features include forward collision assist with two-wheeled vehicle detection and seven airbags. A Bose eight-speaker sound system and a power tailgate restricts to the Elite and Limited. The Limited N Line variants achieve Parking Collision Avoidance Assist-Reverse (PCA-R), Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM), and Surround View Monitor (SVM).

Deliveries begin from October.