The Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric CUV models were together named the winner of the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year by the North American Car, Utility and Truck of the Year automotive media jury. Skyline Automotive W.L.L., is the official distribution partner of the Hyundai Motor Company in the State of Qatar.
This is the first time that a Hyundai Crossover Utility Vehicle model has won the Utility Vehicle of the Year category. The winner of the CUV category is announced every year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year jury is made up of an independent panel of top journalists and analysts based in the United States and Canada. Since 1994, the organization has recognized top cars, trucks, and utility vehicles. This year's jury of 54 media outlets includes journalists from newspapers, magazines, radio and TV broadcast channels, digital columnists and freelance media.
Apart from the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year award, the Hyundai Kona has also achieved international recognition during the past year by winning an iF Design Award in the Automobiles/Vehicles category. The award recognised the elegant and expressive appearance of Hyundai Motor’s first subcompact SUV.
The iF Design Award is an arbiter of quality and one of the most important design awards. Since 1953 the iF, which stands for international Forum, has singled out worldwide products in all branches of industry for awards in recognition of their outstanding design. Hyundai Motor also won the iF Design Award in 2015 for the i20, in 2016 for the Tucson and in 2017 for the new-generation i30 – all after undergoing a rigorous testing cycle adopted by iF to keep the quality of the award as high as possible.
Earlier in 2018 the Hyundai Kona also received a Red Dot Design Award – one of the most renowned international design and innovation prizes. The Kona, which was recognised for outstanding design and innovation, was awarded together with Hyundai's NEXO Fuel Cell vehicle in the Cars and Motorcycles category.
Hyundai’s Kona has also received a GOOD DESIGN® Award from the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. Founded in Chicago in 1950, the prestigious GOOD DESIGN® Awards honour the yearly achievements of the best industrial and graphic designers and world manufacturers for their pursuit of extraordinary design excellence.
Other awards won by the Hyundai Kona over the past year include:
The Sub-Compact Sport Utility Vehicle of Texas at the 2018 Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Annual Texas Truck Rodeo. The two-day test drive evaluation program comprised 69 journalists and 59 vehicles that competed in 18 categories for all types of trucks, SUVs and CUVs;
The ABC award for "Best Car of the Year 2019" in Spain. Granted by the newspaper ABC, and recognised as the most prestigious prize in the country’s automotive industry, this award is decided by a jury composed of 36 journalists from different media, newspapers, magazines, television, radio and agencies, as well as the public vote on the website of the newspaper ABC. The award takes into account both external and internal design, technology, reliability, performance, safety, as well as market segment, and the Kona convinced in all areas. It also recognises the overall quality of the vehicle.
The Hyundai Kona, launched regionally in August 2018, is available in Africa and Middle East Markets. Hyundai offers two highly advanced engine and transmission options for the Kona in Africa and Middle East markets: a 1.6-litre T-GDI, or a 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson cycle unit.
The Hyundai ‘Gamma’ 1.6-litre T-GDI petrol engine is offered with four-wheel drive and is paired with a 7-speed double clutch automatic transmission (7DCT). The engine, which delivers 177 PS / 130 kW and 265 Nm torque, handles every environment with ease. The turbocharger is equipped with an electronically-controlled waste-gate actuator which improves fuel efficiency by reducing pumping losses as well as improving throttle response and low-end torque. The unit features a six-hole GDI injector, pressured to a higher-than-average 200 bar, securing a clean combustion.