- The Hyundai Kona Mauna Loa is a Japanese special with off-road modifications.
- It sports scratch-resistant paint on the cladding, all-terrain tires, and other accessories.
- It is based on the Kona Electric and will be limited to just 30 units.
Hyundai has unveiled a limited-edition Kona Electric in Japan, designed to embody a rugged and more adventurous spirit while packing in a few choice accessories. Dubbed the Hyundai Kona Mauna Loa, this special variant will be limited to just 30 units, marking it as the most exclusive iteration of the Korean SUV to date.
The Japanese special is named after the world’s largest active volcano, which is located in Hawaii. The highlight is the “Wild & Tough Black” paint that has been applied on the bumpers, fender flares, and side skirts, making them more durable and scratch-resistant. The resulting looks are reminiscent of the unpainted plastic bumpers of models from the ’90s, similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT.
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The Kona Mauna Loa rides on new black alloy wheels shod in Toyo Open Country A/T tires. Hyundai also added mudguards and black accents on the greenhouse and badging. Other off-road bits include an exclusive roof cross bar, suitable for carrying camping and hiking gear. The only color option is Mirage Green.
Moving inside, we find light-gray leather upholstery with yellow accents. The all-weather luggage and floor mats made of rubber make it easier to clean the interior after a hiking session in nature. Other cool accessories include a foldable stool, a storage solution for the seatbacks, and cargo boxes for arranging things in the boot.
The Hyundai Kona Mauna Loa doesn’t feature any performance or chassis modifications compared to the Kona Electric. This means that the single electric motor with 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) still powers the front wheels, sourcing energy from the larger 64.8 kWh battery pack.
Hyundai will only make 30 units of the Kona Mauna Loa, which sounds weirdly exclusive for a special edition of a mainstream SUV. Pricing starts from ¥4,950,000 ($32,565), making it only ¥55,000 ($362) more expensive than a high-spec Kona Lounge, and ¥110,000 ($724) cheaper than the sportier Kona N Line.
