Hyundai Kona

Popular SUV gets a fresh look and takes a step upmarket, while gaining a longer range in electric form On sale April Price from £25,000 (est)

- George Hill

AFTER MCDONALD'S ALTERED its brand image in 2016, adopting earthy tones in its restaurants and packaging, its popularity leapt forwards. If you take a change in direction and it pays off, it makes sense to capitalise on that success.

On its launch, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 was a big stylistic departure for the brand, and so warmly was it received that altering the second-generation Kona's style to match makes a lot of sense. Witness the visor-style front LED light bar and its matching pixelated partner at the back, plus the chunky wheel arch cladding that lends a tough look.

The new Kona isn't just different from its predecessor on the surface, though; it now shares its underpinnings with the Niro from sister brand Kia. This means it's larger than before; growing by 175mm in length and 25mm in width means it's now slightly bigger than the Ford Puma and Volkswagen T-Roc small SUVs, although it's still slightly smaller than the family-sized Niro.