Why The Hyundai Kona Was Streamlined For 2026 (& Why It's Better!)
Do you have any favorite features in the Kona? Can you get them all in one trim? Just last year, the answer might have been “no”. Hyundai wants you to have it all, and that’s why they’ve dropped the guillotine on over half the trims and created two newer and better ones. Now, your dreams for the Kona have finally come true!
This guide explains exactly how the Hyundai Kona was streamlined for 2026 and why that’s better for your new-car shopping at Great Lakes Hyundai of Columbus! Visit your friendly Hyundai dealership in Columbus for 2026 Hyundai vehicles near you.
4 Trims Are Gone…Here’s 2 More!
Here’s what Hyundai banished from the new Kona lineup:
- SEL
- SEL Convenience
- N Line S
- N Line
That’s a lot of goodbyes, but there’s no reason to shed any tears. The 2026 Hyundai Kona in Columbus is now offered in the new SEL Sport and SEL Premium trims, so you’re not without amazing options!
Instead of thinking about it as losing trims, see it as your older trims merging together. Everything is still there…your options are just no longer diluted.
It Just Makes Sense For the Kona
It’s nice to have choices, but the 2025 Kona simply had too many. This made it difficult for curious buyers to find the option that had all (or most) of what they wanted.
Now, every 2026 Kona trim comes standard with more features than last year:
- Automatic Emergency Braking with Intersection and Oncoming Driver Assistance
- Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
- A larger console tray
Higher trims also come with a few new upgrades:
- Dual 12.3-inch displays
- Ambient lighting
- High-res surround-view camera
Jump for joy knowing you can have it all in one car! Find that hard to believe? Meet with your friendly Hyundai dealer in Columbus for a personal tour of the 2026 Hyundai Kona near you and see the truth for yourself.
You Now Get More Standard In the 2026 Kona SE
Never settle for having fewer features. The base-tier SE trim for the 2026 Hyundai Kona in Westerville has been upgraded to include more of what you want:
- LED headlights and taillights
- Automatic high beams
- 17-inch wheels
- Active grille shutters
Read more > What Advanced Safety Features Come Standard In The 2026 Hyundai Kona?
Now, Meet Your New Trims For the 2026 Hyundai Kona
The SEL Sport trim is the most value-packed, equipping the 2026 Hyundai Kona in Gahanna with the features you want for just one trim higher than the SE:
- 3-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Wireless smartphone connectivity
- Proximity key with push-button start
- Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go
Add a little spice with the 2026 Hyundai Kona SEL Premium, your ticket to select luxuries without going Limited:
- H-Tex trimmed seats
- Driver’s side power adjustments
- Driver’s side power lumbar
- Gloss black rear spoiler
- 19-inch alloy wheels
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Does the Kona offer an engine upgrade? The 2026 Kona SEL Premium comes with a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder for 190 horsepower! |
It’s a Good Time to Buy a Kona. Get the Special Tour at Great Lakes Hyundai of Columbus!
Save yourself the disappointment of having to pick and choose with the streamlined 2026 Hyundai Kona. Even top car critics are saying that this is the best thing to happen to this little SUV! Visit Great Lakes Hyundai of Columbus today for a test drive or call (614) 471-2900 to ask about 2026 Hyundai vehicles in Columbus.
