Hyundai Slashes Kona and Inster Driveaway Prices to Start 2026

January 7, 2026 4:00 PM

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Hyundai Australia has kicked off the new year by launching a significant Q1 2026 retail campaign, introducing aggressive national driveaway pricing for the Inster and Kona lineups.

The promotion comes off the back of a strong 2025 performance, where Hyundai finished the year in fifth position overall in the Australian automotive market, recording 77,208 deliveries - a 7.7% increase year-on-year.

A core component of the 2026 strategy is the active reduction of the pricing "walk-up" between different powertrain technologies.

Hyundai has narrowed the gap to encourage the transition to electrification, with the step from Internal Combustion (ICE) to Hybrid (HEV) now costing just $3,500, and the move from Hybrid to full Electric (EV) narrowed to $6,000.

The all-new Hyundai Inster, the brand's smallest and most affordable electric vehicle to date, leads the charge with an entry price of $35,990 driveaway for the Standard Range model. This represents a substantial saving of $7,288 based on NSW registration costs.

The Kona range sees even more reductions, particularly in the EV space. The Kona Electric Premium now carries a massive $13,857 saving off its usual on-road price.

Traditional petrol and hybrid buyers are also catered for, though buyers should note that the entry-level Kona 2.0L petrol price is slated to increase by $500 to $36,990 during February and March 2026.

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2026 Hyundai Q1 Campaign Pricing and Discounts

INSTER (Standard Range): $35,990 driveaway ($7,288.48 saving).
KONA 2.0L (Entry Model): $36,490 driveaway ($558.49 saving).
KONA HEV (Entry Model): $39,990 driveaway ($1,178.48 saving).
KONA Electric (Standard Range): $45,990 driveaway ($13,157.48 saving).
KONA Electric (Extended Range): $49,990 driveaway ($13,357.48 saving).
KONA Electric N Line: $54,990 driveaway ($12,557.48 saving).
KONA Electric Premium: $59,990 driveaway ($13,857.48 saving).
KONA Electric Premium N Line: $63,990 driveaway ($13,007.48 saving).

Note: All offers are national. Savings based on NSW registration.

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FAQ

What is Hyundai’s “pricing walk-up” strategy for the 2026 Kona?

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Hyundai has deliberately narrowed the price gap between different engine types to make upgrading to cleaner technology more accessible. For the 2026 Kona, the step from a petrol (ICE) model to a Hybrid (HEV) is now only $3,500, while the jump from Hybrid to the full Electric (EV) model has been reduced to just $6,000.

How much can I save on a 2026 Hyundai Kona Electric during this campaign?

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The Q1 campaign offers some of the largest savings in Hyundai Australia’s history. Depending on the variant, you can save between $12,500 and nearly $14,000 off the standard on-road costs. The biggest discount applies to the Kona Electric Premium, which features a massive $13,857 saving.

Is the Hyundai Inster the most affordable electric vehicle in the range?

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Yes. The all-new Inster Standard Range is currently positioned as the entry point to Hyundai’s electric lineup with a national driveaway price of $35,990. This makes it one of the most competitively priced EVs in the Australian market, sitting significantly below the larger Kona Electric.

When does the entry-level Kona 2.0L price increase?

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While the current Q1 offer for the Kona 2.0L (entry model) is $36,490, this price is only available for January. Starting in February and March 2026, the driveaway price for this specific model will increase by $500 to $36,990.

What are the warranty and service benefits for these new models?

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All 2026 Hyundai models come with a 5-year/unlimited km warranty, which can be extended to 7 years if you maintain your logbook servicing through an authorised Hyundai dealer. Additionally, the high-voltage batteries in the Hybrid and EV models are covered by a separate 8-year/160,000km warranty.

What is the difference between the Kona Electric Standard and Extended Range?

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The Standard Range ($45,990 DA) is equipped with a 99kW motor and a 48.4kWh battery, ideal for city commuting. The Extended Range ($49,990 DA) upgrades to a more powerful 150kW motor and a larger 65.4kWh battery, increasing the driving range to approximately 505km (WLTP) for those who frequently travel longer distances.

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Jacob Brooke

Jacob Brooke joined CarSauce in 2022, starting as a videographer and video editor. With a strong foundation in Computer Science from Monash University, Jacob played a key role in the business's dramatic growth, which allowed him to transition into a full-time position as Head of Digital. His expertise lies in building and optimising the CarSauce website and enhancing the brand's digital presence. Jacob is also a regular part of the YouTube reviews, where he adds humor and friendly banter with Matt, thanks to their long-standing friendship. Together, they create engaging and informative content that keeps their audience coming back for more.