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

I’m Jacob, the Co-founder and COO here at CarSauce. I started out in 2022 behind the camera, helping capture reviews when we were called "Matt Brand Cars," but my Computer Science background quickly pulled me into the business side of things. Now, I oversee the website and our written content to keep the engine running smoothly. You’ll also see me regularly on our YouTube channel, mostly just giving my long-time mate Matt a hard time. We’re all about making car reviews entertaining and easy to digest, and I’m stoked to be part of the team driving that mission.