Hyundai has unveiled its latest compact SUV – the Kona.

Joining the Tucson and Santa Fe in the company’s range of SUVs, the Kona is designed to take on the likes of Nissan’s Juke and is scheduled to arrive in the UK in late October.

The exterior has been given a variety of dramatic styling touches, from slim daytime running lights at the front of the car to contrasting black ‘armour’ designed to protect it and give it a more dynamic look.

Euisun Ching, vice chairman of Hyundai Motor Company, said: “With theKona, we have created a stylish and highly functional compact SUV, perfectly suited to the needs of customers who pursue challenging, action-filled lifestyles.

“We aim to set new standards for the compact SUV segment, with appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading safety features.”

Inside, the Kona benefits from a large infotainment screen that has been designed to ‘float’ above the dashboard, giving a better sense of interior space. This system will be available with a five-, seven- or eight-inch display, and will incorporate smartphone connectivity options, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The underfloor layout of the car has also been extensively worked upon, so that, despite being four-wheel-drive, there’s plenty of room for all passengers. The rear seats fold flat to provide better practicality levels, too.

Offered with a choice of two turbocharged, small-capacity petrol engines, theKona should be economical as well as fun to drive. The first is a 1.0-litre unit linked to a six-speed manual transmission, while the second is a larger 1.6-litre turbocharged engine driven through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

An optional four-wheel-drive system will be available, while refinement levels should be impressive thanks to a MacPherson front-strut system and new sub-frame bush mountings.

A host of safety features will also be included in the Kona, including forward collision avoidance assist (FCA), lane keeping assist and driver attention warning.