Hyundai KONA | Electric Car Review

New Hyundai KONA Electric has grown in size

Two battery size options, 48.4 kWh and 65.4 kWh

Electric driving range of up to (WLTP) 319 miles

75 kW or 100 kW public rapid charging rate

Hyundai KONA Design & Powertrain

The new Hyundai KONA Electric is larger than the previous model (now measuring 4,355mm in length), providing more space for occupants, and also for luggage; the boot now offers 466 litres of space, compared to the 332 litres of the old model. There’s also a ‘frunk’ under the bonnet, giving 27 litres of storage space.

The design is also new, inside and outside. The front of the car looks slightly bulbous, with the lights moved to the side both at the front and the rear.

The battery is the same size as the last model, at 65.4 kWh, although a 48.4 kWh battery is also an option for the entry-level model. The electric motor is slightly more powerful, producing 218PS/160kW, and it still drives the front wheels.

Driving Experience

The Hyundai KONA Electric feels like it has been engineered to provide a comfortable driving experience when faced with the challenges of today’s poor road surfaces; it can coast over most potholes, and even many speed bumps, without the car’s occupants even being aware of them.

Combined with the normal levels of quietness and refinement from an EV, light steering and a compact size, the result is a car that is easy and stress-free to drive.

Because the Kona has such good ride comfort, it means that it can feel bouncy rather than being planted to the road surface, and being front-wheel drive, all the torque from the electric powertrain going through the front wheels can result in wheelspin and some torque steer on cold and wet road surfaces.

Anyone getting into this car who has driven a previous Kona may wonder where the gear selector has gone, as there used to be a collection of buttons for the gears located between the front seats, but they’re no longer there. Instead the gear selector has moved to a position on the right of the steering column, under the windscreen wiper stalk; you twist it to change gear.

You can also change the level of regenerative braking by using steering wheel-mounted paddles (giving regen options of 0, 1, 2 or 3) – which is a better solution than having to delve into touchscreen sub menus to do this.

Drive modes can be selected using a rotary dial at the bottom of the centre console, giving you the options of Eco, Normal, Sport and Snow.

The Kona has a 12.3-inch central touchscreen, and underneath this are separate heating and ventilation controls, which means that it’s always possible to quickly and easily adjust climate settings. Unusually for a new EV, there are also various physical buttons on the dashboard. The touchscreen, the separate climate controls, and all the physical buttons mean that the Kona’s dashboard is very easy to operate.

Range & Charging

The Hyundai KONA Electric has a WLTP combined electric driving range of up to 319 miles, if you opt for the larger 65.4 kWh battery with the smaller 17-inch wheels. The real-world range from this combination is likely to be around 260 miles.

If you want larger 19-inch wheels with this battery then the official WLTP combined driving range drops to 282 miles. There’s also a smaller 48.4 kWh battery which gives an official range of 234 miles.

If you need to charge at a public charge point, then it’s worth being aware that the 65.4 kWh Kona only has a maximum DC charging rate of 100 kW, which means that a 10% to 80% charge at a public 100kW rapid charge point takes 47 minutes. The 48.4 kWh battery can only be charged at 75 kW.

This contrasts to an ultra-rapid DC charging rate of 233 kW for the Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6.

For AC charging, the Kona has a 10.5 kW on-board charger.

The KONA Electric has a heat pump, which uses waste heat from the electric powertrain to warm the cabin in cold weather, so reducing the impact on the battery range.

Other aids for a longer driving range are heated front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel – as well as heated door mirrors. A heated charging cover is also an option.

There’s a 3-pin plug socket in the rear footwell which allows you to power electrical equipment.

Price & Model Range

The new Hyundai KONA Electric is available in four trim levels. Entry-level trim is Advance, which is the only spec that’s available with the smaller 48.4 kWh battery (from £34,995), as well as the larger 65.4 kWh battery (from £38,595). The other three trim levels – N Line, N Line S and Ultimate - all come with the 65.4 kWh battery as standard.

Hyundai KONA Electric

Long Range 65.4 kWh battery
19-inch Alloy Wheels
BOSE Premium Sound System with 7 Speakers and Subwoofer
Heated Front and Rear Seats
Head Up Display (HUD)
Full LED Projection Headlights
Electric Opening Glass Sunroof

Conclusion

The Hyundai KONA Electric offers a (WLTP) 300-mile electric driving range in a practical compact SUV body style at a competitive price. It also delivers very comfortable ride quality and an easy driving experience. On the downside, the front-wheel drive chassis doesn’t provide much grip on cold and wet roads, and the Kona has a slow charge rate for public DC chargepoints.