by Anthony Fongaro - Photos by Hyundai - 09/09/2024
Back in 2019, Hyundai introduced the first electric Kona. I tested that car, and it loved to spin its tires. Although the range wasn’t the best, it was an enjoyable EV for the price. Now, Hyundai has a new Kona and Kona Electric. There are a lot of notable upgrades, including the range and a new design. As before, I drove a top-of-the-line Limited model with some bright green paint and a green interior. Let’s take a look and see if this is good not only in the city but at much higher speeds.
It’s still one of the smallest vehicles in its segment, but that size gives the Kona Electric more of a squat look. As with most Hyundais, the Kona Electric gets a single lightbar for the front and rear. Having the charging port at the front felt more convenient since you can park head-first at a charging port. Additional lights are mounted on the front and rear fenders. Mirage Green paint and 17-inch wheels are surrounded by various black trim. In terms of style, the Kona Electric is decent. Some may not like the single light signature, but it works well.
Inside, this Kona Electric had quite an interesting Sage Green interior with yellow accent pieces on the steering wheel and the vents. Limited models come with heated and ventilated front seats, along with a heated steering wheel. The seats are supportive with plenty of adjustment and lumbar support. Controls for the steering wheel and climate control are simple to use since they’re still physical buttons. Its infotainment system is crisp and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
There is a dedicated screen for the powertrain output and efficiency. Under the infotainment system and climate control is a power station with a few USB-C, wireless chargers, and a 12-volt battery. Rear-seat passengers have a good amount of leg and headroom, but vehicles like the Kia Niro have more space. It's the same with the trunk. Even though the technology is good for a $42,000 car, the interior has too many hard surfaces to justify that price tag.
Although there isn’t a frunk, powering the front wheels of the Kona Electric is a motor producing 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. This brings the Kona Electric to 60 MPH in 7 seconds. Once again, that is a good number, but not impressive. That said, the Kona Electric is solid to drive thanks to a linear powertrain and the wheelspin dialed back. A 64.8 kWh battery pack returns around 230 miles of range, which is good but not class-leading. Charging time is low at just 100 kW.
There isn’t a lot of body roll and off-the-line, the electric power makes the Kona Electric feel quicker than it is. A few driving modes include Eco, Sport, and Smart. Keep it in Smart, and the Kona Electric balances power and efficiency. One-pedal driving is available along with paddles which change the level of regen braking. Highway driving is simple thanks to adaptive cruise control, lane keeps assist, and blind spot monitoring. Now, $42,000 for a Kona is a lot of money and I would recommend the SEL for $37,000, which gets almost all the features the Limited has.
Hyundai has a multitude of EVs in its lineup, but the Kona is the only one that shares its platform with an ICE vehicle. Because of this, it doesn’t feel as special as vehicles like the larger Ioniq 5. It does have a smooth powertrain with a decent range. I’d say it's a good enough vehicle, especially in SEL trim, and is worth taking a look at.
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