Whether you're in the market for an SUV or an electric car, you may want to consider the Hyundai Kona. This vehicle offers a range of features and has an excellent safety rating.
Interior
Compared to the regular Kona, the Electric version's interior isn't quite as well-rounded. The front seats don't offer as much legroom, and there's a narrow back seat.
However, there's a lot to like about the Electric's interior, including an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The rear seat passengers can also enjoy the added convenience of headrests. There's also plenty of storage space.
The Electric's cabin also has good visibility. Its center console is taller, which makes it easier to see around the dashboard. The buttons and controls are easy to use. It has a number of standard safety features, such as blind-spot monitoring, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking.
The front seats are comfortable and supportive. There's even a pocket on the back of the front passenger seat. You can adjust the driver's seat for a comfortable driving position.
The Kona EV's exterior has a clean, bold look. It has a unique front grille, which includes a CCS Type 2 charging port. It also has a sealed grille to control airflow. The headlamps are bi-functional. There's also daytime running lights, a reversing camera, and a virtual engine sound alarm.
The EV's infotainment system has been improved for 2022. It now has a 10.3-inch display, which is standard on both the SEL and Limited trims. Likewise, a rear USB port and auto up-down power front windows are now available.
In addition, Hyundai Kona EV offers leather upholstery, a central armrest, roof rails, and a full-LED system. It can also be equipped with a floor-mounted battery.
It's got a strong warranty, too. You can get a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. It also includes roadside assistance. Lastly, you can choose from five different colors, including white, gray, silver, black, and red.
Exterior
Compared to the gas-powered Kona, the new Kona Electric is much larger and has a more sculpted appearance. It's a solid EV that offers great range, a pliable ride, and a host of assistance systems.
The Kona Electric is equipped with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, a rear occupant alert system, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. In addition, the Limited version adds adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist. The Kona Electric has a host of connectivity options, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also has a standardized 8-inch touchscreen.
The interior of the Kona Electric is comfortable, despite its cramped rear seat. Hyundai engineers have optimized the body stiffness, handling dynamics, and aerodynamics of the car to ensure a smooth ride. The seats are made of real leather and offer excellent comfort. The steering wheel has a push-button shifter and is adjustable. The center console has a shiny silver plastic design.
The Kona Electric's cabin is designed to provide ample space for the driver and front passenger. There are 60/40-split folding rear seats. There is a good amount of storage space. The rear seat will feel very tight if you're bringing more than three passengers.
The Kona Electric has an available two-tone paint finish. You can choose between Sonic Silver with a black roof or Pulse Red with a black roof.
The Kona Electric is priced starting at $34,000 for the SEL trim. The Limited model is priced at $42,500. The SE and SEL trims are each powered by a 64 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery that provides 258 miles of range on a single charge.
The Kona Electric also has a host of safety features, including forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, a lane-departure warning system, and a safe-exit warning. It also has traction control, a front crumple zone, and a front crash prevention system.
Range
Initially the Hyundai Kona Electric was available only in Europe, but it is now set to arrive in the US. Although not pure electric, the lithium-ion battery pack has been tweaked to add some efficiency, as well as range.
The newest model features an auto-up/down power front window, rear USB port, and heated front seats. Interestingly, it also has an eCall feature that automatically alerts emergency services when you press a button.
The battery is 64 kWh, but the car can get up to 278 miles of range on a single charge. This is the same as the Chevy Bolt EV's range, but the Kona has a larger battery.
The interior is very spacious, with a good view of the road. The seating positions are adjustable, so two average-sized adults can sit side-by-side in comfort. The seat is made of real leather, and the steering wheel is also.
Other improvements include a high-tech headlamp inner bezel that incorporates multifaceted reflector technology. The Kona Electric also has a more functional air intake in the lower bumper. This enhances aerodynamics and reduces turbulence in the front wheelhouse area.
The Hyundai Kona Electric has been improved with an Intelligent Safety System that includes blind-spot collision-avoidance assist, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assistance. The Kona is also fitted with three top-tether child seat points, a frontal collision prevention system, and an eCall feature that will alert emergency services when you push the eCall button.
The Kona is also equipped with a hard-wired smartphone approach that allows you to access core mobile apps and visual alerts from the rear camera. This includes a live feed of the car's surroundings.
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a very good choice if you want to make the move to an electric vehicle. It is priced on par with the Kia Niro and Tesla Model 3 and comes with a five-year warranty and a 48-month term.
Charging times
Depending on the type of charger and battery size, charging times for Hyundai Kona Electric vary. The IONIQ 5 is capable of charging from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes at a 350 kW DC fast-charging station. However, the Kona takes slightly longer.
Fortunately, the Kona's range is impressive. The EPA estimates that the vehicle can go 258 miles on a full charge. The 64 kWh battery can fully recharge in about 28 hours from a home wallbox. The larger 39kWh battery can be charged in about half that time.
The Kona comes standard with a NEMA 5-15 charger. It plugs into a three-prong wall outlet. This is often called Level 1 charging.
Another charging method is Level 2 AC charging. The Kona's on-board charger can be used to charge the battery at up to 7.2 kW.
Hyundai's bundled Type 2 cable provides access to most public rapid chargers. For a more rapid charging experience, Kona owners may wish to buy a CCS adapter.
Generally speaking, smaller batteries take longer to charge. The Kona's standard range battery takes about 47 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%. The extended range battery will take about 50 hours.
Those looking to save time can consider buying a JuiceBox charging station. The intrepid EV driver may also want to look into special EV charging rate plans. This type of plan allows a car to be charged at a lower cost, usually for an entire day.
One of the fastest ways to charge the Kona is to take it to a public DC fast-charging station. These are available in most major cities. The 64kWh version of the Kona can charge to 80% in about 47 minutes, while the standard range battery will take about the same amount of time.
Safety ratings
Whether you're looking for a hybrid or electric vehicle, Hyundai Kona Electric is a great choice. It offers several active and passive safety features to keep you safe on the road. It comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty, and a comprehensive fixed-price servicing plan.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Kona the highest possible rating of "Good" in all six crash tests. It also awarded the model a top-notch five-star overall safety rating.
Among the standard safety features are automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. Other advanced technologies include adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. For drivers who prefer to take a more hands-off approach, the Electric version of the Kona is available with a head-up display. The Ultimate trim adds a driver attention monitor, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and a rear cross-traffic alert.
For the most part, Kona owners didn't care much for the style, handling, or ride. Despite these concerns, they praised the reliability and low running costs of the car.
The front-wheel drive Kona is equipped with dual front airbags and side head-protecting airbags. The interior is comfortable and spacious. It features good visibility and a streamlined design. The engine doesn't produce much noise.
The Hyundai Kona Electric is also equipped with standard lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring. It has an advanced adaptive cruise control system on the Limited and Ultimate trims. It also features a hill-start assistance system.
For 2023, the Kona will gain a safer-exit warning system, and rear cross-traffic alert. Its standard Rear View Monitor warns you of objects behind your car, and includes parking guidance. It also has a driver attention monitor to warn you of distracted driving.