The Hyundai Kona Electrical has grown up.
The primary-generation automotive was early to the electrical automotive occasion in Australia, nevertheless it has not too long ago been overtaken by newer rivals providing extra refined driving experiences, extra trendy inside know-how, and extra space.
That’s the place the second-generation automotive right here is available in. Just like the petrol and hybrid Kona with which it shares its bones, the Electrical is designed to supply extra space, up-to-date know-how, and a extra polished drive than its predecessor.
Regardless of all these steps ahead, it hasn’t been smacked with a monster value hike.
The bottom Kona Electrical is definitely $500 cheaper than the automotive it replaces, though the top-end Premium Prolonged Vary on take a look at right here is $4000 costlier than its now-defunct equal.
Does the brand new Kona Electrical symbolize a terrific leap ahead, or is it an incremental improve to the previous mannequin?
How does the Hyundai Kona examine?
View an in depth breakdown of the Hyundai Kona in opposition to equally sized autos.
Hyundai
Kona
How a lot does the Hyundai Kona price?
You pay a wholesome premium to get your palms on the Premium Prolonged Vary. It’s $10,000 pricier than the bottom Prolonged Vary.
2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical pricing
- 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Customary Vary: $54,000
- 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Prolonged Vary: $58,000
- 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Premium Prolonged Vary: $68,000
Costs exclude on-road prices
The Kona Electrical faces off with numerous SUVs, that includes each electrical and petrol energy. To see the way it shapes up, use our comparability device.
What’s the Hyundai Kona like on the within?
Gone is the flight-deck-like transmission tunnel of the previous Kona, changed by a clear and trendy design shared with high-end petrol and hybrid fashions. It makes the cramped previous-generation mannequin really feel very dated.
Presentation is spectacular throughout the vary, and the basics are strong. The Premium elevates itself with white leather-based seats (heated and cooled, naturally), ambient lighting, and a posh-looking fabric knit headliner.
The entrance seats are snug on lengthy hauls and supply a broad vary of adjustment permitting tall or quick drivers to get snug, whereas the view over the bonnet is extra ‘shrunken Tucson‘ than ‘overgrown i30‘ as was beforehand the case.
Hyundai has additionally realised buttons aren’t the enemy, which makes the Kona cabin a lot simpler to navigate. It’s simple to flick into Sport, for instance, or knock the temperature up by one diploma with out taking your eyes off the street, as needs to be the case.
The infotainment software program (which is now rolling out throughout the broader vary) is straightforward to make use of, and touches like having the shortcut buttons within the backside right-hand nook of the display as a substitute of the highest left make life simpler in right-hand drive Australia.
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are rolling out on some Hyundai fashions with built-in navigation. It was lacking from the automotive at launch, and is at present being rolled out with an replace to automobiles regionally.
Hyundai’s digital dashboard is clear and practical, nevertheless it’s not notably feature-rich relative to what you get in a Volkswagen Group product – you possibly can’t have maps in your show, for instance.
The flipside? There’s nonetheless numerous low-cost, arduous plastics, from the edges of the dashboard to the highest of the doorways.
We known as it out within the petrol, and it’s extra pronounced right here given the Electrical Premium is costlier once more. It’s pricier than a base Ioniq 5, which has a extra grown-up inside design. Then once more, I’d take arduous plastics over a few of the weirdness within the Kona’s rivals from China.
Rear seat area is miles higher on this Kona than the final, beginning with the wider-opening doorways.
Adults don’t must contort themselves to squeeze in anymore, which is a step ahead, and as soon as again there you get ranges of legroom and headroom akin to a Kia Seltos or BYD Atto 3.
The air vents and USB-C ports are family-friendly touches, and the broader rear bench will maintaining warring children at bay extra successfully than earlier than.
You even get a V2L three-pin outlet again there within the rear, permitting passengers to cost a laptop computer on the transfer.
The final Kona EV felt very compromised, with the next flooring than the petrol equal forcing passengers into a clumsy knees-up place.
The brand new mannequin has extra toe-room beneath the entrance seats, and received’t make long-legged passengers really feel almost as cramped.
ISOFIX on the outboard seats and a trio of top-tether factors are current, as is a fold-down central armrest.
Claimed boot area is a claimed 407 litres (up 75L on the previous automotive, down 132L on the petrol Kona), increasing to 1241 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s area for charging cables beneath the bonnet in a 27L space for storing.
Rural consumers may even be comfortable to know there’s an area saver spare wheel beneath the boot flooring, which is uncommon in electrical automobiles.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
The place the final Kona Electrical had 395Nm of torque, the brand new one has 255Nm. Hyundai says that’s nonetheless greater than sufficient, and the change was made to enhance driveability.
Having lived with a previous-generation Kona Electrical for some time, that’s no dangerous factor. It was susceptible to torque steer, and will by no means actually put all that torque down with out feeling a bit wild.
| Mannequin | Hyundai Kona Electrical Prolonged Vary |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 64.8kWh lithium-ion |
| Energy | 150kW |
| Torque | 255Nm |
| Pushed Wheels | Entrance-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1698kg |
| Power effectivity (as examined) | N/A |
| Claimed vary | 444-505km |
| Max AC cost charge | 10kW |
| Max DC cost charge | 100kW |
How does the Hyundai Kona drive?
The Kona Electrical isn’t focused on the form of one who needs their electrical automotive to really feel like a spaceship.
It’s remarkably unremarkable, with a flat studying curve for anybody hopping out of a petroleum or diesel automotive. It felt that means throughout our shorter launch drive, and it feels that means with extra seat time.
Even within the extra highly effective Prolonged Vary, the best way it performs within the metropolis is consistent with the costlier petrol 1.6-litre turbo engine. There’s no wheel spin or torque steer – each of which had been actual points within the previous Kona Electrical. It simply will get on with the job, backed by a delicate hum from the motor.
The steering is mild, and even the extra grown up physique is sufficiently small to simply squeeze into parking spots or via tight laneways. It feels at residence within the metropolis, the place you possibly can lean on the moment low-down torque to squirt away from the site visitors lights quicker than most internal-combustion automobiles.
Hyundai’s regenerative braking has been improved within the transition from the first- to the second-generation Kona Electrical. It’s smoother to interact whenever you elevate off at pace, and also you’re now ready to make use of Hyundai’s i-Pedal to keep away from the brake pedal round city.
It’s foolish that you just nonetheless must activate one-pedal driving each time you begin the automotive although; the best stage it’ll default to nonetheless requires the driving force places their foot on the brake pedal to cease.
Will homeowners hassle with the regenerative braking? Given that is meant to be an electrical automotive for individuals who don’t need to drive a science experiment, possibly they received’t.
Hyundai hasn’t chased a sporty feeling right here, as a substitute choosing a relaxed suspension tune. It floats over pace bumps and potholes, though you’re at all times conscious of the automotive’s weight.
1700kg isn’t morbidly overweight by electrical automotive requirements, nevertheless it’s nonetheless round 180kg greater than a fully-loaded Kona N Line Hybrid and that’s arduous to disregard.
On clean highways, the Kona Electrical feels fairly grown up. There’s minimal wind and street noise, and there’s sufficient efficiency from the electrical motor to have punch in reserve for overtaking on the authorized restrict.
However the tender suspension and chunky kerb weight determine conspire to make this fairly a bouncy automotive over massive freeway crests and dips, taking one, two, generally three actions to manage its mass. When the street will get attention-grabbing you possibly can actually throw the Kona Hybrid round; the Electrical doesn’t get pleasure from being pushed arduous.
The adaptive cruise management does job sustaining a niche to the automotive in entrance, and the lane-keeping help decisively nudges you again between the white traces if you happen to stray.
Hyundai’s lane-centring system, which extra actively controls the automotive’s place within the lane relatively than intervening whenever you stray, is a bit too hands-on for my liking, although.
The motive force consideration monitoring is susceptible to false positives, flashing whenever you truly are trying on the street… which makes you look away. Extra refinement is required, as is the case with the pace restrict warning system.
Sure, it’s a European requirement. It’s additionally so deeply annoying, I might be rooting round on-line to attempt to work out a method to flip it off via the OBD II port.
What do you get?
The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical is obtainable in two totally different trim ranges – on take a look at right here is the flagship Premium variant.
Kona Electrical (Base) highlights:
- 17-inch alloy wheels
- House-saver spare wheel
- Satin chrome belt line/roof spoiler garnish
- Physique-colour painted cladding
- Heated exterior mirrors
- MFR-type computerized LED headlights
- Computerized high-beam
- LED daytime working lights
- LED mixture tail lights
- Rain-sensing window wipers
- 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
- 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Over-the-air software program replace functionality
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- Satellite tv for pc navigation
- 6-speaker sound system
- Wi-fi cellphone charger
- Twin-zone local weather management
- Proximity entry and push-button begin
- Distant begin
- Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
- Shift-by-wire column-mounted gear selector
- LED inside lighting
- Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
- Baggage web
- Warmth pump
- Battery conditioning system
- Inside V2L port
- Premium fabric upholstery
Kona Electrical Premium provides:
- AEB in Reverse
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Entrance, facet, rear parking sensors
- Distant Sensible Parking Help
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Acoustic laminated windscreen
- Photo voltaic management entrance door glass
- Privateness rear glass
- Sunrooof
- Quad projector LED headlights
- ‘Seamless Horizon’ entrance parking mild
- LED indicators
- Handsfree powered tailgate
- Head-up show
- Bose 8-speaker premium sound system
- Ambient inside lighting
- Heated steering wheel
- Fabric knit headliner
- Leather-based-appointed upholstery
- 10-way energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
- 8-way energy entrance passenger’s seat
- Premium rest entrance seats
- Heated and ventilated entrance seats
- Heated rear outboard seats
All Hyundai Kona Electrical variants additionally come commonplace with a five-year subscription to Bluelink linked automotive providers.
Out there capabilities embrace:
- Related satellite tv for pc navigation
- Focal point ship to automotive (inc. charging station)
- Voice management system
- Distant local weather management, charging and charging port
- Charging schedule
- Scheduled local weather management
- DC/AC charging limits
- Power consumption monitoring
- Charging alarm
- Distance-to-empty monitor
- Charging standing
Is the Hyundai Kona protected?
The brand new Kona not too long ago acquired a four-star ANCAP security ranking, based mostly on checks performed by Euro NCAP.
It acquired 80 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 83 per cent for little one occupant safety, 64 per cent for weak street person safety, and 60 per cent for security help.
To get a five-star ranking total, a automotive must obtain scores of above 80 per cent in grownup and little one occupant safety and above 70 per cent for weak street person safety and security help.
Customary security options embrace:
- 7 airbags
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Bicycle owner detection
- Bike detection
- Junction help
- Evasive steering help
- Blind-spot help
- Protected Exit Warning
- Rear cross-traffic alert
- Driver consideration warning
- Clever Velocity Restrict Help
- Lane maintain help
- Lane Following Help
- Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
- Rear occupant alert
- Entrance, rear parking sensors
- Tyre stress monitoring
Kona Electrical Premium provides:
- Rear AEB
- Blind-Spot View Monitor
- Encompass-view digital camera
- Entrance, facet, rear parking sensors
- Distant Sensible Parking Help
How a lot does the Hyundai Kona price to run?
The Hyundai Kona Electrical is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, whereas it’s high-voltage battery pack is roofed by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.
Logbook servicing is required each 24 months or 30,000km, whichever comes first. The primary three providers are additionally capped at $520.
CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Kona
The Kona Electrical is a strong stepping stone from petrol to electrical energy.
The place a few of its rivals exit of their method to be totally different, the Kona is reassuringly typical in the way it goes about its enterprise.
It’s additionally improved considerably over the first-generation automotive, which had hassle taming its torque, was tight within the again seats and boot, and was costly alongside its better-rounded rivals.
You may really feel a however coming, proper? I don’t know that the Electrical Premium makes all that a lot sense, given how nicely outfitted the bottom Prolonged Vary is for $10,000 much less.
It’s nicer inside, and the additional digital camera {hardware} and security package is certainly welcome, however the Prolonged Vary is extremely nicely rounded.
There’s no motive to not purchase the Premium if you happen to really need the additional package, nevertheless it’s price trying intently on the larger Ioniq 5 given it’s truly $3000 cheaper if you happen to do have nearer to $70k to spend on an electrical Hyundai.
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