Small with Versatility and Efficiency
The second technology Hyundai Kona EV could be the smallest all-electric SUV provided by Hyundai, however that doesn’t imply it doesn’t maintain its personal by means of versatility, efficiency and driving vary.
Decisions: 2 Motors, 2 Batteries, 4 Trims
The 2025 Hyundai Kona Electrical SE has a 48.6 kWh Normal Vary battery and a 99kW electrical motor producing 133 horsepower (hp) and 188 pound-feet (lb.-ft.) of torque for a 200 mile all-electric driving vary (AER). The N Line, SEL and Restricted trims have a 64.8 kWh Lengthy Vary battery and a 150kW motor good for 201 hp and 188 lb.-ft. of torque. The N Line will get 230 AER whereas the SEL and Restricted have 261 AER.
Charging
The lithium-ion batteries include a typical pre-conditioning system to help sooner and extra full charging in chilly climate. Charging occasions range for the 2 battery sizes.
- 48.6 kWh Normal Vary battery
- Degree 2
- 10-100%: 5 – 6 hours
- 64.8 kWh Lengthy Vary battery
- DC Quick Charging
- 10-80%: 43 minutes
- Add roughly 100 miles in quarter-hour
The Kona Electrical was straightforward to cost utilizing the MyHyundai with Bluelink app that provides plug-and-charge at these public charging networks.
- IONNA – a high-performance charging community for electrical automobiles, established by a three way partnership of main automotive corporations. The purpose is to create 30,000 quick charging factors throughout North America
- ChargePoint (together with roaming companions)
- Tesla Supercharger (Present and new house owners get a NACS-North American Charging Normal-adapter totally free or should purchase one at a Hyundai seller for $230)
- EVgo
Hyundai additionally presents a program to get you began on altering at residence by means of its House Market. Enter your private home tackle, then obtainable rebates and different advantages seem which are custom-made to your state and particularly your electrical utility.
As of this story being written (Might 2025) there’s a US authorities 30% tax credit score for householders who set up an EV charger, with each the charger and set up coated by the rebate.
The Kona Electrical doesn’t have complementary charging profit however does include a Degree 1 cost cable for residence charging on 120V family present.
Automobile-to-Load (V2L)
With a bi-directional onboard charger, the Automobile-to-Load (V2L) perform can energy units or cost electrical gear, akin to electrical bicycles, scooters, tenting gear and even energy requirements throughout an influence outage. From the entrance charging port, units and home equipment will be plugged in utilizing an obtainable V2L adapter to make the most of the Kona Electrical’s battery energy when it’s parked.
EV Objective-Designed Exterior
Hyundai says the Kona’s “EV-centric exterior” design technique is reverse of what many automotive corporations have accomplished, which is design first for a gasoline engine after which adapt it to an electrical energy plant. By beginning with the Kona Electrical in thoughts, aerodynamics have benefitted with a drag coefficient of 0.27 from a smooth, aerodynamic nostril, energetic grille shutters, wheel arches, raise gate and built-in rear spoiler.
The 2025 Kona Electrical won’t be mistaken for the sooner technology because it has a extra modern appear and feel. The nostril is easy and rounded, topped by a single and steady LED blade for the daytime operating lights. Extending all the width of the hood, it creates a luminous signature with a single gentle. Sitting on the far edges of the fascia, which additionally has the chargeport door, are the LED projector headlights.
The rear is equally easy, echoing the entrance blade design with LED accent gentle and the tail lights housed within the far outer decrease corners. Particularly fascinating is how the raise gate glass and the small glass window behind the rear doorways intersect at some extent.
4 alloy wheel designs in both 17” or 19” sizes, and eight exterior colours supply stylings choices. Neoteric Yellow, Final Pink Metallic and Cyber Grey Metallic exterior colours are a $500 premium. The no extra price colours are Abyss Black Pearl, Mirage Inexperienced, Meta Blue Pearl, Ecotronic Grey Pearl or Atlas White, with the final being what adorned our Kona Electrical.
Inside
Hyundai says the Kona has a “driver-centric” inside with twin 12.3-inch panoramic show screens that add a premium contact. The left display screen homes the digital meter and gauge cluster show, whereas the precise aspect display screen is residence to the infotainment system. The bottom sound system has six audio system, however our Restricted trim had the Bose premium audio set-up with an exterior amp, tweeters and eight audio system. All sound techniques get AM/FM/SiriusXM/HD Radio, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, twin USB-C shops, 12V outlet, WiFi hotspot and Bluetooth for streaming music.
The seats in our Kona Electrical Restricted have been coated in H-Tex leatherette, with the opposite trims getting both black Alcantara (N Line) or fabric (SE and SEL). Alcantara is suede-like artificial textile constructed from a mix of polyester and polyurethane. Inside shade decisions are Black or Sage Inexperienced with Lime accents, which gave some pizzaz to our check automotive.
The entrance seats had 8-way energy changes, warmth and air flow with the motive force seat having lumbar help. The rear bench seat, with a folding armrest with cup holders, reclines and comfortably seats two adults with a flat flooring giving room to stretch.
The rear cargo area, with a twin stage flooring, lights and package deal anchors, is 25.5 cubic ft with the rear seat upright, however grows to a really useable 63.7 cubic ft when the 60:40 rear seat is folded. The hands-free energy raise gate opens to a low lift-over for the rear storage space. The entrance trunk (frunk) measures one cubic foot, so match for small packages solely.
Extra comfort options embody an influence sunroof, rear view monitor with parking steering strains, soft-touch supplies on the sprint and door panels, twin computerized temperature controls, cabin air filter, heated, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel with audio and superior cruise controls, wi-fi cellphone charger, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink, LED inside lights, adjustable 64-color ambient lighting and an illuminated glovebox.
Hitting the Highway
As with all EVs, the acceleration was easy and quiet with on the spot torque at any pace. Scooting 0-60 mph is about 7.2 seconds, which is loads quick for merging onto highways. The highest pace is ready at 104 mph, however we extremely advocate not pushing it that top.
Dealing with was crisp and direct with motor-driven energy steering that whipped us 360º in a 34.8 foot turning diameter. The 17-inch alloy wheels (19-inch are non-obligatory) have been shod with EV-specific Kuhmo Solus 215/60 all-season tires, that are rated highest for rolling resistance, consolation and noise. This suits completely with how Hyundai needs the Kona Electrical for use—freeway commuting and for in-town errands, but additionally able to a weekend highway journey.
In 226 miles cruising round Southern California we discovered the trip to be snug and fairly enjoyable to mildly toss round at occasions. Stopping was glorious with ABS for the ventilated entrance and stable rear discs.
The regenerative braking, which is definitely the motor slowing when coming off the accelerator pedal, was managed by steering wheel mounted paddles. There are 4 regen ranges that may be set by pulling on the left aspect paddle or on a setting within the middle display screen. The precise aspect paddle reduces the regen stage whereas the left aspect improve it. The final word setting is i-PEDAL MAX, the place it’s attainable (and our favourite strategy to drive the Kona Electrical) to do most driving together with your fingertips doing the slowing.
When coasting or braking, kinetic vitality is transformed into electrical vitality and returned to the battery so as to add driving vary, however it additionally provides a stage of pleasure and enjoyable with the one-pedal driving method.
An surprising know-how for a automotive at this value is the Distant Good Parking Help. Utilizing the Good Key, the Kona Electrical will be remotely moved in or out of a decent parking area. This can be a helpful characteristic to park the automotive the place it may be tough to open the doorways.
Expertise and Security
The Kona comes with an intensive checklist of ordinary security options, starting with entrance, aspect impression and aspect air curtain airbags. Hyundai’s SmartSense security tech is strong with superior driver help techniques (ADAS), together with a surround-view digicam, lane holding help, blind spot detection, ahead collision avoidance and rear cross-traffic avoidance help. Click on the above hyperlink to study in regards to the Hyundai security suite. Different options are auto maintain, a {surround} and blind view monitor with parking sensors and a tire strain monitoring system.
The Hyundai Blue Hyperlink telematics app offers entry to automobile techniques, together with distant beginning, and the Digital Key offers further comfort and security.
Pricing
These 2025 Kona Electrical costs embody the $1,450 freight cost.
- SE $34,425
- SEL $38,425
- N-Line $38,825
- Restricted $42,600
It’s unknown on the time this story was written (Might 2025) if the federal tax incentives can be prolonged by the Trump administration. Particular person states and native electrical utilities might have buy incentive packages that may not be affected by any federal actions. The Kona EV can also qualify for an HOV sticker, which permits solely the motive force to make use of the carpool lanes.
The Kona Electrical, in-built Korea and never utilizing batteries made within the U.S., can be topic to tariffs. The extra quantity, when this story was written, is unknown.
Guarantee
- New Automobile – 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain – 10 years/100,000miles
- Electrical Battery – 10 years/100,000 miles
- Anti-perforation – Seven years/Limitless miles
- Upkeep – Three years/36,000 miles
- Roadside Help – 5 years/Limitless Miles
Observations: 2025 Hyundai Kona Electrical Restricted
The 4 Kona Electrical trim ranges—SE, N Line, SEL and Restricted—supply decisions in efficiency and driving vary. Whereas is it bigger in all dimensions than the outgoing mannequin, it’s nonetheless categorised as a small or subompact SUV.
Hyundai positions the Kona Electrical for energetic and various life. Contemplating its measurement, that may imply households with babies, singles or {couples} with out youngsters will all be interested in this compact SUV. We foresee laying-down the second row seat and filling the cargo area with outside journey gear or seashore toys.
Different EVs such because the Kia Niro, Chevrolet Equinox, Nissan Leaf, Honda Prologue, Mini Countryman EV or Tesla Mannequin 3 are alternate options to contemplate. If doing so, be sure to check the dimensions, vary and design, not simply the worth.
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Story and photographs by John Faulkner.
Disclosure
Clear Fleet Report is loaned free check automobiles from automakers to guage, sometimes for every week at a time. Our highway exams are based mostly on this one-week drive of a brand new automobile. Due to this we don’t tackle points akin to long-term reliability or whole price of possession. As well as, we are sometimes invited to producer occasions highlighting new automobiles or know-how. As a part of these occasions we could also be provided free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our greatest to current our unvarnished evaluations of automobiles and information irrespective of those inducements.
Our focus is on automobiles that supply the perfect gasoline economic system of their class, which leads us to emphasise electrical automobiles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids and different environment friendly powertrains. We additionally characteristic these environment friendly gas-powered automobiles which are among the many high mpg automobiles of their class. As well as, we intention to supply opinions and information on superior know-how and the choice gasoline automobile market. We welcome any suggestions from automobile house owners and are devoted to offering a discussion board for different viewpoints. Please tell us your views at writer@cleanfleetreport.com.
