Electrical car diehards are very opinionated in regards to the guts of the automobile they personal, or similar to. Even when they’re not doing any mechanical work or modifications themselves, the hardcore fanboyism round some automobiles—400-volt vs 800-volt whatsits, prismatic vs. cylindrical batteries, cell-to-body, charging curves and so forth—can rival that of the Mac vs. PC flame warfare on early 2000s web message boards.
One fixed, although, is the idea within the supremacy of a “devoted EV platform” versus a “transformed fuel automobile.” It is the distinction between a automobile designed from the bottom as much as be an EV like a Hyundai Ioniq 5 or, say, the Audi Q8 E-Tron, which is closely tailored from its gas-powered counterpart. And to the social media and discussion board warriors, the previous is all the time one of the simplest ways to go.
I’m right here to let you know that it’s by no means been that severe, and the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical proves that. Some EV fans may not just like the EV Kona sharing a primary platform with its gas-powered sibling, however I feel the car’s deserves are sufficient to maintain its detractors quiet. Actually, I favored the Kona Electrical greater than the Hyundai’s dedicated-platform EVs. Sure, actually.
Let me go put my flame swimsuit on, y’all.
2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical
Base Value $34,270
Battery 48.6 kWh (SE), 64.8 kWh (SEL, N-Line, Restricted)
Drive Kind FWD
EV Vary 200 miles (SE), 230 miles (N-Line), 261 miles (SEL, Restricted)
Motor Single motor
Output 133 horsepower (SE), 201-horsepower (SEL, N-Line, Restricted)
Pace 0-60 MPH 7.0 seconds (SEL, Restricted)
Cost Time 10-80% in 43 minutes
Effectivity 4.0 mi/kWh (noticed)
Driving The Hyundai Kona Electrical
There’s not a lot particular in regards to the Kona’s guts. Take away its Robocop-esque styling, and also you’ll discover the identical small automobile and crossover platform that underpins the Kia Niro and Hyundai Elantra. It would not even look radically totally different from the common Kona, which is powered by a alternative of four-cylinder fuel engines.
Have a look beneath and it’ll resemble any small crossover made up to now 15 years, save for the large boxy battery that sits in entrance of the multi-link impartial rear suspension setup. The Kona is front-motor, front-wheel-drive, and is about up in a method that’s just like the small four-cylinder engines that will have sat within the motor’s place within the automobile’s ICE model.
To some, that’s an enormous step again from the skateboard-like chassis and tiny rear-mounted, RWD motors discovered on trendy EV platforms. However, in follow, the Kona’s typical guts make for a traditional driving expertise—and that is not a foul factor. Customers purchase crossovers as a result of they’re straightforward to drive and comfy.
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By and huge, the Kona Electrical retains that very same customary crossover power going. On the street, the crossover is comfortable, quiet and simple to drive.
Like all EVs, the Kona Electrical is of course heavier than its gas-powered sibling. But, Hyundai stored that weight acquire in test. On common, the Kona Electrical is just about 500 kilos heavier than the ICE mannequin and about 150 lbs heavier than its predecessor.
In case you’ve pushed the outdated Kona Electrical, you’ll discover the 201-horsepower motor and 64.8 kWh acquainted, however there are just a few modifications this time round. It might need the identical energy, but it surely misplaced greater than 100 lb-ft of torque, from 291 lb-ft to merely 188 lb-ft.
On paper, the dearth of torque reveals. The Kona Electrical is slower this time round. Its 0-60 mph time grew from 6.2 seconds to 7.0 seconds flat. But, in follow, I truly desire the diminished torque of the brand new mannequin. Regardless of being numerically slower than its predecessor, I by no means felt like Kona Electrical was ever out of its depth.
Like most EVs, throttle response is on the spot, so the Kona nonetheless feels swift, albeit not quick. To me, the automobile by no means felt prefer it wanted extra energy, however in case you’re trying to find the neck-jerking acceleration of different EV crossovers, then look elsewhere.
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Actually, the Kona Electrical follows its gas-powered sibling, buying and selling outright velocity for smoothness and refinement. This new motor feels prefer it’s a part of that concept; Hyundai has modified up how the Kona EV delivers its energy. The outdated automobile was liable to chirping its tires; tip the throttle in too onerous, and it will burn by means of its tires like a 12-year-old burns by means of his allowance.
This time although, the Kona Electrical rolls onto its energy. It’ll nonetheless spin its wheels when pushed, however the low to moderate-pedal demand energy supply feels way more progressive this time round.
Equally, the Kona has three ranges of regenerative braking plus one-pedal driving. Like different Hyundai and Kia autos, the implementation is easy and progressive. No head bobbing and irritation from the passengers when the motive force lets off the throttle right here.
However like different Hyundai EVs, it received’t keep in one-pedal mode while you restart the automobile. It must be enabled each time. I don’t thoughts it although, a fast faucet of the lefthand paddle on the steering wheel and it’s again on once more.
As an entire, the automobile’s additional bodily girth feels prefer it’s including to the notion of a extra mature automobile. I favored the outdated Kona Electrical, however at occasions it felt prefer it was a small automobile whose chassis and suspension weren’t coping all that properly with the additional weight of its newfound electrical drivetrain. The brand new one is a large enchancment; the journey is easy, it glides over bumps with none shudder and bounce.
The bounce was a telltale signal that the outdated Kona’s shocks and comes couldn’t sustain with an enormous field of electrons mounted beneath the seats. For my part, the Kona Electrical felt smoother over the street and behind the wheel than its bigger Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 stablemates.
In comparison with its mechanical cousin, the Kia Niro EV, the Kona Electrical feels extra like a crossover whereas the Niro is extra akin to a standard-sized hatchback. For some, that’s a dealbreaker, however for these in quest of the heft and top of a crossover, they’ll be extra at house behind the wheel of the Kona Electrical.
Vary, Battery Dimension, Noticed Effectivity
The Hyundai Kona Electrical’s primary powertrain is available in two kinds; base SE trimmed fashions are powered by a 133-horsepower motor fed by a 48.6 kWh battery good for a 200-mile EPA vary.
Our Restricted trim got here with the bigger 64.8 kWh, which feeds a 201-horsepower motor. That is additionally the usual powertrain for the mid-tier SEL trim. This mix is sweet for a 261-mile EPA ranking. For 2025 Hyundai has launched a brand new N-Line trim utilizing the bigger motor and battery. Its vary is between the SEL/Restricted and base SE, at 230 miles.
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Over 1,070 miles, I averaged 4.0 miles per kWh in accordance with Hyundai’s onboard journey pc. That’s an distinctive effectivity determine. We didn’t do a full vary check, but when we extrapolate its common consumption numbers in opposition to the automobile’s 64.8 kWh usable battery dimension, we might have achieved a most vary of 259.2 miles, virtually hitting the EPA’s marketed vary proper on the top.
The Kona was pushed about half freeway, half metropolis, throughout superb circumstances. Throughout my two weeks with the automobile, temperatures averaged about 85 levels. These aren’t dangerous numbers for a automobile that’s technically not constructed on a ground-up EV platform.
By comparability, the final time I had pushed an Ioniq 5, (AWD, Restricted) its effectivity numbers stayed nearer to the low 3 miles per kWh vary.
Charging Expertise
On paper, the Kona Electrical’s DC quick charging speeds aren’t all that robust. It doesn’t have the newfangled 800-volt structure of its E-GMP cousins, the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, and thus, can’t contact the triple-digit charging speeds of these automobiles.
It’s not all dangerous, although. The Kona Electrical’s battery is comparatively small and it’s charging curve is powerful. It might solely do a max of 85 kW, but it surely holds near its max velocity for many of its cost time. Hyundai says our Restricted mannequin with the bigger 64.8 kWh battery will zip from 10% to 80% in 43 minutes.
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I truly beat Hyundai’s time in my check. When plugged into an Electrify America station, my tester Kona did the 10-80% sprint in 41 minutes and 16 seconds. Some spec-sheet racers may say that is too sluggish, however in my expertise, the Kona’s charging occasions felt completely agreeable. I imply, on a protracted street journey, is an additional 20 minutes that massive of a deal?
Each trims of the Kona Electrical can AC cost at speeds of as much as 11 kW.
Inside
The inside of the Kona is generally the identical as its gas-powered sibling, save for a barely larger ground now that there’s an enormous battery beneath the automobile. So, like its gas-powered sibling the Kona Electrical grew in bodily dimension for this technology, paying massive dividends in inside room and luxury.
The outdated Kona’s inside could possibly be described as cosy, however this new mannequin lastly has class-competitive inside house. The Kona’s rear seat gained practically three inches of legroom. There’s ample house for 4 adults on this automobile, though do consider it’s nonetheless technically on the smaller facet of the compact SUV section—a Mannequin Y has extra legroom nonetheless.
As an entire, the Kona Electrical feels comparatively spacious and girthy for what it’s, with out operating into the trope of going overboard with its bodily dimension. The Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6 are additionally spacious automobiles however their intelligent, trompe l’oeil styling fools individuals into pondering they’re much smaller automobiles than they bodily are. The Kona’s dimensions are nonetheless tidy and fairly small, which is refreshing in an period of super-sized crossovers.
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There’s simply an enormous leap in refinement for the Kona. Like different Hyundai merchandise, the Kona’s buttons and switches really feel properly weighted and damped. Heck, it’s good to see precise buttons and switches in a contemporary inside. Hyundai confirmed restraint and opted to not make each interplay touchscreen-only.
There are devoted buttons for quantity, drive modes and heating and cooling. Hyundai’s considerate design and materials decisions, like the material door inserts and neon inexperienced accent trim, make the Kona’s inside look futuristic. But Hyundai didn’t fall into the Tesla Mannequin Y or Volvo EX30 route; nothing within the automobile feels sterile, barren or oversimplified. Add within the heated and cooled leather-based seats of the Restricted trim, and most drivers will discover it onerous to complain in regards to the Kona’s inside.
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Tech Options
The Kona Electrical is not on the reducing fringe of technological development, however Hyundai doesn’t declare it’s, both. It may’t drive itself and it doesn’t have any fancy LIDAR sensors.
That doesn’t imply it’s for Luddites. In top-of-the-line Restricted trim, the Kona Electrical comes with so much.
All trims include Hyundai’s Bluelink plus, which incorporates niceties like distant begin (aka distant heating and cooling), and the flexibility to see wherever the car’s location is at any time. The Kona additionally has Hyundai’s Digital Key 2, which permits the motive force to make use of their smartphone as a key—and even share it with as much as three different individuals.
All Kona Electrics get Hyundai’s navigation-based good cruise management in addition to Freeway Driving Help as customary tools. With the navigation-based good cruise, the automobile will routinely decelerate and velocity up for curves and comply with velocity limits.
I assumed the system was too conservative. It might usually decelerate an excessive amount of for even probably the most modest of banked freeway turns, to the ire of each myself and different drivers on the street. Fortunately, it may be simply turned off, and the Kona’s regular radar cruise management works properly.
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In case you’re recreation to look at a automobile awkwardly amble backward and forwards out and in of a parking house, then check out Hyundai’s distant park help. This gimmicky characteristic is customary on the Restricted trim—it permits the automobile to drive ahead or backward right into a parking house (or parallel into an area) with out the necessity for the motive force to be contained in the car. Some could discover it cool. It’s definitely enjoyable to make use of a contemporary automobile just like the world’s largest and slowest remote-control RC automobile. However like with different Hyundai, Kia and Genesis merchandise, the implantation feels extra like a intelligent celebration trick than a helpful characteristic.
The distant park help wants numerous room to function, to the purpose that if a traditional driver couldn’t maneuver in one among these areas, then they in all probability shouldn’t have a driver’s license. This enormous berth severely limits the usefulness of the characteristic, too. If the automobile thinks an individual or object is just too near the automobile (which regularly means “not very shut in any respect”), the car will surrender and flash its hazard lights, signaling defeat. Plus, the entire course of strikes at a glacial tempo, and it’s by no means clear from the skin if the automobile will be capable to full the method.
It looks like each third time I attempted to make use of the characteristic on the Kona, the automobile would bail. If it did succeed, it mainly meant me holding down a tiny button on a key fob for a minute, watching the automobile slowly inch out of parking house that was large enough for a GMC Hummer EV.
In case you’re actually in want of this, then maybe it’s time to take a category on parallel parking.
Infotainment & UX
Like different Hyundai and Kia autos, the Kona makes use of a tandem mounted twin display screen setup operating Hyundai Motor Group’s present software program suite. It’s a strong expertise. My two weeks with the automobile had been usually flawless, other than a few small glitches and a little bit of lag as soon as whereas pawing by means of menus. It solely occurred a couple of times.
I’ll admit that Hyundai’s system is beginning to seem considerably primary within the period of accelerating connectivity from different manufacturers. It additionally lastly has wi-fi Android Auto and Apple Carplay, however in case you’re searching for a strong app retailer like Polestar or GM’s Google Automotive-based system, then look elsewhere.
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However primary isn’t dangerous. The system is straightforward to make use of and well-organized. Hyundai’s UX and graphic designers clearly put numerous time and thought into the design of the interface. It’s fairly, but skilled. There’s a constant design identification with the car’s capabilities and icons, however nothing is so over-designed to the purpose the place any motion or pictogram is distracting or cryptic. The fonts are straightforward to learn, and there isn’t an overabundance of menus obligatory for primary capabilities, like turning the air-con off or altering the radio station, because of the Kona’s bodily controls.
Security and ADAS
My Kona Electrical tester got here with Hyundai Smartsense, which features a gaggle of acronyms and security options, all of them customary throughout all trims. One of the fascinating options is Ahead Collison Help with Pedestrian Detection, Junction Turning and Direct Oncoming Visitors).
This alphabet soup acronym mainly means if there’s a pedestrian, object or different automobile within the car’s path it’ll warn the motive force and apply brakes if obligatory. It’s just a little extra superior than customary collision help as a result of it may do it whereas the car is popping by means of an intersection. Furthermore, there’s an entire smorgasbord of three and four-letter acronyms that come customary on the Kona EV.
Blind Spot Collison Warning Blind Spot View Monitor Lane Maintain Help Lane Observe Help Excessive Beam Help Driver Consideration Warning Secure Exit Warning Rear Cross Visitors Alert
The Hyundai Kona Electrical has not been but examined by the IIHS or NHTSA.
Pricing and Trims
For 2025, the Kona Electrical is available in 4 trims: SE, SEL, N-Line and Restricted. There have been some minor pricing changes for 2025, however by only some {dollars} on every trim.
The SE begins at $34,270. It has a smaller 48.6 kWh battery, a much less highly effective 133-hp electrical motor and might solely do 200 miles on a full cost.
The SEL jumps to $38,270 and provides the bigger 201-horsepower motor and 64.8 kWh battery. The vary jumps to 261 miles. Alongside the upgraded battery and extra, the SEL provides heated entrance seats, an influence driver’s seat, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and roof rails.
The N-Line is new for 2025. This trim is all beauty however provides a racy physique equipment, distinctive entrance bumper and distinctive wheels. Hyundai additionally threw in Alcantara seats and an upgraded Bose sound system. It begins at $39,670. Sadly, the outside upgrades and wheels harm the vary. The N-Line solely can do 230 miles, down from the 261 of the SEL and Restricted fashions.
On the prime of the Kona lineup sits the Restricted trim. At $42,445 this trim has all choices, together with heated and cooled leather-based entrance seats and a power-operated liftgate. All costs embody the $1,395 vacation spot payment.
Some would insist that the Kona’s pricing is just a little lofty, and it type of is. Our Kona Restricted’s $42,000 price ticket is on the heels of the bottom VW ID.4. The bottom-model VW could cost faster than the Kona, however it may’t go as far.
The bottom mannequin Kona Electrical SE is costlier than the Nissan Leaf, but it surely goes method additional and might DC quick cost at stations that aren’t utterly outmoded. Nonetheless, in contrast to the U.S.-market Leaf and ID.4, the Kona is imported from exterior of North America. It’s subsequently ineligible for the federal $7,500 clear car tax credit score for purchases, although the credit score nonetheless applies to Kona lease offers.
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Verdict
When the newest technology of the Hyundai Kona Electrical first dropped, I actually questioned the knowledge of Hyundai persevering with to supply an EV based mostly on a fuel automobile platform. I figured the corporate would simply port all the things over to its E-GMP platform. Certainly that will be a greater base, no?
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Two weeks with Kona Electrical taught me that this so-called reality isn’t essentially true. The Kona may use a fuel automobile platform, but it surely doesn’t matter as a result of it delivers so strongly in the actual world. This small crossover is pleasant, easy, charming and simple.
In numerous methods, I discovered the Kona Electrical extra likable than the ground-up EV efforts from Hyundai, just like the Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6. Possibly do not choose a e book by its cowl—or an EV from simply its platform.
Contact the writer: [email protected]