AutoWeek Test – Hyundai Kona Electric

How do you recognize the new Hyundai Kona Electric?

We have known the Hyundai Kona since 2017. Within the Hyundai model range, the compact SUV is positioned between the Bayon and the Tucson. The technical basis is formed by the Hyundai i30. In the Netherlands, the Kona was initially supplied as a petrol and hybrid variant; in 2018 the Kona Electric with 64 kWh battery pack was added. Competitors of the Kona Electric are the Volkswagen ID.3 and Cupra Born, but also the Kia e-Niro, MG ZS and (more expensive) Volvo C40 and XC40 Recharge Pure Electric are an alternative.

At the end of 2020, the Kona with combustion engine received a facelift, at the same time Hyundai announced the renewed Kona Electric. However, it took another year before this refreshed version of the electrically powered SUV appeared on the Dutch road. The updated Kona Electric is easily recognizable by its nose: the connecting strip between the daytime running lamps has been eliminated and the grille-like structure on the nose has been polished smooth. The headlights and grille are also completely new. At the rear we see different taillights: with the top one only the layout was changed, the bottom ones have a new shape.

Hyundai Kona

Is the Kona Electric an easy car to drive?

Unlike, for example, the Volkswagen ID.3 and the Cupra Born – in which digital displays and control panels rule the day – Hyundai sticks to conventional, physical controls. This makes the cockpit of the Kona look quite classic, but it certainly benefits the ergonomics. You control all driving functions and the air conditioning of the Kona Electric with real buttons on the center console. The driving programs and the degree of regeneration (the latter with paddles on the steering wheel) are directly accessible, making the Kona very intuitive to operate. The materials that Hyundai uses in the Kona Electric look quite cheap.

With the facelift, the Hyundai Kona Electric received an upgraded infotainment screen and a digital clock cluster. Invisible are things such as the voice control and the additional safety systems. Leading Vehicle Departure Alert gives the driver, if he waits too long, a signal that the vehicle in front has started to drive. Lane Following Assist keeps the Kona neatly centered in the lane. Other safety options, such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, have been improved and supplemented, for example with the detection of cyclists. Rear Seat Alert warns the driver when leaving the car to remember the things or people in the back seat. Systems such as Active Lane Keeping Aid or Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go were already standard on the Kona Electric.

Is the Hyundai Kona suitable as a family car?

The space in the back of the Kona Electric is mediocre. The headroom for the passengers is okay, but the legroom is substandard. The trunk space is also not spectacular with 332 to 1,114 liters. You will find a handy hard case for the charging cable here, with even a cloth to keep it clean. A small thing, but nice that Hyundai thinks so far along. You should not want to tow a caravan with the Kona Electric: the version with the largest battery pack of 64 kWh is at its max with a trailer weight of 300 kilos. The version with 39 kWh battery cannot be ordered with a tow bar at all. The petrol version has a maximum towing weight of 1,200 kilos (braked), the Kona Hybrid can hang 1,300 kilos on the hook.

Hyundai Kona

How does the Kona Electric drive?

Technically, nothing has changed on the Kona Electric with the facelift. The charging connection is therefore still in the nose. Difficult for those who prefer to park backwards, and you want that in tight spots. The Kona Electric has a 204 hp electric motor, which delivers a maximum torque of 395 Nm. With a weight of 1,660 kilos, the Kona Electric is a lot lighter than, for example, the equally powerful Cupra Born (1,736 kilos), but you don’t see that in the performance figures. Hyundai gives an acceleration time (0-100 km/h) of 7.9 seconds; during our measurement we put 7.7 s on the stopwatch. The top speed of the Kona Electric is set at 167 km/h.

The Kona Electric is relatively economical with the power supply, which is partly due to the powerful regeneration of braking energy. For the 64 kWh version, Hyundai gives an average of 14.7 kWh/100 km. In this test we recorded 16.9 kWh/100 km, which is good for a range of a neat 379 km (Hyundai: 484 km). The 39 kWh version is slightly more economical with a specified power consumption of 14.3 kWh/100 km, but due to the smaller battery pack, it does not go further than 305 km. Fast charging is possible with a capacity of 100 kW.

Hyundai Kona

When throttled in ‘D’, the Kona Electric continues to creep like a conventional automatic. Remarkable, because the pre-facelift model did not. Another striking thing is that the Kona has the full blow of regenerative braking power even with a full battery. Other EVs then do little or nothing, because they cannot dispose of the generated energy. Apparently the battery of the Kona still has some reserve for that. The regenerative braking can be set in three positions by means of paddles on the steering wheel, the most powerful of which is strong enough to drive largely with only the right pedal.

The performance figures match the driving character of the Kona Electric: you will not find sportiness. The steering is not the epitome of precision, but we must immediately add that the test car was on winter tires. That obviously makes a difference in sharpness. The ‘throttle response’ of the Kona is also quiet, making it all in all a nice and comfortable car.

What versions are there of the Hyundai Kona Electric?

The Kona Electric is available in three different versions. The basic Comfort version is already equipped with fully automatic air conditioning, adaptive cruise control, Drive Mode Select, active lane assistance and a reversing camera with dynamic guides. Fatigue detection and an emergency braking assistant with pedestrian recognition are part of the safety package. With 39 kWh, the Comfort is available for €35,495, the version with 64 kWh battery costs €4,000 more.

The second trim level is the Fashion (39 and 64 kWh), which for an additional cost of €2,900 includes a 10.25-inch multimedia screen with navigation and various online functions via Hyundai Bluelink, an audio system from Krell with eight speakers, a head-up display, blind spot warning and a heat pump. You can also charge your smartphone wirelessly. The top model is the Premium (64 kWh), which is in the price list for €45,295. This also has autonomous lane assistant, seat heating and ventilation, LED headlights, electric seat adjustment at the front and rear, artificial leather upholstery and steering wheel heating. The Premium Sky adds a sliding/tilting glass roof.

The choice of AutoWeek test coordinator Marco Gorter

If you use the Kona as your only car, it is best to save up for the version with the large battery pack. The second level of equipment includes the heat pump, which provides the necessary extra kilometers, especially in winter. Saving for a Premium is then not necessarily necessary.