The Electric Vehicle market was moving at a different pace in 2018 when Hyundai Kona Electric went on sale. Tesla Model 3 with the right-hand drive was just in imagination, so the only EVs available with a driving range of 200 or more were the Tesla Model S, Model X, Jaguar I-Pace and Audi e-Tron at fancy prices.
Then Koreans introduced the Kia e-Niro and the Hyundai Kona Electric. Both of them were launched as small, front-wheel-drive crossover SUVs claiming a driving range of 300 miles at an affordable price.
The Kona Electric was updated by the company in early 2020 with the all-new infotainment system and latest safety features. This SUV comes with two battery options: 39kWh with 134bhp e-motor, claiming a driving range of 180 miles, or 64kWh battery with 201bhp e-motor claiming a range of 278 miles.
Hyundai Kona EV has already succeeded in the international market. The company launched this car in 2018 and has managed to sell over 15,000 units worldwide. Hyundai has planned to launch its smaller 39.2kWh option in the Indian market.
The exterior of Hyundai Kona Electric Review
Hyundai India calls Kona Electric an SUV, but looking at its proportions and the exterior design, this looks more like a crossover than an SUV. While comparing its dimensions with I20 Active, you will see that Kona is bigger in size. With 1,800mm, it is wider enough and has a longer wheelbase too. The sturdy 17-inch alloy wheels match the full picture and make your KONA Electric look amazing from the outside.
What makes this KONA Electric different from others are its features like daytime running lights, bi-functional LED projector headlights, sealed grille to control the airflow, drag coefficient of 0.29, and much more.
The grille comes with a CCS Type 2 charging port so that you can park your car and charge at ease. The slim LED tail-lamps look similar to the front DRLs and sit on the top of the big reversing light.
Interior of Hyundai Kona Electric Review
The Interior design of Kona Electric is a bit different from the regular one. It comes with a more noticeable center console that rises up to meet the space under the physical climate controls. There is storage space and some USB slots in the space underneath, cupholders, wireless charging ports for your phone, heated/ventilated seat temperature control, and steering wheel, plus the push-button gears.
A large 10.25-inch touchscreen on the dash above the air vents comes with physical buttons and a pair of knobs to increase or decrease the volume and map zoom.
Bigger cabins with quality materials should make you feel better in this price range. Its interior is close to Kia e-Niro and Soul EV. The infotainment system has sharp graphics and easy to interface with an Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The surround sound system will keep you entertained throughout your trip.
The back-seats may not be big enough but are average-sized adults. The boot space is 332 liters.
The engine of Hyundai Kona Electric Review
Kona Electric contains a 201-hp electric motor to power the front wheels and comes with a 64.0-kWh battery pack. The company claims that Kona Electric can reach 0-60mph in just 6.4 seconds.
Kona electric offers driving dynamics, which makes it easier and fun to ride on a twisty two-lane. You may not get sports-car-level adventure, but it is really a fun-to-drive SUV. It rides smoothly at high speed on highways.
Regenerative braking allows the driver to do one-pedal driving at ease. The company claims that this model offers a driving range of up to 258 miles per hour.
Hyundai’s Kona Electric can be charged on a 110-volt or a 240-volt outlet at your home or it can be charged at a DC fast-charging station.
Safety of Hyundai Kona Electric Review
The regular Hyundai Kona managed to perform well in the crash tests by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The EV model has not been tested yet. But its safety features are almost similar to the regular model only.
Features that make this car safe and comfortable are Blind-spot monitoring, automated emergency braking system in its standard model.
Adaptive cruise control system and pedestrian-detection technology available in the top-spec Ultimate model only.
Pricing of Hyundai Kona Electric
The expected on-road price of the Kona EV will be Rs 25 lakh.
Conclusion
Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the iconic electrically driven vehicles launched by the company. It is one of the best and reasonably priced EVs as compared to other EVs available in the market. If the price is an issue when it comes to buying a fully electric vehicle and you can’t afford to buy Tesla, Jaguar I-Pace, or similar, you should settle for nothing less than Kona.
