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Hyundai Kona Electric

Hyundai has significantly overhauled the Kona Electric’s price list. The entry-level price for the Kona Electric was at 40,000 euros until April, but it has now been reduced by 3,000 euros. You then get the small battery (48.4 kWh) that provides up to 377 kilometers of range. Power goes to a 156-hp electric motor. Figures that are enough for most Dutch people. Still, we would leave him. In fact, the version with the large battery (64.4 kWh) has also been reduced in price and now comes from 39,995 euros. This makes the Kona Electric currently the only electric car under 40 grand with a range of more than 500 kilometers (514 WLTP). There is not even a Chinese brand currently offering this.

Popular

The price cut will no doubt make the Kona even more popular than it already is. When the Kona Electric was introduced in the Netherlands in 2018, Hyundai could barely keep up with demand. This popularity then was also due to its competitive price and good specifications. The new generation Kona Electric fixes some of the previous model’s shortcomings, such as the lack of space inside. The new Kona is 15 cm longer, with a larger wheelbase and more interior space. Especially in the back seat, you notice this. Quite unique is the fact that the Kona features a traditional power outlet in the back, allowing not only phones and tablets to be charged via USB ports, but also laptops and other devices to be powered.

Buttons, buttons and more buttons

Up front, the interior also offers many options for powering electronic devices. A unique feature is the large number of physical buttons on the dashboard. Some 30 buttons allow you to control everything effortlessly, without having to scroll and swipe through all kinds of menus in the infotainment system. Old-fashioned? Absolutely not! More and more car manufacturers are reintroducing interior buttons simply because it is safer while driving. Besides, for the modern person, there is plenty to swipe, on the big screens you get in front of you.

Is it roomy?

Not only has rear legroom grown, so has luggage space. 466 liters fit in the back, with the possibility of taking an additional 200 liters by folding down the rear seats. In addition, there is an additional small storage space in the front of the car called the frunk. Here you can store small items, or your charging cable, if you roll it up really tight.

How does it drive?

The handling of the new Kona Electric has become more comfortable, with a good balance between performance and ride comfort. Although power increased to 218 hp, torque was reduced to 255 Nm. In the previous model, the electric motor unleashed nearly 400 Nm on the front wheels, which soon began to spin as a result. Especially when the road surface was wet. By pinching off the torque, the Kona is much less prone to wheel spin.

The extra horsepower makes for a smooth driving experience. Especially when overtaking at higher speeds, you notice that there is always enough power. The suspension offers comfort without excessive leaning when cornering. The 19-inch wheels on our test car create some rolling noise, but enough sound insulation has been applied to keep it from becoming a nuisance. Via flippers behind the wheel, you can adjust the degree of regenerative braking, allowing you to apply extra braking to the electric motor before curves or traffic circles. After a few days, this becomes intuitive and you know exactly when to pull the flipper one more time to come to a neat stop at the stoplight without wasting energy or stressing your brakes.

Many driving assistance systems

The car is equipped with virtually every modern driving assistance and safety system available. Sometimes they are conspicuous. If you yawn once, for example, an icon of a cup of coffee appears on the screen, with a notification from the car that it is time for a break. Fortunately, most systems can be easily disabled.

Adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist deserve praise, as they make highway driving significantly more comfortable. These systems keep the car neatly in the middle of the lane – without “ping-ponging” back and forth – and brake the Kona gradually when a car in front of you merges, rather than abruptly. That way, you’ll arrive at your destination noticeably fitter after a long drive.

How far will he really get?

On paper, the Kona EV will travel 514 kilometers. She will then have to choose the 17-inch wheels. 19-inch wheels will get you 454 kilometers on paper. In practice, we reach 400 kilometers or more with some ease. We prefer 18-inch wheels because they provide a little more comfort, less rolling noise and more range. With a fast charger, the Kona Electric can handle up to 100 kW, which means it takes about 40 minutes to charge the battery to 80 percent. There are EVs in this class that finish 10 minutes earlier. But those either don’t get as far on a full battery or are simply more expensive. In the video below, we tell you more about our experience with the new Hyundai Kona Electric.