Hyundai Kona Electric review

Introduction

We’d love to have been flies on the wall in Hyundai’s design department when ideas for this new Hyundai Kona Electric SUV were being bandied around.

The conversation must have gone something a little like this: “Well, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 – with its 8-bit videogame looks ​​– is winning over premium buyers, and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 – modelled on a 1950s streamliner – has won numerous design awards, so let's go all in and style the second-generation Kona Electric after RoboCop.”

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It practically shouts, "Hey, I’m an electric car!" And that makes sense when you consider that this second-generation model was developed as an electric car first and a petrol/hybrid model second. The original, 2017-2023 Hyundai Kona was the other way around.

Hyundai Kona Electric video review

To read about that petrol/hybrid model, you’ll want our Hyundai Kona review. Here, we’re solely focusing on the fully electric Kona and seeing how it stacks up next to electric SUV rivals.

One such rival (the Kia Niro EV) is closely related to the Kona Electric but the class leaders are the Kia EV3 and Skoda Elroq. Read on to find out how we rate it in all the important areas...

What’s new
- August 2023: Production starts, prices announced. Advance, N Line, N Line S, Ultimate trims
- March 2023: Second-generation Kona Electric debuts with 48.4kWh battery and 154bhp electric motor, or 65.4kWh battery and 214bhp motor

Overview

The Hyundai Kona Electric doesn't move the game on massively from its predecessor, but all the small changes add up to a very well-rounded electric SUV. The long-range version in the entry-level Advance trim is the best option for most buyers, offering the best value for money with the most battery range.

Our pick

65.4kWh Advance SUV 5dr Electric Auto (218 ps) review

RRP £35,000

Pros

• Good range
• Plenty of space for occupants and their luggage
• User-friendly dashboard layout

Cons

• Steering wheel short on reach adjustment
• Not much fun to drive
• Some motor whine around town

Our pick

65.4kWh Advance SUV 5dr Electric Auto (218 ps) review

RRP £35,000

Trims available

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Advance

Entry-level Advance gives you way more equipment than you’d expect from a small SUV. It even includes highlights such as front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera, full LED headlights and adjustable lumbar support.

N Line

N Line trim doesn’t cost much more than the entry-level Advance version but adds a few nice to haves that make it worth the extra. Indeed, it even gets heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel – equipment usually left for more expensive family SUVs. N Line also adds sportier N Line styling to the exterior.

Ultimate

On top of the sportier exterior that comes with N Line trim, N Line S trim updates the interior, adding Alcantara in various places. It also adds electrically adjustable front seats, blind-spot monitoring and an upgraded Bose stereo with seven speakers and a sub-woofer.

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Performance & drive

What it's like to drive, and how quiet it is

While previously available with two battery options, you now have just the one with the Hyundai Kona Electric. It’s called the Long Range and it gets a 65.4kWh (usable) battery and a 215bhp motor driving the front wheels.

The Long Range feels genuinely sprightly. During our testing, it accelerated from 0-60mph in 7.8 seconds. On the same day, it came out quicker than the rival Peugeot e-2008 (8.5 seconds) but slower than the Smart #1 Premium (5.8 seconds).

Mind you, acceleration is one thing but range is arguably more important, and the Kona Electric Long Range officially travels up to 319 miles on a full charge. That figure is good, beating all versions of the e-2008, Jeep Avenger Electric and Vauxhall Mokka Electric. For more range, take a look at the Kia EV3 (up to 375 miles) and Skoda Elroq (up to 360 miles).

Like every electric car, the Kona Electric can recoup energy using regenerative braking. You can alter how intense you’d like that feature to be with the paddles on the steering wheel. At one end of the spectrum the car will bring itself to a complete stop if you let off the accelerator (one-pedal braking). At the other you can turn off the regen completely. Fortunately, the brake pedal is predictable and easy to modulate.

The Kona Electric is easygoing in other ways too. The light steering makes navigating urban areas a cinch and the relatively soft suspension means the ride is pretty relaxing. It’s more forgiving than the firmer #1 at low speeds.

At higher speeds, things aren’t so peachy. Expansion joints are dealt with abruptly and you feel these impacts more than you would in a #1, Elroq or EV3. What’s more, the steering fails to gain much weight at speed, instilling less confidence than you’d hope on a twisty road. It’s a decent handler rather than a sharp one – the Elroq and #1 are more deserving of such praise.

Pulling away from a standstill, you hear a slight whine from the Kona Electric’s motor, which is something you won’t notice in the e-2008 and #1. There’s a fair amount of wind noise on the motorway, but there’s with less road noise than there is with a #1.

"The Kona Electric's fairly soft suspension doesn't do as good a job as rivals' at soaking up impacts from expansion joints and the like at higher speeds, but I found it's very good at soaking up most potholes and bumps when you're going more slowly." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Interior

The interior layout, fit and finish

When you're behind the wheel of the Hyundai Kona Electric, you know you’re in an SUV because you sit high up, with a more elevated seating position than in a Peugeot e-2008.

There's plenty of electric seat adjustment to help you find your ideal driving position easily. Every version comes with adjustable lumbar support, to keep you comfortable on long drives, while going for N-Line S trim or above adds electric seat adjustment.

Unlike almost all the Kona’s rivals, the front and rear seats of all but the entry-level Advance model are heated, while top-spec versions get ventilated front seats.

What's more, the fundamental driving position is mostly sound – the pedals line up neatly with a steering wheel that offers plenty of height adjustment. Taller drivers might find the wheel can’t be pulled out far enough for them to get a comfortable distance back from the pedals though.

Seeing out of the front and side of the Kona isn't too difficult, because of its tall windows and relatively narrow pillars that don’t impede your view. That's really helpful when you're pulling out of T-junctions and on to roundabouts.

When you look back over your shoulder, the Kona’s broad rear pillars restrict your view, although it’s no worse than in a Kia Niro EV or Smart #1. You have a clearer out the back than in the e-2008, thanks to a taller rear window. Happily, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard across the range.

Every Kona comes with a 12.3in infotainment touchscreen with DAB radio, Bluetooth and sat-nav plus wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.

The logical menu lay-out and quick response to inputs makes it one of the most user-friendly infotainment systems in the class. The graphics are sharp but the best thing about it is the number of physical shortcut buttons you can use to skip to each of the different menus.

We much prefer it to the touch-sensitive controls you’ll find in the #1 and Skoda Elroq. What’s more, there are big, easy-to-find buttons further down to adjust every single aspect of the climate control system without having to go anywhere near the touchscreen.

Only entry-level Advance models miss out on a wireless charging pad, while opting for N Line S or above also adds an upgraded Bose stereo system with seven speakers. Its sound quality won't blow you away but it lets you crank up the volume without too much fear of distortion.

The Kona's interior doesn’t feel quite as robust as the Smart #1’s but it’s not far behind. All the buttons, switches and dials feel robust and have a satisfying click whenever you use them.

Even though the Kona’s interior doesn’t feel quite as upmarket as the #1’s, you still get plenty of soft-touch materials and it does a good job of disguising the hard, scratchy plastics below eye level and on the insides of the doors.

"I thought the infotainment is more user-friendly than key rivals', and you get lots of functions and sharp graphics, plus it's well positioned for the driver to reach." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Passenger & boot space

How it copes with people and clutter

Up front, there’s plenty of head and leg room in the Hyundai Kona Electric, and it's wide enough that you don't rub shoulders with your passenger.

Storage space includes a couple of cupholders between the seats and a large cubby hidden below the front centre armrest. All versions bar entry-level Advance have a wireless charging pad by the USB ports, while the door pockets are big enough for a couple of small water bottles.

There's loads of head and leg room in the back too. A six-footer with long legs will have no trouble sitting behind an equally tall front-seat passenger.

That means rear-seat passengers will be able to stretch out more than in a Jeep Avenger Electric or Peugeot e-2008. Even middle-seat occupants get impressive shoulder room, and the floor is flat, so they get just as much foot space as people either side of them.

As with many of the Kona’s rivals, there’s not much space for feet under the front seat. To boost comfort, the backrest can tilt back by a few degrees, plus there’s a centre armrest.

All versions get versatile 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, allowing you to slide longer items through from the boot while still having two outer rear seats. That’s better than you’ll find in an Avenger, an e-2008 and a Smart #1.

The boot space is a handy size and shape, with easy access through the broad opening. With an overall capacity of 466 litres, the Kona Electric lines up well with the rival Kia EV3 (460 litres), Skoda Elroq (470 litres) and Kia Niro EV (475 litres). What’s more, it absolutely trounces the Avenger (380 litres), e-2008 (434 litres) and #1 (273 litres). We managed to squeeze in six carry-on suitcases, compared with five in the e-2008 and three in the #1.

"The Kona Electric has a bigger load bay than the Peugeot e-2008 and Smart #1. The height-adjustable boot floor is useful for some larger loads, and I like that there's space for charging cables under it." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

Buying & owning

Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is

The Hyundai Kona Electric is well priced, slightly undercutting the Kia EV3 Long Range and Skoda Elroq 85. It also undercuts the Kia Niro EV.

And even if you go for the cheapest trim, called Advance, you get plenty of kit as standard, including 17in alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and keyless entry. All versions come with an EV heat pump – something that costs extra on the Niro EV and Smart #1.

N Line adds sportier-looking bumpers, larger 19in alloy wheels and rear privacy glass, a heated steering wheel and a powered tailgate. N Line S then adds the full width front LED light strip and part-leather seats.

Ultimate trim is similarly equipped to N Line S, but it does without that trim’s sporty styling and instead gives you a sunroof.

There’s plenty of safety kit on all versions, including automatic emergency braking (AEB) that senses cars, bikes and pedestrians. If you want blind-spot monitoring, a rear-cross collision avoidance system and a safe exit system, you’ll need to step up to N Line S or Ultimate trim.

The Kona Electric achieved a four-star rating in 2023 when it was tested by safety experts at Euro NCAP. The level of protection for occupants in a front impact wasn’t as strong what’s offered in a Smart #1.

When it comes to charging speeds, you’ll be pleased to learn that with a maximum charging rate of 102kW, a 10-80% charge will take around 40 minutes, which is quicker than a BYD Atto 3 (88kW), the Honda e:NY1 (78kW) and the Kia Niro EV (80kW), but slower than a Kia EV3 Long Range (135kW), Smart #1 (150kW) and Skoda Elroq 60 (160kW).

A full 0-100% charge from a 7kW home EV charger in the Kona Electric takes around 10 and a half hours.

The Kona Electric did not feature in our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey but Hyundai as a brand claimed 10th place (out of the 31 car makers included) in the overall league table. To give you extra peace of mind, Hyundai offers a five-year, unlimited mile warranty. That said, Kia offers a seven-year warranty.

"I expect the Kona Electric will be cheaper to run over three years than the Peugeot e-2008 and Smart #1 because of its slower depreciation." – Oliver Young, Reviewer

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