Electric Car Awards 2023: Best used electric small SUV
With electrified cars now coming in all shapes and sizes – and available to suit every budget – we’ve named the best models in every class. Here we look at the best used electric small SUV...
Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Premium
Everyone loves an underdog, and upon its arrival, the Hyundai Kona Electric was exactly that. It helped to establish that relatively affordable electric cars, and a neat and practical SUV to boot, can take you a decent distance on a single charge.
In fact, when we tested its real-world range in 2018, the 64kWh version went farther than the 13 other EVs we put it up against; it managed a total of 259 miles before it came to a halt, compared with its official range of 300 miles.
To this day, the Kona Electric’s range remains very competitive, easily exceeding the rival Vauxhall Mokka-e’s 209-mile official range, as well as the 212 miles managed by the Peugeot e-2008.
Equipment isn’t lacking, either. Even entry-level SE has such desirable features as rear parking sensors and a rear-view camera, while our favourite trim level – called Premium – gets you luxuries that include a high-end Krell audio system. It’s a similarly good story in regards to safety tech, with all version getting lane-keeping assistance as standard.
On the road, the Kona Electric feels more controlled than the MG ZS EV. The Kia e-Niro may offer a slightly better overall driving experience and have a plusher interior, but like the e-2008 and the Mokka-e, it’ll cost you more to buy than a Kona of the same age.
The Kona Electric can also be bought with a smaller, 39kWh battery that brings a more modest 158-mile range, but we’d seek out the 64kWh option, because it won’t cost you much more to buy on the used forecourt. Only when you start looking at newer examples of the Kona does a clear price gap emerge between the two versions.
A significant facelift in 2021 helped to keep things fresh, with a restyled front end and an updated interior, including a 10.25in digital instrument panel. Examples of these facelifted cars cost from as little as £17,000, with the earliest cars now starting at a very competitive £15,000.
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