I am a big fan of the original Hyundai Kona electric car. When I drove it for the first time in 2019, I thought it was the best electric car in Australia.
This is not only because of its relatively high value, but also provides a suitable range for Australian commuters. It also provides the feedback that early adopters will get, as well as the convenience that owners of electric vehicles need for the first time.
Now that this new look and facelift has arrived, do these factors still apply in the rapidly expanding field of electric vehicles? We have driven a top-spec Highlander to find out.
Kona Electric is still expensive, don’t get me wrong. It is undeniable that when the cost of the electric version is almost twice its combustion equivalent value, small SUV buyers will collectively look forward to it.
However, when it comes to electric vehicles, the value equation is quite different. When you balance range, functionality, size, and price with its competitors, Kona is actually much better than you think.
From this perspective, Kona is much more expensive than the basic Nissan Leaf and MG ZS EV, but it is also much cheaper than competitors that offer more range, such as Tesla, Audi and Mercedes-Benz models. These models are now part of Australia’s expanding electric vehicle landscape.
Scope is the key. Kona can use up to 484 kilometers of cruising range (in the WLTP test cycle), it is one of the few electric cars that can really match gasoline cars between “refueling”, fundamentally eliminating the mileage anxiety of suburban commuters .
Kona Electric is not just another variant. Its specifications and interior have undergone some major changes, which at least partially make up for the huge price difference between it and the gasoline version.
Leather seat decoration is the standard configuration of the Elite base, full digital instrument panel, 10.25-inch multimedia touch screen with EV specific function screen, overhaul bridge-type center console design with telex control, wireless charging bay, and extended soft touch in the entire cabin Materials, halogen headlights with LED DRL, soundproof glass (to cope with the lack of environmental noise) and rear parking sensor and reversing camera.
The top Highlander is equipped with LED headlights (with adaptive high beams), LED indicator and taillights, front parking sensor, electrically adjustable front seats, heated and cooled front seats and outer heated rear seats , Heated steering wheel, optional glass sunroof or contrast color roof, auto-dimming rearview mirror and holographic head-up display.
The full set of active safety features (which we will discuss later in this review) is the standard configuration of the two variants, each of which is driven by the same motor, so there is no difference.
It is interesting to see Elite or any electric car in 2021 with halogen light fittings and excessive heating of seats and wheels, because we are told that they are a more battery-efficient way to heat the vehicle occupants, thus maximizing the range化. You must reserve something for top-spec cars, but it is also a pity that elite buyers will not be able to benefit from these mileage-saving measures.
Looking at the electric car, Kona’s recent facelift has begun to become more meaningful. Although the gasoline version is a bit weird and split, the sleek and minimalist appearance of the electric version makes me think that Hyundai has designed this kind of facelift for EVs alone.
The first three quarters are eye-catching, obviously lacking facial features, and the appearance matches well with the new hero “Surf Blue” color. Some people may think that the EV’s ecological appearance of 17-inch alloy is a bit clumsy, and again, it is a shame that halogen headlights disappear from Elite’s futuristic design point.
On the subject of futuristic design, the interior of the Kona electric car is almost indistinguishable from the gasoline model. Considering the price difference, this is good news. The brand not only adopts a floating “bridge” console design and is decorated with its more high-end models of telex controls, but also upgrades the entire material to create a better cabin environment.
The door card and dashboard inserts are made of soft-touch materials, and many finishes have been improved or replaced with satin silver to enhance the cabin atmosphere, and the highly digitalized cockpit makes it feel as advanced as any electric car.
In other words, it does not have the minimalism of the Tesla Model 3, and may be more suitable for it, especially when it comes to attracting people from internal combustion engines. The layout and feel of Kona is futuristic, but familiar.
Hyundai Motor has done its best to take advantage of Kona’s electric base. The front seats are where you can feel this most, because the brand’s new bridge console allows a huge new storage area underneath, equipped with 12V sockets and USB sockets.
Above, the usual storage areas still exist, including a small center console armrest box, a moderately sized double cup holder, and a small storage shelf under the climate unit with the main USB socket and wireless charging cradle.
Each door has a large bottle rack with a small slot for storing items. I found that the cabin of the Highlander is very adjustable, although it is worth noting that the light-colored seats in our test car are decorated in dark colors such as jeans on the door side of the base. For practical reasons, I would choose a darker interior.
The back seat is a less positive story. Kona’s back seat is already tight for an SUV, but the situation here is worse because the floor has been raised to facilitate the huge battery pack underneath.
This means that my knees will not have a small gap, but when set to my driving position (182 cm/6 feet 0 inches high), I raise them to the position against the driver’s seat.
Fortunately, the width is okay, and the improved soft-touch trim continues to extend to the rear door and drop-down center armrest. There is also a small bottle holder on the door, which just fits our 500ml large test bottle, there is a fragile net on the back of the front seat, and a strange small tray and USB socket on the back of the center console.
There are no adjustable vents for rear passengers, but in Highlander, the outer seats are heated, which is a rare feature usually reserved for high-end luxury cars. Like all Kona variants, Electric has two ISOFIX child seat mounting points on these seats and three top tethers in the rear.
The boot space is 332L (VDA), which is not big, but not bad. Small cars (gasoline or other) in this segment will exceed 250 liters, while a truly impressive example will exceed 400 liters. Think of it as a victory, it only has about 40 liters on the gasoline variant. It still fits our three-piece CarsGuide demo luggage set, remove the parcel rack.
When you need to carry a public charging cable with you like we do, the luggage floor is equipped with a convenient net, under the floor there is a tire repair kit and a neat storage box for the (included) wall socket charging cable.
Whichever Kona electric variant you choose, it is driven by the same permanent magnet synchronous motor producing 150kW/395Nm, which drives the front wheels through a single-speed “reduction gear” transmission.
This surpasses many small electric cars, and most small SUVs, even though it does not have the performance that Tesla Model 3 offers.
The car’s paddle shift system provides three-stage regenerative braking. The motor and related components are located in the engine compartment commonly used by Kona, so there is no additional storage space in front.
Now is something interesting. A few weeks before this review, I tested the updated Hyundai Ioniq Electric and I was very impressed with its efficiency. In fact, at that time, Ioniq was the most efficient electric car (kWh) I have ever driven.
I don’t think Kona will be the best, but after a week of testing in major city conditions, Kona returned an amazing data of 11.8kWh/100km compared to its large 64kWh battery pack.
Surprisingly good, especially because the official/comprehensive test data of this car is 14.7kWh/100km, which can usually provide 484km of cruising range. Based on our test data, you will notice that it can return a range of more than 500 kilometers.
It is important to remember that electric cars are much more efficient around towns (due to the constant use of regenerative braking), and note that the new “low rolling resistance” tires have a significant impact on the car’s range and consumption s difference.
Kona’s battery pack is a lithium-ion battery pack that is charged through a single European standard Type 2 CCS port located in a prominent position on the front. In DC combined charging, Kona can supply power at a maximum rate of 100kW, allowing 47 minutes of 10-80% charging time. However, most of the chargers around the capital cities of Australia are 50kW locations, and they will complete the same job in about 64 minutes.
In AC charging, Kona’s maximum power is only 7.2kW, charging from 10% to 100% in 9 hours.
The frustrating thing is that when AC charging, Kona’s maximum power is only 7.2kW, charging from 10% to 100% in 9 hours. It will be great to see at least 11kW inverter options in the future, allowing you to add more range to the convenient exchange points that appear near the local supermarket within an hour or two.
These highly specified electric variants have no compromises in terms of safety, and both have been fully handled by modern “SmartSense”.
Active items include highway speed automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane keeping assist with lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring with collision assist, rear intersection warning and rear automatic braking, with stop and walk functions Adaptive cruise control, driver attention warning, safety exit warning and rear passenger warning.
The Highlander grade score adds automatic high beam assist to match its LED headlights and head-up displays.
In terms of expectations, Kona has a standard package of stability management, brake support functions, traction control and six airbags. Additional benefits are tire pressure monitoring, rear parking sensor with distance display and Highlander’s front parking sensor.
This is an impressive package, the best in the small SUV segment, although we should expect this electric car worth more than $60,000. Since this Kona is a facelift, it will continue its highest five-star ANCAP safety rating obtained in 2017.
Kona enjoys the brand’s industry-competitive five-year/unlimited kilometers warranty, and its lithium battery components enjoy a separate eight-year/160,000 kilometers commitment, which seems to be becoming the industry standard. Although this promise is competitive, it is now challenged by the Kia Niro cousin, who offers a seven-year/unlimited kilometer warranty.
At the time of writing, Hyundai has not locked its usual ceiling price service plan for the updated Kona EV, but the service for the pre-update model is very cheap, only $165 per year for the first five years. Why shouldn’t it? There are not so many moving parts.
The Kona EV driving experience complements its familiar yet futuristic appearance. For anyone coming out of a diesel locomotive, everything will be immediately familiar when viewed from behind the steering wheel. Except for the absence of a shift lever, everything feels more or less the same, although Kona electric cars can be pleasant and pleasant in many places.
First of all, its electric function is easy to use. This car offers three levels of regenerative braking, and I prefer to dive with the maximum setting. In this mode, it is essentially a single-pedal vehicle, because regeneration is very aggressive, it will make your foot stop quickly after stepping on the accelerator.
For those who do not want the motor to brake, it also has a familiar zero setting, and an excellent default automatic mode, which will only maximize regeneration when the car thinks you are stopped.
The weight of the steering wheel is good, it feels helpful, but not excessive, allowing you to easily locate this heavy small SUV. I say heavy because Kona Electric can feel it in every aspect. A 64kWh battery pack is very heavy, and Electric weighs about 1700kg.
This proves that Hyundai is focusing on suspension adjustments globally and locally, and it still feels under control. Although it can be sudden at times, overall the ride is great, with balance on both axles and a sporty feel around the corners.
It’s easy to take this for granted, as I learned when I tested the MG ZS EV the previous week. Unlike Kona Electric, this small SUV novice can hardly cope with the weight of its battery and high ride height, providing spongy, uneven ride.
So, the key to taming gravity. Pushing the Kona too hard will make it difficult for the tires to keep up. Wheels will slip and understeer when pushing. This may be related to the fact that this car started as a gasoline car.