Hyundai Kona Electric review

Driving position

Being a crossover, you sit higher in the Hyundai Kona Electric than you might in regular family hatchbacks.

Unlike bigger SUVs, though, you still have the feeling of the car wrapping around you, rather than sitting on top of the car like in a Land Rover.

There’s plenty of adjustment in the seats, whether you go for one of the affordable trim levels with manual adjustment or a higher spec with electric controls. On the whole, it’s easy to get comfortable in the front of a Hyundai Kona Electric.

We noticed a slight blind spot around the C-pillar, between the rear doors and the boot, but front and rear parking sensors are fitted to all models to help negate this. All versions also get a reversing camera, which is more than can be said about some similar crossovers.

Tech and features

In previous iterations of the Kona, you had to buy high-spec editions to get the best tech, but even the standard trim level for this second-generation model comes with twin-12.3-inch displays, which work with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

All models have four USB-C ports, two in the front and two in the rear, and all but the entry-level Advance car have wireless phone charging to add support for up to five phones in total.

The Hyundai Kona Electric also bucks the modern trend of sticking all controls on a touchscreen, which we really loved.

All of the key controls, including climate and media, as well as optional add-ons like heated and cooled seats, are all accessed with physical buttons, which are far easier and quicker to use on the go.

In terms of electric vehicle tech, all Hyundai Kona Electric cars have a standard-fit heat pump, which helps improve efficiency in the cold winter months. On some cars, a heat pump can be an optional extra costing several hundred pounds, if not more.

All models also get vehicle-to-load (V2L), which means you can use the car’s battery to power external devices with a built-in three-pin outlet.

Engines and power

All trim levels are available with the bigger battery (more on that below), which comes with the more powerful 218hp electric motor.

It’s good for 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds, which is reasonably punchy, but many rivals offer more powerful options such as the Volkswagen ID.3, which does 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds in its 204hp form.

Interestingly, the 156hp motor that comes with the smaller battery, available on entry-level cars only, has the same 255Nm torque output, so it’s only 1.0s slower to 62mph.

Given the type of car this is, we think these power outputs are acceptable. The Kona Electric doesn’t feel slow, thanks to the instant throttle response of its electric motors.

Handling and ride comfort

The Hyundai Kona Electric is designed to offer a smooth and comfortable ride, and the linear throttle output backs that up – it’s quick, but your head won’t hit the headrest and cause you a headache.

Steering is light for town driving, but it does lack some feedback and engagement when you’re driving on fast, flowing country roads.

Varying levels of regenerative braking, configurable with easy steering wheel-mounted paddles, make it easy to drive the Kona Electric without needing to touch the brake pedal at all.

But if you do, you shouldn’t be able to tell where the motor regenerative braking ends and the conventional friction brakes start, helping you stop smoothly.

Boot space

The Kona sits somewhere between a family hatchback and an SUV, and its boot reflects that. The 466-litre space is adequate, and there’s not too much of a loading lip.

Fold the seats flat and you have a 1,300-litre space, but there’s a bit of a jump up from the boot floor to get over the rear seats, so you won’t be able to slide items right the way in.

There’s also a small 27-litre frunk under the bonnet – it’s good for rarely used equipment like a tyre inflator, and you might be able to get the charging cable in there with some clever packaging.

Rear seats

Regardless of trim level and fabric choice, the rear bench is a comfortable space for two adults using the armrest.

You could get away with fitting three side-by-side, but compared with larger SUVs, shoulder space can be a bit tighter.

Unlike other cars that get a panoramic sunroof, high-spec Kona Electrics only have a small sunroof in the front, so headroom in the back is unaffected whether you choose to have a sunroof or not.

Storage solutions

Useful storage options include an open centre console with retractable cupholders and a wireless phone charger closer to the screen and buttons.

We feel that storage under the front armrest could be a bit better thought out – it’s largely an open space – but there’s no lack of space.

The door bins in the front are bigger than those in the back, but at least you have nets in the front seatbacks to store anything that won’t fit in the doors.

Safety

Like any other modern electric car, the Hyundai Kona Electric has the usual array of kit, but it’s the more advanced stuff that we’re interested in.

For example, all trim levels have Highway Driving Assist (HDA) 1.5 which combines navigation-based Smart Cruise Control Curve and Lane Following Assist to anticipate the upcoming road.

Top-spec models also include blind-spot cameras that show what you might otherwise miss on the digital instrument cluster – Kia and Tesla might also do this, but many of the Kona Electric’s rivals don’t.

Range and charging

Most buyers will likely opt for the 65kWh battery, which has a claimed range of up to 319 miles.

It charges at up to 10kW, which means you can nearly take full advantage of 11kW chargers in supermarkets for a 10-100% charge in around 5.5 hours. On a more common 7kW charger, which you may have installed at home, this charge would take eight hours.

The smaller 48kWh battery promises a 234-mile range, making it more efficient than the equivalent Volvo EX30.

A 10-100% charge takes four to six hours, depending if you’re using a 7kW or an 11kW charger.

Rapid charging is limited to 74kW on the smaller battery, and 101kW on the bigger battery, which means both can do 10-100% in under an hour and a half.

Many smaller cars rapid charge at 100-150kW, so the Kona Electric is average, but faster charging would help cut down wait times.

Reliability

Hyundai has already got a good reputation for reliability, offering unlimited-mileage five-year warranties on all of its cars, but it gets better. The expensive batteries get their own eight-year, 100-mile warranty.

The previous-generation Kona Electric was already praised for its reliability and Hyundai has been building plenty of other electrified models, so the second-generation car should be able to maintain that reputation.

Insurance groups

The Hyundai Kona Electric sits in insurance groups 25-33, which is about the same as other electric crossovers.

Petrol-powered models might be cheaper to insure, but remember to consider all running costs like fuel to make sure you’re making the right decision.