Hyundai’s first-generation Kona Electric was one thing of a darling. It was environment friendly, seemed good, and made electrical motoring slightly extra accessible for these with out Tesla cash to play with. Now 2023’s new Kona Electric (2024 for US punters) goals to maintain the nice occasions rolling with a brand new look, recent tech, and extra luxurious than you’d count on from a B-segment crossover.
Since the primary Kona Electric’s debut in 2018 (in Europe, 2019 within the US), Hyundai’s been working arduous on its EV sport. The launch of the Ioniq 5 and 6 have taught the corporate precious classes that, it says, knowledgeable the event of its newest electrical child. As a consequence, this guarantees to be a much more full package deal than earlier than, at a eager worth level.
In the UK the vary kicks off at £34,995, and underneath $35,000 within the US. That’ll get you a “standard” automotive packing a 48.4-kWh battery with a claimed 234-mile vary, a 154-bhp motor able to getting from 0 to 62 mph in 8.8 seconds, and as much as 101 mph. A Long Range Kona Electric sits above it within the lineup, boasting a 65.4-kWh battery, claimed 319-mile vary, a perkier 215-bhp motor that’ll crack 0-62 mph in a brisker 7.8 seconds, after which on to 107 mph. Both automobiles get the identical 188 lb ft of torque.
Hyundai’s 400-volt structure is unfortunately not the 800 volt you get within the Ioniq 5 or 6, however greater than slightly amusingly it is the identical as that within the Rolls-Royce Spectre EV. It permits the Kona Electric to cost from 10 to 80 % in slightly over 40 minutes. No matter which battery you go for, you get helpful vehicle-to-load tech to energy something you’ll be able to plug right into a family wall socket on the fly.
Forward-Looking Design
Courtesy of Hyundai
Hyundai’s design crew has (as soon as once more) performed a blinder with the automotive’s look. It cuts a fantastic determine and can little doubt be the darling of grocery store parking tons all around the world. The agency’s newest design language is delightfully futuristic (if slightly First Order Stormtrooper stylish), and it comes with tech to match. Its body-width gentle bar on the entrance attracts the attention neatly, and the automotive’s assorted sensors are hidden unobtrusively within the entrance bumper.
Those sensors are host to a complete suite of lively security expertise to maintain you on the straight and slim. There’s lane-keep assists, freeway driving assists, ahead collision avoidance assists, a blind-spot collision avoidance help, rear cross-traffic assists, a 360-degree parking arrange … and rather more. The Kona additionally reads highway indicators to test the pace restrict, watches you to verify your eyes are on the highway, screens your driving to see should you’re drowsy, and checks to verify each of your fingers are on the wheel. You’d need to work mighty arduous to crash.
Sensory Overload
The security equipment on board is complete—it must be to stick to numerous laws—however it’s additionally extremely irritating and in some circumstances flawed. Pull as much as a junction and dare to look away from useless straight down the highway for quite a lot of seconds—to, say, be sure to’re not about to drive into the trail of a lorry—and also you’re handled to an indignant “bong” with a flashing gentle telling you that you just’re not paying sufficient consideration.
Rest your fingers too evenly on the wheel and it thinks you’re going hands-free, so that you get one other bong. If it thinks you’re sleepy, it’ll bong at you and let you know to take a break. Indicate to alter lane with a automotive close by? That’s proper, an enormous ol’ bong, as a result of it thinks you may hit one thing. Every time the pace restrict modifications, the automotive will bong, exceed the restrict by a single mile per hour … bong.