Hyundai Kona Electric review

The Hyundai Kona Electric is an EV for those who are a bit nervous about joining the electric revolution, because it offers the traditional SUV benefits of a practical interior and high driving position plus all the battery-powered benefits.

It’s a bit like those fancy woollen Allbirds shoes, which are rugged and waterproof but also environmentally friendly.

OK, so it costs more than the Hyundai Konas that come with more conventional petrol and diesel engines, but it’s in the same ballpark as other electric vehicles (EVs) such as the BMW i3, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.3.

The Hyundai Kona Electric range is relatively simple with just the two versions on offer – a 39kWh model with 136hp and a 189-mile range, and s a 64kWh model with 204hp and up to 279 miles of range. You’re able to charge the 64kWh Kona Electric to 80% in just 47 minutes using a 100kW charger.

More common is the 7kW charger, which is what you would most likely end up with if you got a wall charger installed at home. At this rate of charge the wait is far longer: the 64kWh car takes just over nine hours to recharge to full. This won’t be an issue if you plan to plug it in before you go to bed, like your mobile phone.

Still, a full ‘tank’ on the 64kWh Kona will cost you around £9, some £20 cheaper than fuelling a petrol car to cover the same distance, so you’ll be rewarded for your patience.

You get a different, raised central console to the one you’ll find in a ‘regular’ Kona, and it looks and feels more premium. Its standard infotainment system is easy to use and comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring – so you can seamlessly use the sat-nav and music apps on your smartphone on the Kona’s screen.

While the petrol and diesel Konas don’t stand out amongst small SUVs, the pure electric Kona manages to catch the eye – it offers something unique, and does it well.

Space inside the Hyundai Kona Electric is a mixed bag. You should be fine in the front seats – you’ll get lots of seat adjustment while the steering wheel has a wide range of movement too. Space around the seats in the front is impressive too.

However, adults in the back seats then they won’t be so comfortable and a Leaf will be comfier for those the back seats if that’s important to you.

The regular Kona’s boot is pretty disappointing and it isn’t any better on the electric version – the Kia Niro’s boot is much bigger. At least 60:40 split-folding rear seats still feature as standard to open up the space to 1,114 litres should you need a run to the rubbish dump.

Like all EVs, the Hyundai Kona Electric is great to drive in town. Performance is punchy, instant and silent, which means darting through traffic is easily done. However, a Nissan Leaf feels even more fun, while a Volkswagen ID.3 is more comfortable.

Still, the Kona offers chunky SUV styling and a decent range, so is capable of doing the job of a couple of cars in one. If that sounds good to you, make sure you check out our Hyundai Kona Electric deals for the very best prices.

What happens when you drive a Kona Electric until it runs completely out of charge? Check out our EV range test video