HyundaiKona Electric

　　

2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　, rating written byAlex NishimotoAssociate Manager, Vehicle Testing and Operations

　　Rex Tokeshi-Torres has worked in the automotive industry for over 17 years. Rex is a vehicle testing technician and photographer at zzdcar and is responsible for coordinating vehicle testing and logistics, organizing data, and capturing photos for the site and social media. He has written over 100 vehicle-related articles and has rated, tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. He has also contributed content to Autobytel, Autotrader, Automobile, the Associated Press and DSport along with various motorsport teams. His affinity with cars started because of Hot Wheels and his love of modifying cars. He occasionally drives Subarus.

　　The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a practical and relatively inexpensive fully electric compact SUV that would make a great entry point into the world of EVs. Like the gas-powered standard Kona, the Kona Electric is surprisingly nimble. Couple that handling ability with the instant acceleration of an electric motor and you have a small SUV that's unexpectedly fun to drive.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below

　　

Hyundai Kona Electric EV Insights

Trim:Kona Electric SE

　　SE 4dr SUV (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $33,550 MSRPSEL 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $37,300 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $41,550 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　308 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 262 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　10 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　9.5 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: This program is a charging agreement between Hyundai Motor America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new Kona Electric will receive 250 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of complimentary charging on the Electrify America network. Complimentary charging expires 3 years from the date of purchase. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$59/mo

　　Kona Electric

　　vs

　　$167/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　Having received a major update in 2022, the Hyundai Kona's changes for 2023 are comparatively minor. The biggest news is that the model's trim levels have been renamed. The base model formerly known as the SEL becomes the SE, while the SEL with Convenience package is now simply the SEL. The Limited gets to keep its name and place at the top of the trim hierarchy. These are the last changes this generation of Kona Electric will get; a redesigned model will debut for 2024.

　　The Kona Electric is a solid compact EV with an attractive starting price, but it's not the only game in town. Among its competitors are the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Kia Niro EV and Volkswagen ID.4. Check out our test team's detailed Expert Rating to get an idea how the Kona Electric compares against its rivals.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Great

　　8.2

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Kona Electric drive? The Kona Electric feels more like an electric performance hatchback than the crossover SUV it's marketed as. It gets going in a hurry, merges onto freeways easily, and has no trouble on steep grades. We measured a spirited 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds at our test track.

　　The Kona Electric also changes direction readily and feels steady and composed around turns. It's fun to drive even if the eco-minded tires don't offer a whole lot of grip. For more casual driving, the Kona Electric is smooth and easy to drive. We also like that the regenerative braking system has three selectable levels. You can easily pick one to suit your personal preference or driving situation by using the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Pulling and then holding the left paddle also brings up even stronger regenerative braking that you can use to come to a complete stop.

　　

Comfort

8.5/10

　　How comfortable is the Kona Electric? The Kona Electric rides with a poise not usually found in this class of car. The low-slung mass of the battery and sophisticated rear suspension design help settle the car's motions when you drive over bumps. We also like the Kona's comfortable and supportive front seats. In back, the seat bottom is a bit flat, but the seatback angle is comfortable.

　　The electric motor is silent at all speeds, and wind and road noise is not evident when cruising the highway. As of 2019, all electric vehicles must emit a low-speed pedestrian alert sound, and you can hear the Kona's inside the car until it fades at about 18 mph. Some of our editors liked the spacey sound. Others hated it.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below