Drive with us: Hyundai Kona Electric Review

Remarkable range sees the Kona Electric compete with the very best

Once considered something of a trailblazer in the world of EVs, the Hyundai Kona Electric has set quite the bar.

When it was first released, it was one of few electric cars that could come anywhere close to the mightily impressive range of the Tesla lineup.

As an electric SUV, the Kona was unique, somewhat quirky in its design and immensely practical in its nature.

Now, we’re testing out this latest version of the Kona to see how it has developed and where it now sits in the electric SUV market.

What did we drive?

Model: KONA EV Premium 64kWh

Transmission: Automatic

Power: Electric

Colour: Phantom Black Pearl

Wheels: 17inch Alloys

OTR from: £27,950 (including Plug-in Car Grant)

Price of model driven: £29,300 (including Plug-in Car Grant)

Price

Both the SE Connect and Premium editions of the Kona Electric are eligible for the Plug-in Car Grant (PICG). However, the range-topping Ultimate edition is not.

After the PICG is accounted for, the SE Connect will set you back £27,950. Prices for the Premium trim start from £29,300 and rise to £32,550 for the bigger 64kWh battery. If you want the Ultimate trim, it will cost £37,200.

Compared to some of its rivals, the Kona’s sister car; the Kia E-Niro for example, is more expensive for both its entry-level and range-topping variants.

This makes the Kona Electric fantastic value for anybody considering an electric SUV lease. If you would like to lower your costs even further, a Hyundai Kona Electric lease deal through Carparison creates one, fixed monthly payment for a more affordable driving experience.

Electric Range and Charging

The Hyundai Kona has a claimed range of 300 miles, which is very impressive for an electric SUV. It’s one of the Kona’s major selling points. 

It surpasses rivals like the E-Niro (282), Peugeot e-2008 (206) and actually comes closer to something more premium like Volkswagen ID.4 (322).

Throughout our time reviewing the Kona Electric, we tried it in various driving conditions and lowering temperatures. We found the real-world range to be closer to the 280-290 mark, but to achieve over 90 per cent of the claimed range is very impressive.

When it comes to charging your Kona, it will go from 10 to 80% via a 100kW rapid charger in around 47 minutes. Standard charging via a 7.2kW charger will take you 9 hours and 15 minutes.

This falls drastically short of the Peugeot e-2008, which can recoup up to 80 per cent of its charge in just 30 minutes when connected to a 100kW rapid charger.

Where the Kona is different to many EVs is with its charging port, which is placed at the front of the vehicle. This wasn’t anything new for this specific version of the Kona, but I found it so handy. To just drive into a charging port was incredibly practical. For some charging stations, this won’t be the case, but for the majority, it will save you time dragging wires around the vehicle.

Drive

The Kona was a very easy and smooth car to drive. Despite its bigger size, it is deceptively quick – even when you’re not in sport mode. You feel all the 201hp, along with the benefits that come with its instant torque.

It drives with a bit of presence about it. You do feel like you’re in something of a reasonable size, but the handling remains sharp throughout.

There are paddles behind the wheel that allow you to tweak the level of regenerative braking the Kona has, giving you, the driver even more freedom to dictate the car’s efficiency.

The dashboard in front of you is on the larger side and the bonnet pops out at you, so you’re very much aware of the Kona’s size.

The drive may not be as engaging as some of the more premium electric SUVs on the market, but my time behind the wheel of the Kona Electric was effortless.

Design & Interior

It must be said, Hyundai have made huge strides when comparing this latest Kona to its predecessors.

Replacing the bobbled effect on the front panel with this flatter, more refined look elevates the Kona to new levels.

Not only will it improve the Kona’s efficiency, but it looks far more premium and befitting of a modern-day electric car. The overall design looks more complete, and it flows naturally.

The Kona’s interior will largely come down to personal preference. However, the mixture of textures and materials used throughout elevated what was otherwise quite a simple cabin.

Everything felt very well built and the drive by wire buttons and high-quality steering wheel added a premium element to proceedings. 

Adding to the stance of the exterior, the interior also has something of a stance about it. The centre console sits quite high, so there is a clear divide between yourself in the driving seat and the passenger – though some may enjoy this more than others.

Space & Practicality

The Kona has a very competitive cabin when it comes to storage opportunities. In the rear, head and legroom is suitable for this class and passengers above six foot will get by fine on your typical A to B journeys.

You have the freedom to carry three passengers in the back should you need to thanks to a comfortable middle seat and a low hump in the floor.

Our Premium Edition had two good-sized cupholders, space to store your keys and a well-sized armrest compartment. Bigger door bins would’ve been handy to store away any bigger bottles.

You also have false floor storage, which creates a useful space below the centre console to store your items somewhat out of sight.

The boot space available is good, but we had to say, it is by no means class-leading when it comes to electric SUVs. The Kona has 332 litres of space, which is a good size. The bag that the charging cables come in does take up a chunk of space, but for a small family, you won’t struggle to get by with the Kona’s boot.

If you’re considering EV leasing but need improved boot space, rivals like the Peugeot e-2008 (434L) or even the MG ZS EV (448L) offer greater practicality from a storage perspective.

Technology

The technology available in the Kona really impressed me and it is a key feature that made the car such an easy experience. For this class, it offers great value.

The 10.25inch touchscreen is responsive and has been laid out very simply. There’s no confusion about how it all works, it is very easy to navigate. The corresponding driver’s display also offers a great amount of information when on the move.

It wasn’t something we made a tremendous amount of use of, but if you want to listen to the sounds of a bustling café as you drive along, you can do so with the ‘Sounds of Nature’ option too. This may not be for everyone, but good to know.

The wireless charging plate is tucked away nicely out of sight. I couldn’t help but notice that my iPhone 11 fitted in there quite snug. I do wonder if a wider Android phone might struggle – something to consider.

When it comes to connectivity, you’ve got two USB ports and a 12V socket in the front of the cabin, with the options of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too.

Safety

Hyundai wanted the Kona to be a suitable family car that comes packed with useful safety features.

This improved Kona comes with an array of features, including Driver Attention Warning, Speed Limit Warning and Blind Spot Assist among other driver technologies that will help keep you and your family safe on the move.

There is no official Euro NCAP safety rating for the pure electric version of the Kona yet, however, the combustion engine alternative has previously scored five stars, with an 87% score for adult occupants.

Model Lines & Equipment

In keeping with the rest of the car’s design, Hyundai have kept the model lines very simple for the Kona Electric.

You have three options to choose from; the SE Connect, Premium and the range-topping Ultimate.

Well kitted out from standard, the Kona Electric provides fantastic value for money and anyone who takes out an electric car lease deal will be getting good bang for their buck.

The Kona Electric trims are outlined below:

SE Connect – from £27,950

• 10.25” Widescreen Navigation with Bluelink & Mapcare
• 17” Alloy Wheels
• Air Conditioning - Climate Control
• Cruise Control - Smart Adaptive Speed Control with Stop and Go Function
• Driver’s Supervision Instrument Cluster with TFT Display (10.25”)
• Electric Windows - Front and Rear
• Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian and Cycle Detection
• KRELL Premium Audio - 8 Speaker + Subwoofer
• Parking Brake - Electric
• Parking System - Rear Parking Sensors, Rear Camera and Guidance System
• Phone Connection - Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• Regenerative Brake Shift Paddles
• Smart Key - Keyless Entry with Power On/Off Button

Premium – from £29,300

(In addition/replacement of SE Connect)

• Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA)
• Front Seats - Heated
• Headlights - Full LED (MFR)
• Heated Steering Wheel
• Intelligent Speed Limit Warning
• Parking Sensors - Front and Rear
• Privacy Glass - Rear Side and Tailgate
• Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCA)
• Wireless Phone Charging Pad

Ultimate – from £37,200

(In addition/replacement of Premium)

• Driver’s Seat Electric Adjustments
• Front Passenger’s Seat Electric Adjustments
• Front Seats - Ventilated
• Head-Up Display (HUD)
• Rear Seats (Outer) - Heated
• Seat Trim - Black Leather (Seat Facings Only)
• Sunroof - Electric tilt and slide

*Model lines and prices correct at the time of publication

Verdict

As an overall package, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a very competitive and compelling electric lease choice. It comes packed with fantastic kit even with the entry-level option.

If you're after an electric SUV but wanted to improve on the Kona's range, your options are only limited to perhaps just Volkswagen or Tesla alternatives, which highlights what fantastic value for money the Kona Electric is. 

Think back to when it was initially launched, the Kona was unique and viewed as a pioneer among electric SUVs. Now it is competing in a far more saturated market, but Hyundai remained unmoved on this and the Kona should still be considered as one of the very best in its class.

Are you considering a Hyundai lease deal? Check out our latest Hyundai Kona lease deals or our business contract hire offers.