US-spec Hyundai Kona Electric Promises An Impressive 250 Miles Of EV Range

Following the world debut of its first battery-electric SUV, Hyundai has revealed the US version of the Kona Electric at the New York Auto Show.

Unlike the Euro-spec models, the Hyundai Kona Electric will be only available in its long-range version which promises to offer an estimated 250 miles of driving range between charges.

What about power?

The electric powertrain produces 201hp (150kW) and 291lb-ft of torque and is fed by a 64kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack. Power goes to the front wheels alone but Hyundai didn’t release any performance specs yet.

The Korean carmaker claims that the energy efficiency of the new Kona Electric is internally estimated at 117MPGe, which is not only better than the Nissan Leaf (112MPGe) but also superior to Tesla’s Model S (104MPGe) and Model X (93MPGe).

“We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America.

A Level-II on-board charging system is capable of a 7.2kW rate of charge while Hyundai will also offer 100 kW DC fast-charging capability as standard. This means you can achieve an 80 percent charge in just 54 minutes when using the fast charger.

Plenty of safety tech onboard

The range of safety systems, called Hyundai Smart Sense, is quite long and includes Lane Keeping Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, Parking Distance Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection and more.

Inside, the main difference between the Kona Electric and its petrol-powered siblings is the adoption of a taller center console that hosts the model-specific shift-by-wire controls. The infotainment system gets an eight-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple Car Play. Cars without a sunroof also get a contrasting white roof.

The first examples of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric will arrive in the US in the fourth quarter of 2018, with initial availability in California.