With a $36,450 starting price before incentives and destination, and just under $30,000 after, the Hyundai Kona Electric is priced competitively to other EVs in the market, such as the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt.
It’s also better equipped and has an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles (415 km), while its 64 kWh lithium-ion battery can be charged in about 9 hours from a 240-volt setup. It also comes with 100 kW DC fast-charging capability as standard, which helps it top up its battery to 80 percent in just a little under an hour.
Furthermore, the battery pack doesn’t encroach on either cargo or rear-seat space, but the electric powertrain has led to some interior updates, such as the reworked center console with a large cubby underneath.
Perhaps one of the biggest advantages to ordering the Kona Electric instead of the usual petrol-powered models (besides the zero emissions, obviously) is the punchy electric motor that drives the front wheels. It makes 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and 291 lb-ft (395 Nm) of torque, and there’s no delay in delivering the output.
As for the main drawback, that would be the excessive road noise coming into the cockpit, since there’s no traditional ICE to cover it, as RoadShow found in their review. Potential clients should also be aware of the rather bumpy ride on uneven surfaces.
Aside from the closed front grille, specially-designed wheels and a few other minor updates over the regular Kona, there’s nothing that gives away its true identity. Most bystanders probably won’t know that it’s an electric vehicle, so the element of surprise is definitely there, a thing that makes it even more interesting, according to the review, which you can watch in the video right below.