The primary Hyundai Kona was early to the electrical automobile get together in Australia, launching earlier than even the Tesla Mannequin 3.

The brand new one arrives to a really totally different market. Electrical automobile gross sales exploded in 2023, with an enormous crowd of latest fashions from upstarts and established gamers alike combating for consideration – so the brand new Kona must be good to face out.

Hyundai is providing loads of alternative for 2024, and says the brand new Kona Electrical is a extra rounded, fashionable product than its predecessor.

It’s additionally a less expensive one, with costs dropping relative to the equal pre-update mannequin regardless of packing extra space, extra package, and extra vary.

Does the brand new Kona Electrical have what it takes to offer Tesla, BYD, and MG a bloody nostril?

How does the Hyundai Kona fare vs its rivals?

View an in depth breakdown of the Hyundai Kona towards equally sized autos.

Hyundai

Kona

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value?

• 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Customary Vary: $54,000
• 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Prolonged Vary: $58,000
• 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical Premium Prolonged Vary: $68,000

Costs exclude on-road prices

The Kona Electrical faces off with quite a few SUVs, that includes each electrical and petrol energy. To see the way it shapes up, use our comparability instrument.

What’s the Hyundai Kona like on the within?

The final Kona Electrical was fairly closely differentiated from its petrol siblings with a futuristic, button-heavy dashboard.

The brand new one is, for all intents and functions, an identical to the petrol and hybrid. That’s a great factor; it’s a contemporary and spacious inside, which makes the cramped previous-generation automobile look very, very previous.

Presentation is spectacular throughout the vary, and the basics are strong. The entrance seats are comfy on lengthy hauls and provide a variety of adjustment permitting tall or brief drivers to get comfy, whereas the view over the bonnet is extra ‘shrunken Tucson‘ than ‘overgrown i30‘ as was beforehand the case.

Credit score to Hyundai for sticking with bodily buttons and dials for the local weather controls and drive mode. It’s simple to flick into Sport, for instance, or knock the temperature up by one diploma with out taking your eyes off the highway, as must be the case.

The infotainment software program is straightforward sufficient to make use of, and touches such because the transfer to place the shortcut buttons within the backside right-hand nook of the display as an alternative of the highest left make life simpler in right-hand drive Australia.

We all know wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are coming with a software program replace, however for now vehicles with manufacturing facility satellite tv for pc navigation don’t have it. It stays a irritating omission.

Hyundai’s digital dashboard is clear and useful, however it’s not notably feature-rich relative to what you get in a Volkswagen Group product – you possibly can’t have maps in your show, for instance.

The flip facet? There’s nonetheless a number of low-cost, laborious plastics, from the perimeters of the dashboard to the highest of the doorways. We known as it out within the petrol, and it’s extra pronounced right here given the Electrical is dearer once more – then once more, I’d take laborious plastics over a few of the weirdness within the Kona’s rivals from China.

In contrast to the bottom petrol, which will get a primary transmission tunnel with an old-school T-bar shifter, even the most cost effective hybrid and electrical fashions have a extra upscale open centre console. It has acres of cupboard space, and appears suitably clear and fashionable.

There’s a significant step up within the transfer from base Kona to Premium, due to the leather-based seat trim and ambient lighting, together with a sunroof that makes the cabin really feel extra open and ethereal.

Rear seat area is miles higher on this Kona than the final, beginning with the wider-opening doorways.

Adults don’t have to contort themselves to squeeze in anymore, which is a step ahead, and as soon as again there you get ranges of legroom and headroom similar to a Kia Seltos or BYD Atto 3.

The air vents and USB-C ports are family-friendly touches, and the broader rear bench will protecting warring youngsters at bay extra successfully than earlier than.

You even get a V2L three-pin outlet again there within the rear, permitting passengers to cost a laptop computer on the transfer.

The final Kona EV felt very compromised, with a better flooring than the petrol equal forcing passengers into an ungainly knees-up place. The brand new mannequin has extra toe-room below the entrance seats, and gained’t make long-legged passengers really feel practically as cramped.

ISOFIX on the outboard seats and a trio of top-tether factors are current, as is a fold-down central armrest.

Claimed boot area is a claimed 407 litres (up 75L on the previous automobile, down 132L on the petrol Kona), increasing to 1241 litres with the rear seats folded. There’s area for charging cables below the bonnet in a 27L cupboard space.

Rural patrons will even be glad to know there’s an area saver spare wheel beneath the boot flooring, which is uncommon in electrical vehicles.

What’s below the bonnet?

It is a uncommon instance of a automobile with decrease outputs than its predecessor.

The place the final Kona Electrical had 395Nm of torque, the brand new one has 255Nm. Hyundai says that’s nonetheless greater than sufficient, and the change was made to enhance drivability.

Having lived with a previous-generation Kona Electrical for some time, that’s no dangerous factor. It was susceptible to torque steer, and will by no means actually put all that torque down with out feeling a bit wild.

How does the Hyundai Kona drive?

The Kona Electrical isn’t focused on the form of one that desires their electrical automobile to really feel like a spaceship. It’s remarkably unremarkable, with a flat studying curve for anybody hopping out of a petroleum or diesel automobile.

Though its outputs are fairly low on paper, even the bottom Customary Vary is a clean and punchy automobile to drive at low speeds.

There’s no neck-snapping surge of acceleration, however the best way it performs is extra consistent with the higher-end petrol 1.6-litre turbo than the bottom 2.0-litre engine at metropolis speeds.

It’s a world away from the final Kona Electrical, which was surprisingly quick however susceptible to torque steer – the place the steering wheel tugs in your arms for those who speed up laborious on uneven surfaces.

No matter which mannequin you go for, the heavier EV feels extra relaxed and cozy than the petrol and hybrid Kona. Its suspension is softer, which implies it floats properly over bumps within the metropolis, and has a grown-up and splendid feeling on the freeway.

Throw in spectacular suppression of highway noise, and it’s a pleasant automobile to spend time in on the freeway. With that stated, we’d be trying on the extra highly effective Prolonged Vary in case you are doing greater than city commuting.

Not solely does it have an additional 135km of vary for those who keep on with the 17-inch wheels, it has a bit extra energy than the bottom mannequin which makes it really feel extra relaxed once you put your foot down at freeway speeds.

With the identical quantity of torque as the bottom automobile although, you don’t want to fret about torque steer at decrease speeds even within the dearer Prolonged Vary.

No matter which mannequin you go for, Hyundai’s regenerative braking has been improved within the transition from the first- to the second-generation Kona Electrical. It’s smoother to have interaction once you elevate off at pace, and also you’re now ready to make use of Hyundai’s iPedal to keep away from needing the brake pedal round city.

It’s foolish that you just nonetheless have to activate one-pedal driving each time you begin the automobile although; the best degree it’ll default to nonetheless requires the motive force places their foot on the brake pedal to cease.

Whereas we’re whinging… The adaptive cruise management does a great job sustaining a niche to the automobile in entrance, and the lane-keeping help decisively nudges you again between the white strains for those who stray.

Hyundai’s lane-centring system, which extra actively controls the automobile’s place within the lane slightly than intervening once you stray, is a bit too hands-on for my liking, although.

The motive force consideration monitoring can also be susceptible to false positives, flashing once you truly are trying on the highway… which makes you look away. Extra refinement is required.

What do you get?

Kona Electrical (Base) highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Area-saver spare wheel
• Satin chrome belt line/roof spoiler garnish
• Physique-colour painted cladding
• Heated exterior mirrors
• MFR-type computerized LED headlights
• Computerized high-beam
• LED daytime operating lights
• LED mixture tail lights
• Rain-sensing window wipers
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Over-the-air software program replace functionality
• Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• 6-speaker sound system
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Proximity entry and push-button begin
• Distant begin
• Leather-based-wrapped steering wheel
• Shift-by-wire column-mounted gear selector
• LED inside lighting
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Baggage internet
• Warmth pump
• Battery conditioning system
• Inside V2L port
• Premium fabric upholstery

Kona Electrical Premium provides:

• AEB in Reverse
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Entrance, facet, rear parking sensors
• Distant Good Parking Help
• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Acoustic laminated windscreen
• Photo voltaic management entrance door glass
• Privateness rear glass
• Sunrooof
• Quad projector LED headlights
• ‘Seamless Horizon’ entrance parking gentle
• LED indicators
• Handsfree powered tailgate
• Head-up show
• Bose 8-speaker premium sound system
• Ambient inside lighting
• Heated steering wheel
• Fabric knit headliner
• Leather-based-appointed upholstery
• 10-way energy driver’s seat with reminiscence
• 8-way energy entrance passenger’s seat
• Premium rest entrance seats
• Heated and ventilated entrance seats
• Heated rear outboard seats

All Hyundai Kona Electrical variants additionally come normal with a five-year subscription to Bluelink related automobile companies. Accessible features embrace

• Related satellite tv for pc navigation
• Focal point ship to automobile (inc. charging station)
• Voice management system
• Distant local weather management, charging and charging port
• Charging schedule
• Scheduled local weather management
• DC/AC charging limits
• Vitality consumption monitoring
• Charging alarm
• Distance-to-empty monitor
• Charging standing

Is the Hyundai Kona protected?

The brand new Kona just lately obtained a four-star ANCAP security ranking, based mostly on exams carried out by Euro NCAP.

It obtained 80 per cent for grownup occupant safety, 83 per cent for baby occupant safety, 64 per cent for susceptible highway consumer safety, and 60 per cent for security help.

To get a five-star ranking general, a automobile must obtain scores of above 80 per cent in grownup and baby occupant safety and above 70 per cent for susceptible highway consumer safety and security help.

Customary security options embrace:

• 7 airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
  • Pedestrian detection
  • Bicycle owner detection
  • Motorbike detection
  • Junction help
• Evasive steering help
• Blind-spot help
• Secure Exit Warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Driver consideration warning
• Clever Velocity Restrict Help
• Lane maintain help
• Lane Following Help
• Adaptive cruise management with cease and go
• Rear occupant alert
• Entrance, rear parking sensors
• Tyre stress monitoring

Kona Electrical Premium provides:

• Rear AEB
• Blind-Spot View Monitor
• Encompass-view digital camera
• Entrance, facet and rear parking sensors
• Distant Good Parking Help

How a lot does the Hyundai Kona value to run?

The Hyundai Kona Electrical is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, whereas it’s high-voltage battery pack is roofed by an eight-year, 160,000km guarantee.

Logbook servicing is required each 24 months or 30,000km, whichever comes first. The primary three companies are additionally capped at $520.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Hyundai Kona

The brand new Kona Electrical suits neatly into Hyundai’s rising vary of electrical vehicles.

It’s not as on the market as the larger, dearer Ioniq vary, sitting neatly alongside the hybrid Kona as an choice for somebody who’s able to go electrical… however doesn’t have to shout fairly so loudly about it.

The Prolonged Vary base mannequin particularly neatly balances worth, vary, and efficiency, undercutting a base Tesla Mannequin Y by $7000.

We’ll have to put it side-by-side with its huge rivals to seek out out the place it stands, however the brand new Kona Electrical makes a powerful first impression.

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