MyAutoUpdates

Overview

The newest edition of the Hyundai Kona Electric is designed to turn attention. And it does. Beginning its second generation as a more cyborg-inspired electric crossover, the new Kona Electric's design makes the past five years of the Kona appear like a total snooze. The 2024 Kona has expanded in length, breadth, and wheelbase resulting in greater space, room for a bigger battery, and a smoother ride. The maximum driving range is raised too, but just marginally, to an estimated 260 miles. The Kona Electric is front-wheel-drive only and has a choice of two battery packs. The smaller of the two gives less range and less horsepower, with its electric motor delivering 133 hp, while the bigger battery pack unlocks more range and a more powerful, 201-horsepower motor. While it's not as sophisticated as other EV SUVs, the Kona's attraction rests with its low price. We review the gas-powered Kona separately.

What's New for 2024?

The 2024 model marks the beginning of an all-new generation of the Hyundai Kona Electric. It's longer, broader, and employs a longer wheelbase to optimize its versatility. A brand new appearance makes the 2024 Kona Electric distinctly different from the outgoing model. With wide-spanning LED headlights and taillights, the motif for the new Kona is pixels.

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

All Kona Electrics are front-wheel drive and powered by a single electric motor. The entry-level vehicle delivers 133 horsepower but a more powerful 201-hp variant is available, too. We drove the more powerful of the two, and although acceleration is snappy enough, the Kona Electric lacks the neck-snapping delight we've come to anticipate from other EVs. Handling is adequate but the Kona's definitely been designed with comfort in mind, and the quiet operation of the electric engine and the secluded cockpit make it an enjoyable commuter.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Still Pleases

0-60–MPH Times

In our tests, the Kona Electric with the bigger battery pack and more powerful electric motor got to 60 mph in 7.0 seconds. That's slower than the previous-generation model.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

The Kona Electric features two distinct battery packs. The standard Kona Electric employs a 48.6-kWh unit with an estimated range of 200 miles. A bigger 64.8-kWh battery is available and raises the projected driving range to 260 miles. In our real-world range tests, the Kona Electric with the bigger battery pack attained a result of 230 miles. Hyundai says that the Kona Electric can recharge its battery pack from 10 percent to 80 percent in 43 minutes during DC charging.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe

The Kona Electric received EPA fuel efficiency estimates of 129 MPGe city and 103 MPGe highway. In our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, the Kona Electric earned a remarkable 110 MPGe. For more information about the Kona Electric's fuel efficiency, see the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The new Kona Electric gains a substantial increase in fit and finish for the new generation. To lift the subcompact EV from an eco-friendly-feeling box, Hyundai opens up the interior space with a floating horizontal center pad to erase part of the divide between front passenger seats. Ambient lighting also lends a little touch of moodiness and customization to the interior that helps showcase the new Kona's innovative cockpit design. Unlike other EVs, the Kona Electric features just a tiny front trunk ideal for storing the SUV's portable charging cords. Luckily, there's a considerably larger cargo compartment behind the back seats. You may also read this: Exciting Features of the Audi SQ6 e-tron 2025

Infotainment and Connectivity

KONA Electric | Eco | Hyundai Australia

To keep competitive in the pixel wars, the 2019 Kona Electric is built with two 12.3-inch screens to handle vehicle data and infotainment. This new seamless unit replaces the previous generation's basic 8.0-inch touchscreen and is larger than the optional 10.3-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto will likely be standard equipment.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Kona Electric comes with the same set of driver-assistance systems as the gasoline-powered Kona. That suite of technologies includes automated emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, but other tech like as a driver-monitoring system and a self-parking capability are also available. For more information regarding the Kona Electric's crash-test results, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety elements are anticipated to include: