As electric vehicles become more mainstream, automakers have begun offering more affordable options. For around $50,000, EVs such as the Toyota bZ4x, Volkswagen ID.4, and Nissan Ariya are good urban commuters offering good driving manners, great range, and plenty of features. Now, we can add the second-generation 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric into the mix.
The 2024 Kona retains a similar silhouette to its predecessor, but the similarities stop there. The front end is distinctive, with a slim LED strip that spans all the way across, and a simple overall look focused on aerodynamics. The Kona’s creases and visual quirks may be polarizing to some, but we expect this edgy look to resonate well with its target audience. If we had to nitpick, we’d like to see bolder colour choices than the current palate, dominated by various shades of white, black, grey, a primer-like blue and green, and red — the one and only interesting colour option. [Hey Hyundai, why can’t we Canucks get a Kona EV in lime green?! —Ed.]
Inside, the Kona Electric also receives a makeover. The modernized layout is clean and clears up space for additional storage. The cabin is noticeably roomier now, with good head and shoulder space for four adults, and the heated and ventilated front seats are relatively comfortable despite being 30 per cent thinner to make more room. Cargo volume measures in at 723 litres behind the rear seats, and opens up to 1,803 L when folded.
We were a little surprised to see how much hard-touch surfaces inside the Kona Electric, especially since Hyundai has really stepped up their game with other models, but at least the layout remains highly functional with a lot of physical shortcuts, bucking the trend of incorporating every control into one giant screen. The wide screen design looks good and the infotainment is easy to use. There are plenty of USB ports throughout, as well as a wireless charger to keep the devices charged up on longer drives and playing over the upgraded eight-speaker Bose audio system.
Powering the Kona Electric is a single electric motor putting out 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. There is enough power to get it going in almost any situation, but it differs from most other EVs in that the instant torque does not snap your head back. Instead, the Kona EV accelerates rather smoothly even when you floor it, but it levels off around 60 km/h, at which point it becomes more of a gradual momentum. Top speed is only 162 km/h, so the Kona Electric definitely feels more at-home in the city rather than open highways.
U.S. buyers can choose between short- or long-range Kona Electric models, but only the latter is available in Canada. Its 64.8 kWh battery offers a drive range of up to 420 kilometres; we found that figure to be a bit conservative, as we saw on-board estimates closer to 500 km on a full charge. Plugging in the Kona Electric on a Level 2 charger will get you a full charge from empty in about six hours. On a Level 3 fast charger, it can do a 10-to-80-per-cent charge in as little as 43 minutes.
This particular Kona Electric tester is the top-of-the-line Ultimate trim. This means it’s fully loaded with features such as a heads-up display, a heated steering wheel, heated, cooled, and power-adjustable front seats, and the ability to set up your phone as your car key, and plenty more. It is also packed with Hyundai’s full package of driver assists, including a 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and Hyundai’s Blind View Monitor, and much more. Curiously, a power liftgate is not available on the Kona Electric, so buyers who absolutely want that feature will need to look elsewhere.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric starts at $46,399 for the base Preferred trim, while our Ultimate tester tops out at $51,199 as-tested. This makes it one of the more affordable EVs on the market especially when you factor in any federal and provincial rebates, but there is still a meaningful price difference. If you are on the fence between an electric or gas-powered Kona, you may want to crunch the numbers before deciding, but overall, the Kona Electric hits all the right notes for people who want to go electric, but do not want to overspend. It is a good urban commuter and will attract many first-time EV buyers before they commit to bigger, more expensive, but also excellent Hyundai EVs like the Ioniq 5 and 6.
