Hyundai Kona Electric

Expert Review by Maxabout

Overview

Hyundai claims that the Kona Electric will be "India's First True Electric SUV." The electric version will be available in India in the coming months. Currently, the Hyundai Kona Electric is the company's only EV in India. The premium EV is focused on providing buyers with comfort, space, and practicality. Hyundai is expected to introduce the Kona EV in India via the CKD route, with the vehicle being locally assembled at the company's Chennai facility. According to reports, Hyundai will bring 1,000 Kona Electric vehicles to India. The electric version differs slightly from the standard model.

Hyundai Kona Electric Design and Style

2023 Hyundai Kona looks fantastic in terms of design. It's small, but it has a wide stance, a long wheelbase, and short overhangs, giving it a sporty appearance. The Kona's front end is where all the action is, with the DRLs placed in the position of the headlights and the actual LED headlights located below. Kona lacks the family cascading grille in favour of a flattish grille with graphic elements and a charging port in one corner. The subtle cladding on the sides and skid plates at the back give it an SUV appearance. Overall, the Kona Electric is a stylish vehicle that will stand out from the crowd.

Hyundai Kona Electric Engine and Gearbox

Let's look at the heart of new Kona Electric that powers the vehicle. Under that conventional hood is a not-so-conventional permanent magnet synchronous electric motor with a healthy 100 KW (136 HP) and a whopping 394 Nm of torque. You can also select between Eco+, Eco, Comfort, and Sport driving modes. Because it is an electric vehicle, there is no lag in Sport mode and the response is instant. The electric motor's silence masks the sensation of speed, but acceleration is surprisingly quick.

Hyundai Kona Electric Suspension, Brakes and Tyres

The McPherson Strut Type in the front and Multi-Link in the rear are standard on the Kona Electric. The braking system is handled by disc brakes on all ends, and the 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in 215/55 R17 tyre sections are what it drives on around town. Hyundai has fine-tuned the ride and handling of the Kona. Because it is an international model, the ride and handling are tuned for all types of terrain. Kona handles well over rough terrain, and its high-speed stability is excellent for its size. The handling is well matched to the power, and as you speed up, the steering feedback increases on the highway. The light steering and soft suspension for city driving make the city driving a breeze.

Interior and Instrument Console of Hyundai Kona Electric

When you enter the Kona, you are greeted by a clean, uncluttered layout. The interior is all black with a large splash of silver on the centre console. The Centre console itself has a one-of-a-kind design with a bridge-style layout and storage beneath it. The silver plastic detracts from the otherwise premium feel of the interior.

The other party piece is the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which includes a slew of connectivity features, such as energy flow and battery information. You also get an electric sunroof, power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, a start/stop button, wireless phone charging, and other features. While the front seats are comfortable and provide adequate support, the rear seats are not.

While the knee room is adequate, it is not wide enough to accommodate three passengers comfortably. Also, because the battery is at the bottom, the floor is quite high, compromising under-thigh support. Boot space is only 332 litres, which is less than Hyundai's own Venue SUV.

Key Features of Hyundai Kona Electric

Key features of the new Hyundai Kona Electric include a sunroof, automatic air conditioning, wireless phone charging, ventilated front seats, rear AC vents, and cruise control. A 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support, 17-inch alloy wheels, LED bi-functional headlamps, LED DRLs, LED tail lamps, and roof rails are also included.

Six airbags, vehicle stability management, electronic stability control, hill assist control, disc brakes on all four wheels, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, a rear camera, and a tyre pressure monitoring system are among the safety features. It also has a virtual engine sound system to alert pedestrians to the presence of the silent EV.

Top Speed, Battery and Range of Hyundai Kona Electric

It has an ARAI-tested range of 452 km and a 0 to 100 km/h time of 9.7 seconds, which is faster than most. And there is no drop even after crossing 100 km/h, as the speedo effortlessly surges past 150 km/h. Only after 150 km/h does the Kona feel it has reached its limit, which are fantastic numbers for an electric city commuter.

The lithium-ion polymer battery has a capacity of 39.2 kWh. Given that the Kona will primarily be used for city commuting, that is a massive figure. Even after a few laps around the racetrack, the Kona Electric held its charge well and had plenty of battery life left. In terms of charging, a DC quick charger using the CCS Type II charging port can achieve an 80 per cent charge in 57 minutes, while a 7.2 kW Level-II charger takes 6 hours and 10 minutes.

Hyundai Kona Electric Colour Options

As per the official Hyundai website, 2023 Kona Electric is available in four different colour options: Polar White, Phantom Black, Polar White With Phantom Black roof, and Typhoon Silver.

Hyundai Kona Electric Competitors

MG ZS EV, Tata Nexon EV, Tata Nexon EV Max, and BYD Auto E6 Electric are among the major competitors of Hyundai Kona Electric.

Conclusion

2023 Hyundai's Kona Electric is a splendid effort to provide an EV at a reasonable price. With an ARAI-certified range of 452 km on a single charge, the Kona Electric is ideal for your daily intra-city commute. However, because of a lack of charging infrastructure, this EV cannot be your only car in the household. However, if you can afford the Rs 23.84 lakh sticker price and want to own a one-of-a-kind, high-tech vehicle, the Hyundai Kona Electric will pique your interest for a long time. And, with a three-year warranty on the car and a battery warranty of eight years/1.6 lakh kilometres, ownership should be trouble-free.