Hyundai Kona and Kona Electric 2019 Review

The 2019 Hyundai Kona takes to Australian roads with better equipment, expanded range and a new entry-level Kona Go that also boasts a lower starting price.

It has also added a pure electric vehicle to its now five-model line-up, making the Hyundai Kona the compact SUV of the moment.

In addition to its hero electric model, other Kona variants offer the choice of a two four-cylinder petrol powertrains, a two-wheel drive 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine (110kW/180Nm) matched to a six-speed automatic, or the 1.6-litre turbocharged all-wheel-drive unit (130kW/265Nm) matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The bases are well covered.

The 2019 Hyundai Kona range adds the new entry-level Hyundai Kona Go priced from $23,500 and tops out at well over double that with the Hyundai Kona Electric Highlander at $64,490.

With over $40k dividing the budget-conscious buyer with the environmental enthusiast, the Hyundai Kona’s value proposition is an interesting one. The petrol Hyundai Kona represents good value and sits line ball with several rivals, the Mazda CX-3 for example.

The entry-level Go and Active miss out on much of the safety you’ll want (autonomous emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert), which you can option through Hyundai’s SmartSense advanced safety pack ($1500). It’s standard on both of the Kona Electric variants.

The tricky thing for the Kona Electric is that it’s expensive compared to even its own sibling, the Hyundai IONIQ priced from $44,990 (plus ORCs).

Look beyond Hyundai’s stable and you’ve got the pint-sized Renault ZOE (from $47,490). Drivers who tend to suffer more from badge anxiety than range anxiety may even lean towards BMWs i3 over the Kona EV – the German eco-pioneer forever accused of being expensive, priced from $68,700 (plus ORCs).

All Hyundai passenger cars are backed by Hyundai’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty and capped-price servicing plan. Service intervals are suggested at 12 months or 15,000km and cost $165 each for the first five years. The Kona Electric’s battery is guaranteed for eight years or 160,000km. Premium paint will cost you $595 across the range.

The Kona Electric boasts a real world range of 449km from one charge and our testing so far gets pretty close to this claim. You can read about the 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery and charge options and times (between 54 minutes and 21 hours) in our launch review. And there’ll soon be a lot more to read about the Kona Electric as it takes position as our latest long-term test vehicle at carsales.

During my week with the Kona Electric, it’s safe to say I suffered less range anxiety than in any other EV, handing it back with around 250km range at the ready, without any at home charging. I’m soon heading for a weekend away with the family in the Kona EV – here’s hoping range anxiety levels remain at an all-time low.

The catch for me (and many inner-city dwellers) is that with no off-street parking at home, I’m forced to take the Kona Electric to a charge station to recharge the battery. This completely undermines the convenience of overnight charging. Alternatively I run a power cord across the footpath while I wait not-so-patiently for my EV to come to life.

Back to mainstream petrol motoring and the Kona Elite has a claimed average fuel consumption of 7.2km/100km. With a full (50 litres) of unleaded fuel, this equates to a potential 694kms between trips to the bowser. With my foot on the pedal however, I consistently recorded an average closer to 11.0L/100km for a city-based test run.

The drive train of the petrol-powered Hyundai Kona gained praise from launch. And it’s still good. The 2.0-litre front drive Kona Elite is as responsive as most will need around the suburbs. Steering is light and direct, its 10.6m turning circle (same as EV) makes city manoeuvring easy enough, too.

Regardless, I’d still opt for the 1.6-litre turbocharged all-wheel-drive Kona (from $27,000 plus ORCs) paired to a seven-speed dual clutch transmission for a far more engaging drive.

The Kona Electric is a remarkably ‘normal’ drive experience and the immediacy of the power means the Kona EV moves with punch. The halt on power as the regenerative braking does its thing does take some getting used to, however.

Like any new car, you should allow some time to acclimatise to a new way of driving… just moreso in the case of the EV. The hum of the electric motor is strangely cathartic and is easily diluted by conversations or the radio. You’ll quickly forget you’re driving an electric vehicle.

In Elite and Highlander trim, the Kona’s in cabin tech is really good. Let’s start with Apple CarPlay/Android Auto as standard (across the entire range) because, connectedness wins. You get satellite navigation, a rear view camera and important safety technology as part of Hyundai’s SmartSense suite as mentioned above. The 8.0-inch touchscreen is simple to navigate and the eight-speaker sound system makes the most of your infotainment suite.

Hyundai tells us that it’s the Kona’s quirky styling that appeals to many of its buyers, and that’s certainly evolved with the Kona Electric.

From the exterior, it’s the Kona Electric’s fancy covered-in grille design that sets it apart aesthetically. It’s quite a head-turner, actually.

Inside, the front of cabin is quite different from petrol-powered Kona to the EV. The centre console creates a distinct divide between front passengers and push buttons replace the traditional gear shift. In addition you’ll find a digital display to track your EV driving prowess, or lack thereof, thanks to a scored ‘Economical, Normal and Aggressive’ driving style.

Personally, I prefer the interior of the stock standard Kona. I find the primary storage (under the floating centre console) of the EV a bit awkward to access and it cramps the front of cabin.

The Kona Elite on test featured contrast stitching and piping, as well as splashes of colour through the cabin. It’s got more personality than its rival compact SUVs… if that’s what you’re after. Understated, it is not.

Second-row passengers will be comfortable in any Kona, even with three occupants at play, but the lack of air vents and no charge points seems like an opportunity missed.

The Kona Electric gains more than 200kg over its petrol-powered sibling, and sacrifices around 30 litres boot capacity, too (332/1114 v 361/1143 litres).

Where choice, customisation and price range are concerned, the Hyundai Kona has buyers well covered. The more I drive the Hyundai Kona, the more I like it.

The Kona Electric builds on this with its impressive handling and real-world battery range. If you can overcome the price and questionable design distractions of the Kona Electric, it’s definitely worth a look.

The updated Kona range and growing stable of electric vehicles from Hyundai suggests we’re in for an exciting and very driveable future. You might need to start saving now.

How much does the 2019 Hyundai Kona Elite cost?
Price: $29,500 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol
Output: 110kW/180Nm
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.2L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 169g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

How much does the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Highlander cost?
Price: $64,490 (plus on-road costs)
Motor: Permanent magnet synchronous AC electric
Output: 150kW/395Nm
Transmission: Reduction gear
Battery: 64kWh lithium-ion polymer
Range: 449km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star ANCAP (2019)