Hyundai Kona Electric 2019 Review Long-term Test #3

I always considered electric cars to be a concept similar to that of hover boards; a technology that does exist but is in no way practical or available for ‘the average joe’ to buy. But unlike Back To The Future and those hover boards, this car has shown me the very real possibility of owning an electric car.

Hopping into the Hyundai Kona Electric, you don’t feel like you’re entering space-age technology; it feels comfortable. Other electric cars fixate on futuristic styling to set themselves apart (like the BMW i3), but the Kona Electric feels just like any other small SUV.

The differences begin when you turn the motor on. Other than a quieter drive, the car moves lighter and swifter than its petrol counterpart. It’s tourquey and hyper responsive when you’re at speed, which is something I found quite fun – it definitely delivered some butterflies mid-drive!

The more luxurious features did tickle my fancy such as the heated seats, wireless charging and radar cruise control. The car feels new and modern, and not like a space-age concept.

Over the last week, I have been driving my friends around to get their take on buying electric. All of them had the same response: that they could see themselves driving an electric car one day, when the price is right.

If in market for an electric car, or dare I say even just any small SUV, the Hyundai Kona Electric would definitely be on my consideration list… if it was 25k cheaper. Considering you can get a petrol-powered Kona Highlander for about $30,000 less, it’s a hard decision to justify.

Not to mention, in the same price range you could be looking at luxury small SUVs with all the same technology or even a larger range of top-spec medium SUVs.

I understand the expenses that come with battery production, sourcing lithium and the fact that the technology for EVs is still relatively new, but the day that these cars before more affordable, I am certain they will become more popular.

Concerns such as range and recharging time were quashed by Hyundai as on a full charge, which took just over business day, I was given a 504km range estimate. It was in fairness about 50km off due to the fact I used the car in the “Sports Mode” (because it’s not often I’m given 400Nm of torque to play with).

I never thought I would say this with such enthusiasm, but I really think Hyundai have a winning package here… minus the price.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Kona Electric and did not have many concerns when it came to range anxiety either, as it only took a bit of forethought. However, being a bit of an oddball myself, there were a few quirks that caught my attention.

Firstly, the Head Up Display didn’t add much value. With the option of having your speed visible both digitally and on the speedo dial, you won’t need that third touchpoint. The flimsy glass piece also looked as though it was one speed bump away from being in the cup holder.

The usable infotainment screen has a 100mm border – imagine a fridge that’s slightly too small for the cavity it’s in. It was brought to my attention by my 15-year-old nephew and I haven’t been able to unsee it since. It’s 2019 and edge-to-edge screens is where we’re at people!

Lastly, being on the taller end of the spectrum, I did notice that I sat higher up even with my seat at its lowest and furthest position from the steering wheel. I did adjust to it fairly quickly but I could imagine someone taller than myself might feel a little tight on space.

As evident by my few (and ultimately subjective) dislikes, I really did enjoy my time with the Hyundai Kona Electric. It was comfortable, practical and a great execution of a realistic electric car.

By adding the battery electric engine to one of their best-selling models, Hyundai have taken a more strategic and conservative approach towards electric car production – and it’s certainly payed off.

The steep price is a deterrent for many but I think we’ll see a much greater uptake when electric cars become more affordable. It wasn’t necessarily love at first sight, but sparks definitely did fly between the Kona and myself. I hope it feels the same way!

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)