Hyundai Kona Electric 2024 Review

The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric has two trim levels – Kona Electric and Kona Electric Premium – as well as two powertrain options, Standard Range and Extended Range.

The entry-level Kona Electric is available in 99kW Standard Range or 150kW Extended Range, whereas the Premium is available in 150kW Extended Range only.

Unusually for a new model, prices for the Kona EV have actually gone down compared to the previous generation. It’s only $500 less than before, but this is not the norm for a generational change.

Pricing starts at $54,000 plus on-road costs for the Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range tested here, while the Extended Range opens at $58,000 plus ORCs and Premium Extended Range starts from $68,000 plus ORCs.

There are six optional metallic or mica exterior paint colours – Ecotronic Grey, Abyss Black, Ultimate Red, Mirage Green, Denim Blue and Meta Blue – at $595 for all models, along with the no-cost Atlas White.

The Premium grade includes a $595 Light Shale Grey and Sage Green leather seat upholstery option, over the standard Obsidian Black leather.

Services are due every two years or 30,000km for all Kona Electric models, whichever comes first. Hyundai’s capped-price service offer, called Lifetime Service Plan, costs $520 per service at 30,000km/24 months, 60,000km/48 months and 90,000km/72 months.

The Kona Electric is covered by Hyundai’s five year/unlimited-kilometre vehicle warranty and eight-year/160,000km high-voltage battery warranty.

As we’ve seen with other models, the second generation of Hyundai’s small SUV has a bigger body and a roomier interior that’s fitted out with more equipment – and the new 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric is no exception.

Key new features on the EV include vehicle-to-load technology – accessed via a 250V three-pin domestic plug in the back of the centre console – and a much more modern dash with dual 12.3-inch digital displays, while Hyundai’s Bluelink telematics system with the over-the-air updates is also now included.

At entry level, the Kona Electric comes with 17-inch aerodynamic alloy wheels, heated and power-folding exterior mirrors, an auto-dipping interior rear-view mirror, rain-sensing wipers, dual-zone climate control, smart key with push-button start, remote start and remote front window opening, three driver profiles to preset preferences and power lumbar adjustment for the driver’s seat.

As well as the bigger 150kW powertrain, the Kona Electric Premium features larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a 12-inch head-up display, glass sunroof with power sunshade, a power tailgate, leather upholstery, electric front seat adjustment (with heating and cooling), heating for the steering wheel and the rear seats, privacy glass and cloth-knit headlining.

We’ll cover other differences in the safety and tech sections.

A space-saver temporary spare wheel is standard across the range, and while towing might not be on your radar, models with the 150kW powertrain can now tow up to 750kg (braked).

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric has a broad range of general safety and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) fitted standard, such as lane keeping/lane following assist, blind spot collision avoidance assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go.

Motorcycle detection in the forward collision warning suite is new for the 2024 Kona, while the rear collision warning system is supported by a rear-view camera and parking sensors. Front parking sensors are also provided, along with driver attention warning for leading vehicle departure.

Speed sign recognition (with audible warning if exceeded) is standard, too, and can be switched off if it becomes too distracting for the driver, although it reverts to ‘on’ each time the car is started.

The speed limit warning proved to be annoying at times, prompting us to turn it off, while the Kona EV’s driver distraction warning was also a source of frustration – it didn’t seem to like sunglasses or anything much else except the driver staring rigidly ahead.

The Premium grade adds a 12-inch head-up display, 360-degree surround-view monitor, remote smart parking, reverse parking collision avoidance system and full-width ‘seamless horizon’ projector-beam LED headlights. The base model still gets LED headlights and automatic high beam assist.

There are dual front, front side and curtain airbags across the range, plus the new addition of a centre front airbag that helps avoid head knocks between front occupants in the event of a crash.

Hyundai’s Bluelink connected services and smartphone app offer automatic collision notification and an SOS button for emergency assistance.

There are ISOFIX child restraint mounts in the two outboard rear seat positions and three top tether strap points. The rear seat is not sculptured, and so while not so supportive for adults it is a good basis for securing a baby seat or child seat booster.

The new Kona has also just received a disappointing four-star (out of five) safety rating from ANCAP, based on the independent crash-test authority’s latest 2023 testing protocols. This was due to its performance for vulnerable road user protection and Safety Assist, scoring below the required 70 per cent threshold needed in both areas for a maximum five-star result.

In its report, ANCAP notes only ‘adequate’ performance of the Kona’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system in tests with pedestrians and cyclists, while the emergency lane keeping system was also assessed as only ‘adequate’, including in tests with a motorcycle.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric has a 12.3-inch infotainment system with an embedded SIM offering Hyundai Bluelink connected services and over-the-air software update capability and voice recognition.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (wireless) are integrated into the system, along with embedded satellite navigation.

The instrument panel comprises a fully configurable 12.3-inch digital display.

A 15W wireless charging pad and two USB-C data/charging ports are found in the front compartment, plus another two USB-C outlets in the back.

Hyundai says the Type-C outlets are designed around the Power Delivery 3.0 standard, providing 27W/3A output for rapid charging.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric uses a front-mounted permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that drives the front wheels via a single-speed reduction gear.

Two output levels are available: 99kW/255Nm on the Standard Range (with a 48.6kWh lithium-ion battery), and 150kW/255Nm on the Extended Range (with a 64.8kWh battery).

For both the Standard Range and Extended Range EVs, that’s equivalent power compared to the previous generation (there’s just 1kW difference in the entry model), but a significant 140Nm less torque than before. It was previously 395Nm for both versions.

According to Hyundai, the e-motor has been redesigned for the new Kona EV with a focus on smooth acceleration and efficiency.

New enhanced cooling channels help maintain the system at its optimum temperature, while the motor’s compact size allows storage space to be maximised.

The standard battery conditioning system can activate in cold climate conditions to heat the battery for improved DC charging and driving performance. This system can also pre-heat in preparation for fast charging, such as when a DC charger is set as a destination in the navigation.

A heat pump, instead of a conventional electric PTC heater, attends to cabin heating. The heat pump utilises waste heat energy from other systems and energy from the atmosphere to warm the cabin in a reverse-cycle air-conditioning system.

Hyundai says that the Kona Electric features faster AC and DC charging than the previous model, with the addition of bidirectional charging capability.

The onboard AC charger now has a capacity of up to 10.4kW, compared with 7.2kW in the previous generation. DC charging time is also improved; when connected to a 100kW DC fast-charging station, the new model can be recharged from 10 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes in both Standard and Extended Range form – or 65min when connected to a 50kW fast-charger.

According to the car-maker, the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range will average 14.8kWh/100km in the combined-cycle WLTP test for EVs, providing a range of up to 370km.

On the launch drive, we averaged 17.1kWh/100km in a combination of low-speed city and 110km/h country driving.

With its bigger battery pack, the Kona Electric Extended Range offers up to 505km on the WLTP cycle. That’s based on fitment of 17-inch wheels; with 19-inch rims, the range drops to a claimed 444km.

The range is aided by aerodynamic enhancements wrought on the new-generation Kona Electric, which has a slipperier 0.27Cd drag coefficient compared to its predecessor (down from 0.29Cd).

The new 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric launch program took us on roads that Mitsubishi used for its iMiEV battery-electric car way back in 2011. What a contrast it is, this new EV versus one of the first to become available in Australia.

Yet it isn’t just that the Kona drive experience contrasts sharply with a now-very-old iMiEV battery-electric technology. It’s that it also puts some existing small SUVs of all stripes to shame in some areas.

The Kona Electric Standard Range absorbed the sometimes-terrible roads on our drive route with excellent control and subtlety, although tyre noise was a little too obvious at times.

The entry-level powertrain does everything you ask of it, in most situations. At one stage when rejoining the freeway on our way back to Sydney after topping up on charge, the Kona didn’t exactly ‘charge’ down the on-ramp: it was more a case of pedal to the floor and let it wind up to safely join the 110km/h traffic. There was enough juice to get it to 110km/h, but only just.

In this entry specification at least, the Kona Electric is not the point-and-shoot experience so many EVs have become. When overtaking or otherwise needing an instant burst of speed, the Kona obliges with that typical instant EV pulling power, but it’s definitely not as responsive as the previous model – a consequence of the reduced output, most notably the 140Nm less torque.

I didn’t get to play with the one-pedal (regen braking) settings enough, but it felt like this feature could be a bit stronger in the Kona Electric. I found myself brushing the brake pedal where in other EVs I wouldn’t.

As the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric is much the same as its ICE and hybrid siblings – in shape and size, it’s identical – what we’ve already said about those models also applies here.

Even though the sweeping digital dash and infotainment screen is impressive, as is the large centre console storage, the interior of the Kona Electric Standard Range feels a little dull and unimaginative.

It seems as though the development budget didn’t stretch to a nice-looking plastic finish.

There is a good deal of space inside and plenty of driver’s seat and steering wheel adjustment to get comfortable behind the wheel.

Even at this base level, there is a very good lumbar adjustment to an otherwise quite supportive driver’s seat.

Rear seat space is also good, and while there is a lack of support across the bench, it would seem as though two adults would be able to do an intra-urban run without getting uncomfortable.

The boot, which hides a space-saver spare wheel under the floor, offers 434 litres with all seats up. If you fold the 60/40-split rear seats down there’s 1268L available, plus 27L in the front boot.

Aussie buyers looking at the latest breed of EVs can now add another model to their shortlist with the arrival of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric.

This one is a good choice, with great comfort, space and dynamics combined with plenty of tech and safety systems, all of which – except the annoying driver monitor – work well. That’s not something that can be said of some competitors’ active safety aids.

If the interior was a little more plush, the performance a bit stronger and the driving range a little longer in this Standard Range model, then the new Kona Electric would seem to have all bases covered.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range at a glance:
Price: $54,000 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 99kW/255Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 48.6kWh lithium-ion
Range: 370km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 14.8kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Four-star (ANCAP 2023)