For all their benefits, EVs do have downsides, one of the most significant of which is steep pricing. Many drivers simply can’t afford to drop 100 grand or more on an exotic new Cybertruck or Lucid Air, though, many mainstream electrics are still far too expensive as well. The good news is, however, you don’t have to take out a second mortgage to own an EV. If you know where to look, there are some excellent deals out there, including the well-rounded 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric.
The second-generation of this crossover follows closely in the tire tracks of its predecessor. The new model is about 6 inches longer, 1 inch wider and the wheelbase has been stretched by 2.3 inches. These dimensional changes provide surprising amounts of passenger and cargo space in an overall package that’s still trim and easy to manage.
The Kona Electric is available in three trim levels: base SE, midrange SEL and, as seen here, top-shelf Limited. This Hyundai’s exterior design is adventurous, with pixelated light strips at both ends and unmistakable diamond faceting on the flanks. The Kona Electric also comes standard with LED headlights and tail lamps, heated side-view mirrors with body-colored trim appliques, and active grille shutters in the lower fascia to help improve aerodynamics.
Underneath that adventurous bodywork, the base SE model has a 48.6-kilowatt-hour battery that provides an EPA-estimated 200 miles of range, nowhere near as much as we’d like to see. The SEL and Limited trims, however, feature a larger 64.8-kWh pack that delivers 261 miles on a charge, a much more livable figure for many motorists.
When you need to dip in for a quick – or maybe not-so-quick – DC fast charging session, the Kona Electric tops out at a disappointing 100 kilowatts. These days, 150 is the norm and some vehicles, including the Hyundai Motor Group’s own E-GMP-based models, do better than 200 kW. Charging at half that – or less – is not competitive in 2024, though, this isn’t the end of the world. Despite its low peak rate, this little crossover can still charge from 10 to 80% in around 43 minutes, so just take a longer bathroom break or go for a stroll.
Making it easy to juice up the Kona Electric’s battery pack is its conveniently located charging port. Mounted right in the front fascia, this CCS socket is in just about the perfect location; it’s super easy to roll up to a charger and plug in, no reversing, or parking at a weird angle required. Aside from that, this vehicle also works with Hyundai’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) adapter, which plugs into the charging port and puts out up to 1.7 kW of power through a standard household outlet. This allows you to run all kinds of appliances, making the Kona Electric a great tailgating or camping vehicle.
Getting you to the stadium or the great outdoors, this Hyundai delivers surprisingly good performance despite lackluster (on paper, at least) output figures. SEL and Limited models both have 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque that’s routed to the pavement through the front wheels; all-wheel drive is not offered. Step on the accelerator pedal and the Kona Electric scoots. Obviously, it’s not the quickest EV of all time, but this crossover moves better than you’d expect. Along with its smaller battery pack, the entry-level SE model has significantly less power, too, only has 133 horses, though torque output remains the same.
Aside from good performance, the Kona Electric is pleasant to drive. This vehicle’s steering is light to the touch and pleasantly quick, providing an agile, almost vibrant feel. Similarly, the ride quality is moderately firm and well controlled, with a wisp of body roll in corners when you’re hustlin’. Our Limited-trim tester rolls on relatively small 17-inch wheels, well, small by 2024 standards where you can get 2-foot-diameter rollers on a Silverado EV. Smaller wheels mean you get more tire sidewall, which generally leads to less responsive handling, but this can also improve the ride quality since there’s more “squish” when you hit a bump or pothole. More sidewall also protects the rims from damage when you plow into a particularly nasty roadway imperfection.
Compared to pricier E-GMP-based cars like the Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60, there’s a bit more harshness in the Kona Electric, a touch more roadway grit and some additional noise, both wind rush over the roof and ruckus from the tires. These sounds are noticeable but, fortunately, they’re not objectionable; this is still a refined vehicle.
Like other Hyundais, the battery-powered Kona’s interior is surprisingly nice. It’s not fancy – nearly everything is made of hard plastic – but nothing looks cheap or feels flimsy. The overall design is attractive, there’s some nice fabric on the door panels and anything that’s injection molded is attractively grained.
Inside, you get two crisp and colorful 12.3-inch displays – a digital instrument cluster and touchscreen. The infotainment system is extremely responsive and intuitive, plus it supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. There’s over-the-air software update capability, a Wi-Fi hotspot and dual-zone climate control. All that tech comes standard in the Kona Electric along with other amenities like blind spot monitoring, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane-keeping assist and rear cross-traffic alert.
As in E-GMP cars, a stalk-like gear selector sprouts from the steering column. This configuration seems a bit awkward at first, but quickly becomes second nature. Vibrant green accents on the dashboard, air vent controls and steering wheel liven up the thoughtfully designed cabin. As for comfort, the rear seat has ample room for 6-foot-tall passengers and the split backrest is even adjustable.
Unfortunately, this car’s front buckets aren’t quite as nice. The cushions are too firm, flat and broad for my backside. At least in the Limited trim, the driver’s chair power adjusts in eight ways and the front seats are heated and ventilated. The SE and SEL model both have heated front seats as standard equipment.
This crossover is a good people hauler, but it excels at moving cargo, too. There’s 25.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear backrest, and if you fold that down, the cargo hold grows to 63.7 cubes. You also get a small frunk under the hood, though it only clocks in at 0.95 cubic feet, enough to fit the charging cable and that’s about it.
How much does the Kona Electric cost? Well, our top-shelf tester checks out for $42,630 including $1,375 in destination fees and $210 for carpeted floor mats. That’s certainly not a bad price for everything you get. The base SE model, however, is significantly more affordable, starting at just about 34 grand with delivery. If you can live with a mere 200 miles of range and 133 hp, it’s not a bad option, though if you can’t, the midrange SEL version with the bigger battery is $4,000 more. Unfortunately, no version of the Kona Electric is currently eligible for any federal tax credits. Still, thanks to its generous standard equipment, roomy interior and friendly pricing, the Hyundai Kona Electric is still one of the best EV values in the U.S. today.
At a glance
- Year: 2024
- Make: Hyundai
- Model: Kona Electric
- Trim: Limited
- Type: All-electric crossover
- Horsepower: 201
- Torque: 188 lb-ft
- MPGe ratings (city/highway/combined): 129/103/116
- EPA-estimated range: 261 miles
- Pros: Generous cargo space, good EV specifications, thoughtful interior, good performance, value pricing
- Cons: Busy exterior styling, too firm and flat front seats, more range in the base model would be nice, weak DC charging
- Estimated Base price: $34,070
- As-tested price: $42,630 including $1,375 in destination fees
