Currently reading: Hyundai Kona Electric gets sub-£25,000 price
Hyundai’s second EV is a Nissan Juke rival, with only 8lb ft less torque than the 997 Porsche 911 GT3 and up to 292 miles of range from a single charge

Hyundai’s second EV, the Kona Electric, gets a 292-mile WLTP range from a single charge in its highest, 64kWh specification. Prices start at £24,995 for the lesser 39kWh version, including the Government's £4500 plug-in car grant.

The small SUV, the first EV in the segment, has two battery options, with the lesser option providing 186 miles of range from a 39.2kWh battery pack. Both variants have 104mph top speeds and 291 lb ft of torque – the same as the Alfa Romeo Giulia Veloce. It'll be revealed in the metal at this year's Geneva motor show.

The 64kWh car costs £29,495 - a £4500 premium over the 39kWh car, and £2205 more than the entry-level Nissan Leaf - its closest rival. Orders open in August, with first deliveries likely commencing a few weeks after this.

All new hyundai kona electric 1

The shorter-range version, which has a 131bhp motor sprints to 62mph in 9.3sec, while the longer-range, 198bhp variant takes 7.6sec, or the same as the Toyota GT86. Efficiency for both engines is as yet unconfirmed, but Hyundai is targeting 15.2kWh per 62 miles under the new WLTP testing regime. The charger port is located next to the Hyundai badge at the front of the car.

Hyundai claims that the car’s battery pack is integrated into the Kona’s platform without encroaching upon interior space, meaning that the regular Hyundai Kona’s luggage space is unchanged. Without the charge cable, the Kona Electric provides 373 litres, falling to 332 with the cable stowed. There’s additional storage space in the front of the car.

The Kona Electric’s lithium ion battery pack can be charged in as little as 54min to 80% capacity from a 100kW fast charger in long-range form, or 9hr 40min from a standard AC source. The same fast-charge time applies to the short range car, but the standard AC charge time falls to 6hr 10min.

Kona electric center console

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On the outside, it’s similarly styled to the regular Kona, but has a closed grille and no exhausts, while the 17in alloys are exclusive to the electric Kona. The bumpers and spoiler are tweaked for aerodynamics.

Inside, there’s a digital dashboard, head-up display and 7.0in infotainment touchscreen, with the option of an upgraded 8.0in unit, which brings uprated navigation and a data subscription for one year. The front seats are heated and ventilated, as well as eight-way electrically adjustable, with two-way lumbar support adjustment for the driver. A heated steering wheel is optional.

All new hyundai kona electric 2

The Kona Electric is something of a tech flagship of the small SUV’s lineup, with numerous driver assistance systems, including adaptive cruise control, a lane centring system, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic emergency braking. A five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating is targeted.

Hyundai is a while off revealing the prices of the Kona Electric given that it won’t arrive in the UK until at least December, but it’s likely to carry quite a premium over the regular Kona.

All new hyundai kona electric 4

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To be competitive with the Nissan Leaf, the Kona Electric carries a premium of aroun £10,000 over the entry-level Kona, but only £1000 above the current range-topper, the 1.6T GDi Blue Drive Premium GT, equipped with four-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox. Hyundai’s first EV, the Ioniq Electric, makes up around 5% of the model’s sales, although with a longer range even in its short-range specification, is likely to sell quicker than the divisively styled Ioniq.

Hyundai plans 16 electrified cars in its lineup by 2025. The Kona Electric, recently revealed Hyundai Nexo, which replaces the ix35 Fuel Cell in Hyundai’s hydrogen fuel cell efforts, and the Niro EV, due in autumn, make up three crucial prongs in the assault, as Hyundai aims to take the lead on low and zero-emissions driving. 

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Citytiger 1 July 2018

I wonder

Will there be a Kia version with a lower price tag.. 

The Apprentice 1 July 2018

Citytiger wrote:

Citytiger wrote:

Will there be a Kia version with a lower price tag.. 

yes/no... 2nd generation Niro launches in October with the short and long range powertrains. I doubt it will be cheaper but it may be slightly bigger and more practical than the Kona. It will be loaded with technology though. The Niro is one of 31 electrified vehicles Kia plans to launch by 2020 Its amazing how quick Kia/Hyundai are turning out these vehicles, many with new custom chassis designed for electrification from the start with further extension of their abilities built in. A certain premium UK manufacturer took like 120 years (well that's what the endless leaks felt like) to produce 1 fairly straight forward EV. Good time to add Kia or Hyundai to your dealership franchise if you want to sell cars!

fadyady 29 June 2018

Impressive

Rather impressive figures. A@pears to beat all competition on paper at least. If it is as good as it sounds then this may be one major reason why Volkswagen and the lot are fast forging warm relations with this Korean giant.
xxxx 29 June 2018

£25k or £26k

Join the queue as they'll never keep up with worldwide demand especially the faster version, to such an extent they'll wish they'd made the gap bigger

Bob Cat Brian 29 June 2018

xxxx wrote:

xxxx wrote:

Join the queue as they'll never keep up with worldwide demand especially the faster version, to such an extent they'll wish they'd made the gap bigger

Better value than they initially suggested.

Entirely subjective of course, but its a shame its so ugly. Theres currently (IMO) a clear divide between good looking expensive EVs (Model S, I-Pace, i3) and frumpy/ugly mainstream ones (Leaf, Ioniq, this).