Hyundai Kona Electric Review 2024

The Hyundai Kona Electric remains one of the best electric SUVs you can buy. It feels more grown up than its predecessor, but its bold looks mean it can't be accused of following the crowd. If you want a comfortable and spacious electric SUV with an impressive long-distance electric range, the Hyundai Kona Electric is an excellent choice.

Buy the highest-spec model you can afford. While the bigger battery won't be necessary for a lot of buyers, the extra range and performance is welcome, while the entry-level Kona Electric Advance is missing some desirable features (such as heated seats and the wireless phone charger). If budget allows, the Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate is a very appealing SUV.

Don't buy a Hyundai Kona Electric without also looking at the Kia Niro EV. The Kia is a more sensible, staid alternative to the Kona, with slightly more interior space and - as it's been on sale for longer - more tempting deals available on the used market. Other desirable small electric SUVs include the Smart #1, BYD Atto 3, Renault Megane E-Tech, Volvo EX30, along with the Jeep Avenger, Peugeot e-2008 and Vauxhall Mokka Electric.

Volkswagen Group's electric cars are also worth a look, particularly the practical Skoda Enyaq iV and the stylish Volkswagen ID.3 or ID.4 SUV. If you like the Hyundai Kona Electric but would prefer something a little bigger, we'd recommend the excellent Hyundai Ioniq 5.

If you're looking for a posh electric SUV, we'd recommend looking at the Volvo C40 or BMW iX1 instead. But the Hyundai Kona Electric certainly feels well screwed together, and a step above budget models like the MG ZS EV.

A centrepiece of the Hyundai Kona Electric's interior is the wide 12.3-inch navigation screen which sits alongside another 12.3-inch LCD digital instrument display. It looks suitably modern but, as with the climate control, isn't too heavily reliant on touchscreen operation - there's a useful bank of physical shortcut buttons positioned below the main screen.

The infotainment system is easy to navigate, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are on hand to provide access to your favourite apps on the move. All Hyundai Kona Electric grades but the entry-level Advance get a wireless phone charger, while you'll need an N Line S or Ultimate model for the desirable BOSE premium sound system.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is a fair bit bigger than before, meaning it's now practical enough to use as a family car rather than simply an urban runaround. It measures 4350mm in length, 1825mm wide and 1575mm high, while luggage capacity has increased to 466 litres.

It certainly feels pretty spacious up front, while those in the back will have more room than they would in a Smart #1 or Jeep Avenger. There's a flat floor in the back, too, meaning middle-seat passengers won't be struggling for somewhere to put their feet.

While the boot isn't quite as big as the Kia Niro EV's, it's still a very handy size - while an adjustable boot floor reduces the amount of lip for lifting items over. If you need more space, the rear seats split 40:20:40 (on N Line models and above), dropping to provide up to 1300 litres of luggage space.

The most affordable Hyundai Kona Electric comes with a 'standard range' 48kWh battery pack powering a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. This produces 156PS and takes the Kona Electric from 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds - not particularly speedy, but more than adequate for a sensible little SUV like this.

Most buyers will go for the 'long range' model with its bigger 65kWh battery pack and increased performance. With 218PS, this accelerates to 62mph a second quicker than the regular car. It's still not Tesla quick, but the Kona Electric feels pretty sprightly - it certainly has more urgency than, say, the Jeep Avenger.

Even if you buy a Hyundai Kona Electric with the smaller 48kWh battery pack, official WLTP tests suggest you should be able to travel 234 miles between charges. The bigger battery model has an official range figure of 319 miles - that's an impressive distance for a relatively affordable electric vehicle.

Of course, the Hyundai Kona Electric's real-world range depends on factors like how it's driven and even the weather conditions. A heat pump is standard, though, meaning the Hyundai Kona Electric should be more efficient in winter than other electric cars (such as the Kia Niro EV) which aren't fitted with one.

Compared to rivals, the Hyundai Kona Electric performs very well in terms of range. For comparison, the most a Kia Niro EV can manage is 285 miles, the Smart #1 can cover 273 miles, while the Jeep Avenger is limited to 248 miles. If you need to travel further on a charge, you'll be looking at some of the longest range electric cars like the Tesla Model 3.

While there's a slight whine from the electric motor, the Hyundai Kona Electric is generally exceptionally refined. You won't notice a huge amount of wind or road noise, and it's certainly a much more relaxing small SUV than any petrol or diesel alternative.

The crash safety bods at Euro NCAP have smashed the Kona Electric to smithereens and concluded it's generally a pretty safe car, awarding it a four star safety rating. It lost marks for the performance of its safety assist features, which is surprising considering the sheer amount of beeps and bongs you'll notice when driving the Kona.

Standard safety equipment across the Hyundai Kona Electric range includes a driver status monitor (which constantly monitors the driver's face and warns you to pay attention or take a break when necessary), as well as Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Intelligent Speed Limit Assist (ISLA), Manual Speed Limit Assist (MSLA), Forward Collision Avoidance Assist (FCA 1.5), Rear View Monitor (RVM), Lane Following Assist (LFA), Highway Drive Assist (HDA) 1.5 and Hyundai's eCall system.

High-spec Kona Electric models also come with a Surround View Monitor, Blind Sot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Blind Spot View Monitor (BVM).

Hyundai has an excellent reliability record, especially with its electric vehicles, so we have no doubt that the new Hyundai Kona Electric will be a totally dependable choice. If that doesn't put your mind at rest, the Hyundai Kona Electric comes with the brand's five year, unlimited mileage warranty - including five years of roadside assistance and five years of vehicle health checks. The battery, meanwhile, is covered for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Insurance groups for the Hyundai Kona Electric are yet to be confirmed. Electric car insurance is often more expensive than insuring a petrol or diesel car, so do some research before buying a new Hyundai Kona Electric.

Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. You won't currently pay any tax on a Hyundai Kona Electric - even those with a list price of more than £40,000 (which would, if they were petrol or diesel, be stung by the government's premium car tax). That's set to change in 2025 but, for now, enjoy the savings while you can.

The range kicks off with the Hyundai Kona Electric Advance. Available with the Standard or Long Range battery, spec highlights include 17-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, smart cruise control, a heat pump, front/rear parking sensors, keyless entry and a three-pin internal plug.

The Hyundai Kona Electric N Line is a sportier choice, with 19-inch alloys, privacy glass and N Line cloth interior trim. The front and rear seats are heated in the Kona Electric N Line, as is the steering wheel. The N Line also comes with an electric tailgate.

Building on this, the Hyundai Kona Electric N Line S adds electric adjustment for the front seats, N Line Alcantara and leather trim, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, BOSE premium sound system and a range of driver-assistance tech (including Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Surround View Monitor and Blind Spot View Monitor).

The Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate is only available with the Long Range battery pack. It builds on the Advance trim with an opening sunroof, part eco suede and leather seats, heated front and rear seats, ventilated front seats, an electric tailgate and BOSE premium sound system with seven speakers and subwoofer. The Kona Electric Ultimate also adds the Blind Spot Collision Avoidance Assist, Surround View Monitor and Blind Spot View Monitor.