2019 Hyundai Kona Electric first drive review: A fun EV with competitive numbers

The visitors in Beverly Hills is thick and slow-moving as I creep my approach again towards my lodge. The place all of the vehicles round me are losing hydrocarbons as we idle at every pink mild, although, my automotive is producing no native emissions in any respect. I am on the wheel of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electrical, the plug-in model of the automaker’s funky new subcompact crossover. It’s miles from the one new electrical automotive to launch this yr, however the Kona ought to make a giant splash within the non-luxury finish of the battery-car phase.

An important issues for electric-car buyers are two numbers: vary and beginning value. On the primary query, the Kona Electrical performs very properly, with its 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer battery pack delivering 258 miles per charge. These figures make this the longest-range non-luxury EV, beating the likes of the Chevrolet Bolt EV (238 miles) and Nissan Leaf (151 miles) — and even Hyundai’s personal Ioniq Electric (124 miles).

Sadly, as of writing Hyundai hasn’t confirmed the Kona Electrical’s beginning value. Nevertheless, the automaker guarantees will probably be aggressive and reasonably priced. Almost definitely which means we’ll see a base value someplace between a Bolt at $37,495 and the Leaf at $30,885 (all numbers embody vacation spot however exclude any relevant tax incentives). We’ll replace this story as quickly as we have got full pricing particulars.

After all, strong figures on paper are nothing to get enthusiastic about if driving the Kona Electrical is a bore. Thankfully, that is not the case.

All-electric efficiency

The Kona Electrical’s fun-to-drive nature begins with punchy acceleration. The automotive’s permanent-magnet synchronous motor produces 201 horsepower and 290 pound-feet of torque. That is extra energy and rather more torque than is obtainable by the common Kona’s elective turbo engine, although the EV model is heavier — roughly 370 kilos portlier than the heaviest gas-powered Kona. Nonetheless, Hyundai claims a brisk Zero-60-mph sprint of seven.6 seconds and a restricted high pace of 104 miles per hour.

As with all electrical automotive, the Kona Electrical is fast and keen as a result of its motor presents up all that torque immediately, no downshifts required. The low-rolling-resistance tires will battle in opposition to the traction management away from stops and even at freeway speeds, neck-jolting acceleration is accessible on command.

Above all, the automotive is calm and quiet due to the dearth of any internal-combustion noises. At low speeds, a brand new federally required noise performs to alert pedestrians and different drivers. It reminds of the futuristic buzzing and whirring that vehicles made in older sci-fi films. On the freeway, there’s little sound within the cabin except for wind noise.

Relating to trip and dealing with, the Kona Electrical feels fairly much like its gas-powered progenitor: good, if not distinctive. The steering and brakes really feel fairly first rate for an electrical automotive, and whereas the added weight of the battery pack is noticeable, the Electrical nonetheless traces curves competently and smooths out most highway imperfections.

Battery and charging particulars

The battery pack is a flat design mounted within the ground of the Kona Electrical, a structure that is changing into commonplace amongst new EVs. The battery is liquid-cooled, which Hyundai says helps maintain charging occasions and efficiency extra constant in excessive chilly or sizzling climate. And it’s surrounded by specifically bolstered rails to maintain the pack protected within the occasion of a crash. The pack’s 64-kilowatt-hour battery simply trumps the scale of the one within the Chevy Bolt EV (60 kWh) and is way greater than the Nissan Leaf’s (40 kWh), although Nissan is planning to launch a longer-range Leaf quickly.

A 7.2-kilowatt fast-charger is constructed into the automotive as normal (Hyundai is keen to notice that the Bolt prices additional for fast-charge functionality). It is claimed to juice the Kona Electrical’s battery as much as 80 % in simply 54 minutes. A Stage 2 charger, the sort you are probably to put in in your storage, will totally cost the battery in a claimed 9 hours and 35 minutes.

The charging port is situated on the entrance of the automotive, on the driving force’s facet of the grille. There is a button subsequent to it to start out charging the battery immediately; Hyundai officers stated analysis indicated that clients have been annoyed if their EV was set to scheduled-charging and so they wanted to get again inside to start out it juicing up right away.

That battery location means the Kona Electrical has the identical quantity of cargo area and back-seat room because the gasoline mannequin. The previous, by the numbers, is available in at 19.2 cubic ft with the 60/40 split-folding seats raised and 45.Eight with them lowered. Head- and legroom within the again seat are fairly good, however observe that the Kona continues to be a small-ish automotive: if you happen to’ve received a six-footer within the again, the passenger might want to scoot his or her seat ahead to make each comfy.

EV-specific design

On the skin, the Hyundai Kona Electrical takes on a barely completely different look than its sibling to be able to minimize aerodynamic drag. That flush grille, a flat underbody tray and even aerodynamically optimized wheels minimize the drag coefficient to Zero.29, proper between the figures posted by a Leaf and a Bolt. An lively shutter within the decrease fascia stays closed to cut back drag however can open when cooling air is required.

Just like the common one, the plug-in Kona seems to be funky. Not everybody will find it irresistible, however not less than it is much less intentionally bizarre when it comes to design than another EVs. The subdued colour palette contains decisions like Ceramic Blue and Pulse Purple, however not one of the wildest colours (e.g., lime inexperienced) of the gasoline Kona. EV-specific inside tweaks embody a push-button shifter that sits on a brand new, tall console. There’s area on the entrance of the console for the elective wi-fi phone-charging pad, whereas beneath it’s extra space for storing and USB ports. A brand new digital instrument cluster, too, offers data on battery cost and power utilization.

Expertise aplenty

If you’re on the transfer, you possibly can select between three driving modes: the default Regular, Eco and Sport. They regulate the throttle mapping and regenerative-braking efficiency, however frankly, Regular is the one to go together with. Even in that mode, the Kona Electrical presents each decisive acceleration and thrifty regen. When you’re freaked out the battery is about to run down removed from a charging level, you possibly can even choose an Eco+ mode that disables the air con, reduces efficiency and cuts most pace to 60 miles per hour — all to eke out a couple of extra miles of vary.

The Kona Electrical additionally has paddles on the steering wheel for adjusting how a lot regenerative braking you get, a function we additionally noticed on the Ioniq Electrical and lots of different rival EVs. Drivers can choose from Stage Zero (coasting like a gasoline automotive) to Stage four, during which you get Zero.25 g of deceleration when lifting off the throttle, which is sufficient that the Kona’s brake lamps illuminate. It’s also possible to maintain the left-hand paddle to get most regen and gradual the automotive with out utilizing the brake pedal.

As with the drive modes, the default regen possibility — Stage 1 — is the perfect for many driving. It appears to recoup various energy simply with out forcing a brand new driving fashion. The extra aggressive ranges will begin slowing the automotive earlier than you even raise off, and it takes some adaptation to know that, say, five-percent throttle enter will truly decelerate the automotive.

Hyundai will promote the Kona Electrical in three trim ranges. Even the bottom SEL is generously outfitted, with a seven-inch touchscreen that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated entrance seats, push-button begin, forward-collision warning and braking, lane-keep help and blind-spot monitoring. Transferring as much as the Restricted will add options like a sunroof, LED head- and taillights, leather-based seats and wi-fi telephone charging. The Final provides an Eight-inch touchscreen with navigation, a head-up show, adaptive cruise management, a heated steering wheel, cooled entrance seats and an upgraded Infinity sound system.

Able to enter the electric-car fray

The 2019 Hyundai Kona Electrical goes on sale in the beginning of 2019. It will initially launch in California and different states with excessive gross sales of electric cars. Though Hyundai does plan to supply the Kona Electrical nationwide, the automaker says the gradual roll-out is sensible provided that, in accordance with its numbers, about 80 % of all EVs are offered in California.

As with all electrical automotive, potential patrons might want to think about whether or not their commute and entry to cost factors will work with the Kona Electrical. Nevertheless, the automotive’s lengthy driving vary and reasonably priced entry value will make it a extra possible possibility for extra drivers. Just like the gasoline-powered mannequin we fairly like, the Kona Electrical has just-above-average driving enjoyment, a sensible cabin and attention-grabbing design. It is a actually thrilling alternative within the electric-car area as a result of it does not appear to ask many compromises in any respect of its patrons.

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