8 Reasons To Buy A Hyundai Kona Electric Right Now

Key Points

• The Hyundai Kona Electric is a popular EV with an impressive set of specifications.
• The Hyundai Kona Electric offers an impressive range of 258 miles, making it a reliable option for long-distance travel.
• The Hyundai Kona Electric comes with advanced safety features, including High Beam Assistance, Driver Attention Warning, and Intelligent Speed Limit Warning.
• The Hyundai Kona Electric is a budget-friendly option, with prices starting at $33,550 for the base trim.

The Hyundai Kona Electric has gone through several phases over the years, but has never disappointed. The current lineup consists of three different trims to choose from, all of which are relatively easy on the pocket compared to many EVs.

With so many incredible tech specs and getting better every year, the Hyundai Kona Electric is an EV you should have on your radar. But what really makes it so special? In today’s article, we’re going to break down the best reasons to consider this remarkable EV.

Hyundai Kona Electric: Specifications

Hyundai Kona Electric: A Brief History

Hyundai released the Kona Electric in 2017, and it reach North American markets in 2018. Designed to be the smaller cousin to Hyundai’s Tucson lineup, the Kona sports a small but striking design. All of this is wrapped up in an efficient little package, marking the perfect entry point for a cheap vehicle.

Hyundai electrified the car with the 2018 model, offering up the perfect EV for United States buyers the following year, 2019. Hyundai continued to satisfy the demand for the growing EV market with models such as the Ioniq 5 and 7. But the Kona still fills the underserved market of entry-level electric vehicles with a low price tag.

Now that we’re onto the current generation, we get to enjoy even more technology and aggressive styling throughout the car. All of the Hyundai Kona’s features and design elements work together to create the perfect EV to attract young buyers to the brand. Let’s get into the top reasons you might want to put this model on your radar if you’re looking to pull the trigger on a new EV.

Reason # 1: Impressive Range

One of the most common concerns about electric vehicles is their range and running the risk of getting stranded somewhere a gas car could just be filled up and move on. The good news is that electric vehicle charging stations are quite abundant now across the United States. What was once a pipe dream of driving across the country in an electric vehicle is completely plausible now, but you still don’t want to have to stop every hundred miles just to waste several hours waiting for a charge.

That’s where the Hyundai Kona Electric comes in. Not only is the electric vehicle charging infrastructure up to par, but the Hyundai Kona Electric’s range is an impressive 258 miles on average. The even better news is that all three trims meet this average, so there’s no added price to achieve the expected mileage. More on the charging time later, but that’s also sure to not disappoint.

Reason # 2: Highly Efficient Electric Powertrain

Hyundai left no stone unturned when it came to building this powerhouse of a vehicle. Besides all the normal perks of an electric car, such as no tailpipe emissions or oil changes, the Hyundai Kona Electric is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the electric powertrain. 

For starters, the electric motor on the Hyundai Kona Electric comes with an incredible 150-kW for the best power in your vehicle, and this is across all three trims. With a 356V battery and a battery system capacity of 64.0 kWh, the Hyundai Kona Electric will not only keep you on the road, but charging is faster than ever.

There are numerous other impressive electrical attributes to this vehicle, but if you take away anything from this section, let it be that the above features are what makes this vehicle so reliable on the road.

Reason # 3: Quick Charging Capabilities

Speaking of the battery, let’s move on to the incredibly efficient charging capabilities of the Hyundai Kona Electric. When it comes to charging electric vehicles, there are different levels of charging that can make the process faster or slower. There are currently three known levels, but even within these levels, the kW can be different for optimal charging efficiency.

With that being said, the most common electric vehicle charger that people have in their homes is a Level II charger. If you have a standard Level II charger, the Hyundai Kona Electric will take a little over 9 hours to charge, so there’s never any stopping for gas. You just come home, plug it in when needed, and it’s ready for you in the morning.

However, you don’t want to wait 9 hours if you’re on a road trip, right? That’s where Level III chargers come in. These are commonly found in public electric vehicle chargers that you can find along your route.

For a 50kW, Level III quick charger, the Hyundai Kona Electric can go from 10% to 80% in just 64 minutes. If that’s not good enough for you, then find a 100kW Level III charger to slice that down to just 47 minutes. Grab a quick bite to eat while you wait, and you’ll be all set for another couple hundred miles.

Reason # 4: Advanced Safety Features

No matter what kind of vehicle you’re in, safety is always the number one priority. The Hyundai Kona Electric is no exception to this, and they delivered on the safety features for this vehicle.

For starters, the Hyundai Kona Electric comes with High Beam Assistance, which automatically switches your lights from high beam to normal when it detects oncoming traffic, then switches them back once the coast is clear. This will not only help in preventing accidents with other cars but provide you with as much visibility as possible without even having to think about it.

The Hyundai Kona Electric also comes with a Driver Attention Warning. Utilizing several sensors and components, this vehicle will detect if you are driving recklessly at all and alert you to take a break. While its method of action is questionable this early in the game, if it detects any distracted driving, it will give an audible noise and a pop-up message on the screen.

The Hyundai Kona Electric also comes with an “Intelligent Speed Limit Warning” that will alert you if you are going too fast for the area you’re driving in. It works by taking into account the road in front of you as well as navigation detecting where you are currently located. While not a novel feature on some EVs, it is still fascinating to see that this vehicle will let you know the speed limit and if you are going too fast for the area. 

There are several other safety aspects of this vehicle worth looking into, including a collision-avoidance assistant, a parking distance warning on the top trim, safe exit warnings, rear occupancy alerts, and so much more, which we’ll get into in a minute.

Reason # 5: State-of-the-art Infotainment and Connectivity

Of course, things like safety and power capabilities are of the utmost importance when it comes to buying any vehicle, not just an electric one. However, one of the fun parts of electric vehicles, especially the Hyundai Kona Electric, is their stunning infotainment systems. Everyone has seen how gorgeous the screens in electric vehicles can be, and the Hyundai Kona Electric is no exception to this expectation.

First of all, the Hyundai Kona Electric comes with either an 8-inch touchscreen display or a 10.25-inch navigation display for the most versatile and convenient use. All three trims come with the expected radio capabilities you might expect. You also get a SiriusXM audio system with a 3-month trial subscription. The top trim, Limited, also comes with a Harman Kardon Premium Audio with Clari-Fi Music Restoration Technology, which is certainly a mouthful. But your ears will thank you later.

All three trims come compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, the SE trim comes with the same capabilities in a wireless version, which is an impressive plus for the cheapest model. All three trims are also capable of connecting with up to two devices at a time through Bluetooth, so if you share a car, you both still get the same experience.  

Aside from the above, the SEL and Limited trims come with wireless charging for your devices and a Hyundai digital key, meaning you can unlock the car with your smartphone.

Reason # 6: It’s Environmentally Friendly

This seems like it would be a given for all electric vehicles. But that’s unfortunately not the case. Many electric vehicles still cause significant harm to the environment, even past the manufacturing process, where most electric vehicles still produce at least some emissions.

Typically, the production of electric vehicles will have a negative impact on the environment. But they will make up for it over their life by utilizing electricity instead of oil and gas. Bonus points if you charge it at your house with solar energy. 

The good news is that the Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the most eco-friendly options on the market. In 2020, Green NCAP awarded the Hyundai Kona Electric with five stars, the highest achievement possible. Only one other model received this award that year. This means that the environmental impact of these vehicles is little to none, and you can trust that you are doing something great for the environment just by getting yourself to and from where you need to go.

After reading about these incredible features and knowing that electric vehicles tend to be more expensive than traditional vehicles, you may be a little concerned about the cost. Well, there’s no need to fret. The Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the most budget-friendly electric vehicles on the market. Plus, there’s no catch. You really do get all of these features. Let’s talk about the next best reason to consider a Hyundai Kona.

Reason # 7: Incredible Prices

For the 2023 lineup, there are three different Hyundai Kona Electric trims. The base trim, SE, starts at just $33,550. This trim is the version with wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto. It still comes with all of the base features of the vehicle. The only real differences are in the accessories and add-ons, such as the lack of a conventional sunroof, a slightly smaller display, and the steering wheel is, sadly, not leather. If you’re looking for a great electric vehicle but don’t need all of the luxury add-ons, this is the choice for you.

The mid-range trim is the SEL, with a starting price of $37,300. This version has a few more features than the SE, such as a sunroof, the Hyundai digital key, and wireless device charging. Again, the fundamentals of the car are the same. But Hyundai went the extra mile with quality features and materials, like a leather steering wheel. This is a great option for anyone looking for a taste of luxury who doesn’t need it all.

Finally, the highest trim for the Hyundai Kona Electric is the Limited model, with a starting price of $41,550. This model includes a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a parking distance warning, a highway driving assist, and several more features fit for royalty. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line electric vehicle that does as much of the work of driving for you as possible, while also providing you with the best luxury imaginable, this is the trim for you.

Reason # 8: Stellar Warranty and Support

Finally, no matter how good the car looks, you want to make sure that it’s reliable. Still, anything can happen. So, you want to be prepared. That’s why Hyundai offers a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty on the Hyundai Kona Electric. Hyundai even states that while battery degradation is normal, theirs will not degrade more than 70% of the original capacity within the warranty period. Even if it does, your warranty has your back.

In addition to that, Hyundai also offers several other warranties for their vehicles, such as a 5-year warranty for 24/7 roadside assistance, a 12-month replacement parts and accessories warranty, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, among others. 

If you’re looking for one of the most stunning yet reliable electric vehicles that don’t break the bank, look no further than the Hyundai Kona Electric. There’s so much more to discover with these vehicles, and you’re sure to enjoy the tasteful modernity mixed with the undeniable efficiency of this car.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©Superfine Imagery/Shutterstock.com.