Hyundai Kona Electric Review
Car Tested: Hyundai Kona Electric; Road Test No. 1117; Test Location: Buddh International Circuit
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 29.13 – 29.36 lakhs
With incredible performance and dynamics powered with a sustainable powertrain, the Hyundai Kona is practical crossover
Climate change is real and is happening, making countries go away from fossil fuels. Electric is the mantra and every automobile manufacturer is working in that direction. India too has shown interest in going green (read electric) and brands are quick to take notice of the same. Hyundai is starting their electric chapter with the Kona – a premium compact crossover. Hyundai seems to have got the basics right – good looks, an SUV body style, decent equipment and more importantly, something electric cars previously couldn’t boast about, a respectable range. How does it all stack together?
Motor Quest: The Indian market never really welcomed electric cars. Mahindra launched the first electric car in a joint venture called Reva. But it was too small, too impractical and too expensive to be even considered as an alternative to the traditional cars of the time. Mahindra bought some finesse with the e2o and e2o Plus but they remain niche choices, thanks to the high price. However, electric cars are beginning to gain traction in India. Mahindra and Tata are expanding their portfolio and the government, with the new budget, has made electric vehicles a priority. We can see many brands, in the entry-level and premium segments, launching electric cars in our country soon. About the Kona, it is Hyundai’s global compact crossover which is on sale in the European and the American markets. The car was launched in 2017 and is internationally available in petrol and electric powertrains. Hyundai is going to sell only the electric Kona in India.
The Kona has a rugged crossover stance
Exteriors – The Kona follows the traditional Hyundai design philosophy and looks typically Hyundai all around. The EV does not have the SUV proportions like the Creta but still, all the SUV elements are neatly integrated into the package. You get roof rails, side cladding, flared wheel arches and skid plates. However, due to its size, it is best described as a cross-over. Nonetheless, the Kona looks chic and futuristic. The 17-inch alloy wheels add a lot of character and we like the LED headlights and proportionate fog lights. The electric Kona does not get a front grille but a body coloured panel which houses the charging socket. Being an electric car it also misses out on exhaust pipes.
The Kona gets the familar Hyundai layout
Interiors – We have become accustomed to a certain standard of quality and feel good factor in the Hyundai cabins and the Kona is no exception. Being an electric car, chances are you would be expecting something different. However, the layout is similar to other Hyundai cars on sale in India. The 7-inch infotainment system is very usable and it gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also gives you the battery and charging status. The Kona uses shift-by-wire technology and hence it gets buttons for gear shifts rather than a conventional gear lever. This also makes the console de-cluttered and makes space for storage areas.
The rear seats feel a bit tight for three passengers
Feature loaded cabin with exceptional quality levels gives a premium vibe
The front seats are supportive with enough headroom and knee room. The driver seat gets electronic adjustment. The rear bench is average by compact SUV standards but legroom and headroom could be better and under-thigh support is lacking. In terms of equipment, the Kona packs quite a punch. It is available in only one fully loaded trim and gets all the bells and whistles. Standard equipment includes auto headlamps, rear parking camera with guidelines, leather seats, dual zone climate control, sunroof, cruise control, heated and cooled front seats and tyre pressure monitoring system amongst others.
The Kona is very refined and smooth to drive
Performance – An electric car is just like your mobile phone. You charge it, use it and when the battery is drained you need to charge it again. The India-spec Kona is powered by a 39.2 kWh motor which delivers 136 PS of power and 395 Nm of torque. The beauty is that this torque is available right from the word go. Acceleration is brisk and linear. Even if you suddenly floor the pedal, there is so much torque on offer that the car tends to wheelspin, which effectively means that drivability is excellent and at no point, you feel that power is lacking.
The Kona emits a engine sound to aware oncomers
The electric motor in the Kona has tons of torque and delivers rapid acceleration combined with regenerative braking
The Kona electric is awfully silent which is good if you are inside. However, to warn pedestrians that a car is approaching, Hyundai has equipped it with virtual engine sound which gives an impression of a running engine on the outside. The Kona does a 0-100 km/hr run in about 9.7 seconds, which in comparative terms is almost at par with the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI. You have 4 driving modes to play with Eco/Eco+/Comfort & Sport. The easier you are on the pedal the more range you are likely to get out of the battery, the range being the highest in the Eco+ and the lowest in the Sport mode.
The Kona can go 452 kms on a charge and supports fast charging
The battery gives an ARAI-certified range of 452 kms on a full charge. In the real world, this range is expected to be around 312 kms. There are totally 3 ways to charge the battery. An AC charger comes along with the car and can charge the car from a regular AC socket, the catch is that it will take 6 hours and 10 mins to charge the battery to full, which is too long to be practical. As an introductory offer, Hyundai is offering an additional AC charger which can charge the battery to full in 6 hours and 10 minutes. Thirdly, Hyundai will be setting up fast-charging DC chargers at Indian Oil petrol pumps and Hyundai dealerships which can charge the battery from 0-80% in 57 minutes. The car also uses regenerative braking technology to charge the battery on the go. There are paddles provided on the steering wheel which can be used for regenerative braking in 3 steps. You can decide how much kinetic energy you want to harvest, the more you do, the car will slow down by that much. In fact, in EVs the moment you get off the accelerator, the car tends to slow down immediately and this kinetic energy is used to charge the battery.
The Kona handles pretty well and has good ride quality
Driving Dynamics – The suspension is set on the stiffer side due to the additional weight of the battery and we were surprised with the way the steering is set up. Hyundai cars are not really known for handling but we can say that the Kona is the best handling Hyundai car till date. The steering weighed up well and tackling the corners on the track was very predictable. The car topped out at 160 km/hr on the track and is sorted when you talk about high-speed stability. Ride was pliant but ride parameters are hard to judge as we were driving on a well-surfaced racetrack. Braking power is excellent with Hyundai offering disc brakes on all four wheels.
Hyundai is betting big with the Kona’s reliability
Safety and After Sales Service – The Hyundai Kona is loaded with safety features which include 6 airbags, all-round disc brakes, traction control, hill assist, seatbelt pre-tensioners and speed limit warning. The Kona has a great build quality and has also secured a 5 star NCAP rating. Hyundai has an excellent reliability record and we see no reason why it should not be the same with the Kona. Moreover, Hyundai is offering a 3-year warranty on the car and a whopping 8-year warranty for the battery, which should satisfy everyone including those who are apprehensive about the life of the battery.
The Kona is a practical electric car
Verdict – The Hyundai Kona ticks all the right boxes for an electric car and for now, will appeal to a very very niche set of buyers. There is still a long way to go for electric mobility to penetrate in India as it will take a long time to set up the charging infrastructure in the country. However, the Kona is a great move by Hyundai to showcase its technology and warm up people to the concept of electric vehicles. It also busts the myth that electric vehicles are not fun to drive and are a compromise. The Kona, with its negligible running cost and practical range, will certainly set the bar for the upcoming electric vehicles.
The Indian Kona is only available with a fully electric powertrain
What’s Cool
* Rugged and smart looks
* Feature-loaded interiors with great quality all around
* Punchy performance with fantastic handling
* Comes with an 8-year warranty for the battery
What’s Not So Cool
* Rear seats could have offered more space
* AC charging takes a bit long to charge
Alternatives: – None
The Kona will pave the way for future electric cars in India
Hyundai Kona Electric Specifications
* Engine: Permanent Magnet Synchronous Electric Motor
* Power: 136 PS
* Torque: 395 Nm
* Transmission: Single-Speed Reduction Gear
* Battery: 39.2 kW/h Lithium-ion Polymer
* Range: 452 kms
* Fuel Type: Electric
* Tyre Size: 215/55/17 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: McPherson Strut (Front), Multi-Link (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front & Rear)
* Safety: 6 Airbags, ABS with EBD, Traction Control
Hyundai Kona Electric Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4180 mm X 1800 mm X 1570 mm
* Wheelbase: 2600 mm
The Kona supports AC and DC fast charging
Further Reading –
Testers’ Note:
[wp-review id=”238719″]