2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Review
- Driving range of 258 miles
- Quick acceleration and sharp handling make it fun to drive
- Comfortable and quiet cabin
- Plenty of standard tech features
- Tight rear legroom
- Availability limited to a handful of states
- The Kona Electric carries over unchanged
- Based on the first Kona generation introduced for 2018
The name pretty much tells you everything you need to know. The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is simply an electric version of Hyundai's Kona extra-small crossover SUV. It provides punchy performance from its 201-horsepower electric motor and can go more than 250 miles before recharging. Otherwise, it's a lot like the regular gas-powered Kona. It even has the same amount of cargo space. It's a genuinely fun little car to drive that just happens to be electric.
On the downside, rear legroom is tight (just like in the regular Kona) and availability is limited to select states. You can read our in-depth Expert Review to learn more. Other top EVs in this class worth checking out include the Chevrolet Bolt, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf and upcoming Volkswagen ID.4.
What's it like to live with?
Want to know even more about the Kona Electric? Our team of experts have tested a Hyundai Kona Electric as part of our long-term program, in which we drive vehicles for a year and report to you what they are like to own. Read our long-term Kona coverage to see what we've learned about aspects such as the Kona Electric's reliability, electrical efficiency and charging over the long haul.
Our verdict | |
The Kona Electric offers segment-leading electric range, a competitive price, an attractive interior, and a generous list of standard equipment. It's also quick, nimble and fun to drive. It's one of the best EVs out right now. | |
How does the Kona Electric drive? | |
The Kona Electric feels more like an electric performance hatchback than the crossover SUV it's marketed as. It gets going in a hurry, merges onto freeways easily, and has no trouble on steep grades. We measured a spirited 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds at our test track. The Kona Electric also changes direction readily and feels steady and composed around turns. It's fun to drive, even if the eco-minded tires don't offer a whole lot of grip. For more casual driving, the Kona Electric is smooth and easy to drive. We also like that the regenerative braking system has three selectable levels. You can easily pick one to suit your personal preference or driving situation by using the steering wheel-mounted paddles. Pulling and then holding the left paddle also brings up even stronger regenerative braking that you can use to come to a complete stop. | |
How comfortable is the Kona Electric? | |
The Kona Electric rides with a poise not usually found in this class of car. The low-slung mass of the battery and sophisticated rear suspension design help settle the car's motions when you drive over bumps. We also like the Kona's comfortable and supportive front seats. In back, the seat bottom is a bit flat, but the seatback angle is comfortable. The electric motor is silent at all speeds, and wind and road noise is not evident when cruising the highway. As of 2019, all electric vehicles must emit a low-speed pedestrian alert sound, and you can hear the Kona's inside the car until it fades at about 18 mph. Some of our editors liked the spacey sound. Others hated it. | |
How’s the interior? | |
Most of the Kona Electric's interior is like the regular Kona's. The Electric's center console is more prominent, and the controls are laid out a little differently. But they are attractive and easy to use. Similar functions are grouped together, and learning how to operate the infotainment interface is intuitive. There's plenty of head- and legroom up front, and the cabin feels airy despite a center console that takes up some space. The rear seat isn't as accommodating. The seat area is wide, and there's a decent amount of headroom, but legroom is tight if the driver's seat is set back much beyond the middle of its sliding range. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The infotainment system's graphics look dated and boring, but don't let that fool you. It is a well-designed and easy-to-use system thanks to prominent volume and tuning knobs, shortcut buttons around the screen's perimeter, and logical virtual buttons on the responsive touchscreen. The available Infinity audio system produces impressive sound quality. As for the Kona Electric's driving aids, the base SEL comes standard with just about everything. The top Ultimate trim has a more sophisticated adaptive cruise system that works in stop-and-go traffic. Overall, these systems work effectively and aren't overly intrusive. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The Kona's cargo area behind the rear seats is not the biggest we've seen, but it's usefully shaped. Luggage laid lengthwise fits easily behind the rear seats. Up front, the Kona Electric has a suitable amount of storage space for small items such as phones and water bottles. This EV isn't a great choice if you have small children. The rear safety seat anchors are easy to access, and the door opening is big enough not to cause any problems. But the lack of rear cabin space means bulky rear-facing infant seats won't fit without sliding a front seat forward significantly. | |
How economical is the Kona Electric? | |
The Hyundai Kona Electric is EPA-rated to deliver 258 miles of range, which is right at the top in the affordable EV class. We tested it out in the real world and it delivers that, and then some. In Edmunds' EV range test, we saw 315 miles of range, which outperforms the second-best Kia Niro by 30 miles. The EPA estimates the Kona Electric will consume 27 kilowatt-hours of electricity for every 100 miles driven, but it our testing the Kona was far more efficient, using only 22.3 kWh per 100 miles. It's not the most efficient vehicle in the class, but it's close to it. | |
Is the Kona Electric a good value? | |
The Kona Electric is built to a higher standard than a regular Kona, and that difference shows up most on the inside. The panels fit together well, the materials are nice-looking, and the buttons and knobs feel well made. Sure, it isn't built to a luxury standard, but it's quite pleasing. The Kona is strong on value too. You get a lot of standard safety and technology features for what you pay. Then there's Hyundai's strong warranty coverage: five years/60,000 miles for the overall vehicle, 10 years/10,000 miles for the powertrain (including the battery), and three years of free scheduled maintenance. The Kona comes with a 7.2-kW onboard charger can be fully charged from an empty battery in about nine-and-a-half hours from a proper 240-volt wall unit. It also has a listed DC fast-charging capability of up to 100 kW, though in our testing it never peaked higher than around 75 kW. | |
Wildcard | |
The Kona's rounded nose and gray wheel-arch body cladding may provoke debate, but this EV is a lot more entertaining to drive than we expected based on its crossover categorization. It has the proportions, power and poise of a performance hatchback. And 258 miles of range is enough that you can largely forget about how it's powered and just enjoy driving it. | |
Which Kona Electric does Edmunds recommend?
Hyundai Kona Electric models
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a small EV available in three trim levels: SEL, Limited and Ultimate. The Kona Electric uses a 64-kWh battery pack to power a 150-kW electric motor rated to deliver 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft. All Kona Electrics are front-wheel-drive and have an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles on a full charge. Highlight features include:
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric pricing
in Ashburn, VA
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric.
Trending topics in reviews
- interior
- handling & steering
- comfort
- seats
- dashboard
- electrical system
- acceleration
- value
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Most helpful consumer reviews
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric videos
2019 Hyundai Kona Electric: The Best EV | Edmunds Editors' Choice
NOTE: This video is about the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric, but since the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Kona Electric safety features:
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
- Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't react in time.
- Driver Attention Warning
- Uses sensors to determine if you are becoming fatigued, then triggers an alert with a suggestion to stop for a rest.
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning
- Alerts you with a warning if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and the turn signal is activated in that direction.
Hyundai Kona Electric vs. the competition
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
2020 Nissan Leaf
Hyundai Kona Electric vs. Nissan Leaf
In the 10 years the Leaf has been in existence, Nissan has slowly but steadily refined its pioneering EV into a comfortable and value-packed offering. The latest Leaf offers a full complement of advanced driver aids and is quiet and comfortable to drive. But compared to the Kona, it doesn't have quite as much range and isn't as fun to drive.
Hyundai Kona Electric vs. Kia Niro EV
The Kona Electric and the Niro EV are corporate siblings and share much of their underlying construction and EV components. As a result, they have very similar acceleration, range and driving characteristics. Interior space is also pretty much the same. Choosing between them will likely come down to personal preference or getting a particular deal. But either way you're getting a top-rated EV.
Hyundai Kona Electric vs. cmake3 cmodel3
The Bolt packs a lot of range into such a small EV. And just like the Kona, it's surprisingly fun to drive. Perhaps the biggest reason most people will buy the Bolt over the Kona is the Chevy's nationwide availability. Hyundai is only selling the 2021 Kona in 10 states. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Chevrolet Bolt.
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FAQ
Is the Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?
What's new in the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric:
- The Kona Electric carries over unchanged
- Based on the first Kona generation introduced for 2018
Is the Hyundai Kona Electric reliable?
Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?
How much should I pay for a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric?
The least-expensive 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $37,390.
Other versions include:
- SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD) which starts at $37,390
- Ultimate 4dr SUV (electric DD) which starts at $45,600
- Limited 4dr SUV (electric DD) which starts at $42,000