2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Review
byBrian Wong
Senior Reviews Editor
Brian Wong is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.Pros
- Robust driving range
- Quick acceleration and sharp handling make it fun to drive
- Comfortable and quiet cabin
- Plenty of standard tech features
Cons
- Tight rear legroom
- Availability limited to a handful of states
- Busy ride over bumpy roads
What's new
- Restyled exterior
- Added tech, convenience and safety features
- Revised trim lineup
- Based on the first Kona generation introduced for 2018
The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric is a fully electric subcompact SUV that offers excellent value and a sneaky fun driving experience. Like the regular gas-powered Kona, the Electric boasts nimble feel around turns and quick steering. Plus, its electric motor makes it downright quick — just step on it and go. As for value, the Kona Electric presents a more budget-friendly way to go electric than many of the larger electric vehicles on the market.
Edmunds Cost to Drive & Tested Range
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $0.13 per kWh for electricity and $4.50 per gallon average in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$45/mo
Kona Electric SEL
vs
$212/mo
Avg. Compact SUV
Edmunds Tested RangeEdmunds begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the Edmunds Tested Range figure.This Edmunds range test was conducted in a 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited 4dr SUV.
Our real-world test measures the number of miles you can drive on a full battery before it needs to be recharged
Kona Electric SEL
308 mi
Avg. Electric Compact SUV
237 mi
The Kona Electric gets its first major update since its debut in 2019, as does the rest of the Kona lineup for 2022. Up front the faux grille is gone, giving the nose a much sleeker appearance to go along with new LED daytime running light and headlight designs. The taillights and rear bumper have also been reworked, though the Kona Electric's overall shape remains the same.
Most of the feature changes can be found on the SEL base model. It comes with a larger 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay smartphone connectivity and a 10.3-inch instrument cluster display. A larger 10.3-inch multimedia touchscreen is also available, along with a wireless charging pad, leather upholstery, and adaptive cruise control that can now work all the way down to a stop.
The powertrain and battery are untouched in this update, leaving the Kona Electric with a single electric motor that produces 201 horsepower and a 64-kWh battery. Range is estimated at 258 miles, but in our range testing the Kona Electric covered 315 miles with the same powertrain before its 2022 updates. We expect much of the same from the Kona Electric now, just as we expect it to retain its fun-to-drive and rambunctious nature.
Downsides include a lack of rear legroom (like the regular Kona) and limited geographic availability. As of this writing, the Kona Electric is only offered in 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Other EVs of a similar size and price that are worth checking out include the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Kia Niro EV, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.4. Keep reading below to see what we think of the Kona Electric.
Which Kona Electric does Edmunds recommend?
The Limited is tempting because of its extra features, but the considerably less expensive SEL is the better value pick here. It comes very well equipped and even has one important technology advantage: Its smaller 8-inch touchscreen has wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity, while the Limited's larger 10.3-inch screen strangely requires a USB cord.
Hyundai Kona Electric models
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a small EV crossover that is only offered in two trim levels: SEL and Limited. Both feature the same powertrain, a single 150-kW electric motor mounted on the front axle that delivers 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque and is powered by a 64-kWh battery pack. That's good for an EPA-estimated range of 258 miles on a full charge, but our real-world testing has shown the Kona Electric should easily best that mark considerably. Feature highlights include:
Compare dealer price quotes
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric pricing
in Ashburn, VA
SEL
electric DD
Edmunds suggests you pay$37,341
Limited
electric DD
Edmunds suggests you pay$46,403
Helpful shopping links
2022 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 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
The Hyundai Kona Electric won Best EV for the 2019 Edmunds Editors' Choice Awards for its long range, affordable price and pleasing driving experience. It's a practical daily driver thanks to its agreeable ride and appealing interior. It looks good, too.
Features & Specs
- Total MSRP
- $35,295
- EPA Battery & Range
- EPA KWh/100 mi.This value tells you how much energy in kilowatt-hours a vehicle would use to travel 100 miles. Unlike mpg, however, where a larger number is better (for example, a vehicle that gets 30 mpg is better than one that gets 20 mpg), a smaller number is better in kWh/100 miles because you are using less battery energy per mile.: 28
- Time To Charge Battery (At 240V)This can be tough to pin down, but we assume for simplicity that the 240V power source will enable the vehicle's onboard charger to operate at full capacity, and that the battery is fully depleted and will be recharged to 100%. Given those assumptions, the value provided is simply the battery's capacity divided by the onboard charger's power rating. For example, a battery rated at 100 kWh will need 12.5 hours to recharge fully using an 8.0-kW charger.: 9.5 hr.
- EPA Electricity RangeThis value is the estimated number of miles that a vehicle can travel in combined city and highway driving (using a mix of 55% highway and 45% city driving) before needing to be recharged, according to the EPA's testing methodology.: 258 mi.
- EPA Combined MPGeA combined total of 45% city MPGe + 55% highway MPGe: 120 MPGe
- Seating
- 5 seats
- Drivetrain
- Type: front wheel drive
- Transmission: 1-speed direct drive
- Basic Warranty
- 5 yr./ 60000 mi.
- Dimensions
- Length: 165.6 in. / Height: 61.2 in.
- Overall Width without Mirrors: 70.9 in.
- Curb Weight: 3715 lbs.
- Cargo Capacity, All Seats In Place: 19.2 cu.ft.
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.
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Uses the forward-facing camera and radar to maintain a set distance from the vehicle in front, beneath a maximum speed. The system works down to a complete stop in the Kona Electric.
- 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
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric
2022 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 behind the wheel.
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 similar acceleration, range and driving characteristics. Interior space is also pretty much the same. Choosing between them will likely come down to which one you prefer or where you live. The Kona Electric is only available in 12 states, while the Niro EV can be found nationwide.
Hyundai Kona Electric vs. Volkswagen ID.4
For those who might need a little more passenger or cargo room for families, the Volkswagen ID.4 is the most affordable among the contenders that would be considered one size up. If you plan to use the back seat frequently, it's a good alternative to the Kona Electric though it is less fun to drive and has some multimedia quirks that can be annoying. Read Edmunds' long-term road test of the Volkswagen ID.4.
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FAQ
Is the Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2022 Kona Electric both on the road and at the track. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Kona Electric has 19.2 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Hyundai Kona Electric. Learn more
What's new in the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric:
- Restyled exterior
- Added tech, convenience and safety features
- Revised trim lineup
- Based on the first Kona generation introduced for 2018
Is the Hyundai Kona Electric reliable?
To determine whether the Hyundai Kona Electric is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Kona Electric. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Kona Electric's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric is a good car. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2022 Kona Electric is a good car for you. Check back soon for the official Edmunds Rating from our expert testing team Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric?
The least-expensive 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric is the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $34,000.
Other versions include:
- SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD) which starts at $34,000
- Limited 4dr SUV (electric DD) which starts at $42,500
What are the different models of Hyundai Kona Electric?
If you're interested in the Hyundai Kona Electric, the next question is, which Kona Electric model is right for you? Kona Electric variants include SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD), and Limited 4dr SUV (electric DD). For a full list of Kona Electric models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
