2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Review

Name: 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Review
Brand: Hyundai
Price: 19998 USD

Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

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Edmunds' Expert Review

byBrent Romans^{Senior Manager, Written Content
Brent Romans has worked in the automotive industry since 1996. He has written or edited thousands of expert car reviews and road-tested hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Brent is a senior manager of written content at Edmunds and previously contributed to publications such as Super Street and Petersen's 4-Wheel & Off-Road. His personal car is a 2019 BMW M2 Competition, which he bought for its ideal combination of performance, style and practicality.}

Pros

Long driving range of 258 miles
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 just a few states

What's new

All-new electric version of the Kona
Based on the first Kona generation introduced for 2018

Most news stories about electric vehicles center around Tesla, but savvy shoppers would do well to pay attention to Hyundai. The South Korean automaker has quietly developed one of the most compelling electric vehicles to come out this year: the all-new 2019 Kona Electric. Hyundai has given the Kona Electric plenty of range and satisfying performance, even improving over the standard Kona in some ways.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric EV Insights

Trim:

Kona Electric SEL

Estimated Range Based on Age

234 miles^{The range for a used 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric is estimated to be 234 miles because electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year, with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 234 miles.^{Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.}

Estimated range map^{This map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Columbus, Ohio. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors | Leaflet} from

Charging

SAE Combo^{Standard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.}

Plug Type

9 hrs

240V Home Charging^{Estimated total charging time when using a 240V outlet. This is either a 3-prong or 4-prong outlet used for appliances, for example a clothes dryer.}

EV batteries should be kept at 30-80% charged to extend battery life.

When can I use NACS/Tesla charging stations?

EV Battery Warranty

10 yrs or 100,000 miles^{The federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.}

According to GeoTab’s data, if the observed degradation rates are maintained, the vast majority of batteries will outlast the usable life of the vehicle.

Estimated battery warranty remaining is 5 years or 30,000 miles for this car.^{Warranty remaining value is based on the vehicle year, and on driving 14,000 miles per year. Confirm exact warranty coverage for each vehicle with the dealers and the manufacturer before purchasing.}

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

$4,000

Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

Restrictions:
Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers taxpayers a Used Clean Vehicle Tax Credit equal to 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000 for the purchase of a used plug-in electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. Beginning January 1, 2024, Clean Vehicle Tax Credits may be initiated and approved at the point of sale at participating dealerships registered with the IRS. Dealers will be responsible for submitting Clean Vehicle Tax Credit information to the IRS. Buyers are advised to obtain a copy of an IRS "time of sale" report, confirming it was submitted successfully by the dealer.

For the vehicle to qualify:
- Price cannot exceed $25,000.
- Need to verify the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- Must be at least two model years older than the current calendar year in which the vehicle was purchased.
- Must be sold through a dealership, private sales not permitted.
- Not have already been transferred after August 16, 2022, to a qualified buyer.
For individuals to qualify:
- Must meet income eligibility, depending on modified adjusted gross income (AGI) and tax filing status.
- Must not be the first owner of the qualifying vehicle.
- Has not been allowed a credit under this section for any sale during the 3-year period ending on the date of the sale of such vehicle.
- Purchased for personal use, not a business, corporation or for resale.
To learn more, visit https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/used-clean-vehicle-credit

See All EV incentives

Cost to Drive

$54/mo

Kona Electric

$184/mo

SUV Avg.

Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio

Am I Ready for an EV?

EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work ^{This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.}
If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station ^{With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.}
Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more ^{If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.}

Learn more about EV charging

See All EV Insights

The main draw is the EPA-estimated 258 miles of driving range on a full charge. That's more distance than you'll get from any other similarly priced EV, and our real-world testing has verified that the Kona can deliver. It's true that Tesla's Model 3 can go even farther, but only when equipped with its big and expensive long-range battery pack. From our experience, the Kona's range is more than enough for the typical driver.

Aside from its electric powertrain, the Kona Electric is a lot like the gasoline-powered Kona, offering snappy acceleration, secure handling and a decent amount of cargo-carrying utility. There's also strong value for money here, at least among electric cars. The Kona Electric comes standard with plenty of technology and advanced safety features. We'd even argue the Electric's styling is less polarizing than the regular model. About the only thing you miss out on, compared to the regular Kona, is the option of all-wheel drive.

Cross-shopped against the Chevrolet Bolt and the Nissan Leaf, the Kona Electric is impressive. In fact, the Kona Electric is our pick for the best electric vehicle of 2019 for the Edmunds Editors' Choice Awards, as well as one of the Best Electric Cars for this year.

What's it like to live with?Want to know even more about the Kona Electric? Our team of experts have tested a 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate as part of our long-term program, which is where 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, durability, electrical efficiency and charging over the long haul.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

8.2 / 10

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric (electric | direct drive | FWD).

Scorecard

Overall	8.2 / 10
Driving	8.0
Comfort	8.5
Interior	8.0
Utility	7.0
Technology	8.5

Driving

8.0

The Kona Electric feels more like an electric hot hatch than the crossover SUV it's marketed as. Whatever you call it, this vehicle accelerates swiftly and gobbles up curvy mountain roads. It'd be nice if the steering was a bit more talkative and the regenerative braking worked down to 0 mph, but these are quibbles.

Acceleration

8.5

The Kona Electric has a strong (201 hp) and torquey (290 lb-ft) electric motor. It gets going in a hurry, merges onto freeways easily and has no trouble on steep grades. We measured a spirited 0-60 mph acceleration time of 6.6 seconds at our test track.

Braking

8.0

Routine braking feels secure and stable, and the pedal is nicely firm and reassuring in daily use. At the limit the brakes work well enough to execute a 60-mph panic stop in 123 feet, a good result for an EV on fuel-saver tires.

Steering

7.5

The steering is direct, precise and consistent. But it does lack the sort of feedback that gives the driver a true sense of how hard the tires are working when cornering. In town, the steering's effort level is about right, but it can feel a bit too light when cornering at higher speed.

Handling

9.0

Hyundai calls the Kona Electric an SUV, but it comes across more like a hot hatch such as the VW GTI. It changes direction readily and feels stable in all sorts of corners. The multilink rear suspension remains steady and composed even when you drive over midcorner bumps. There's just a lot to like here.

Drivability

8.0

Electric drive makes the Kona Electric super smooth and easy to drive. The regenerative braking system has three selectable ranges, but even the most aggressive of them ebbs away at 5 mph and isn't able to bring the vehicle to a complete stop. True one-pedal driving isn't an option.

Comfort

8.5

The regular Kona is comfortable, and the Kona Electric is even more so. Its electric propulsion system eliminates all engine noise and vibration, of course, but its multilink suspension and low battery mass also deliver more sophisticated ride quality. On top of that, it has standard dual-zone climate control and nicer seats.

Seat comfort

8.0

The Electric's front seats are comfortable and supportive. They seem to be a little nicer than the ones in the regular Kona. In back, the seat bottom is a bit flat, but the seatback angle is comfortable.

Ride comfort

8.5

The Kona Electric rides with a poise that's not usually found in this class of car. The low-slung battery mass helps settle the motions, but the Kona Electric's well-tuned multilink rear suspension also deserves credit. Cars such as the Chevy Bolt, which uses a less sophisticated rear suspension, don't ride nearly as well.

Noise & vibration

8.5

The Kona EV's 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, but others hated it.

Climate control

8.5

We like the performance and layout of the Kona Electric's standard dual-zone automatic climate control system. It's powerful, and the controls are obvious and easy to operate. Seat heating comes standard, and you get seat ventilation on the Ultimate trim. The latter isn't commonly offered on rival EVs.

Interior

8.0

This is a nice place to be. The Kona Electric offers a comfortable driving position, plenty of room, and nice-looking controls that are easy to master. But roominess isn't as good for taller folks sitting in the back seat.

Ease of use

9.0

Don't assume the Kona Electric is like a regular Kona inside because it is not. The center console of the Electric is more prominent, and the controls are laid out a little differently. They are still attractive and easy to figure, however. Similar functions are grouped together, and learning how to operate the infotainment interface is intuitive.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

Up front, it is quite easy to slide in and out because the seats are neither too high nor too low. The door openings are generous. The doors themselves aren't overly long, which helps in tight spots. As for the rear, foot- and kneeroom are a bit tight.

Driving position

8.0

The driving position is at an ideal height, and it's an easy reach to the steering wheel, pedals and instruments. Taller drivers might wish for the telescopic wheel to pull back another half-inch or so, but this is not a deal-breaker by any means.

Roominess

7.5

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.

Visibility

8.0

It's easy to see out the front and sides because the windshield pillars are narrow. The rear roof pillar isn't a bother because small windows behind the rear doors alleviate what might otherwise be a big blind spot.

Quality

8.0

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, this isn't built to a luxury standard, but it's quite pleasing.

Utility

7.0

The Kona Electric has the space required to bring along a weekend's worth of luggage. You'll find decent cabin storage for your personal items as well. But the rear seat's lack of legroom limits the Kona's compatibility with many car seats.

Small-item storage

8.0

The Kona Electric employs an improved center console design compared to the gas-powered Kona. It has a pair of cupholders, a hidden phone charge pad, an open shelf for a handbag underneath, and a deeper console box under the center armrest. There are nice-size door pockets with bottle holders, too.

Cargo space

7.5

The Kona's cargo area behind the rear seats is not the biggest we've seen, but it bests the Bolt's capacity. It's also usefully shaped. Luggage laid lengthwise fits easily behind the rear seats. And with the configurable cargo floor set in its lowest position, those same carry-on suitcases can stand upright without obstructing the driver's view out the back. The 60/40-split seatbacks fold down to create a flat and spacious load floor.

Child safety seat accommodation

6.0

The rear anchors are easy to access, and the door opening is big enough not to cause any problems. The big issue is the lack of rear cabin space. Bulky rear-facing infant seats won't fit without sliding a front seat up significantly.

Technology

8.5

The Kona Electric has a long list of standard tech features, including adaptive cruise control (ACC). You can't get ACC on a gasoline Kona or a Bolt, for that matter. The infotainment system is easy to use, and audio quality is impressive. But the Kona Electric would benefit from another USB port or two.

Audio & navigation

9.0

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, numerous shortcut buttons around the screen's perimeter, and logical virtual buttons on the responsive touchscreen. The Infinity audio system produces impressive sound quality.

Smartphone integration

8.0

Devices pair easily via Bluetooth, if that's your thing. If not, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. It is ridiculously easy to bring your phone into this environment and get it up and running. The only downside is that the Kona comes with just one USB port.

Driver aids

9.5

The base SE comes standard with just about everything, even adaptive cruise control. Every Kona Electric has forward collision warning with emergency braking, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, and a driver attention monitor. The top Ultimate trim has a more sophisticated adaptive cruise system that works in stop-and-go traffic.

Voice control

8.0

Voice recognition seems to work well if you stick to common words and phrases. It has on-screen prompts, and you can link steps together once you learn the flow. If you'd rather use your paired smartphone's Siri or Google Voice interface, simply hold down the button longer.

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric models

The 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric comes in three trim levels: SEL, Limited and Ultimate. All have a 64-kWh battery pack that powers a 150-kW electric motor (201 horsepower, 290 pound-feet of torque) driving the front wheels. Standard equipment is generous on the SEL, and moving up to the Limited or the Ultimate gains you a few extra luxury and tech-oriented features.

The SEL starts off with 17-inch wheels, proximity entry and push-button start, a DC fast-charging port, automatic climate control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and 60/40-split folding rear seats. Tech features include a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Hyundai's Blue Link communications system, two USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.

Standard safety features for the SEL include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and drowsy driver warning system.

On the Limited, you also get LED headlights with automatic high beams, a sunroof, leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto up-down for the front power windows, and wireless charging for personal devices.

Finally, the Ultimate loads you up with automatic wipers, parking sensors, stop-and-go functionality for the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection for the forward collision warning system, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, an 8-inch touchscreen with integrated navigation, and an eight-speaker Infinity sound system.

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Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric.

5 (77%)

4 (15%)

3 (0%)

2 (8%)

1 (0%)

4.6

13 reviews

Write a vehicle review See all 13 reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Love my Kona EV!!! 10k miles so far

Lori, 10/01/2019

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate 4dr SUV (electric DD)

Great range, comfy and safe ride, and it's fun to drive. I've had my Kona Electric for 5 months and I honestly love this car. It's fun to drive, gets great range - there's more and more fast chargers popping up so extended trips aren't a problem. I charge at home mostly, it's so nice not stopping for gas. The safety features are wonderful. I love the auto regeneration, it slows the car …

Best EV? I think so. At least in my price range.

first time evbuyer, 09/03/2019

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate 4dr SUV (electric DD)

Peppy, handles well and the base model, which has tons of features, can be bought for under $30k after the $7,500 tax credit gets applied. If you lease the tax credit is instant.

Impressive!

Govjaguar, 10/21/2019

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ultimate 4dr SUV (electric DD)

We were doing our research on a practical EV that offers great range, practicality and value. We got the Ultimate model with the Pebble blue interiors and already did over a 1000 miles in 3 weeks. We constantly got around 300 miles with economical driving and was very impressed with the seating position, ease of controls, driving dynamics and looks. The Heads up display is very intuitive …

Amazing Vehicle!

BlueKonaEV, 12/27/2019

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL 4dr SUV (electric DD)

Bought my 2019 Kona Electric SEL on 6/28 in Maryland (as car is not sold where I live) and drove it home 1090 miles to Florida. I have already driven over 17000 miles in 6 months and the car has been performing flawless. Around town, I get up to 350 miles of range and even at 70 mph on the highway, I get about 250 miles of range. The range of this car is definitely underrated. Car …

See all 13 reviews of the Hyundai Kona Electric

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2019 Hyundai Kona Electric videos

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric: The Best EV | Edmunds Editors' Choice

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.

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric: The Best EV | Edmunds Editors' C...

Hyundai Kona Electric vs. Chevrolet Bolt EV: Which Is the Be...

2019 Kona Electric Highlights

Trim:

SEL

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$36,950
EV Tax Credits & Rebates	$4,000 Based on income
Engine Type	Electric
EPA Electric Range	258 miles
Cost to Drive	$54/month
Total Charging Time (240V)	9.0 hours
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	19.2 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	5 years / 60,000 miles
EV Battery Warranty	10 years / 100,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Kona Electric models:

Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist: Warns if a front collision is imminent and applies the brakes if the driver doesn't react in time.
Driver Attention Warning: Uses sensors to determine if the driver is becoming fatigued, then triggers an alert with a suggestion to stop for a rest.
Blind-Spot Collision Warning: Alerts the driver if another vehicle is lurking in the blind spot. If the turn signal is activated in that direction, a warning is triggered.

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2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Review

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric EV Insights

Estimated Range Based on Age

Charging

EV Battery Warranty

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

Cost to Drive

Am I Ready for an EV?

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Trim tested

Scorecard

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Which Kona Electric does Edmunds recommend?

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric models

Most helpful consumer reviews

Love my Kona EV!!! 10k miles so far

Best EV? I think so. At least in my price range.

Impressive!

Amazing Vehicle!

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric videos

2019 Hyundai Kona Electric: The Best EV | Edmunds Editors' Choice

2019 Kona Electric Highlights

Safety

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