The Hyundai Kona was already in existence as a gas-powered model. However, for the past few years, Hyundai has decided to take on Chevrolet and their bolt while they offer this particular model with an electric engine, currently available in three tiers of luxury. Surprisingly, the electric version has benefits unrelated to its engine that the gas-powered model does not offer. Each of the three electric variants also has a fairly fixed base price structure if bought new. Hyundai had more dramatic changes from year to year in the first few years of models. However, they have opted to not change the Kona Electric much in later years, as little was changed from the 2020 to 2021 models. That said, a few things have been changed for the 2021 model year and a few new features have been released. The Kona Electric has also been successful enough to win a few awards.
Read on to find out more about the Hyundai Kona Electric's price, perks, speed, benefits, and specs.
The Electric Advantage
The Electric Kona has quite a few advantages over the standard, gas-powered model, and not just because of the electric engine. Being an electric model, the Hyundai Kona Electric has some advantages over the standard version. It can achieve 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, which is about 0.2 seconds faster than it would take the standard version.
It's more like a subcompact SUV than it is a sports car, so it may lack that level of thrills, nor does it offer all-wheel drive. The electric model also features a 201-hp electric motor, which controls the front wheels.
The Hyundai Kona Electric also features a 64.0-kWh battery pack to power it. Further, this vehicle operates smoothly once it reaches high speeds on the highway, partially thanks to its low center of gravity, which is a result of a heavy battery mounted on the floor, as opposed to in the engine, where most cars would position it.
Fewer Options Offered
One major drawback of the Kona Electric is that the main attraction is the electric motor and battery pack features and any fringe benefits that entails; therefore, fewer options are offered with the three Kona Electric models Hyundai sells. These fringe benefits include approximately 258 miles of all-electric driving range, as well as an increased ability to zip around roads and a unique grille and wheels.
While Hyundai has had some success in creating and marketing the Kona Electric to compete in the electric vehicle market, its main competition is the Chevrolet Bolt, the Tesla Model 3, and Kia Niro EV, all of which function in similar ways and offer similar features.
In order to compete with these, Hyundai has made the starting price and warranty for the Kona Electric highly appealing for younger drivers. The features showcased in the mid-range Limited version include leather upholstery, automatic high-beam headlamps, LED exterior lighting, a sunroof, a pad to wirelessly charge smartphones, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The electric versions had to make the rear seat and cargo area tight in order to accommodate the battery pack in the floor. However, the electric versions share the same amount of cabin space, as well as the same level of comfort and quality materials. Emergency braking is also included as a primary safety feature.
Base Pricing Is Fairly Fixed
There's not much variation in the base pricing. The main model and the two upgraded models all have their own fixed starting points and they only get more expensive from there. Hyundai offers three variants on the Kona Electric: SEL, Limited, and Ultimate. These electric versions were based on the standard version of the 2018 Kona.
The base pricing is fairly fixed, with the low end of the range at $37,190 for a new SEL, which is the most basic of the three models. The price range starts at $41,800 for a new limited, while the price range starts at $45,400 for a new ultimate. For comparison, a non-electric Kona starts at about $20,000.
In order to compensate for the fixed base pricing, Hyundai has offered complimentary maintenance for each of its new 2021 models. This maintenance lasts for either 36,000 miles or for three years, depending on which threshold is achieved first.
Were drivers opting to find a cheaper vehicle, the 2019 Kona Electrics are slightly cheaper, with the SEL base price at $36,950, the Limited base price at $41,400, and the Ultimate base price at $44,900.
Some Features Are New For This Year
While Hyundai largely left the Kona unaltered from 2020 to 2021, a few new, distinctive features make their debut for the 2021 model.
Some Kona models will feature a new upper-mid-level Night Edition trim, while the Lime Twist and Sunset Orange paint choices have been discontinued for 2021.
There will also be a new “Night edition” of the Kona Electric, which sports gloss black design accents, special exterior color options, and 18-inch semi-gloss black alloy wheels.
Further, while not features, Kona is able to display some awards for which it has been recognized in the past year. It won the Kelley Blue Book Subcompact SUV Best Buy Award in 2019 and 2020, and it was also recognized for top safety scores.
Sources: caranddriver.com, hyundaiusa.com, edmunds.com,