Consumer Reports New Cars – November 2019

Hyundai

Kona

Electric

! 0

CR.ORG/CARS NEW CARS 29

V I TAL STATS

OVERALL

SCORE

ROAD-TEST

SCORE

78

Price as tested

$42,330

Trim line Limited

Drivetrain 201-hp

electric motor;

1-speed direct drive;

FWD

Range 258 miles

Reasons to Buy

Long range

Affordable price

Well-equipped

Quick

acceleration

Reasons to Skip

Stiff ride

Limited

availability

Push-button gear

selector

Long charging

times

10 02 30 04 05

WORSE BETTER

0!

RECOMMENDED

AMONG AFFORDABLE
electric vehicles, the new
Hyundai Kona Electric
is now our top choice.
The Kona EV has a robust
range of 258 miles and offers
a better driving experience
than the gas-powered car it’s
based on. Electrification
eliminates the gas-powered
Kona’s deficiencies, like
sluggish acceleration and loud
engine noise. Instead,
the battery-powered Hyundai
is quick, smooth, and quiet.
Like its conventional sib-
ling, the electric Kona is
adept at taking corners with
little body lean. With instant
power and agile handling,
we think it’s quite enjoyable
to drive. The ride is somewhat
stiff, though, which some
drivers may find unpleasant.
Despite its small footprint,
the Kona feels roomy inside,
and its ride height makes
it very easy to get into and out
of. Cargo room is the same
as the gas-powered model
because the battery doesn’t
intrude. The lack of internal
combustion also keeps
cabin noise to a minimum.
The Kona Electric is well-
equipped. Even the base
SEL trim gets heated front
seats and LED daytime
running lights. All Kona EVs
get Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay, plus forward collision
warning (FCW), automatic
emergency braking (AEB), and
blind spot warning (BSW).
Controls are easy to use,
with clear buttons and a well-
laid-out infotainment screen.
Unfortunately, the EV gets a

push-button gear selector that

can’t be operated by feel.

The Kona’s 64-kWh battery

takes more than 9 hours to

charge fully from empty on

a standard 240-volt charger.

A 50-kW DC fast charger can

bring an empty battery to

80 percent full in about an

hour and a quarter.

As with all EVs, the Kona’s

range drops when tem-

peratures fall—but with so

many miles on tap, it

shouldn’t affect most com-

muters. Unlike other EVs,

the Kona is currently sold

only in certain states, mostly

in the West and Northeast.

BEST VERSION TO GET

Even the entry-

level SEL comes

well-equipped

with AEB, Android

Auto and Apple

CarPlay, and

heated front seats.

Plus it starts at

just $36,950, which

makes it one of the

most affordable

EVs on the market.

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