The 2024 Hyundai Kona is already reaching dealerships, whereas the Kona Electrical model, Hyundai says, gained’t arrive till late fall.

It’s best to wait, as a result of the EV model of Hyundai’s small utility automobile is hands-down the perfect of the bunch.

We had two temporary stints in a prototype Kona Electrical within the rolling Maryland horse nation outdoors Baltimore final week. Even from that restricted drive, it was clear the electrical Kona is smoother and quieter, and that it accelerates in addition to essentially the most highly effective gasoline model.

The brand new Kona joins a handful of different autos provided with both gasoline or electrical powertrains—lots of them BMWs—by which the EV is clearly higher. These embrace the ultra-luxury BMW i7 in opposition to both of its gasoline 7-Collection brethren.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

The wild card right here—and the way the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical measures up versus EV rivals—is value. Slotting simply above the extra bare-bones Venue, the Kona is basically the compact entry automobile within the Hyundai lineup for the rising variety of SUV consumers who gained’t take into account its Elantra sedan. The brand new gasoline Konas begin at $25,435, or $2,200 larger than final 12 months, and run to roughly $33,000.

The 2023 Kona Electrical was priced at a whopping $11,000 over its gasoline counterparts. Making use of an identical distinction, the 2024 Kona Electrical might begin at $36,500 or extra—close to Tesla Mannequin 3 territory. However a brand new base-battery model might present one thing nearer to a rival to the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. 

Pricing for the EV gained’t be launched till later this fall, so it’s wait-and-see hypothesis till then.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

Is it an EV? Exhausting to inform

From the skin, the one large inform {that a} 2024 Kona lacks a combustion engine is on the nostril. Each powertrains have the identical skinny “seamless horizon” band of sunshine operating back and forth slightly below the hood edge. On the EV, they’re made up of dozens of tiny pixels—as are the rear lamp and the decrease bumper edges. 

The exaggerated wheel arches are body-color within the EV, versus contrasting black within the gasoline Kona, and the grille within the latter model for air to move via to the radiator is blanked off. A operated by hand charge-port door sits excessive on the left facet of the nostril, and there’s a shallow compartment beneath a black plastic cowl that serves as a entrance trunk to retailer the moveable charging wire.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

Inside, the 2 vehicles share nearly all inside fittings. Each variations now have a twist selector for drive, for example, on the proper facet of the steering column behind the wheel. Naturally the Electrical has extra screens for information and settings throughout the similar twin 12.3-inch horizontal shows.

Kudos to Hyundai for offering a flat rear flooring within the 2024 Kona Electrical, making occasional third passengers within the rear seat markedly extra comfy. It’s a small contact, however in a automotive this measurement, it makes a distinction. There’s 3.0 inches extra rear-seat legroom than final 12 months too.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

Colours differ: Six paint shades are shared amongst each powertrains, together with the inevitable white, silver, charcoal, and black, plus a inexperienced and a yellow. However the Kona Electrical is the one mannequin to supply Meta Blue, a silvery-blue tone—and the EV presents no reds in any respect. A novel inside Sage Inexperienced leatherette is exclusive to the Restricted trim on the Kona Electrical.

Two Kona EV battery sizes

For the second-generation Kona Electrical, Hyundai presents two battery capacities: the Normal Vary model has 48.6 kwh, whereas the Prolonged Vary mannequin has 64.8 kwh. Ranges differ, after all: Hyundai initiatives a 200-mile EPA mixed ranking for the Normal, and 261 miles for the Prolonged. Word the latter is 2 miles greater than the 2024 Chevy Bolt EV.

Mechanicals are comparable, however motor energy is software-limited with the smaller battery. That’s rated at 133 hp (99 kw) whereas the Prolonged Vary will get a lift to 201 hp (150 kw). 

Dean Schlingmann, a hybrid and EV powertrain engineer on the drive occasion, was a part of the crew that designed a brand new era of drive motor for the 2024 Kona Electrical. He informed Inexperienced Automotive Reviews the motor within the earlier era offered substantial peak energy at 3600 rpm, however its output fell away at larger motor speeds. Hyundai’s engineers intentionally shaved peak output within the new motor to increase the ability curve to 6000 rpm, sustaining energy supply at larger speeds—and gained 1-2% effectivity in doing so.  

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

Solely the entrance wheels are pushed; in contrast to gasoline Konas, all-wheel drive isn’t an possibility on the Kona Electrical. For that, within the Hyundai EV lineup, you need to transfer as much as the bigger Ioniq 5, possible no less than $10,000 extra for comparably geared up autos.

The onboard charger can now function at 11 kw, versus 7.2 kw final 12 months, reducing Degree 2 cost time for the bigger pack from to six hours, from final 12 months’s 9.5 hours. The height fast-charging price rises to 85 kw from 75 kw, although a 10-80% cost of the massive pack nonetheless takes 40 minutes or extra.

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

Kona EV driving impressions: Suitably swift

Hyundai had solely two prototype Kona Electrics, each Prolonged Vary, on the launch occasion. Quick 10-minute loops have been moreover sophisticated by seven police vehicles from numerous jurisdictions that had totally closed a key crossroads close by. We drove for one loop, then rode together with one other driver for the second.

It’s instantly clear the Kona Electrical is extra nice to drive than the 1.6T, with its turbocharged 1.6-liter turbo-4 and 8-speed automated. The gasoline automotive is rated at 190 hp (at 6000 rpm), however beneath most circumstances, it requires a handful of downshifts to entry passing energy, whereas the turbo spools up. This outcomes from tuning the automotive (and selecting tall gear ratios) to satisfy more and more stringent fuel-economy necessities whereas nonetheless offering the get-up-and-go to maintain up with quick visitors.

The Kona Electrical, however, delivers on the spot energy from the primary push of the accelerator, just about like every EV. From the motive force’s seat, it’s linear energy; this isn’t a velocity demon, not to mention the type of automotive that delivers kick-you-in-the-kidneys acceleration. It’s suitably swift with out being a velocity demon, and the accelerator response is clearly much less peaky than it was within the earlier era—simply as Schlingmann informed us. 

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

2024 Hyundai Kona Electrical

On the highway, the electrical Kona feels extra stable, and with the battery pack beneath the cabin decreasing the middle of gravity, it holds the highway and corners nicely. Based on Schlingmann, the load distinction between electrical and ICE variations of the SEL trim is a mere 250 kilos—however the EV feels extra substantial than such a slight distinction on a 3,100-pound automotive would recommend.

As at all times, the motive force has to invoke the i-Pedal one-pedal driving mode after each single energy cycle—an annoyance when rivals just like the Bolt EV “latch” it via ignition on/offs. In i-Pedal mode, nevertheless, the 2024 Kona Electrical not requires the motive force to brake beneath about 5 mph. As an alternative, it is going to sluggish the automotive proper all the way down to a cease—a significant enchancment for many who choose one-pedal operation.

Relying on pricing, we’d anticipate the Prolonged Vary to be the extra common of the pair, with the Normal’s function being to supply a lovely beginning value at a decrease trim stage. Anticipate extra readability when extra particulars on trim and pricing can be found nearer to its on-sale date.

–
Hyundai offered prepare fare, lodging, and meals to allow Inexperienced Automotive Reviews to carry you this first-person drive report.