Hyundai Kona Electric

While the tweaks introduced in the exterior of the Hyundai Kona Electric look substantial compared to the pre-facelift model, there are not many changes in the interior, which has begun to show its age. The overall cabin of the Kona Electric is offered with two leather upholstery options of black and grey.  

The three-spoke multi-functional steering wheel with satin silver lower spoke has been shared with other compact cars from Hyundai’s global portfolio. With this facelift, Hyundai introduced a new 10.25-inch full-TFT instrument console in the Kona Electric, which tries to add some modernity to the cabin.

The rest of the cabin layout of the Hyundai Kona Electric has been retained from the pre-facelift model, including rounded AC vents on the dashboard corners, a free-standing 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and sleek AC vents in the centre console. The lower centre console has a long and feature-packed satin silver panel, which houses automatic climate control switches, cup holders, a wireless charging pad, buttons for the transmission and ventilated front seats, and an electronic parking brake switch.

Compared to the pre-facelift version, the new Hyundai Kona Electric looks sleeker and more modern, while being a cleaner and more EV-like design than before. Most of the changes in the Kona Electric facelift are confined to the front profile, with minor tweaks to the side and rear profiles too.

The front profile of the Hyundai Kona Electric looks appealing with a much cleaner look, with no prominent grille at the place. Instead, the front fascia of the Kona Electric has a curved hump in the middle, which adds some muscle to the front look of the car. The closed and curved front fascia of the Kona Electric also houses the charging port cap in the front bumper, which also houses the trapezoidal all-LED headlamps and sleek air vents on the corners, and a trapezoidal air dam with horizontal satin chrome strips and ADAS sensor at the bottom.

The side profile of the Hyundai Kona Electric facelift looks slightly different from the pre-facelift model, with the latest version getting curved flares over the front and rear fenders and a sharp curve flowing through the door panels. The dual-tone theme and flashy-looking 17-inch aero wheel options add to its stylish appeal. Hyundai had also tweaked the rear profile of the Kona Electric, which now comes with sleeker tail lamps with thin LED inserts and revised LED auxiliary lamps on the lower corners of the stubby boot lid. Like the air dam on the front bumper, the rear bumper also has a trapezoidal air dam with horizontal strips.

Being one of the most aerodynamic-looking crossovers on sale right now, the Hyundai Kona Electric has a dynamic driving experience, even at higher speeds. The electric crossover features four different drive modes – Eco+, Eco, Sport, and Normal – all of which, as the names suggest, deliver a fine and precise driving experience as per your preference.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is available in two variants, both of which differ based on the powertrains offered in this electric SUV. The lower variant comes with a 136 PS electric motor, which gives it a top speed of 155 kmph, and a 39.2 kWh lithium-ion battery, which claims a maximum driving range of 305 km. The higher-spec variant has a 204 PS electric motor, which has a top speed of 167 kmph, and a 64 kWh lithium-ion battery, which claims a range of 484 km. Both the battery pack options are compatible with 100 kW DC and 11 kW AC charging modes, along with adjustable regenerative braking and smart regenerative braking.

The exhaustive list of standard safety features offered in the Hyundai Kona Electric includes smart cruise control with stop and go, forward collision avoidance, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, safe exit alert, high beam assist, drive attention alert with leading vehicle departure, lane keeping assist and lane following assist. Other safety features include six airbags, ABS with EBD, electronic stability control, vehicle stability management, traction control, hill start assist, front and rear parking sensors, and a reverse camera.

With so many design changes, excellent powertrain options and an exhaustive list of features, the Hyundai Kona Electric facelift is still one of the most relevant and preferred options in the all-electric compact crossover segment.