Topic: 2024 Hyundai Kona EV Ultimate

[Blueprint]

This one had fallen in a crack somewhere as I drove this last March - anyhow, just published!

The first gen of the cheeky Kona was a huge success, but in the later years the urban buggy's EV version got all the limelight and in my area it's like they've stopped selling the ICE ones or something. Refined and full of personality, I liked that early EV when it came out. Like the Soul, it filled a niche for something small, stylish and somewhat cheap.

And now in typical Hyundai fashion they shredded what they had and created something totally new.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20240529/hyundai-kona-electrique-2024-essai-routier/

[Blueprint]

Design

And what a hot mess they created. The Kona grew in all metrics, apparently due to Asian market demands, as this class of vehicle serves as family cars - it's on the same K3 platform, but upsized. But, just look at it. The one element I really like, apparent here in rear ¾ view, is the chrome swoop that goes around the roof. The rest is a hodge-podge of brainstorming bits that don't go with one another. Front and rear fender bulges don't match. Thin decorative LEDS are supplemented by vulnerable, fender mounted functional lights. Charge portal door slapped on the front left. There's no cohesion here. Inside is better, modern and simple with a bunch of mechanical switches for everything. Overall theme is pixels, as in pixels in the middle of the steering wheel where you expect the brand to be. Pixels are everywhere  outside too.

[PJungnitsch]

Kinda looks like an electric first gen Jeep Compass

[dkaz]

The increase in size is quite something, from 4165mm to 4350-4385mm length.

[Blueprint]

Interior/room

Here progress is a good thing. The previous Kona had a pretty basic-plastic interior and was quite thight in the back. Now the design is actually pleasant, and Hyundai made the wise choice of good 'ole mechanical controls, including the corporate column shifter gizmo. Six footers like me can now sit in the back, and the trunk gained 176 litres, both very helpful stats for the day to day grind. Said grind will be made easier by sound ergonomics, including a highly legible screen. There's even room under the trunk floor for a flat tire. Someone should lock Musk in there - maybe he'd learn something.

[Blueprint]

Power

Back to the flowerpot. You know all the people I argued against here in the forums? The ones that say EVs are glorified golf carts? Well, this one feels like a glorified golf cart. 201 horses fight against 3,900 lbs for motivation, fed by a 64,8 kWh battery pack. There's no EV zing here, it just moves in complete silence. The 400V architecture won't give the Kona EV the quick charges of the Ioniqs, but at least the onboard unit is bumped up to 10.8 kWh so if your EVSE can supply it, home charging will be faster. Claimed range is 420 km, but in chilly late March, all I could muster - in EV-friendly urban use - is 264 km, while I was promised 328 by the trip computer. The previous gen was SO much better, ditto the Soul EV. What happened?

[Blueprint]

Driving

With the 1st gen Kona's zippines confined to the history books, we are left here with something that drives like a smartphone. The Kona EV is comfy and prefers a relaxed attitude to driving. Push the lifeless steering into curves, and the rear suspension will twerk with the best of them (even in a straight line on gridded bridge decks). The only fun you'll get here is from mastering one-foot driving and pounding the tunes through the excellent Bose stereo. The last golf cart I drove was more fun - this is a mobility app.

[Blueprint]

Value

My Ultimate tester rang the tab at $53k. A Leaf is still cheaper, but so is a base iD.4 - many may prefer the fwd Kona vs the rwd VW though (awd is not available here). It's not expensive for an EV, but again you're well aware that the equivalent gas-fed Kona is $13,300 cheaper. The EV's Preferred trim - the only other trim - is priced at $48k and may very well make more cents.

[Blueprint]

Final thoughts

This is the most soul-less EV I've driven so far. The fun-loving Kona of yesterday lost its zing after its growing phase, so we're left with a comfy, roomy vehicular tofu block that is range-challenged in the cold. Impressions that made my neighbour cancel her purchase when her unit arrived during my week with the car. Urban commuters may find a friend here, but a beige Corolla with a stick would be more fun.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

 

Also, that's a $53k interior?!? 

[Jaeger]

Interior is pretty nice - if somewhat spartan.  Exterior is an aesthetic fail from bumper to bumper.  Kyundai definiely have better looking EVs than this.

[z973]

its the winner of the ugliest car for 2024 

[bridgecity]

 I agree Jaeger, don't mind the interior.  I also agree with you and Blueprint on the exterior, looks like a mish-mash of design elements. 

I used to really dislike all the black cladding on the original Kona, however with black cladding ever gaining popularity (thinking Subaru) it looks fine on the one I saw this morning. 

[JohnnyMac]

I’d say it’s only slightly better than that Mazda EV, but still rather lack lustre.  I’m sure they won’t be too hard to find if one wants one.