2020 Hyundai Kona Electric Experience

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric Experience https://goo.gl/Q7ZbkQ

With its standout styling and long electric-only driving range, the Kona Electric is poised for success. Based on the standard gasoline-powered Kona, the Kona Electric provides the same athletic chassis but with a zap of electricity—both earned a spot on our 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for 2019. A 201-hp electric motor drives the front wheels (all-wheel drive isn't offered) and is powered by a 64.0-kWh battery pack. At our test track, the Kona Electric galloped from zero to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds, 0.2 second quicker than the regular Kona. Aggressive regenerative braking allows for true one-pedal driving and helps extend the driving range to a claimed 258 miles—20 miles more than the Chevrolet Bolt EV. Pulling the paddles behind the steering wheel allow the driver to adjust the level of regen, but we prefer the most aggressive setting.

The Kona Electric has earned a 120-MPGe combined rating from the EPA but in our real-world highway fuel economy testing, we recorded just 86 MPGe and 160 miles of driving range. It should be noted, however, that our test was completed in December in our home state of Michigan, where temperatures can frequently be below freezing in the winter. We also tested a Bolt EV in similar frigid weather and it delivered 140 miles of driving range, far below its number of 238 miles. The Kona Electric features a 7.2-kW onboard charger and supports DC fast charging. Owners will most likely want to equip their garages with the available charging equipment, including a 240-volt wall-mounted charging station for convenience. Hyundai says the Kona Electric will go on sale in California first, starting at a little more than $37,000 before the available $7500 federal tax credit before expanding to other states.