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For many years, General Motors ensured the success of the Chevrolet Bolt EV by promising (and delivering) an affordable long-range electric vehicle designed for the masses. On the other hand, the muted beginnings of Hyundai's 2019 Kona Electric premium car enabled this awesome electric vehicle to sneak up on everyone.
Why use superlatives to describe Kona Electric? How does it ring at 258 miles?
FIRST LOOK: HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC 2019
It's more than the Chevy Bolt EV and much more than the Nissan Leaf, even the one with the optional battery. But you will have to live in a place where electric vehicles are popular and zero-emission vehicle mandates are in place because Kona Electric is not a 50-state vehicle. At least not yet.
Unfortunately for many Americans who want to own a long-range electric car, the global demand for this little guy is hot and Hyundai can only send a significant number to the US market. They begin arriving in early 2019 and set the prices closer to their arrival.
Technical aspect
Kona Electric's front seats are comfortable and finished with Ultimate leather, leather, heating and ventilation.
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Predictably, Kona Electric looks different.
There is no grid, for example. Instead, a subtle mesh graphic gives some texture to the body of the car. The designers also added lower body details and lighting inspired electrical circuits. And, of course, the aerodynamic designs of the wheels are present and accounted for. The goal was to give Kona Electric a "solid" appearance, according to Hyundai.
Inside, the Kona shift lever and console disappeared, replaced by a deck console with electronic, cable-controlled transmission controls. I was not a fan of transmission buttons, but I did not spend more than an hour driving the Kona Electric. Maybe the owners will acclimatize and ultimately will have no problem with the design.
A single instrumentation transmits data on the electrical transmission. Kona Electric offers special Blue Link services related to vehicle charging, cabin preconditioning, looking for charging stations, etc. Impressively, Blue Link services are free for three years, and Kona Electric Limited or Ultimate is equipped with an 8-speaker Infinity Premium sound system with Clari-Fi music restoration technology.
Three trim levels are available: SEL, Limited and Ultimate. The test vehicle was equipped with Ultimate trim, including heated and ventilated leather-wrapped front seats, as well as a heated steering wheel. The comfort of the front seats was good, but as in the case of the standard Kona, the rear seat is waterproof for adults.
The cargo area measures 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat, more than any other vehicle in the segment, with the exception of the Nissan Leaf. The rear seat of the Kona folds flat to increase utility.
Easy to live with
With 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft. of torque, the Hyundai Kona Electric 2019 has no trouble getting out of his way.
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What sets Kona Electric apart is its engineering. It is a long-range electric vehicle, designed to travel 258 miles with a charged battery. By eliminating the phenomenon known as "distance anxiety", which makes EV owners fear when their battery is almost empty and it is not certain that they will go home, Hyundai makes the Kona Electric so attractive.
A lithium-ion 64 kWh liquid-cooled battery, guaranteed for life, powers a 150 kW electric motor. The total power of the system is 201 horsepower and 291 lb-ft. enough torque to motivate the empty weight of 3,800 pounds of Kona Electric. An acceleration at 60 mph takes 7.6 seconds, the car can reach a top speed of 104 mph and the EPA estimates that it will reach 120 MPe in combined driving.
Pedal driving is possible using the left steering wheel paddle. Hold and hold, and the car generates 0.25 g of regenerative deceleration force, activating the brake lights and stopping the Kona Electric. An Auto Hold button on the center console will keep the car stationary until it's time to start again.
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Three driving mode selection settings are available: Eco, Normal and Sport. Eco maximizes freewheeling regeneration, while the sport emphasizes rapid acceleration. If you hold down the Drive Mode Select button, you can enable the Eco + setting, designed to maximize the range of times when you may be concerned about the amount of juice left in the battery.
When it's time to refill the car, open the SAE combination port on the Kona Electric grille and plug it in. The fast charge compatibility is standard for this car, which allows it to recharge at 80% in less than an hour. . If the car is programmed to charge only when the electricity rates are low, you can quickly and easily replace it by using a button on the port.
Recharging overnight using a 240-volt domestic charging station, Kona Electric switches from no-load to full-charge in less than 10 hours. You can also plug the car into a standard household electrical outlet, but it will naturally take a lot longer in terms of charging time.
Fast acceleration, jerky rolling
The interior of the Hyundai Kona Electric is different, thanks to a bridge type center console with electronic transmission controls. The gray and blue color scheme is unique to the electric version of the Kona.
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Depress Kona Electric's accelerator pedal and this EV will have its front wheels spin. Even diving less aggressively into the power, I still struggled to maximize traction. No doubt the owners of this car will have fun surprising their share of the other drivers with the impressive EV acceleration, but the Kona Electric would be even more fun if it were four-wheel drive.
With nearly 1,000 kilos of battery housed in the Kona Electric chassis and the necessary structural and safety improvements, it is not surprising to know that this electric vehicle behaves like a slot car, as if it were magnetized by the road. The standard 17-inch wheels with 215/55 tires are useful, but the main factor contributing to this sensation is the dense mass of the car for its size combined with its low center of gravity.
Choppy best describes the driving and handling of the Kona Electric, even with its sophisticated MacPherson strut and independent multi-link rear suspension. Hyundai said it adapted the car's components specifically for "refined body movement on a variety of surfaces," but that on a smooth roadway, the car tilts and rolls.
Moving from Hyundai's Nexo fuel cell electric vehicle to Kona Electric, I found the steering a bit rubbery. The couple under acceleration, combined with the eagerness to return to the center, helped magnify this impression. However, with more time at the helm, I would bet that this feeling would subside.
Driven in Eco mode, the cabotage regenerative is rather aggressive. Driving in Sport mode, Kona Electric's accelerator pedal is almost too responsive. That's why I preferred the normal mode.
I've also preferred to use the driving function to a pedal. In my opinion, this implies a greater involvement of the driver in the act of driving, as does a manual gearbox in a gas car. You need to know when to use it knowing your speed and gauge distances. It's a nice challenge to stop Kona Electric without leaving a big gap or having to use the brake pedal.
Kona Electric could carve a chance
The Kona Electric offers the same 19.2 cubic foot cargo capacity behind the rear seats, unlike the standard Kona.
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At the time of writing this notice, Hyundai has not announced a price for the new Kona Electric.
A Chevrolet LT Bolt EV equipped with the DC quick charge and two sets of driver confidence (all driver assistance technologies and serial collision avoidance on the Kona Electric) costs $ 39,790.
A Nissan Leaf in the 40kWh SV format with Technology (Safety Technology) Package costs $ 35,575 – and that's the price you get with the standard battery and 108kms of life compared to Kona Electric.
Let's not forget the Tesla Model 3, which promised to start at around $ 35,000 and was still not available in bare bones, a standard battery specification. Given that Tesla must begin phasing out federal tax credits to make electric vehicles more affordable, the refined model 3 is not as competitive as it could have been.
My guess is that Kona Electric will start at around $ 38,000 on SEL plate and $ 44,000 on Ultimate plate. Hyundai will want the car to remain competitive with the more powerful version of the Leaf, which will be available soon, while offering a clear value proposition compared to the famous Chevrolet.
Having driven these three vehicles, this optimized strategy would work well. The Nissan Leaf is OK, which amounts to a timid upgrade from an older and rather clumsy model. The Chevrolet Bolt EV has a futuristic look, clearly different from any other car in the range – and in a good way.
Hyundai's new Kona Electric is a clean, green version of an existing car, but it offers the best driving autonomy and perhaps the best value for money that many people might consider the most beautiful package.
First pictures: 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric
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