2020 Hyundai Kona Electric- Drives refreshingly like a car (think about it)
- 258 miles of range (or more) on a full charge
- Still eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax deduction
- Pricing starts at $38,085 (including $1,095 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale November 2019 | See Kona Electric models for sale near you
The Car to Make You Believe in Alternatives
Yes, there are some mental-level changes you’ll have to make if you decide to go electric. Plugging in is a commitment that requires planning to do right, as well as a second car if you want to get out of town for some serious road-tripping and hate loitering while your ride powers up at a charger. But with pure-electric cars routinely coming up with more than 200 miles of range and the price of Level 2 home-charging systems coming down every season, electric cars add more freedom to driving each year — especially for commuters and city dwellers.
At the forefront of this electrified era of transportation, technological masterpieces like the Tesla Model 3 and affordable everyman’s vehicles like the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric make choosing battery power to get to around all day easier — and more rewarding — than ever. Coming home and cheaply charging while you’re fast asleep adds a bonus. A snapshot of the moment gives the Kona EV our nod as the KBB Electric Car Best Buy for 2020.
Yes, Tell me About This Hyundai Kona Electric Car
Even though the Kona Electric is a different animal than the gasoline-powered Kona, the EV SUV is really well thought out as an electric car and, well, a car-car. From a full charge, the Kona promises 258 miles of travel, and we consistently saw 275 miles with the help of prudent driving and regenerative braking. Regenerative technology helps send charge back to the Kona’s batteries by capturing the energy created while the car slows down. The amount of recharge collected can be varied by braking paddles on the steering wheel.
Currently available in 10 states, the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric supports both full Level 2 charging in about nine hours and DC fast-charging, which will get you 80 percent of a full charge, in about 54 minutes.
From a performance view, the Kona Electric only offers 201 horsepower, but its 291 lb-ft of torque make it a monster of quick acceleration for stoplight takeoffs and quick passes at any speed, out-gunning its non-electric Kona counterpart. On the other hand, this little guy only comes in front-wheel-drive form, while the gasoline Kona is available with all-wheel-drive capability.
Easy to Drive, Easy to Own
Beyond that, the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric acts act just like a car. True, you can light up the tires with brisk acceleration if the mood strikes you, but if all you crave is encouraging acceleration, responsive brakes, and a comfortable ride, you’ve still come to the right place.
The modern, cleanly executed 5-place interior offers comfort and quality, along with a purposefully intelligent gauge cluster with plenty of ways to track your progress as an electric-car pilot and a we’re-not-crazy-about-it-yet push-button Park/Drive/Reverse/Neutral selector. The cargo space is easy to take advantage of, especially when you drop the 60/40-split folding rear seatbacks which opens you up to 45.8 cubic feet of stowage area.
While the Kona EV exhibits impressive around-town quiet, don’t get the idea that it’ll let you down on the Interstate. We found the car to be very stable at high speeds and plenty comfortable on a freeway.
Electric Value
Prices for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric start at around $38,000 for the SEL model and can reach toward $47,000 for a fully-turned-out Ultimate model. While that’s steep money compared to a gasoline-powered Kona, electric cars typically command a substantial bump in price. A number of things, however, make this price gap easier to take.
For starters, the Kona qualifies for a full $7,500 federal tax credit along with any state and local incentives and rebates. You can also look forward to fewer maintenance requirements, fewer moving parts to wear out, and longer brake life with an electric vehicle. And of course, your fuel-cost per mile is significantly cheaper when you use electricity rather than gasoline (and electricity prices do a much better job of holding steady over time).
KBB Best Buy value for the 2020 Kona Electric starts with the famed Hyundai 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (which the subcompact SUV’s battery pack falls under), but the standard equipment really lights up its appeal.
Every Kona EV comes with a host of notable features including auto-on headlights, heated front seats, a dual-level cargo floor, and the new standard in tech worthiness: Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Likewise, the standard safety regimen shines. Forward-collision warning with automatic braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert (a boon to backing up), lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning system all specialize in keeping you out of trouble.
Photo Tour: 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric
More 2020 Kona Electric
Build and price your 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own and more, or check out the Kona Electrics for sale today at dealers near you. For a sense of what real-time, real-world life is like with a Kona EV, visit our 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ownership Review.
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