2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
- A repeat KBB Best Buy award winner
- Drives refreshingly like a car (think about it)
- 258 miles of range on a full charge
- Still eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit
- Pricing starts at $37,190 (plus $1,175 destination charge) | Price yours
- On sale now | See Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com
From July 2019 to July 2020, we conducted a radical experiment. We gave a Hyundai Kona Electric subcompact SUV to one of our editors to test for a year. This particular driver was born and bred in Southern California. Translated into today-speak, that means a driver who was born not to trust electric cars. His fear of getting stuck by the side of the road, battery drained with nothing but the shoulder to cry on, dominated his thinking about EVs. This month, however, that same editor voted to crown the Hyundai Kona “Electric Car Best Buy of 2021.” That makes the Kona EV a repeat champion.
Was it the Kona Electric’s 258-mile range? Yes, that much range plus the ability to come home every night to a 240-volt Level 2 charger and never worry about finding a gas station relieved 99 percent of the editor’s apprehension. Taking a road trip in a world where the charging infrastructure is still weak requires extra planning, but he decided that it was worth it.
Having learned that required maintenance on the Kona EV was almost nonexistent didn’t hurt, either.
Living with the Hyundai Kona Electric
Hyundai’s secret to making the Kona EV so good is that it managed to make it simple to forget that you were driving an electric car. The Kona EV is certainly a spirited little ute with instant-on acceleration that allows you to light up the front tires almost at will. The rest of the time, while commuting, shopping, heading into the big city at the end of the day to see a drive-in movie, or just cruising along the coast for a few hours, you’ll find yourself completely satisfied.
Strong acceleration, responsive brakes, and a comfortable ride are the hallmarks of the Kona Electric that will seduce you.
During our year of living electrically with the long-term Kona EV, we discovered that the subcompact loved the city, where it danced easily into the smallest parking spaces we could find. It turns out that the EV SUV also played well at freeway speeds. “Stable,” “comfortable,” and “confident” were the words used to describe the Kona Electric’s highway manners.
Inside, the Kona EV – like all iterations of the model line – presents you with a modern-feeling, cleanly executed 5-place interior. The seats are comfortable, and the materials are better than expected. For the driver, the instrument cluster offers plenty of ways to keep track of how both you and the Kona are doing at preserving and regenerating as much electricity as possible.
Every Kona EV comes with a host of notable standard features including keyless entry and starting, heated front seats, auto-on headlights, a dual-level cargo floor, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
For utility purposes, the cargo area is easy to use. Dropping the 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks brings up to 45.8 cu ft. of space into play.
Electric power isn’t coming – it’s already here
Currently, shamefully, the Hyundai Kona Electric is only available in 10 U.S. states. It is, however, a superb ambassador for electric transportation. From a full charge, the Kona EV promises 258 miles of range, but 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.
Using a Level 2 charger, you can power-up in about nine hours. DC Fast Charging gets you 80 percent of a full charge in just under an hour, according to Hyundai.
The Kona Electric only delivers 201 horsepower, but it also produces 291 lb-ft of torque, providing plenty of no-wait acceleration and instant passing at any speed, thus making the Kona EV quicker than its non-electric counterpart.
Still a Best Buy bargain
Pricing for the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric starts at around $37,190 (plus $1,175 for destination charges) for the SEL trim. At the top end, the Kona Electric Ultimate crosses the $45,000 mark. We’re talking a pretty big price step-up from a non-electric Kona, so why do we consider the EV version a Best Buy?
For starters, the Kona qualifies for the full $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs, in addition to any state and local incentives and rebates that may apply. Maintenance costs are cheaper for the electrified Kona, too, with fewer moving parts to wear out and the bonus of longer brake life that electric vehicles enjoy. It’s also true that the fuel cost per mile is significantly lower for electrified vehicles compared with their gasoline counterparts (not to mention electricity prices are more stable over time), although the break-even point is a spot years into the future.
Not to be forgotten, Hyundai’s legendary 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (which includes the subcompact SUV’s battery pack) only adds to the Kona EV’s appeal.
Likewise, the EV’s standard safety suite shines. Forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert (a boon to backing up), lane-keeping assist, and a driver-attention warning system all work to keep you out of trouble.
Photo Tour: 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
More 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric
Build and price your 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric to see this week’s Fair Purchase Price, 5-Year Cost to Own, and more, or see Autotrader listings right here on KBB.com. For a sense of what real-time, real-world life is like with a Kona EV, visit our 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Ownership Review.
