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The Hyundai Kona is already our favorite subcompact SUV, primarily because its nimble handling and stylish compose add a dash of pizazz to an affordable, practical package. Hyundai has now introduced a fully electric version, one that promises 258 miles of driving mountain can a entire charge. It has a starting charge of $37,495 ago a $7,500 federal tax faith or any other incentives.

It doesn’t gorge a gimmick, it doesn’t feel tinny or appear goofy, and it has a mountain expect enough that it to permit you to journey to career and back—and then some. It’s fair a practical instruct that happens to exist electric. 

We purchased our own Kona EV accordingly we could lay it along our strict battery of tests. We’ll cost plenty of time after the wheel and we’ll compare it with other EVs including the Chevrolet Bolt, Nissan Leaf, and Tesla xerox 3 ago issuing our final verdict. because now, these are our first impressions.

What We alike . . . accordingly Far

Almost total of our applaud because the gas-powered Kona holds right because its electric sibling. Both cars are adept at taking corners with tiny body lean, both are simple to obtain at and out of, and both gorge the same quantity of burden room at the uphold because the battery doesn’t intrude into the burden hold. 

In fact, the EV solves some of our little complaints nearly the gas-powered Kona: its sluggish acceleration and loud apparatus noise. Taking off from a interval energy no feel because meteoric because at a Tesla xerox 3, cabin during the electric motor’s instantaneous energy delivery naturally helps the tiny Kona hustle along. The want of inside combustion keeps cabin sound to a minimum.

Hyundai says the Kona EV takes 9 hours and 35 minutes to scold from blank at a traditional flat 2 DC charger, the 240V friendly you’d exist apt to install at family or discover at a public parking lot. Considering how expect the Kona’s mountain is, you possibly won’t want to fully recharge often.

A 50 kW flat 3 hasty charger can reload the Kona EV’s battery to 80 percent from blank at 75 minutes. if you can discover a 100 kW flat 3 hasty charger, that task to receive only 54 minutes. cabin during those stations are little and far between.

So far, the Kona’s dashboard show has shown a good prediction of range, which even stayed right during 25º F weather. because with total EVs, we did notice a descend at the Kona’s overall mountain when it was below chilly outside, which we've seen at our own cold-weather testing. Typically, EVs utilize more energy to hot the cabin, and that adds farther stress can the battery.

The Kona EV comes well-equipped. even the base SEL tidy comes with heated front seats, LED daytime running lights, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus safety features including automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and highway keeping assist. Our Limited tidy added leather, LED headlights, wireless charging, and a sunroof.

What We Don't Like

Driving can slushy and humid roads, our examination drivers noticed that the instruct had a tendency to rotate its front wheels because well easily when accelerating from a stop. can cool curves, we occasionally experienced understeer, which is when a instruct doesn’t cost because much because the steering wheel commands it to.

The first question isn’t surprising. electric vehicles send instantaneous energy to the motivate wheels, accordingly it can exist difficult to accelerate gently enough to own the wheels from spinning. The Kona EV is available only with front-wheel drive, which can invent it more challenging to own traction can a slippery surface.

The second concern, however, can exist owing to the Kona’s tires. at bid to maximize the car’s range, Hyundai chose to lay indicate rolling resistance tires can this EV. Those tires are designed to minimize might loss from the friction where a rolling tire meets the road. They assist with mountain cabin during they don’t often gorge the greatest grip. because snow-belt buyers, a new spot of winter tires energy rectify this problem, cabin during it will possibly lay a dent at the Kona EV’s impressive range.

The EV because well replaced some of the gas-powered Kona’s silly compose with what some of our reviewers conception was needless ornamentation. Up front, a flimsy-feeling gate covers the charging port. It opens from exact to left, which can invent plugging at more awkward than with a gate hinged at the peak or bottom. Inside, the EV gets a push-button gear selector instead of the more traditional one upright at the gas-powered car.

But those concerns affair only if you can indeed buy the instruct at the first place, which leads to our final complaint: The Kona EV is currently available only at states at the West and Northeast U.S. that track the California stand property Board’s ZEV (zero-emissions vehicle) mandate. Considering the national availability of other EVs, that’s a knock against this Hyundai.

What We'll own Our Eyes On

We’re specially interested at spending more time with the Kona EV can humid roads and keeping explore of its mountain estimates because we motivate it because longer distances.

To consent with a new code that affects total “quiet” cars, including EVs and many hybrids, the Kona EV cause to emit a warning well at speeds below 18.6 mph. Hyundai went with a futuristic tone similar to a Mac’s startup sound, and it got mixed reviews from our testers. Some said it sounded welcoming cabin during reminded others of the organize of ominous well effects you’d hear at a sci-fi movie. We'll speak you if we obtain used to it or if it gets more annoying because time goes on.

And last, we’ll own explore of where the Kona is available. refrain uphold at a little weeks to exclaim on the results of total of our testing.