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2022 Hyundai Kona Electric review: A likable, livable electric car—if you can find it

 

1. Plug, not pump

The big difference between the traditional Kona and the EV is clear under the hood, and the presentation comes from its face: the front of the EV sports a brighter, cleaner look than the regular model , and there is an unusual charging panel. -center above the grille is undefined.

The Kona Electric is powered by a 64 kilowatt battery and an electric motor that produces 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque.

It comes only with front wheel drive; The VW ID.4 has standard rear-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive.

Power turns on quickly and slowly; The near-instant torque gives the line a nice boost and gives the Kona a bit of speed around town.

The EV feels faster than the regular Kona, which is already happy when using the power of its two available engines, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine. For more feel, add the Kona Electric to the Sport range, which increases responsiveness for more aggressive feel.

The Eco mode does it well, which causes it to be unresponsive, and the normal mode splits the difference.

All three models have a significant effect on the power of the car, which is felt in its range.

The EPA estimates that the Kona Electric is good for 258-miles, which is competitive with other smaller EV designs, such as the 247-mile Chevrolet Bolt EUV and the 280-mile Chevrolet Bolt.

VW ID.4 on the bottom. flat trim on the back wheel. car.

The front-only Nissan Leaf is good for only 149 kilometers of range, while the Leaf Plus shows up to 215 kilometers thanks to the large battery. With a 7.2 kilowatt on-board charger, the Kona can achieve a full battery charge from 10 percent in about nine hours with a 32-amp or higher Level 2 charger (the setup I have at home ).

Hyundai says it can reach an 80% charge from 10% in about 47 minutes using a public DC fast charger, which I haven’t tried.

The Kona Electric is a high-performance car, which pays both in terms of running costs and charging speed, making up the nearest kilometer faster than some competitors.

It recently took fourth place in our list of the 10 most efficient electric cars with a rating of 28 kWh per 100 kilometers. The Bolt EUV took seventh place with 29 kWh per 100 kilometers, while the ID.4 and the Book do not crack the top 10.

I tested the Kona in frigid temps and found that its range is relative – as it is for all EVs because extra power is required from the room temperature and goodies like heated steering wheel and seats; use these little things and you will get a great deal.

With the Kona Electric, Normal and Eco sport settings, you can customize the use of the air conditioner for each situation to suit your needs and the car’s range.

Because I like everything, my range is usually lower than the maximum 258 kilometers in good conditions.

The good news is that the car’s mileage seems pretty good on my trip, but while I’m seeing numbers below EPA estimates, the Kona still has plenty of juice to spare on long trips.

Other cooling factors also play a role in the car range.

Cold weather limits the amount of power an electric car’s adaptive braking system can get, and low temperatures affect the time it takes to fully charge a car’s battery, so plan accordingly.

Kona has a battery heating system available to help prevent long battery charging times in winter: In preferred cold conditions, the battery heater can reduce battery loss due to low temperatures, speeding up charging by keeping the battery warm.

There are also apps available that help manage the charger and allow you to control some of the car’s systems.

You will also notice the effect of the Kona Electric battery in the back of the seat, where the placement of the pack under the floor eats up the back of the seat and affects comfort.

The floor is raised compared to the regular model, which requires less knee seating.

While the gas Kona has 35.2 inches of legroom, the electric Kona only has 33.4 inches, and even those numbers don’t reflect the legroom you’ll lose in an electric car. At least part of the front legroom and cargo space is the same.

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