Recently, Hyundai hinted at some of the details of the all-electric version of its Kona subcompact SUV. The automaker stated that the EV crossover would be available with a pair of powertrain offerings, one of which being "one of the most powerful electric engines on the market" with a driving range of 292 miles. Now, the Korean automaker has revealed the Kona Electric in advance of the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.
The Hyundai Kona Electric looks like its hybrid siblings, with the biggest visual difference up front, with its closed grille. That's also where the car's plug resides. It features LED daytime running lights above its LED headlights. The Kona Electric offers a two-tone roof, and seven different exterior paint color offerings.
On paper, at least, the Kona Electric is pretty compelling. The long-range, 292-mile version features a 64-kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack supplying power to a 150-kW (201-horsepower) electric motor. It does 0-62 miles per hour in a respectable 7.6 seconds, with a top speed of 103 mph. The base version's 39-kWh battery offers 186 miles of driving range, and a 99-kW (133-horsepower) electric motor. It does 0-62 in a more leisurely 9.3 seconds.
Inside the car, the Kona Electric features a pair of paddle shifters behind the steering wheel that allow the driver to dial in the preferred amount of regenerative braking force. A seven-inch digital display in the instrument cluster is accompanied by a head-up display providing key information directly in front of the driver. The car's infotainment system features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and wireless phone charging.
The Kona Electric offers a number of driver assist features for safety and convenience. These include forward collision avoidance with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, intelligent speed limit warning and smart high. It also offers smart cruise control with stop-and-go capability to make those traffic jams a little more bearable.
