2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Tested: Bigger, But Better?

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric is a little enchantress. It is a fun, five-passenger subcompact crossover powered by an electric motor. It darts around like a go-kart and looks cool while doing it.

Kona might not be a household name even though the nameplate has been around since 2017, and the SUV became available in North America in 2018 with a lineup of gas engines and available front- and all-wheel drive. The front-wheel-drive-only Kona Electric was added in 2019. Other parts of the world can also order a hybrid variant.

Now entering its second generation, the Kona is larger than before, with more room in the second row and a wider opening for the bigger cargo area. The look is on the quirky, edgy side, enough that it stands out on the road and telegraphs its status as an EV. It has sharp body crease lines and a full-width LED unibrow light across the front that underscores the attention paid to this generation’s all-electric version, which was the development focus. Previously, the gas version was generated first, with the EV spun off it; this time Hyundai worked backward from the EV to the gas models. To distinguish them, the Electrics have body-colored wheel arches and more closed-off front ends. 

Tested here is the range-topping 2024 Kona Electric Limited, which means it has the 64.8-kWh long-range battery that brings the power from the single motor up to 201 hp and 188 lb-ft of torque and boosts range to 261 miles, per the EPA. (The entry-level Kona Electric SE gets 133 hp and uses a smaller 48.6-kWh battery good for an EPA-rated 200 miles of range; like the Limited, the midlevel SEL gets the bigger battery and larger horsepower figure.) Horsepower is unchanged from the previous generation, but torque drops by 3 lb-ft—not ideal, given the new model is larger and about 110 pounds heavier.

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Is the Kona Electric Fast?

The 2024 Kona EV achieves a 0–60-mph time of 7.1 seconds and runs the quarter mile in 15.5 seconds. The previous generation did the scoot to 60 mph in a quicker 6.6 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.1 seconds, which goes to show how the new model’s extra mass affects acceleration. The lateral acceleration is basically unchanged, though, and the 2024 model clocks a faster time on the figure-eight course, so handling has improved.

The Kona Electric is not made for drag racing, of course; nothing happens when both pedals are pressed in an attempted brake-torque procedure. It’s the kind of unexciting launch befitting an efficient FWD EV. Although the Kona is slower than before, it doesn’t feel underpowered; with more than 200 hp moving less than 4,000 pounds, it provides plenty of push from a traffic light and ample acceleration for passing. 

By comparison, the most recent Volkswagen ID4 Pro we tested, a 2022 model also with 201 hp but only 229 lb-ft of torque, needed 7.3 seconds to hit 60 mph and 15.8 seconds for the quarter mile. GM has stopped making the Chevrolet Bolt, but the 2022 EUV Premier we tested (200 hp and 266 lb-ft) was lighter and quicker: 0–60 in 6.7 seconds and the quarter mile in 15.2 seconds. GM has promised a next-generation Bolt in 2025. The 2023 Kia Niro EV was even lighter and quicker: 0–60 in 6.5 seconds and the quarter mile in an impressive 15.0 seconds. It has 201 hp and 187 lb-ft of torque in a vehicle weighing in at 3,717 pounds.

Where the Kona delights is in everyday driving, where it provides a jaunty, peppy experience. Switch between Eco, Normal, and Sport drive modes to feel the difference in throttle response. The Kona stayed on the first-generation model’s K3 platform, but the car does not suffer for it in terms of handling; the vehicle dynamics remain solid. When or if the crossover eventually moves to Hyundai’s E-GMP dedicated electric vehicle platform—the same setup that lives under the Ioniq 5 SUV and Ioniq 6 sedan—the big difference will be faster charging thanks to the upgrade to an 800-volt electrical architecture from the current Kona’s 400-volt setup, which takes about 43 minutes to take the charge from 10 percent to 80 percent. And the Kona name could be dumped if Hyundai decides to make this little SUV part of the Ioniq family.

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One-Pedal Driving

We’re fans of the one-pedal feel of Hyundai vehicles, and the Kona is no exception. Customers should expect to do most daily braking without needing the brake pedal. When you must use the brake, the pedal has a good feel that leans toward the stiffer side. The integrated system does a good job of ensuring the pressure doesn't change much throughout pedal travel. It doesn’t get stiffer right at the floor but is easy to hold down.

Regular braking is not especially refined; in testing you can feel the release of the brakes via ABS and can take note of each lockup and release more easily than in most vehicles. But the brakes do their job, delivering a fair performance for such an inexpensive EV.

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Yes, You Still Turn it On

Those new to an EV will appreciate the traditional starter button so that you know when the silent vehicle is on (unlike in, say, a Tesla, which arms itself as soon as the driver sits in their seat). The Kona sounds like a spaceship backing out of the garage, and with the stereo off you can hear the light warning sounds for pedestrian safety while driving. It sounds a bit like the flying cars on The Jetsons. While the Kona Electric offers a quiet ride for its price point, the ABS pump and tire noise cut through the cabin.  

For this Kona generation, the gearshift moves to the steering wheel and adopts the slightly confusing arrangement from the Ioniq models: Even though the wand looks like a stalk or column shifter, to select a gear you actually twist the end of it rather than whack the entire thing up or down. Yes, we are getting tired of everyone reinventing the gearshift, but once you get used to this one, it’s at least intuitive enough and a short reach from the steering wheel’s rim.

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Digging the Neon Accents

Inside, the sage green interior is fresh and bright with delightful neon accents. They adorn the steering wheel, dashboard, and seats. The soft perforated-leather seats are comfortable, and the Kona offers a ton of front headroom. Hyundai employs a good mix of materials. It does have plastic on the dash, which is to be expected, especially on a vehicle near the bottom of the food chain, but the cabin does not look cheap with its use of leather and polished metal trim. It all has a youthful vibe while remaining practical.

The 12.3-inch driver display and 12.3-inch center infotainment screen live under a single piece of glass. A smooth row of buttons controls the infotainment unit, with knobs for tuning and volume. The center screen provides a lot of information in a small amount of real estate; the screen presentation is easily split to show multiple displays. The Home button makes it easy to get at common functions such as Apple CarPlay, weather, and valet mode. Connecting to CarPlay was quick and easy, and easily-accessed USB outlets live above the phone charging tray, as well as a 12-volt power outlet.\

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What a View

The screen’s graphics are extremely crisp and bright, and the camera is excellent. The Kona gave me one of the most accurate pictures of my garage to date, providing a bird’s-eye view as well as a crystal-clear overview of everything I own as I inched in. I really need to declutter.

A thoughtful feature: The HVAC system has a button to turn the fan on for the driver only—no need to heat or cool the entire cabin if you are the only one inside.

Korean automakers have become known for clever packaging. The retractable cupholders in the Kona are a good example. They’re housed in a large open storage area in the center console. They can hold even large beverages in place, but the design allows for a large area of unobstructed space when the cupholders aren’t being used, providing plenty of room for glasses, wallets, even a small purse. You'll find a second two-tier storage bin behind it, under your elbow. This cubby has a tray for smaller items atop a deeper well.

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More Space, Please

The first-generation Kona was hampered by a cramped second row and small cargo hold. For 2024, Hyundai lengthened the wheelbase by a few inches and the overall length by about 6 inches, making it one of the larger vehicles in the subcompact SUV segment.

The slimmer front seats and stretched wheelbase provide 3.1 inches more legroom for those in the second row, and headroom is decent. Packing three adults in there is tight, though. The front seat backs both feature cargo nets, rear passengers can grab the neon-colored tabs to adjust the air vents in the center console, and there are two rear USB outlets. Rear passengers enjoy the same soft perforated-leather seats with neon trim and yellow stitching.

The rear opening is taller and wider for easier access. It opens to cargo area that grew by 6.3 cubic feet (now up to 25.5) with a cover and an area underneath to store the charge cable.

You can set the rear windshield wiper to activate automatically when the front wipers are on and the vehicle is in reverse.

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Charging the Kona Electric

Range is rated at 261 miles, and fuel economy is 129 mpg-e in the city and 103 on the highway for a combined 116 mpg-e. The previous generation was rated at 258 miles on a single charge, and the 2019 model we tested got an EPA-rated 132/108/120 mpg-e.

The charge port is in the grille; just press the cover to pop it open, remove the protective rubber caps, and connect. Plugging it into a regular outlet, the front lit up to show the level of charge, and a friendly robotic voice tells you that charging has begun. Inside the car a blue animated light also indicates charging is underway and gives the state of charge as a percentage.

In our testing, we added 74 miles of range in 15 minutes and 63 more miles by the half-hour mark; we were almost at 200 miles after an hour. It took 42 minutes to go from 5 to 80 percent charge. To get to a full 100 percent required 80 minutes. Peak charging power was 84 kW. Generally speaking, Hyundai’s claimed range is accurate; our results were only slightly lower than the company’s numbers.

Should I Buy a Hyundai Kona Electric?

The Kona is imported from Ulsan, South Korea. It isn’t the brand’s entry-level model—that would be the Hyundai Venue—but it is positioned as an affordable EV entry point designed to appeal to young buyers. It has a youthful appearance and responsiveness while offering a surprising amount of room for people and their gear.

The original Kona was designed to be a cheap and cheerful little crossover. It grew larger and heavier for the second generation, sacrificing some performance for the extra room. There are notable differences with each powertrain variant and between trim levels. The Electric sits at the top of the pyramid, the pinnacle from which the rest were cleaved, and it shows. It is quick and fun to drive, with instant pep that makes daily errands fun to complete. Our top-trim Limited priced out at $42,650; the only option was $210 for carpeted floormats. That’s getting a bit steep for a subcompact, but the midgrade SEL with the same battery and range costs a few thousand bucks less, landing it under $40,000. That’s not bad for the range this stylish electric SUV offers.