The ‘24 Kona Electric lineup consists of two powertrain choices and three trim levels: SE, SEL, and Limited. The SE has a 99-kW permanent-magnet synchronous motor, a 269 V lithium-ion battery, and a single-speed reduction gear transmission. This system generates 133 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque and returns an EPA-estimated 131 MPGe city and 105 MPGe highway, along with a range of 200 miles.
The SEL and Limited come with a 150-kW permanent-magnet synchronous motor, a 358 V lithium-ion battery, and the same transmission as the SE. This higher-capacity powertrain has an output of 201 horsepower and 188 lb.-ft. of torque. The estimated ratings will dip slightly to 129 MPGe city/103 MPGe highway, but the range increases to 261 miles. Standard Level II charging for the SE is approximately 5 hours (going from 10% to 100%), while the SEL and Limited will be fully charged in just over 6 hours. Level III quick charging at 50 kW will take you from 10% to 80% power in 65 minutes, and Level III at 100 kW will reduce that time to just 45 minutes.
The Kona Electric pairs front-wheel drive with Drive Mode Select, a system equipped with four driving settings: Snow, Sport, Eco, and Normal. It’s also set up with brake regeneration with paddle shifters and Hyundai’s i-PEDAL driving mode, which work together to increase efficiency and allow the driver to accelerate or brake using just one pedal.
The SE has proximity key, remote start, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, dual automatic temperature control, four USB ports (two front/two rear), heated exterior mirrors, solar front glass (windshield and front doors), aerodynamic wiper blades, and LED lighting throughout (automatic projector headlights, daytime running lights, taillights, and center high-mount stop lamp).
The SEL adds heated front seats, an 8-way power driver’s seat, rear privacy glass, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited differentiates itself with a line of LED daytime running lights across the front, full LED taillights, Hyundai Digital Key 2 Touch, and a hands-free smart liftgate with auto-open. Inside, the interior swaps out cloth for H-Tex leatherette and gains heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, wireless device charging, a power sunroof, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink.
The Hyundai SmartSense suite of driver-assist technologies raises the Kona Electric’s safety factor from multiple angles. Even the entry-level SE comes with a dozen of these advanced driving aids, including blind-spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, lane following assist, driver attention warning, high beam assist, rear occupant alert, safe exit warning, intelligent speed limit assist, navigation-based smart cruise control with stop & go, highway driving assist, and forward-collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian detection, junction turning, and direct oncoming. The Limited trades a standard rearview monitor for a surround-view monitor, and also adds Remote Smart Parking Assist, parking distance warning (forward/side/reverse) and the blind-spot view monitor.
At the center of every ‘24 Kona Electric cabin is a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen that used to manage navigation, smartphone integration (wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), Bluetooth hands-free, and the AM/FM/HD Radio/SiriusXM audio system. Wi-Fi hotspot capability and access to Bluelink connected car services are also standard. The Limited also gets HomeLink, and a Bose premium audio system.