Kona EV has highest EV driving range (258 miles), except for Tesla

Powered by a potent 64.0kWh battery system, which is warranted for life, the Kona Electric provides an astounding EPA-estimated All-Electric Range of 258 miles with the efficiency of an EPA-estimated 132 MPGe City miles. This is the highest driving range of any all-electric vehicle in the market except for Tesla. 

By John Coulter, CMO, Current EV, July 2019 

The Kona Pure Electric qualifies for a California State Rebate of $2500, meaning Kona’s starting MSRP of $36,590 is reduced to $34,090. Customers may receive the available federal tax credit of up to $7,500, dependent on their individual tax circumstances. Consulting a Current EV advisor can help verify what your savings will be. 

The Tesla Model 3 and Chevrolet Bolt can offer customers half (or less) of these incentive savings, due to a mandatory phase out of their incentives. (Both EVs have reached or are getting close to their 200,000 unit phase-out amount.) Meaning Kona is suddenly in the driver’s seat for offering major incentives to customers leasing or purchasing their first or second electric vehicle. 

Right now, Kona EV is the current non-Tesla range champion, even outlasting the more expensive Jaguar I-PACE (which comes with a bigger battery) and the Audi e-Tron. Along with Tesla, Hyundai has figured out how to achieve more miles out of every kilowatt hour its Kona batteries provide. It’s likely this is helped by the EV’s low weight and grill-less low drag ratio. 

Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market. It was designed with an appeal for consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Produced in Ulsan, Korea, the Pure Electric is “an exceptionally affordable, stylish and efficient compact electric CUV, tailored to the needs of customers who pursue eco-focused active lifestyles requiring generous range,” says Mike O’Brien, vice president of Product, Corporate and Digital Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re confident it will set new standards for the electric-propelled compact CUV segment, with outstanding value, range flexibility, appealing design, cutting-edge connectivity and class-leading available safety features.” 

Kona EV’s electric motor produces 201 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque. It comes standard with keyless entry, push-button start, heated front seats, LED taillights, and a 7.0-inch center screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Hyundai also incorporated forward collision-avoidance assist, lane keeping assist, blind-spot collision with alerts, and rear cross-traffic collision warning at no additional expense. 

Moving up to the Limited model ($42,195 MSRP) gets you more equipment, including LED headlamps with high-beam assist, leather seats, a sunroof, a power adjustable front seat, wireless device charging, and an upgraded rearview mirror with HomeLink. 

The Ultimate trim ($45,695 MSRP) provides a touch screen upsized to 8.0 inches and an Infinity Premium audio system and navigation. Front seats are ventilated, and the steering wheel is heated. Rain-sensing wipers, and a head-up display for the driver are added. The Ultimate also benefits from a more robust safety suite that adds pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, and more parking assistance. Hyundai Assurance is renowned as America’s Best Warranty; the Kona Electric's lithium-ion polymer battery is covered by a Lifetime Electric Battery Warranty, an industry exclusive. 

Says Consumer Reports: “The 2019 Hyundai Kona EV is an electric car for everyone. It’s well-equipped, pleasant to drive and offers decent range. The Kona is already our favorite subcompact SUV, largely because its nimble handling and stylish design 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 range on a full charge. It doesn’t have a gimmick, it doesn’t feel tinny or look goofy, and it has a range long enough that it should allow you to travel to work and back – and then some. It’s just a practical car that happens to be electric.”