THE Chinese might be enjoying all the buzz about electric vehicles (EVs) at the moment, but if one carmaker is really nailing the genre, it’s Hyundai. Instead of a model or two, it has three electric cars here (seven, if you count every variant of them), and every one is a banger, as the kids say.
The newest of these is the Kona Electric, a compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) that serves as a low rung on the ladder to the EV world. It’s yours if you can put S$71,000 towards a down payment for one (or can stomach the thought of doing so), and shell out just under S$1,500 a month for the next seven years.
That buys you a practical, refined EV with sci-fi looks and zippy performance, with a claimed range of 456 kilometres. With my foot on the pedals, it was on track to do about 360 km on a single charge, so if you can find a 50-kilowatt charger to use for an hour every week, you should be able to live with one.
It’d be a nice, quiet life, too. The Kona wafts around silently, and it’s got well-sorted suspension that balances a smooth ride with taut body control. It’s not built on a dedicated EV platform, so the interior isn’t as lounge-like as the breed’s best, but it’s still roomy, with a nice, flat floor instead of a tunnel for the poor soul in the middle of the back seat to straddle.
The cabin doesn’t look as futuristic as the exterior, but light colours make it feel airy, while the adjustable lighting does create a nice ambience at night. There’s plenty of space for stuff between the front seats, plus a little tray above the glovebox, and if you feel like splurging a bit you can have a glass sunroof for S$10,000, which also adds a wireless charging tray and ventilated front seats.
Along with a 27-litre frunk, the Kona has a bigger boot than the BYD Atto 3, and it’s both expandable and thoughtfully designed, with things like a double-height floor, loops for a cargo net, and hooks for grocery bags, making it extra practical.
The Kona also comes with rear air-con vents, a couple of USB charging ports and even a 16-amp three-pin power outlet.
A fella could have a grand ole time back there, one imagines, but it’s a fun car from the driver’s seat, too. The Kona Electric isn’t blessed with speed or much steering feel, but it’s an agile thing that darts into corners in a lively way, and is still quicker than, say, the posh German SUVs in the Quota System’s Category A.
What I really liked is how simple it is to operate, thanks to a profusion of physical buttons and switches. It’s also equipped with stuff that counts, such as powered front seats, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, as well as safety systems such as blind-spot monitors, lane-keep assist and autonomous emergency braking.
I do wish the main 12.3-inch screen were curved toward the driver a bit, since its furthest corner is a long stretch away. And I’d love a 360-degree monitor as well, instead of the simple reverse camera that the Kona comes with — if drivers can no longer be trusted to stay in their lane without their cars’ help, then what hope do they have of not kerbing the wheels without a camera?
But my biggest gripe with the Kona is how the air-con vents are positioned to blast your hands with frigid air. It meant having hot cheeks and frozen fingers, which sounds like something on a Hooters menu but isn’t the most pleasant experience.
That’s not a huge complaint, let alone a deal-breaker. The Kona Electric is obviously a well-executed EV from a brand that knows what it’s doing, and it’s a better car than most in Category A.
Come to think of it, so is the Kona Hybrid, a petrol-electric version with many of the same strengths. That makes the Kona one of the few cars out there designed to please both those who embrace EVs and those who reject them.
Technical Specifications
Hyundai Kona Electric (Standard Range)
Motor power/torque: 135 hp/255 Nm
Battery type/net capacity: Lithium-ion/48.6 kWh
Charging type/time: 4.5 hours 0 to 100 per cent (11 kW AC, estimated), 43 minutes 10 to 80 per cent (100 kW DC, estimated)
Range: 456 km
0-100 kmh: 9.9 seconds
Top speed: 162 kmh
Efficiency: 12.1 kWh/100 km
Agent: Komoco Motors
Price: From S$176,888 with COE
Available: Now
Source: [The Business Times] © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
