Best in the class range offered at this price point
AWD is not available in an SUV
SEL model is equipped with more features and comfort creatures
Lots of standard safety features and driver aids
Overview
The Hyundai Kona Electric is the second electric car in the Hyundai electric vehicle arsenal after the Ioniq. The company is able to produce vehicles that are feature-rich and fun to drive and the Kona Electric is no different. All over the world, Hyundai has grown as a trusted brand because of the smart design of cars that are filled with a lot of safety systems that come as standard. The year 2022 saw a design update with new front and rear bumpers along with newly designed wheels and a revamped interior. In 2022 the top of the line trim was dropped.
Buying Advice
We recommend the base SE trim as it is feature loaded and priced reasonably. This is also the only trim that gets Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The trim gets all the basic safety features and shelling out extra money for added accessories does not feel justified.
The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a stylish reliable machine with best in class range that makes it a very desirable electric car. The 2023 Hyundai Kona electric is offered in three trim options. The SEL and Limited trims are carried over from last year but a base SE model is introduced this year. The base model 2023 Kona electric is feature loaded and comes with a tonne of features. All the trims of the Kona electric are front-wheel drive which is powered by a 150kWh powertrain that produces 210 hp of power and 291 lb-ft of torque. The SE trim gets a long list of standard safety features and lots of creature comfort at its disposal. The safety features like blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic, lane follow and keep assist, collision warning with pedestrian detection along with driver attention monitor. The Kona electric comes equipped with 17-inch wheels with a tire mobility kit instead of a spare tire.
Trims
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric SE
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric SEL
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited
MSRP
$33,550
$37,300
$41550
Key Features
Two tone black painted roof
Add to or upgrade from SE trim
Add to or upgrade from SEL trim
17-inch tire alloys wheels
Electrically powered Sunroof
LED headlights and tail lights
8-way power assisted driver seat with 2-way lumbar support and 60:40 folding rear seat
10.25-inch touch screen instead of 8-inch touch screen featuring Navigation with over the air updates
Automatic rain sensing wipers
Cloth upholstery
Wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
Rear parking sensors
Heated front seats
Leather-wrapped steering wheels
Leather upholstery
Single zone climate control
Hyundai Digital key
Automatic High Beam headlights
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
LED interior lighting
8 speakers Harman Kardon audio system
Hyundai offers a list of packages that are listed below.
Convenience Package @ $3,500
Power Tilt and Slide Sunroof
Heated front seats
Wireless device charging
Premium dark grey body cladding
Hidden cargo area storage compartment
Battery warmer system
Led interior lighting
8-way power driver seat with lumbar
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Hyundai digital key
Power window single push up and down
Winter weather package @ $330
Fitted interior floor liners
Rear and front mudguards
Cargo package @ $190
Cargo tray
Cargo net
Cargo hook
We recommend
We recommend the base SE trim as it is feature loaded and priced reasonably. This is also the only trim that gets Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The trim gets all the basic safety features and shelling out extra money for added accessories does not feel justified.
Features
9.0/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a brilliant performer. The car gets a single permanent magnet synchronous motor along with a 64 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack which powers the front two wheels. The Motor is paired with a single-speed direct drive transmission which ensures seamless power delivery to the wheels. The Kona electric generates 201 hp and 291 lb-feet of torque which is available from the ground up. This allows the car to reach the 60-mile-per-hour mark in just 6.4 seconds. The ground-up torque delivery from the electric motor results in the car crossing the quarter-mile mark in just 15 seconds, which is best in class. The car has a top speed of 110 miles per hour.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
MSRP
$33,550
$28,200
$29,140
$33,000
Engine
Electric
Electric
Electric
Electric
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
FWD
FWD
Transmission
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
Power (hp)
201 HP
200 HP
147 HP
201 HP
Torque (lb.-ft)
291 lb-ft
266 lb-ft
236 lb-ft
188 lb-ft
0-60 MPH (seconds)
6.4 seconds
6.7 seconds
6.8 seconds
6.7 seconds
Quarter-mile (seconds)
15 seconds
15.2 seconds
15.4 seconds
15.2 seconds
Top Speed (MPH)
110 MPH
93 MPH
106 MPH
106 MPH
The 2023 Kona Electric performs brilliantly on the 0 to 60 MPH run by taking just 6.4 seconds to reach the 60 MPH mark and 15 seconds for the quarter-mile run. The Chevrolet EUV and the Kia Niro EV have identical performance on the 0 to 60 MPH runof 6.7 seconds and quarter-mile mark in 15.2 seconds respectively. The Nissan leaf is the slowest among the competitors because it takes 6.8 seconds to reach the 0 to 60 MPH mark and 15.4 seconds to reach the quarter-mile mark. The 147 hp of power is the main reason behind the appalling performance of the Nissan Leaf. The Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV have an identical power output of 201hp, however, the difference in performance is due to the significantly less torque figure of 188 lb-ft of the Kia Niro EV as compared to 291 lb-ft of the Hyundai Kona. The Hyundai Kona electric has the best-in-class top speed of 110 MPH, while the Chevrolet EUV has the least stop speed of 96 MPH. The Nissan leaf and the Kia Niro have identical top speeds of 106 MPH.
2023 Hyundai Kona Ride and Handling
The Hyundai Kona electric despite being a subcompact SUV handles surprisingly agility and flaunts terrific driving dynamics, of course, it cannot be compared to a sports car. The Hyundai Kona electric is loaded with four-wheel independent suspension which is provided along with a special setup in the rear, which enables the car for a smooth superior ride. The low-slung mass of the vehicle helps with maintaining a poised ride at high speed which is not a very usual phenomenon for a vehicle in this segment. The power steering unit works very well and accentuates the handling of the vehicle. The steering provides nice feedback and is light at city speeds but weighs up nicely as the speed increases. Overall the vehicle maintains composure on all kinds of surfaces but the AWD drivetrain is missing, which helps attain traction in different types of weather and road conditions.
2023 Hyundai Kona Braking performance
The Kona Electric is equipped with a 12-inch ventilated disc brake at the front and an 11.8-inch solid disc brake at the rear. The car is equipped with ABS on all four wheels and then there is regenerative braking which essentially allows the driver to control the speed only using the throttle pedal. The regenerative braking in the Kona electric is quite effective and lifting of the leg from the pedal slows the vehicle significantly and can bring it to a complete halt thereby using the motor as a generator to use the momentum of the vehicle to produce electricity. The Brake pedal is only required to use when any sudden obstruction comes in front otherwise the effective use of regenerative braking is sufficient in city traffic.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
Brake Rotors (front) (in)
12 inches
10.9 inches
11.1 inches
12 inches
Brake Rotors (rear) (in)
11.8 inches
10.4 inches
11.5 inches
11.8 inches
Curb Weight (lbs)
3,715 lbs
3,680 lbs
3,516 lbs
3,715 lbs
60-0
(feet)
NA
NA
NA
NA
The 2023 Hyundai Kona and The Kia Niro share the same brake discs as they belong to the same family tree and this allows the company to cut costs. The Chevrolet bolt gets comparatively smaller size brakes with respect to the Hyundai and the Kia. The Nissan gets bigger brakes of 11.1 inches discs in the front and 11.5 inches discs in the rear as compared to Chevrolet which gets 10.9 inches discs in front and 10.4 inches discs in the rear. The Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro EV get identical size brake rotors measuring 12 inches discs in front and 11.8 inches discs in the rear. The Nissan Leaf is the lightest of the lot with a curb weight of 3,516 lbs whereas the Kona and the Niro electric are the heaviest with an identical weight of 3,715 lbs.
Engine and Performance
6.0/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a brilliant performer. The car gets a single permanent magnet synchronous motor along with a 64 kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack which powers the front two wheels. The Motor is paired with a single-speed direct drive transmission which ensures seamless power delivery to the wheels. The Kona electric generates 201 hp and 291 lb-feet of torque which is available from the ground up. This allows the car to reach the 60-mile-per-hour mark in just 6.4 seconds. The ground-up torque delivery from the electric motor results in the car crossing the quarter-mile mark in just 15 seconds, which is best in class. The car has a top speed of 110 miles per hour.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
MSRP
$33,550
$28,200
$29,140
$33,000
Engine
Electric
Electric
Electric
Electric
Drivetrain
FWD
FWD
FWD
FWD
Transmission
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
1-speed direct drive
Power (hp)
201 HP
200 HP
147 HP
201 HP
Torque (lb.-ft)
291 lb-ft
266 lb-ft
236 lb-ft
188 lb-ft
0-60 MPH (seconds)
6.4 seconds
6.7 seconds
6.8 seconds
6.7 seconds
Quarter-mile (seconds)
15 seconds
15.2 seconds
15.4 seconds
15.2 seconds
Top Speed (MPH)
110 MPH
93 MPH
106 MPH
106 MPH
The 2023 Kona Electric performs brilliantly on the 0 to 60 MPH run by taking just 6.4 seconds to reach the 60 MPH mark and 15 seconds for the quarter-mile run. The Chevrolet EUV and the Kia Niro EV have identical performance on the 0 to 60 MPH runof 6.7 seconds and quarter-mile mark in 15.2 seconds respectively. The Nissan leaf is the slowest among the competitors because it takes 6.8 seconds to reach the 0 to 60 MPH mark and 15.4 seconds to reach the quarter-mile mark. The 147 hp of power is the main reason behind the appalling performance of the Nissan Leaf. The Hyundai Kona Electric and the Kia Niro EV have an identical power output of 201hp, however, the difference in performance is due to the significantly less torque figure of 188 lb-ft of the Kia Niro EV as compared to 291 lb-ft of the Hyundai Kona. The Hyundai Kona electric has the best-in-class top speed of 110 MPH, while the Chevrolet EUV has the least stop speed of 96 MPH. The Nissan leaf and the Kia Niro have identical top speeds of 106 MPH.
2023 Hyundai Kona Ride and Handling
The Hyundai Kona electric despite being a subcompact SUV handles surprisingly agility and flaunts terrific driving dynamics, of course, it cannot be compared to a sports car. The Hyundai Kona electric is loaded with four-wheel independent suspension which is provided along with a special setup in the rear, which enables the car for a smooth superior ride. The low-slung mass of the vehicle helps with maintaining a poised ride at high speed which is not a very usual phenomenon for a vehicle in this segment. The power steering unit works very well and accentuates the handling of the vehicle. The steering provides nice feedback and is light at city speeds but weighs up nicely as the speed increases. Overall the vehicle maintains composure on all kinds of surfaces but the AWD drivetrain is missing, which helps attain traction in different types of weather and road conditions.
2023 Hyundai Kona Braking performance
The Kona Electric is equipped with a 12-inch ventilated disc brake at the front and an 11.8-inch solid disc brake at the rear. The car is equipped with ABS on all four wheels and then there is regenerative braking which essentially allows the driver to control the speed only using the throttle pedal. The regenerative braking in the Kona electric is quite effective and lifting of the leg from the pedal slows the vehicle significantly and can bring it to a complete halt thereby using the motor as a generator to use the momentum of the vehicle to produce electricity. The Brake pedal is only required to use when any sudden obstruction comes in front otherwise the effective use of regenerative braking is sufficient in city traffic.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
Brake Rotors (front) (in)
12 inches
10.9 inches
11.1 inches
12 inches
Brake Rotors (rear) (in)
11.8 inches
10.4 inches
11.5 inches
11.8 inches
Curb Weight (lbs)
3,715 lbs
3,680 lbs
3,516 lbs
3,715 lbs
60-0
(feet)
NA
NA
NA
NA
The 2023 Hyundai Kona and The Kia Niro share the same brake discs as they belong to the same family tree and this allows the company to cut costs. The Chevrolet bolt gets comparatively smaller size brakes with respect to the Hyundai and the Kia. The Nissan gets bigger brakes of 11.1 inches discs in the front and 11.5 inches discs in the rear as compared to Chevrolet which gets 10.9 inches discs in front and 10.4 inches discs in the rear. The Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro EV get identical size brake rotors measuring 12 inches discs in front and 11.8 inches discs in the rear. The Nissan Leaf is the lightest of the lot with a curb weight of 3,516 lbs whereas the Kona and the Niro electric are the heaviest with an identical weight of 3,715 lbs.
Fuel Economy
9.9/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona electric gets one of the best fuel economies or mileage among its competitors in the market. The Kona electric also sports the best-in-class city mileage of 134 MPGe along with a Highway average of 106 MPGe. The Kona Electric is able to deliver a best-in-class combined mileage of 120 MPGe, which is again best in class. The Hyundai Kona electric gets a battery capacity of 64 kWh which enables it to get a range of 258 miles, which is the highest in the class.Â
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia NiroÂ
MPGe (city)
134 MPGe
125 MPGe
123 MPGe
126 MPGe
MPGe (highway)
106 MPGe
104 MPGe
99 MPGe
101 MPGe
MPGe (combined)
120 MPGe
115 MPGe
111 MPGe
113 MPGe
Battery capacity (kWh)
64 kWh
Â
Interior
7.0/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona electric gets comfortable seats in the front, and it has a seating capacity of 5 people. The rear seat of Kona is really cramped and is very uncomfortable because of the extremely small leg room. The Kona comes equipped with a 19.2 cu-ft of cargo space which is not very much, but still practical enough. The utility space increases significantly once the rear seats are folded down. A close view of the interior of the base SE model reveals the use of cloth upholstery in the interior with 8-way power adjustable heated seats with 2-way lumbar support adjustment. The steering gets tilt and telescopic adjustment and the single zone climate control keeps the cabin a comfortable place to be in. The quality of the material and the fit and finish is nice.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
Passenger Capacity
5
5
5
5
First Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)
39.6/55.5/41.5
40.0/54.6/44.3
41.2/54.3/42.1
40.1/56.0/41.7
Second Row (Head/shoulder/legroom)
37.7/54.5/33.4
37.8/52.0/39.1
37.3/52.5/33.5
37.7/55.1/36
Trunk Capacity (total)(cu.-ft)
19.2 cu.-ft
16.9 cu.-ft
23.6 cu.-ft
18.5 cu.-ft
In comparison the largest cargo space is provided by the Nissan Leaf measuring 23.6 cu-ft followed by the Hyundai Kona which gets a cargo space of 19.2 cu-ft and the Kia Niro EV which offers a cargo space of 18.5 cu-ft. The Chevrolet Bolt EUV gets the smallest cargo space of the entire lot measuring only 16.9 cu-ft. The Chevrolet has the most legroom of 44.3 inches in the front and 39.1 inches in the rear on offer. The Nissan Leaf offers a generous space of 42.1 inches in the front but the rear legroom of 33.5 inches is essentially less. The rear seats of all the SUVs are quite cramped and uncomfortable with the only exception of the Chevrolet.
Some of the key features of the interior are
8-way power assisted driver seat with 2-way lumbar support
60:40 folding rear seat
Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel
Auto up/down feature in the Front power windows
Heated front seats, Higher models get ventilation as well
Single zone climate control
Cloth upholstery, leather upholstery available in the top trim
How Intuitive is the 2023 Hyundai Kona Infotainment system?
The car comes equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system which comes as standard along with a 10.25-inch digital display instrument cluster. The infotainment system is equipped with navigation, satellite radio, Bluelink, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay in the base SE model but in the higher trim, the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay lose the wireless status. The infotainment system in the base SE mode is mated with a 6-speaker sound system. The SEL and Limited models get a 10.25-inch touch screen instead of the 8-inch one. In the Limited model, a top of the 8 speakers Harman Kardon sound system is provided to enhance the feel of the cabin.
Some of the key features of the infotainment system are:
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
8-inch touch screen with Navigation in SE model
10.25-inch touch screen with navigation in SEL and Limited model
satellite radio
10.25-inch digital instrument cluster
Bluelink
Bluetooth
6 speaker sound system with 8 speaker Harman Kardon on offer in Limited trim
Exterior
6.0/10
The exteriorof the 2023 Hyundai Kona has not changed much as it received an update the previous year. The front of the car is the same as the previous year with the charging port placed conveniently on the driver's side. The rear of the car looks smart with the indicator-integrated tail lamps. The side profile of the car remains the same. The dimensions of the Kona remain the same as the car weighs 3715 pounds and has a length of 165.6 inches along with a ground clearance of 6.2 inches. The SE model gets a two-tone roof in black color whereas the SEL and Limited models get an electrical Sunroof. The base SE trim gets automatic headlamps whereas the top of the line Limited trim gets LED headlamps and taillamps along with automatic high beam functions. The car gets 17-inch alloy wheels across all models.
Model
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV
2023 Nissan Leaf S
2023 Kia Niro
Curb Weight (lbs)
3,715 lbs
3,680 lbs
3,516 lbs
3,715 lbs
Length (in.)
165.6 inches
169.5 inches
176.4 inches
174.0 inches
Width (in.)
70.9 inches
69.7 inches
70.5 inches
71.8 inches
Height (in.)
61.2 inches
63.6 inches
61.4 inches
61.8 inches
Ground Clearance (in.)
6.2 inches
7.9 inches
5.9 inches
6.3 inches
Wheelbase (in.)
102.4 inches
105.3 inches
106.3 inches
107.0 inches
Front track width(in.)
61.6 inches
59.5 inches
60.0 inches
61.9 inches
Rear track width(in.)
62 inches
59.5 inches
61.2 inches
62.2 inches
In comparison the Kona has the least length and smallest wheelbase among the competitors. The Kia Niro has the largest wheelbase measuring 107 inches. The Chevrolet Bolt EUV has a maximum ground clearance of 7.9 inches whereas the Nissan Leaf S has the least ground clearance of 5.9 inches.The Kia Niro EV and the Hyundai Kona electric sport a ground clearance of 6.3 inches and 6.2 inches respectively. The Kia Niro EV is the widest of the lot with a width of 71.8 inches whereas the Chevrolet has the least width of 69.7 inches. The Chevrolet is the tallest vehicle with a height of 63.6 inches.
Some of the key exterior features are
17-inch alloy wheels
Automatic headlamps
Indicator integrated tail lamps
Automatic rain sensing wipers
Electrically powered sunroof
Keyless entry
Heated outside mirrors
Safety
8.0/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona electric has not been tested by the NHTSA and IIHS but the 2021 Hyundai Kona has been tested and received a five-star rating from NHTSA along with over good rating from IIHS along with the Top Safety Pick + award. The 2023 model is based on the same platform and considering the number of active and passive safety features that come as standard across all models, it is safe to say that it is one of the safest vehicles available on road.
Some of the key safety features are:
Cruise control with Adaptive Cruise Control on top trim
Collision Avoidance with pedestrian detection
Driver attention monitoring
Rear view monitor, hill start assist
Blind spot monitoring
Rear cross traffic alert
Lane following and Lane keep assist
Hyundai’s Highway driving assist
Competition
7.5/10
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric vs 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV:
The Hyundai Kona electric is a better vehicle compared to the Chevrolet Bolt EUV in terms of performance practicality and also has a better range. The power output of both cars are same but the maximum torque is lower for the Bolt EUV. The lower top speed and mediocre braking performance do bode well for the Chevrolet. The Kona Electric has a larger cargo space but the Bolt EUV is more suitable for off-road because of its ground clearance. The only issue is that the Hyundai Kona is costlier than the Chevrolet but is obviously a better choice because of the safety hazard that the Chevrolet possesses.
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric vs 2023 Nissan Leaf S:
The Nissan leaf S has a bigger trunk and rear space as compared to the Hyundai. However, the leaf has a considerably lower power output and its acceleration capability is also slower than the Kona Electric. It is cheaper than the Hyundai, but the Hyundai Kona electric performs comparatively very well and is very practical as well due to the best-in-class range. The Nissan has appreciable braking performance and the vehicle has great stability as well. The smaller battery, however, makes you compromise with the range which is quite disappointing as compared to the Hyundai Kona electric. The choice is obvious for the 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric.
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric vs 2023 Kia Niro EV:
The Kia Niro is the closest competitor to the Hyundai and it is expected because they share the same lineage and a lot of parts. The engine performance of the two electric vehicles has negligible differences and the ride and handling experience are appreciable for both. Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro have a similar range and battery capacity but the Kia is slightly behind in all the sections. Kona Electric has a slightly larger cargo capacity whereas the Niro has more room in the front row. The price of the two vehicles is almost the same which makes The choice really tough.
Final Verdict
8.4/10
The 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric is a fabulous product and with the introduction of the SE trim the vehicle has become quite attractive due to the competitive pricing along with the myriad of features that are on offer. The reliability of the electric vehicle is commendable and the overall stable performance makes the Hyundai a great choice. The mileage is excellent and the standard features make the interior a really attractive one for the passengers. The stylish exterior design and the necessary safety aspects that come as standard make the Kona Electric a vehicle to look out for. Comfortable seating space and the exciting infotainment unit make it a profitable bargain against its close competitors. Anybody going for an electric subcompact SUV must give the 2023 Hyundai Kona electric a try. We are pretty sure that they are going to like the driving dynamics along with the practicality of the vehicle.
What are the Prices of a used Hyundai Kona Electric SUV based on trim and mileage?
