Great review Ken, I’ve had mine for 5 months and I learnt 3 facts about the vehicle I had never realized. A warning to all owners of the Kona....once you’ve started the vehicle, you can inadvertently walk away with keys ( the car will audibly warn you for a couple of seconds) put the keys down somewhere, forget them, get back into the car and drive away leaving the keys behind ! When you arrive at your destination and switch the car off, you cannot of course restart it again without the keys !
Thanks Victor, glad I was able to find something for you! Glad you have the Kona Electric and I'm sure your experience is positive. Yes, the key thing is correct. It does make a long noise (couple of seconds beep) to warn you that you've left your key in the car. I believe with many cars that have push button starts now, that this same scenario can happen.
More than a couple of seconds on mine -- it is an insistent tone that starts when you close the door. You do have to train yourself to remember to power down. I do PSWP: shift into Park, check the Sunroof and Windows, and hit Power. Of course, in a minute or so I'm nagged by Bluelink for not locking the doors!
Robert Ceccon . Hi Robert. No we were unbelievably fortunate. We took a test drive and expressed interest in having the ultimate blue ceramic model. The dealerships sister garage in Québec City had just taken delivery of one ordered by a guy nine months before. Unfortunately for him after paying the deposit his financial situation had changed and could not afford the rest of the asking price, so I snapped it up at the regular price. And yes, now they are asking above the sticker price because of the massive demand. A choice would be to wait for the Model Y which will end up probably arriving at the same time as a Kona. Who knows ? Good luck anyway whatever you decide.( it’s a great car, I’ve had not one fault or problem with it. The headlight beam needed lowering- that was it.)
My story is similar to Victor's. But since I didn't have the ready money and they wouldn't take a deposit, I ended up paying a premium for dealer-arranged financing.
I have the Niro EV. I noticed you had a lot of headroom when driving . I tired different seat heights and found if I had the seat positioned higher (head almost touching the roof) I'd be looking downwards when driving (thinking the windshield should be larger) . Finally dropped it down lower and that was more comfortable. Great to have an EV and comfort!
Yes John, the Niro has ample space including finding a good driving position. Now I am not tall (5'6") so for me being average height, I found the room quite sufficient. I too like a higher seat position. Glad you are able to find a comfortable seating arrangement and that you purchased the Niro EV! Welcome to the "Revolution"!
11 months of ownership now and 415 km is the range that I can rely on, not to confuse that with the guess-o-meter which can display anywhere from 450 to 550 km at 100% charge. I alway plan for 24% charge needed per 100 km, with luck I only use 22%.
Hi Paul, congrats on joining the "Revolution" and your care-free ownership! Agreed, GOMs are always not the most accurate, just like DTE in ICEVs. In EVs, it fluctuates more due to many factors. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for another great overview Ken, with some wonderful photography by Holly, she did a great job at capturing the UFO sounds at low speed! This looks like a great vehicle with many innovative safety features and good value, I really like those side lights for turns. Other than the small back seat and cargo area, it has a lot to offer, hopefully a slightly larger version with more efficient use of space will follow. It looks good in white, and I think a black roof option is available also. Looking forward to your review of the new Soul EV, that appears to be a great roomy family vehicle with standard and long range versions available.
Thx for the user orientated review...You demonstrated how many of its features functioned, instead of just mentioning them like in other reviews...Keep up the good work... As a side note... the 2020 Ford Escape (including the PHEV ) will have an adjustable and reclining rear seat....So when less cargo space is needed more legroom can be found for the rear passengers... a feature that would be useful in the Kona...shame there is no BEV version planned for the Escape...
Thanks N C, appreciate the feedback. Yes I've seen this reclining/adjustable rear seat on other vehicles (non-minivans) and it's a nice feature. I'll get excited about Ford when I see more BEVs from them.
Thanks Ayo, well that is another issue still with most traditional dealers. It's a hard habit to break when selling ICEVs for decades and now have to look at something different. Dealer experiences and the "pushing" they do will be different for each. Slowly they are recognizing the fact that EVs will eventually be the norm, but until then it still a struggle.
availability... Kia here can deliver a gasoline or diesel Niro in 3-4 weeks, a PHEV in 2 months, the full EV? 18 months. And it's no different for the other brands. I can drive off the lot in a new VW Golf if they have the colour I want. But if I want an e-Golf I can expect to wait half a year or more, or 2 years for an ID.3.
You've confused the front camera with the radar in at least one place. AFAIK the camera is used only for lane detection. The radar is used for auto regen, active cruise control, and the various collision avoidance features.
It looks as if they copied the Mercedes GLA. I like the car. It has good road manners but I wished for lower tire noise. About $400 worth of sound deadening might do the trick.
Thanks for watching and yes, quieter tires and more sound proofing would do the trick. I did experience some wind noise from one of rear door areas as well, which was properly closed. Very little but in an EV, you hear everything!
Good work Ken, we have driven this several times and liked the car.. In Australia its dearer than the leaf and about the same as a Tesla SR+ and we found as you did that its 6 of one half a dozen of the other so its down to a personal feel. I like the higher position in the seat Vs the Tesla but have not driven the leaf but suspect you are lower than the Leaf?
Thanks David for the feedback and for your thoughts. Yes, the Leaf is slightly lower in position than the Kona. The Leaf is still pretty good in height vs. many autos. Agreed, down to personal feel and all what you mention are great choices!
WOW! 40 years of driving and have NEVER been stuck in snow. That it really impressive. Or, you have always lived in Florida. You sure never tried driving your FWD anything up our 1/4 mile of uphill driveway covered with two to four feet of snow-and that was when we lived a few miles West of Portland, Oregon. I have been driving for 70+ years and have gotten myself stuck in snow many times trying to get up our driveway. I will always opt for AWD, given a choice, and a wish to make it all the way home. I do enjoy reading your posts for info on the latest EVs. Keep it up.
Hi Norm, thanks for watching and no, never lived in Florida. Lived in LA for 2 years and Victoria for 3 years, but the rest in Toronto and area. So I do know snow. I remember living in London, ON where we had snow up to the second storey one winter. And yes, I've never been stuck. Best snow tires money can buy as well as understanding the car's capabilities and how to drive as effectively as possible has been my experience. I'm not saying I'm an expert, but growing up in snow belt Southern Ontario, never had any issues. Now, needing a boost because of dead battery, that is a different story! So like I said, unless you need AWD for your situations, which clearly you have explained, it really is a waste of money and for ICEVs, fuel as uses more gas to go. It's of course a personal taste and I've been lucky enough not to need AWD for any of my 30+ owned vehicles. Thanks for watching my shows and hope you are subscribing!
Like EV Revolution, after decades of driving FWD and RWD in Canadian winters, I believe AWD provides little benefit for most people. When I first got the Kona in February I did have to struggle up a snowy driveway but the traction control button did the trick.
Great review. It's nice to see reviews that relate to way most of us live and drive. Love the exterior styling, but I prefer the interior of the Niro EV. And that white colour is so much nicer in person. Regarding range, which, I think is becoming less of a concern as people learn more about EVs, I suspect the Kona is more efficient than the Niro because of the styling. However, on the few occasions I have charged to 100% in my Niro EV, it consistently shows a range of 451km. I've never run it down on a trip, so I can only guess at the real world range. Either way, this car should easily give you 3.5-4 hours highway range (depending on terrain) - and by then, you definitely need a break.
Saw the 2020 at my dealership. Weird because there is not much info on it anywhere right now. Anyway they said next month should be able to take delivery of it finally! Been waiting since May!
Hi Wandara, wow congratulations and that is great news! So happy you are joining the "Revolution"! I'm not hearing too many issues on the Kona EV in many parts of North America anyway.
@LL, he said "almost as efficient"...the Niro EV/e-Niro is pretty good for the larger size. So not sure who or what you are referring to in your comment. And yes, the Kia Niro EV was and is my pick for BEV of the Year for 2019. I went over that in a previous show from early this year, if you have a search.
I completely disagree. It's a nice car, but in Norway (depends where you live) e-Niro cost more than 4-6k euros than Kona. Kona is superior in any other way, in my opinion, except the space, but that's subjective.
Hello and thanks for watching! I'm sure Hyundai and others will get to a point to building ground-up BEV models which will incorporate more of these options.
I test drove this and the bolt and the model 3. I was surprised that here in Maryland the price was similar to the model 3. I like the ride and look of the Kona over the bolt however I much preferred the model 3. Overall.
Really excellent, detailed review. Such a shame that the production numbers suggest it’s a compliance car. And at £35k for the base 64kwh version and £37.5k for the higher spec version it’s pretty close in price to a Model 3.
Thanks Chris for watching. Yes that is really the true negative to my or anyone's review of this BEV - Hyundai is just not making enough. For value, especially for the base model, one get's a very compelling all-electric vehicle.
Chris, I think the limited production is due to battery constraints currently, and I expect production will ramp in time. To me it's not a compliance vehicle for this reason, and it is also offered in non ZEV markets.
James Paul Yes hopefully it’s battery production constraint issue, rather than a lack of manufacturer intent. Until battery supply ramps I can’t see prices for 200 mile plus EVs falling. So they will be out of reach for many. Maybe in a few years.
Yes, hopefully supply will improve and costs will fall soon Chris. Several battery suppliers are increasing production and some chemistry improvements may help improve density and performance while lowering cost and weight. Tesla will be having a battery day conference soon, so hopefully we will hear some good news!
Thanks Matt, makes perfect sense and the Niro, Kona and Soul behaved the same way, so since they have the same BMS and battery/drivetrain systems, they should be like this.
Thanks for watching. Great let me know. Really depends on your interior space needs as the Kona is much smaller, especially the rear seat. If that is not an issue, it's a great BEV as it's even more efficient and more range than the Niro.
Nice review as always. Having to press a button for hold hill isn't a good idea. The leaf since 2011 do it automatically nothing to do. If you use e-pedal it does it in 30° incline up or down also parking sensor are something of the past nissan does it with cameras and image recognition (AI) forward and reverse. I'm sure it's a good ev as range goes but still a compliance car.
Much thanks Gilles. Yes e-Pedal does work very well and I have to admit, I like cameras but I still wish for at least an audible sound for parking situations. Many drivers (like my wife) are not very good at parking and need the extra input. Sensors are still a good idea for many. I'm not so sure the Kona is a compliance car. Yes it is built on an existing ICEV chassis in various flavours, however with the extra care Hyundai has given the (and the Ioniq) BMS and efficiencies, they've seem to have taken and extra step in order to better their EV offerings versus just being a compliance requisite.
To be clear, by hill hold I mean the 2 seconds or so after you take your foot off the brake but before you touch the accelerator when the car is not allowed to roll backward. In my last car, you had to activate the feature by jamming down the pedal, but there doesn't seem to be any reason for it not to be automatic as in the Kona. Auto hold is for long waits at lights and so on when you would like to relax your foot.
Considered this for our last purchase but still unavailable here. That pedestrian warning sound would get on my nerves. Not sure how I feel about charge port door on front bumper. My wife would balk at that if covered in bugs.
Hi Craig, thanks for watching and for commenting! Yes understand global availability is still an issue and seems will be for some time. That sound was noticeable and it is pretty loud by comparison to other EVs. Does take some getting used to. The ports are covered by individual pull-outs but can understand the bugs on the bumper part. There were certainly many on it when I had to do my charge!
EV Revolution In the version I have it's tucked away to the left of the steering wheel with 7 others buttons. It's labelled VESS and has a blue led when it on.
If you were driving with the sunroof open most of the time, you would know that the air buffeting requires you to open a window to alleviate it due to the poor sunroof design.
Thanks for watching. Yes the hitch is mounted/installed on the car frame then you can insert components into the receiver for towing or a bike rack. No towing is advised for both models I recently reviewed, but putting on a bike rack should be fine. I always tell people to check the owners manual and if unclear, confirm what you want to do with the manufacturer.
Hi Nick, thanks for watching and for you comment. I'm not sure where you think the AWD Model 3 is same money as the Kona EV. The Base Kona with the SAME range is $44,999 MSRP. The Model 3 AWD is $65,990 MSRP and has a bigger battery pack, however with the same range as the Kona EV. So $20,000 CAD is a big number to swallow just for AWD. And quite frankly, for the majority of Canadian winter driving needs, FWD cars are fine as long as you have good snow tires on all 4 wheels. I've never had an AWD car in my 40-years of driving and never have been stuck in snow. So unless you drive outside of good road areas, like remote areas where plows don't get to and the roads are crap, or you need to go off road somewhat, AWD is a waste of money for the very few times where you actually may need it. FWD works fine as long as you know how to drive it. Everyone's opinion on this subject is different and that is only my thought, not right or wrong. Just my experience.
It's ok CaptainD, Telsa does offer compelling choices. However, not for all and in fact I forgot to also mention that the Kona Electric's two Trim Models both qualify for the $5K Federal Incentive. The AWD Model 3 does NOT. So the pricing delta between what I stated above is even greater.
@@EVRevolution oh yes, nothing against Tesla per se. But too many people are in denial that there are viable alternatives. I considered a Model 3 myself, decided against it in part because of the QA problems I noticed in the Model 3s some of my colleagues drive, in part because the seating isn't comfortable for me, and in part because of the price. And then the Tesla fanboyz attack me and claim I've never even seen one because any sane person wouldn't buy anything else... Waiting for my e-Soul to get here early December, if the delivery estimate is correct that Kia gave my dealership.
Understand completely. Have been on that side of the fence too! Oh the Kia Soul EV, that is coming up this weekend as I just finished spending a week with it - and I'm more excited with it than the Kona!
Hi Glen, I think Hyundai is going for overall efficiencies in a package that can sell more than the Ioniq. They have their BMS mapped out pretty good for being very good on range and range predicting. In this case, they chose this over space as one can go to their sister Company Kia and get the Niro EV for more roominess.
Nice vehicle but it's too small. Leaf is way bigger, and that is even small still. If this was Santa Fe size I'd be all over it. I will keep my 2018 Leaf SL for now :)
Hi @Darren and @Michael, thanks for watching and for comments. Yes as far as interior space goes, the Leaf is better and I agree, the Kia Niro EV is a better choice for someone needing more interior room and still good battery range. However for many, the Kona Electric will fit nicely and it is a great vehicle beyond what my small negatives were!
EV Revolution That's my experience. It's such a joy to own and drive that you forgive it its shortcomings. I didn't have the choice of getting the Kia because they make so few and it's not available in my country. I have done 10000km in the Kona since April and it's very rarely presented a practical problem.
Hi David, not sure if that is a compliment or not...hmmm...well I take it as one! :) Thanks for watching and yes, I am a sci-fi nerd having met many actors over my years in that genre!
Hi Paul, thanks for watching and for feedback. I believe it is quite simple for one to google a km to mile conversion which takes a sec. Since I am in Canada, I like to default to KMs. Many USA and UK-based shows do not do the conversions either so sometimes I remember to do so, other times I don't. I don't think it is too hard for one to look up the conversion.
Great review Ken, I’ve had mine for 5 months and I learnt 3 facts about the vehicle I had never realized. A warning to all owners of the Kona....once you’ve started the vehicle, you can inadvertently walk away with keys ( the car will audibly warn you for a couple of seconds) put the keys down somewhere, forget them, get back into the car and drive away leaving the keys behind ! When you arrive at your destination and switch the car off, you cannot of course restart it again without the keys !
Thanks Victor, glad I was able to find something for you! Glad you have the Kona Electric and I'm sure your experience is positive. Yes, the key thing is correct. It does make a long noise (couple of seconds beep) to warn you that you've left your key in the car. I believe with many cars that have push button starts now, that this same scenario can happen.
More than a couple of seconds on mine -- it is an insistent tone that starts when you close the door. You do have to train yourself to remember to power down. I do PSWP: shift into Park, check the Sunroof and Windows, and hit Power. Of course, in a minute or so I'm nagged by Bluelink for not locking the doors!
Robert Ceccon . Hi Robert. No we were unbelievably fortunate. We took a test drive and expressed interest in having the ultimate blue ceramic
model. The dealerships sister garage in Québec City had just taken delivery of one ordered by a guy nine months before. Unfortunately for him after paying the deposit his financial situation had changed and could not afford the rest of the asking price, so I snapped it up at the regular price. And yes, now they are asking above the sticker price because of the massive demand. A choice would be to wait for the Model Y which will end up probably arriving at the same time as a Kona. Who knows ? Good luck anyway whatever you decide.( it’s a great car, I’ve had not one fault or problem with it. The headlight beam needed lowering- that was it.)
My story is similar to Victor's. But since I didn't have the ready money and they wouldn't take a deposit, I ended up paying a premium for dealer-arranged financing.
Thankfully that will be no problem at all in the 2020 model with the Blue Link app that will let you control the vehicle.
I have the Niro EV. I noticed you had a lot of headroom when driving . I tired different seat heights and found if I had the seat positioned higher (head almost touching the roof) I'd be looking downwards when driving (thinking the windshield should be larger) . Finally dropped it down lower and that was more comfortable. Great to have an EV and comfort!
Yes John, the Niro has ample space including finding a good driving position. Now I am not tall (5'6") so for me being average height, I found the room quite sufficient. I too like a higher seat position. Glad you are able to find a comfortable seating arrangement and that you purchased the Niro EV! Welcome to the "Revolution"!
Glad to see new products that are meeting AND bettering the competition. Thanks Ken!
Thanks for watching and feedback larry!
11 months of ownership now and 415 km is the range that I can rely on, not to confuse that with the guess-o-meter which can display anywhere from 450 to 550 km at 100% charge. I alway plan for 24% charge needed per 100 km, with luck I only use 22%.
Hi Paul, congrats on joining the "Revolution" and your care-free ownership! Agreed, GOMs are always not the most accurate, just like DTE in ICEVs. In EVs, it fluctuates more due to many factors. Thanks for watching!
Ty for being though with filming its actions, like the its quirks, sounds and lights others dont show. Very practical review.
Thanks Zeezen for the feedback and for watching!
Thanks for another great overview Ken, with some wonderful photography by Holly, she did a great job at capturing the UFO sounds at low speed! This looks like a great vehicle with many innovative safety features and good value, I really like those side lights for turns. Other than the small back seat and cargo area, it has a lot to offer, hopefully a slightly larger version with more efficient use of space will follow. It looks good in white, and I think a black roof option is available also. Looking forward to your review of the new Soul EV, that appears to be a great roomy family vehicle with standard and long range versions available.
Thanks James. Just finished editing the Soul EV review and will be up this weekend!
Love most things about the Kona Ev, Love the styling but the white just makes the shape stand out the most, definitely a must in this white option.
Thanks Adam for watching and yes, style is pretty nice on this vehicle.
Thx for the user orientated review...You demonstrated how many of its features functioned, instead of just mentioning them like in other reviews...Keep up the good work...
As a side note... the 2020 Ford Escape (including the PHEV ) will have an adjustable and reclining rear seat....So when less cargo space is needed more legroom can be found for the rear passengers... a feature that would be useful in the Kona...shame there is no BEV version planned for the Escape...
Thanks N C, appreciate the feedback. Yes I've seen this reclining/adjustable rear seat on other vehicles (non-minivans) and it's a nice feature. I'll get excited about Ford when I see more BEVs from them.
The efficiency is astounding. Why isn’t Hyundai not pushing this ? It’s a beautiful BEV for the masses.Thanks for the in-depth review
Thanks Ayo, well that is another issue still with most traditional dealers. It's a hard habit to break when selling ICEVs for decades and now have to look at something different. Dealer experiences and the "pushing" they do will be different for each. Slowly they are recognizing the fact that EVs will eventually be the norm, but until then it still a struggle.
availability... Kia here can deliver a gasoline or diesel Niro in 3-4 weeks, a PHEV in 2 months, the full EV? 18 months.
And it's no different for the other brands.
I can drive off the lot in a new VW Golf if they have the colour I want. But if I want an e-Golf I can expect to wait half a year or more, or 2 years for an ID.3.
Hi @CD, yes I am aware of the waits. That is another current issue for EV adoption in general.
You've confused the front camera with the radar in at least one place. AFAIK the camera is used only for lane detection. The radar is used for auto regen, active cruise control, and the various collision avoidance features.
Ok thanks Peter for the correction and for watching. I do understand the parts and may have referenced a combination of these systems is what works.
Have to admit that it looks pretty nice.
Yes it does, thanks for watching!
It looks as if they copied the Mercedes GLA. I like the car. It has good road manners but I wished for lower tire noise. About $400 worth of sound deadening might do the trick.
Thanks for watching and yes, quieter tires and more sound proofing would do the trick. I did experience some wind noise from one of rear door areas as well, which was properly closed. Very little but in an EV, you hear everything!
Good work Ken, we have driven this several times and liked the car.. In Australia its dearer than the leaf and about the same as a Tesla SR+ and we found as you did that its 6 of one half a dozen of the other so its down to a personal feel. I like the higher position in the seat Vs the Tesla but have not driven the leaf but suspect you are lower than the Leaf?
Thanks David for the feedback and for your thoughts. Yes, the Leaf is slightly lower in position than the Kona. The Leaf is still pretty good in height vs. many autos.
Agreed, down to personal feel and all what you mention are great choices!
WOW! 40 years of driving and have NEVER been stuck in snow. That it really impressive. Or, you have always lived in Florida. You sure never tried driving your FWD anything up our 1/4 mile of uphill driveway covered with two to four feet of snow-and that was when we lived a few miles West of Portland, Oregon. I have been driving for 70+ years and have gotten myself stuck in snow many times trying to get up our driveway. I will always opt for AWD, given a choice, and a wish to make it all the way home.
I do enjoy reading your posts for info on the latest EVs. Keep it up.
Hi Norm, thanks for watching and no, never lived in Florida. Lived in LA for 2 years and Victoria for 3 years, but the rest in Toronto and area. So I do know snow. I remember living in London, ON where we had snow up to the second storey one winter. And yes, I've never been stuck. Best snow tires money can buy as well as understanding the car's capabilities and how to drive as effectively as possible has been my experience. I'm not saying I'm an expert, but growing up in snow belt Southern Ontario, never had any issues.
Now, needing a boost because of dead battery, that is a different story!
So like I said, unless you need AWD for your situations, which clearly you have explained, it really is a waste of money and for ICEVs, fuel as uses more gas to go. It's of course a personal taste and I've been lucky enough not to need AWD for any of my 30+ owned vehicles.
Thanks for watching my shows and hope you are subscribing!
Like EV Revolution, after decades of driving FWD and RWD in Canadian winters, I believe AWD provides little benefit for most people. When I first got the Kona in February I did have to struggle up a snowy driveway but the traction control button did the trick.
A bit of weight in the boot will help for situations like that. Being snubby and short, may need a block or sandbag or two.
Great review. It's nice to see reviews that relate to way most of us live and drive. Love the exterior styling, but I prefer the interior of the Niro EV. And that white colour is so much nicer in person. Regarding range, which, I think is becoming less of a concern as people learn more about EVs, I suspect the Kona is more efficient than the Niro because of the styling. However, on the few occasions I have charged to 100% in my Niro EV, it consistently shows a range of 451km. I've never run it down on a trip, so I can only guess at the real world range. Either way, this car should easily give you 3.5-4 hours highway range (depending on terrain) - and by then, you definitely need a break.
Thanks Albert, appreciate you watching as always. That's my style, try to relate to everyday needs. Agree on your range comments.
Saw the 2020 at my dealership. Weird because there is not much info on it anywhere right now. Anyway they said next month should be able to take delivery of it finally! Been waiting since May!
Hi Wandara, wow congratulations and that is great news! So happy you are joining the "Revolution"! I'm not hearing too many issues on the Kona EV in many parts of North America anyway.
I still say the e-Niro is superior. It's almost as efficient as the Kona Electric but with more room.
Thanks for watching Walter, I would agree with you and that is why it was my pick for BEV of the Year!
Well that’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.
@LL, he said "almost as efficient"...the Niro EV/e-Niro is pretty good for the larger size. So not sure who or what you are referring to in your comment.
And yes, the Kia Niro EV was and is my pick for BEV of the Year for 2019. I went over that in a previous show from early this year, if you have a search.
@@laughablelarry9243 which part was a lie.
I completely disagree. It's a nice car, but in Norway (depends where you live) e-Niro cost more than 4-6k euros than Kona. Kona is superior in any other way, in my opinion, except the space, but that's subjective.
This is the first iteration to get the ball rolling. Next model really needs AWD, bigger battery and more room - especially in the back.
Hello and thanks for watching! I'm sure Hyundai and others will get to a point to building ground-up BEV models which will incorporate more of these options.
Nice review Ken.
Thanks Gordon!
I test drove this and the bolt and the model 3. I was surprised that here in Maryland the price was similar to the model 3. I like the ride and look of the Kona over the bolt however I much preferred the model 3. Overall.
Thanks for watching Dean, great to read that you have joined the "Revolution"!
But that's excellent. That is on par with Tesla. Your EPA rating should be rated UNDER what it really can do in real-world testing.
Yes, it is a great BEV!
You should be able to raise your seat to get your left elbow in your desired position. Good review.
Thanks Egan for watching and for feedback.
Really excellent, detailed review. Such a shame that the production numbers suggest it’s a compliance car. And at £35k for the base 64kwh version and £37.5k for the higher spec version it’s pretty close in price to a Model 3.
Thanks Chris for watching. Yes that is really the true negative to my or anyone's review of this BEV - Hyundai is just not making enough. For value, especially for the base model, one get's a very compelling all-electric vehicle.
Chris, I think the limited production is due to battery constraints currently, and I expect production will ramp in time. To me it's not a compliance vehicle for this reason, and it is also offered in non ZEV markets.
James Paul Yes hopefully it’s battery production constraint issue, rather than a lack of manufacturer intent. Until battery supply ramps I can’t see prices for 200 mile plus EVs falling. So they will be out of reach for many. Maybe in a few years.
Yes, hopefully supply will improve and costs will fall soon Chris. Several battery suppliers are increasing production and some chemistry improvements may help improve density and performance while lowering cost and weight. Tesla will be having a battery day conference soon, so hopefully we will hear some good news!
Your mic is much better now, can hear you much better (louder)...
Thanks Andrew, using the handheld versus the Lavalier since it's been windy most days I'm filming outside.
I hope someone does a side by side comparison of Chevy Bolt vs Hyundai Kona because that is the direct competitor.
Thanks for watching!
Wouldn't be fun cleaning the bugs out of all of those little recesses in the front grill and bumper
Yes, but still a great BEV! Thanks for watching.
I doesn’t go right to 77KWh charging rate until the battery is at the correct state before it is ready to take the load.
Thanks Matt, makes perfect sense and the Niro, Kona and Soul behaved the same way, so since they have the same BMS and battery/drivetrain systems, they should be like this.
Hmmmm Kona or Niro...... Both great - thanks for your videos I will let you know what I buy (well put an order in for) 😀
Thanks for watching. Great let me know. Really depends on your interior space needs as the Kona is much smaller, especially the rear seat. If that is not an issue, it's a great BEV as it's even more efficient and more range than the Niro.
Nice review as always. Having to press a button for hold hill isn't a good idea. The leaf since 2011 do it automatically nothing to do. If you use e-pedal it does it in 30° incline up or down also parking sensor are something of the past nissan does it with cameras and image recognition (AI) forward and reverse. I'm sure it's a good ev as range goes but still a compliance car.
Much thanks Gilles. Yes e-Pedal does work very well and I have to admit, I like cameras but I still wish for at least an audible sound for parking situations. Many drivers (like my wife) are not very good at parking and need the extra input. Sensors are still a good idea for many.
I'm not so sure the Kona is a compliance car. Yes it is built on an existing ICEV chassis in various flavours, however with the extra care Hyundai has given the (and the Ioniq) BMS and efficiencies, they've seem to have taken and extra step in order to better their EV offerings versus just being a compliance requisite.
Hill hold is automatic in the Kona. The auto hold button, as in other Hyundais, is to prevent creep when you take your foot off the brake.
Thanks @Peter!
To be clear, by hill hold I mean the 2 seconds or so after you take your foot off the brake but before you touch the accelerator when the car is not allowed to roll backward. In my last car, you had to activate the feature by jamming down the pedal, but there doesn't seem to be any reason for it not to be automatic as in the Kona. Auto hold is for long waits at lights and so on when you would like to relax your foot.
Thanks Peter, it also works on hills. I used the auto hold on a 10% incline and works fine.
Considered this for our last purchase but still unavailable here. That pedestrian warning sound would get on my nerves. Not sure how I feel about charge port door on front bumper. My wife would balk at that if covered in bugs.
Hi Craig, thanks for watching and for commenting! Yes understand global availability is still an issue and seems will be for some time. That sound was noticeable and it is pretty loud by comparison to other EVs. Does take some getting used to. The ports are covered by individual pull-outs but can understand the bugs on the bumper part. There were certainly many on it when I had to do my charge!
You can turn off the VESS with a button. It's a legal requirement in many countries so it's on by default.
I turn it off when I get in the car.
Thanks for that info, I did not see where that option was available, however I was not looking for it so it was probably in the menus.
EV Revolution
In the version I have it's tucked away to the left of the steering wheel with 7 others buttons. It's labelled VESS and has a blue led when it on.
There is no VESS switch in the North American models.
If you were driving with the sunroof open most of the time, you would know that the air buffeting requires you to open a window to alleviate it due to the poor sunroof design.
Hello Mitchell, thanks for watching and appreciate the comments!
What is that insipid rubber-band muzak playing throughout the video? It sounds kind of griefy.
Did one of the players die during the performance?
Thanks for watching! DRM-free music.
You have people in United States who don’t use metric system please tell both when you tell us about measurement thank you
Yes Ronald thanks for feedback. Will try to remember.
Ken, it might be good to add the converted Imperial values on screen as you comment on the metric amounts.
Thanks James. Yes have done this for the upcoming Kia Soul EV review.
Not available in South Africa
Hi and thanks for watching, that is too bad hopefully will come one day!
Tow Hitch for bicycles?
Thanks for watching. Yes the hitch is mounted/installed on the car frame then you can insert components into the receiver for towing or a bike rack. No towing is advised for both models I recently reviewed, but putting on a bike rack should be fine. I always tell people to check the owners manual and if unclear, confirm what you want to do with the manufacturer.
Definitely, "great vehicle", as you say.
The public would love it - if they knew about it...
Thanks Roy, well that's why I do what I do - education.
You can test pinch protection with a carrot.
Hi Tony, thanks for watching and good suggestion. Just taking the manufacturers word on that one.
I like the look of the Hyundai Kona Electric but you get more fore the same money with a Tesla Model 3 including AWD for the Canadian SNOW.
Hi Nick, thanks for watching and for you comment. I'm not sure where you think the AWD Model 3 is same money as the Kona EV. The Base Kona with the SAME range is $44,999 MSRP. The Model 3 AWD is $65,990 MSRP and has a bigger battery pack, however with the same range as the Kona EV. So $20,000 CAD is a big number to swallow just for AWD.
And quite frankly, for the majority of Canadian winter driving needs, FWD cars are fine as long as you have good snow tires on all 4 wheels. I've never had an AWD car in my 40-years of driving and never have been stuck in snow. So unless you drive outside of good road areas, like remote areas where plows don't get to and the roads are crap, or you need to go off road somewhat, AWD is a waste of money for the very few times where you actually may need it. FWD works fine as long as you know how to drive it.
Everyone's opinion on this subject is different and that is only my thought, not right or wrong. Just my experience.
and the cult of Elon has arrived with their nonsense.
It's ok CaptainD, Telsa does offer compelling choices. However, not for all and in fact I forgot to also mention that the Kona Electric's two Trim Models both qualify for the $5K Federal Incentive. The AWD Model 3 does NOT. So the pricing delta between what I stated above is even greater.
@@EVRevolution oh yes, nothing against Tesla per se. But too many people are in denial that there are viable alternatives.
I considered a Model 3 myself, decided against it in part because of the QA problems I noticed in the Model 3s some of my colleagues drive, in part because the seating isn't comfortable for me, and in part because of the price.
And then the Tesla fanboyz attack me and claim I've never even seen one because any sane person wouldn't buy anything else...
Waiting for my e-Soul to get here early December, if the delivery estimate is correct that Kia gave my dealership.
Understand completely. Have been on that side of the fence too! Oh the Kia Soul EV, that is coming up this weekend as I just finished spending a week with it - and I'm more excited with it than the Kona!
With Trump about to go to war with Iran, this could be your next car!
Hi ygg, yes the oil situations could help to drive up EV adoption.
It baffles me why it has so many gadgets but there’s hardly any leg space at the back.
It's a micro-suv, that's why there is very little rear passenger space.
Hi Glen, I think Hyundai is going for overall efficiencies in a package that can sell more than the Ioniq. They have their BMS mapped out pretty good for being very good on range and range predicting.
In this case, they chose this over space as one can go to their sister Company Kia and get the Niro EV for more roominess.
Yeah I just think more leg space in the back would be helpful (approx 10cm from the knee cap to the back seat). That’s all.
I wish I could design my own.
Nice vehicle but it's too small. Leaf is way bigger, and that is even small still. If this was Santa
Fe size I'd be all over it. I will keep my 2018 Leaf SL for now :)
Darren E
The Kia Niro Electric is a bit more practical size but otherwise very similar.
Hi @Darren and @Michael, thanks for watching and for comments.
Yes as far as interior space goes, the Leaf is better and I agree, the Kia Niro EV is a better choice for someone needing more interior room and still good battery range.
However for many, the Kona Electric will fit nicely and it is a great vehicle beyond what my small negatives were!
EV Revolution
That's my experience.
It's such a joy to own and drive that you forgive it its shortcomings.
I didn't have the choice of getting the Kia because they make so few and it's not available in my country.
I have done 10000km in the Kona since April and it's very rarely presented a practical problem.
Old version of Leonard from Big Bang Theory .
Hi David, not sure if that is a compliment or not...hmmm...well I take it as one! :)
Thanks for watching and yes, I am a sci-fi nerd having met many actors over my years in that genre!
I have no idea what a KM is. Can you at least put a graphic on the screen convert to miles? Not everyone is outside the US that watches RUclips.
Hi Paul, thanks for watching and for feedback. I believe it is quite simple for one to google a km to mile conversion which takes a sec. Since I am in Canada, I like to default to KMs. Many USA and UK-based shows do not do the conversions either so sometimes I remember to do so, other times I don't. I don't think it is too hard for one to look up the conversion.