Yep...just bought a Kona EV yesterday. My dealer has 1 allocated, top trim level and I had perfect timing with my phone call. I had looked at Tesla but really do not want a single screen plastered in the middle of the dashboard doing everything. I am an old guy and like the traditional layout. Plenty of tech for me... We have had a Bolt EUV on order since April and we still do not have confirmation from GM when or if they will ever build it and now they just announced another stop sale due to unavailability of underhood insulation. Geez... Anyway our Black Kona is due here August 31 and we are excited! Mike 🇨🇦 🍁 👍
This is one of the most well-rounded and informative videos on the best segment of the EV market. Too many videos are focused on the flashy new luxury models, thanks for highlighting where the market is right now!
Excellent review, the reviewer is extremely knowledgeable, not just about the Kona, but also its competitors and the way electric cars work in general. Certainly the most knowledgeable EV reviewer I've seen. I'm in the UK, and I've the 2022 Kona electric ultimate. Interesting differences between it & the US model, as the Ultimate gets basically everything available on the Kona as standard, besides the heat pump (but does get a battery heater) . So it gets passenger power seats, outer rear heated & ventilated seats, an excellent head-up display, front parking sensors & auto folding wing-mirrors. The EPA range is also a fair bit less than the range claimed in Europe - 300 miles. I've managed to get 320 miles out of mine, and that's without driving like a nun, so the 258 US range seems a bit light to me? Anyhow, it's a really excellent car, and represents superb value. I looked at the ID4, but is was much pricier than the Kona and had a lot less tech as standard - typical VW! I also don't believe the VW range claims, as most only manage 230-250 miles, nowhere near 308 claimed. The Ioniq 5 looked absolutely amazing, but I couldn't justify the substantial extra cost compared to the Kona. If you're looking for a solid, reliable EV with a 300 mile range and decent levels of tech, the Kona is worth considering. For the money, I think it offers an unrivalled level of value for money.
I have a Kona EV on order right now! I love how efficient it is compared to other EVs on the market and the price is hard to beat given its range and performance. Super excited to go on my first road trip with it soon!
Congrats! Got mine two weeks ago, and did a review on the car. Definitely a good buy. I just use it mostly to commute to work, so the space isn't an issue for me. I guess it depends on what you want to use the Kona for.
@@McD3500 congrats! We can't wait, hoping we get ours in May/June. It's just me and my fiance and no kids so the "compact" isn't an issue for us at all. Wish it had a tow hitch for the odd trip to buy something bigger but we can always rent or borrow for trips like that. Everything else is relatively small distance.
Alex, please consider adding as a regular feature of your videos a graphic to compare rate-of-recharge among competitive vehicles. It is an important metric that one only learns is important *after* becoming an EV driver. Yes, you told us the information in this video verbally (thanks!), but graphics are super helpful too.
Rate of charge INCLUDING the charging curve! It’s all well to tell us a car can charge at 77 or 150, but if that starts tapering off at 35 or 40% SOC it’s not that helpful. And just saying “0 to 80%” charge times like the manufacturers like to quote is especially poor, because every car has a different battery size and efficiency rating. Much more helpful to say how many miles a car can gain in say, 20 or 30 minutes of charge, since that’s what will matter on a road trip.
Appreciated your discussion about tires. Your videos are worth watching not just for the subject auto but also for better comprehension of issues effecting other vehicles. You to me are one of THE very best to follow.
I bought Kona 64kW two weeks ago. My daily work commute is 100km (return trip) and with a wallbox at home, it's a convenient car for me. First thing I did was to change to Michelin Pilot Sport 4. It's now a fun car to drive!
We picked up a '22 last fall in Quebec. From what I gather, there are 3 trim levels, but they only offer the top 2 levels in Canada because they also include the battery heater. When you plug into a DCFS charger the battery heater will warm the battery to allow for optimal charging speeds, and when pre-heating the car will warm the battery as well. Also a "winter-mode" to automatically use the battery heater below -15C. Didn't realize the heat pump isn't offered in the US, that's a non-starter for anyone in New England, especially areas where it's cold & there aren't many L3 chargers (*cough*New Hampshire*cough*)...
I own a Kona electric pre facelift version in the UK and the Heat pump comes as standard not sure why they made this a optional extra on the 2022 refresh model, the heat pump does add to the efficiency of my Kona.
In Canada there is a $2000 difference in base price between the Kona ev and the Ionic 5. At that price I don't see how they can sell any, unless they are out of Ionic 5s. The Bolt ev starts $6000 less than the Kona ev.
The Kia Niro EV is relatively inexpensive, roughly the same size as the Kona, and has a nearly identical drivetrain...why not include it in the comparison portion of the video?
The E-Niro is a much bigger car than a Kona which has absolutely no room for adults in the rear seats! My Renault Zoe has much more room inside & costs about 10k less. My advice is only by cars which were designed as BEVs from the get-go.
Nice review Alex and I have always liked the Kona EV. By the way for 2022 models of the ID4. Volkswagen has changed the 3 years of free supercharging at Electrify America to 30 minutes sessions of free supercharging.
The charge door for us in Québec is great until the subzero's arrive and the door becomes frozen with ice and snow invading the charge port. I fortunately have a garage where the temperature is kept just above zero during winter and the door eventually defrosts naturally. If Hyundai fitted a seal on the port to alleviate this situation, the position of the port is perfect. 😊
Since you asked, I hate the charge port location. Not only could it be inconvenient and gross when covered with salt or bugs, but I hate the way it looks by ruining the symmetry on the front end.
I'm not a fan of the asymmetry, but it makes it really convenient. Really nice when it's 0F out and you don't want to pull the cable around the car or over it, you just pull straight in to the charge spot and plug-in :) Don't know about bugs yet (we got ours last late Nov/early Dec) but no problems with snow during the winter.
I got the SEL version - loving it so far but I'm still in the honeymoon. If anyone still has questions feel free to reach out. Although, I doubt it since Alex's video is super comprehensive👍
Base vs Limited trim price is silly. Mild climate and city driving it's great but having to cross $40,000 for heated seats and adaptive cruise for this is too much.
I agree, I would want heated seats but at that price point I might as well get the Ioniq5 SEL trim for heated seats and a heated steering wheel (although I would prefer a Kia EV6). Actually it looks like you can add the "Convenience Package" to the base Kona SEL trim for $3500 and it includes heated seats (total MSRP $37,500).
I've seen convenience package options on the SEL KONA trim that include a battery warmer, not sure if it's with a heat pump or not, but it appears the goal is achieved regardless for efficient charging in super cold weather.
Why is 'bigger' such a selling point? It makes the car less efficient both to drive and to build, more expensive to buy and run, harder to park, handle worse... and so on. Especially when most of the time people drive in their cars alone with almost no cargo. I'm not saying we should all be driving Smart cars (we should be using more public transit instead of personal vehicles :P ) but driving a big car/SUV is a waste most of the time.
@@SandKraken Will your car ever be bigger than a bus? A semi? A train? Nope. There's always a bigger vehicle. Besides you're just playing into the car company's designs by falling for that 'need a big car to be safe' mantra. Small cars are safe, possibly even safer than big cars as they can more easily avoid a crash.
@@Jcewazhere You are not going to dodge a drunk F-150 going 100 in your miata like Neo from Matrix. All safety features being equal, the heavier car will be safer for its' occupants in a multivehicle crash. The likelihood of a non at fault accident with personal cars is much higher than trains buses and semis. If I trusted the drivers around me I would drive a motorcycle, its fun and cheap. But that is not the world we live in. A large fuck off truck is just another form of life insurance. Give me my cybertruck so I can drive a tank(more like apc) already.
Agree! For me, my Kona is my workhorse. Just use it to commute to work. I traded the space for the extra milage that I'm getting from my 64kW. Not regretting the decision at all.
I have the ‘23 SEL Kona. I was sad to hear I couldn’t get the heat pump in CO. Just started into winter so we will see how it impacts my range. Thankfully I can charge at home and primarily drive to the office 120mi/week so I don’t even charge daily.
Me too, but despite that my OH’s Kona is significantly more efficient, unless you need heating on a lot. Both great cars though. Much more rear passenger room in e-Niro, but Kona is great for just the driver and one passenger. Even rear room is acceptable for short journeys.
@@andrewdyjach7305 Understood. Have seen a YT video which showed e-Niro performing perfectly well in temperatures below -30F - A Brit in the far North of Europe - Finland, I think. 😊😊
Great video as always. Do you know if/when you'll be able to drive the BZ4X? I'm really excited to see how Toyota does, especially if it starts under 40k
I have a Niro EV with the charge point on the front and I hate it. I'm in southern Ontario and we get snow. Having to scrape slush off the charge door is messy and annoying.
Alex, I wish you'd do a show about buying these CARB-state cars from non-CARB states. You compare these limited Kia and Hyundai offerings on an equal footing with the likes of the Ford Mach-E and VW ID.4, but I live in North Carolina. The nearest CARB state is Maryland, so I am most likely to buy one of these as a used car, possibly driving 100 miles to see it and having to make an immediate purchase decision. And even if my local Hyundai or Kia dealer has an EV-trained tech, the car will still be so rare here that repair options outside of the dealer would be non-existent. Is this car so good it's worth the risk?? It's so hard to decide from where I am. Thanks!
Wow! You speak VERY Well! You are a pleasure to listen to. Your presentation skills are also superlative. Good content, organization, pace, cadence, etc. Good job. Wonderful video is the result. I think the torque-steer endemic to FWD cars are a huge negative. I understand the logic in ICE cars packaging the entire drivetrain in one spot, but think FWD as being superior in handling is more marketing gimmick to minimize its deficiencies than an actually desirable characteristic. How does the Kona EV with FWD drive compared to similar ICE?
I want a RWD Ioniq 5 with a heat pump for maximum range and efficiency (at MSRP). I’m have a reservation, but I think I’ll hold it for awhile and see what next year brings.
People considering the VW just because of Electrify America should first check to see if there is a charger within a reasonable distance. Since the closest EA DCFC for me is 35 miles, that doesn't really make it a selling point for VW.
Realistically, fast charging should be used primarily only when travelling, not for normal day-to-day charging. So, it shouldn't matter too much if Electrify America chargers are nearby, rather, if they are along the way to where you want to go when you go on road trips. But you still offer good advice to check if their network is useful. Personally, I don't want an ID.4 regardless of how much free charging VW has on offer.
Would love input on the following question - am planning on leasing an EV. Am considering Bolt, Kona, Niro. I live in NH and about once a week need to do a 200 mile roundtrip with little access to Level 2 chargers (except at home). Was just offered a chance to buy a 2022 Bolt EUV premier for $40k (with new battery and sun & sound package). Was very tempted but then thought I could maybe get an EV6 RWD) for that kind of money. So my question, am I crazy to consider a Bolt EUV or EV? My current thinking is to get a 2022 Bolt EV LT2 with info and cruise control packages for a price of $36,600. I'm not in a real rush to make a move, but can't wait to drive an EV. Do I wait for the Kona/Niro EVs to get to market? Shop for a base EV6? So many choices! Thanks in advance for any all thoughts.
For me, range above/past 200 miles isn’t as important as dc fast charge rate, because the only time I need that extra range is on a road trip. Expanding charging infrastructure is important. Must haves: heat pump, liquid heated/cooled battery (I live where we see temps from negative-20 in winter to 100+ in summer every year). Frunk isn’t important; I could take it or leave it. I would 100% go for the Ioniq 5 right now. I like the exterior and interior looks the most, it seems more roomy than the EV6, and has a softer ride than many other EVs.
I like the Ioniq 5 but you just can't get it here in upstate NY. My Bolt lease is up next January but it's still a great car even though it's been out for several years. That's what I like about Chevy, you can get them.
You failed to mention that the reason the Ioniq charges so much faster is the Ioniq is 800volt architecture and the Kona is 400volt architecture. Hyundai does offer a spare tire kit as a dealer option.
I don't think so with battery fires with the previous model in some Evs the lack of rear legroom and limited cargo capacity, the Kia e-niro is a far better package.
I HATED the charge port in the back and having to back up especially with Tesla soon opening up their chargers with a front chargers being helpful in the future.
Maybe this is an European thing but the Kona Premium has Krell audio instead of Harman Kardon. Krell is also a premium brand and with some luck, I will drive my own Kona in August 2022 :-)
Too many large EVs, we need more like this. i like this one and its ugly sister, the Kia Soul. The trade off between the two is Kona bigger boot Soul bigger rear passenger cabin. Which is why i bought the Soul. Range on both is great, I get an easy 280 in summer and 240 in winter. I think the Kona will get an extra 10-15 miles range as the Soul has the aerodynamics of a brick. Is the Soul EV sold in North America? I see lots of ICE Souls in the US but in Europe they now only sell the EV version.
EV's with safety recalls for fire. Renault Zoe, Peugeot-e, BMW i4, Mercedes C class, Mercedes EQS, Mercedes GLC, Mercedes S class, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq, DS7 Crossback, Hyundai Kona, Mercedes EQC, VW Arteon ehybrid, VW Passat GTE, Ford Focus mHEV, Ford Puma mHEV, Ford Fiesta mHEV, Opel Ampera e, Mercedes eSprinter, Skoda Citygo e, Mercedes eVito, VWeUP, Seat Mini electric, Mini Country PHEV, BMWi8, BMWX5PHV, BMW X3 PHEV,BMW X2 PHEV, BMW X1 PHEV, BMW 7 series PHEV, BMW 5 series PHEV, BMW 3 series PHEV, BMW 2 series active tourer, Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV, Land Rover Evoque MHEV, Hyundai Kauai, Audi A4, Audi A 5, Audi A 6, Audi A7, Audi Q5, Ford Puma MHEV, Ford Kuga MHEV, Renault Zoe, Audi eTron, ...
I see a few of these driving the 91 in California, it looks good overall but what is up with the battery? You can be seen under the car, from the back and on the sides. Makes it look like a conversion of a gas car. Weird choice imo. Still its an EV so its fabulous compared to funding oil tycoons.
I want to know if they'll build a new Kona on the same platform as the Ioniq 5 in a few years. The slow DC charge rate definitely limits the appeal of this EV. But I guess it's still pretty good for the price range it's in.
I bought my 2022 Kona last Oct. I charge at home once a week and charge at night when it' s 8 cents a KWH. Usually have 90% charge in 10 hours because I'm only charging at 20 amp setup. You can charge at 40 amp and might charge in 5 hours. Worthy EV at the price point.
@@nelsonoliveira1007 I know how charging an EV works. I own an ID4. But I road trip regularly and the ID4 is about as slow as I can handle for road trips. The Kona would be unbearable.
I am in the process of buying a 2023 Kona EV so I may be wrong, but doesn't the Kona EV have adaptive cruise control and lane assist ?? Wouldn't that be similar to Super Cruise
We test drove the Kona EV last week and it felt really tight inside (we also have an ID4) but actually I prefer the modern look of the Bolt euv even though Alex does not. The EV6 honestly looks the best esp in the white/silver trim and is much bigger than I expected compared to the photos. But unfortunately, finding one is impossible in Southern CA.
Bolt EV is better (too bad you skipped it and only mentioned the EUV!)... Base model comparisons: - much cheaper (~38k vs 46k in Canada) - roomier back seat (36.5" vs 33.4", proof that you don't need to go to the EUV!) - one-pedal driving Otherwise they offer the same range (417 vs 415km), same acceleration (6.4s to 60mph), both have heated front seats and heated stirring wheel, and wireless android auto. The only advantage of the Kona EV in cold climates is that it has a heat pump, but considering that both cars SUCK at charging fast on long trips, I wouldn't take either on road-trips (where the presence of a heat pump would be really important in cold climates). So for a commute-only car, which is exactly what both of these cars excel at considering their sizes, no heat pump is absolutely fine IMO, because both cars have plenty of range...
It's not so bad. I did ~500 miles this past weekend, you drive a couple hours, stop at a charger, go to the bathroom, go on facebook, and then you're back on the road ;) Granted, 2 of the 3 chargers I used topped out at 50kwh, so the charge speed didn't matter much. The heat pump *really* helps though. Really cold days in Quebec when the heat pump isn't efficient, you can lose 40 kilometers of range by turning the heat on, the closer the temp gets to 0C/32F the more efficient and the less range you lose. At ~40F yesterday I was losing about 10km/6miles of range from running the heat.
$42,599 a bargin? for only $4,400 more or $46,999 (after recent $3k price increase nonetheless) I can have a base Model 3 that would go further and way faster !
A base Model 3 is not "way" faster (5.8 seconds to 60 versus 6.5) and can only go 9 more miles on a charge. Then consider build quality and its basic interior with no features and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the Kona here starts to sound like a better deal.
@@Bro_skelly1 Model 3 standard doesn't go farther than the Kona EV 64kwhs, there are RUclips videos tested both range, Model 3 standard is just bit less efficient than Kona EV
Boo, no 1 pedal drive mode?! That's one of my favorite things with my Bolt. Having adaptive cruise makes up for that a little, been having to drive between the Springs and Denver a few times a month and half the time I don't bother with cruise because I have to adjust it too much. //new Bolts have this, mine does not. Slower than the Bolt? Only a half second, but still. Does it have the limited top speed like the Bolt? I prefer charge doors near the front fender area, in front of the passenger/driver door. Less bugs and stuff, but still easy to pull in and out of charging stations. On the front like that is fine though. On the back is the worst place unless/until pull through stations become common, especially if you're towing anything. I want something the size of the Bolt/Kona or smaller, but with 4/AWD. Here in CO having the extra traction is often helpful. My Bolt has been a trooper in the snow, doing things I really wouldn't have expected it to, but still. Before the Bolt I had an old AWD Impreza and before that a tiny Subaru GL. Both were great in the snow and a ton of fun to drive despite being mostly gutless. The GL especially was a demon in the snow, pop it in 4lo and I could drive through snow over the hood. I miss having the security of a spare tire. I carry a patch kit and pump, but it's really not the same. It's not just EVs doing that either, too many new cars have no spare tires. The way tax credits on EVs are set up right now is stupid and backwards, only benefitting the rich, in other words: typically American. Someone could buy a new EV each year and pay nothing in federal taxes for years. Or someone even wealthier could buy several EVs and resell them to pay nothing on taxes despite making tons. It should be a refund, possibly income based, and there should be a 'cash for clunkers' style deal on top of that. Trade in your 20mpg guzzler for a 120mpge sipper and get $4000 or something like that. Maybe even base it on MPG of the trade in, get some of those 5 gallon per mile trucks off the road.
Actually I believe it does have one pedal driving...you can set regen at 3 levels so at level 3 when you lift off the accelerator pedal it goes into regen. The Bolt probably does have the best set up though! Have a great day. Mike 🇨🇦 🍁 👍
Bolts are much more practical than Kova EV. I am 6'2 tall (189cm) In Bolt EV/EUV I can sit behind driver's seat set for me and still have at least inch legroom. In Kona EV I have to spread my legs in the second row.
I agree that it depends on your height. I'm 173cm (5' 8) - so my passengers (especially if they are small size adults) shouldn't have a problem with my Kona.
Other places in the world will get it, but Kia indicated at the EV6 launch that I attended that it “likely won’t” be sold in the USA. Instead we will get a more basic version of the EV6
Models: At our local dealer in NJ you can get an SEL but with a convenience package that includes battery heater, moon roof and a few other things (but alas, not LED headlights or heat pump). That's what we're going for. I wonder if you can put LED bulbs in the halogen units?
VW lost our business with ID.4's ridiculous lack of strong regen option. Not even a user option. It's just a software change -- afaik -- but no, we're not allowed to have strong regen., which is something we really love about our e-Golf. VW also lost us because it decided not to bring it's smaller, less expensive, hatchback EV, the ID.3, to North America. So no obvious choice for EV introductions at low cost. Plus, reports of Electrify America charging stations being less than reliable. Wth, VW? Pay your dues! Then it's so late with the Type 2 and guess what, it's real pricey! I wonder what the costs of the original Beetle and Type 2 were relative to incomes?
not going to lie, the fact it has so many physical buttons is a huge plus for me!
I totally agree… I don’t have take my eyes off of traffic to access buttons that are always in the same location. ✅
That was one of the reasons I bought my Kona too!
9999999999999999999999999999999999999
Yep...just bought a Kona EV yesterday. My dealer has 1 allocated, top trim level and I had perfect timing with my phone call. I had looked at Tesla but really do not want a single screen plastered in the middle of the dashboard doing everything. I am an old guy and like the traditional layout. Plenty of tech for me...
We have had a Bolt EUV on order since April and we still do not have confirmation from GM when or if they will ever build it and now they just announced another stop sale due to unavailability of underhood insulation. Geez...
Anyway our Black Kona is due here August 31 and we are excited!
Mike 🇨🇦 🍁 👍
That’s funny, I don’t like that but I have been driving a Tesla Model 3 and like the clean no buttons look
This is one of the most well-rounded and informative videos on the best segment of the EV market. Too many videos are focused on the flashy new luxury models, thanks for highlighting where the market is right now!
Thank you for reviewing this car! I love this channel, because Ev is honestly the future for us. Thank you for this video!
I have the original ioniq electric and I love it very affordable when I bought mine used ⚡☺️
Excellent review, the reviewer is extremely knowledgeable, not just about the Kona, but also its competitors and the way electric cars work in general. Certainly the most knowledgeable EV reviewer I've seen.
I'm in the UK, and I've the 2022 Kona electric ultimate. Interesting differences between it & the US model, as the Ultimate gets basically everything available on the Kona as standard, besides the heat pump (but does get a battery heater) . So it gets passenger power seats, outer rear heated & ventilated seats, an excellent head-up display, front parking sensors & auto folding wing-mirrors.
The EPA range is also a fair bit less than the range claimed in Europe - 300 miles. I've managed to get 320 miles out of mine, and that's without driving like a nun, so the 258 US range seems a bit light to me?
Anyhow, it's a really excellent car, and represents superb value. I looked at the ID4, but is was much pricier than the Kona and had a lot less tech as standard - typical VW! I also don't believe the VW range claims, as most only manage 230-250 miles, nowhere near 308 claimed. The Ioniq 5 looked absolutely amazing, but I couldn't justify the substantial extra cost compared to the Kona.
If you're looking for a solid, reliable EV with a 300 mile range and decent levels of tech, the Kona is worth considering. For the money, I think it offers an unrivalled level of value for money.
The foam divider in the trunk actually fits nicely in the hood of the car..
Makes sort of a frunk for cables and mobility kit
I have a Kona EV on order right now! I love how efficient it is compared to other EVs on the market and the price is hard to beat given its range and performance. Super excited to go on my first road trip with it soon!
Congrats! Got mine two weeks ago, and did a review on the car. Definitely a good buy. I just use it mostly to commute to work, so the space isn't an issue for me. I guess it depends on what you want to use the Kona for.
@@McD3500 congrats! We can't wait, hoping we get ours in May/June. It's just me and my fiance and no kids so the "compact" isn't an issue for us at all. Wish it had a tow hitch for the odd trip to buy something bigger but we can always rent or borrow for trips like that. Everything else is relatively small distance.
Alex, please consider adding as a regular feature of your videos a graphic to compare rate-of-recharge among competitive vehicles. It is an important metric that one only learns is important *after* becoming an EV driver. Yes, you told us the information in this video verbally (thanks!), but graphics are super helpful too.
Rate of charge INCLUDING the charging curve! It’s all well to tell us a car can charge at 77 or 150, but if that starts tapering off at 35 or 40% SOC it’s not that helpful.
And just saying “0 to 80%” charge times like the manufacturers like to quote is especially poor, because every car has a different battery size and efficiency rating. Much more helpful to say how many miles a car can gain in say, 20 or 30 minutes of charge, since that’s what will matter on a road trip.
Appreciated your discussion about tires. Your videos are worth watching not just for the subject auto but also for better comprehension of issues effecting other vehicles. You to me are one of THE very best to follow.
I bought Kona 64kW two weeks ago. My daily work commute is 100km (return trip) and with a wallbox at home, it's a convenient car for me. First thing I did was to change to Michelin Pilot Sport 4. It's now a fun car to drive!
What sort of efficiency are you seeing? Have you noticed a dramatic drop in range in cold weather?
We picked up a '22 last fall in Quebec. From what I gather, there are 3 trim levels, but they only offer the top 2 levels in Canada because they also include the battery heater. When you plug into a DCFS charger the battery heater will warm the battery to allow for optimal charging speeds, and when pre-heating the car will warm the battery as well. Also a "winter-mode" to automatically use the battery heater below -15C. Didn't realize the heat pump isn't offered in the US, that's a non-starter for anyone in New England, especially areas where it's cold & there aren't many L3 chargers (*cough*New Hampshire*cough*)...
Thanks for talking about these more practical EVs. Too bad none of them have Heat Pumps. Oh well, I’m sure sunny warm places will love them.
I believe the Kia Niro Ev (aka e-Niro) has heat pumps in certain trims levels
@@spektrograf oh good point.
I believe it does
@@FuncleChuck they have a refresh
I own a Kona electric pre facelift version in the UK and the Heat pump comes as standard not sure why they made this a optional extra on the 2022 refresh model, the heat pump does add to the efficiency of my Kona.
I prefer the charge port on the driver side toward the front.
The bz4x has that
Agree, I have that on my Pacifica Hybrid, I charge mostly at home, and it’s very convenient to the wall.
I love what Hyundai is doing with evs. glad to finally see a legacy automaker take the transition seriously
@Drew Young that strategy has worked before, that's what a loss leader is
In Canada there is a $2000 difference in base price between the Kona ev and the Ionic 5. At that price I don't see how they can sell any, unless they are out of Ionic 5s. The Bolt ev starts $6000 less than the Kona ev.
If it had a V2L 120V plug (like I5/EV6) I'd buy one in a heartbeat! Small size is a plus for me and so efficient!
Wouldn't you be able to buy the V2L plug and use it on Kona EV?
@@ThisGuyRides this could be interesting but i've assumed there must be some inverter or something in the ev6/i5 that the kona lacks
@@13ccasto perhaps, I've not found a definite answer.
Another sharp, punchy, presentation!
Love it. Thank you
Absolutely Magnificent Review, Quite Entertaining and Informative
The Kia Niro EV is relatively inexpensive, roughly the same size as the Kona, and has a nearly identical drivetrain...why not include it in the comparison portion of the video?
The E-Niro is a much bigger car than a Kona which has absolutely no room for adults in the rear seats! My Renault Zoe has much more room inside & costs about 10k less. My advice is only by cars which were designed as BEVs from the get-go.
I was thinking the same thing. I know the Niro EV is all new for '23 so maybe that's why he didn't compare
I was thinking the same thing. The kona is to the Niro what the ioniq 5 is to the ev 6
@@jasonnelson5251 Kia has announced an indefinite delay for the new Niro (“supply chain issues”)
Indications point to the Niro EV not being sold in the US anymore.
Alex on Autos is the gold standard of car reviewers.
Nice review Alex and I have always liked the Kona EV. By the way for 2022 models of the ID4. Volkswagen has changed the 3 years of free supercharging at Electrify America to 30 minutes sessions of free supercharging.
The charge door for us in Québec is great until the subzero's arrive and the door becomes frozen with ice and snow invading the charge port. I fortunately have a garage where the temperature is kept just above zero during winter and the door eventually defrosts naturally. If Hyundai fitted a seal on the port to alleviate this situation, the position of the port is perfect. 😊
Since you asked, I hate the charge port location. Not only could it be inconvenient and gross when covered with salt or bugs, but I hate the way it looks by ruining the symmetry on the front end.
I'm not a fan of the asymmetry, but it makes it really convenient. Really nice when it's 0F out and you don't want to pull the cable around the car or over it, you just pull straight in to the charge spot and plug-in :) Don't know about bugs yet (we got ours last late Nov/early Dec) but no problems with snow during the winter.
I like the charge port on the front, but wish it was a little better integrated with the look. It looks asymmetrical and almost jarring.
I put Michelins on my Prius Prime and I love the more gripping feel on the road. Barely put a dent in the mileage.
I got the SEL version - loving it so far but I'm still in the honeymoon. If anyone still has questions feel free to reach out. Although, I doubt it since Alex's video is super comprehensive👍
Base vs Limited trim price is silly. Mild climate and city driving it's great but having to cross $40,000 for heated seats and adaptive cruise for this is too much.
Unless they are individual options on the base vehicle. But I agree the price jump to the higher specification is a lot of money for what you get.
I agree, I would want heated seats but at that price point I might as well get the Ioniq5 SEL trim for heated seats and a heated steering wheel (although I would prefer a Kia EV6). Actually it looks like you can add the "Convenience Package" to the base Kona SEL trim for $3500 and it includes heated seats (total MSRP $37,500).
I've seen convenience package options on the SEL KONA trim that include a battery warmer, not sure if it's with a heat pump or not, but it appears the goal is achieved regardless
for efficient charging in super cold weather.
Why is 'bigger' such a selling point? It makes the car less efficient both to drive and to build, more expensive to buy and run, harder to park, handle worse... and so on.
Especially when most of the time people drive in their cars alone with almost no cargo.
I'm not saying we should all be driving Smart cars (we should be using more public transit instead of personal vehicles :P ) but driving a big car/SUV is a waste most of the time.
Crashes with big cars that roll over and sandwich your car
@@SandKraken Will your car ever be bigger than a bus? A semi? A train? Nope.
There's always a bigger vehicle.
Besides you're just playing into the car company's designs by falling for that 'need a big car to be safe' mantra. Small cars are safe, possibly even safer than big cars as they can more easily avoid a crash.
@@Jcewazhere You are not going to dodge a drunk F-150 going 100 in your miata like Neo from Matrix.
All safety features being equal, the heavier car will be safer for its' occupants in a multivehicle crash.
The likelihood of a non at fault accident with personal cars is much higher than trains buses and semis.
If I trusted the drivers around me I would drive a motorcycle, its fun and cheap. But that is not the world we live in. A large fuck off truck is just another form of life insurance.
Give me my cybertruck so I can drive a tank(more like apc) already.
Agree! For me, my Kona is my workhorse. Just use it to commute to work. I traded the space for the extra milage that I'm getting from my 64kW. Not regretting the decision at all.
Great and complete review! Thank you very much! ⚡🔌🚘
I have the ‘23 SEL Kona. I was sad to hear I couldn’t get the heat pump in CO. Just started into winter so we will see how it impacts my range. Thankfully I can charge at home and primarily drive to the office 120mi/week so I don’t even charge daily.
When the US VW ev factory comes on line will the id3 come to the US. That would be a real VFM proposition.
We chose the Kia Niro EV over the Kona specifically because the heat pump and the battery heater were available.
Me too, but despite that my OH’s Kona is significantly more efficient, unless you need heating on a lot. Both great cars though. Much more rear passenger room in e-Niro, but Kona is great for just the driver and one passenger. Even rear room is acceptable for short journeys.
@@stephenshannon3706 We live in Michigan, so it's kind of required.
@@andrewdyjach7305 Understood. Have seen a YT video which showed e-Niro performing perfectly well in temperatures below -30F - A Brit in the far North of Europe - Finland, I think. 😊😊
I was researching this car and getting so hyped this past week that I was worried this was gonna be an April Fools joke
Great video as always. Do you know if/when you'll be able to drive the BZ4X? I'm really excited to see how Toyota does, especially if it starts under 40k
I have a Niro EV with the charge point on the front and I hate it. I'm in southern Ontario and we get snow. Having to scrape slush off the charge door is messy and annoying.
Alex, I wish you'd do a show about buying these CARB-state cars from non-CARB states. You compare these limited Kia and Hyundai offerings on an equal footing with the likes of the Ford Mach-E and VW ID.4, but I live in North Carolina. The nearest CARB state is Maryland, so I am most likely to buy one of these as a used car, possibly driving 100 miles to see it and having to make an immediate purchase decision. And even if my local Hyundai or Kia dealer has an EV-trained tech, the car will still be so rare here that repair options outside of the dealer would be non-existent. Is this car so good it's worth the risk?? It's so hard to decide from where I am. Thanks!
Just reviewed this car thougt it was pretty good!
Wow! You speak VERY Well! You are a pleasure to listen to. Your presentation skills are also superlative. Good content, organization, pace, cadence, etc. Good job. Wonderful video is the result. I think the torque-steer endemic to FWD cars are a huge negative. I understand the logic in ICE cars packaging the entire drivetrain in one spot, but think FWD as being superior in handling is more marketing gimmick to minimize its deficiencies than an actually desirable characteristic. How does the Kona EV with FWD drive compared to similar ICE?
How can you completely ignore the Kia Niro in the comparison? It's nearly the same EV.
I want a RWD Ioniq 5 with a heat pump for maximum range and efficiency (at MSRP). I’m have a reservation, but I think I’ll hold it for awhile and see what next year brings.
It does seem like a great value but I'm torn on it's appearance
Alex when are you testing the new Kia Niro?
People considering the VW just because of Electrify America should first check to see if there is a charger within a reasonable distance. Since the closest EA DCFC for me is 35 miles, that doesn't really make it a selling point for VW.
Realistically, fast charging should be used primarily only when travelling, not for normal day-to-day charging. So, it shouldn't matter too much if Electrify America chargers are nearby, rather, if they are along the way to where you want to go when you go on road trips. But you still offer good advice to check if their network is useful.
Personally, I don't want an ID.4 regardless of how much free charging VW has on offer.
So hard to get your hands on one in the Midwest though. And our local dealership is insistent in selling the 2020 version for an arm and a leg 🤣
Affordable not something that people keep on saying average but median price for buyers
The Kia Soul EV is sold in Canada also.
Would love input on the following question - am planning on leasing an EV. Am considering Bolt, Kona, Niro. I live in NH and about once a week need to do a 200 mile roundtrip with little access to Level 2 chargers (except at home). Was just offered a chance to buy a 2022 Bolt EUV premier for $40k (with new battery and sun & sound package). Was very tempted but then thought I could maybe get an EV6 RWD) for that kind of money. So my question, am I crazy to consider a Bolt EUV or EV? My current thinking is to get a 2022 Bolt EV LT2 with info and cruise control packages for a price of $36,600. I'm not in a real rush to make a move, but can't wait to drive an EV. Do I wait for the Kona/Niro EVs to get to market? Shop for a base EV6? So many choices! Thanks in advance for any all thoughts.
For me, range above/past 200 miles isn’t as important as dc fast charge rate, because the only time I need that extra range is on a road trip. Expanding charging infrastructure is important.
Must haves: heat pump, liquid heated/cooled battery (I live where we see temps from negative-20 in winter to 100+ in summer every year).
Frunk isn’t important; I could take it or leave it.
I would 100% go for the Ioniq 5 right now. I like the exterior and interior looks the most, it seems more roomy than the EV6, and has a softer ride than many other EVs.
I like the Ioniq 5 but you just can't get it here in upstate NY. My Bolt lease is up next January but it's still a great car even though it's been out for several years. That's what I like about Chevy, you can get them.
Unless you have a wallbox at home. Then fast charging will not be an issue
@@McD3500 your home charger does you no good on a road trip. That’s where you need the fast charging rates.
You failed to mention that the reason the Ioniq charges so much faster is the Ioniq is 800volt architecture and the Kona is 400volt architecture. Hyundai does offer a spare tire kit as a dealer option.
Please make a cost comparison between Kona EV vs. ICE vs. mild hybrid.
I would never classify this as an entry level EV. Maybe the Leaf is but certainly not this vehicle with its enormous amount of features included.
I prefer charge door on either rear side, similar to where gas caps are.
For future reference, skateboards are not flat. They are curved up on both sides.
I don't think so with battery fires with the previous model in some Evs the lack of rear legroom and limited cargo capacity, the Kia e-niro is a far better package.
Can we skip the cup holder, the heated seats, and the electric emergency brake and just get an economy car? Please?
Kia e-niro, Renault zoe, megane, id3, peugot 208e missing?
I guess at this price point there is not a heat pump but it does have active liquid battery cooling?
I actually got a Hyundai Kona it’s a 2020 model I’ve got it last year from Carvana
I HATED the charge port in the back and having to back up especially with Tesla soon opening up their chargers with a front chargers being helpful in the future.
Maybe this is an European thing but the Kona Premium has Krell audio instead of Harman Kardon.
Krell is also a premium brand and with some luck, I will drive my own Kona in August 2022 :-)
Is that Legroom chart right? Wow I didn't realize the Bolt EUV had more legroom than an EV6. Surprisingly spacious if true.
Long but narrow, yes.
no mention of the Ioniq 28kw / 38 in your comparisons?
Does super fast charging (live in the Ioniq 5) cause more battery degradation?
Too many large EVs, we need more like this. i like this one and its ugly sister, the Kia Soul. The trade off between the two is Kona bigger boot Soul bigger rear passenger cabin. Which is why i bought the Soul. Range on both is great, I get an easy 280 in summer and 240 in winter. I think the Kona will get an extra 10-15 miles range as the Soul has the aerodynamics of a brick.
Is the Soul EV sold in North America? I see lots of ICE Souls in the US but in Europe they now only sell the EV version.
EV's with safety recalls for fire. Renault Zoe, Peugeot-e, BMW i4, Mercedes C class, Mercedes EQS, Mercedes GLC, Mercedes S class, Ford Focus, Chevrolet Bolt, Hyundai Ioniq, DS7 Crossback, Hyundai Kona, Mercedes EQC, VW Arteon ehybrid, VW Passat GTE, Ford Focus mHEV, Ford Puma mHEV, Ford Fiesta mHEV, Opel Ampera e, Mercedes eSprinter, Skoda Citygo e, Mercedes eVito, VWeUP, Seat Mini electric, Mini Country PHEV, BMWi8, BMWX5PHV, BMW X3 PHEV,BMW X2 PHEV, BMW X1 PHEV, BMW 7 series PHEV, BMW 5 series PHEV, BMW 3 series PHEV, BMW 2 series active tourer, Land Rover Discovery Sport PHEV, Land Rover Evoque MHEV, Hyundai Kauai, Audi A4, Audi A 5, Audi A 6, Audi A7, Audi Q5, Ford Puma MHEV, Ford Kuga MHEV, Renault Zoe, Audi eTron, ...
I see a few of these driving the 91 in California, it looks good overall but what is up with the battery? You can be seen under the car, from the back and on the sides. Makes it look like a conversion of a gas car. Weird choice imo. Still its an EV so its fabulous compared to funding oil tycoons.
I want to know if they'll build a new Kona on the same platform as the Ioniq 5 in a few years. The slow DC charge rate definitely limits the appeal of this EV. But I guess it's still pretty good for the price range it's in.
I bought my 2022 Kona last Oct. I charge at home once a week and charge at night when it' s 8 cents a KWH. Usually have 90% charge in 10 hours because I'm only charging at 20 amp setup. You can charge at 40 amp and might charge in 5 hours. Worthy EV at the price point.
Yes but it won't be called the Kona, it'll be the Ioniq 3 I think.
@@nelsonoliveira1007 I know how charging an EV works. I own an ID4. But I road trip regularly and the ID4 is about as slow as I can handle for road trips. The Kona would be unbearable.
@@gavkenny That would make sense.
I am in the process of buying a 2023 Kona EV so I may be wrong, but doesn't the Kona EV have adaptive cruise control and lane assist ?? Wouldn't that be similar to Super Cruise
Yes that is Similar to Super cruise, I Test Drove a Kona Ev and bolt ev and Euv
The Kona Ev Cruise Control Felt more Quick and smooth
My Leaf has a charge port in the front, and I think that is the ONLY place it should be.
I don't like a charging bay at the front because its the place mostly likely damaged by a crash. City car - too expensive for that.
We test drove the Kona EV last week and it felt really tight inside (we also have an ID4) but actually I prefer the modern look of the Bolt euv even though Alex does not. The EV6 honestly looks the best esp in the white/silver trim and is much bigger than I expected compared to the photos. But unfortunately, finding one is impossible in Southern CA.
Charge port in front is rather stupid. The smallest of fender bender means you cant charge your car until it gets fixed.
New id4 come with 30 minutes fast Charge sessions not unlimited
Unfortunately it’s a compliance ev, but the Nero is available in all 50 states
Bolt EV is better (too bad you skipped it and only mentioned the EUV!)...
Base model comparisons:
- much cheaper (~38k vs 46k in Canada)
- roomier back seat (36.5" vs 33.4", proof that you don't need to go to the EUV!)
- one-pedal driving
Otherwise they offer the same range (417 vs 415km), same acceleration (6.4s to 60mph), both have heated front seats and heated stirring wheel, and wireless android auto.
The only advantage of the Kona EV in cold climates is that it has a heat pump, but considering that both cars SUCK at charging fast on long trips, I wouldn't take either on road-trips (where the presence of a heat pump would be really important in cold climates). So for a commute-only car, which is exactly what both of these cars excel at considering their sizes, no heat pump is absolutely fine IMO, because both cars have plenty of range...
It's not so bad. I did ~500 miles this past weekend, you drive a couple hours, stop at a charger, go to the bathroom, go on facebook, and then you're back on the road ;) Granted, 2 of the 3 chargers I used topped out at 50kwh, so the charge speed didn't matter much. The heat pump *really* helps though. Really cold days in Quebec when the heat pump isn't efficient, you can lose 40 kilometers of range by turning the heat on, the closer the temp gets to 0C/32F the more efficient and the less range you lose. At ~40F yesterday I was losing about 10km/6miles of range from running the heat.
"divorce headlight" lol
Prices: there's a large market adjustment going on right now: be prepared for sticker shock!
IONIQ 5 and ID.4 are $55k+ vehicles here in northern NJ. I was quoted $60k for an EV6 Wind. That's a lot of moolah.
that tax credit does not reduce the price of the car
$42,599 a bargin? for only $4,400 more or $46,999 (after recent $3k price increase nonetheless) I can have a base Model 3 that would go further and way faster !
A base Model 3 is not "way" faster (5.8 seconds to 60 versus 6.5) and can only go 9 more miles on a charge. Then consider build quality and its basic interior with no features and no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, and the Kona here starts to sound like a better deal.
@@Bro_skelly1 Model 3 standard doesn't go farther than the Kona EV 64kwhs, there are RUclips videos tested both range, Model 3 standard is just bit less efficient than Kona EV
We want all affordable small hatchback EVs. Americans are obsessed with Speed, Expensive SUVs and Trucks.
Boo, no 1 pedal drive mode?! That's one of my favorite things with my Bolt.
Having adaptive cruise makes up for that a little, been having to drive between the Springs and Denver a few times a month and half the time I don't bother with cruise because I have to adjust it too much. //new Bolts have this, mine does not.
Slower than the Bolt? Only a half second, but still. Does it have the limited top speed like the Bolt?
I prefer charge doors near the front fender area, in front of the passenger/driver door. Less bugs and stuff, but still easy to pull in and out of charging stations. On the front like that is fine though. On the back is the worst place unless/until pull through stations become common, especially if you're towing anything.
I want something the size of the Bolt/Kona or smaller, but with 4/AWD. Here in CO having the extra traction is often helpful. My Bolt has been a trooper in the snow, doing things I really wouldn't have expected it to, but still. Before the Bolt I had an old AWD Impreza and before that a tiny Subaru GL. Both were great in the snow and a ton of fun to drive despite being mostly gutless. The GL especially was a demon in the snow, pop it in 4lo and I could drive through snow over the hood.
I miss having the security of a spare tire. I carry a patch kit and pump, but it's really not the same. It's not just EVs doing that either, too many new cars have no spare tires.
The way tax credits on EVs are set up right now is stupid and backwards, only benefitting the rich, in other words: typically American. Someone could buy a new EV each year and pay nothing in federal taxes for years. Or someone even wealthier could buy several EVs and resell them to pay nothing on taxes despite making tons.
It should be a refund, possibly income based, and there should be a 'cash for clunkers' style deal on top of that. Trade in your 20mpg guzzler for a 120mpge sipper and get $4000 or something like that. Maybe even base it on MPG of the trade in, get some of those 5 gallon per mile trucks off the road.
Actually I believe it does have one pedal driving...you can set regen at 3 levels so at level 3 when you lift off the accelerator pedal it goes into regen. The Bolt probably does have the best set up though!
Have a great day.
Mike 🇨🇦 🍁 👍
But the Kona is tiny compared to the Ioniq 5 so who would cross-shop them? Also just ZEV states so none of their EV's are viable for me.
Nice ev.
3:35 Do they call that paint color "Oceanic Windshield Washer Breeze"? 🙂 I happen to like it, at least today - GO DUKE!!!
2023 ID.4, which is all you can order has 30 minutes free not unlimited I believe.
2023 is 30 mins
Unlimited 30 minute sessions is in essence unlimited. We were able to unplug and re-plug one and continue charging another free session.
Bolts are much more practical than Kova EV. I am 6'2 tall (189cm) In Bolt EV/EUV I can sit behind driver's seat set for me and still have at least inch legroom. In Kona EV I have to spread my legs in the second row.
Being designed for lanklet comfort is inherently not practical.
I agree that it depends on your height. I'm 173cm (5' 8) - so my passengers (especially if they are small size adults) shouldn't have a problem with my Kona.
Do not forget Kia e-niro, same but more space.
It's no longer on sale in the USA, the EV6 replaced it
@@EVBuyersGuide new model is niro EV, it's so new that you will get it later this summer. RUclips has videos about this new niro EV.
Other places in the world will get it, but Kia indicated at the EV6 launch that I attended that it “likely won’t” be sold in the USA. Instead we will get a more basic version of the EV6
In my 18.5 foot deep detached garage, a front charge port (or even a frunk) would probably be inconvenient to access.
< eSoul
Shame they are so expensive
If only it did not start on fire 🔥 :( otherwise it's Great)
It’s just a shame it’s so disappointing to drive
I am loving hearing this; we just put a deposit on a Kona EV!
Models: At our local dealer in NJ you can get an SEL but with a convenience package that includes battery heater, moon roof and a few other things (but alas, not LED headlights or heat pump). That's what we're going for. I wonder if you can put LED bulbs in the halogen units?
VW lost our business with ID.4's ridiculous lack of strong regen option. Not even a user option. It's just a software change -- afaik -- but no, we're not allowed to have strong regen., which is something we really love about our e-Golf. VW also lost us because it decided not to bring it's smaller, less expensive, hatchback EV, the ID.3, to North America. So no obvious choice for EV introductions at low cost. Plus, reports of Electrify America charging stations being less than reliable. Wth, VW? Pay your dues! Then it's so late with the Type 2 and guess what, it's real pricey! I wonder what the costs of the original Beetle and Type 2 were relative to incomes?
Since my ex wife and me got divorced life smiled again to me. (She was a narcissist)
Hun-day: how I hate that pronunciation: Hi-Un-DI FFFSSSS!
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