2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited Review: A Brilliant But Pricey EV

© Provided by TopSpeed

Capitalizing on the Crossover/SUV trend, the Kona proved to be an immensely popular vehicle for Hyundai and the sales numbers are proof of that. Hyundai sold more than 350,000 Kona models in the United States since it first went on sale back in 2018.

Now in order to compete with other models that were being given electric powertrains, Hyundai decided to also add an all-electric variant to the Kona line-up, which is now finishing out its first-generation run. The 2022 model year puts a cherry on top of a successful sales period.

I had the opportunity to get the keys for a week to see how well the Kona Electric performs, both as a daily driver and as a form of transportation to go on vacation and I've reached a conclusion on if the Kona Electric is the right choice for a family.

RELATED: Here’s How the Hyundai Ioniq Portfolio Is Shaping Up

Exterior Styling

The Kona Electric shares the same styling cues as the non-EV gas-powered Kona. The curves and edges that run along the body make the Kona far from a boring hunk of metal. There is a prominent line that runs from under the side mirror, over the door handles, and straight to the tail light. While the non-EV Kona has more of an expressive front fascia, the Kona Electric looks like it turned into that "Bane" character from the Batman movies. The only expressive feature is the LED headlights because the Kona Electric looks muzzled since plastic covered the entirety of the front grille.

The rear end of the Kona Electric lacks visual stimulation unless you have the opportunity to focus on the reverse tail lights. They're a cluster of lenses put together inside a single assembly instead of the boring single reverse lights on the edge of the inside tail light assembly.

The 2023 Kona Electric is already out on the market and visually there is no difference in styling between it and the 2022 model. I'm not saying it is out of fashion, the styling, it is just a note I would like to make when observing the similarities and differences between the two. The one thing that makes a difference is the paint. Some features hide within the paint from certain angles that a lighter color will show.

As for dimensions, the Kona Electric is 166 inches long, 71 inches wide, and 61 inches tall. The wheelbase measures up to 102.4 inches.

RELATED: 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 Limited AWD The Electric Compact SUV For The Family

Interior Design

The interior of the Kona Electric is welcoming with its blend of different trims of leather, plastic, and metal. One feature that sticks out is the cubby hole that sits underneath the center console between the driver and the front passenger. It is wide enough to hold a book and a couple of phones to charge. As for the seats, they offer plenty of support and comfort for car rides but not necessarily for long-distance driving.

I went on a little road trip down to Manassas, Virginia with my family to visit the battlefields. A simple three-hour drive ended up being miserable because the seats could give us so much comfort after about an hour on the road. But driving around after the typical stretching and giving the seats a breather, the Kona Electric was comfortable again.

The 2023 Kona Electric's interior is no different than the 2022 model year Kona Electric. A few things became standard in the 2022 mid-cycle year model refresh such as heated front seats, and USB ports for passengers in the rear set in the center console's rear. And don't forget some controls and buttons getting deleted for some odd reason. As for space and legroom, I could sit behind myself (6-foot 2-inch stature) comfortable enough to tolerate it for a short trip, but I know I'd get uncomfortable if it was a long drive. The trunk is spacious enough to hold only a few items like a stroller and a diaper bag for the baby. Luggage, if you have any, is best put in the back seats.

The Kona Electric offers up to 41.5 inches of front legroom and 35.2 inches of legroom in the rear. The cargo space offers up to 19.2 cubic feet. But the trunk space is tall and not wide and this is a given considering the Kona EV's exterior dimensions.

RELATED: 2023 Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid Review: Exuding A Baby EV6 Persona

Comfort And Convenience Features That Stood Out

• Power driver's seat
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Tilt and telescoping heated steering wheel
• Wireless device charging
• 10.25-inch instrument cluster
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities
• Harman Kardon premium audio
• AM/FM/SiriusXM HD radio
• Bluetooth connectivity

Safety Features That Stood Out

• Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
• Lane-keep and follow assist
• Blind-spot collision-avoidance assist
• Rear cross-traffic collision avoidance assist
• Plethora of airbags
• Smart cruise control with stop and go
• Reverse camera with parking guidance

RELATED: 2023 Kia Niro EV Review: The Revamped Electric Niro Is Big On Tech, Low On Thrills, And High On Price

2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Performance

Under the hood of the 2022 Kona Electric sits the 150kW electric motor that cranks out a mere 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque. Power goes to the front wheels through the Kona Electric's single-speed automatic transmission. The battery system? A 64.0 kWh 356V Lithium-Ion polymer unit. With my driving habits, I was able to achieve 4.2 miles per kWh. From a full charge, the Kona Electric has a range of 241 miles.

The Kona Electric is rated at 132 MPGe in the city, 108 MPGe on the highway, and an EPA-rated combined 120 MPGe. The kW-hours per mile states 28. There aren't any differences between the 2023 model Kona Electric and the 2022 model year. The only thing Hyundai is doing for 2023 is introducing Hyundai Home.

On my trip home from Manassas, I charged the Kona Electric before leaving to a 228 miles range at 88 percent charge. I ended up driving a total of 210 miles and still have 35 miles left in range before plugging it in to charge. Speaking of charging, in the area in which I live, it is hard to find a Level 3 charging station to do all of that "Fast Charge" business.

And in Manassas, I faced the same problem there as well. I found only Level 2 chargers near my location. From my experience, don't bother listening to what time it takes to fully charge your vehicle. When I went to fully charge the Kona Electric at the local Target charger, it told me it was going to take 2 hours to get the charge it arrived at (51 percent) to 100 percent. By the time I went to check on the charge after some shopping and spending time elsewhere, both the car and charger said it is going to take three more hours (already at 93% charged) because the charging rate dropped significantly for one reason or another.

The ride comfort of the Kona Electric, aside from the seats that aren't that great on longer stints, I only can grade as fair. Sure, the suspension keeps everything tidy with cornering but is harsh on the body with the uneven roads of New Jersey. Steering is tight but artificial with feedback from the tires. Braking is the only thing that stands out due to the available regenerative braking to help recharge the battery.

Even then, you could use the paddle shifters on the Kona Electric to adjust the style of one-pedal driving. The higher the number, the more aggressive the braking. It only goes up to Level 3 though. Driving the Kona Electric with the Level 1 selected is best for highway driving, while Level 2 would be ideal for slower highway driving. Level 3 meanwhile, is best used for in-town/city driving.

RELATED: Five Affordable EVs To Watch Out For Going Into 2023

Key Issues I Had With The 2022 Kona Electric

There are always issues or complaints about cars that I test drive. The Kona Electric isn't a favorite of mine. The main issues I have with the Kona Electric are that the accessories consume a lot of the range and time it takes to charge.

The main accessory that consumes the range of the Kona Electric is the heat and air conditioning. There was a range of 215 miles on the Kona Electric. The weather at the time was cold so I turned on the heat. Almost immediately, the range went from 215 miles straight to 180 on fan speed one. Why do I lose 30 miles of range with the heat? Turning on the fan speed all the way up reduces the range further to 145 miles. It is honestly unacceptable.

As for the charging time it takes, the commercials you see aren't real-world truths. With the Kona Electric, I was able to take it to Level 2 chargers because the Level 3 chargers are far as well as few and Tesla's charging network isn't compatible. Find a Level 3 Charger though and the Kona Electric supports 100kW, with the ability to replenish the battery from 10 to 80 percent in just under 50 minutes. Having said that, spending so much time to charge an EV is the biggest inconvenience these types of vehicles offer. Unless you have that sort of time. But to me, time is more valuable than money.

​​​​​​​RELATED: 2024 Hyundai Kona Debuts: Bigger And Bolder Inside Out

Pricing, Warranties, And Competition

So, how much does this 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited cost? After adding up the options ($195) and the shipping fee ($1,245) to the MSRP of $42,500, the total cost comes to $43,940. This price can change for the better depending on where you live thanks to the tax credit rules that are still going through development. The 2022 Kona SE costs $21,300 the 2022 Kona Limited (non-EV) starts at $28,600.

As for warranties, The Hyundai Kona Electric Limited has the best on the market. The new vehicle warranty covers up to five years or 60,000 miles. The powertrain warranty covers up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. The electric battery warranty covers up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. The anti-perforation warranty covers up to seven years with unlimited miles in that time.

The Hyundai Kona Electric has some competition to go against and competes with the Chevrolet Bolt EV, Nissan Leaf Plus, and the Volkswagen ID.4. The 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV starts at $31,500, while the 2022 Nissan Leaf Plus will set you back $37,400. The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 meanwhile costs $41,230. Out of the bunch, I would choose the Bolt EV if I couldn't have the Kona Electric, especially since it offers similar range figures for a lot less.

RELATED: 10 Things We Like About The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

Summing Up The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited

At the end of it all, the Kona Electric is a perfect car for the family. But for local traveling only. And even then, you should be wary of its ride comfort. I would maintain caution when coming across potholes or other imperfections on the road. Maybe one day when there is nothing but Level 3 chargers across the country, then I might think about going to the EV side.

As long as EVs take longer than refilling a fuel tank to charge, I stick with the internal combustion engine. But if you're looking for a compact SUV that's an EV, then go right ahead with the Kona Electric. Even with some of its flaws, the warranties are too good to not give it a second thought and other cars in the class don't even come close.