2022 Hyundai Kona Electric

The Hyundai Kona Electric is the pure electric version of the affordable and practical gas-powered Kona crossover. Introduced as a 2018 model, the Kona is still in its first generation, but it received a mild refresh and a new high-performance variation for 2022. The Kona Electric debuted for the 2019 model year. 

A subcompact crossover SUV, it measures 165.6 inches long overall and sports a 102.4-inch wheelbase. Its closest competitors are the Kia Niro EV, the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and the Nissan Leaf Plus. There are two models of Kona Electric, the SEL ($35,245 including destination) and the Limited ($43,745). The Ultimate trim was discontinued in 2021. The Kona Electric is technically a five-passenger vehicle, but the rear passenger compartment is tight. It has 19.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats in place. That jumps to 45.8 when the rear seats are folded down. 

The 201-horsepower electric motor and shift-by-wire one-speed direct-drive transmission is the only powertrain. Four levels of regenerative braking are on tap; single-pedal driving permits the vehicle to come to a complete stop without touching the brake pedal. Both models are front-wheel drive. 

The Kona Electric benefits from all the DNA it shares with its gasoline-powered sibling, including that crossovers’ solid handling characteristics. Both it and the Niro EV are subjectively more fun to drive than the Chevrolet or the Nissan as it’s more responsive and more engaging on winding roads.

The Kona Electric’s 258 miles of range per charge is the best within the competitive set. However, the Chevy Bolt EUV and Nissan Leaf Plus aren’t far behind, coming in with EPA estimates of 247 and 226 miles, respectively. All estimates reflect a full charge, though many manufacturers recommend charging the battery to just 80% of capacity in routine usage to extend its life. 

The SEL is well-equipped and can be upgraded with luxury items like a sunroof, heated front seats and LED interior lights for $3,500. The Limited justifies its $8,500 price premium by making every available feature standard equipment, including a larger infotainment screen with navigation, an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, leather-trimmed seats (ventilated in the front row) and more.

Performance: 12/15

The Kona Electric has a 64-kWh battery, with a range estimate of 258 miles on a full charge. Topping off the battery charge from 10% to 80% will take approximately nine hours and 15 minutes on a Level II charger, 64 minutes on a 50kw DC fast charger and 47 minutes on a 100kw DC fast charger. 

The motor in the Kona Electric has a power output of 150kW, equivalent to 201 horsepower. Torque is rated at 291 pound-feet. By small crossover standards, it’s quick, accelerating from 0 to 60 in a claimed 6.5 seconds. And within its competitive set, the Kona trails only the Kia Niro EV (6.2 seconds). The Chevrolet Bolt EUV takes 6.7 seconds to get to 60 from a standing start, and the Nissan Leaf Plus needs 8.4.

Four regenerative braking modes are on tap to regulate the amount of charge that gets re-directed back to the battery during deceleration. The highest setting allows for one-pedal operation, removing the ability to coast. When the foot comes off the accelerator, the system treats it as braking and starts regenerating energy.

Range, Energy Use & Charging: 12/15

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric has an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of 120 MPGe combined. MPGe doesn’t reflect range, but rather indicates how efficiently a vehicle utilizes electrical energy. The best in its competitive set, it tops the Chevrolet Bolt EUV’s 115 the standard Bolt is rated at 120 MPG), the Kia Niro EV’s 112 and the Nissan Leaf Plus’ 104.   

To offset charging loss in cold temperatures, a battery warmer is standard equipment on Limited models and part of a $3,500 option package on the base SEL model. 2022 Kona Electric buyers also get 250kWh of charging for free at Electrify America charging stations. Hyundai estimates that to be about 1,000 miles worth of driving range, or slightly less than four full charges. Nissan offers Leaf buyers $250 in charging credits at EVgo stations in participating markets. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 12/15

The Kona earns a slate of “Good” ratings in all crash testing categories from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though it does not get a Top Safety Pick rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives it five out of five stars in all of its tests.

Hyundai also equips the Kona with lots of active-safety gear. The automaker uses its own labels for many features, but forward automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane following assist with lane keep assist, blind spot warnings, rear cross-traffic alerts with emergency braking, a driver attention monitor and safe exit warnings. Many of these systems cost extra on competitors, if they’re available at all.

Adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams are only available on the Limited model, costing $8,500 more, though they are standard on that version. These extras cost less on the regular Kona, so it earns a slightly higher score here.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric is thoughtfully laid out, with controls that are in logical, easy-to-reach places. The cabin is comfortable for the driver and front passenger, with 41.5 inches of legroom. That tops the Kia Niro EV’s 40.1 but trails both the Nissan Leaf Plus at 42.1 and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV’s 44.3 inches of legroom.

Rear seat passengers are in for a tighter squeeze, at 33.4 inches of legroom. That’s nearly even with the Nissan Leaf Plus’ 33.5, but significantly behind the Kia Rio EV’s 36.0 inches and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV’s 39.2.

Infotainment: 12/15

The Kona Electric’s standard infotainment system in the base SEL model is an 8.0-inch color touchscreen AM/FM/HD radio with six speakers and a free trial of SiriusXM satellite radio. It also features wireless Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. In addition, there are two USB ports for the front row.

The $8,500 jump to the Limited model upgrades that system to a 10.3-inch color touchscreen that includes satellite navigation and HD Radio-fed traffic flow and incident data. It also adds a Harman Kardon premium audio system with Clari-Fi music restoration, which is designed to replace lost data in compressed digital formats. There’s also wireless device charging (available as part of a $3,500 option package on the SEL) and a USB port for the rear seat.

The gauge display is simple—two circles, with the speedometer to the left and a power usage meter to the right. In the center is a configurable screen that can show vehicle settings, following distance and trip information.

Cargo Space & Storage: 11/15

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric offers 19.2 cubic feet of cargo volume with the rear seats in the upright position. Only the Nissan Leaf Plus, with 23.6 feet, tops that. The Kia Niro EV has 18.5 and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV comes in last with 16.3.

With the rear seats folded down, the ranking changes a bit. The Kona offers 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space, beating only the Nissan Leaf Plus’ 30.0 feet. The Kia Niro EV can handle 53.0 cubic feet and the Chevrolet Bolt EUV 56.9 cubic feet. Inside the cabin, there are door pockets, a glovebox and a center console storage bin, none of which are particularly inventive or spacious.

Style & Design: 8/10

The styling updates to the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric give it a smoother, more integrated appearance. Removing the last generation’s chrome strip on the front end and mounting a logo badge slightly higher up in front of the hood accentuates the Kona’s shark-like nose. At certain angles, it gives the Kona Electric’s face a baby Lamborghini Urus flavor.

Is the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Worth it? Which Hyundai Kona Electric is the Best Value?

At $35,225 (including destination), the SEL model is well-equipped but not luxurious. The Convenience Package at $3,500 adds a sunroof, LED interior lights, premium dark grey body cladding, an eight-way power driver seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, wireless device charging, Hyundai Digital Key (allowing you to open and start the vehicle via your smartphone), power windows and the battery warmer system. But it won’t get you two key advanced driver safety features: adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.  

Choosing to make adaptive cruise and auto high beams available only on the Limited model could price a significant number of buyers out of that technology. In fairness, the Kona Electric’s competitors do the same thing, though adaptive cruise is available at lower price points in the Niro EV, the Bolt EV and the Leaf Plus.

Spending the $43,725 for the Limited model gets literally everything Hyundai offers as Kona Electric equipment, all in one package. In addition, a $7,500 tax credit applies to both models, lowering the actual cost.  

With an $8,500 price gap between the two models of the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, it comes down to what a buyer can afford. A mid-range model with all the active safety features priced between the SEL and the Limited (roughly $39,500) would be the best of all worlds from a value standpoint.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Kona Electric?

The Kona Electric isn’t an expensive car to insure in its comparative set. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,930, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $1,917 for the Bolt EV and $1,912 for the Nissan Leaf. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.