Electric Cars under $40,000, Hyundai Kona Electric

AMONG AFFORDABLE electric vehicles, the new Hyundai Kona Electric is now our top choice. The Kona EV has a robust range of 258 miles and offers a better driving experience than the gas-powered car it’s based on. Electrification eliminates the gas-powered Kona’s deficiencies, like sluggish acceleration and loud engine noise. Instead, the battery-powered Hyundai is quick, smooth, and quiet. Electric Cars under $40,000, Hyundai Kona Electric

Like its conventional sibling, the electric Kona is adept at taking corners with little body lean. With instant power and agile handling, we think it’s quite enjoyable to drive. The ride is somewhat stiff, though, which some drivers may find unpleasant. Despite its small footprint, the Kona feels roomy inside, and its ride height makes it very easy to get into and out of. Cargo room is the same as the gas-powered model because the battery doesn’t intrude. The lack of internal combustion also keeps cabin noise to a minimum.

The Kona Electric is wellequipped. Even the base SEL trim gets heated front seats and LED daytime running lights. All Kona EVs get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, plus forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB), and blind spot warning (BSW). Controls are easy to use, with clear buttons and a welllaid-out infotainment screen. Unfortunately, the EV gets a push-button gear selector that can’t be operated by feel.

The Kona’s 64-kWh battery takes more than 9 hours to charge fully from empty on a standard 240-volt charger. A 50-kW DC fast charger can bring an empty battery to 80 percent full in about an hour and a quarter. As with all EVs, the Kona’s range drops when temperatures fall—but with so many miles on tap, it shouldn’t affect most commuters. Unlike other EVs, the Kona is currently sold only in certain states, mostly in the West and Northeast.

BEST VERSION TO GET Even the entrylevel SEL comes well-equipped with AEB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and heated front seats. Plus it starts at just $36,950, which makes it one of the most affordable EVs on the market.

Sources:

https://www.consumerreports.org/hybrids-evs/2019-hyundai-kona-ev-first-drive-review/

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