The upcoming 2019 Hyundai Kona EV has an impressively large 64 kWh battery pack – bigger than the Chevy Bolt by a little bit, and good enough to give it 250 miles of range – more than the 238 miles you can get in the Bolt EV.
Charging time for the Kona EV is right around 10 hours on a Level 2 EVSE, and with DC fast charging standard on the Kona, you can charge from 0% to 80% in less than an hour.
What makes the Kona electric vehicle really stand out from the competition, however, is the interior space. This isn’t just a sedan (kinda hatchback thing) like the Model 3, and it isn’t a hatchback like the Bolt EV – this is classified as a compact utility vehicle, or CUV for short. CUVs fit the slot in between a car and an SUV. They don’t necessarily have improved ground clearance, AWD, and things that everyone says they love SUVs for, but they do have increased visibility and easier entry and exit because of the higher seating position. Plus, they typically are larger than the sedans they tower above.
The Kona EV is no exception – it has 19.2 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the rear seats, while the Bolt has 16.9 cubic feet. The Tesla Model 3 has just 15 cubic feet, including the Frunk and the Trunk.
As for suspension, the rear is a standard multi-link setup and with 3 driving modes – Normal, Eco and Sport – the steering feel and powertrain programming emphasize performance or maximize your range.
The 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric is set to arrive in California in the fourth quarter of 2018. Shortly after, it will roll out to other ZEV states. The rest of the country is slated to have the vehicle in dealerships in early 2019.
Although the Kona EV comes with 2 battery pack sizes, only the larger and longer range 64 kWh battery pack will be available in the USA we’re told. No information as to if Canada will receive both pack options.
