Hyundai Kona EV Is The Right Car At The Right Time

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric was designed to be an EV first so that, while owners can also have a gas-powered model, the EV Kona doesn’t suffer from being an afterthought. Thanks to this, the Kona Electric is a vehicle everyone is falling in love with, especially journalists and automotive industry analysts who see the all-new Kona as a slam dunk compared to other vehicles in its segment. 

The Autopian, the popular car review and funky car news website, recently took a Kona Electric for a proper shakedown to see what’s what. The author, Thomas Hundal, was very positive about how good the Kona Electric is, not just as a simple and proper EV for new buyers but also as a usable, everyday crossover. 

When Mr. Hundal appreciated that Hyundai spent so much time engineering the new electric vehicle to be whisper quiet, saying, “Well, the first thing I noticed about the Kona Electric was just how quiet it is. You can drive at 50 MPH with the front windows half-down, and the noise you hear will only be about as loud as a bathroom fan. With the windows up, the chaos of the highway gives way to the serenity of a quiet living room. Whereas the old Kona Electric had this hint of motor whine at speed, the new car fulfills the fantasy of silence.”

One of the other interesting things Mr. Hundal noticed was a heated charge door. This has been a hot topic recently, with some electric vehicle owners having trouble getting their charge doors open in extremely bad winter weather. He said, “Interestingly, the charge door on the front of the Kona Electric is heated, with an element tied into the rear defroster to help mitigate the risk of ice jamming in the winter. It’s a smart touch that I was delightfully surprised to see.”

Customers looking to buy an EV are no different than people looking at a gas-powered car. Cargo space and storage are two of the most important factors when purchasing any type of crossover or SUV, especially if you have a family. The Autopian spent a good chunk of their review talking about what makes the Kona so great: “As for room and comfort, it’s top-notch for the segment … Intriguingly, the Kona Electric features a perfectly flat floor in the back, meaning this tiny crossover is genuinely comfortable for three across the rear seat. Add in clever storage cubbies like a massive tray in the center console and a shelf above the glovebox, and this fashion-forward subcompact crossover really blends style with brains.”

When it comes down to whether or not customers should spend their hard-earned money on the Kona Electric, Thomas says, “On the plus side, ride quality around town is outrageously good, and I saw around four miles per kWh in predominantly highway driving without any hypermiling shenanigans. As a road-trippable runabout, it’s hard to fault much with the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric.” It seems The Autopian would put the Kona on their short list of cars to buy. 

At Hyundai of Mankato, we take great pride in offering some of the most reliable and safest vehicles on the market today. With dozens of new and used vehicles for sale, our sales team and finance department will help you find the right car or SUV for your needs. And our outstanding service department will work tirelessly to ensure your vehicle stays in the best possible condition. If you are looking for winter tires, our service technicians will take great care of you and provide all the relevant information you need.

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