Hyundai Kona Electric - What to expect

A vehicle that has generated quite a lot of intrigue, the Hyundai Kona Electric will be offered via an exclusive subscription program. The Hyundai Kona Electric is the latest offering to be introduced under such a game plan which was also used to bring cars like the Renault Twizy and Zoe to the market.

The arrangement is to get the battery-fueled Kona Electric in Malaysia through legitimate channels, for this case, Hyundai Sime Darby Motor (HSDM), will offer full customer support from the car manufacturer.

As indicated by the organization, the arrangement will involve Hyundai purchasing an armada of Kona Electric units for the subscription service and this won't be a grey import run as the Korean carmaker is also working on drawing out the final specifics of the deal.

To measure reactions, the carmaker is also welcoming prospective buyers to weigh their enthusiasm for the program. The company has not officially revealed how many units will be coming to the Malaysian shore but it has been confirmed that all models of the electric crossover will be offered under the subscription service.

On the outside

Like other Hyundai crossovers, the Kona Electric measures more or less like a traditional compact SUV. The EV is 4180 mm long, 1800 mm wide, 1570 mm tall and gets a 2600 mm wheelbase. To enhance the overall aerodynamics of this striking crossover,

Hyundai offers a specially designed grille that shares the same paint scheme as the rest of the car’s body. A metal bar sits atop the grille and houses the Hyundai logo flaunting a brushed metal design.

The front of the car also features split LED headlamps and the daytime running lights have been moved up and are now positioned right under the bonnet. The illumination cluster also gets cornering lamps and the headlight comes equipped with the auto-leveling feature.

The right side of the grille also houses the charging ports and we find tasteful use of cladding that wraps around the rear of the crossover. Other styling cues include roof rails and window lines which are all painted black.

Around the back, the Kona gets LED taillights that wrap around the width of the crossover. It likewise has a rooftop spoiler with a high mounted stoplight. The rear fog lights are also housed in the dark grey cladding found over the rear bumper. There is also a rear skid plate offered in the Kona Electric along with purpose-built aerodynamic 17-inch alloys.

On the inside

The interior of the Hyundai Kona Electric has a generally conventional design and features an all-black color scheme. Hyundai offers all-leather upholstery and the center console flaunts silver accents.

The driver's seat is 10-way adjustable and both front seats are heated and come with ventilation features. The Hyundai Kona Electric gets a 7-inch digital panel that features a speedometer dial in the middle.

Hyundai Kona Electric comes with creature comforts like a sunroof and a touchscreen infotainment unit which gets Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility as standard. The central tunnel houses USB ports, auxiliary ports and a wireless charging pad.

The infotainment system can be controlled by steering mounted audio controls and behind the steering, we find shift paddles that help the driver control the level of regenerative braking. Several cubby storage spaces have been conveniently located throughout the cabin.

Under the hood

The battery-powered propulsion system churns out 136 PS of power and 395 Nm of peak torque in Kona Electric. This allows the car to accelerate from a standstill to the 100 kmph mark in under 9.7 seconds according to the Korean car manufacturer.

Hyundai Kona Electric’s battery pack offers a 452-kilometre all-electric driving range even in the entry-level model. The highly anticipated Kona Electric crossover will be offered in two variants segregated by the battery pack sizes starting with a 39.2 kWh model and a 64 kWh version.

Battery packs can be charged using a free 7.2 kWh AC wall charger or a 2.8 KW portable charger. Hyundai ensures its customers that Kona electric will come with DC fast charging capabilities which will allow buyers to recharge the battery pack up to 80% in just 60 minutes. Charging time will increase in case of the standard AC wall charger but according to Hyundai, its electric crossover can be completely charged using the wall- mount unit in just 6 hours.

Safety equipment

Hyundai Kona electric has been designed with a special focus on safety and the Korean carmaker has equipped its much-anticipated crossover with 6 airbags which include dual front airbags, front-seat side-impact, and side curtain airbags.

The crossover is been built using high tensile strength steel and according to the Hyundai, this offers impressive impact energy absorption. Some other standard safety features include a vehicle stability management system, hill start assist control, electronic stability control, virtual engine sound system and ISOFIX mounts.

Also Read: Hyundai to introduce 13 electrified cars by 2022