2021 Hyundai Kona Electric price and specs

Australian pricing and specifications for the updated 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric have been announced, completing the compact SUV line-up locally.

The Kona Electric is available in two trim levels and now two drivetrain options, which pick up some new equipment and technology that first appeared on the updated petrol model.

Update, 19/8/2021 1:15pm: Hyundai Australia has introduced a new ‘Standard Range’ version of the Kona Electric in Elite and Highlander trim levels, as well as cutting the price of the existing 64kWh ‘Extended Range’ variants. See article for details.

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric price and specs

Headlining updates include a refreshed design inside and out as well as a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, lane-following assist, and an avoidance assist function for the blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert functions.

For 2021 the Kona Electric also gets a new set of Michelin Primacy4 low-rolling resistance tyres which contribute to a 7.8 per cent gain in claimed driving range – now listed as 484 kilometres (up from 449km) using the WLTP test standard.

Prices are up for both variants, though this is offset by the enhanced specification levels across the range.

Pricing

Kona Electric Standard Range (39.2kWh)

2021 Hyundai Kona Elite Standard Range: $54,500
2021 Hyundai Kona Highlander Standard Range: $58,000

Kona Electric Extended Range (64kWh)

2021 Hyundai Kona Elite Extended Range: $60,500 (-$1500)
2021 Hyundai Kona Highlander Extended Range: $64,000 (-$2000)

All prices exclude on-road costs

Options

Premium paint: $595 (all models)
Black/Grey leather interior: $295 (all models)
Phantom Black two-tone roof: $NCO (Highlander, deletes sunroof)

Engines

New for August 2021 is the availability of the Kona Electric Standard Range, which features a 100kW/395Nm permanent magnet synchronous electric motor mounted on the front axle, with a single-speed reduction gear transmission.

The Kona Electric Extended Range variants are powered by a more powerful 150kW/395Nm electric motor, also mounted on the front axle.

The e-motor is hooked up to a 39.2kWh battery pack in Standard Range models, with a 64kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack featuring in the Extended Range.

Economy

As noted earlier, the updated Kona Electric fits new tyres with lower rolling resistance to enhance driving range.

Officially, the Kona Electric Extended Range claims to use 147Wh/km on the WLTP standard, and 131Wh/km on the ADR 81/02 and NEDC standards.

As for driving range, Hyundai claims up to 484km per charge on the stricter WLTP test cycle for the Extended Range, and 557km on the ADR and NEDC standards.

Meanwhile, the new Standard Range quotes up to 305km (WLTP) of zero-emissions motoring.

Both AC and DC charging are supported, with the former offering charge capacity of 7.2kW for a claimed charge time (10-100 per cent) of 9 hours 15 minutes, and the latter offering up to 100kW charge capacity for a charge time (10-80 per cent) of 47 minutes.

Using 50kW DC fast charging is slightly slower, with 10-80 per cent charge replenished in approximately 64 minutes.

Note: Charging specifications for the Standard Range are to be confirmed.

Dimensions

The updated Hyundai Kona Electric measures 4205mm long, 1800mm wide and 1555mm tall, with a 2600mm wheelbase.

Ground clearance is rated at 158mm, and luggage capacity is quoted as 332L with the rear seats up and 1114L with them folded (VDA).

Depending on the variant, the Kona Electric Extended Range tips the scales at between 1685kg and 1743kg (kerb).

Service and Warranty

Hyundai Australia covers the Kona Electric line-up with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre new car warranty and an eight-year, 160,000km battery warranty.

There’s also lifetime capped-price servicing, with maintenance required at 12-month, 15,000-kilometre intervals.

Prices for the first five visits are still to be confirmed, though the 2020 model was available with three-, four- and five-year service plans listed at $495, $660 and $825 respectively.

Safety

The Kona Electric carries over the combustion-engined model’s five-star ANCAP safety rating achieved in 2017.

Using older test criteria, the EV managed a frontal offset audit score of 14.97 out of 16.00 – slightly better than the petrol model’s 14.07/16.00 – while the 16.00/16.00 score for the side impact test and 2.00/2.00 for the pole test were carried over from the petrol version.

Whiplash protection was rated Good, pedestrian protection deemed Acceptable, and the overall score for the entire Kona line-up is 35.07 out of 37.00.

For reference, Euro NCAP also tested the Kona in 2017 using a similar scoring system used by both firms today, with the crossover managing 87 per cent for adult occupant protection, 85 per cent for child occupant protection, 62 per cent for pedestrians and 60 per cent for safety assist.

However, the Euro NCAP rating doesn’t apply to electric models.

Kona Electric variants come standard with six airbags (dual front, side and curtain), a rear-view camera, as well as the Hyundai SmartSense active safety suite which includes: