South Korean carmaker Hyundai has revealed the all-new Kona EV. The 2023 Kona EV is offered with two battery pack options and a maximum range of 490km on a single charge.
Unlike the previous-gen Kona EV, which is currently on sale in India, the version of the electric SUV was not built from the ground up as an ICE vehicle converted for EV usage. Instead, the new Hyundai Kona lineup was designed first in its EV guise and was then adapted for use as a hybrid (both mild and strong) vehicle.
So now that we know the story what does the new Kona EV bring to the table? Well, the all-electric Kona is offered with a choice of two battery packs. The smaller of the two (standard range) is a 48.4kWh pack with a WLTP range of 342km. The larger of the two power packs stores 65.4kWh which extends the range to 490km (WLTP).
The new Kona EV is based on a 400V electrical architecture setup unlike the Ioniq 5 which supports an 800V setup. However, despite a lower voltage setup, the new 2023 Kona EV can charge up its larger battery pack from 10 to 80 per cent in just 41 minutes when connected to a fast DC charger. The Kona EV also supports Vehicle 2 Load, which means that you can use it as a giant power bank.
The new 2023 Kona EV from Hyundai is also quite a bit larger than its predecessor. The new Hyundai Kona EV is 4,355mm long, 1,825mm wide and 1,575mm tall and sports a 2,660mm long wheelbase.
The new 2023 Hyundai Kona EV is 60mm longer, 25mm wider and 20mm taller than its predecessor. The overall boot space of the new electric SUV has also increased by 132 litres to 466 litres.
The standard range version of the 2023 Kona EV uses a 153.6bhp electric motor that also pushes out 255Nm of peak torque. The extended range version pushes the power output up to 214.5bhp while the torque remains the same.
The design of the new Kona lineup was revealed a little while ago. Both the front and rear feature full-width lightbar style elements while the actual lighting setup, ie: the headlights and taillights are housed in separate pods lower on the respective bumper.
Inside, the Kona comes with a similar dual-display setup that was seen previously on Hyundai’s Ioniq EV lineup. The 2023 Kona EV features twin 12.3-inch screens for instrumentation and infotainment with the latter being a touchscreen unit with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
There is more space on the inside thanks to the extra 60mm in the wheelbase of the new car while the headroom, leg room and knee room are all up compared to the previous Kona. The cabin makes use of sustainable materials.
The new Kona EV comes packed with features including Level 2 ADAS, a digital key for access using smartphones and smartwatches, ambient lighting and remote parking among others.
Thoughts About The 2023 Hyundai Kona EV
The new Hyundai Kona EV sees Hyundai once again flip the script on ICE vehicles by designing the new SUV from the ground up as an electric vehicle that can be used for other setups. The new Kona is quite a looker and with a range of up to 490km could be quite the disrupter when it hopefully comes to India in the near future.
Keyword: 2023 Hyundai Kona EV Revealed With 490km Range, Two Battery Pack Options