Road Test: 2020 Hyundai Kona EV Ultimate

The front-wheel drive (all-wheel drive is not
an option) Hyundai Kona EV produces 201 horsepower and 290 pounds-feet of
torque, consistently turning in 0-to-60 times around 6.5 seconds. But when
zipping around town, and especially in the Sport mode, the Kona EV felt quicker
than that. For more conservative driving with an eye on achieving the EPA’s
estimated driving range of 258 miles, the other driver-selectable modes are Eco
and Comfort. Eco is the default setting, where you want to be for those extra-long
freeway runs, where performance gets in-line behind driving range.

The liquid-cooled 64-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion polymer
battery pack is replenished through plug-in charging and regenerative braking.
The regenerative charging system converts kinetic energy into electric energy,
when applying the brakes or coasting, and stores it in the battery. This
process can be viewed on a dash gauge where you can watch the power flow into
and out of the battery and engine.

The Kona EV also has the ability for one-pedal driving by
using the steering wheel mounted paddles. By pulling on the left paddle the
Kona can be brought to a complete stop, without touching the brake pedal. If
you keep the pedal pulled tight, the car will not creep, then will only move
when stepping on the accelerator. The value to this is the battery replenishes
faster than using the brakes, as the motor is doing all the slowing. It takes a
bit of practice to modulate the slowing, but when mastered it makes rush hour,
stop-and-go traffic a new experience not having to hit the brake pedal. Note:
This is one reason electric vehicle maintenance is less than a comparable
gasoline-powered car, as brake pads don’t wear out nearly as fast.

There are three plug-in charge levels which can be
controlled manually, or by the Blue Link connected car system, to set the day
and time of recharging. From near empty to a full charge, times are:

• 110V
  (Level 1) – 17 hours (using the 7.2 kW onboard charger)
• 220V
  (Level 2) – 9.5 hours (using the 7.2 kW onboard charger)                  
• 440V
  DC 50 kW Quick Charging – 75 minutes
• 440V
  DC 100 kW Quick Charging – 54 minutes

Driving Experience: On the Road

The well-distributed 3,800-pound weight gave
the Kona EV a solid and confident ride. The under-seat battery placement created
a low center of gravity and resulted in very good driving dynamics. The motor-driven
power steering was well-tuned for road feel with maneuvering in town, especially
parking, being easy. Tire and wind noise were at a minimum; the 17-inch alloy
wheels and 215/55R Nexen low-rolling resistance tires barely transmitted noise
to the cabin. When pushing corners a bit too fast, there was minor body roll. The
regenerative braking system has four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and brake
assist. The stops were straight and true with no brake fade and a pleasant
hybrid braking whine when stopping.

That other noise you hear, when driving under
20 miles per hour, is a soft sci-fi whirring sound, part of the pedestrian warning
system. Consisting of a speaker mounted behind the front bumper, this
futuristic sound lets pedestrians know the Kona EV is close by. Without it, there
is no sound at all coming from this all-electric crossover, making it too
stealthy when approaching an occupied crosswalk.

Driving Experience: In and
Out

The Kona EV exterior design is
smooth with very few sharp angles. The rounded front end is highlighted by the
closed-off grille with a cross-hatch pattern; the charge door is in a far more
convenient location than when placed on either fender (as several automakers
do). The LED headlights, with LED daytime running lights located in the bottom
fascia, complete the sleek front end.

The appealing side view has a
gently sloping roof with rack rail tracks, a color-keyed shark fin antenna and
an integrated spoiler over the rear hatch window. The horizontal LED taillights
and minimal chrome (on the Hyundai badge and an eyebrow strip over the license
plate) finish off the attractive rear. A very simple “Electric” badge on the
lower right corner of the hatch softly states the Kona EV is silently and
cleanly driving ahead.

Climbing inside, the cabin includes ample leg and
headroom for two six-footers up front; the rear seat is a bit tighter on space,
especially for three adults. Clean Fleet Report was driving the 2020
Kona EV Ultimate, which came standard with leather-trimmed heated and
ventilated front seats. The driver’s seat is eight-way power adjustable with
lumbar, while the passenger gets manual adjustments. We like that the outlook
on the road, with 6.2-inches of ground clearance, was higher than a sedan, but
not as high as an SUV. The rear seat center armrest has cup holders; if there
are no passengers out back, fold down the 60/40 split rear seat for additional
storage area.

Other features are a power tilt and slide sunroof, a
head-up display, Homelink auto-dimming rear view mirror, heated and power side
mirrors with turn signals, USB ports, wireless charging, and rain-sensing
windshield wipers.

The center dash in our Kona EV Ultimate came with an
8.0-inch touchscreen housing navigation, and an eight-speaker, 315-watt
Infinity sound system with a subwoofer, playing AM/FM/CD/MP3/AUX and Sirius/XM.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, with smartphone integration via Bluetooth,
complete the audio system. The leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel has
controls for audio, telephone and cruise control. Big thanks to Hyundai
designers for the knobs and wheels to control the radio and automatic
temperature control.

Safety
and Warranties

The 2020 Hyundai Kona EV comes with an extensive and
impressive list of standard safety features. They include front, seat and
side-impact airbags, forward emergency braking and collision warning, stability
control, smart cruise control with stop and go, blind spot collision
monitoring, park assist with front and rear sensors, vehicle stability
management, traction control, hill start assist, tire pressure monitoring
system, engine immobilizer, lane departure warning and rear cross traffic
alert.

The Kona EV has not been rated by the National Highway and
Safety Administration (NHTSA) or The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
(IIHS). However, its gasoline-powered siblings are a Top Safety pick with the IIHS, the highest rank. The NHTSA gave it a 5 Star rating, also their highest
mark.

The 2020 Hyundai Kona EV comes with these warranties:

• Battery – Lifetime/Unlimited miles (transferable)
• Powertrain – 10 years/100,000 miles
• New Vehicle – Five years/60,000 miles
• Roadside Assistance – Five years/Unlimited miles
• Anti-perforation – Seven years/Unlimited miles

Pricing

The 2020 Kona EV comes in three trim levels,
with each having an increased number of features and accessories. There are
actually only eight a la carte accessories available to be added to one of the
trim levels. The base price for each model is:

SEL              $36,990

Limited        $41,600

Ultimate       $45,200

Clean Fleet Report’s 2020 Kona EV
Ultimate had a MSRP of $45,335. All prices do not include the $1,095 freight
charge.

The Kona EV qualifies for federal and state
credits, and in some states, is eligible for a HOV sticker.

The 2020 Kona is available in the ZEV (Zero
Emission Vehicle) states: CA, CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, OR, WA, RI, WA, VT.

Observations: 2020 Hyundai
Kona EV Ultimate

Hyundai is all-in with vehicle electrification, and Clean
Fleet Report is glad they are. We have reviewed all their hybrid, plug-in
hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and have been impressed with
them all.

For
versatility, ride, style, range and standard safety equipment, the 2020 Hyundai
Kona EV is hard to beat. Before visiting your Hyundai dealer, do some homework
on the competitors, talk with your tax advisor for clarity on the federal and
state credits, and then make an appointment to meet with a Hyundai factory
trained electric vehicle specialist.

Then, don’t be
surprised if you drive home in a Kona EV.

Make
sure to opt-in to the Clean Fleet Report newsletter (top right of
page) to be notified of all new stories and vehicle reviews.

Whatever you buy, Happy Driving!

[See image gallery at cleanfleetreport.com]

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Disclosure:

Clean Fleet Report is loaned free test vehicles from automakers to evaluate,
typically for a week at a time. Our road tests are based on this one-week drive
of a new vehicle. Because of this we don’t address issues such as long-term
reliability or total cost of ownership. In addition, we are often invited to
manufacturer events highlighting new vehicles or technology. As part of these
events we may be offered free transportation, lodging or meals. We do our best
to present our unvarnished evaluations of vehicles and news irrespective of
these inducements.

Our focus is on vehicles that offer the best fuel economy in
their class, which leads us to emphasize electric cars, plug-in hybrids,
hybrids and diesels. We also feature those efficient gas-powered vehicles that
are among the top mpg vehicles in their class. In addition, we aim to offer
reviews and news on advanced technology and the alternative fuel vehicle
market. We welcome any feedback from vehicle owners and are dedicated to
providing a forum for alternative viewpoints. Please let us know your views at publisher@cleanfleetreport.com.

Source: Electric, Hybrid, Clean Diesel & High-MPG Vehicles