Used Hyundai Kona Electric 2018-2023 review
Category: Electric car
The Hyundai Kona Electric is quick, well-equipped and has an impressive range. It's a great used buy.
What's the used Hyundai Kona Electric hatchback like?
Before the Hyundai Kona Electric came along in 2018, it used to be accepted wisdom that in order to get an electric car with a petrol-equivalent driving range, you'd need to buy an expensive new Tesla Model 3 or Jaguar I-Pace.
The Kona Electric changed the rules. It was a car you could buy that claimed to be able to travel up to 300 miles between charges, thanks to its large 64kWh battery, but didn't need to sell your soul to buy.
Power: There are two different power outputs and battery pack sizes with the 2018-onwards Kona Electric: a 134bhp, 39kWh version or a more potent 201bhp, 64kWh model.
Trims and equipment: Search for the entry-level SE Kona and get the smaller battery pack along with 17in alloys, rear parking sensors and reversing camera, a 7in touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane-keep assistance. Premium cars go one stage further with blindspot monitoring and rear cross traffic alert, along with a premium Krell audio system, sat-nav, an 8in touchscreen (enlarged to 10.3in from 2020 onwards), and front parking sensors.
Premium SE ups the ante with LED headlights, a head-up display, plus there are leather seats that are heated, cooled, and electrically adjustable in the front, and also warmed in the back.
Ride and handling: No Kona Electric feels particularly slow, but it's the 64kWh version that's a real tyre-shredder. No really, you do have to be quite careful with the accelerator because the performance on offer is available in an instant and can easily overwhelm the low rolling-resistance rubber, leading to some unruly tyre squeal unless you restrain yourself.
Body lean is kept in check better than an MG ZS EV, for example, but the Kona Electric doesn't drive as well as a Kia e-Niro because the steering isn't as accurate, nor does the Kona grip as well in the corners. The Hyundai will also jostle you over smaller bumps more, plus it suffers from greater levels of road and wind noise once up to speed.
Interior and practicality: Visually, the interior is appealing to look at and is well-screwed together, but there aren't the plush soft touch plastics you'll find in an e-Niro. The driving position is pretty good, mind, and the steering wheel has a full range of adjustments, unlike the Nissan Leaf. Rear seat accommodation is on the small side in the Kona, as is the boot, which also has a bit of a lip to lug items over.
The Kona EV was heavily facelifted in 2021. It features a mildly restyled front end, an updated interior and a host of new safety technology, with blind-spot and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance systems.
If you're interested in finding a used Kona Electric, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Ownership cost
What used Hyundai Kona Electric hatchback will I get for my budget?
Pricing for an early 39kWh example starts at around £13,000, and the 64kWh car isn't much more. The Kona is actually one of the least expensive ways to get an electric car with a genuine 250 or more mile range.
If you're after a 2020 or 2021 example, expect to spend around £15,000 to £18,000. Spend over £20,000 on a 2022 version and a little more than that for one of the last 2023 cars of this generation. .
Check the value of a used Hyundai Kona with What Car? Valuations
Find a used Hyundai Kona Electric for sale here
How much does it cost to run a Hyundai Kona Electric hatchback?
Range and charging times
The 64kWh Kona holds the record for being able to travel the farthest in our Real-Range test at 259 miles. The 39kWh pack car isn't bad either at 158 miles.
Both versions can accept a 50kW rapid charge, and Hyundai quotes that it'll take 57 minutes to charge from 0-80% in the 39kWh Kona, and 75mins to do the same with the 64kWh car.
A wallbox installed at home can fully replenish a 39kWh Kona in six hours and 10 minutes, while a 64kWh car takes nine hours and 35 minutes. Only go for the three-pin socket option if you have to because it takes over 31 hours to fill the bigger battery pack!
Road tax (VED)
Electric car owners enjoy not having to pay any annual car tax (VED), and also escape the surcharge for vehicles that cost over £40,000 when new. To find out more about the current road tax costs, click here.
Servicing
Your older Kona Electric can take advantage of fixed-price servicing. There are service plans available for you to be able to spread the cost, and EV servicing should be less expensive than that of regular petrol and diesel cars because there's no engine oil to change.
Reliability
The Hyundai Kona Electric is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of reliability. It scored well enough in our survey, and finished highly. However, owners have reported several electrical problems, notably with warning lights and battery issues, causing prolonged periods without their vehicles due to repair delays, often blamed on slow parts delivery.
Feedback on dealership service is varied: some commend their dealers for great support, while others express dissatisfaction due to poor communication and lack of promptness in addressing problems. This disparity in service quality has significantly influenced owner satisfaction.
Discover more about the used Hyundai Kona Electric's reliability from real-world owners by visiting our dedicated reliability page.
Our recommendations
Which used Hyundai Kona Electric hatchback should I buy?
Battery capacity
While there is a choice here, you're unlikely to find many Konas with the smaller 39kWh pack. Most will be of the larger capacity battery (64kWh), which is fine because that's always been our favourite.
Specification
Likewise with the battery pack, most examples seem to be of the high-spec Premium SE. Again, this is fine so long as you're not spending an awful lot more than you would for an equivalent mid-range Premium version because you still get an awful lot of safety assistance tech with that version.
Our favourite Hyundai Kona Electric 64kWh Premium or Premium SE
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Hyundai Kona Electric hatchback?
The most obvious alternative to the Kona Electric would be the closely related Kia e-Niro. Think of the e-Niro as its larger sibling and you won't be far off because it gets an equally impressive kit list, but it also has a more practical and spacious interior. It's also nicer to drive with a more settled ride.
If you need something with similar range and wanted to go a little upmarket, you'll need to blow the budget and spring for a Jaguar I-Pace. True, used versions start at £40,000, but then it is a far larger and faster vehicle, plus it drives quite nicely despite its huge weight.
If you're interested in finding a used Kona Electric, or any of the other cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
