2024 Hyundai Kona Electric review – why this is our Car of the Year!

The new Hyundai Kona Electric is our reigning Auto Express Car of the Year 2023, Jordan Katsianis finds out exactly why it won the hearts and minds of our esteemed road test team!

Read our full preview of the Hyundai Kona Electric and more at Auto Express:

More Auto Express videos:

00:00 Intro
00:23 What is a Kona Electric?
01:01 Batteries and motors
01:32 Design
02:42 Interior
04:18 What's it like to drive
07:19 Rivals

[milescoleman]

Here I am in NYC working in a hotel. Immigrated in 1993. Obsessed with electric cars. Suddenly you post a video of my home.
I lived on the edge of the park until I was 19. Kinda brought a tear to my eye

[Titot]

I've just received my 64kWh Kona Ultimate. I have to say that I'm astounded by the refinement and build quality. Dynamically, I wasn't expecting much, but it's actually not a bad family car with acres of room inside.

The tech is amazing and once you've figured the shortcut key can be programmed to vehicle assists, you can turn the driver alert warnings and speed alarms within 2 seconds, as part of your pre-ride ritual. OTA update gave us wireless Android Auto and Car Play. Living in hilly rural area, it's great to get all that regen. Relegates my my X5 for local journeys when carrying our mountain bikes and kit and the wife's countryman for pottering around. We've only had it a day. but I'm growing to love the EV life. Don't worry, if I wanted ICE kicks, I can fire up my R1.

[anthonymilana]

I’m in the US and I just bought one. I friggin’ love it, I’m so happy. Excellent purchase. ❤

[BenDiscoe]

I LOVE our new Kona Electric SEL, bought it here in Kona (Hawaii, USA) list price us$40k, but was on sale for us$33k which is an excellent deal. I dont know why people are complaining about the DAW, my Kona doesn't beep at me if i exceed the speed limit, there is a small red notice on the display but nothing audible or distracting.

[Nikoo]

4:13 complaining that to go forward you have to activate the switch forward… labelling this as not being intuitive and wishing that it was the reverse? Are you mad?😅

[Topper_Harley]

Nice car. Only thing i don't like is that you have to disable the warning noises every time you get in the car. The speed warning start to beep when you drive 1 kmt over the speed limit witch is just silly, even the cruise control cant manage to be that precise 4-5 kmt over would be fine. When your speedometer shows 70 kmt you are more likely driving at 65 cause there is 4-5 kmt error added to the speedometer on all cars.

[jimstirling]

I have this Kona and overall very happy with it, the beeping does get a bit irksome 😀

[renbangbprd]

Is rear seat can contains 3 adults comfortably?

[michaelcosta-zxup]

What about the back interior and boot? You missed all that. Do the seats fold down flat if you wantnto go camping? how many people does it fit…not a thorough review in my mind

[ianameline]

The DAW (Driver Attention Warning) system is horrible, irritating and actively distracting (often when you can least afford to be distracted). And it cannot be turned off. (Yes, I have gone to the dealer and they confirmed that it cannot be turned off and that it is working as designed). On winding roads or in fog or a snow-storm, it will beep loudly at you every 4 minutes. Other than this anti-feature, it is a fantastic vehicle.

[nlonakutty]

Do we have manual battery preconditioning in Advance Comfort Trim?

[taylorthrall]

Hi!

Do you prefer the lighter interior colour or the black (leather) version?

Also, can I add shortcuts to the infotainment to turn off the driver safety systems faster?

[placepages]

Minus a million points for staying star "track"

[layzygaming]

Why are you dressed like you should be painting my lounge?

[insomnia]

I wish we could get those wheels in the US, I hate the only option we get here, I would have been happy paying a little extra. Otherwise it's been a fantastic "little" SUV for us.

[lewisjohnston]

Like your style, excellent presentation

[teresa]

Purchased 2024 Kona electric. At about 14 000 km, service manager indicated there was corrosion on brakes.

[patrickh]

Common sense has forwards for drive and backwards for reverse. I have ruled out the manufacturers that ludicrously have forwards for backwards and back is forwards 😮… crazy idea!

[michaelhill-fc]

Presenter needs to slow down, talking much too quickly to be able to take in what appears to be a good car!!

[peterming]

Headlamps placed at the extreme outer side of the front and back bumper looks very futuristic, that is until you bump those pesky concrete walls. 😢