2024 Hyundai Kona Electric | Talking Cars with Consumer Reports

Hyundai brings significant improvements to the Kona EV over the previous-generation model. We share our first impressions of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, the power plant, driving dynamics, controls, and what it has to offer for buyers looking to purchase a sensible electric vehicle. Also, we discuss why it is important for EV owners to pay close attention to the 12-volt battery in their electric cars. Our experts had fun making up their own frankencar, choosing the motor, transmission, chassis, interior, and body from any car they wished and making their own creation.
More info on the 2024 Hyundai Kona here: www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
Ratings and test results on every car CR purchases and tests: www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
SHOW NOTES
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00:00 - Introduction
00:16 - First Impressions: 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric
01:57 - Cabin and Controls
03:07 - Compared to Gas Powered Vehicle
04:00 - Driving and Power
04:55 - Some Compromises
05:38 - Powertrain
06:19 - Regenerative Braking
08:42 - Cabin Noise
10:26 - Charging Systems
14:18 - Question #1: Do EVs have 12-volt batteries like regular cars, and do they need to be serviced?
18:18 - Question #2: If you could design a car where you source the powertrain, infotainment, interior, chassis, etc from any automaker, what would you make?
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First Drive: Redesigned 2024 Hyundai Kona Has Grown Larger and Gained New Features
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
2024 Hyundai Kona Electric
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
Automakers Move to a Common Plug Standard to Allow Their EVs to Use Tesla Superchargers
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
How to Find All the Available Electric Car Incentives
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
Hybrids/EV Buying Guide
www.consumerreports.org/cars/...
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[@ragweedmakesmesneeze]

When I drove a friend's Hyundai plug-in hybrid with paddles to control the regen, I would turn to "full coast" while driving at speed, but then use the paddles to "downshift" and slow as i approached traffic lights and signs. It was fun and I got the best of both worlds.

[@representin614]

The 12 volts battery problem is a design problem. There's no reason for it to be inherent to EVs. The 12 volt battery in my Prius made it 11 years before I had to replace it. It never has a high load because it never has to crank over an engine. Its main purpose is to start the computer which switches on the main battery connector. It was also stored in the trunk so didn't experience the corrosion you see on a battery in an engine compartment.

[@davidm5707]

You'd think they'd come up with a converter that would take a fraction of the juice in the big battery, and use it to keep the 12V full.

[@EUC-lid]

Because it’s mounted inside the passenger compartment, the battery in your Prius is an AGM, which comes with some extra resistance to damage when discharged. A flooded lead acid battery is far more prone to damaging cells when deeply discharged. EVs are typically equipped with cellular telematic systems that are always on so they’re constantly draining. People think keeping their EVSE plugged in while they leave the car parked for a week or more is keeping the 12V battery charged, so they come back from vacation stunned that their battery is dead. Without the car being turned on (by closing the traction battery contactor) the DC-DC converter doesn’t start up, so the telematics just steadily drain the battery while you’re away. Having the contactor engage to maintain the 12V battery creates a shock safety problem for maintenance.

[@carljaekle]

@@davidm5707BEV’s already do this.

[@carljaekle]

BEV’s will always have 2 electrical systems. A high voltage system for drive motors, and heat pump motors, and a low voltage system for everything else. You don’t want 400 or 800 volts running through your window switches. Newer Teslas use a lithium ion low voltage battery, which tends to be trouble free and lasts the life of the car.

[@mikus4242]

When the car is off, the high voltage battery is disconnected for safety reasons. The 12 volt system, among other things, throws the relay to connect the main battery or the drive system.

[@craigo2142]

We need more station wagons. Was glad to see that came up as a design.

[@carljaekle]

CR often complains about their inability to drive an EV smoothly because of aggressive brake regen. I don’t find that experienced EV owners have this problem. I also believe that constantly changing regen will only serve to exacerbate that problem, because constant changing the level of regen, means you don’t develop proficiency in using it. I have owned an EV for 3 years, always use the one pedal setting, which also results in the highest efficiency.

[@unconventionalideas5683]

The point is that if you want to do that, you can.

[@osdahi]

i haven't bought a new car since 2017 and it boggles the mind how expensive cars have become...

[@Steve_in_NJ]

I will most likely lease my 3rd Kona this fall -- it may actually be cheaper to lease a Kona EV Limited trim over the ICE Limited after both my Federal and State tax credits off the MSRP. In addition, my local electric utility is offering rebates on the cost of buying Level 2 chargers and installing them in your home. With solar roof panels, my electric usage is 68% green energy, plus I would save money over an ICE version. I do love the new Kona top trim the best. Hyundai designed the Kona as an EV first, then put the engine under the hood so it was meant to be an EV crossover! I even get a Frunk and a Trunk. By the fall, I'm hoping that Kona EV charging is converted to NACS, as where I live in the Mid-Atlantic area, lots of Wawa gas stations with Tesla superchargers.

[@anonymousbrowsing6726]

Just because you mentioned "cabin noise".Can you recommend a car that is doing well in terms of cabin noise? Electric, hybrid or gas? Thanks

[@BTC909]

It's not just the adapter it's also the software in the vehicle. Is this OTA or a trip to the dealer. Wait for a NACS plug. The "adapter" could get left behind & affect resale value. After the free is gone the Ford NACS adapter is $230.

[@chitown111111]

Factoring in mfg incentives and the federal/state tax credits will likely drive some great lease deals for those looking for a good commuter car.

[@roguedogx]

13:25 and that bit has me really confused. You'd think that the company that makes it's living completely off charging would be good at keeping the stations running. Afterall every minute the machines are down is a financial hit for the company. So logically you'd think they would have figured out how to minimize downtimr by now. Seriously, who is managing these charges?

[@omelborpon3159]

For reference (1:30): batteries are rated in kilowatt-hours, and chargers are rated in kilowatts (says so right on the charging station).

[@billm47645]

Tesla charges the small ancillary 12 V or 15 V battery from the main large battery pack. So as long as you have enough state of charge in your large battery pack, your 12 V battery will never die. I’m not sure why Hyundai or other car manufacturers don’t employ the same strategy as Tesla.

[@timdsd]

The 2024 Kona EV is at the top of my new car shopping list. I like its sister, the Kia Niro EV, but the Kona has physical buttons and no shiny piano black. And I think the Kona might even have room for a space saver spare tire. I'm looking forward to test driving one.

[@COSolar6419]

I’ve never had an issue being able to see all of the information displayed on our Ioniq 5 instrument panel. Your problem is not universal among owners.

[@NiharM77]

Q2: Dodge Intrepid PHEV. C5 X Body with Charger headlights and taillights, interior from Peugeot 3008, Steering wheel upper section from 2024+ Peugeot 3008, lower section from Ram 1500. Hurricane i6 engine paired with Panasonic EV battery.

[@ed5421]

Jim Farley said that Ford's NACS adapter is free!

[@jslick7in]

You and everyone seems to talk a lot about regen breaking on EV vehicles...but no one seems to mention whats going on behind an EV when you let off the accelerator...do the break lights automatically light up when you get off the "gas", and at what point in setting the amount of regen breaking does it NOT light up the break lights? Just curious how a person driving behind you would know what you and your car are doing.

[@loriallen67]

Depending on how rapidly you are decelerating, the brake lights come on even if you aren’t using the brake pedal.

[@atlabama]

That crooked front license plate is breaking my brain.

[@sssssneaker]

The whole damn car is crooked

[@unconventionalideas5683]

There are a lot of newcomers onto the US charging scene using CCS. Only Tesla uses its standard. I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually disappears.

[@JP-sw5ho]

In the New York City area the Tesla supercharger is usually the cheapest DC fast charging option, often costing half of what EVgo would cost. And with how unreliable the CCS Chargers are I predict that the third-party networks will heavily transition to only offering an ACS as sort of a rebranding effort to blame all of the teething Problems on the CCS handle. There will definitely, a time when no additional new charger installations will include CCS

[@carlobasta3587]

The 12v battery on a Kona charges any time it's needed; even when the car is off. We have a Kona EV, so we know.

[@techpappee]

The mustang and camero both used to have *way less* than 200hp but now 201HP is just 'ok' in a sub-compact? Wt%? Then praises the price but complains about decision made to keep the price down...lol. I think they're getting numb reviewing too many vehicles. If they used premium materials throughout it wouldn't be 36k plus destination. It would be 40k plus.

[@johnverlautz6025]

Obviously the station wagon (Avant) is the best choice. Duh! Not sure about the 7 liter monstrosity though.

[@gregmccarter3243]

My BMW i3 has the best regen ever....

[@stevewausa]

J3400

[@lutomson3496]

is it easily theft like the older vehicles?

[@sssssneaker]

Nah they added some strong safety measures to this one - it looks like absolute dogshit

[@loriallen67]

Electric cars are much more difficult to steal.

[@wesfields9322]

Better go electric hyundai, when your combustion history is a nightmare

[@drlle_3349]

This Kona isn’t worth 38k let alone 30k. A 72 month loan at 3.9% is over 600. You won’t make it past the loan and it will be worth 5k

[@Steve_in_NJ]

Which is why almost EVERY EV my dealer sells is a lease. Only way to get federal (and our state) tax credits on a Chinese-made battery.

[@hereigoagain5050]

Some years ago a student who worked at Ford said they went with uncomfortable seats to help drivers stay awake.

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Wrong. It's to save $.

[@rp9674]

Only 1 chose EV, sad

[@suzannebenning2555]

I had a 2012 Hyundai. It was stolen last year. Never again.

[@treads2595]

If it had a key, it was vulnerable. Push button start cars are fine.

[@J.W.W.]

The 2023 Bolt EUV I owned during 2023 seems much more compelling than this car, and was many thousands less than this Kia

[@Steve_in_NJ]

Yes, but in 2024, GM discontinued the Bolt EUV and this isn't a Kia, it's a Hyundai!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@roguedogx]

That bolt is quite a good option. It would probably be my pick if I needed to get an EV

[@chili-rye123]

But then you’d have to buy a Chevrolet 😬

[@ed5421]

I bought a 2023 Chevy Bolt mid August 2023 (7 months ago) and have 14k miles (as of March 2024). With $7,500 tax credit, paid $20,000. Charge at home. Love the car. Whenever again, will I be able to buy a new car for $20k?

[@garbagevision9515]

​@Steve_in_NJ I'd be forgiving here, the hyundai kona ev is the same platform as the kia niro ev.

[@steve8626]

What is it with cr and the electric cars? It’s less than 10% of the sales and 95% of their talking cars content

[@ElGatoMarcus]

you sound like people grumbling about the internet in the 90s. 😂

[@bahrahme]

Unless there is a reasonable, set price for battery replacement cost, I can't see myself driving EVs. I do not want a situation where a ding in the battery compartment is going to cost me +$40,000~$60,000 to fix....

[@COSolar6419]

I am waiting for a gas powered car that gets 100 mpg and that I can refuel at home. Oh and a set price for replacing the engine and transmission ten years or more into the future would be nice.

[@roguedogx]

That is unlikely to happen for a variety of reasons. For starters Batteries on on BEVs are required to have an 8 year warranty, and are therefore designed to go past that. Second, unless you have a Tesla or something with a huge (non-servicable) battery pack. You won't pay that much for a new one. Costs for new batteries are continuously dropping and unlike an engine the cost of replacement is mostly in the parts. So a battery pack might total your car early if you get in an accident, but the odds of getting the kind of bill you are talking about for replacement is so low, I wouldn't factor it into a new car purchase. Also, just going to say, this might make a good viewer question.

[@EUC-lid]

@@roguedogx Yep. To add on, it’s 8yr/100,000mi minimum in the USA, and in ZEV states (look it up) they come with 10yr/150,000mi battery & powertrain warranties. If a battery test shows that range has degraded below 80% the manufacturer has to fix or replace the battery for that warranty. People hear absurd battery replacement costs for brand new vehicles and think that’s going to be an unexpected cost, but the reality is that after 8 years the cost of rebuilt warrantied batteries will be significantly cheaper. Just look at the options for older Leafs and Priuses. Folks had the same worries about those prices but they’re very affordable now.

[@loriallen67]

Your fears are completely unrealistic. Hyperbole.

[@grriceman782]

Pass on this toad … you’ll thank me in the future

[@tototronic2]

Can Hyundai cars still be easily stolen using the widely known "TikTok" method?

[@loriallen67]

Not electric ones. Duh.

[@ADadSupreme]

It's very ugly.

[@RobertLeBlancPhoto]

Hyundai/Kia is a horrific company. It's sad to see CR continue to suck their asses.

[@chrispnw2547]

I'm sorry but who would anyone buy this piece of foreign EV crap when you can purchase a substantially better vehicle in a 'Base' Tesla Model 3? This vehicle conversation is awash with excuses. What credentials must one have to talk about EVs on this channel? Not to mention Hyundai does not produce many for the N.A. market and the dealers demand a premium.