5 REASONS WHY THIS IS THE BEST AFFORDABLE EV - MUCH BETTER THAN TESLA EVs

There aren't too many affordable EVs in the market yet - and what's worse - the cheaper EVs are not very good in terms of performance, features, and drivability. Enter the world of all-new 2024 Kona EV, which will completely change your mind about affordable electric cars. In fact, Automotive Engineer David Chao says that this is the best affordable EV in the market, thanks to its good quality, fun-to-drive factor, premium feel, and value-based pricing. David provides 5 reasons why he believes this is the best affordable EV right now - much better than the entry level Tesla's.
Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).
David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[@Steve_in_NJ]

During my 2022 Kona service visit (oil change, tire rotation), I sat inside a new Kona Limited (AWD). Even though it was a gas engine, the design is identical. Love the interior with all the buttons and quality look and feel. Ruled out a Subaru Crosstrek from my list, as their center console has NO buttons or switches; it's all touch screen controls, even for the A/C. Wish I could afford the EV version but maybe after my next lease is up in 2027. This is a great review as nobody else I've seen measures the sheet metal gaps, or measures the paint thickness. Thank you.

[@Steve_in_NJ]

UPDATE: 4/1/24 -- While researching vehicles, I discovered that the Kona EV Limited *may* actually be cheaper than the ICE version after my Federal Tax credits and NJ State tax credits. Plus, I get a rebate (up to $1200) from my Utility company for installing a Level 2 charger in my garage, which will juice up the EV using my solar panels! I'm also considering a KIA Niro PHEV, depending on how the test drive goes.

[@hawkinsdekoskie6396]

Thanks for the great review!

[@johngrano2965]

Great practical video!

[@Rafiq07]

Great review. I've also been impressed with the Kona 2024 EV. I wouldn't touch the previous model. This redesign is a massive win though. Great tech and great build quality for a better price than you'll find anywhere else. Ive also taken it for a trst drive on local roads and it handled great.

[@loriallen67]

Same. The upgrades made this a very compelling option.

[@loriallen67]

Great practical review. An engineer’s wife appreciates it. Seriously considering the Kona for our second EV and my daily driver. We have a 2021 Mach E.

[@garyclark6747]

Well require a little more time for a 4 or 5 hour road trip over it’s more expensive siblings, but it is certainly a compelling value if this is only a rare occasion for you. Great review David as usual.👍🏼💯

[@Hiker8886]

I don’t like the front location to charge the car. I know it is heated which is good in Canada but I think it would get damaged faster than a rear charge location. Car looks good. Not too keen on cars which have everything in their monitor.

[@MustafaDeniztr]

Great video David, thanks a lot. You are really helping for a lot of people who is searching to buy a new car. I would like to also hear from you about the sister brand Kia EV6 but not the GT trim. Light and Wind trims are affordable and perfect for day to day drive.

[@josephalba978]

David, it would be awesome if you could go to Korea to review some of the KDM products and visit their facilities. Thanks for bringing more content with Korean brands!

[@AutomotivePress]

Thank you - yes I'm hoping to visit the Hyundai facilities at some point in the future....

[@user-el8lb8rr1z]

Oh, I didn't know Kona. I will check that out. It could be a hidden gem for me. Thanks :)

[@Steve_in_NJ]

I am driving a 2022 Kona and love it! Drove a 2019 Kona before that. Never had any issues, other than a software glitch with their backup camera and that was fixed with their next navigation and infotainment software upgrades. At least for 2024, the updates will be over the air and I won't have to sit in a running Kona for 45 minutes installing updates from a flash drive!

[@niranjang7245]

One more factor is that the insurance goes up on these ev cars..when asked for a quote for an ev my insurance doubled ..reason they gave is evs are considered luxury cars..so the whole point is lost in terms of savings

[@TJDST4]

No, you didn't.

[@jimjones-pz1tt]

The reason is repair expense.

[@MylesV]

Wasn't the case for me with my 2019 Kona EV. Lots of EVs happen to be luxury cars, the Kona certainly is not.

[@Micksteroony]

@@jimjones-pz1tt Correct

[@oldebill1807]

I'd love to see a head-to-head comparison with a KIA Niro EV and a Chevy Bolt EUV (yes I know that production on this one has stopped)

[@markgilder9990]

In the UK, Hyundai offer a 12 year warranty on the paint work.

[@ianameline8111]

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.

[@Unwavering_Resolve]

Completely agree, thankfully you can set the star buttons to go to the driver safety settings so you can turn it off quickly.

[@jimjones-pz1tt]

You can buy a brand new Chevrolet Bolt for $28,000 and it is eligible for a federal $7,500 tax rebate. 249 mile range.

[@emilianocquijano]

How does it compare to the Volvo EX30?

[@markgilder9990]

EX30 is Made in China and only a 3 year warranty. Hyundai offer 5 year mechanical, 8 year on the battery and 12 year on the paint.

[@Richard-io9xe]

Volvo EX30 looks like it cheaped out massively on the interior. The centre storage area is made of grim looking rubber. I wouldn't give it a second glance.

[@kaycee557]

I test drove the top trims for Kona EV and Niro EV and I prefer the Niro.

[@taylorthrall7321]

Why

[@treborheminway3814]

if its still using lgchem nmc prismatic batteries, then hard pass. It looks nice though.

[@dtna]

I'm still not sold on EVs yet. The next car I get will definitely be a hybrid until battery technology improves. The demand for EVs at GM and Ford have dropped significantly. And TMC is very smart to take a conservative approach towards EVs.

[@TJDST4]

What? GM making bad business decisions with decent engineering? Say it ain't so! Nobody in the last 30 years would ever expect GM to make bad business decisions! [/sarcasm]

[@tshirtphilosophers]

Yes, demand for EVs at GM dropped significantly... after they discontinued the second most popular EV in the country. That would be the equivalent of Ford discontinuing the F150 and then commenting on how their demand for trucks has dropped. What an absurd thing to say

[@Reddylion]

❤👍

[@dlj1285]

I wish everyone would stop attaching the word affordable to anything EV. Affordable they are not.

[@younged510]

There was only one affordable EV. 2023 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV if you lived in California. In 2023 you get $5k-$7,500k federal and most everyone qualified for $7,500 ca clean air. That alone is a potential 15k. You pretty much paid half the car if you bought LT, in less then 2 years of ownership.

[@4Runner123]

There’s been a few news stories about Hyundai battery failure just after warranty was up. The replacement costs were more than a car was worth brand new. Just think about that….

[@TJDST4]

The transmission on my friend's Nissan SUV also died just after the warranty ended, and the cost to replace that was more than the rig was worth. So, what is your point?

[@4Runner123]

@@TJDST4 the point is that the battery pack replacement cost more than “brand new car”.

[@ALMX5DP]

@@4Runner123which Hyundai model? I thought battery warranty was 10 years which would pertain to 2013 or older models right? Edit - I just saw that there are still mileage limits. For some reason I thought that it was federally mandated to have a 10 year unlimited mileage warranty on battery components.

[@4Runner123]

@@ALMX5DP I just watched 2 different complaints and it was both mileage? Technology is not there for me to waste my money. If you drive lots around town trade off is good save lots on fuel costs than makes sense but if you don’t you’re paying lots of money down the road for battery replacement most circumstances.

[@jimpitt7112]

If the battery is damaged it's on the owner. Insurance will write off the vehicle because no one knows how to repair a damaged battery. Also, since it's damaged there is a fear of a fire. No one wants to touch it. Damage identification appears to be a subjective thing at this stage. If the battery just stops working properly, that's a warranty issue. You should be covered.

[@michaelclayton5435]

David, that Kona may be good as a EV, but EVs in general are bad investments. You said with a level three charger, I could get an 80% charge in about 43 minutes, but in a gas powered engine I can fill up in three minutes and be on the road. Nice video but I’m definitely sticking with gasoline powered cars.

[@ALMX5DP]

It's all about time displacement, and for sure EVs arent for everyone or every scenario yet. EVs can save time on a daily driver basis as ideally they just charge at home or work where you would be anyways.

[@Gerry090]

Only true if you don’t have a charger at home or at your workplace.

[@Gerry090]

Or for very long road trips, which most of us don’t do everyday.

[@tshirtphilosophers]

People who charge in their garage don't have to spend a single minute filling up. I'm sorry you have to spend so much time at gas stations

[@michaelclayton5435]

@@tshirtphilosophers What if you’re on the road? You’ll be at the charging station for at least an hour, that is if you can even find a charging station. You could charge at home, but only after installing a $2,500 home EV charger. Nice try dude, but EV a waste.

[@venenareligioest410]

IMO, the looks are spoilt by the big ugly charging hatch on the front 🥴

[@MonkeyPunchZPoker]

I dont have range anxiety with EVs, I have thermal runaway and totalled-by-fender-bender anxiety.

[@Mike_44]

Yeah.. good luck having to pay close to $30K for a battery change later on.. No thanks.

[@4Runner123]

On the news reliable network the dealership wanted $60k

[@Mike_44]

@@4Runner123 I saw that one.. I was going by the Tesla one, but yeah the Hyundai one was quoted close to $60K

[@irenecheca6575]

The battery replacement cost for the Leaf was 6000, and for the Tesla 12000, those are the numbers for those cars. The two Canada cases for the Ioniq 5 are worrysome, but I am not sure can be extrapolated to the rest of the cars. The number of EVs that have needed are replacement for the battery is smaller than the ICE needing an engine replacement, but the cost will depend on the battery and, sadly, the dealer. Things will get better when we have EV mechanics that are not dealerships

[@Mike_44]

@@irenecheca6575 Even if it’s only $5-$6k, who wants to pay that after? Cause I don’t..

[@padfoo]

True, but car engines are replaced at 10x the rate

[@glennelliott708]

Affordable EV. Oxymoron

[@markgilder9990]

In the UK, Hyundai offer a 12 year warranty on the paint work.