Everything I LIKE and DISLIKE about the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric

In this video I discuss my likes and dislikes about the new 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric. With the all new generation, the Kona Electric grows in size, gains several features, and maintains a great value proposition. With the discontinuation of the Chevy Bolt in it's current form, this makes the Kona Electric one of the most affordable EV's with a range greater than 250 miles on a single charge. The Electric motor output is retuned for less overall torque for a more natural acceleration curve. Being that this generation was designed to be an EV first, it makes for a great driving experience. With a price point around $30k after all discounts, the SEL trim is a great value for those looking for a compact electric vehicle that has a very usage range. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!
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[@campyonlyguy]

My biggest dislike on our 2024 Kona EV is their decision to give the full across-the-hood lighted LED strip to the top level trim only. On our SEL, although the full strip is there, only the ends light up, which to me makes it look like the middle part is burned out/broken. For both aesthetics and visibility, Hyundai should activate the full LED strip on all trim levels. I don’t know whether this is a matter of including LEDs in the strip, or a wiring issue, or perhaps software, but it can’t be that hard to do. C’mon, Hyundai!

[@blurrylens]

I have the 2024 SEL electric and I think all your L's & D's are spot on. I would just add one more dislike: Hyundai treats V2L as a "luxury/lifestyle" feature reserved for the top trim Limited only. I think they should treat it as a safety/emergency feature available across all trim levels.

[@michaelgarvin8621]

A good and honest review!

[@GeorgeFoot]

Great rundown, it's good to hear your informed thoughts having driven it in practice. I do wonder whether there could be an aftermarket cover for the centre console replacing the tray and divider with something that covers the whole space up

[@CarsMadeSimple]

Thank you! We should know more about the 2025 changes here in the few months. I would guess the aftermarket could create something like that if demand is high enough.

[@Peter-st1lt]

Great review I'm waiting on my Kona Preferred in Canada. Just a small note of some importance, the charging port lid is now heated so no more fighting in winter time with ice formed around the lid and the locking pin for DCFC has been redesigned thankfully, which has been very troublesome. The first design was poor and let water into the mechanism which froze causing the actuator motor to fail. I'm waiting on my second replacement for my old Kona.

[@TassieEV]

I've got the top spec on order in Australia, currently on a ship soon to be at port well early May I've been told. Weird how your top DC charge rate seems to be less than the EU version which both Bjorn & Chris(Battery Life) tested and got 103kW peak. All the Kona EV's in Australia in all specs come with a space saver tire as well as most of our AC chargepoints are BYO type-2 cable the frunk is where I will be storing my type-2 cable as I'll use the granny charger in my garage(rental) on my dedicated 16A outlet. I believe as well that the AU & NZ versions have the 103kW peak DC rate as well but I will test that once I get the vehicle. Real world range as we're coming into winter in the southern hemisphere will have to wait until Dec/Jan when it's summer weather again.

[@stevevansak7324]

We literally just picked up (and road tripped) a 2024 Kona EV for my girlfriend yesterday. We also drove 400 miles to get it back home and despite the slower DC charge speeds, it actually went quickly. It was just a few minutes beyond what my IONIQ 5 does. All in all, it’s more of local commute car first and foremost which is why she got it. Granted, it’s only been one day, but she seems to like it quite a bit. She got a white, Limited trim.

[@irenecheca6575]

I like the open center console. I can put my purse in there. I agree w8th the keyfog

[@gao57009]

Does this Kona have the Highway Driver Assist 2 (HDA2)?

[@CarsMadeSimple]

It does not. The Kona only offers HDA 1 on the trims that come with built in Navigation. This would be SEL Convenience or higher in the gas models or any Kona Electric.

[@MorboDDestroyer]

Nice, helpful summary from someone who has spent some time with the car. Of your dislikes, the keyfob and the open center console concern me the most. The open center console is extremely stupid. I guess they don't have car break-ins in South Korea? At least with this issue, there's a chance some aftermarket accessory can be installed to fix it. But that huge, hideous keyfob which doesn't even store the emergency key is inexcusable on a $37k (USD) car. I could forgive it on, say, a $20k car, but not on a close to $40k car. If the 12V battery dies, is there really no other way to get into the car other than to use that key? Either make the keyfob small if it's not going to house the emergency key, or if it's going to be abnormally big, it should store the emergency key. One or the other. It should not be both gigantic and non-key storing. If I have to carry that ugly, humongous keyfob AND also that separate, long emergency key with me at all times... that would really, really annoy me. I'll have to try it out in person myself, but it may be so bad as to possibly even be a deal breaker? 2 other minor dislikes with the SEL trim: no pockets behind the front seats and some lights still using incandescent bulbs instead LEDs.

[@srikanthnarayanan]

Open center console storage makes a lot of sense for folks who will remove the internal dividers and use it to store a purse or carry bag. The back of bag will fit underneath the lid and be held tight, the front of bag sticks out. People could not do that with a closed center storage. Open vs closed makes no difference regarding break ins as folks take their bag with them when they leave the car. Also, once a thief breaks into a car, anything can be grabbed and a lid of a storage console won't stop them. Key FOB is not as well thought out as before.. too big and the metal key doesn't fit inside.

[@stevevansak7324]

Oh, forgot to mention that we completely agree about the key fob. Not sure what they were thinking on that change!

[@greenbeetless]

They have the 7500 manufacturers rebate right now.

[@WiljanWiljan]

One thing i do not understand. If you charge the battery from 10 to 80% as recommended, what is the actual range? Because 10 to 80 means i am not using 30% battery capacity....so 64kw becomes much less....Or what is my mistake?

[@CarsMadeSimple]

That's correct. I mentioned this in my road trip video about utilizing only 10-80% of the battery and what implications it may have in terms of range. Not using that amount of battery may mean your range is just over 200 miles instead of 260 miles at full capacity.

[@Digikidthevoiceofreason]

They made it UGLIER. Why would they do that??? 🤮

[@chawpino8320]

Looks so much worse after the restyle. Awkward, incoherent, all over the map. Wheels appear smaller. Interior is better. How can this be same the company that designed the clean, athletic looking Ioniq 5?