NEW Hyundai Kona Electric Review: An Affordable 400 Mile EV?! 4K

[@turbogeek.421]

Thumbs up just for the Hyundai pronunciation rant!

[@magnustan841]

Talk to a native South Korean, the definitive answer is yes, Hyundai is pronounced “Hiun-de”

[@_TrueDesire_]

@@parker3350 i mix english and german in my head when i hear it 😂 Hi und die (hello and die 💀 )

[@TD1237]

Lol to be fair though, it's "hiun-day" in South Korea (like "hun-day" but with a quick "i" before the "u")

[@Weird_Ice_Cream]

Us Americans say "Hi•yun•day"😄

[@JBrown-go8ru]

@@Weird_Ice_Cream Not all Americans. I do not not pronounce it that way. Nor do any of my friends, or family.

[@leonid4781]

That "Alright" at the end of the Hyundai rant was the most British thing I saw this week!

[@Tom-lf8hx]

Ahahaha he is the best 👌 Sorted.

[@marcdavidson3676]

LOL. And I was just about give my snarky American reply.

[@stevenbarrett7648]

Nope we usually are too polite to correct American pronunciation of English

[@computerbob06]

But then, today........ England lost at the cricket!

[@4rk]

A Korean company with a Korean name you can pronounce in Korean. As Korean is clear on how many syllables a word has, let's count them: 현대 Two. There's two. I'm not particular on how accented you want to go with the vowels or aspirating your H or not, but if you whole cloth insert more syllables than it has, it's a whole different word now.

[@SimonCollins81]

best car I've owned in a long time. Driven nearly 6,000 miles in it from brand new with no issues. so cheap to run, been on many long distance drives love it. perhaps has too much torque at times - have managed to wheelspin at 50 mph!

[@NadiMich]

Hi Simon, How many miles do you get on one charge? Are you in CA?

[@davynbeaudin325]

Best strategy before buying an EV is to try them all out. I had ordered the Hyundai kona and it took 6 months, then I decided to look at other EVs. Tried the Chevy bolt and Tesla model 3 and wow did the Tesla model 3 blow my mind. Cancelled the Hyundai kona and bought the Tesla. Almost 2 years now and it’s still awesome. I highly recommend u test driving all of them b4 u buy one.

[@NadiMich]

@@davynbeaudin325 Thank you for the info. I am reluctant about the Tesla's customer support. But I will give it a try.

[@Lewis_Standing]

@@NadiMich I get 300miles in summer in England. I imagine cold Canadian winters you're not getting that far at all, maybe 200. Unless CA means California and then you're golden

[@davynbeaudin325]

@@NadiMich Perfect keep me updated. I’ll be happy either way! Electric cars are the future!

[@randallscott-key802]

Eggcellent review! I've owned a Kona EV since March of 2019 and now have around 53,000 miles on it as a near daily driver. I commute around 80 miles a day round trip and have a Level 2 charger installed. Recently had my battery replaced under the recall which was done as a safety measure. My original battery showed no observable degradation over the first 50,000 miles and when I bought mine, the battery warranty was listed as "Lifetime" - naturally I save the original Window Sticker! Within a year, new Hyundai Kona electrics were limited to 10 years, 100,000 mile battery warranty. My car has been basically trouble-free. After I hit something on the freeway and damaged a tire, I replaced all four Nexxens with Kuhmo TA-31s because I'm basically value conscious and because we've had those same tires on other Hyundai vehicles with good service. Immediately the massive wheel slip of the OEM Nexxen tires was gone, along with the sensation the car might decide to slide sideways off the road! The TA-31's have more grip and while it's still possible to spin the front tires, it's also easier to regulate said spin by throttle control. I'm not sure where that sad acceleration number originated, but my car runs 0-60 in under 7 seconds, and no weird turning the wheels prior to "launch" is needed, though it is definitely a handful if accelerated hard coming out of a turn. If Hyundai or an aftermarket house were to develop some "old school" style traction bars to eliminate tail squat and force the front tires down, the car could easily drop to a solid 6 second performer. As it is, due to the instant on torque, and no gears to shift, in stoplight racing (California style driving) the Kona electric can easily rocket off the line and be 10 car lengths ahead before all the ICE vehicles realize they've been left standing. Even then it's impossible for anything NOT a high-horsepower performance car to catch the Kona between stoplights are even up to 80-90 mph! The sensation of electric motor acceleration must be experienced to be appreciated. After having adapted to the instant on, instant off power delivery of the Kona EV, driving an ICE car feels sluggish, and labor intensive. In heavy traffic I like to run with full regen because it allows instant 0.25 G deceleration with a full let-off which is much faster than any human can come off the go pedal and onto the brake. I've found I can get best mileage by accelerating to speed in traffic, then coasting, regen off as the Kona will coast a LONG way, and a light touch on the pedal adds a bit of speed when needed. I normally use regen for all slowing and stopping, so if I am coasting, as I approach the stop, regen is added in stages with a final, "full pull" to bring the car to a halt. When using the left paddle to stop, the car will remain motionless after release, allowing the foot to be poised over the go pedal for quickest response when the light changes. Stopping with the foot pedal, followed by release allows the car to roll forward in the same manner as ICE cars, and this comes in handy when creeping along in heavy traffic. When I first got my Kona electric I was able to coax it up to 6.5 and higher miles per KWh, but now I seem to struggle to get above 4 mi/KWh but this isn't the car's fault, it's the driver's fault for enjoying the car's acceleration a bit too much, and because I also used to baby it on the freeway going 55mph, and now I blast along at 70, 75, and 80mph, and where as I used to use heat sparingly on cold mornings, now I use it to achieve comfort. After charging the anticipated range displayed is based on prior usage, but by comparing range remaining to range driven the car is revealing a real-time expected range. There is no doubt the Kona EV can exceed 350 miles on a charge in city driving, possibly push 400! The REAL negative on EV adoption in the United States is the hap-hazard approach to locating charging stations. Rather than co-locate them with gas stations in their own, dedicated area, most end up somewhere off the freeway in a parking lot somewhere, with ICE cars deliberately parked in the way, and of course inadequate oversight of such behavior. Also the fear of arriving at a charger only to find it's out of service, with no where else to charge looms large. With ICE cars if you roll into gas station with out of order pumps - usually only one or two out of a dozen, you just choose another, or drive across the street to another station, or down the road 5 miles to another station, but with electric cars, the stations are still quite spread out, plus, as more EVs start using fast charging, 40 minute charge-ups have a significant impact on trip time. A month ago I needed to take a round trip of around 400 miles, which mandated a charging stop along the way. Certainly I located many potential charge stations located "near" the route of travel, but I was still leery of committing to a journey without the same level of "refueling certainty" I've known with ICE vehicles, plus, a trip already guaranteed to take 6 hours, would have had another 50 minutes added on to charge. I ended up taking my wife's Santa Fe Limited. I made a five minute fuel stop on the way home without any anxiety about charging or adding more time to the trip.

[@loro.h9612]

tltr

[@skjonas]

I don’t mind long comments when they are about someone’s personal experiences. Very helpful!

[@brianvoce7196]

Brilliant , a 971 word essay about real life usage, thank you for taking the time to share your experience, I’m researching electric and will keep your advice as a reference, I hope my gratitude will be some compensation for the effort.

[@andrewplayer800]

Wow,a brilliant real time review of your own experience, thank you. That mileage is a real winner for me or certainly my wife who only does short trips to town. Thank you. A

[@mb-3faze]

Thanks - much appreciated real-life review.

[@tj9382]

I like the fact that you talk about the range in harsher real world conditions, such as cold temperatures and driving normally with stuff turned on. That’s what the customer needs to know.

[@richardwaller7721]

Got mine in 2018 and have done just over 50,000 miles so far. Still love it and as you say it’s the combination of the battery size and the efficiency that means it’s still hard to beat, particularly at a time when many parts of the country are still served by 50kW rapids. Took mine to Shetland in September with two sea kayaks on the roof and it was a piece of cake!

[@chriscutmore492]

I have the Kona ultimate 2022 model and I have to say it’s fantastic! I went 277 miles. From Southend to Buckfastleigh without having to charge and still had 33 miles left!! Perfect car, drives itself!

[@steventonge8701]

How much are you paying to insure it Chris

[@chriscutmore492]

@@steventonge8701 £225

[@chriscutmore492]

@Wooly Chewbakker 300 mile range

[@chriscutmore492]

Highest I’ve had on a full 100% charge, is 321 miles. I have heard that in Australia hot weather the reviewer got over 400 miles? But you have to understand it was due to the very hot weather there?

[@djw34]

@Wooly Chewbakker as he says in the review, on the school run the figures he got equated to an overall 400(ish) miles, hence the headline with two question marks. Reality is around 300.

[@robert15john]

Great review. Mine is over 2 years old now. It’s had 2 regular services and nothing has ever gone wrong on it. It’s so cheap to run and great to drive. I still love it 😊

[@TheYourtubeyourtube]

L

[@outlawgibbon9171]

A 2019? What's the best home charger you found for it buying a 2019 with 6k miles for 28000

[@petercollins7848]

But taxes are coming down the road unfortunately. The government first get people hooked on electric cars then slowly start to slap the taxes on. Eventually we will be paying the same as before. The Treasury are losing billions and that cannot go on.

[@tek1645]

​@@petercollins7848 Luckily not everyone lives wherever you live not to mention, the state and city governments which have their own laws. This is an international site. For example, where I live, gas is super expensive yet we have dirt cheap electric energy as well as government rebates that allow us to get these EVs at a cheaper price.

[@peromalmstrom7668]

Thank you. For me, YOU have become the best online car review commentator, from a multitude on KZbin. Proud of you keeping our American friends in-lane with how we pronounce vehicle brands and names. Keep-up the great work.

[@MisterArse]

The worst is when they don't even use the y and pronounce it hunday, it sounds so stupid

[@khailils446]

@@MisterArse I say Hundai, that’s how I hear most people say it in California.(plus that’s how they pronounce it in their ads, so they don’t care)

[@christopping5876]

Totally agree!

[@christopping5876]

Totally agree!

[@errolmacdonald3256]

@@MisterArse Darling, there is only one y.

[@sherrjo]

One of the best electric car reviewers on KZbin. 👍👍 In Belgium the price difference is HUGE entry level petrol is 21.200€ entry level electric is 35 000€ a whopping €13 800 of a difference. The cheapest 64KW version is 42 500 more than 100% more expensive than the petrol version 🙄🙄 I haven't done the math but at todays electric prices I'd need to do several 100 000 KM per year to make up that difference in 10 years. Yes I would save something on maintenance and possibly around 1500€ in taxes over 10 years but paying double the price I doubt many will be taking Hyundai up on this.

[@randallscott-key802]

You ain't wrong - though the promoters of EVs will attempted to double-talk you into believing you are! i keep seeing statements about EV prices AFTER the government subsidized rebates which is disingenuous if not downright deceitful! Very few can afford to drop $40K cash on any car which means they take out a loan. That loan is created at the time of sale with set payments. In the U.S. the EV buyer can then claim a $7,500 tax credit on their taxes at the end of the year. A tax credit means their taxable income is reduced by the credit amount which does NOT equal $7,500 handed to them in the form of an "EV check" made payable to the lien holder of their car, and I highly doubt many rush to send a check to their lien holder for whatever refund is traceable to that "rebate." When I bought my Kona EV Limited in 2019 it was $42,000 plus taxes which kicked the loan amount up around $45,000! That's a LOT more than the $18-19,000 buy-in for a standard Kona! This applies to ALL EVs in the United States though virtually everyone loves to pop up numbers showing the witless consumer the price AFTER rebate - Tesla has this built-in to their web pricing structure. There can be no doubt the manufacturers are taking advantage of the rebate process to hold prices high and as usual, maximize profits, because after all, what corporation cares if the world might be saved by moving to less polluting cars unless they can PROFIT from it up and down the line! The reason Chevrolet just dropped prices on the Bolt from over $42K to just over $31K for 2022 is because the rebate scam for them, on that car is gone and they know they will have a hard time selling them without a scheme to befuddle the consumer. Also take note how LITTLE advertising you see on TV for the 2022 Bolt at it's new price...because why promote THAT when they are still selling gigantic pickup trucks for $45-$60K as fast as they can get them on the lot!

[@ThePlayerOfGames]

@@randallscott-key802 cute rant but as an electric vehicle owner and evangelist I need the general public to understand that a) BEV prices are around 4× the cost to market as opposed to fossils average 2× markup and b) electricity prices at the pump in the last 5 years have gone up from 2× the cost to deliver (energy + maintenance) to around 4×, 6× if you're paying Shell or BP for your electricity Sadly, because of taking too long to transition then there's no carbon overhead for everyone to have a car now. Unless we are happy to wipe out humanity, were going to have to reduce cars of all types on roads by 75% to reduce emissions

[@JP-nm4xu]

Top gears worse off without you, Rory 👌👌👌👌👌

[@markeldik7057]

Definitely, but he said he was quite happy here as he is very much allowed to do his own thing. Where at top gear it was like Rory you do this and he had to do it.

[@KeithMilner]

He gets to present a factual show, rather than an entertainment show which tends to make up it's own facts.

[@markeldik7057]

@mightywatcher next week there starts a new season and the matt Leblanc episodes and the paddy/Freddie seasons are actually pretty damn entertaining. I found them more fun than last 2 grand tour specials which felt so HEAVILY scripted that it wasn't even funny anymore.

[@TheNorville2]

Not watched Top Gear since Rory left, not really up to clowns messing around in cars...

[@stumps8672]

The “new” Top Gear has been awful since it started. Rory was far to smart to stick with that dying show.

[@strutstipher]

I've had the pre-facelift for two half years, I get around 230 miles, 64kw battery, each charge. It's a great little car, although the low roll resistance tyres are a little hairy in the wet, especially consider the extra weight and the AEB is too sensitive. The only issue I've had, is it wont down load the mobile phone directory. Hyundai did take the car away but gave me a replacement EV for about a month while they did, I don't know what to it, it seemed fine before and has been fine since. Everybody who've tried it, are impressed. It's been enjoyable first step in to the electric car adventure.

[@Perl88]

Some countries like the US don’t allow for certain lights such as indicators and brake lights to be on body parts that move so that’s most probably why the rear lights are split as it allows for a wider boot lid/tail gate.

[@artisupenieks]

the rear lights are already split by tailgate, so why the third split?

[@nass419]

Design.... D E S I N G

[@Perl88]

@Mario Kart I learned it on Doug’s channel too, it’s a quirk of American cars so to speak. 😉 If you look at an Audi Q7 (it may of been a Doug video) they have the lights on the tailgate but also a light strip on the bumper. The lights all operate from the tailgate when you are driving around normally but when you open the tailgate the lights then move to the rear bumper so they are still visible and that’s how they get round the regulations. Hyundai could have done similar but didn’t for some reason.

[@xchopp]

Yes -- but we also allow RED indicators here in the US: insanity! Is red plastic cheaper to make than orange? I mean, what the heck, guys? Orange indicators are instantly noticeable, while red indicators could just be a broken brake light and are not as noticeable. It is utterly, utterly mystifying how this got to be legal here in North America.

[@GarryMcGovern]

The fact that it has physical knobs for the common functions of ICE and AC, means I'd choose this over a VW without question any day.

[@johnbrickell6880]

8

[@salamanderpete]

And rear speakers, which elevates it over an ID.3 in my book

[@NoName-md5zb]

@@markplott4820 calm down, clown

[@joshuawalcott321]

@@markplott4820 that's what most ppl want a simple commuter car

[@NisseOhlsen]

oh, but you are always so dialed in, Garrar ?

[@78Outlaw]

We ran the first Ioniq electric for last 2 years and was planning the next EV for March. On a range to lease cost nothing could get close to the 64kwh. We put range and practicality ahead of everything else. Pure utility. 😊

[@05p03]

That rant was just epic 😂👌

[@stressed_daily]

Thank you Rory, and Hyundai it is. I was a bit confused at the beginning when you said 300 miles, but then when you explained how you came up with the figures it made more sense. I still have not made the switch to hybrid or full ev yet, but they are getting better and it is more difficult to ignore the benefits.

[@andrefortuin4554]

In South Africa 🇿🇦, we pronounce it differently from America and Europe or UK, it's Hyundai!!!!

[@ianmurray250]

As an owner, I think EVs have been the car industries best kept secret. Cheaper to fuel and run, low maintenance, & better at overtaking, with instant torque makes overtaking lorries or caravan far easier. If you can charge at home an EV & drive more than 8,000 miles a year, an EV is now a no-brainer.

[@ianmurray250]

@@markplott4820 At 5 miles per kWh of electricity, the Kona, Hyundai's 2nd generation of EV, is not in any way just designed for American compliance. Millions have been sold all over the rest of the World, it doesn't need America's ideas to sell because it's a great car.

[@ianmurray250]

@@markplott4820 Tesla is more than 10k more. Hyundai are a legacy motor company who, rightly chose not to go all in, just in case battery technology all went tits up, remember design to production takes 5 to 7 years. For what it is, it's a great small rapid car. If you want something to equal a Tesla have a look at Hyundai's 3rd generation EV, the Ioniq5.

[@ianmurray250]

PS. Front wheel drive cars are much safer than rear wheel drive in practice because in ice & snow, they drive in the direction of the steering wheel. I have frequently overtaken rear wheel drive cars as they have difficulty staying on the road. One a big Ford, whose driver, in a ditch, looked astonished as I accelerated past him and continued up the hill.

[@bencole4272]

The "7.9 seconds" to 60mph still makes me laugh....it's such fun. Fully charged it delivers more like 210bhp and with Michelins on will get under 7 seconds to 60. 60k miles in mine now and I still shake my head at how good it is.

[@alunjones2550]

I think having separate indicators is no bad thing. I find that with some cars with indicators integrated into the rear lights, you can hardly see the indicators at night when the rear lights are on.

[@davidy7004]

Very much this - when brake lights are on, it's not ideal if you can't see someone is also indicating (or has hazards on). Separate lights much easier to see and therefore safer.

[@fastfreddy19641]

Your right. My leaf has integrated lights and I think the indicators get a little lost. Better to have them separate.

[@frederf3227]

Polycarbonate light modules are expensive. Instead of one set front and rear it's double. In a small accident or just sun damage... ouch.

[@willswomble7274]

They are VERY low down. Are they legal or sensible?

[@fastfreddy19641]

@@willswomble7274 they are not that bad but I would prefer them to be separate.

[@Cjorss]

I have the 2020 model and love it. I won't be upgrading anytime soon but I do recommend it. That roughly 9-10 km per kWh is pretty typical at those speeds of 30-60 km/h but at 12c that's pretty nice. Similarly the 4-5 mark is typical at that 2c temperature. I'm usually driving 80-100 km/h going to work and average around 7 km/kWh. I'll get close to 8 driving mostly at 80 km/h and 6 at 100 km/h. It's important to remember that the faster you go, the worse the efficiency. Speeding is going to have a much more tangible effect on efficiency compared to a gas powered car. During my Canadian winters the efficiency still hovers around 4.5 km/kWh so still decent. I drove 1184km in August which cost $13.88 CDN in electricity. Gas is $1.44/L where I live right now while electricity is $0.082/kWh. Going to my first service, 1 year after buying the car soon. Definitely worth considering if you're looking at a new car.

[@scotthibbins5520]

Separate indicators ( both front and rear ) in the Australian sun are a good idea. If they are contained in the same light cluster they can be quite hard to see, especially in the summer. Glad you can pronounce Hyundai correctly 🇦🇺

[@vl3005]

He can't, but whatever...

[@hillvalley6716]

I don’t think it matters too much as more and more people are using their indicators less these days. Well, here in Tasmania 🇦🇺 anyway. It’s good to hear Hyundai pronounced correctly. Thanks Rory. 👍

[@WarrilowJ]

@@vl3005 he definitely can, it’s how it’s pronounced in the UK…

[@موسى_7]

@@WarrilowJ In Korea, it sounds like Monday: Honday, with the o like a u or a. Imagine if Monday was Myundai, and Tuesday was Tuesdai.

[@teatimetel174]

totally agree.i do love the day running lights with indicators

[@leedavies9303]

Thanks Rory another cracking review, accurate and informative, I like the fact that you are critical as well as offering praise keep up the good work

[@BitcoinKal]

You tell em Rory lad!! 🇬🇧 in the house. 📣

[@toobasaurus23]

Sorted! I'm an Aussie and I loved that!

[@AYouTubeCommenterWhoHasABrain]

Waah I don't like the Angry Rory so much!! :-O

[@frankcastle1578]

Pfft spanked that ass in the 1700s, will do it again 😂 🇺🇸

[@AYouTubeCommenterWhoHasABrain]

@@markplott4820 YOU are SO right - THAT is THE cleverest COMMENT ever !!!!!

[@Payteer]

@@AKZbinCommenterWhoHasABrain A "Rent Boy" has a different connotation in the UK. Rory, however, is more of a Wide Boy.

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

Thank god they kept the physical steering wheel and HVAC buttons. Its good they ditched the gloss black because now there will be no fingerprints to clean up. Nice review. Keep up the good work.

[@willswomble7274]

But the cheap looking 'silvery grey' plastic looks naff like a 70's getto blaster and will look grubby soon.

[@DonkeyRhubarb21]

I live in Korea. I speak Korean. In Korean, its 현대. In English, that's pronounced Hyon Dae, with a soft 'ae', more like 'eh'. In its native language, it's pronounced (not 100% exactly) Hyon-de, with a very soft 'E'. Anyway, I'm partial to pronouncing things as the country they were created them in intended, so that's my bit :)

[@KernelM]

Having picked up my Kona 2 months ago I can confirm its efficiency. In my average commute across town I'm getting around 5.5 to 5.8 miles per kW. Also something Rory didn't mention is the excellent adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist which when combined together on motorways is like a basic version Tesla's autopilot.

[@Beorn.]

I've noticed that tech such as adaptive cruise control or adaptive headlights ( which are very good) are never even mentioned let alone reviewed. Tech for me or lack thereof is a deal maker or breaker.

[@KernelM]

@@Beorn. Tech is something the Kona isn't short of. Despite going through the manual I still find new things I didn't know it could do or tech I didn't know it had.

[@Beorn.]

@@KernelM electric seats with memory? Adaptive headlights? Heads up display? Cross traffic alert? Electric tailgate? programmable fobs? My partner is quite "petite" I'm nearly 6' tall. When she's been using the car I can't even get behind the wheel, my fob sets the car up for me. Very useful once you have had it. I have to compare what I have now with any new car!

[@KernelM]

@@Beorn. I believe the top end Ultimate edition has electric seats, but I'm not sure about the memory function for different drivers. It's got auto headlights with auto high-beam although I've not tested that myself to see how good it is. It does have reversing cross traffic alert. That one took me by surprise when reversing out of my drive one day, when it slammed in the brakes because a cyclist, that was previously hidden from view, rode past. I think the Ultimate edition has an electric tailgate but I could be wrong on that one. The keyfob is just a standard keyless entry one with 4 buttons. Lock, Unlock, Tailgate and a mysterious 4th button that no-one seems to know what it does... even the dealers. There are various answers on different forums but no-one seems to have a definitive answer.

[@Beorn.]

@@KernelM Thanks, ok well my Mazda dealer is also a Hyundai dealership. I'll have a word as they are already familiar with my CX30 GT sport tech. I've been spoilt by this car.

[@mariowhyte2816]

That rant was everything!!!! Hahahaaaa great review as usual!!!

[@youme1414]

I got scared of that rant though! Maybe Americans should stop telling people how to pronounce words. Actually, Americans have the worst pronunciation of English words. They pronounce water as wall'rer. Imagine that!

[@info781]

I think it is funny British people have to defend their pronunciation.

[@djsiuk]

These electric car are improving all the time. The battery technology by Tesla is mind blowing. It’s a shame there will never be the funds or space to charge these cars for the masses. The charging issue should have been tackled 10 years ago. No cars are affordable now. On Friday we took my sons 70 polo GTi down to the VW dealer for a service and they had added £10k to price of secondhand 17 Golf R on the forecourt. One year ago you could have picked a 17 plate up for £17k and now in 2021 they are marked up to £27k.

[@michaeledwards8079]

what you need to do is a comparison test between the Kona, the Mg ZS and MG5, also peugeot 2008 and maybe some others under 30K

[@ryanwilkins3206]

The new mg zs ev is launching in UK in a couple weeks with 279 mile range for u der 35k

[@UnnDunn]

My next car will likely be a Hyundai (rhymes with “Sunday”) EV. They’re just doing all the right things in terms of EVs.

[@zaidhchoudhry512]

Had to drop a like for that rant 2:15 HAHAHAHAH too funny.

[@carlosjs08]

Best rant on pronunciation! Thank you for setting some of us 🇺🇸 straight on that.

[@ricco123tube]

Actually it does 0-60 in 6.8 seconds when measured with timing gear. I love the smart auto regeneration feature, uses radar etc to adjust recuperation. No review mentions this feature as it is hidden deep in the settings menu. Speed camera alerts using onboard camera and navigation is great, and the adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist, plus the self steering mode is fantastic. I could go on.....

[@coops1964]

@@markplott4820 meh

[@ricco123tube]

There is always one!

[@ricco123tube]

For £130,000 I'd want it to cook me breakfast too.

[@dehanbadenhorst1398]

@@ricco123tube then get a Rivian pickup lol

[@2.3_44XD--]

@@markplott4820 you drive simple Ford, no plaid

[@ellyagold9987]

I did a 900 mile round trip in a Kona EV and it was quicker than a fossil car because I refuelled while I had my break, not after my break. Awesome long range EV. Adaptive cruise control works well in stop start traffic too.

[@johnbuscher]

I mean, I have a feeling that refueling really wouldn’t have added that much time, given most gas pumps will fill you in just a few minutes or less. Still, it is convenient to charge when you stop for food somewhere, and maybe take a bathroom break.

[@leslieadams5507]

Only £450 a month or £5400 a year for a pcp is that what you call affordable nowadays. 🙁

[@Auraxium]

If I had that to spend a month I’d have a bigger house, not a dull car.

[@solefreak2]

@@Auraxium Good point that.

[@hikintrailsndrinkinales]

Rory I love your EV reviews! You really hit every corner of the car and don’t pull any punches on criticisms. Also I agree that you’re pronouncing “Hyundai” correctly. Don’t take any s**t from the fools in the comments.

[@simonlloyd100]

Excellent car...I had one for 3 years....biggest drawback compared to my id3 is interior space which is not as good and I prefer RWD but Kona is a solid very reliable car

[@jaapdejonge9717]

Done 10,000 in our first year. Simple. First service tomorrow. Only £150 or so. No road tax. Insurance about £250. Perhaps not cheap to buy, but very cheap to run. We have the top of the range one. Love the HUD. Apx 280 miles on a full battery. Can’t grumble.

[@adrianbyron-parker5797]

The lights are split so you can still see the hazards when the boot is open... its a regulation requirement

[@Nemoticon]

Then put the rest of the lights in with those that are visible when the boot is open... don't double them up!!! (Not ranting at you, it was a worthy comment, lol)

[@carloduroni5629]

There are hundred of cars with one-piece rear lights that can be seen with the boot open. No need to split them.

[@baldybreaker]

This guy is by far the best car reviewer. Well done mate!

[@chrisjackson9648]

I have the Kona electric, best car I've had by far. The thing that lets electric cars down is the lack of working chargers out in the wild. I found 6 of the 8 chargers not to be working on a recent road trip which was meant to take 6 hours including charging and rest breaks. Because of the broken chargers, it took 12.

[@Larry]

2:15 learning English from an American is like learning French from a Spaniard. :D

[@andyp.4205]

Great review. I'm 6' 0" and sat and drove the 2021 Kona EV Ultimate and felt cramped inside. The Kona EV needs AWD with the torque it produces. For the pricing in North America, the Ioniq 5 AWD over this any day of the week.

[@deanchur]

You felt cramped? That sucks; I'm 6'4", daily a Fiesta and 95% of the time I'm fine. Was looking at this as a potential replacement. Is the cramped feeling due to a higher floor?

[@coops1964]

But the price difference?

[@andyp.4205]

@@deanchur Yes, and the console the way it is designed. I'm guessing it will take getting use to over time. The range and EV efficiency is still spot on. If your in the market, check it out. I think Hyundai still has done a great job with it. I sat inside the 2021 Ioniq EV right after and although the range is less the room inside the car is far better.

[@andyp.4205]

​@@coops1964 Yes, that's a consideration. Given the choice, and driving both back to back. I feel for a lease and a non-Tesla EV, the Ioniq is fundamentally different in a lot of respects and worth the extra. It's not an ICE, EV conversion like the Kona. I'm sure it's around $44k for a AWD depending on the trim. This car I feel will be a hit and hard to come by.

[@deanchur]

@@andyp.4205 good point; my knees are well above the top of the centre console of the Fiesta so that's probably it feels roomier than it is.

[@donvetro4386]

I’m an American and was stationed in S.Korea. You are absolutely correct on the Hyundai pronunciation. You are awesome love your reviews. Love the UK as well.

[@ta.bespoke]

The silver in the steering wheel and center console looks and feels premium to me, atleast. Gloss piano Black would make it all black and it scratches up very easily and catches on to dust like anything.

[@Nemoticon]

Gloss black is over used these days and overrated.

[@juhapetteri]

For some reason I always thought this channel was German and never clicked on any od the videos. Today I accidentally opened one video and was happily surprised. Really like your style and now I have huge backlog to watch.

[@PJD_55]

Brilliant Rory! I loved your Hy-un-dai rant, had to laugh. Had to keep going back to re watch it. Alright.Sorted 😂 Keep up the great work.

[@angelacobbs3455]

I’m an American Army vet that did 3 tours in Korea. I pronounce it the same way you do sans British accent. I love your reviews. You have a new subscriber.

[@Michaellipmanactor]

And while we’re at it American friends, it’s JAG-U-AR not JAG-WAH!! I thank you.

[@nategraham4027]

Jag-wire

[@Turshin]

We say jaa-guar

[@marcdavidson3676]

Hands down the best car review presentation I have ever seen, and funny too.

[@EV6-Gear]

The Denzel Washington of car reviewers. Great review again. Shame your not still on Top Gear as you were the most enjoyable to listen to and watch. Any chance of reviewing a RWD KIA EV6.

[@FinleyFuns]

I just bought a 2022 model. It’s nuts! I live in a really cold climate and so far I’ve not had an issue with significant battery drain.

[@mjg440]

Great review. I live in Utah and there is very limited access to EVs outside of the Tesla and the Nissan Leaf. Test drove the Tesla and while a great ride, I felt like I was driving an IPad and did not like the Tesla design. I own a 2019 Santa Fe and appreciate the Hyundai warranty so wanted to stay in this eco system and purchased my Kona EV Limited 2022 in June in neighbor state Colorado. I appreciate the sporty look and the many interior features you described and it is zippy on the freeway and handles curves exceptionally well in our many canyon roads with great mileage. Thanks for guidance on the correct way to say Hyundai :-)

[@helleren1]

Stumbled on this...just drove my Kona from San Francisco to LA, 400 miles with 2 super charger stops. They just activated them on I-5, I drive back & forth quite a bit for family. I've had it for 2 years, use all the free chargers I can while I'm parking. It was true to the 400 miles and my stops were no longer than I normally stop for lunch and latte. $30 worth of super chargers (Normally $100 drive of fuel with gas prices so high now). I didn't use the A/C or heater, plus I put it in cruise at 70mph. There are 2 steep grades, one right when you enter LA at the Grapevine where I charged at the base just in case. Handled it well, then on the other side it regenerated to make it 70 miles instead of the 100 miles I had to go. On the flat part of that valley, it took 30 miles from me so it all evened out for the full trip. The maiden voyage to LA in it was a success!! I've been very happy with the car, was worried about plugging in one more thing and was attracted to the range. California is advocating for EV's more than the rest of the US and are just getting the stations up & running. I wouldn't have attempted this 6 mos ago. Oh! And the other thing is, not a lot of the EV's have this kind of range. I had no problem getting access to the chargers or waiting for one. Otherwise, I can get around the whole Bay Area without a problem!

[@DriveKItalia]

That number plate says ENZO! In Italy we'd like doing some jokes about that 😄

[@superleggenda]

No, it doesn’t. It says ENTO. EN20 would read Enzo.

[@PicmipPixel]

Well in Portugal Kona is a joke word by it self…

[@fanfare100]

@@PicmipPixel Same in Spain, in the Galicia region, where cona means the same as in Portugal. Because Galecian and Portuguese came from the same language in Lucitania. Let's just say, it's a very intimate car. lol

[@fanfare100]

Come Enzo Arbore e sua Orchesta? :D

[@PicmipPixel]

@@fanfare100 lol yes xD

[@schnapps77]

Just picked up our 22 kona EV!! We love it so far

[@therealcdnuser]

Love the rant! Being close to the US in Canada we are always being attacked with the butchered English. LoL

[@djtaylorutube]

Aside from WLTP or any other "combined cycle" type range test, there's a simple one that I would like to see which is "How far will it got at a constant 70mph?" because there's a big difference between doing the school run and city driving where the speeds are low and the recovery options are high. However flip that to a constant drain at high speed and that's when the range anxiety kicks in.

[@markpronger1009]

Yes Rory we in Aus pronounce it the same as the motherland! All advertising by Hyundai here pronounces it the same as you do in the UK! PS. Love your reviews.

[@stueg]

Brilliant Rory. Great video and really giggled with your Hyundai pronunciation. And the burn out like you were in car park in the 90s, brilliant.

[@NaaimSiddiqi]

lol love the Hyundai rant. I find myself in the US saying "Hy-un-dai" in my head and I work with a Hyundai dealership so I'm saying it pretty often. (For what it's worth, we don't pronounce the Y at all. We say it like "Sunday" but with an H at the beginning. Like Hunn-Day)

[@errolmacdonald3256]

Isn't that what Rory said you say?

[@NaaimSiddiqi]

@@errolmacdonald3256 no, he said "Hyun-day" with the y pronounced. Like "Hee-un-day" kinda.

[@LucifersTear]

@@NaaimSiddiqi Then it's even more wrong... And you work in a dealership!? The Koreans actually pronounce it more "Hai-oon-die" In British it usually comes out "Hi-un-die" "Hyun-die" or "Hunday" = 👎👎👎

[@NaaimSiddiqi]

@@LucifersTear watch an American Hyundai ad. That's the way they say it.

[@Neuralatrophy]

I just got one a few months back. Its pretty good, Mine is the base model though so I don't have the sunroof, Projection HUD, wireless charging mat, LED lights, maps etc. I would like to upgrade some of those things in the future if possible. Soon as they gimme the call on the battery recall I'm golden. Also, pulling burnouts with 1000lbs of extra traction weight, AKA the 64kwh battery, is gonna be a tall order for all but the most determined.

[@ztechrepairs]

I wish they would make the Tucson electric. Love that car!!!

[@BT-ot6gm]

The new facelift version is so good looking!

[@ztechrepairs]

@@BT-ot6gm I know right. I love all the angles and lines these days. Makes it look a bit more aggressive in my opinion. I have a 2018 and is good looking but I has to many wavy, curvy, smooth lines. I like the sharper angles and such in the newer body shape.

[@MEMOAN84]

The green light in the Hyundai logo is lit up when the 12 volt battery is charging. Nothing else.

[@RandomSubscriptions]

You tell em Rory 🤟🏾🤟🏾🤟🏾

[@nicholaswilson9724]

Glad you liked it, because we bought one yesterday and are picking it up Tuesday ;) We're trading in the 2020 Kona ICE which we loved.

[@TheTrueWelshIdiot]

How are you finding it after the first month of ownership?

[@nicholaswilson9724]

@@TheTrueWelshIdiot I need to check my YT notifications more... So far we love it! Still haven't done any long trips, but the we did one with a stay overnight in -30C weather that was about 200KM roundtrip, and it made it no problem without plugging in overnight, and started with no issues in the morning. We have our home charger installed, and that's nice because we plug in when we get home, and we're fully charged the next time we drive. I have family I'm planning to visit once their area's pandemic numbers go down a bit, which will be a real test since it will require longer distances than we've driven so far in hilly terrain, and the nearest fast charger to them is ~60 miles away, with no publically available off-hours level 2 charging available in the area. From what I've seen so far though we should be fine :)

[@TheTrueWelshIdiot]

@@nicholaswilson9724 I need to do the same. Really thrilled you love it. I have a friend who has one on order and is crazy excited for it to arrive! Long may your love affair continue!

[@nicholaswilson9724]

@@TheTrueWelshIdiot By coincidence, Google News popped up an old article for me this morning about 3 different drivers in 3 Konas last year who managed to get 1000+km on a single charge (closed course, low speed, etc etc), and when I told my wife she just looked at me and said "You're obsessed with the car." So yeah, still loving it 2 months in ;)

[@REV-EV]

I thought Americans call it a Hoondai, or Hundai.

[@pterafirma]

We do, because it's closer to how Koreans pronounce 현대. Brits like adding extra syllables for some reason.

[@colinduncan1530]

@@pterafirma And presumably the capital of France is Paree and not Paris then? In Oz and NZ Subaru is pronounced Sooobaaaaarooo (with the emphasis on the middle syllable) and nobody seems to get too upset about that. Rory is absolutely right!

[@Xenon0000000000001]

@@pterafirma By that logic, shouldn't Americans pronounce Jaguar the English way (Jag-U-R, not Jagwah) since they're from England?

[@pterafirma]

@@Xenon0000000000001 - Jaguars are animals native to the Americas, and you think we're gonna adopt the goofy British mispronunciation of the word when talking about their unreliable car? Yeah okay.

[@Xenon0000000000001]

@@pterafirma Doesn't matter. It's a British marque, so you have to pronounce it the British way, or you're being disrespectful to our heritage, according to your logic that is.

[@charliechance8589]

This is the 2nd video of yours I've watched. I'm an American and when I heard you pronounce Hyundai I hadn't heard it pronounced that way and when you added the rant I busted out laughing. That piece right there made this video for me, thanks.

[@BryanMartinhan]

Hyundai is a Korean brand - the Korean pronunciation is the correct way “Heeon-Dae” lol

[@donday6753]

The small trunk was enough for me not to be uninterested, but i kept it playing to support the channel, i appreciate the structure

[@brianmwaura472]

No nonsense lmao straight to the point.

[@aeson6294]

Drove one today for work. Was pleasantly surprised. Great little car.

[@magnustan841]

Not a fan of the front end look. That’s the thing with Hyundai now, they seem to be going slightly downhill in their styling. They’re inconsistent, on the one hand, you have stunning stuff like the Ioniq 5, then you have others like the Kona and the Nexo that either look dull or weird. Compared to just a comple of years ago where the i30 was one of the most stylish hatchbacks on the road. Can’t knock the interior too much though, simple, functional, the silver buttons are a nice touch. Plus, this is the car that put my country on electric wheels, before Tesla came along. Good car.

[@TD1237]

Their inconsistency is actually the very reason I love their designs. I kinda hate how Audi, for example, makes every car look almost the same with different lengths and minor tweaks... it's actually the reason why I like BMW's nowadays.

[@magnustan841]

@@TD1237 I meant to say, the same design department is producing as many misses as it does hits, like BMW. But I see where you’re coming from too.

[@faustinaadu2284]

Insane! 400 miles approx is insane! Not just for an electric car of this price but an electric car full stop! I want Rory Read to hyper mile this electric car! I found out for every pound for this car, you can go 1.4 miles! For a Tesla Model 3 Performance, for every pound, you can go 0.5 miles! Insane🔥

[@MartinParnham]

“£450 p/m. Now that sounds a lot…” That’s because it is.

[@PiOfficial]

Really isn’t.

[@CGCTV]

Not when you look at equivalent EV alternatives and the additional fuel saving youd make especially if you do a lot of miles

[@PiOfficial]

@@CGCTV true I spend 350 a month on fuel. With an ev that would drop to 80 on just electricity

[@CGCTV]

@@PiOfficial Exactly! people just look at the monthly and think "oh thats a rip off!!" but need to take into account the fuel savings. This is coming from someone who dailys a Porsche that gets 23mpg avg haha

[@ianmurray250]

@@PiOfficial If you have a driveway and can charge at home, you can get an EV tariff of 4.5p or 5p per kWh, and if you are driving 2,700 miles a month (my guess from your £350), then that would cost you ~£14 a month. If these are your correct figures, why are you not driving an EV already?

[@tiarethetycoon6446]

I was set to get the Kia EV and because of this video I’m now getting this car. Thanks!

[@Don_Puparo]

Why the 400 miles range in the title?

[@Don_Puparo]

@Gourab Das unsubscribed because of this.

[@JP-nm4xu]

Maybe watch the whole thing first..

[@ztechrepairs]

@Gourab Das IK right. He will be back when his hormones stop raging 🤣

[@turbogeek.421]

Typo?

[@laxlax9960]

It can do 600 miles driving 20mph without ac etc but some ppl did 370 hypermiling real world d

[@djy_writer]

Just bought a 2023 pre facelift version (same as the one you reviewed) and like you I am staggered by the efficiency. Coming back from the shops this morning (20 mph zone, outer London) I got 6.7 miles/kWh efficiency on Eco+ mode. Multiplied up that would be 428 miles of range! Really enjoyed the video and I see Hyundai have now made a virtue of the mispronunciations in their ads. It seems like Hyundai = Sunday is the way to go, sorry.

[@theta2170]

I would avoid Hyundai's legacy EVs from now on. Most of them suffer from the inverter whine/squeal issue that Hyundai refuses to acknowledge. As an owner, it's incredibly annoying and makes driving the car really irksome.

[@ej_bk2thebay612]

Great review. I remember when the Hyundai first came to the states. They put a full page advertisement instructing us to pronounce it like Sunday. At the auto show they pronounced it like you did. The correct way.

[@vincej151]

Hmm ... affordable? In Canada it costs 90% more than it's gasoline equivalent. I think I'll wait until it is maybe max 10% more.

[@ricco123tube]

It's equivalent in looks alone. Everything else is on a different level, faster, smoother, more tech etc. Granted 90% is a lot, but it's not apples to apples.

[@vincej151]

@@ricco123tube I disagree. They are both cars. They both offer personal transport. They both do the same thing. They just use a different engine.

[@alwoods1588]

I rarely comment but the Hyundai rant was hilarious! Pronunciations do not negate what is understood. If you're ever in Seattle, I'll get you a pint and we can celebrate differences & similarities!

[@joeb4294]

6 mi/kwh is amazing. I can get 5 mi/kwh in my 2017 i3 Rex and it has turned me into an efficiency snob. I'm keeping an eye on the Aptera which claims 10 mi/kwh, but if I had to replace the i3, the Kona would be on my list.

[@sukmangat]

Great delivery rory!! I love it when you beat the yanks up 😂😂

[@mikeheys9868]

The Americans can’t pronounce anything properly, how does Nissan become Neeesaaan?

[@ricardomarques18]

The shape of the front end looks like a beluga whale

[@ztechrepairs]

Thankyou for that mind image hahahaha

[@ricardomarques18]

@@ztechrepairs hahah

[@christinadereklawrence1442]

I love your rant about the pronunciation of Hyundai because I pronounce it the same way as you in Canada. My husband says I pronounce it wrong. Review is great! We want this car.

[@kaprunski]

Rory, you make me laugh "it's not going to melt your face off". Looks a good EV option.

[@Nigelrudyardmusic]

Alllwiight? We're agreed on our pronunciation now!! I like this car. So far I've resisted an EV because of a lack of range, but this is pretty good!

[@garethdesborough7960]

Yeah! Americans say Hun-Day. And get very emphatic in correcting anyone who doesn’t pronounce the name of this Korean company in the proper American way! Well we prefer to pronounce it the Korean way, if that’s ok with you. And we’ll refrain from Correcting you guys for every word of our beautiful language that you murder every day. Deal? 😉

[@seanjohn7738]

uh.. you couldn’t be more wrong. the americans are correct (well at least closer to korean pronounciation) in their pronounciation. it was in the 80’s when some tosser from ad agency decided that it would be easier for brits to say it as “high-oon-die”. that screw up somehow still stuck around some 35 years later.

[@garethdesborough7960]

@@seanjohn7738 let’s compromise and agree that you’re mostly wrong. Koreans say hee-un-day. So the British “hee-un-die” isn’t perfect but it’s close. The American “Hun-Day” avoids attempting to pronounce the first two syllables correctly because they seem too alien to their anglophone ears I suppose.

[@forresg500]

I have late 2022 kona ultimate auto 1.6 petrol hybrid Does between 56 to 62mpg on longer run and I would call it half way to an electric car. Very decent car I really like!!!! Had test drive of full electric kona which was also smart allround

[@fabriziodamilano3875]

not sure affordable is the right word

[@merouby]

Rory is THE MAN!

[@enriclimbaga1882]

lol. ha-yun-dai

[@sh969]

My 12 year old is tall. The lack of rear space is what is going to mark this off for me. Which sucks, because I like the color options and the looks

[@samteknic]

Looks so plasticky inside. I know the Ioniq 5 costs considerably more, but they look like two entirely different marques. The Enyaq isn’t much more, and looks infinitely more modern inside.

[@aye3678]

Hyundai would want you to go for their Genesis EV60 if a high quality EV is what you are looking for. Check out the interior of that car. It looks incredible.

[@alexandermills382]

Hyundai give you a 7 year warranty!

[@Alaorath]

Nice review Rory, thanks! Canadian here, my wife pronounces it the same as you, I've been correcting her to the "American" pronunciation... Sent her the video, so she could be right for once. Totally agree with you on the "physical knobs"... we've pre-ordered a Ioniq5, and they did the same thing... thumbs up!

[@salamanderpete]

Took delivery of mine yesterday - it's great!

[@adamturgoose4494]

I test drove the 39kw version, absolutely loved it! First driving an electric and was wicked! Was thinking 180m range is enough for what I do… do you think it’s worth getting the 300 range anyways?

[@merouby]

Always get 'double the range' you need (eg if your daily commute is 60 miles, get the one with 120 miles or higher) - the extra range you don't need acts as a buffer if you run an errand or if it's winter and you're running the heating (or if you're running a/c in the heat). If double the range is good for 180 mile version, then that'll be safe to get and because it's a smaller battery pack, it'll charge quicker to 100%

[@savedfaves]

I personally think the 64 kWh battery is the smallest battery I will ever get. Watch out for dealers trying to advertise kW motor power and confuse you with battery size, which is kWh. Sneaky feckers. Keep in mind freezing winter weather with the wind against will affect range to a great degree.

[@AdamsHealth]

Yep… agree these comments. We got the 39kw and I’m tempted to try sell it back or swap it for the higher range model. 180 is NEVER 180… try like 150/160.

[@afemzy]

This review and reviewer has character and personality, representing the UK proudly. You are a hot cake reviewer my man and doing a fab job.

[@TristenHernandez]

Tell ‘em Rory! I love that it’s definitely ‘sorted’!