Hyundai Kona Electric, 2019 Unlimited
I've had this car for almost a year. I wanted the cheapest model in Black, but before buying I set my sights on the mid-range version. The Unlimited which I bought has LED headlights, sun roof and leather seats. As an electric car, it is very quiet. The ride is smooth, and when you want to step on it, it really zips. Quick acceleration is your friend when you are trying to merge onto a busy freeway and the people already there don't want you in front of them.
It has regenerative braking at 3 levels, which I use at 2. Level 3 is sluggish, and level 1 is more like coasting, good for highway. Level 2 is great for driving around town, which is most of my driving. It also has 3 economy modes, Eco, Normal and Sport, which default the regeneration at different levels but will also change the energy used by climate control. I usually drive Eco, but my wife likes Sport when she is driving. You can tell the difference in driving range between Eco and Sport.
Charging is way easy. It supports AC 120 and 240, and DC Fast. It comes with a 120 charger which I use at home until I get a 240 charger. I use DC Fast when on long trips. I drove from Central California to Southern Washington state in one day, stopping for DC fast charging 3 times. When I charge away from home I usually go to a Chargepoint station and run errands nearby on foot.
Inside it is quite comfortable. Power windows, air conditioning, heated seats, sun roof. The leather seats are very comfortable. The driver side has power seats. The sound system is surprisingly good and even though the Ultimate model says it has a premium sound system, I don't see how i could be that much better. Definitely I would not buy the higher cost model based on the speakers alone.
Sometimes I drive my wife's car, which is gas powered. With the exception of interior cargo space, I prefer to drive my electric car. We went on a 250 mile road trip and I was wishing I was driving my Hyundai Kona Electric. I couldn't wait to get home just to take it out for a ride. Some people are afraid of an electric car having the battery run down. In the Kona Electric, this is not any kind of concern. I would not hesitate to take it to LA , but I would allow for 2 extra hours for charging. I am fine with going to a charging station for 45 minutes.
Overall, it didn't cost me more than a conventional automobile. I never need an oild change, Preventive Maintenance is basically rotating the tires. When it stops, it hardly ever uses the actual brakes. I never have to go to the gas station except to get coffee. Sometimes I park next to a gas pump because of shade, although not if it is crowded, so don't worry.
To summarize, I love my Hyundai Kona Electric. It is a pleasure to drive no matter where or when.
Recommended
Verified Owner
