Since Tesla has added the Model 3 and the Model X to their electric car lineup, the company still not selling a compact crossover, which is one of the most trending segments in the car industry. Now, Hyundai makes an announcement about releasing an all-electric version of their Kona’s model. 2019 Hyundai Kona EV will become company’s first electric crossover vehicle.
While some carmakers announced selling electric vehicles somewhere between 2020 and 2025, Hyundai will start selling their Kona model this summer. While the sale is confirmed for Europe only, Kona will hit the U.S. markets very soon, probably in January 2019.
2019 Hyundai Kona EV will use the same platform as Kia Niro EV
Hyundai put a lot of work in styling and it obviously worked well. The shape is perhaps way too much mainstream, but the Korean manufacturer plans to spread that design to their whole lineup of crossovers. 2019 Hyundai Kona EV will feature a different front design, as the front grille is new, having in mind that there is no need for cooling the engine. The company’s “H” emblem is still placed on top of the grille, with some blue detailing is expected, so in that way, the Kona can be marked as an electric car. Also, new alloy wheels are available, and dual headlight design is new as well.
2019 Hyundai Kona EV Interior
The interior of the upcoming 2019 Hyundai Kona EV looks great, with an excellent combination of knobs and buttons. There is plenty of soft-touch materials and some great accents around the air vents. Also, the 7-inch screen is in the middle. Seats are very comfortable both front and rear. Speaking of technology features, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and the smartphone wireless charging are all included. Safety is great, with numerous options like blind spot collision warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and forward collision-avoidance assist.
2019 Hyundai Kona EV Engine Specs
Hyundai announced that their goal is to make an EV that will hit 290 miles per charge. To help with that, the manufacturer is using the Worldwide Harmonized Light-Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP). This testing matches the EPA range, and the WLTP standard is more generous than the new European Driving Cycle ratings.
All this means that the 2019 Hyundai Kona electric vehicle should offer a better range than the Chevrolet Bolt and even Tesla Model 3. Additionally, Hyundai also announced that there will be two powertrain options. While not much more information is available at the moment, according to some sources, Kona will use the same electric platform as Kia Niro EV. Kia’s electric vehicle is powered by a 64kWh lithium-polymer battery pack, paired with a 150kW electric motor. However, Kia Niro can hit 238 miles on a single charge.
2019 Hyundai Kona EV Price and Release Date
The expected price of the company’s first electric crossover vehicle, the 2019 Hyundai Kona EV is around $39,000. More details should be available after the February 27, when the Kona will be unveiled before it appears at the Geneva Motor Show. Like mentioned, Hyundai Kona will hit the markets this summer, but only in Europe. Kona will become available in January 2019 in the U.S.
