Hyundai is entering the electric vehicle market in a big way with the little Kona EV -- a compact crossover with 250 miles of electric range.
Unveiled Wednesday at the 2018 New York Auto Show, the 2019 Kona EV is based on the gas Kona that recently went on sale (and which we recently tested). The front-wheel-drive crossover will have 201 horsepower, DC fast-charging capability and a full suite of active safety tech.
The Kona EV’s projected 250 miles of range would put it ahead of the 238-mile range on Chevy’s Bolt. Tesla’s Model 3 comes standard with 220 miles of range; a high-priced variant stretches that to 310 miles.
The Kona’s lithium-ion batteries will charge from zero to 80 percent in less than an hour; a full charge on a 240v outlet (like the one your drier uses) will take a little under 10 hours, Hyundai said.
Hyundai didn’t announce pricing details for the Kona EV, but it’s expected to be priced competitively with the Chevy Bolt, which currently starts at $37,495 before any incentives.
The Kona will come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, pre-collision braking, lane-keep assist and blind spot monitoring.
The Kona EV is set to go on sale in California by the end of this year, and sales will then spread to the other states that follow California’s ZEV emissions program.