Excellent Value with Daring Design
The 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric has a lot to love with only a few things holding it back from greatness. Chiefly among them is the price. It's one of the lowest priced new electric vehicles in the US, but it doesn't look or feel that way. The exterior design is daring with the futuristic light bar that wraps around the front and the side panels have an aggressive z-fold that provides both structural rigidity and style. The interior is comfortable and sleek without feeling minimalist like other electric cars. A full array of climate control buttons makes it easy to stay comfortable. The dash is digital and flows over to the infotainment which thoughtfully skews toward the driver for ease of access. There's a lot of smooth plastic on the interior, which can feel cheap when you critically examine it, but during your normally commute or on road trips, you won't even notice.
With the 64.8 kWh battery, you're estimated to get 260 miles of range, it's more than enough for daily trips and weekend getaways. The main detractor from the Kona electric is its charging speed. 20%-80% in 43 minutes feels fine occasionally, but for road trips you'll find yourself looking longingly at faster charging vehicles as they arrive after you and leave before you. If you have a single charging stop, you'll hardly think about it. On longer trips, where multiple charging stops are required, you'll be weighing your decision to save money on the Kona versus its faster charging rivals.