2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Performance

With only one drivetrain option and a curb weight difference of only 121 pounds between SE and Limited trims (about 3 percent), the Kona Electric range should offer similar performance across the board. The Hyundai Kona Electric gets from 0-60 mph in only 6.4 seconds, with its top speed electronically governed at 104 mph. According to Hyundai, the Kona Electric is not recommended as a tow vehicle, and because it has front-wheel drive, it should not be taken off-road, either.

Most EVs are quite quick, though, so the numbers that matter more, in this case, are the charging times and driving range. Charging times are class-competitive, with a 10-100% charge in about nine hours and 15 minutes on a Level II charger, 10-80% on a 50-kW Level III quick charger in about 64 minutes, and 10-80% on a 100-kW Level III quick charger in roughly 47 minutes. The Hyundai Kona Electric can officially cover 258 miles on a fully-charged battery pack, but cold conditions and frequent freeway trips may drop this closer to 160 miles in the real world.

The Hyundai Kona Electric is available with only one drivetrain. A 201-hp/291 lb-ft permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor drives the front wheels through a single-speed reduction gearbox, fed by a 64-kWh battery.

Three drive modes are available, namely Comfort, Eco, and Sport. Energy recovery through the regenerative braking system can be set to a choice of four levels of aggression with the steering-mounted paddles, with an additional electric brake function available by holding in the left paddle to decelerate to a stop.

The Kona Electric's EPA electricity consumption is rated at 134 MPGe (city), 106 MPGe (highway) and 120 MPGe (combined). This translates to 27 kWh/100 miles according to EPA standards, and should give a driving range of up to 258 miles on a fully charged battery. Real-world driving range has been reported to drop to around 160 miles in adverse conditions but can go as high as 315 miles in perfect driving conditions. This is comparable to the real-world range of its class competitors.