Hyundai Kona Electric

Name: 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric
Brand: Hyundai

CR HWY Range:

Road Test

Predicted Reliability Details

Predicted Owner Satisfaction Details

See All Ratings & Specs

Road Test

The Kona has been redesigned and reimagined as a slightly upscale subcompact SUV, offered with either gas-only or all-electric powertrains. While this road test review focuses on the Kona Electric, we’ve tested both versions and found several improvements over the previous model, which suffered from a stiff ride and a cramped cabin. The new Kona, which has grown larger with the redesign (and more expensive), sports a radically styled exterior and offers a roomier interior.

New Models Predicted Reliability

This Car

100

0 - 100

Hyundai Kona Elec...

Hyundai Kona Electric

vs. Similar Cars

Fiat 500e

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Kia Niro Electric

Tesla Model 3

See All Models Predicted Reliability

Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Owner Reports

Owner Satisfaction

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Driving Experience

Comfort

Value

View all Owner Satisfaction

Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Safety

CR Safety Verdict: Better

4 / 5

Meets Federal Safety Requirements.
Meets all CR Core Safety Requirements.
Doesn't meet all CR Advanced Safety Requirements.
Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Didn't earn Good or Acceptable rating, or untested, in IIHS moderate overlap front crash test

Didn't earn Good rating, or untested, in IIHS side crash test

Critical Active Safety Features

AEB-P

Standard

AEB-H

Standard

BSW

Standard

RCTW

Standard

Learn More in CR Safety Guide

Hyundai vs. Other New Car Brands

See How All Brands Stack up

Electric cars Ratings

2025 Hyundai Kona Electric

$32,975 - $41,150

CR HWY Range

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

CR's
Take

2027 Chevrolet Bolt

$27,600 - $31,600

EPA Range 255 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2025 Fiat 500e

$30,500

CR HWY Range

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Hyundai Ioniq 6

$37,850 - $54,600

CR HWY Range

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

CR's
Take

2025 Hyundai Nexo

$60,135 - $63,585

EPA Range 354 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

CR's
Take

2026 Kia EV3

$35,000 - $50,000

EPA Range 350 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

CR's
Take

2026 Kia EV4

$36,000 - $40,000

EPA Range 330 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Kia Niro Electric

$39,700 - $44,700

CR HWY Range

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

In Test

2026 Nissan Leaf

$29,990 - $38,990

EPA Range 288 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

2026 Tesla Model 3

$36,990 - $54,990

CR HWY Range

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

CR's
Take

2026 Toyota Mirai

$51,795

EPA Range 402 miles

Road test

Predicted Reliability

Predicted Owner Satisfaction

See All Electric cars Ratings

Features & Specs

wagon

2 front, 3 rear

Front

electric (133 hp)
electric (201 hp)

1-speed direct

Join Consumer Reports cu. ft.

Basic 5 years/60,000 miles
Drivetrain 10 years/100,000 miles
Corrosion 7 years/unlimited miles
Roadside Aid 5 years/unlimited miles
Maintenance 3 years/36,000 miles

See All Ratings & Specs

Model History

2024-Present

Current Generation

The redesigned Kona is again be offered with gasoline engines and electric powertrains. The EV is available with a short- and long-range battery with a driving range of up to 260 miles. The long range SEL that we tested had a decent 245 miles in our 70-mph highway-range test. In public DC-fast charging places it can go from 10 to 80 percent state of charge in just 43 minutes, says the automaker. The redesigned Kona is larger than before, gaining an inch in height and width, and growing 7.5 inches in length. That provides a bit more elbow room, as well as improves cargo space. The electric models have extra storage in the front trunk. The cabin features dual 12.3-inch screens serving as the instrument panel and infotainment displays. There is no 2026 Kona Electric. It will return after a short hiatus as a 2027 model.

2019-2023

2019 Redesign Year

The Kona electric is as good as the conventional version. Its 201-hp electric motor makes the car quick, with smooth and quiet acceleration. Its range is a robust 258 miles. It takes 9 hours to charge the 64-kilowatt-hour battery from empty on a 240-volt connector. Unlike the regular Kona, the electric version is front-wheel-drive only. It has nimble handling, which makes the Kona responsive when going through corners. The ride, however, is stiff. The controls are very straightforward, though the EV has an odd gear selector that is challenging to use at a glance. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic warning. The Kona Electric is available in limited states. For 2022 the exterior styling was updated and pedestrian detection was added to the standard FCW and AEB system.