Home to Hyundai’s European headquarters, Germany became the first market earlier this year to receive the 2021 Hyundai Kona EV. Prices of the Kona EV facelift in Deutschland start at EUR 35,650. While it sounds expensive, many high-end features are standard, and up to EUR 9,570 environmental bonus is available as an incentive for customers.
Features like a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reverse camera, and Lane Following Assist (LFA) is included even in the most basic configuration. More/better features, many of which have been mentioned in the story further, can be had with a Select, Trend, or Prime package.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric was revealed in November with noticeable updates to the design, powertrain, and in-cabin technologies. As the car rolls out across the world in a phased manner, our story provides insight into how it is different from the outgoing model.
Exterior
Thanks to soonjung8116’s Naver page, we have the first actual images of the 2021 Hyundai Kona from its road testing in South Korea without camouflage or covers. The well-known Korean blog that publishes a constant stream of spy photos of Korean car models under development comments that the 2021 refresh makes the Kona look more like a “real” electric car. The car has a cleaner appearance as the body armor has been deleted.
At the front, the body-colored panel with the positive charge ‘pattern’ is replaced with a smoothly cast one, albeit with a protruding upper portion and a sharp cut that lend more aggression. The lights, both DRLs, and headlamps, have also gone sharper. The headlamps stretch out, incorporating a new three-element design and feature multifaceted reflector (MFR) technology.
The vertical air inlets at the front are slimmer and taller. The functional air intake in the lower bumper is also new, featuring horizontal satin accent bars. New alloy wheels level up the SUV’s funkiness on the sides. Changes at the rear include tweaked taillights, new, curvy housing for the reverse lights and turn indicators, and a fresh bumper featuring matching horizontal satin accent bars. The reverse lights are three vertical stripes designed to mimic the headlamp detailing.
Interior
The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric interior doesn’t look very different from the old car. The main change here is the new, 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster. Also new is wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Still, strangely, it’s available in the existing lower-end 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system but not in the top-end 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Ambient light technology has made it to the Hyundai Kona Electric with the facelift.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric packs upgraded Bluelink. Remote Charging allows the customers to start and stop charging using their smartphone, and thus, pre-heating the cabin is possible (when connected to a charger). Last Mile Navigation allows them to continue the navigation even after exiting the vehicle via their smartphone, on foot. Then there’s also User Profile for increased personalization and transferring information to other Bluelink supporting vehicles, as well as Connected Routing, Live Parking Information, and Free Text Search.
The ICE Hyundai Kona had gained Hyundai Digital Key support with the facelift, and the same change should be on the Hyundai Kona Electric as well. However, there’s no mention of that in the press release.
Specifications
The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric carries over the motors and battery packs, and the travel ranges are the same. While the top speed is untouched, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time has increased, and thus, the new model is not as quick. Check out the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric specs in the table below.
| Parameter or Specification | 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Standard-range | 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Long-range |
| Battery Pack Type | Lithium-ion Polymer | Lithium-ion Polymer |
| Battery Pack Capacity | 39.2 kWh | 64.0 kWh |
| Voltage | 327 V | 356 V |
| Motor Type | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) | Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) |
| Motor Power | 100 kW/136 PS | 150 kW/204 PS |
| Motor Torque | 395 Nm | 395 Nm |
| Acceleration (0-100 km/h) | 9.9 seconds (+0.2 seconds) | 7.9 seconds (0.3 seconds) |
| Top Speed | 155 km/h | 167 km/h |
| Range (WLTP) | 305 km | 484 km |
| Standard On-board Charger Capacity | 7.2 kW (single-phase) | 7.2 kW (single-phase) |
| Optional On-board Charger Capacity | 10.5 kW (three-phase) | 10.5 kW (three-phase) |
2021 Hyundai Kona Electric charging times
| Charger & SoC\Charging Time | 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Standard-range | 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Long-range |
| Domestic socket with an ICCB-cable (220V/12A), 10-100% SoC | 17 hours | 28 hours |
| 7.2 kW AC charger, 10-100% SoC | 6 hours | 9 hours 15 minutes |
| 10.5 kW AC charger, 10-100% SoC | 4 hours 20 minutes | 6 hours 50 minutes |
| 50 kW DC charger, 10-80% | 48 minutes | 64 minutes |
| 100 kW DC charger, 10-80% SoC | 47 minutes | 47 minutes |
2021 Hyundai Kona EV – Image Gallery
Featured Image Source: soonjung8116’s Naver page
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