2021 Hyundai Kona Electric on sale from £30,125

• Revised styling with five extra colours
• Improved infotainment and safety tech
• 39.2kWh and 64kWh battery options

The new Hyundai Kona Electric is now on sale. It’s been facelifted in line with the standard Hyundai Kona range, with updates inside and out and additional safety equipment fitted. After the plug-in car grant has been applied, the electric Kona starts at £30,125, a similar price to the Nissan Leaf, Kia e-Niro and Volkswagen ID.3.

Two different battery sizes and three trim levels are available. Mid-range Premium gets the choice of both 39kWh and 64kWh batteries, while the trim levels on either side are only available with one or the other.

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric UK prices and specs

15

The tweaked trim level range starts with SE Connect, which is £25 cheaper than before. It includes adaptive cruise control, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and start, a premium audio system, a digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch touchscreen with sat nav and smartphone mirroring.

Premium adds heated front seats, LED headlights, wireless phone charging and blind-spot warning, while top-spec Ultimate includes a head-up display, heated rear seats, ventilated and powered front seats, and a sunroof. Premium costs £31,475 with the smaller battery or £35,225 with the bigger battery. Ultimate starts at £37,375.

Design

Hyundai has concentrated on distancing the Kona Electric from the petrol and hybrid versions, so it now has a more distinct look. With no requirement for a large grille, it has a smooth nose, improving the aerodynamics for greater efficiency. 

15

There are new bumpers, LED headlights and daytime running lights to keep the car up-to-date, and a pair of vertical air intakes at either side of the front bumper have been designed to reduce turbulent air in the front wheel arches, further cutting drag. The black body cladding has been painted the same colour as the car's bodywork, and there's a new set of rear lights. Buyers will also have twice as many colours to choose from, with 10 now available in total.

Inside, the Kona Electric will catch up with other versions, getting the latest 10.25-inch infotainment display and digital instruments, with new software featuring crisp graphics, logical menus, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Hyundai has also fitted an ambient lighting system to lift the interior at night, while black or two-tone grey cloth or leather upholstery is available.

15

Safety

Safety kit has been bolstered for the facelifted Kona Electric too, with new features including blind-spot and rear cross-traffic avoidance systems. There's also a safe exit system designed to warn passengers if there's approaching traffic as they go to open a door and get out.

Electric powertrains

Just as before, the Kona Electric is offered with a choice of two different powertrains, designed to suit different budgets. The cheaper option is a 39.2kWh battery paired with a 134bhp electric motor, providing a top speed of 96mph and a range of up to 189 miles.

If you want to go further or faster, there's also a 64kWh version with a 201bhp electric motor, increasing the Kona Electric's range to 300 miles and its top speed to 104mph. Using a public 100kW fast-charger, the battery can be replenished to 80% in 47 minutes.

Read our in-depth review of the outgoing Hyundai Kona Electric, or check out its main rivals: the Kia e-Niro, Nissan Leaf and Volkswagen ID.3.