Hyundai has unveiled the zero-emissions version of the Kona, making it the first electric sub-compact SUV to be offered in Europe. The new Hyundai Kona Electric will be available with two different powertrain configurations: the basic model will be powered by a 135 PS electric motor that’s fed by a 39.2kWh battery pack, giving it an estimated driving range of up to 300 km on the latest WLTP cycle.


The long-range version ups the ante with a 204PS electric motor paired to a 64kWh battery pack. Hyundai expects the long-range Kona Electric to travel up to 470km between charges. Hyundai says that both versions of the new Kona Electric require around 54 minutes to charge their batteries to 80 percent using a 100kW DC fast charger. Short-range models are capable of a 0-100km/h) in 9.3 seconds while the more powerful long-range Kona EV drops that time down to 7.6 seconds. In both cases top speed is set at 167 km/h.

Hyundai has added an adjustable regenerative braking system in the Kona Electric, enabling the driver to adjust the intensity of the system via the paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel. The driver cluster is now all-digital, featuring a seven-inch high-resolution display while the infotainment system offers a wide range of connectivity features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new dedicated center console hosts all the buttons for the operation of the car along with the shift-by-wire gear control, creating at the same time an extra storage space underneath it.


The range of driver assistance systems is also very impressive and includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Blind-Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and more.


The new Hyundai Kona Electric will celebrate its public premiere at the Geneva Motor Show.