The Hyundai Kona Electric, which debuted in July 2019, was India’s first mainstream electric vehicle. The Kona Electric received a mid-life facelift in November 2020, and this model is expected to arrive in our homes in 2022. Here are five things you should know about the facelifted Hyundai Kona Electric.
Hyundai Kona Powertrain choices
The Hyundai Kona Electric is mechanically identical to the pre-facelift variant. The Kona Electric has a 304km range with a 39.2kWh battery and a 136hp motor, or a 483km range with a 64kWh battery and a 204hp motor.
The 39.2kWh battery and 136hp electric motor were standard on the pre-facelift model in India. It will be interesting to see if Hyundai takes advantage of this opportunity to bundle the larger battery with the facelift in India.
Hyundai Kona Exterior updates
The external appearance of the Kona Electric facelift has received the most extensive modifications. The most noticeable alteration upfront is the total elimination of the grille, giving it a much smoother, EV-like appearance. The headlamps have also been re-profiled to make them appear more crisp and sleek.
While the side appearance and rear-end are mostly identical, the facelifted model wears far less body covering than its predecessor. The wheel arches are painted in body colour, and the bumpers have been redone in a subtle way. It also comes with a new set of alloy wheels.
Interior updates
The interior has not received the same level of attention as the façade. The facelifted Kona Electric, on the other hand, now comes standard with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster. The infotainment screen has also been upgraded from 8.0 to 10.25 inches. The overall dashboard design has remained almost unchanged.
Hyundai has also updated its BlueLink connected car technology to include new features including voice control, remote charging to take advantage of cheaper energy prices, and remote climate control to prepare the car while it’s plugged in. Blindspot assistance, rear cross-traffic assistance, safe exit warning, and eCall, which instantly alerts emergency services in the event of an accident, are among the new safety features.
Rivals
When Kona Electric was first introduced in India, it was the only electric vehicle of its class, with no direct competitors. The market has subsequently grown and it now competes with the MG ZS EV, which is priced similarly.
The EV will also have competition from its brother, the Kia e-Niro, which is set to launch in India by 2023 and will be produced locally as well. As a result, the competition will be appropriately trimmed out for the facelifted model.
Hyundai Kona to be imported
To keep prices cheap, the pre-facelift Kona Electric was imported into India as a CKD unit with relatively limited localisation. Likewise, the facelifted model will be built in the United States from imported kits.
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