Hyundai Kona Electric 2021: 305km ‘Standard Range’, lowers entry price to $54,500

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Hyundai has announced price cuts for the existing 2021 Kona Electric lineup while bolstering the range with the more affordable Standard Range variant which now starts from $54,500 (before on-road costs).

The current Kona Electric models equipped with a 64kWh battery have been renamed the Extended Range variants which offer a competitive range figure of 484km on a single charge, according to WLTP testing.

While previously only sold overseas, the Kona Electric Standard Range has now joined our local lineup with a 39.2kWh battery providing a range of 305km (WLTP) that outperforms rivals such as the Mazda MX-30 Electric.

While Chasing Cars has yet to independently verify the range figure of the Standard Range variant, previous testing of the Kona Electric has seen the small SUV exceed its claimed range.

Hyundai will sell both the Standard and Extended Range models in either the Elite or top-spec Highlander guise, allowing more choice for the consumer.

The Kona Electric was once one of few EVs on sale in Australia but that has since changed with the arrival of competition such as the MG ZS EV small SUV and the Tesla Model 3 sedan. 

Prices of the existing Kona Electric Extended Range have dropped to $60,500 for the Elite and $64,000 for the Highlander grade, with no changes to the level of equipment on offer.

The new Standard Range models are priced at $54,500 for the Elite and $58,000 for the Highlander, offering the same level of equipment for a lower price of entry.

Hyundai’s recent changes mean the Kona Electric has a $7,500 cheaper starting price and the introduction of EV incentives in most Australian states could see this upfront cost drop even further.

Along with a smaller battery, the Kona Electric Standard Range has a less powerful 100kW motor, 50kW down on the Extended Range model, but offers the same 395Nm of torque.

The Kona Electric has a maximum charging speed of 100kW which can top up the battery from 10-80 per cent in around 47 minutes, though charging speeds can vary depending on factors such as ambient temperature. 

Those who want to charge their SUV at home can expect AC charging speeds of up to 10.5kW, enough to top up the Kona Electric Standard Range from 10-100 per cent in 4 hours and 20 minutes while the Extended Range takes a bit longer at 6 hours and 50 minutes.

What does the Kona Electric include in each grade?

After recently undergoing a notable facelift, the Kona Electric features a range of technology and safety features not fitted previously.

As standard, the Kona Electric Elite is fitted with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch centre touchscreen compatible with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

This works in conjunction with an eight-speaker Harman Kardon speaker system, a wireless charging pad and DAB digital radio for entertainment needs.

Hyundai has trimmed the cabin with a mixture of leather materials on the seats and other surfaces and added other niceties such as rear privacy glass and heated exterior mirrors.

The safety suite includes blind-spot monitoring, driver attention warning, lane keep assist, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, safe exist warning and front AEB.

Stepping up to the Kona Electric Highlander adds luxuries such as LED headlights and taillights, a heads up display, heated steering wheel and ambient lighting in the cabin.

A heated function is added to the front and rear outboard seats while only the driver and front passenger get ventilation for those hot summer days. 

Hyundai throws in a glass sunroof as well, but buyers will have to forgo this feature if they want to select the no-cost two-tone roof option that coats the top half in Phantom Black.

Hyundai Kona Electric 2021: prices in Australia

All prices listed are before on-road costs.

• Standard Range Elite: $54,500
• Standard Range Highlander: $58,000
• Extended Range Elite: $60,500 (down $1,500)
• Extended Range Highlander: $64,000 (down $2,000)