The Hyundai Kona Electric facelift includes a complete exterior makeover as well as new interior features; mechanically, the vehicle remains unchanged.
The Hyundai Kona Electric car debuted in July 2019 which was India’s first mainstream electric vehicle. The Kona Electric received a mid-life refresh globally in November 2020, and it is expected to arrive on our shores in 2022. Here are five things you should know about the redesigned Hyundai Kona Electric.
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2022 Hyundai Kona Electric: Exterior styling changes
The exterior styling of the Kona Electric has received the most extensive updates since its facelift. The most noticeable change in the front is the complete removal of the grille, which gives it a much smoother appearance befitting of an EV. The headlamps have also been reprofiled to appear sharper and sleeker.
While the side profile and rear remain largely unchanged, the facelifted model wears significantly less body cladding than its predecessor. The wheel arches are finished in the same color as the body, and the bumpers have been subtly redesigned as well. It is also outfitted with new alloy wheels.
Hyundai Kona Electric 2022: interior and highlight
The interior has not received as many updates as the exterior. The refreshed Kona Electric, on the other hand, now includes a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster as standard equipment. The infotainment screen has also been upgraded from 8.0 to 10.25 inches. The overall dashboard design remains largely unchanged.
Hyundai has also updated its BlueLink connected car technology to include new features such as voice control, remote charging to take advantage of off-peak energy rates, and remote climate which controls the preheat of the car when it is plugged in. It also got a slew of new safety features, such as blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, safe exit warning, and eCall, which automatically alerts emergency services in the event of an accident.
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric: Engine and transmission options
Mechanically, the Hyundai Kona Electric is the same as it was before the facelift. 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. It remains to be seen whether Hyundai takes advantage of this opportunity to include a larger battery with the facelift in India.
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Hyundai Kona Electric will be available in India as a ready-to-drive vehicle (CKD) in 2022.
To keep costs down, the pre-facelift Kona Electric was imported into India as a CKD unit with minor localization. Similarly, the facelifted model will be built in the United States from imported parts.
2022 Hyundai Kona Electric’s competitors
When the Kona Electric was first introduced in India, it was the only EV of its kind, with no direct competitors. However, the market has matured since then, and Kona Electric now competes with the MG ZS EV, which is priced similarly.