Proving to be one of Hyundai’s best-sold vehicles in Canada, the Korean brand has officially launched the second-generation Kona. For the sophomore effort, the all-new platform was developed as an EV first and internal combustion second, rather than vice versa, and the result is a much-improved zero-emissions product with few compromises. Journalists were invited on a first drive event of the former in Victoria B.C. to test out the vehicle firsthand.  

“[In terms of] the cargo area, we increased it by 33 per cent. That’s a huge number. Once you open the cargo hatch, you will immediately notice the increase in space. And also, one key point here for this EV model is the second row has a flat floor as opposed to having a little tunnel for the [transmission]. So that’s again one of the benefits of having this Kona as an EV-centric vehicle,” said Sean Jo, Hyundai Auto Canada senior product planner, during the press briefing.

Looking significantly different than the outgoing version, the crossover is bigger as well. Longer by 150 millimetres and both wider and taller by 25, Jo said the point was to modestly size up so as not to sacrifice its nimble and easy-to-park nature. Consumers should be pleased to learn covered frunk storage is now integrated under the hood.

The previous dual daytime running light units have morphed into an ultra-slim LED blade (Ultimate trim), with the headlamps and turn signals remaining further down the bumper. Rather than a traditional air intake, the bottom panel incorporates Parametric Pixel elements as seen on the Ioniq line. The charging port remains at the front, but adds a standard heating feature. At the rear, the layout is virtually mirrored via a full-length brake lamp bar running across the tailgate and auxiliary lighting below. The only wheels equipped are aerodynamic 17-inch alloys.

Fans of the aforementioned Ioniq cars will recognize the new dual 12.3-inch digital cluster and infotainment display panel and steering column-mounted gear selector. Relocating the shifter really opens up the cabin, and along with slimmer front seats there’s an overall roomier feel inside.

The Kona Electric still utilizes a 150-kilowatt electric motor mounted to the front axle producing 201 horsepower and 188 lb-ft of torque, though the 64.8 kilowatt-hour battery gets a slight bump in capacity to yield approximately 420 kilometres of range on a single charge. Onboard 400-volt infrastructure means high-output Level 3 charging is supported — getting from 10 to 80 per cent capacity takes 43 minutes if connected to a compatible station. Or on Level 2, 10 to 100 takes just over six hours, which is about three hours quicker than before at 11 kilowatts instead of 7.2.

Fairly quick and fun to drive, is small SUV is a great city commuter and weekend getaway warrior. The one-pedal driving mode, dubbed i-PEDAL, works excellently particularly in some stop-and-go traffic we experienced during rush hour on our prescribed driving route. Lifting off the accelerator causes regenerative braking to kick in slowing down the vehicle to a near stop. The system is improved and smart and using sensors and navigation data can actually adjust the level of regeneration according to real-time traffic conditions.

Debuting on the upper grade Kona is Digital Key 2, which uses near-field communication (NFC)-enabled phones and watches to lock, unlock and start the SUV rather than using a traditional key. Up to three devices are supported simultaneously and the owner can easily grant or deny permissions via the Bluelink app. The software also shows current travel range, energy levels and other relevant EV information.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric is sold two trims — Preferred ($46,399) and Ultimate ($51,199) — and is available now.