Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range

Overview

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Standard Range was a cracking little electric SUV, perfect for zipping around town or as a first step into the EV world. Discontinued now, but a popular choice on the used market, you can snag one for around €16,990 in Europe. It packed a decent punch for its size and offered a practical, albeit compact, package. While the Long Range sibling went further, this Standard Range model delivered an accessible and fun electric driving experience without breaking the bank, making it a smart buy for many.

What's New for 2021?

For 2021, the Kona Electric got a rather fetching facelift! The Standard Range benefited from a sleeker, grille-less front end, new sharp LED daytime running lights, and updated tail lamps, giving it a more modern and distinctly EV look. Inside, the cabin received tech upgrades including an available larger 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch central touchscreen option. Enhanced BlueLink connected car services and tweaked SmartSense safety features also joined the party, keeping this compact EV competitive and fresh.

Design & Exterior

The 2021 Kona Electric Standard Range really sharpened up its act with a fresh face! Gone was the old grille, replaced by a smooth, aerodynamic front, flanked by slim LED daytime running lights and distinctive split headlights. It’s a quirky but cool look. Measuring 4180 mm in length, 1800 mm in width (excluding mirrors), and 1570 mm in height, it’s perfectly sized for city life. While sharing the updated family look, the Standard Range kept things neat and tidy, often rolling on efficient alloy wheel designs specific to the eco-focused trims.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Step inside the 2021 Kona Electric Standard Range, and you’d find a functional and increasingly techy cabin. For this model year, updates brought an available 10.25-inch digital driver’s display and a similarly sized central touchscreen, really modernising the dash. Material quality is solid for the class. It seats five, though rear space is best for shorter trips. Boot space is a practical 332 litres, expanding to a useful 1114 litres with the rear seats flopped down. Sadly, no frunk to stash your charging cables here. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard.

Performance & Driving Experience

Don't let "Standard Range" fool you; this Kona is still a hoot to drive! With its 100 kW Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) delivering a punchy 395 Nm of torque instantly to the front wheels, it scoots from 0-100 km/h in a respectable 9.9 seconds. It’s particularly nippy in city traffic. The ride is generally comfortable, soaking up bumps well for a compact SUV. You get adjustable regenerative braking, letting you fine-tune the one-pedal driving feel and recoup some energy. It’s an easy and engaging EV to pilot daily.

Range, Battery & Charging

The 2021 Kona Standard Range packs a 39.2 kWh usable battery, delivering a Green Cars Compare estimated real-world range of 259 km – pretty decent for darting about. Its efficiency is rated at a nifty 6.61 km/kWh. For charging, it sports a CCS Type 2 port. Hook it up to its standard 7.2 kW AC on-board charger, and you'll be full in around 6 hours. On the go, it can slurp up DC juice at a maximum of 44 kW, meaning a typical 10-80% top-up can be done in under an hour.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

Hyundai didn't skimp on safety with the Kona Electric, which proudly wears a 5-star Euro NCAP rating. The 2021 Standard Range came equipped with Hyundai's SmartSense suite. Standard goodies typically included Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) with pedestrian detection, Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), and Driver Attention Warning (DAW). More advanced features like Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA) and Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go were often available, sometimes as part of optional packs, beefing up its protective credentials.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Hyundai typically offers a solid warranty package in Europe for peace of mind. For the 2021 Kona Electric, this usually meant a 5-year/unlimited mileage basic vehicle warranty. Crucially, the high-voltage battery was covered by an 8-year/160,000 km warranty, often with a guarantee against excessive degradation (e.g., to 70% capacity). Maintenance on EVs like the Kona is generally lower than petrol cars, with fewer moving parts. Some markets might have included initial complimentary servicing, sweetening the deal. Reliability is generally a strong point for Hyundai EVs.