2021 Hyundai Kona EV (facelift) launched in the first global market

Germany, home to Hyundai’s European headquarters, has become the first market to receive the 2021 Hyundai Kona EV. Prices of the Kona EV facelift in Deutschland start at EUR 35,650 or INR 31.62 lakh. While it sounds expensive, a lot of high-end features are standard, and up to EUR 9,570 (INR 8.49 lakh) environmental bonus is available as an incentive for customers.

Features like a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, reverse camera, and Lane Following Assist (LFA) are included even in the most basic configuration. More/better features, many of which have been mentioned in the story further, can be had with a Select, Trend, or Prime package.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric was revealed in November with noticeable updates to the design, powertrain and in-cabin technologies. The Kona Electric facelift is expected in India as early as in the second half of this year and expect the new electric SUV to cost around INR 24 lakh (ex-showroom) onwards in our market.

Last month, first Live images of the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric hit the web following its online reveal. Thanks to soonjung8116’s Naver page, we have the first actual images of the 2021 Hyundai Kona from its road testing in South Korea without camouflage or covers. The well-known Korean blog that publishes a constant stream of spy photos of Korean car models under development, comments that the 2021 refresh makes the Kona look more like a “real” electric car. The car has cleaner appearance as the body armour has been deleted.

At the front, the body coloured panel with the positive charge ‘pattern’ is replaced with a smoothly cast one albeit with a protruding upper portion and a sharp cut that lend more aggression. The lights, both DRLs and headlamps, have also gone sharper. The headlamps stretch out incorporating a new three-element design, and feature multifaceted reflector (MFR) technology.

The vertical air inlets at the front are slimmer and taller. The functional air intake in the lower bumper is also new, featuring horizontal satin accent bars. On the sides, there are new alloy wheels which level up the SUV’s funkiness. Changes at the rear include tweaked tail lights, new, curvy housing for the reverse lights and turn indicators and a fresh bumper featuring matching horizontal satin accent bars. The reverse lights are three vertical strips designed to mimic the headlamp’s detailing.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric interior doesn’t look very different from the old car. The main change here is the new, 10.25-inch fully digital instrument cluster. Also new is wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, but strangely, it’s available in the existing lower-end 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system but not in the top-end 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Ambient light technology has made it to the Hyundai Kona Electric with the facelift.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric packs upgraded Bluelink. Remote Charging allows the customers to start and stop charging using their smartphone, and thus, pre-heating the cabin is possible (when connected to a charger). Last Mile Navigation allows them to continue the navigation even after exiting the vehicle via their smartphone, on foot. Then there’s also User Profile for increased personalisation and transferring information to other Bluelink supporting vehicle, as well as Connected Routing, Live Parking Information and Free Text Search.

The ICE Hyundai Kona had gained Hyundai Digital Key support with the facelift, and the same change should be on the Hyundai Kona Electric as well. However, there’s no mention of that in the press release.

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Specs

The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric carries over the motors and battery packs, and the travel ranges are the same. While the top speed is untouched, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time has increased, and thus, the new model is not as quick. Check out the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric specs in the table below.

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric charging times

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric – Image Gallery

Featured Image Source: soonjung8116’s Naver page