Your brain made you buy a Kona, but did your heart want a Model 3?

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by robxb, Aug 26, 2019.

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  1. blakehaas

    blakehaas Member

    I wanted a kona over a model 3. Hatch, actual buttons and much easier to get parts / fix at a local dealer.
     
    robxb likes this.
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  3. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    If it was the same final price as the Kona, I would have probably gone with the Model 3 for the looks.. The exterior looks really sharp, especially in dark blue but I don't regret in any way going with the Kona. The Kona is perfect for my needs and can't beat the underrated range...
     
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  4. KonaTom

    KonaTom Well-Known Member

    Yes, Teslas look good, but I would not like the big screen with no buttons. I like buttons and knobs, and can use them taking my eyes of the road for only a millisecond. Looking at a screen and selecting functions etc., would be a hazard in IMO.
     
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  5. robxb

    robxb Active Member

    Is Hyundai actually doing this, or is it speculation? Can you please share the source?
     
  6. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    i don't mind the screen but I would still want buttons in case that the screen freezes. You can't even open the glove compartment without it..
     
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  8. ehatch

    ehatch Active Member

    You made me search for my entire post. Context, I was responding to Nigel.It is a hope for,not a certainty.
     
    robxb likes this.
  9. My question is does anybody really keep gloves in there?
     
  10. XtsKonaTrooper

    XtsKonaTrooper Well-Known Member

    Not since OJ was busted.
     
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  11. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    Good question. I remember when I was a kid, my dad used to wear drivers gloves on road trips.
    Haven't seen anybody use them for decades..
     
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  13. Brennan Raposo

    Brennan Raposo Well-Known Member

    Unlike the Kona! One of my biggest surprises has been the range. Advertised 415km at 100% SOC. I usually get 440km at 90% SOC and 490km at 100% SOC.
    When we had temps in excess of 32 degrees, I was getting 515 + km at 100% SOC. Good job Hyundai!
     
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  14. Brennan Raposo

    Brennan Raposo Well-Known Member

    Having had my Kona through the summer - I will say it's been an incredible camping/road trip car.
    There have been several situations where my car has been the "chosen one" in a group of EV's. Mainly based on the interior space with the seats down.
    I was going camping with a buddy who has a Model 3. We couldn't even fit the cooler in the back of his car - even with the sub-trunk lid removed. My car held enough gear for a 3 day camping trip with room to spare. In terms or range, we drove 3 hours up north and still had enough range to make it home. About 440 km total. Everyone, myself included, was surprised!
     
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  15. robxb

    robxb Active Member

    I think they likely put it lower because it sort of averages out over the seasons.. 300km in winter, 500km in summer = roughly 400km (415, I know) :)
     
  16. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    I'm not sure how this is determined for EV's.. I'm pretty sure that ICE cars EPA values are tested without the use of AC or Heat.
    For all the time I've owned ICE cars, it was extremely difficult to get the advertised mpg..
    However, on the Kona, I'm getting a much better mi/kwh and range than specified..
     
  17. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    Right now, the GoM is telling me 307 miles / 491 km range with 90% SoC

    Screenshot_20190830-115948_MyHyundai.jpg
     
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  18. Kai Richardson

    Kai Richardson New Member

    Kona EV Unlimited - Purchased May 2019.
    Frankly, I think the Kona looks better. It definitely has longer range than the M3, it's cheaper. It has more luxury features. It's got more room inside. Hyundai is far less likely than Tesla to go belly up. In the US it has an unlimited battery warranty, (yes, I know there is an argument about when warranty kicks in, but even if it is just for complete battery failure, it is still better.) Federal tax credit on Kona is $7500. For the M3 it is $1875. For me, it was a no brainer.

    The M3 is one second faster and has 140 top speed...great for those taking their EV to the track, but that extra performance adds no real value in every day driving. The Kona will snap your head back off the line just fine in Sport mode.

    The only upside to the M3 is access to the supercharging network. Here in MD near Washington D.C. I have yet to find a DC charger for my Kona that works or is accessible. But there are 240volt chargers literally everywhere, and most of them are free. Besides, DC charging is terrible for the life of the battery, so if you have an M3 and you are charging with DC all the time, you are killing your car.
     
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  19. SkookumPete

    SkookumPete Well-Known Member

    That's a subject for another thread, but you are overstating the case.
     
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  20. FloridaSun

    FloridaSun Well-Known Member

    Most M3 owners are charging at home most of the time just like other EV owners. However, those with free supercharging will likely be charging on Superchargers more frequently..
     
  21. The refined manufacturing processes that conventional car makers had as their one major advantage is quickly being lost as Tesla are improving their product quality rapidly. (Remember 1980s Hyundai?) The lower tax credit is simply proof that they have shipped a lot of cars, little else. Their investments in production capacity and R&D will allow them a continuing lead, nevermind the ability of their lean management and retail process to turn on a dime. The supercharger network gives their owners a significant advantage, whether free or not. It doesn't hurt that they have created great looking cars that have stunning performance and can sell and deliver you one at the click of a mouse button.
    It may not quite be a Kodak moment yet for the others but I doubt we would be seeing such a large number of recent and upcoming EV models without Tesla's amazing success.
    I have been skeptical until they started shipping large numbers of the long-promised Model 3 without any major reliability issues. Now that RHD threes are finally shipping down here to NZ, one of the furthest corners of the Earth, I'm convinced that they are well past the high risk point of continued success.
     
  22. Robbert

    Robbert Active Member

    As to the original question in the forum -- I've been wavering between the M3, Leaf+ and Kona as my next car for a couple of months now. I test drove a Leaf (they didn't have the +) yesterday, but wasn't in love with it. Today I'm test driving a Kona in a package that is awful close to my desired configuration (Ultimate, gray, black leather interior). This one has the light interior instead. So I'm hoping to have enough self control that if I like it, I won't drive away with it today. :)
    Currently driving an Avalon hybrid, which I love, but has 110k miles on it.
    Reading through all the threads on here the last couple of days has been super helpful in understanding the Kona better!
    As for the M3, I'm concerned about spare parts, higher cost (esp. w/o the tax incentive), long term company stability, etc, etc. And the lack of buttons to control things as simple as the glove box isn't great either. But darn, the self-driving capability is compelling....
     
    robxb likes this.
  23. I find the light interior brightens it up inside with the dark tint on the windows.
     

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