Is the Kona EV dead in Canada?

That "just very ordinary" is a very subjective statement, and many, and probably most would disagree with that. When I bought my Kona, didn't look very ordinary at all, with it's funky pug nose. And even today, still get occasional questions and positive comments on the looks in shopping parking lots.

I would argue that Tesla would better fit the "ordinary" description, and their style has not changed since the first S model, 8 or 10 years ago. And the interior is worse than ordinary. A low trim Corolla has a better looking interior than the M3.

 

Just got home from work and replying now...

I looked ip interior photos of some Ev's as well as the Toyota Corolla you mentioned.

To me the Hyundai Kona electric and Toyota Corolla both have conventional ICE style dash with lots of knobs , switches which is why I said ordinary looking.

The photos of the Porsche Taycan interior, Tesla M3 has the most modern looking interiors using touch controls ( more futuristic ) than the conventional type interiors.

Only thing missing from the Tesla M3 was the ventilated seats, SiriusXM , Apple CarPlay etc, so do not get where you see it is worse interior than base Corolla. I had the ventilated seats in the 2019 VW Jetta but never used it as it felt strange to feel air coming out the back&seat where you sit so I never used that feature and if use the heated function, only had it on low.

If money not a issue it be the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo on top of my wish list instead of the Tesla S.

I also like the interior of Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Mustang Mach-E

Dan

 

Now that an updated Kia Niro EV has been announced, the lack of news about a new Kona seems like an ominous sign. Too bad. I still love mine, and am missing it a lot while it's in transit to join me in Hawaii ( temporarily driving an ICE rental -- ugh).

 

New Kona is due in 2023.

 

I just talked to an Ioniq 5 dealer while looking to replace my Kona due to the battery issue and was told the Kona EV is going away, and with Ioniq being spun off as a separate brand, a new Ioniq will be introduced as the replacement to the Kona - a smaller, less expensive Ioniq 5.

 

While I agree the Kona's styling is traditional, I appreciate my Kona having a few good-sized knobs and switches, which I can operate by feel. The kind of things you need to adjust while driving, like fine tuning the mirror position, or adjusting the stereo volume or temperature. I've ridden in a Telsa M3 and find the interior stark looking and inviting distraction. I hope if there is a Kona replacement it would offer updated electric drive/charging technology while keeping a similar size - big enough to be practical but small enough to be easy and fun to drive around town and on the open road. And styling that is modern without being sterile.

 

Good point. I don't like sterile interiors either. The Ioniq 5 seems to be moving in that direction. That's one thing about the German cars, you can't call their interiors sterile.

 

It's my understanding that the Kona EV has the same battery problem as the Chevy Bolt. Like the Bolt, Hyundai used LG in Korea as their battery supplier. Hyundai is being less transparent about it than Chevy. Fortunately for us, Kia's Niro EV uses a completely different battery supplier.

 

I have no regrets in my less than state of the art, battery recalled, FWD 2020 Kona Limited. Hyundai clearly wanted to get them off the lot the day I came by. I love the car. I leased it with a total 3 year payment of $6,000 and a $20,000 residual value at lease end. That makes it a total in at $26,000 if I buy it from them in two more years. Plus I would not have been able to take advantage of the $7500 federal tax credit any other way, so leasing was the only way to get it. Where can you get a 64kWh battery and a 258 mile range for that money? It barely cost more than ICE version.

 

Now we all own a 'collectors item'?

 

Not sure if this will affect Canada, but found a Jan 28 article about 2023 Kona production...

"Next-gen 2023 Hyundai Kona EV in the Pipeline"
https://topelectricsuv.com/news/hyundai/next-gen-hyundai-kona-ev-future/

I know everyone is agog about the Ionic5, but my wife wants traditional controls, and not a minimalist design, in a future car. There is something to be said about ease of adoption by regular folks as more EVs come to market.....

 

i hope the Kona continues, and I hope it stays close to its current size. Your mileage may vary, but the look of the Ionic5 does nothing for me, though I'm sure it's a great vehicle.

 

There is no reason for the Kona to continue. The Ioniq 5 is much better vehicle and someone else posted future Ioniq 3 most likely replacement. From what I read Ioniq will be its own line like Genesis.

 

Not everyone wants a vehicle as big as the Ionic 5. I certainly don't. If they come up with a Kona-sized EV under the Ionic name, that's fine -- more about marketing than the cars themselve.

 

It seems that many of us prefer the size of the Kona - now that we own one! Not sure about you but my wife and I did notice 'smallish' size, particularly the rear cargo area, but decided that it is perfect for our needs. I am OK with the Ioniq 5 but I find it a bit oversized.

The 'converted gas car' concept for EVs is now passe, not to mention Hyundai's commitments to move away from building gas cars - and fast. Hence the end of the Kona line is inevitable. Maybe one more version? It seems that I have caught the glimpse of a 2022 Kona with the 'beluga whale' nose, but I may be mistaken. At the end I would not be surprised if there will be a number of Kona EVs on the road for many years - like old VW Beetles and Love Bugs.