Is the Kona EV dead in Canada?

Yes, the 'converted gas car' for EV's is now passe

I doubt the Kona EVs will be like VW Beatles and Love Bugs in the future.

The Kona EV is still FWD with poor performance of 0-100 km/h in 7.6 sec and low top speed of 167 km/h. I think the main selling point of the Kona EV was its range. In 2019 there was not a lot of EVs to choose from.

 

I beg to disagree - in part.
1. I remember when every car manufacturer, bar BMW and other 'sporty' cars, moved from real wheel drive to front wheel drive. This move saved weight, reduced fuel consumption and enhanced some driving characteristics, like handling in snow. Ergo having the drive wheels under the weight of the engine made sense. You can spin a Kona's rear in the snow if you want to but you have to 'work at it'.
2a. Efficiency. Even today, four years after introduction, the Kona's 15kWh/100km power consumption stands with the best, including some of the Tesla models.
2b. Ordinary people, like myself, are OK with 0-100 km/h acceleration of 7.6 sec. This car was not designed for the race track. Still, the initial high torque of the electric motor will push you back into your seat gently if you want it - granted not like a Tesla. But the car is much easier on the budget and on tires!
2c. As for the 167km/h top speed. Last time I checked, unless you are driving in Germany on the Autobahn, it is more than plenty to get you a fat speeding ticket. Here in Ontario it is good enough to get your car and you grounded on the spot with heavy fines. Mind you, you will be written about in the papers.

With due respect to all guys and gals who are really in racing and performance cars either as a way to earn living or just as a hobby. I am fine with that. But I am puzzled how average folks can get exited over a fraction of a second difference in acceleration between cars/models they can not afford.

I just got some beer driving the Kona to the Beer Store. "Sparky" took me there and brought me home even in the rather cool -20C weather.

 

In my 'rant' above I forgot to mention the 400+ km range! It seems that this range is becoming a kind of plateau for 'affordable' EVs. New EVs targeting this market segment are made with this range or around it. I think the main issue is the price of the batteries. But it is OK, even with the current charge rate, for most unless you are a regular long distance traveller.

 

The Kona has more than plenty of power. It has instant high torque (291 lb-ft) at start up and low speeds, unlike an ICE vehicle. My Kona EV is far from the most powerful, but I can still beat most sports cars from a red light. And I have surprised a lot of them, when I am in a fun mood,... haha.

Problem with ICE torque at start up, is that by the time the engine revs up and turbo kicks in, I am half way to the next light. I have done it many times. And always laugh, when I see them come roaring up from behind, sometimes with smoking tires. The funniest are the big diesel pick-ups with the wheezing turbos. Some of them are actually stupid enough to try and race from a red light. Lots of smoke and noise, but not much go.

So if you want more power, it is certainly not because you need it. And if you do, then you might have other problems. As they say power is just a crutch for low skill drivers.

 

Kona has worse performance than other EV's, even the cheap Chevrolet Bolt Ev which I do not like / has better performance.

Not hard for most EVs to beat ICE sports car from red light including the Prius Prime.

Nissan Leaf S Plus and Mini Cooper SE also better performance than the Kona.

All EV's including the electric Smart are quick from 0-30 due to instant torque. Main advantage to the Kona is the 400km + range, nothing else compared to other EVs.

I think Hyundai forgot there is performance possible from EV as the base Preferred RWD Ioniq 5 is slow with 58 kWH battery. 8.5 sec 0-100 km/h.

It is only when you get to Ultimate AWD Ioniq 5, do you get have decent performance. of 5.7 sec 0-100 km/h.

Some people want more power not because they need it and this is why the Porsche Taycan models are what you purchase , not for the performance from a stop light but for better handling, driving characteristics . Performance wise , the Mach-E I ordered not even close to handling, driving characteristics of the Porsche Taycan.

In fact the different ICE Mustangs I purchased over the years, are garbage next to Porsche.

 

Well said. Because of the instant torque, my Kona feels faster than any car I've ever owned. And if you need a sudden burst of speed to merge into traffic,it's there. No one who's not a racer needs anything faster.

 

Amen!
Just a thought for those who did not figure it out already, use light weight winter booths and ECO mode when driving in snow or on ICE - like winter in Canada. This will reduce the car's tendency for wheel spin and torque steer.

 

I live in Quebec. Today Feb. 1st I looked at online configurator for Kona electric and it is working. I completed the steps all the way to "select a dealer" ...

 

Yes. It seems that they've rejigged the website. The '22 Kona seems to no longer be "sold out". Also the Ioniq 5 is now configurable and, interestingly the Ultimate AWD is NOT being offered anymore, Hmmm.

 

Not sure what website you are looking at, but the Ultimate package with AWD still shows on mine. Pretty good price, too. Maybe Ontario is different?

 

Checked again. Not on my website in Ontario. What would be the point in restrictions for Ontario?

**Edit Wait! It's there. They hide it under options. It doesn't display on the"trims" page. Odd but still my mistake... several times.

 

see this screenshot, ultimate is add on package for $5000 - this from website and I am in Sudbury

 

The one here was a $5000 add on package, too. But the total price is still lower than Ontario at 53,176.

 

Is there a provincial rebate that they may have figured into the price that would account for the difference?

 

Nope, that comes off the MSRP listing on the car. I went through that when I bought my Kona. Might be higher in Ontario due to shipping.

Been doing more research, and calling around to the dealers in the lower mainland. Turns out there are/were only two used Kona Ultimates for sale in the entire lower mainland (about 8 or 9 dealers). And one of those (2019 like mine) just sold today, was listed at 53,800. I spoke to the salesperson and asked him how they could sell a 3 year old car at what the MSRP was 3 years ago, and the subsidies are only for new cars. What he said is that there just aren't any other EVs available, and people are willing to pay that at this time.

 

There is no circumstance where I would pay MSRP for any 3 year old car regardless of what brand or model it is.

 

It does appear reasonable to assume that they are in effect double charging eastern customers for shipping. Not cool.

 

Well, I would like to say you have my sympathies. But then I remind myself that most other goods here in BC come from the east, ie Ontario, and we end up paying extra for those. And look how much more our gasoline costs compared to you guys, or pretty well anywhere else in NA. Why is that when it is produced out west here? And yes, I still have an ICE car (Subaru Crosstrek), no EV available yet to replace that one.