New Generation Kona EV

I'm sure the new Kona is an excellent vehicle, but the car companies seem to have forgotten that there are still folks in the U.S. who prefer our cars small. My niece, who very much liked my 2020 Kona, recently looked at the new ones but didn't like them because, in her words, "it's gotten so huge." Huge is in the eye of the beholder, of course, and my niece and I may be outnumbered, but the new Kona is too big for my taste, too. I sure hope that the Kia EV 3, the updated Bolt, or some other small EVs arrive before I start shopping for a new vehicle.
 
Bruce M. said:
I'm sure the new Kona is an excellent vehicle, but the car companies seem to have forgotten that there are still folks in the U.S. who prefer our cars small. My niece, who very much liked my 2020 Kona, recently looked at the new ones but didn't like them because, in her words, "it's gotten so huge." Huge is in the eye of the beholder, of course, and my niece and I may be outnumbered, but the new Kona is too big for my taste, too. I sure hope that the Kia EV 3, the updated Bolt, or some other small EVs arrive before I start shopping for a new vehicle.
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Word is that the new Bolt might be bigger than the Bolt EUV. So probably not small.
 
Bruce M. said:
That would be unfortunate, since the old model was already bigger than my Kona. Sigh...
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I'm with you, we (esp my wife) like a smaller car for the city, parking, etc. But we also like the advanced tech and a little bling in our new cars, and the small ones just don't come with that. We liked our old Kona, but couldn't even get memory seats for it. That is a must for us, and both our EVs now have it. Makes it so much better with two drivers. Can't understand why it is so difficult/expensive to add memory seats to a car. Should be like electric windows, a given.
 
R P said:
I'm with you, we (esp my wife) like a smaller car for the city, parking, etc. But we also like the advanced tech and a little bling in our new cars, and the small ones just don't come with that. We liked our old Kona, but couldn't even get memory seats for it. That is a must for us, and both our EVs now have it. Makes it so much better with two drivers. Can't understand why it is so difficult/expensive to add memory seats to a car. Should be like electric windows, a given.
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Based on reports from Korea, the Kia EV 3 may be our best bet for a combo of small size + features and advanced tech -- assuming it finally gets to the U.S.
 
Bruce M. said:
Based on reports from Korea, the Kia EV 3 may be our best bet for a combo of small size + features and advanced tech -- assuming it finally gets to the U.S.
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I agree. This looks like a great car. The trick will be to see how stripped down the features are when it comes to Canada/U.S.. They have a habit of leaving a couple of compelling features off the list.
 
I see the heat pump is only provided on the top version in the UK (GT-Line S) which is disappointing.

It also appears that V2L is not offered at all. We are getting the EV3 in NZ, Q2 2025, but there's only provisional specs out so far and no heat pump is mentioned.

The size is right for me but those two features are essential.
 
KiwiME said:
I see the heat pump is only provided on the top version in the UK (GT-Line S) which is disappointing.

It also appears that V2L is not offered at all. We are getting the EV3 in NZ, Q2 2025, but there's only provisional specs out so far and no heat pump is mentioned.

The size is right for me but those two features are essential.
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I'd ask why Kia wouldn't pack every feature they make for the EV6 into a version of the EV3, put a big price on it, and see if it sells. People who want a small EV would buy it because there are no small EV alternatives in the North American market anymore. Of course, Kia never explains when they don't offer premium stuff they make to customers who would willing pay for it.

Why not make a Genesis version of the EV3 to validate the high price of a feature-packed small EV?
 
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It's completely rational to think that what the market in the U.S. really wants right now is EVs under $35K, but there's no reason not to do a loaded version as well as an experiment. I'm not sure it will sell, but it could, though probably not to me as I have no interest in lots of bells and whistles.
 
Bruce M. said:
It's completely rational to think that what the market in the U.S. really wants right now is EVs under $35K, but there's no reason not to do a loaded version as well as an experiment. I'm not sure it will sell, but it could, though probably not to me as I have no interest in lots of bells and whistles.
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If they could just have memory seats/mirrors that would be enough for me. I don't care about a bling loaded car.
 
I don't understand why there are so many folks critical of the new Kona EV's speed. I just took delivery of a 2025 Kona Limited and it smokes a former VW ID.4 I had. I have watched several Youtube reviewers that tested it's 0-60 permance and typically come up with a 6.3sec time, which is NO slouch. All I know is when I'm going 50mph and need to pass someone it happens in just over 3 seconds from leaving my lane to returning to my lane in front of the offending driver. So I have NO complaints in that arena. Also I've seen complaints that it's not dead quiet at highway speeds. Fooey. I don't even hear the vehicles in opposing lanes let alone the typical tire noise. I did some investigation and read that in the new one's they have added substantial sound absorbent materials in the floor so I'm not surprised. It might not have the dual pane windows of the new Ioniq 5 and 6 but it's no slouch either.
 
R P said:
If they could just have memory seats/mirrors that would be enough for me. I don't care about a bling loaded car.
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Just so you know, my dealer informed me there is a coming OTA update for the Kona I just got (a 2025 Limited) that will add memory seat settings in the Infotainment menu. Canada already has it on it's new ones. Looking forward to that. As for the mirrors, I really don't care much. Had that on a prior car and it wasn't a big deal. Just one more motor to have an issue.
 
electriceddy said:
New video:

Note @ 2:46 the PINK coolant.:)
Also @ 6:41 the power liftgate (hopefully available for N.A.), also following the increased space for spare tire (maybe enough room for a full 19" spare)
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What I can't figure out is the alloy wheels on that Kona are NOTHING like mine. And I just took delivery of a Kona Limited loaded with all the goodies. It's a 2025 so perhaps the wheels are different for the new year. But that's strange.
 
I had my first occasion to fast charge on a road trip last month. Once the charge stopped after 3 minutes and then twice after mere seconds. The fourth attempt finally stuck. I have no idea why. No reasons were given.
 
Wildeyed said:
I had my first occasion to fast charge on a road trip last month. Once the charge stopped after 3 minutes and then twice after mere seconds. The fourth attempt finally stuck. I have no idea why. No reasons were given.
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It may have been the charger, not your car. I don't fast charge often, but one time several months ago I kept getting repeated error messages that made little sense every time I tried to initiate a charge. Happily, I was able to reach a live human tech support person who eventually managed to remotely reset the station and get it working. For a while I was scared to death because this was the only charger in the region and I didn't have quite enough juice left to get home.
 
So many variables were in play that figuring out the root cause was impossible. I tried both powerpoints at the same station twice, the start-up instructions on the station and the app were contradictory so I tried both and the second cable was a bit wiggly in the socket so...who knows?
 
instanoodles said:
How do you find the Kumho's for road noise and efficiency? I was going to get some crossclimate 2's in the spring but the Kumho's are almost $100 cheaper so Im really interested in them now.

Thanks.
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Sorry, I missed this query. We generally have little snow fall in lower mainland of BC (Vancouver BC area) unlike parts of NS. However, yes, there is some increased tire noise but minimal on bare roads. I'd say they've been great in heavy rain falls and slush, channelling well and better than the OEM summer tires. The deepest not plowed road with snow I encountered was about 6 inches. Didn't experience any difficulty but was only for a few city blocks and low speed. i had same on my 2019 Kona Electric, and did encounter a lot more snow drives on which they performed well then too. Handling well and no noticeable difference in range efficiency versus the OEM summer tires before I switched. For certain, the weight of the car was of great benefit. :)
 
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