The new Hyundai Kona Electric comes with a host of updates

Hyundai Motor has made a series of updates to its successful all-electric sub-compact SUV, the Hyundai Kona Electric. In order to make the new Kona Electric an even better product for its customers, the upgrades revolve around design, technology, and practicality.

The new Kona Electric has undergone bold design upgrades for a pure new look, as well as featuring safety enhancements and an advanced technology package. By combining a clean and sleek appearance with the protective and bold SUV body type of the Kona, it expresses its exceptional electric technology while being even more recognisable on the road.

The front features a pure and clean design with the new-look closed grille. This modern look is further enhanced by the new LED Daytime Running Lights, which emphasise the car's wide stance. The front is complemented by an asymmetric charging port, a feature unique to the Kona Electric.

New, sharper headlamps stretch around the side of the car. The high-tech headlamp inner bezel now incorporates multifaceted reflector technology. The headlamps are connected to the painted wheel arch claddings, giving the new Kona Electric a distinctive and sophisticated look.

Vertical air inlets in front of the wheel arch claddings enhance its aerodynamics, substantially reducing turbulence in the front wheelhouse area. Meanwhile, a functional air intake in the lower bumper is visually enhanced by horizontal satin accent bars.

The rear bumper retains the accent bars to add value to the overall look of the car, while new horizontally-stretched rear lamps complement the pure appearance of the front. The new Kona Electric is 40mm longer than the previous version, ensuring it has a dynamic appearance combined with a strong visual stance.

For the first time, the new Kona Electric is equipped with a 10.25-inch digital cluster, while an optional 10.25-inch AVN screen is carried over from the last update. The AVN unit incorporates multimedia and convenience features including Bluelink, Hyundai LIVE Services, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Like its predecessor, the new Kona Electric offers two different zero-emissions battery electric powertrains, with no compromises on performance.

The long-range version with a 64kWh battery features an electric motor that delivers maximum power of 201bhp, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 7.9 seconds. The basic version has a battery capacity of 39.2kWh, with the motor delivering 134bhp, accelerating from 0-100km/h in 9.9 seconds.

Both powertrain versions deliver 395Nm of torque, ensuring the new Kona Electric is fun-to-drive with full power available from the get go.

Upgraded Hyundai SmartSense features on the new Kona Electric include Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) and Blind-Spot Collision-Avoidance Assist (BCA).

RCCA works to avoid a collision when reversing, as the car's sensors detect approaching vehicles from both sides, with the brakes applied if necessary. Meanwhile, BCA engages the car's differential brakes to prevent an accident if another vehicle is detected near the rear corner and the driver attempts to change lanes.

Another feature new to this model is Leading Vehicle Departure Alert, which alerts the driver if they do not react fast enough when the vehicle ahead of them starts moving. Further new safety features include Safe Exit Warning (SEW) and Rear Seat Alert (RSA).

SEW warns passengers intending to exit the vehicle if it is not yet safe to do so. RSA is a door-checker feature that recognises if the rear doors have been opened prior to departing. When the drive is completed, the car alerts the driver if someone or something is in the back seat when they open the doors.

In addition, the new Kona Electric is also available with eCall, a feature which automatically alerts emergency services if the airbags are deployed or the eCall button is pushed.