Hyundai Kona Electric Has Nearly Twice As Much Range As Nissan Leaf

Feb. 08, 2018 1:15 PM ET by Martin Bigg Teaser / Comments

Hyundai's first electric SUV will be revealed online later this month before debuting at the Geneva Motor Show.

The stylish Hyundai Kona is one of the cheapest crossovers you can buy, and now there's an all-electric version coming. Hyundai has announced that the Kona Electric, to give it its full name, will be revealed later this month ahead of its public debut at this year's Geneva Motor Show. Shown for the first time in a teaser photo and accompanying video, Hyundai claims it will be "the first automotive brand across Europe to make an all-electric compact SUV available to everyone."

If the combustion engine-powered Kona is anything to go by, expect it to be competitively priced to rival the likes of the Nissan Leaf. The Korean automaker has also confirmed its first all-electric compact SUV will be offered with two powertrain options that use "one of the most powerful electric engines on the market."

It will offer a "class-leading range" of nearly 292 miles on a single charge as per WLTP regulations, which is impressive. This gives us an indication of the range we can expect in the US, since the newly updated WLTP test is now similar to EPA ratings in America. If Hyundai's estimate turns out to be true, the Hyundai Kona Electric will have nearly twice as much range as the Nissan Leaf, which only lasts a paltry 151 miles on a single charge. It also puts it close behind the Tesla Model 3's 310-mile range. Hyundai promises the Kona Electric will have "a great fun-to-drive character" and be generously equipped with a wide range of connectivity features, active safety and driver assists.

The teaser photo shows the Kona Electric's silhouette and a small section of the front fascia revealing its signature Cascading Grille, but don't expect it to be a dramatic departure from the regular Kona. More details will be revealed on February 27 when the Hyundai Kona is revealed online ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Hyundai will be the first manufacturer to offer a compact fully-electric SUV when the Kona Electric goes on sale in Europe this summer. According to Motor1, sources suggest it will be available in the US in the first half of 2019 with a base price of just under $40,000 and only be sold with a 64-kWh battery.