Hyundai Kona EV Overview: Specs, Generations, and Which Version to Buy
Hyundai Kona EV specs and generation guide for 2018–present: power ranges from 136 to 214 hp, notable versions, and which battery option to choose.
The Hyundai Kona EV is a five-door electric SUV produced from 2018 to the present, with outputs ranging from 136 to 214 hp across its generations. Anyone comparing hyundai kona ev specs will find a compact, front-wheel-drive crossover suited to city commuting and everyday family use, with battery options that trade purchase simplicity for longer range.
Hyundai Kona EV generations
1 generation (2018–2020)
The first-generation Hyundai Kona EV was built from 2018 to 2020 as a five-door SUV with power outputs between 136 and 204 hp, all with automatic transmission and front-wheel drive, in 2 modifications. The 67 kWh Standard-range with 204 hp accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and was the mass-market choice, while the 42 kWh Standard-range with 136 hp reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and stands out as the economical option with consumption of 13.9 per 100 km.
1 generation, restyling 1 (2020–2023)
The restyled first-generation Hyundai Kona EV ran from 2020 to 2023, keeping the five-door SUV body, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive with the same 136–204 hp span across 2 modifications. The AT 64 kWh Long-range version with 204 hp does 0–100 km/h in 7.9 seconds and was the most common configuration of this facelift.
2 generation (2023–present)
The second-generation Hyundai Kona EV has been in production since 2023 as a five-door SUV with 156 to 214 hp, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive, offered in 2 modifications. The AT Long Range with 214 hp is the mass version and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.8 seconds — the quickest figure in the model's lineup.
Which Hyundai Kona EV to buy
- AT Long Range (2 generation): the strongest version in the range at 214 hp, with the model's best 0–100 km/h time of 7.8 seconds.
- AT 64 kWh Long-range (1 generation, restyling 1): 204 hp and 7.9 seconds to 100 km/h in the 2020–2023 facelift — second-generation pace at first-generation age.
- 67 kWh Standard-range (1 generation): the mass version of the 2018–2020 cars, matching the facelift's 204 hp and 7.9-second acceleration.
- 42 kWh Standard-range (1 generation): the economical entry point with 136 hp, 9.9 seconds to 100 km/h, and consumption of 13.9 per 100 km.
On the used market, the 2018–2020 and 2020–2023 first-generation cars have the longest track record, and the single-transmission, front-wheel-drive-only lineup keeps the choice simple: the decision comes down to battery size and power rather than drivetrain combinations. Questions about hyundai kona ev reliability are best answered by the fact that every generation shares the same straightforward layout — one body style, one gearbox type, one drive configuration.
Which Hyundai Kona EV to avoid
The numbers point at the 42 kWh Standard-range (1 generation) only if performance matters to the buyer: its 136 hp and 9.9-second 0–100 km/h run trail the 204 hp and 7.9 seconds of the 67 kWh Standard-range from the same 2018–2020 years. It is not dominated outright, though — its recorded consumption of 13.9 per 100 km is the reason it exists as the economical option, so avoid it only when acceleration outweighs running efficiency.