2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Australian prices revealed

The popular new-car brand has done something with its new small electric SUV that other big name makers dare not do.

Hyundai has surprised with the price of its new Kona electric SUV.

Most car brands raise the price of new models but Hyundai has made its new electric SUV cheaper than the old version.

Hyundai’s new Kona Electric SUV is cheaper than before.

Prices start at $54,000 (plus on-road costs) for the Standard Range version, which is $500 less than the outgoing model.

The savings increase further for the Extended Range version that starts at $58,000, or $2500 less than the previous version.

The top-shelf Kona Electric Premium Extended Range is slugged with a $4000 price increase, though, over the previous range-topper.

The Kona Electric joins the petrol and hybrid powered versions in the brand’s local line-up.

range-topping Premium variants are more expensive, though.

Despite most of the range being cheaper the new Kona Electric comes with more range, a larger and more spacious cabin and plenty of standard gear. Standard Range versions use a 48.6kWh battery that delivers a driving range of up to 370km, up from 305 in the previous version.

Extended Range options use a 64.8kWh battery that boosts driving range to 505km, an increase of 21km.

Premium versions wear larger 19-inch wheels instead of 17-inch alloys of the other versions, which cause the driving range to drop to 444km.

The new Kona is bigger inside and out.

Standard Range versions are powered by a single front-mounted electric motor that delivers 99kW and 255Nm while the bigger battery vehicles have an uprated electric motor that makes 150kW and 255Nm.

Other upgrades include a new heat pump and battery conditioning system to help increase charging times in cold conditions and when hooked up to a fast charger.

And is better equipped than before.

All vehicles have dual 12.3-inch digital displays – one for the infotainment and the other for the driver’s instruments.

If you want leather appointed seats that are heated and cooled in the front row, a head-up display and an eight-speaker Bose stereo you’ll need to choose the range-topping premium version.

Servicing is affordable and has long intervals.

Safety equipment is comprehensive and the Kona Electric is one of the few EVs to have a temporary spare tyre instead of a tyre repair kit.

Servicing is only necessary every 24 months or 30,000km and costs $520 for each of the first three visits.

Originally published as 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric Australian prices revealed