Used Hyundai Kona Electric cars for sale

Used Hyundai Kona Electric pros and cons

Is a second hand Hyundai Kona Electric a good car?

If you’re one of those people who can’t quite make up their mind about joining the electric car revolution, then the Hyundai Kona Electric could well be the right car for you. It makes going electric seem spectacularly easy, backed up by traditional Hyundai high-points such as a long warranty and excellent dealer backup. 

Think of it like a pair of Ecco shoes — they look reasonably smart and maybe even trendy, but they’re also solid and dependable. 

When it was originally on sale, the Kona Electric was quite a lot more expensive than the petrol or hybrid Kona models, but soft second hand values for electric cars mean that it’s now a bit of a bargain and an ideal first EV for those looking to make the switch. 

The Kona Electric came in two versions — a basic model with a 39kWh battery, a 136hp motor, and a range of up to 189 miles, which is ideal for those who only want an electric car for short hops. For those who fancy longer drives, there’s also a version with a 64kWh battery, a 204hp motor, and a very useful range of up to 300 miles. The only downside is that the Kona Electric had a maximum fast-charging speed of 100kW, which was fine at the time but which feels a bit slow now — you’ll need to wait 47 minutes to get to an 80% charge. 

Then again, most people do most of their charging at home, and on a 7.4kW home charger the Kona Electric will fully charge in slightly less than nine hours for the big-battery version, and just five hours for the small-battery version. With cheap overnight charging (if you’ve got an EV-friendly electricity tariff) that means you’ll only have to pay less than £7 for a full charge of the big-battery model, which is astonishingly cheap for its range. 

Inside, the Kona Electric looked a little different, thanks to a revised dashboard and centre console. The infotainment system was also upgraded a little, and it’s an easy one to use – thankfully Hyundai stuck with proper buttons for the air conditioning controls. There’s smartphone connectivity too, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and you can also download Hyundai’s own app so that you can control the Kona’s charging via your phone. 

That said, while the cabin’s tech is impressive, the Kona Electric’s quality levels weren’t the best, with plenty of too-cheap plastics on show. Space isn't great either — there’s plenty up front, with lots of driving position adjustment, but space in the back seat is less than generous — a Nissan Leaf is roomier, and so too are the Volkswagen ID3 and Cupra Born. 

The boot doesn’t compensate, as it’s only capable of carrying up to 332 litres, or 1,114 litres if you fold down the back seats. Other EVs have much bigger boots, such as the MG 4 and the VW ID3.

The Kona Electric is good to drive in town, where its combo of silence and easy acceleration make for great progress. Low-down performance is very good indeed, and the 204hp version feels especially punchy. That said, the MG4 EV is more fun to drive, and the Cupra Born rather more comfortable. 

In 2022 the Kona Electric was given a big update, with sharper styling at the front, an upgraded infotainment system with a bigger screen and wireless phone connections, and more safety equipment such as adaptive cruise control. 

The Hyundai Kona Electric really is a good all-round performer though, with plenty of electric range if you get the big-battery model, and an ease of use that’s hard to beat.

What to look for when buying a used Hyundai Kona Electric

As with any second-hand electric car purchase, make sure that the battery is in good condition, and it’s worth getting an independent battery health check done for peace of mind. That said, the Kona’s batteries have performed well in independent tests, including gruelling cold-weather range tests, so they should be pretty robust.
The Kona did have a safety software issue early on, which affected the airbags. Most should have been sorted but check to make sure, as it involves a trip to the dealer for a software patch. 

In spite of its reputation for reliability, Hyundai didn’t do all that well in the most recent Driver Power satisfaction survey, finishing in 17th place out of 32 brands, with 22.8% of owners reporting problems with their cars. The Kona itself didn’t get an individual ranking in the list of the 50 best models to own.