Hyundai Kona Electric Compact SUV in two versions

They will be unable to command more money than the bolt. Keep in mind the range ratings are inflated and not EPA. I would expect this car to do slightly better than a bolt on range.

Let's see if Hyundai Canada talks about this vehicle at all. If it's happening this year with 64kw battery I'd cancel my leaf order.

I think by North American standards this is a subcompact. Where is the full EV Niro?

Here are some videos:

Hyundai should offer lifetime warranty like it does in the States. Until then, I don't see the advantages over the Japanese car makers, well besides the 64 kW battery offering very decent driving range.

Front end is atrocious looking.

Its actually good if manufacturers like Hyundai are starting to offer the same model with different range as one size does not fit all. Based on my commute I might be content with a 250km range but someone else might need at least 400km. So why should I pay more for the car if I don't want the longer range but like the car styling enough to want to buy it. So a lower version at a cheaper price makes sense. But there is also some chatter going on that the two versions of the Kona might not end up in the same market, the short battery version for the European markets and the larger for the North American markets. Oh well!

alanbrenton wrote: ↑ Hyundai should offer lifetime warranty like it does in the States. Until then, I don't see the advantages over the Japanese car makers, well besides the 64 kW battery offering very decent driving range.

I guess that Hyundai will always remain a bit cheaper than the Hondas & Toyotas to compensate for the lower brand value unless they are in a market or with a product that does not have direct competition. Ultimately its the market that dictates the pricing.

Holystone wrote: ↑ I guess that Hyundai will always remain a bit cheaper than the Hondas & Toyotas to compensate for the lower brand value unless they are in a market or with a product that does not have direct competition. Ultimately its the market that dictates the pricing.

Don't get me wrong. I love they are forcing the Japanese to throw in more bells and whistles but the warranty in Canada is far inferior to that offered in the States. Even with the hybrid models, I think they have a lifetime warranty on the battery for the original owners.

If that was the same case with Canada, I wouldn't mind buying a Korean vehicle but as it stands, I might as well wait for a Toyota or Nissan BEV if the warranty is not much different.

Holystone wrote: ↑ I guess that Hyundai will always remain a bit cheaper than the Hondas & Toyotas to compensate for the lower brand value unless they are in a market or with a product that does not have direct competition. Ultimately its the market that dictates the pricing.

I would not bank on Hyundai always having a lower brand value. Andreas-Christoph Hofmann is straight from 15 years branding and marketing at BMW. If they have better vehicles they can ask a higher price. When they have a vehicle that Toyota and Honda do not have they are no longer competitors in that segment. Toyota has been left behind in BEV development and are even looking at ways of putting a Toyota badge on locally built chinese BEVs in order to meet mandated cap and trade targets - what is that going to do to their global brand?

The question on my mind is when will these actually be available in Canada.

Martin (deal addict) wrote: ↑ I would not bank on Hyundai always having a lower brand value. Andreas-Christoph Hofmann is straight from 15 years branding and marketing at BMW. If they have better vehicles they can ask a higher price. When they have a vehicle that Toyota and Honda do not have they are no longer competitors in that segment. Toyota has been left behind in BEV development and are even looking at ways of putting a Toyota badge on locally built chinese BEVs in order to meet mandated cap and trade targets - what is that going to do to their global brand?

Purely on styling, I’ve personally found Hyundai models more appealing than Honda and Toyota since 2013 or so. But achieving a brand value equal to them will take time. But certainly best value for your buck. If you look on auto trader, the Japanese still hold their value better than the Korean.

fromano wrote: ↑ The question on my mind is when will these actually be available in Canada.

From what I’ve read is 2019. But that’s for ‘North America’ and I hope that includes us also.

Holystone wrote: ↑ Purely on styling, I’ve personally found Hyundai models more appealing than Honda and Toyota since 2013 or so. But achieving a brand value equal to them will take time. But certainly best value for your buck. If you look on auto trader, the Japanese still hold their value better than the Korean.

They definitely have their in vehicle entertainment systems working equal to or better than most.. Styling has been on point as well. The Kona is far more appealing than the C-HR....

Holystone wrote: ↑ Purely on styling, I’ve personally found Hyundai models more appealing than Honda and Toyota since 2013 or so. But achieving a brand value equal to them will take time. But certainly best value for your buck. If you look on auto trader, the Japanese still hold their value better than the Korean.

I completely agree with you. I think overall, Hyundai makes nicer cars than Honda or Toyota but if I'm buying a car, I would pay the most for Toyota then Honda then Hyundai and it will take a long time for my mindset to change. I'm not saying that I'd rule out Hyundai but it definitely has to stand out somehow (probably combination of price and model / features / looks that I prefer over Toyota / Honda).

Holystone wrote: ↑ From what I’ve read is 2019. But that’s for ‘North America’ and I hope that includes us also.

Hopefully the EV incentive lasts until then....I am really thinking of jumping onto the EV bandwagon with the Kona

2018 Hyundai Kona EV Release Dates: US, Canada, Europe, Korea

http://www.hyundai-blog.com/kona-ev-us-release-date/

Earlier this week in Korea, Hyundai held a special event that was devoted to reveal their future plans in the eco-friendly segment.
Among the exhibits was a new fuel cell SUV that is scheduled to hit the market next year.
They also took time to talk about their plans in the electric vehicle segment.
Perhaps the biggest news item at the vent was the announcement of a release date for the Hyundai Kona EV.
The rumor was that it would be in showrooms in 2018, and that has now been confirmed by the Koreans.
The release of this news means that we now have a basic timeline of when we can expect to see the Kona EV in the global market, so let’s take a closer look.

Hyundai Kona EV release dates
South Korea will be where the Kona EV gets released first, with the date of said release scheduled to be in April 2018. It is slated to hit showrooms very quickly after it is unveiled in the domestic market.

US residents will only need to wait a couple of extra months before they get behind the wheel, with the Kona EV expected to go on sale in the United States in June 2018.

The European release date should be about the same time as the US, but all Hyundai are committing to at the moment is a summer 2018 release in Europe.

Is this the new trend.....a black roof?? Hope Hyundai doesn't run out of black paint like Nissan did...lol

Holystone wrote: ↑ US residents will only need to wait a couple of extra months before they get behind the wheel, with the Kona EV expected to go on sale in the United States in June 2018.

I read that as well. If that's the case I'd cancel my Leaf pre-order; because there is no way in hell the EV rebate is in if the liberal's get kicked out. I don't personally know of a single person who is willing to vote liberal in Ontario at this point.

Yeah, the timing looks crucial because if the conservatives come to power they could very well kill the EV rebates or reduce it and bring it more in line with the rebates in QB and BC.