Hyundai Kona Electric ‘Standard Range’ coming to Australia

A more budget-friendly version of the Hyundai Kona Electric is coming to Australia, in the form of the Kona Electric Standard Range.

The new model was confirmed this week, in comments made by Hyundai Australia’s chief operating officer John Kett, responding to the NSW Government’s new incentives program for EV buyers.

“Hyundai already has the two most efficient cars on sale in Australia today according to the Federal Government’s Green Vehicle Guide, in the form of Ioniq EV hatch and the Kona Electric small SUV. We intend to expand that leadership with the release of the Standard Range version of Kona Electric in the coming weeks.”

“The Hyundai Motor Group globally will launch 44 electrified vehicles by 2025 – of those, 23 will be full Battery Electric models. Hyundai Australia’s intention is to introduce every one of Hyundai’s new EVs to the local market. We are committed to expanding our EV portfolio across Australia, starting with the new Ioniq 5 SUV later this year and shortly followed by the Ioniq 6 Sedan and Ioniq 7 large SUV. Our aim is to be a leading Australian EV provider.”

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The Standard Range model’s name may seem uninventive, but the new variant should prove compelling for buyers who like the idea of the existing Kona Electric more than its $62,000 (before on-road costs) starting point.

Pricing for the Kona Electric Standard Range hasn’t been revealed, but if Hyundai can bring it closer to the MG ZS EV’s $40,990 price (which has an ongoing $43,990 national drive-away figure), it could prove competitive.

A tip for buyers, though: unless the eventual entry-level variant of the incoming Ioniq 5 takes a price position uncomfortably close to the existing Kona Electric – potentially forcing a shift downward for the Kona Electric’s starting price – buyers of the Standard Range shouldn’t expect its nearly 50 per cent smaller battery pack to result in a half-price purchase.

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The upcoming Ioniq 5 electric family car, due here later this year

The Kona Electric Standard Range draws energy from a 39kWh battery pack, which is markedly smaller than the existing model’s 64kWh pack – and still a touch shy of the ZS EV’s 44.5kWh pack.

The Kona Electric Standard Range’s claims outmatch the ZS EV however: While the bigger-batteried ZS EV claims a WLTP-certified driving range of up to 263 kilometres, Hyundai claims 300km – also certified under the WLTP standard. Both will vary in real-world conditions, of course.

For more on Australia’s evolving EV market, see our coverage at the links below.