Hyundai Kona Electric SUV launched in India at Rs 25.30 lakh

After creating a buzz about the Kona and its electrified variant, Hyundai has launched its compact electrified offering in the Indian market. The Hyundai Kona Electric is only available in one variant for India and is priced at Rs 25.30 lakh, ex-showroom India, placing it above the Hyundai Tucson in Hyundai's Indian portfolio.

In terms of its dimensions, the Kona Electric is sized to fit between the Venue and the Creta and measures almost 4.2m in length. It packs a spacious 5-seater configuration and comes with notable features like a sunroof, a wireless phone charger, ventilated seats, head-up display and and a touchscreen infotainment system. To keep the price in check, the India-spec Kona Electric misses out on the Hyundai BlueLink connected technologies that recently debuted with the Hyundai Venue. Compared to the Kona Electric that we drove in Korea last month, the India-spec model sits on a higher ground clearance (figure undisclosed).

Motivation for the front axle mounted 100kW electric motor comes from a 39kWh lithium-ion battery pack. The powertrain claims a 0-100kmph sprint time of under 10s. The Kona Electric has been certified by the ARAI for a range of 452km per full charge, but we expect real-world figures to be in the range of 220-320km.

The charging port on the Hyundai Kona electric sits hidden under a flap on the front 'grille'

There are three ways to charge the Hyundai Kona's battery. The basic charger plugs into a conventional plug point and needs 19 hours for a full charge. An AC stand-alone wall-mounted charger manages to charge the battery in around six hours. The Kona is also DC charging compatible, a 100kW DC fast charger will charge up to 80 per cent of the battery in 57 minutes. Going forward, these DC fast chargers are scheduled to be installed at select fuel stations, malls, office spaces and other such strategic locations, while the AC wall-mount and the conventional plug-in charger will both be offered along with the Kona Electric as part of the standard package, which is good news.

The Kona Electric comes with a three-year standard warranty, with an optional two-year extension, while the battery pack gets a stand-alone eight-year warranty, which should ensure better peace of mind for the consumer.

The Government of India recently proposed a drop in GST for Electric Vehicles from 12 per cent to five per cent. It has also proposed an additional income tax reduction of ₹1.5 lakh on the interest paid on loans taken to purchase an EV. The Kona's price, however, has been planned as per the current taxation.

The Hyundai Kona Electric will be available through all Hyundai India dealerships starting today. Stay tuned as we bring you our first drive review of the India-spec Kona Electric soon.

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Also see: Hyundai Kona Electric First Drive Video