While Hyundai New Zealand hasn’t yet formally announced it, a new cheaper fully electric version of the Kona SUV is set to be added to its local line-up.
The firm has quietly added the 39kWh battery Kona Electric to its website, a model previously omitted by the distributor. According to the site, it’s going to be offered in two flavours; a base trim and a more feature-rich Elite trim.
The news comes off the back of the government’s Clean Car Discount announcement and its subsequent rebates for fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, which are set to come into effect next month.
The base grade will cost $69,990, while the Elite will cost $76,990 (both prices not including on-road costs). With the $8625 rebate applied, the two cars can effectively be had for $61,365 and $68,365, respectively.
Needless to say this move is a powerplay to get the nameplate further under the discount scheme’s $80,000 price cap. Previously, just one Kona Electric was priced under the cap; the base 64kWh model.
Having been initially priced at $78,990 when its second-gen model was introduced in April, it recently was given a price increase to $79,990. The flagship 64kWh Elite, meanwhile, is priced at $85,990.
The 39kWh Kona packs a claimed range of 305km, as opposed to the 64kWh model’s claimed 484km range. Both variants will come with leather upholstery and Hyundai’s Smartsense safety suite. Elite 39kWh models get a larger 10.25-inch touchscreen, heated seats, LED headlights, a black roof, and more.
The Kona Electric is currently the third best-selling fully electric car in New Zealand, behind the Tesla Model 3 and MG ZS EV. Across the first five months of the year 209 were registered — much more than the fourth-placed Hyundai Ioniq EV, which had 77 registrations over the same period.
