The final variant of the all-new Kona range, the all-electric 2023 Hyundai Kona EV has just made its global debut via the digital sphere. Still, the all-new Kona was developed as an EV first even if the variant is the last to be revealed.

In addition to the EV which is offered in both standard or long-range variants, the Kona range is also available with hybrid electric and internal combustion engine (ICE) variants.

President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, Jaehoon Chang said that the Kona EV would play a key role alongside the Ioniq models in reinforcing Hyundai’s EV leadership. The Korean carmaker has announced that it intends to accelerate its electrification strategy by bringing in 11 new Hyundai EVs to market by 2030.

Also read: 2023 Hyundai Kona EV to make global debut in Seoul next month, hybrids to make up 40% of Kona sales in Korea

The Kona EV is available with either Standard Range variants or Long Range variants. The Standard Range is powered by an electric motor that makes 156 PS/255 Nm and is juiced up by a 48.4-kwH battery. The Long Range variants have a 218 PS/255 Nm electric motor that is powered by a 65.4-kWh battery.

Hyundai has only revealed the electric range of the Long Range variants which is up to 490 km based on WLTP ratings. Charging between 10% to 80% takes 41 minutes with a DC fast charger of up to 400 V.

Hyundai also added EV-specific features on the electric Kona including a 27-litre frunk storage space, interior and exterior Vehicle-2-Load (V2L) outlets, single pedal driving mode (i-Pedal), and the Smart Regenerative System for regen braking.

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The Kona EV is also offered with N Line versions that give the electric SUV a bit more sporty appearance like black mirrors and roof and wing-shaped front and rear bumpers.

Inside, the Kona EV’s cockpit is accentuated by a floating horizontal C-pad with an integrated dual 12.3-inch panoramic display. Meanwhile, the shift-by-wire gear selector has been relocated from the centre console to behind the steering wheel, allowing for more storage in the open console area.

The Kona EV also comes with over-the-air (OTA) software updates and can be locked, unlocked, and started via NFC on smartphones or smartwatches. It I also the first Hyundai model to apply the new Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) which provides advanced graphics and perfect unity among vehicle displays.

The Kona EV is also equipped with the next level of Hyundai Smart Sense ADAS features which aside from the usual acronyms like other manufacturers’ ADAS offers the following:

• Forward Collision-avoidance Assist 2.0 (FCA 2.0) provides evasive steering, junction crossing, lane change ongoing, and lane change side lane
• Highway Driving Assist 2 (HDA 2) helps drivers maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead and assists by overtaking slower vehicles in front

Prices for the 2023 Hyundai Kona EV have not been announced yet though it mentioned Korea, Europe, and North America as some of the markets it will be launched in. Back home in Malaysia, the previous generation Kona EV is still on sale here with three variants:

• Kona e-lite 39.2 kWh – RM 156,538
• Kona e-plus 39.2 kWh – RM 176,838
• Kona e-max 64 kWh – RM 208,348

Also read: Hyundai's delivered close to 200 EVs in Malaysia, takes owners on a drive to celebrate