Even though the Bolt EV looks like a high-riding hatchback and the Kona Electric like a hunkered-down crossover with quirky styling, the two are direct competitors in the subcompact segment. And according to Edmunds, the South Korean interloper is better than the rival from General Motors.
Dan Edmunds said “this could be the worst seat I’ve sat in that’s on sale today,” referring to the Bolt EV. The underbody of the car also happens to look like an afterthought when compared to the Kona Electric, and the “interior feels just kind of cheap.”
The biggest problem with the cabin of the Bolt EV, however, is the light color of the dashboard that reflects into the windshield. The front seats also happen to be on the narrow side, but on the other hand, both reviewers found out the Chevrolet has more rear legroom than the Hyundai.
Chevrolet still doesn’t offer adaptive cruise control on the Bolt EV, and as ever, the fast-charging system is an optional extra that adds $750 to the retail price. Adding insult to injury, the twist-beam rear axle makes the ride less sophisticated than that of the Kona Electric.
Prices for the Hyundai haven’t been announced for the U.S. market, but a well-equipped trim with the 64-kWh battery should cost less than $40,000. The 7.2-kW onboard charger makes it possible to fill ‘er up in nine hours and 35 minutes from a 240-volt charger, and as expected, the Kona Electric is also compatible with CCS 100-kW fast charging.
The Environmental Protection Agency claims the Kona Electric has the advantage in terms of range (258 miles), and that’s impressive considering the curb weight (1,760 kilograms or 3,880 pounds) of the Hyundai. The lightest configuration of the Bolt EV, on the other hand, tips the scale at 1,624 kilograms (3,580 pounds).
Before making a choice between these two, do take into consideration that the $7,500 federal tax credit will shrink to $3,750 for the Bolt EV next year, then to $1,875 after six months. Hyundai hasn’t sold as many electric vehicles in the United States as General Motors, which is why the Kona Electric is and will be eligible for the $7,500 government grant for years to come.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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