Does A $35,000 Electric SUV Has More Range Than Tesla Model 3?

The $35,000 Hyundai Kona Electric car probably has a more real-world battery range than the much powerful and expensive Tesla Model 3.

The Hyundai Kona is one of the most underestimated electric SUVs. It generates enough power and has a real-world electric range rivaling the likes of the Model 3 Standard Range Plus.

The YouTube channel, Forrest Auto Reviews, recently did a range test of the Hyundai Kona EV. The results of the test are sure enough to put a smile on the face of every person looking to buy an electric car.

Here’s the test video.

$35,000 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV Range Beats Tesla Model 3

Forrest Jones, the owner of the Hyundai Kona electric SUV, tested his EV’s range by taking it through the city, the highway, and through busy streets. In short, his test replicated real-world driving scenarios.

For your reference, aside from the electric version, the Hyundai Kona comes in a petrol and diesel variant as well. It is different than a Tesla, which is a car built straight up from the ground up to be electric.

Therefore, Hyundai Kona loses some features that other electric cars have, including a front trunk space. Despite Hyundai Kona being mostly a car with a retrofitted electric motor, it will perform exceptionally well.

Forrest started off with a 100% charge at an Electrify America station. The battery range indicated at this point is 285 miles, which is more or less similar to the EPA rating of Hyundai Kona electric SUV having a 66 kWh lithium-ion battery.

Forrest drove the Kona electric in ECO mode for two reasons. First, the ECO mode does not dull the power delivery as much as someone would expect. Second, it uses a maximum regen capability of 150 kW, which extends the battery range and helps to avoid using the brake pedals.

According to Forrest, the ECO mode in Hyundai Kona is similar to a Sport mode in several other vehicles. The Kona has so much torque that it feels powerful even in ECO mode.

He also left cruise control ON for most of his trip. At his first stop after driving 51 miles, the Hyundai Kona was averaging a fuel economy of 4.9 miles/kWh. In his previous Audi e-Tron video, the car only averaged about 3 miles/kWh, which is pretty low.

After the trip, the Kona went to the highway, where it maintained a speed of 60-65 mph. By the end of the journey, the fuel efficiency was dropped down to 4.6 miles/kWh, and the car had traveled 112 miles in total.

After another trip of 42 miles, the total distance traveled was 154.2 miles, and consumption was the same at 4.6 miles/kWh.

After again a bunch of trips that stretched onto the next day, the Hyundai Kona finally came to a stop after traveling 299.9 miles.

For comparison, the EPA range of the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus is 258 miles, and it costs $39,990.

Hyundai Kona Electric: Secret To Battery Range

Throughout the test, Forrest wasn’t trying to hyper-mile the Kona EV. Instead, he drove it exactly how any of us would go around driving, which is a bit above the speed limit.

Despite that, the Hyundai Kona managed to go 300 miles on a single charge. Well, a couple of factors are at play here.

First, Forrest tested the Hyundai Kona in warm weather, which required no additional effort to keep the battery cool or warm.

The other reason was the ECO mode, which kept the regenerative braking at the maximum all the time and ended up extending the overall range.

The third reason is the Hyundai Kona drivetrain. It is a front-wheel-drive car and therefore designed for efficiency in mind. Sure, it’s 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds, but its front-wheel drivetrain focuses on efficiency rather than performance.

You don’t get the handling of a Tesla in a Hyundai Kona, but it is an excellent electric car for the majority of people.