The 2026 Model From Hyundai Kona EV Only Has 1 Variant Left, What's Wrong?

Kona EV 2025. (Photo: Hyundai USA)

JAKARTA Hyundai took bold steps against Kona EV for the 2026 model. The compact electric car is now only available in one trim, SE, with a Standard Range battery with a capacity of 48.6 kWh.

With this decision, consumers can no longer choose long-range or trim premium variants such as CELL, N Line, or Limited. The decision is considered as Hyundai's strategy to reduce costs while maintaining the sustainability of Kona EV in the midst of intense competition in the global electric car market.

In terms of performance, Kona EV 2026 carries an electric motorbike with a power of 133 hp and a torque of 188 lb-ft, which is able to cover a distance of about 322 km per charge based on EPA estimation. The fast charging feature is also still available, with a capacity of up to 100 kW.

Reporting from Insideevs, Thursday, October 2, charging time from 10 to 80 percent is estimated to take about 43 minutes. Hyundai does not forget the comfort support feature. Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) technology is now present as a standard, although users still need additional adapters.

In addition, parts of the console are also redesigned with wider storage space. Even so, Kona EV's future is still full of challenges.

Its presence will compete fiercely with the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt EV which offer a more friendly price with a longer distance. The official price of Kona EV 2026 has not been announced, but if it is still around USD 34,470, or around IDR 565 million, Hyundai must rack its brains so that this product remains in demand.