First Of Its Kind: The Hyundai Kona Sets The Tone For EV Safety In Australia

• The Kona Electric is priced in India at Rs 23.71 lakh (ex-showroom).
• The all-electric SUV coupe scored 14.97 out of 16.00 in the frontal offset crash test.
• The Kona Electric uses a 39.2kWh battery powering an electric motor good for 136PS/395Nm.

The Hyundai Kona Electric Vehicle (EV) has become the first EV to be crash tested in Australia, scoring an impressive 5 out of 5 stars. Tested by the Australian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP), the Kona Electric even bettered the standard Kona, which comes with an internal combustion engine. We’re not even going to mention the low scores four Indian hatchbacks including Hyundai’s own Santro managed in Global NCAP tests, just a day earlier. Closer home, Hyundai India had launched the Kona Electric with a price tag of Rs 25.30 lakh, which was later slashed to Rs 23.71 lakh (ex-showroom). Currently, the Kona EV belongs to a niche category with no competition, but that is set to change with the MG ZS EV, which is readying for its launch in India.

The petrol-powered Kona scored 5 stars when it was tested in 2017. ANCAP, as a part of an audit test, subjected the Kona Electric to a frontal offset crash test, in which it scored 14.97 out of 16.00, helping it receive a 5-star rating. The all-electric version also bettered its standard counterpart’s score of 14.07/16.00. The frontal offset test at 64kmph involves a simulated head-on collision with another vehicle of similar mass. 

ANCAP’s test result for the Australian Kona EV can also be used as a reference for the Indian version as it is brought to India in CKD (completely-knocked-down) form. Hyundai India claims a range of 452 km (Modified Indian Driving Cycle) for the Kona Electric, supported by its 39.2kWh battery. Its electric motor is rated to produce 136PS of power and 395Nm of torque with the zero to 100 kmph coming up in 9.7 seconds. The crossover-SUV also supports fast charging and with a 50kW charger, it takes 57 minutes to juice up from zero to 80 per cent charge.