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Just picked up our Kona Ultimate today. Nice car, similar setup and systems to Genesis. Initial observations are it’s quite nice! Like the range, oodles of tech and the display. Much quieter and refined than BMW I3s (not as quick tho). Seats very comfortable and I do appreciate a sunroof. Slightly disappointed no special place to store charging cable. Also I don’t think it quite has 1 pedal driving which I like ie it will not pull to an absolute stop if you pull your foot off the accelerator. Dealer great, handover easy. Pics tomorrow
Welcome to the Kona Electric “Club”
I’ve just rang up and inquired about my kona order after 8 months (it was due this month) unfortunately its not even in production yet. So I’m thinking I’m looking at at least 3 months plus. Very disappointing but what can you do. I’m considering to cancel and get a mg4 now as they are two months wait only apparently.
Its a difficult decision.
Last night I charged to 100% battery in preparation for a long trip. The car shows 297 miles, which the computer calculates from an average of the previous weeks driving. If it is showing almost 300 at the end of meteorological Winter, hopefully the mid 300´s will return in spring?
We collected our Kona today, pretty much three weeks to the day since it arrived in the country. We got incredibly lucky to get an absolute diamond of a motability specialist who helped us to get someone else’s cancelled order (incredibly quickly judging by some of the wait times I’ve seen here). Really happy with the car so far, it’s a lovely smooth ride, really quite speedy off the mark. My wife’s absolutely in love with it.
Excellent news! Very pleased for you. What colour did you get? It is really good news to hear that there is movement at Tilbury of the Konas that came in on the Boheme. Hopefully it will not be too long before I am getting to know my mine. Enjoy your Kona.
Excellent news
I was checking the efficiency today and since the last charge it is averaging 307 miles, incredible in winter.
Hi all, first time posting here. Our Kona arrived in the country at the beginning of the month and we’ve been waiting for it to leave Tilbury. I’ve been able to just kind of accept that we won’t know exactly when it’ll make it to the dealership, but my wife’s been chasing it up every other day since we found out it was on the way to the U.K.. Until this morning the answer from the dealership was just a flat ‘we don’t know’, but today we were told that a delivery order’s been generated, it’ll be on its way very soon and we’re looking at picking it up next Wednesday at the latest, worst case scenario. Whether or not any of that has any basis in reality? Only time will tell. Just thought I’d let you guys know that there seems to be some progress for this latest batch.
From experience, if the car arrives at the beginning of Feb, you can expect to get it towards the end of the month. The main thing, it’s here in the UK.
had the car a week now and only just notice it as one charing lead in boot no 3 pin plug one is that right as im sure the dealer said it had 2
The 3 pin one should be in the lower boot area
This is a one off payment, originally set at £250 but increased to £750 from Feb 2023. Those of us who have had the £250 now have another £500 to look forward to, plus we also received £350 when the GCB changed. The money is nice and welcome, however, lower AP’s would seem more logical. I suspect this is MB’s way of disposing of some of the massive hoards of cash they are sitting on.
I have been interested to read peoples experience of ranges, 170 miles in an Enyaq on the motorway, the comments on the Soul above, the ID.3 comments detailing ranges of 220-280 typically with a WLTP of 336 and so on. Then I contrast with my experiences, up to 360 in the summer/autumn and the lowest. around 250 on a cold wet winters day on the motorway. Since the cold snap ended I am achieving around 4.7-4.8 which is over 300 miles per charge. This is based on a southern climate, perhaps driving style has something to do with it also, however, like ICE cars, certain cars perform better than the WLTP and others far worse.
Absolutely right, AtoB_Dude. The MPG figures quoted for PHEVs are meaningless. Everything depends on your own pattern of use. Most of our use is within the electric range of about 25 miles and I keep the car charged up every night, so I’m not using any petrol from day to day. Our last car the similarly performing 2 litre BMW X1 would have been doing mid to late 30s mpg for the same usage. On long journeys once the battery is used up the Volvo averages about 44mpg where our old BMW would be getting 48mpg or more. Pretty good for a car with the extra weight of the battery and motor. I’m happy that on balance using the Volvo saves us money compared with the X1, and I very much enjoy the quiet and effortless ride round town…
Best of both worlds, majority of the time, cheaper electric, and now and again petrol, similar to a BEV, cheap power most of the time, and for the odd long trip, more expensive electric plus a little inconvenience.
Does it boil down to the three C’s, Comfort, Convenience and Cost?
I think if we look at where electric cars are now compared to 5 years ago, there have been great strides. The key going forward will be better ranges, better economy and faster charging.
The argument if electric is the right way forward is another one. Governments have decided, right or wrong, this is the way forward and manufacturers have invested billions in research and development.
The calculation we all make, which will be different for everyone, is the 4th C, Compromise.
Given a choice between paying £200 for a flight to, say, the Canaries which arrives at 3 in the morning or £300 for one which arrives at 3 in the afternoon, opinion will be split. Likewise if electric is right or wrong.
As 2030 draws closer and the choice of ICE cars declines, all new car buyer will have to face the reality of the new situation. No choice. Electric or nothing. We tend to adapt to change, in terms of colour choices, trims etc. Hopefully ranges of 400+ will be the norm and maybe 500+ available too with fast charge top ups taking just a few minutes.
In relation to the Kona, which many of us have, I have noticed my “real” range has now edged over 300 in this milder, but still relatively cold weather.
Looking back a year or so when I placed the order for this, the then AP of £999 was a “bargain” compared to the other offerings. Most PHEV’s started around the £4k mark and similar ICE’s £1 to 2k typically. Although we have not covered a huge mileage, around 4k in just under 6 months, compared to our previous car we should save something like £1400 in fuel/energy this year.
I have read of many who, not being able to have a home charger, used various free chargers and were able to charge for 25p per kWh on fast ones. A year or so later, the free chargers are few and far between, and fast charger prices have more than doubled. There is a balance between price and convenience and that equation will be different for everyone. Having made a few trips to the outskirts of London, near lakeside, I am aware there are a dozen fast chargers at the services, another 8 or 10 nearby, another 2 at McDonalds, another 3 or 4 at Tesco. Travelling into East London I then passed several more. Where we live, 6 at two local supermarkets, 4 in the car park plus another 4 at the village car park a few miles away. Still some way to go. The worst time to charge is at weekends on the Motorway, either in the run up to Xmas or during the Easter or Summer holidays, I think we shall see lots of “petrol stations” with maybe 16 or 20 chargers, 150kWh or even 350kWh. Supermarkets will have 10 or 20, where currently there is one or two. This does need joined up writing, universal charging, not reliant on an RFID card and a proper strategy. For me, and I know for many, a home charger is essential, a red line, probably more important than range. If in 2026 it´s possible to find a rapid charger with relative ease, charge from 10-80% in 10/15 minutes and with ranges of 400+ miles the norm, at that stage it becomes viable for almost everyone.
I have read of many who, not being able to have a home charger, used various free chargers and were able to charge for 25p per kWh on fast chargers. A year or so later, the free chargers are few and far between, and charger prices have more than doubled. There is a balance between price and convenience and that equation will be different for everyone.
Having made a few trips to the outskirts of London, near lakeside, I am aware there are a dozen fast chargers at the services, another 8 or 10 nearby, another 2 at McDonalds, another 3 or 4 at Tesco. Travelling into East London I then passed several more. Where we live, 6 at two local supermarkets, 4 in the car park plus another 4 at the village car park a few miles away. Still some way to go. The worst time to charge is at weekends on the Motorway, either in the run up to Xmas or during the Easter or Summer holidays, I think we shall see lots of “petrol stations” with maybe 16 or 20 chargers, 150kWh or even 350kWh. Supermarkets will have 10 or 20, where currently there is one or two.
This does need joined up writing, universal charging, not reliant on an RFID card and a proper strategy.
For me, and I know for many, a home charger is essential, a red line, probably more important than range.
If in 2026 it´s possible to find a rapid charger with relative ease, charge from 10-80% in 10/15 minutes and with ranges of 400+ miles the norm, at that stage it becomes viable for almost everyone.
Interesting comments. At present, averaging 4.7miles since new per kWh at 7.5p equates to 1.67p per mile. On the motorway at between 55p and 75p, something like 15p. I have a friend who does lots of long journeys where electric would be a bit of a pain, but for the majority, range is rarely an issue. For me, it will depend on a number of factors in 2025, the cost of home charging, car availability and prices, but it would take something pretty spectacular to switch back to an ICE. Whereas I was seeing £150/175 a month on petrol, I can barely notice the difference in our electric bills, maybe £10/15 a month.
The issue with the new Chinese electric offerings is the unknown and reliability.
I don’t think thats so much the case, rather currently the lack of dedicated dealers. Nor do I think they are less or more reliable than there European counterparts. Its worth remembering Chinese cars currently have a bigger market in other countries such as Aussie than here or aany country with RHD. On top of that they will have to meet European standards before they are sold. Just cast your mind back when Hyundai first came to the UK!
Indeed or Datsun, as it then was.
Spoke to Hyundai today 64kw premium ordered 24th August Have been expecting to take delivery in May. Now not expecting it until mid July. A bit disappointing. In answer to my question “will it be the new version ” the reply was “you will get what you ordered” So Anthony car ordered the same day as you but mine will be the current model and two months later than yours. Never mind
It would be worth speaking to Hyundai supply to get the info first hand, sometimes dealers don’t actually know and guess.
At present its possible to buy am MG4 for around 32k for the top of the range Trophy, range 270 miles. Similar cars, the ID.3 and Kona are around the 40k mark. As a private buyer it could be difficult to justify the extra cost. The issue with the new Chinese electric offerings is the unknown and reliability.
Sorry if this is a dumb question from a complete newbie, but can you pt ex your old (own) car against a mobility car, is this done ? TIA,#.
You can, but be aware the price offered may not be that great. Its worth doing some homework on the various websites which buy cars. From memory we were offered £2k for ours, and sold it for almost £4k privately.
Hi all, You seem all very helpful and knowledgeable chaps, I wonder if I could pick your brains. This is our first motability car, and we are after an SUV with a very short lead time……Would anyone be able to give an opinion on the options we’ve narrowed down to: Seat Ateca – don’t know which version Kia Sportage ISG2 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 Nconnecta Mazda CX5 Then there’s also Tiguan, Tucson, 3008… I know virtually nothing about cars or the waiting times so even if we can strike one of the overly long list it would help….
If lead time is important, I would suggest calling a few dealers tomorrow and establish the lead times. Tell them its a Motability car as lead times can be shorter for private buyers. Having driven a Tuscon for 3 and 1/2 years, I would recommend this or the Sportage. I am a fan of the CX5, although some are not keen on the normally aspirated engines. The 3008 is a good drivers car, having had one as a loan car. Once you have the lead times and a shortlist, go and see them and test drive. Some cars seem great on paper, but on a test drive, less so. Good luck. Come back if you want more opinions or guidance.
