My first experience behind the wheel of an all-electric vehicle came in the 2026 Hyundai Kona Electric, and thankfully, it was a very easy introduction to life without a gas tank.
The Kona Electric was comfortable, roomy, quiet and smooth almost immediately. There was no learning curve when it came to simply driving the car, which is probably one of the best compliments I can give an EV. Aside from the silence and the lack of traditional gear changes, it felt familiar enough to settle into quickly while still offering the novelty of something completely different.
Under the floor is a 64.8-kWh lithium-ion battery feeding a 150-kW electric motor that produces 201 horsepower. Power goes exclusively to the front wheels, and Hyundai estimates up to 420 kilometres of driving range on a full charge. For someone accustomed to watching a fuel gauge, I suddenly had a different number competing for my attention: battery percentage.
The Kona offers Comfort, Eco and Sport drive modes. Under normal circumstances, Sport would probably have been my first choice, but because this was my introduction to EV ownership habits, I found myself selecting Eco instead and becoming unusually invested in preserving every kilometre of available range.
It did not take long to understand why electric vehicles can be enjoyable in everyday traffic. Power arrives immediately and smoothly, without waiting for a transmission to downshift or an engine to build revs. The Kona is not trying to be a high-performance EV, but 201 horsepower is more than enough to make it feel responsive around town and when joining faster-moving traffic.
Regenerative braking also becomes part of the experience. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel allow the driver to adjust regeneration, while Hyundai’s i-Pedal system can provide near one-pedal driving. Instead of using the paddles to chase gears, they can now be used to put energy back into the battery. It is a slightly different definition of enthusiastic driving.
The cabin made an equally strong first impression. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control provided the sort of comfort that matters in Canada, while Hyundai’s 12.3-inch infotainment system with navigation gave the dashboard a clean, modern appearance. A separate 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster displays driving and battery information directly ahead of the driver. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Hyundai’s Bluelink connected vehicle system are also included.
It featured the power tilt-and-slide sunroof, along with LED headlights and daytime running lights. The overall interior is functional rather than extravagant, but it uses its space well. One of the surprises was how roomy the Kona felt considering its relatively compact exterior dimensions. There was enough space to feel comfortable without making the vehicle cumbersome in tighter parking lots or suburban streets.
The model I drove also appeared to be equipped with Hyundai’s Ultimate Package, judging by features such as the Blind View Monitor. That system displays a live camera image of the vehicle’s blind spot in the digital gauge cluster when the turn signal is activated. It is one of those features that can sound unnecessary until you actually use it, particularly in busy multi-lane traffic. The Ultimate package also adds a Surround View Monitor, Remote Smart Parking Assist, ventilated front seats and additional parking sensors.
The broader safety package is extensive. Standard systems include Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with pedestrian, cyclist and junction detection, Blind-Spot Collision Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Following Assist, Smart Cruise Control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist. The latter combines adaptive cruise and lane-centering assistance to reduce some of the workload during highway driving, while still requiring the driver to remain attentive.
Of course, my first EV experience also included the part everyone eventually asks about: charging.
This required more adjustment than driving the car itself.
On a Sunday night in the suburbs, I found myself looking for a Level 3 DC fast charger and quickly realized that EV ownership rewards a little more advance planning than simply waiting until the warning light comes on and pulling into the nearest gas station.
Hyundai says the Kona Electric can charge from approximately 10 to 80 per cent in about 43 minutes using a Level 3 charger rated above 100 kW. Using an 11-kW Level 2 AC charger, a full recharge takes approximately six hours. Actual charging speed varies with battery temperature, charger output, weather and the battery’s existing state of charge.
That Sunday-night search was a useful reminder that the charging network still matters. At home with regular Level 2 charging, most daily driving would likely involve starting the morning with plenty of range. When relying entirely on public charging, however, knowing where the chargers are becomes another part of planning the trip.
Still, it did not overshadow the things I enjoyed most about the Kona.
The ride was comfortable, the cabin was quiet and the instant response of the electric motor made everyday driving smooth and effortless. There was also something satisfying about passing gas stations without needing to look at the price board, particularly when fuel prices seem determined to provide their own weekly entertainment.
The Kona Electric also occupies an interesting place in the Canadian EV market because it does not feel like a technology experiment. It is fundamentally a small, practical crossover that happens to be electric. There is useful cargo space, room for five passengers, familiar controls and enough range to handle the majority of daily driving without much thought.
Hyundai currently lists the 2026 Kona Electric from $43,999 MSRP before additional fees, with Preferred, Trend and Ultimate configurations available.
After my first experience with an electric vehicle, I came away pleasantly surprised. There were certainly new habits to learn. I paid far more attention to battery percentage than I ever would have expected, voluntarily drove around in Eco mode and discovered that finding a fast charger late on a Sunday evening can become its own little adventure.
But the actual driving experience required almost no adjustment at all.
The 2026 Hyundai Kona Electric was comfortable, practical and genuinely enjoyable to drive. If this was my introduction to electric motoring, it was a pretty convincing first impression.