The automobile market has expanded dramatically over the past decade. At first, the most popular electric vehicle to buy was the automobile, which was soon eclipsed by a barrage of Teslas in the years to come. Then, Hyundai started releasing cars like the Kona EV to provide more affordable EV options.
We’ve had the opportunity to test the Hyundai Kona EV and, most recently, the Nissan LEAF. Here is a real world comparison of the two.
The Kona EV felt a little stronger.
This makes sense considering the Kona EV’s 150 kW produces 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque compared to the Leaf’s 110 kW engine. The LEAF makes 147 hp and 236 lb-ft, which on paper doesn’t seem like such a huge shortage, but you can definitely feel the extra power when you bury the Kona EV’s throttle.
The Hyundai Kona EV looks more upscale than the Nissan LEAF
Considering that it has been around for over a decade, you would think it would be up to today’s tech standards. However, we found the LEAF’s infotainment system to be dated compared to other Hyundai Kona EVs. Hyundai’s touchscreen is more attractive, and the audio system has six speakers versus four.
As for the rest of the cabin, the Nissan LEAF’s fabric seats are comfortable, but the interior feels a bit more like a rental car than a Kona. The Kona offers smooth brushed aluminum surfaces and soft-touch materials, which make it feel worth its slightly higher price tag on the LEAF.
Both cars are easy to charge, but the Nissan Leaf charges faster
When it comes to cargo, the Nissan Leaf takes the cake. Mainly because it has a smaller 62kWh battery compared to the 64kWh unit. But anyway, we were able to charge the LEAF up to 95% from 24% (from 60 miles to 240 miles) in about an hour. This is mainly thanks to the vehicle’s CHadeMO charging adapter, which delivers around 40 kW of power during a charging session.
During our time with the Hyundai Kona EV, we can only add about 34 miles to the Kona EV in the same amount of time. Sure enough, the charger we hooked it up to only delivers 5.8 kWh of power, which is way less.
Fortunately, Hyundai says the Kona EV can charge up to 80% in an hour when using a 50kW charger if you can find one in the wild. All things considered, this means that both cars are similar when it comes to charging times.
2023 Nissan Leaf vs. Hyundai Kona EV Comparison: Which Electric Car Should You Consider?
When it comes to electrified small hatchbacks, we recommend checking out the 2023 Hyundai Kona over the Nissan Leaf. Although both cars are similar when it comes to power, comfort, amenities, and charge times, we think the Kona offers a better value by a small margin.
It’s worth noting that the Hyundai Kona EV costs a bit more if you opt for the Limited ($41,000 versus $37,000 for the LEAF SV Plus). But we think it’s worth the extra cost, especially if you can qualify for the federal rebate.
