Kona Electric has been acknowledged as the Best Small Family Car in the inaugural TopGear Electric Awards, after it completed a 1,600-kilometres road trip across nine European countries.
Hyundai Motor’s fully electric SUV was not only commended for its efficiency and long-distance capability but also for its smooth and effortless performance.
The 24-hour-long drive took place in December 2019, with BBC TopGear magazine Editor-in-Chief Charlie Turner using the European rapid charger network to supply the Kona Electric with 316kWh of electricity, choosing to only charge to 80% capacity in order to maximise driving time. In total, nine countries were visited starting in the Czech Republic, with the 1,600-kilometre drive passing through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland.
Turner said that whilst we find ourselves in lockdown, having the freedom to travel through as many countries as you want is the stuff of distant dreams.
It’s reassuring, however, to know that as electrification becomes an ever growing part of our vehicular future, cars like Kona Electric can already deliver and whilst most won’t cover the miles in the way we did, we’ve proved that range anxiety shouldn’t play a part in long-distance travel.
According to Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice President for Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe, Kona Electric, following its launch in 2018, has continued to prove itself as an affordable zero-emission all-rounder, combining practicality with range and performance. He said that the most recent updates have brought enhanced connectivity and a three-phase on-board charger, making the overall package even more compelling.
We are delighted that TopGear has acknowledged the strengths of Kona Electric, adding to the many previous awards for this remarkable car.
Bang Sun Jeong, Vice President and Head of Middle East and Africa Operation, said the award is a recognition of Hyundai’s desire to introduce zero emissions mobility while also meeting consumer expectations when it comes to safety, comfort, and performance.
Kona has been widely praised for its long driving range, on-road performance, design and practicality and we hope to continue introducing more electric vehicles to the region in the near future.
For updates and more information about Kona Electric and other Hyundai cars available in Qatar, visit hyundai.com.qa.