Kona wins a new electric award

Hyundai’s Kona Electric has won the Best Small Family Car category in the inaugural TopGear Electric Awards.

Others among the 10 category winners included the new Renault Zoe (Best Supermini).

The Kona Electric SUV showcased its strengths on a 1600km road trip across nine European countries, commended for its efficiency and long-distance capability and for its smooth and effortless performance.

During the 24-hour drive late in 2019, BBC TopGear magazine’s editor-in-chief Charlie Turner used the European rapid charger network to supply the Kona Electric with 316kWh, choosing to charge to 80% capacity to maximise driving time.

The trip started in the Czech Republic and included Austria, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Holland and Belgium.

“Whilst we find ourselves in lockdown, having the freedom to travel through as many countries as you want is the stuff of distant dreams,” Turner says.

“It’s reassuring, however, to know that as electrification becomes an ever growing part of our vehicular future, cars like the 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.”

Hyundai Motor UK managing director Ashley Andrew says that since its launch in 2018, the Kona Electric has proved to be an affordable all-rounder which combines practicality with range and performance.

“Charlie’s trip was in the extreme but as many customers already know, Kona Electric easily meets the demands of the real world.

“We are proud to add this Top Gear Electric Award to Kona Electric’s existing tally of accolades and I’m sure I’m not alone in hoping that we can all get back on the road soon to enjoy more zero emission motoring.”