Hyundai Kona Electric vs Audi e-tron

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric was admired for its distinctive "bulldog" appearance, characterized by its short and stout build with minimal rear overhang. It managed to strike a balance between looking tough and friendly. For 2022, Hyundai introduced new wheels and updated the front and rear bumpers, enhancing its visual appeal. The Ultimate trim, with its Surfy Blue paint and 17-inch alloy wheels, was particularly eye-catching, though the abundance of blue was notable. The Kona Electric's interior was praised for its simplicity and usability, with physical controls that were intuitive and familiar. The unconventional shifter design was self-explanatory, and the centre console was functional, featuring storage bins and a 10.25-inch touchscreen display in the Ultimate trim. Despite its compact size, the Kona Electric offered good visibility and a comfortable front seating area, with leather-trimmed seats and additional features in the Ultimate trim.

The 2023 Audi e-tron Sportback, positioned between the Q5 and Q7, was Audi's first long-range electric vehicle, offering a range of over 300 kilometres. The Sportback version, with its coupe-like roofline, was reviewed for its balanced and graceful styling. It featured Audi's signature Singleframe grille, matrix-design LED headlights, and S-line styling details. The Technik trim showcased Turbine-design 22-inch wheels and orange brake calipers, adding to its visual appeal. The interior was high-tech, with three display screens and minimal physical controls, exuding quality and innovation. The e-tron Sportback offered a luxurious cabin with features like a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, and high-quality materials. Despite losing some rear-seat headroom and cargo space compared to the standard e-tron, it remained spacious for five passengers and their luggage.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric was equipped with a 150-kW electric motor and a 64-kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering 201 horsepower and 291 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels. This front-wheel-drive setup made it quick and enjoyable to drive, especially in urban settings. It boasted a Natural Resources Canada-estimated efficiency of 1.8 city, 2.2 highway, and 2.0 combined litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres, with a total driving range of 415 kilometres on a single charge. However, charging times were less impressive, with a 7.2 kW onboard charger taking over nine hours for a full charge on a level 2 home charger. Fast charging from 10 to 80 percent took 47 minutes at a 100-kW station. The Kona Electric offered three drive modes—Eco, Comfort, and Sport—and maintained composure in corners, thanks to its short wheelbase and substantial torque. Despite its heavy curb weight, the suspension effectively absorbed bumps, and the battery warmer system helped in cold weather.

The 2023 Audi e-tron featured dual electric motors, creating a Quattro all-wheel-drive system with a 95-kWh battery pack. It produced 355 horsepower and 414 pound-feet of torque, with a driving range of 364 kilometres (362 km for the Sportback). In Boost mode, it delivered 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. The e-tron had a towing capacity of 1,814 kilograms. It offered multiple driving modes, including Efficiency, Comfort, Auto, Dynamic, and Individual, along with adaptive air suspension settings. Charging took about 10 hours with a 240-volt, 9.6 kW Level 2 home charger, while a 150-kW DC fast charger could replenish the battery from five to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. The e-tron demonstrated excellent driving dynamics, with quick steering, flat cornering, and outstanding grip. However, the brake-by-wire system was occasionally tricky, and the regenerative braking required active management. The e-tron also featured a proactive driving assist function for added safety.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric offered reasonable headroom, with 1,005 millimetres in the front (965 mm with the sunroof) and 957 mm in the rear. Front legroom was ample at 1,054 mm, but rear passengers had only 848 mm. Cargo space was limited, with 544 litres behind the rear seat and 1,296 litres with the rear seat folded. Despite its compact dimensions, the Kona Electric made efficient use of storage cubbies and compartments, accommodating road-trip essentials. However, it couldn't tow, limiting its utility as a hauler.

The 2023 Audi e-tron Sportback provided a whisper-silent interior, thanks to its electric drivetrain and dual-pane acoustic glass. The Technik trim featured ambient lighting, a power panoramic sunroof, and a luxurious Okapi Brown leather interior. Front seats were 18-way power-adjustable with heating, ventilation, and massage functions. The four-zone climate control system effectively managed hot temperatures, and preconditioning allowed for cabin comfort before driving. Rear-seat room was good, though the seat cushion was mounted low. Practical storage was mixed, with small centre console bins but large front door pockets. The power rear liftgate revealed a 770-litre trunk, expandable to 1,543 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric featured a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in the Preferred trim. The Ultimate trim offered a 10.25-inch display, though it lacked wireless connectivity. Dual USB ports were standard, with an additional USB outlet for rear passengers in the Ultimate trim. The Kona Electric also included a digital key app for remote access and a Harmon Kardon premium audio system in the Ultimate trim. A 10.25-inch digital driver information display complemented the infotainment system.

The 2023 Audi e-tron boasted advanced technology, with a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus digital instrumentation and an MMI touchscreen infotainment system. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, Audi Connect services, and a navigation system with Google-sourced satellite imagery. The voice recognition system was accurate, though occasionally slow. The MMI data panel provided range optimization tips, and the climate control panel offered touch-sensing sliders. The test vehicle featured a 16-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, though it lacked the usual immersive quality. Additional tech included wireless charging, a head-up display, parking sensors, and a top-view camera system.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features under the SmartSense umbrella. These included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-following assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, blind-spot warning and collision avoidance, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Ultimate trim added front parking sensors, high beam assist, and Highway Driving Assist technology. While the Kona Electric hadn't been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, the gas-powered Kona received top scores from IIHS.

The 2023 Audi e-tron Sportback Technik was equipped with a full array of safety features, including collision preparation and avoidance systems, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and active driver assistance systems. These systems could be adjusted for sensitivity and turned on or off. The adaptive cruise control with lane-centring assist was effective on highways, though steering assistance could be intrusive on twisty roads. During testing, an unwarranted forward-collision warning and automatic braking event occurred, highlighting a potential issue with the system. The e-tron received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and a five-star safety rating from NHTSA.