The new Hyundai Kona is undoubtedly one of the best electric SUVs in its segment, even if it has not evolved that much technically compared to the previous generation. The good news is that it still has rather attractive monthly payments, but on closer inspection, is it really?
Among the safe values on the automotive market today, the Hyundai Kona Electric is certainly at the top of the list. Proof of this is, with the arrival of the new generation last year, the Korean manufacturer did not necessarily consider it useful to make many technical modifications to its model, already particularly ahead of its time when the first generation was released. released in 2018.
Even if the competition has become particularly strong since this date, with technical characteristics which approach, or even exceed, those of the Kona in an equivalent segment, the Korean SUV remains a benchmark in its segmentespecially since it still benefits from a significant advantage in France, namely the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros due to its manufacturing within the Prague factory, in the Czech Republic.
It is in particular thanks to this famous bonus that Hyundai can afford to offer a Kona in LLD from 239 euros per monthor a more than interesting rent since the Renault 5 E-Tech, certainly only available at the top of the range at the time of writing these lines, is priced from 280 euros per month, while it is placed in the city car segment.
The Hyundai Kona offered at 239 euros per month
The range is rather quite extensive for the Kona Electric, with no less than three finishes and two batteries. It is becoming rather rare in this type of segment to have the choice of battery, with brands preferring to rationalize everything with a single battery and a single engine.
In the case of our offer at 239 euros per month, this is the entry-level “Intuitive” finish. But as you are aware with Asian manufacturers, entry-level finishes are particularly well equippedevidenced by the main equipment available:
- Hands-free access and keyless start
- Front and rear parking assistance
- Automatic switching on of lights
- Active highway driving assistance
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- Active Lane Keeping Assist
- Reversing camera with dynamic guide lines
- Dual-zone automatic climate control with “Driver Only” function and automatic windshield defogging sensor
- 12.3 inch digital counters
- LED front lights
- Autonomous emergency braking (vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists, intersections)
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control
- Driver’s seat with electric lumbar support
- Battery pre-conditioning system
- Europe navigation system with remote update program and Hyundai Live services (traffic, fuel, parking, weather, points of interest and danger zones)
The Kona offers two batteries: 48.4 and 65.8 kWh, the first is an LG NMC type battery claiming a range of 377 km according to the WLTP cycle, and the second between 454 and 514 km, depending on the size of the rims. The smallest accumulator has an electric motor positioned at the front of 156 hp, while the largest has the right to the same engine, but with 217 hp. For direct current (DC) fast charging, the Kona Electric displays a charging power of 102 kWwhich is in the low average for the category, or at the same level as a Peugeot e-208 for example.
Obviously, the model that interests us has the small battery with the 156 hp engine. In terms of configuration, you won’t have much choice if you want to stay at 239 euros per month, since each option will increase the bill. Note, however, that the free color is rather nice, since it is red in the photo.
What are the conditions to be eligible for the Hyundai Kona Electric LLD offer?
This is a long-term rental offer on 37 months and 10,000 kilometers per year, or 30,000 km in total. Hyundai indicates that the offer at 239 euros per month is submitted at a first rent of 9,200 euroswhich amounts to 3,700 euros once the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros and the 1,500 euros conversion bonus are removed.
To benefit from the conversion bonus, you must scrap an old diesel or gasoline model. The old scrapped vehicle must be a car or van whose gross vehicle weight does not exceed 3,500 kg. The date of first registration must be before 2011 for diesels and before 2006 for gasolines.
How much will the LLD of the Hyundai Kona Electric cost you?
Over three years of long-term rental, your Hyundai Kona Electric will cost you 12,304 euros. Hyundai displays its car from 36,850 euros on its site, ecological bonus of 4,000 euros and conversion bonus of 1,500 euros not deducted. Always considering that you are entering the correct tax regime. Thus, once all the aid has been deducted, we arrive at a price of 31,350 euros.
Starting from this price, you will pay over the three years of the rental 39% of the price of your car. This is a little more than the discount over three years for this type of car, since it stands at around 30-35% over this period. The demand for electricity continues to increase, this implies a certain stability of prices, even if the multiplication of models on the market should gradually reduce second-hand prices.
As the offer is not an LOA, there is no purchase option. It will therefore be necessary to return the car at the end of the financing.. Be careful of the restoration costs, since they can hurt, very hurt even financially speaking at the time of restitution.
We advise you to do this first at a small garage, as it will normally cost you less than at a dealership. On the other hand, if you take a vehicle back from your dealer after your LLD, they will also be a little less careful about the repair costs, particularly if a rim is damaged or if there are small scratches that can be easily erased.
Things to remember
At the start of the year, social leasing somewhat skewed the monthly payments that we were used to seeing. Indeed, we were able to see Citroën ë-C3s from 54 euros per month, Renault Twingo E-Techs at 40 euros per month or even Mégane E-Techs at 150 euros per month, which is undoubtedly enough to make get into people’s minds that electric cars on LLD can be very good deals. Which is indeed the case when they are heavily subsidized (up to 13,000 euros for the Citroën ë-C3!), and which is the case for the Kona Electric which interests us today.
Obviously, compared to what we have been used to seeing in recent months, a monthly payment of 239 euros for an electric car with, in addition, a contribution of 3,700 euros, this may seem a little above the average, but it is generally in the same waters as before these enormous subsidies due to social leasing and from which not everyone can benefit.
As we explained to you in a dedicated file a few days ago, there is also another reality to take into account, which is the drop in the residual values of cars. With a low residual value, this undeniably increases the monthly payments. And how do we know that the residual value is high? Simply looking at what you pay over three years of rental.
In this case, paying 39% of the price for the electric Kona is not really surprising, in any case much less than the 48% of the R5 E-Tech at 280 euros per month, but it also means that Hyundai especially anticipates a drop in used car prices over the next few years compared to today.
Let’s also not forget that long-term rental is interesting if you want to change cars regularly, without bothering with resale. Maintenance and warranty can be included throughout the duration of the financing, even if an electric car does not necessarily require the same maintenance intervals as a thermal model.
Globally, this offer is quite interesting, even if it only concerns the model with the smallest battery. The autonomy is also satisfactory for conventional use, even if the 400 km milestone is not reached, a rather psychological milestone for customers according to recent studies. For this, you will have to turn to the larger battery, but the monthly payments will also increase and will approach 400 euros per month.