Road test: the Hyundai Kona Electric is a palatable but pricey ride

The new Hyundai Kona Electric is a funny bundle of technology. Outwardly it looks like a humble, budget-priced estate and upon finding it has no combustion engine, being 100 per cent EV, it paints a picture of fairly mundane motoring, which as it turns out, is hardly the case.

Intuitive output

After some time spent living with this car, I found it to be one of the most driver-focused electric vehicles I’ve encountered, and it’s all to do with a pair of paddle shifts behind the steering wheel in the place you’d normally find the transmission shift levers.

In the Kona Electric, these are regen paddles to recover energy, which also slows the car down, acting like a hand-operated brake that allows you to modulate the car’s progress not just with the pedals at your feet, but also through these paddles.

Before you know it, and almost intuitively if you’re used to driving manual cars, you find you’re dancing between the pedals and the paddles, and suddenly the little Kona becomes an enjoyable, even involving, car to drive.

In Normal and Economy modes, it is possible to bring the car to a complete stop from 90kph using just the left paddle and not the brake pedal unlike other EVs

There are enough EVs in the market now to compare and contrast, and from my experience, the Kona Electric is the only one that has this hand-operated regen feature with others providing the energy recuperation through the drive modes that pre-install an amount of regen that comes back when you lift off the throttle.

In Normal or Economy modes, I found it was possible to bring the car to a complete stop from 90kph using just the left paddle and not the brake pedal, which in that time also recovered over one kilometre of energy to its range.

Very clever as this arrangement also gives the option to coast and not regen any energy if the driver doesn’t like the auto-braking feel that other EVs give when you lift off the throttle.

Hyundai claims the Kona has 480 kilometres of range from its 64kWh battery, which is similar to all Tesla models, the Jaguar I-Pace and the Nissan Leaf.

Importantly, though, while the Electric is just one model in the Kona range that includes conventional four-cylinder, petrol engines as well, this one is based on a skateboard chassis. Meaning that, crucially, this platform was originally designed with electric propulsion in mind and differs further, in that its battery is cooled by water rather than air.

Hot ride

A display showing the full range after charging the car in Dubai

I drove the Kona Electric in Australia in February for three weeks where temperatures hovered in the mid to high 30s before sampling an identical car (right down to the colour and trim) in the UAE this month, when temperatures peaked beyond 50°C and there were some notable differences.

In Dubai, after parking the Kona, the electric fans kicked in under the car to cool the batteries, while the nifty function of having air-conditioning just for the driver if you’re the only one in the car to save power, was actually better in these hotter climes as it directed 100 per cent of the cool air through to just the driver’s side vents.

While the battery range posted after a full charge was similar despite the temperature differences, the Australian car returned better range, needing just one full charge from the wall outlet after more than 550km of driving, compared to the UAE where I had the test car for four days but needed to plug it in overnight on day three to get it back to 100 per cent.

It was a reminder of how EVs are impacted by the Middle East heat, depleting their range compared to summer in other countries, even those that are considered warm regions.

Comfy (for two) cabin

The car has a roomy front but compact back and boot

The Kona Electric is comfortable and roomy enough in the front, though the rear seats are slightly cramped and the boot is compact, offering 332 litres of space. The rear seats fold to increase the capacity if needed, and for many, as a daily run-around, there's plenty of space for the weekly shop or weekend sport run.

The centre console has an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system with mapping that shows nearby charging stations as well as wireless smartphone charging that mirrors from both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. It also displays information showing how efficiently you're driving and how much energy is being recovered.

Drive modes

Its performance was surprisingly good and seemed better than the factory’s claim of 6.7 seconds from 0 to 100kph with power equivalent to 201bhp and 395Nm of torque. Impressively, it only takes 5.8 seconds to accelerate from 50kph to 115kph using the torque that is an EV’s forte, and it has a top speed of 167kph.

The Kona defaults to Economy mode with every start, and once curiosity has been satisfied trying Sport for better performance and even Normal, I struggle to think of any reason to touch the Driving Mode button at all. The throttle response in Eco is stifled for maximum efficiency, but that inadvertently results in better throttle modulation for smoother driving anyway.

In Sport mode, you can still invoke silly amounts of wheel spin, but a more sensible approach brings plenty of low-down grunt, especially around town, not to mention more kilometres between charges.

Price points

The Kona is a perfect case study showing the price penalty EV buyers pay over conventional combustion-engined cars. A regular Kona, powered by a 1.6-litre, four-cylinder engine retails for Dh62,000 ($16,882), whereas the Kona Electric tested here is identical but for its EV drivetrain, and has a list price of Dh162,000.

Buyers who choose an EV to contribute to a cleaner environment should definitely consider the Kona Electric, as it is a brilliant, engaging, comfortable and practical urban commuter. However, those looking to purchase an EV thinking they’ll save money by charging it at home or at the mall instead of a petrol station need to factor in that extra Dh100,000 for the privilege.

The specs

Engine: 94kWh single electric motor

Power: 201bhp

Torque: 395Nm

Price: Dh162,000

Green ambitions

Trees: 1,500 to be planted, replacing 300 felled ones, with veteran oaks protected
Lake: Brown's centrepiece to be cleaned of silt that makes it as shallow as 2.5cm
Biodiversity: Bat cave to be added and habitats designed for kingfishers and little grebes
Flood risk: Longer grass, deeper lake, restored ponds and absorbent paths all meant to siphon off water

Tips to keep your car cool

Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
Park in shaded or covered areas
Add tint to windows
Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Going grey? A stylist's advice

If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”