Kona EV or ENiro

Baoithin66 · 09-04-2021 12:41pm #1

Hi I am trying to decide between a 2021 Kona EV or E Niro.

Switching from a CRV so I like the extra boot space in the Niro but I am being quoted 5K less for a Kona. Inclined to go with the Kona and if not happy the 5k saving will be used to trade again in a year or so.

09-04-2021 12:52pm

Baoithin66 wrote: »

Hi I am trying to decide between a 2021 Kona EV or E Niro.

Switching from a CRV so I like the extra boot space in the Niro but I am being quoted 5K less for a Kona. Inclined to go with the Kona and if not happy the 5k saving will be used to trade again in a year or so.

You know already what you want so go for it, personally I think the E_Niro is a nicer car, more space.

Better to have the boot space than want it.

slave1 · 09-04-2021 12:56pm

Go look at both, the eNiro is a decent size, the Kona is tiny.
I had a CRV as my last car, we were spoiled with space.

Baoithin66 · 09-04-2021 1:02pm

yeah CRV has me spoiled but 99% of the time it is just myself in it and golf clubs at weekends (when there was golf)!

slave1 · 09-04-2021 1:05pm

Baoithin66 wrote: »

yeah CRV has me spoiled but 99% of the time it is just myself in it and golf clubs at weekends (when there was golf)!

Snap!!! Having looked at both Kona and eNiro went for used Model S, still electric and bags of room as I can't stand having to take the rear seats down for the golf gear.
Way cheaper than Kona/Niro

09-04-2021 1:06pm

Baoithin66 wrote: »

yeah CRV has me spoiled but 99% of the time it is just myself in it and golf clubs at weekends (when there was golf)!

There's the id.3 to think about now too, not sure if the Kona boot would be larger than the id.3 boot from what I remember ?

slave1 · 09-04-2021 1:12pm

Lower spec'd ID3's not great at all, the Kona/eNiro a lot more, stuff like reversing cameras and parking sensors missing is typical VW basic trims.
If you don't need or like them then good but a lot expect this in a car, not even mentioning steel wheels!

Baoithin66 · 09-04-2021 1:18pm

5k difference is a lot. Could use it to trade up the second car for when larger boot is needed -(shopping but really Golf)

eagerv · 09-04-2021 1:22pm

Deleted User wrote: »

There's the id.3 to think about now too, not sure if the Kona boot would be larger than the id.3 boot from what I remember ?

Boot size of the ID.3 is larger than the Kona

liamog · 09-04-2021 1:58pm

slave1 wrote: »

Lower spec'd ID3's not great at all, the Kona/eNiro a lot more, stuff like reversing cameras and parking sensors missing is typical VW basic trims.
If you don't need or like them then good but a lot expect this in a car, not even mentioning steel wheels!

When you go up to the ID.3 spec priced at the same level as the Kona and eNiro the equipment is more comparable.

09-04-2021 2:34pm

The id.3 tech is around 40 K same as the e-niro, has the travel assist too ( the auto steer on the motorway thing )

Decent spec + much faster charging with "rumours" that VW is going to increase charging power later in the year but as it stands now the id.3 would charge a lot faster when you need it and can charge at a high power charger but the e-niro would have more range because it has a larger battery so swings and roundabouts.

The id.3 Tour will be available soon as a 5 seater with the larger battery which should get over 350 Kms probably 400 Kms easy off the motorway.

sebdavis · 09-04-2021 4:01pm

Leave them all and buy the ID.4
You are looking at Crossover and might as well buy the best available. I parked my old Golf beside the eNiro and not much difference in the height. i test drove the eNiro and it was nice car so don't get me wrong.
I did sit into the Kona, now it was the combustion version but no chance I would buy one.

DrPhilG · 09-04-2021 5:51pm

The Kona is a shoe box. Even if my i3 seems bigger inside.

Baoithin66 · 09-04-2021 7:11pm

Thanks for replies .
Test drove the Kona. Lovely car to drive, good value and comfortable but comments re space are correct. Front is fine but rear room is very poor as is the boot. Try the Niro tomorrow but may hold out for the ID4 or the new EV6/Ioniq 5

09-04-2021 7:53pm

id.4 is nice but expensive with decent kit and to get travel assist you have to spend 54K.

I do like the id.4 a lot but the infotainment and screen is p1ssing a lot of people off, I hope they can fix it.

sebdavis · 09-04-2021 8:12pm

Baoithin66 wrote: »

Thanks for replies .
Test drove the Kona. Lovely car to drive, good value and comfortable but comments re space are correct. Front is fine but rear room is very poor as is the boot. Try the Niro tomorrow but may hold out for the ID4 or the new EV6/Ioniq 5

Is it not cheap plastic hell? The combustion model I sat into was

09-04-2021 8:18pm

The Kona I drove was extremely noisy. Maybe newer ones are quieter ?

Baoithin66 · 09-04-2021 8:38pm

Compared to CRV diesel I found the cabin noise level to be good-I think most SUV's have a certain amount of road noise. Finish wise it is ok I liked the screen and instrument layout-plastic finish did not really bother me.

DrPhilG · 09-04-2021 9:10pm

sebdavis wrote: »

Is it not cheap plastic hell? The combustion model I sat into was

Kona that I sat in was a horrible plastic mess yeah. Night and day compared to the Niro interior.

ewj1978 · 10-04-2021 1:04am

aye, test drove a kona. small, plastic terrible place to spend your time

wheres me jumpa · 10-04-2021 8:59pm

In a similar boat at the moment. Test drove ID3 and E-Niro. Much preferred E-Niro.

Test drive 2008 on Tuesday but it looks very small. Want to drive the Kona but the space comments suggest it's a non runner.

Baoithin66 · 11-04-2021 12:10am

I looked at the 2008.Nice design but every bit as small as the Kona and less range.

11-04-2021 11:18am

wheres me jumpa wrote: »

In a similar boat at the moment. Test drove ID3 and E-Niro. Much preferred E-Niro.

Test drive 2008 on Tuesday but it looks very small. Want to drive the Kona but the space comments suggest it's a non runner.

What about id.3 + it charges faster on DC ? I think the interior of the e-niro is a lot better than the id.3 but id.3 can be got I think now with different seat fabric/colours.

fits · 11-04-2021 1:43pm

Would you consider the soul? Just wondering why it’s not a factor.

wheres me jumpa · 12-04-2021 5:51pm

Deleted User wrote: »

What about id.3 + it charges faster on DC ? I think the interior of the e-niro is a lot better than the id.3 but id.3 can be got I think now with different seat fabric/colours.

E-Niro just feels bigger. I am also interested in the ID4 now as it looks like the cheaper trims are available.

<40k is the budget.

Summer8181 · 12-04-2021 11:42pm

ID4 stats for who is interested

My cost was €18 for 67 kWh. 22kWh charger but took 6 hours.

8.50 for 28kWh using 50kWh charger. Took 45 minutes.

Battery was 65% and probably wasn't that hot. Cold outside but I drove average 105km per hour for 1 hour

innrain · 13-04-2021 9:42am

Summer8181 wrote: »

ID4 stats for who is interested

My cost was €18 for 67 kWh. 22kWh charger but took 6 hours.

8.50 for 28kWh using 50kWh charger. Took 45 minutes.

Battery was 65% and probably wasn't that hot. Cold outside but I drove average 105km per hour for 1 hour

That is pretty much right. @22kW AC the car charges max 11kW *6 h = 66kWh

@ DC the charging is not linear when going at higher states. Here is the curve https://support.fastned.nl/hc/en-gb/articles/360016837758-Charging-with-a-Volkswagen-ID-4
If you want to maximize the charging time move on after 85%

However, you're average charging speed of 37.3 kW is not bad. I assume you have a 77 kWh battery and the 28kWh represent 36% telling me you've charged up to nearly 100%.
Next time you go to a 50kW DC aim to be below 40% and you'll get full speed.

sean72 · 29-09-2021 9:40am

I'm trying to decide between the Kona and the e-niro at the moment. Apart from the room the e-niro seems better spec'd from what I am reading. 11kw charging v 7, smart cruise control v standard being two of the most significant. I have also looked at the ID-3 but the standard spec doesn't look as good and the 'add ons' are head wrecking. Have VW ironed out all the software bugs?

I have been driving the ioniq 28kw for the last 2.5 years seamlessly but just need more range, otherwise I'd never let it go.

DrPhilG · 29-09-2021 9:45am

E-Niro over Kona all day long. For the reasons you mentioned, plus the size inside is a vast improvement. Kona is matchbox sized.

ID3, well I just bought one. The software bugs are pretty much ironed out. Still a lot of irritating software design flaws though. But the upside is that VW can provide OTA updates to adjust these. Whether they will bother is another story.

irishgrover · 29-09-2021 11:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117952960#Comment_117952960

I was in the same position (ioniq 28) and looking at the same solution (Kona V Niro or possibly IDx)

I ended up going for the Soul because

a.) I don't mind the looks

b.) The kona was too small on the inside

c.) The utilitarian shape of the soul suited me better. Specifically I don't regularly need a bidder boot, day to day. However with the seats down the Soul is much better at carrying big or bulky items such as ebike (due to the boxy arse)

d.) Most importantly the spec on the Soul is just significantly better than either the Kona or the Niro.

e.) I discounted the IDs because getting a similar spec was stupid money.

NOTE: Unless you buy a tesla or another ioniq you will initially fixate about how poor the efficiency is, especially at hight speed. This will pass :-)

sean72 · 29-09-2021 12:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117953405#Comment_117953405

Yeah the Soul was on the list at one stage but the looks sorta got to me. What other things in terms of spec does the Soul have over the other that might sway me again?

irishgrover · 29-09-2021 1:15pm

off the top of my head, what was important to me (and some bits of this might be on the other cars)

electric lumbar support on drivers side (very important as I have a shite back)
large 10in display (also available on newer Niro's, I think)
heated leather seats / steering wheel (I prefer headed seats/wheel over using general heating)
Motorised driver seat (although no presets like the Ioniq 28 Premium SE)
Heads up display (pop up, not windscreen direct, but still very good with info on Speed/SatNav/BSD/Radio etc)
10 speaker harden karmen (I spent a lot of time in the car, and listen to a lot of music - so this was a very big selling point)
supports the EVO app (as do the newer Niros)

Tony H · 30-09-2021 3:33pm

wife got a Kona at the start of the month , traded in a kia xceed phev and hasen't spopped driving it since , 4000km

electric lumbar support on drivers side (very important as I have a shite back) Kona has this

large 10in display (also available on newer Niro's, I think) Kona has this

heated leather seats / steering wheel (I prefer headed seats/wheel over using general heating) Kona has this

10 speaker harden karmen (I spent a lot of time in the car, and listen to a lot of music - so this was a very big selling point) Kona has a 10 speaker Krell system

supports the EVO app (as do the newer Niros) kona has blue connect , which works really well , open and lock , programme charge , send directions to car directly , it even indirectly helped a Tesla driver at junction 14 the other night , we pulled in to charge on the way back from Belfast to top up and the tesla had locked itself with the keys and inside and cable locked insitu due to a power outage at the charger ,

I said cant you use the app to unlock it as I was passing being the knowlegible old fogey that I am , he did'nt know you could do this and was able to unlock the car by using the app and got everything sorted ,

anyway found the Kona to be a great drive (according to the wife anyway ) and the only handy gadget missing in my opinion are the front parking sensors which our(my wifes) last few cars had

daheff · 11-10-2021 7:42pm

Have a Niro Phev.... nothing but problems with it. If it worked ok then I'd recommend it...but sadly (at least for me) reliability and dealer support just isn't there.

graememk · 11-10-2021 8:31pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006227#Comment_118006227

From your posts on the other eniro thread, Most, if not all your problems were with the petrol engine. And fixed under warranty?

I know you're frustrated with it - and I would be too, but its not the same car.

The ENiro and Kona have the same drivetrain and battery size (from different manufactures though) The body is the difference.

There has been one person that had 12v drain issues, that they never really got to the bottom of and he got a replacement instead.

daheff · 11-10-2021 9:27pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006399#Comment_118006399

Yes, most were the petrol engine. Correct were fixed under warranty....after a discussion.

Have had a granny charger burn out....which is a common fault apparently.

My point is the build isn't reliable. And dealer support isnt what you'd expect.

Hyundai dealers may be more helpful and more responsive.

Krusty_Clown · 12-10-2021 6:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118006399#Comment_118006399

I also has 12v battery issues - lasted about 5 weeks - and I read of similar problems on other EV/eNiro forums. I can look past them now and have no regrets about buying the car but at the time they were very frustrating. Agree on the general sentiment though - the PHEV and EV are very different beasts, and the OP should focus on eNiro and Kona issues in a comparison. Fair point about KIA dealerships and Kia Ireland/AA in general. I really hope nothing else goes wrong, as the responsiveness/service was very poor.

daheff · 13-10-2021 11:13am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118010408#Comment_118010408

Also should look at the hassle factor on this. While warranty eventually covers things, you end up with a car sitting on your driveway or in the garage unusable for weeks. Currently watching mine get towed for the 3rd time.

Kona EV or ENiro

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