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Hyundai is championed for delivering safe and advanced vehicles at affordable prices. The Korean automaker has been having a great year, thanks to the success of the Hyundai Kona. Unfortunately, the increasing demand for the Kona doesn’t bode well for some of the other members of the Hyundai Lineup. The popularity of the Hyundai Kona has just killed the Hyundai Ioniq Electric nameplate.

The vehicles that are leading Hyundai to a sucessful year

Electric Hyundai at Auto Expo 2020, on February 5, 2020, in Greater Noida, India.
KONA Electric Hyundai at Auto Expo 2020, on February 5, 2020 | Ramesh Pathania/Mint via Getty Images

The Hyundai Kona has made amazing strides as an SUV. The Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Kona EV were released in 2018. In just three short years, the Hyundai Kona has become a competitor in its vehicle class. The Kona is often compared to the popular Mazda CX-30 subcompact SUV.

The Hyundai Kona has a great four-cylinder turbocharged engine. It also handles extremely well. Its sporty-looking exterior and comfortable, well-designed cabin make it popular amongst consumers. The 2022 Hyundai Kona starts at $20,950, making it one of the most affordable new SUVs on the market. Affordability aside, it’s also fun to drive.

The death of the Hyundai Ioniq

The South-Korean car manufacturer Hyundai displays the Hyundai Ioniq electric at the 2019 Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA).
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric | Michael Debets/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

The Hyundai Tuscon has also been selling extremely well, thanks to its 2022 redesign. The Tuscon sports some of the best-looking daytime running lights and taillights on the market. It also offers great gas mileage. As the entire automotive industry shifts to hybrid and electric vehicles, Hyundai has capitalized on the flexibility of its lineup. Hyundai offers hybrid powertrains for its popular Hyundai Elantra and Hyundai Sonata options.

Hybrids and electric vehicles are the future of Hyundai, which is why the death of the Hyundai Ioniq Electric is shocking news. According to Autotrader, the nameplate is getting the boot. Why would Hyundai discontinue an electric vehicle that seemed to be doing so well?

Why the Hyundai Kona Electric is a better EV than the Hyundai Ioniq Electric

An Hyundai Kona Electric Highlander is seen at Sydney Olympic Park on October 25, 2019 in Sydney, Australia.
A Hyundai Kona Electric Highlander | Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric debuted in 2017 and quickly received praise for its amazing fuel efficiency. The Ioniq Electric seemed like the perfect alternative to gas-powered Hyundais for a long time…until the Hyundai Kona Electric came onto the scene. The new Hyundai Kona Electric’s range was the nail in the coffin for the Ioniq Electric.

The Hyundai Ioniq Electric has a maximum range of about 170 miles. This range may have been adequate when the EV first debuted but it’s a new decade, and EVs can go further ranges than ever before. The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric can go 258 miles on a full charge. Its superior range makes the Ioniq obsolete.

The Hyundai Ioniq was a great way for the Korean automaker to learn more about electric vehicle production. It just never caught on the way the company wanted it to. On the bright side, it looks like the Hyundai Kona is here to stay, and its new 2022 electric model should be the most impressive Hyundai EV yet.

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