The budget EV segment is heating up

The affordable EV segment has gotten a welcome boost this year with the launch of the all-new, much-improved Nissan Leaf. It joins Chevy’s popular Equinox EV and the upcoming Chevy Bolt as a small group of competitive yet attainable EVs priced at below $35,000.

Hyundai’s competitor in this segment is the Kona Electric, a futuristic-looking and comfortable crossover that entered a new generation for the 2024 model year. Things are looking less rosy for 2026, though, as Hyundai is discontinuing almost all Kona EV trims.

Only The Base Trim Remains

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As of right now, you can still order a 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric, which gives you a choice of four trims: SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited. However, Hyundai has published information for the 2026 model, confirming that the top three trims will be dropped, leaving only the SE.

This is disappointing news for several reasons. For starters, the SE (starting at $32,975 for 2025) has a smaller 48.6-kWh battery, limiting its range to just 200 miles, whereas other Kona EV trims can get up to 261 miles. A 200-mile range is far below the maximum you can get out of the Nissan Leaf (303 miles) and Chevy Equinox EV (319 miles).

There’s also the matter of performance. The Kona EV SE only manages 133 horsepower, far less than the 201 hp of other trims. Nissan’s Leaf, meanwhile, gets up to 214 hp, and the Equinox EV as much as 300 hp, so both are much stronger performers.

Based on 2025 specifications, the Kona EV SE also lacks appealing features like a power sunroof, a blind-spot view monitor, and nicer seating upholstery, which the other trims offer. 

Related: 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric Preview Drive: Still not a mini Ioniq 5, but promising

Kona EV Now Less Appealing Than Rivals

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Without the range, power, and technology of the upper trims, the 2026 Kona EV looks less appealing alongside the Leaf and Equinox EV. The SE is still a good EV, but a 200-mile range is far below what customers now expect from a modern electric vehicle.

It’s not clear why Hyundai has cut most of the lineup. Sales data for the Kona EV are lumped together with normal Kona sales, so we can’t immediately blame a lack of demand. An Electrek report from earlier this year did show that overall Kona EV exports were way down compared to last year, though—the EV is assembled at Hyundai’s Ulsan plant in Korea.

If the Kona EV SE had a better range and more power at the same price point, the dramatically smaller lineup for 2026 would be easier to accept. As things stand, it’s outclassed by the newer Leaf.