[NewToElectric]

I was looking at the ionic (we decided we wanted a larger battery), then the e-niro, then the kona. I originally wanted the e-Niro, but it’s massive on the outside and not that big in the inside - albeit bigger than the kona...). I used to have an s-max and that was soo nice, but in the end it was just driven around empty most of the time and it was a relief to switch to a smaller car in the end.

We decided to go for the kona (partly due to cost - although The e-Niro was technically in our price range, they all looked like they had been round the block and paying more was just too much). 90% of the time, it will be just two adults. The rest of the time of us and some shopping/ a few bags.

My concern comes from the comments about rear leg room. My children are young, but they'll grow... what's it like in real life? If we had to do a long journey with lots of luggage, we could hire a car and trips to the airport would be on public transport, so the luggage issue is less of a problem. I just don’t want them to feel cramped. I know it as a bit late now and really this was the best option, but I’m now nervous!

 

[NewToElectric]

Ps we've obviously test driven and sat it in etc, but that’s not quite the same

 

[Gadget Geek]

I was also concerned about the rear leg room in the Kona. However, my 3 offspring are young adults, and my son is 6 feet tall. He sits behind me and although he doesn't have ample leg room, he does have sufficient room to be comfortable. When I got the car, I got him to sit behind me and adjusted the front seat until we were both comfortable.

 

[srichards]

Worth trying the Soul too. It's tall and the original one had lots more legroom than you'd expect. Leg room in back of leaf is decent too. Leaf is geriatric and backward but it's actually reasonably spacious. If you don't have the Bose you don't get the daft boot lump either so the boot is 400+ litres and flat to the seat backs.

Legroom in Corsa and e208 is dreadful.

 

[NewToElectric]

Thank you for the replies. A little like the Niro, the Souls that are around are either affordable because they’re old or have high mileage, or too expensive. There are a lot of Konas around, and even the top spec is affordable (which did really sway us).

 

[esprit1st]

We drove with 4 adults for a couple hours and I usually have my seat all the way back. However for that drive I moved it forward a little bit. I was still fine driving and my buddy in the back was fine too. So it worked out just fine.

 

[Electra Glide in Blue]

I had a Hyundai IX35 before, the Kona is a tad smaller but has adequate room for driver and three passengers (four at a squeeze). The downside is the small boot but that is not a problem for you. Quite an adequate boot until we go away for a weekend with the inlaws (oh those happy days, remember holidays). My brother in law is 6ft and has no problems on a 150 mile journey

For the rest of the year the car is perfect. I should probably get a roof rack for those odd weekends.

 

[mikegs]

My children are young, but they'll grow...

If you still have it when they are nearly 6ft tall ... I'll be astonished.

If you aren't particularly long of leg, so have the seat well back, it's unlikely to be a problem anyway. Our Kona has far more rear leg room than many cars we've had before and they weren't a problem. It's a 'problem' that is over-emphasised I think - possibly resulting in what you have found - reduced used costs because there is a perception it's small.
(Ironically it gets flak from some people who think it's a big SUV, when it's almost the same size (actually shorter) than a Leaf.)

Go with what suits YOU.

 

[KiwiME]

My nieces are 15 and 17 and have no issues sitting in the back for several hours at a time. But they are permanently glued to their devices of course.

 

[NewToElectric]

The car seemed perfectly adequate (I don’t want a massive car again) it’s just that I’ve been researching (trying to get to know the electrics before it comes) and this complaint kept coming up!

 

[NewToElectric]

(I mean, I’ve seen the complaint before, but dismissed it after taking out the shelf in the book and sitting in it etc, but now I’ve started to over think!)

 

[mikegs]

a smaller car in the end.

but now I’ve started to over think!

I considered the Niro too, but it is that much longer (about 200mm) it would have meant rearranging the garage to fit it in.
(There were other reasons against it, but it was a factor.)

 

[NewToElectric]

We had similar thoughts. I loved my s-max and it was so easy to drive /park etc, but it was such a pain to find decent parking spaces (without worrying about someone hitting us with their car door etc). Going to a smaller car (prior to this purchase) was a relief (actually not easier to drive, but easier to live with). Most of the time the s-Max ended up being driven around empty (great for the 2/3 holidays in the country, but wasted for the rest of the time). I don’t want to go back to that. Our car needs are totally different now (no pushchairs!). Just commuting, shopping and taxiing children (who don’t need to take masses of stuff to their sports). In my head, I know it’s still the right car, but I’ve never spent so much on a car and started to worry I should have gone for the Niro just in case (which is still not actually that big inside and considerably more to get like for like).

 

[MDF]

In August we did a trip from the south coast to Scotland with one stop to charge each way and several charges while there. My daughters, 14 & 17, were in the back and had no problems. With the boot stuffed, I did fit roof bars and a roof box (took a while to get the correct fixings). With the roof box on, there was hardly any decrease in efficiency.... I think the whole trip (1,400 miles) averages out at 4.2 m/KWh (is that the right unit? No idea!)

 

[jonsel]

We have a Prius as second car but it never gets used. My two sons are each 6 foot and always choose the Kona over the bigger Prius. It has less leg room but they find it more comfortable for long journeys and they prefer its tech.

 

[idiotzoo]

Cars in general are a little too big... I’ve got used to the Niro now but it’s larger than I need or wanted. My Yaris is perfect for most things. Previously we had a Fabia estate which is a sensible width and has extra load space. The Niro is just a bit wider than necessary. Mind you, so is the soul and the id3 is more or less the same overall size. I would have looked at the Kona but the local dealer was useless.

 

[Johnny Read]

In my head, I know it’s still the right car, but I’ve never spent so much on a car and started to worry I should have gone for the Niro just in case (which is still not actually that big inside and considerably more to get like for like).

Have you considered hiring one for a month. Have a look on the onto/elmo thread. There's always lots of regulars with a referral code that gives some money off the cost.

 

[wheels]

I was looking at the ionic (we decided we wanted a larger battery), then the e-niro, then the kona. I originally wanted the e-Niro, but it’s massive on the outside and not that big in the inside - albeit bigger than the kona...). I used to have an s-max and that was soo nice, but in the end it was just driven around empty most of the time and it was a relief to switch to a smaller car in the end.

We decided to go for the kona (partly due to cost - although The e-Niro was technically in our price range, they all looked like they had been round the block and paying more was just too much). 90% of the time, it will be just two adults. The rest of the time of us and some shopping/ a few bags.

My concern comes from the comments about rear leg room. My children are young, but they'll grow... what's it like in real life? If we had to do a long journey with lots of luggage, we could hire a car and trips to the airport would be on public transport, so the luggage issue is less of a problem. I just don’t want them to feel cramped. I know it as a bit late now and really this was the best option, but I’m now nervous!

When there is not much else to complain about, people seems to need to complain about something.

 

[jonsel]

When there is not much else to complain about, people seems to need to complain about something.

I can't see a complaint. The OP is new to EVs and has made a decision to spend alot of money on a car, has got nervous about whether he is making the right decision and is looking for advice. We've all been there. That's one of the main points of this site I would have thought.

 

[wheels]

I can't see a complaint. The OP is new to EVs and has made a decision to spend alot of money on a car, has got nervous about whether he is making the right decision and is looking for advice. We've all been there. That's one of the main points of this site I would have thought.

I meant jounalists etc testing the car