Electric Vehicle: Hyundai Kona Electric
The judges making up the panel at Kelley Blue Book felt that perhaps the biggest accomplishment of the all-electric version of the popular Hyundai Kona small SUV was to make the idea of going all-electric palatable to a whole new group of consumers.
The ways it does that, beyond being a cute, fun-to-drive ‘ute able to accommodate four in comfort, include its substantial range (258 miles, or 415 km), exhilarating initial acceleration, tech and even its solid warranty.
Then there’s the federal tax credit of $7,500 USD the Kona Electric is eligible for. The bad news for us of course is that no line exists for that tax credit on our return; the good news is that we have a federal discount we can take advantage of to make the initial cost of the SUV easier to swallow.
Our review of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric
(Our Auto123.com 2020 Green Vehicle of the Year: The Kia Niro EV)
Plug-In Hybrid Car: Honda Clarity PHEV
This ugly duckling of a sedan takes the honour of best hybrid vehicle you can plug in to recharge from the Kelley Blue Book jury. Among the qualities that earned it that honour (for the third running, in fact every year since it debuted in 2018; seems the experts at KBB REALLY like their Clarity!), the organization notes the vehicle’s driving dynamics, spacious interior, impressive range for a PHEV and, of course, fuel economy.
Honda staples like reliability, safety and resale value also played a part.