Hyundai's Kona Electric is sporty, with all the comforts

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- For someone who grew up with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, adjusting to the brave new world of electrics is all about comfort level.

And the tested 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited had comforts in abundance.

Smooth, surprisingly peppy, well-equipped and sporty-stylish in appearance, the Kona was as comfortable to operate as anything with gas-fired pistons.

Oh, and there's the 250-miles-plus range and fuel mileage equivalent ratings of 132 mpg in the city and 108 mpg on the highway.

For the 2022 model year, Hyundai upgraded and redesigned the compact crossover sport-utility vehicle.  The result is a sportier-looking machine. Sleek front and rear fascia blend smoothly with the side sculpting, and Hyundai added new alloy wheels for 2022.

Power comes from a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with a 201 horsepower rating.

If it's possible to feel guilty driving an electric vehicle, I was there as I continually accelerated hard from a full stop.  I got hooked on the surprising performance off the line, a byproduct of nearly 300 foot-pounds of torque distributed to the front wheels. Even with my repeated brisk starts, electric power was consistently distributed at a reasonable rate.

Worth noting: For those living in the Sierra Nevada or other cold climates, the Kona can be had with a battery warmer system that can minimize battery-power losses at low temperatures.

And if you can insert a plug into a socket, you pretty much have mastered the quick and easy battery-charging process.

Interior comfort was fine in the front seats, but it's a bit of a tight squeeze in the back.  From the cockpit, everything was within easy reach, and my Limited edition was stuffed with standard features -- heated/ventilated front leather seats, a power sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and smart cruise control among them.

Given all the perks and the sophisticated electric system, the $43,880 sticker price on the tester seemed reasonable.

The more I drive electric vehicles, the more comfortable I feel in them.  And the comforts of this Kona were many, helping me work my way farther down that road of the future.