Hyundai
Kona Ultimate EV
3,124 MOT tests analysed. sits above the UK fleet average — here's where Kona Ultimate EVs pass, fail, and end up on the retest sheet.
That's 12.7 points above the UK fleet average across our 1,984 tracked models — a confident result.
Pass
90.2%
Pass-after-fix
4.0%
Fail
5.4%
Avg miles
27,491
Pass + Pass-after-fix + Fail = 100%
Electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from all UK clean air zone charges.
The picture
Kona Ultimate Ev: a strong MOT record by UK norms
Across 3,124 MOT tests, the Kona Ultimate Ev returns 90.2% first-time pass — comfortably ahead of the UK fleet average. The single most-logged Major fail is a seriously damaged tyre. Tyre tread under the limit and wipers that don't clear the screen round out the top three. Average tested mileage sits at 27,491, which is the lens to read those failure rankings through. If you own one and the next test is close, the ranked list below is a sensible pre-test checklist.
Top ten reasons for rejection.
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- 01
A tyre seriously damaged
43 occurrences · 1.4% of tests
- 02
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
32 occurrences · 1.0% of tests
- 03
Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
27 occurrences · 0.9% of tests
- 04
Wiper blade defective
21 occurrences · 0.7% of tests
- 05
A tyre cords visible or damaged
20 occurrences · 0.6% of tests
- 06
A tyre seriously damaged
17 occurrences · 0.5% of tests
- 07
Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver's view
14 occurrences · 0.4% of tests
- 08
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
7 occurrences · 0.2% of tests
- 09
Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
4 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
- 10
A tyre has a lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. This includes any lifting of the tread rubber
3 occurrences · 0.1% of tests
Counts cover Major and Dangerous defects logged at test. Advisory items excluded so this shows why a car was rejected, not just what the tester flagged in passing.
Worst-case fix budget · top 4 failures
£160–£280
If every one of this Kona Ultimate EV's most-logged Major fails hit at the same MOT, that's the real-world UK garage range. Reality is usually one or two items, not all of them. Open the estimator →
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Tools that pre-empt a retest.
Picked against this car's top failure patterns. Affiliate links to Amazon UK — we earn a small cut at no cost to you. Disclosed up-front, doesn't shape the data.
Item 01 · Amazon UK
Digital tyre-tread depth gauge
Five quid for a gauge beats £150 for a retest. UK MOT minimum is 1.6mm — most testers fail anything below 2mm to be safe.
Search Amazon UK
Item 02 · Amazon UK
Bosch Aerotwin wiper blades
Cheap wipers fail the test on smear streaks. Bosch Aerotwins last a winter and clear a screen properly.
Search Amazon UK
My Motor World · affiliate
Parts & supplies for this fix
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Hyundai Sleek Silver Metallic 12.5ml
£6.59
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Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Hyundai Polar White 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Hyundai Electric Red 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
Hycote
Hycote Touch Up Colour Paint Brush Hyundai Creamy White 12.5ml
£6.59
View at My Motor World →
EV King · affiliate
EV charging & accessories
Affiliate links — small commission, no extra cost to you.
EV Charging Cables
8M - 32amp (3 Phase)- Blaupunkt Type 2 Charging Cable 32amp - 3 Phase (22kW) 8M
£329.00
View at EV King →
EV Charging Cables
15M - 32amp -Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable Type 2 to Type 2 15M 32amp (7.4kW)
£315.00
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EV Charging Cables
3 Pin to Type 2 - 10M - Range Rover Evoque Charging Cable 3 Pin to Type 2 10M 6-12amp Adjustable (2.3kW)
£297.00
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EV Charging Cables
3 Pin to Type 2 - 10M - Range Rover Sport Charging Cable 3 Pin to Type 2 10M 6-12amp Adjustable (2.3kW)
£297.00
View at EV King →
Click Mechanic · affiliate
Book a mobile mechanic
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Mobile mechanic · UK-wide
Book a mechanic at your door.
Fixed-price quotes upfront. No garage needed. Click Mechanic sends a vetted local mechanic to you — home, work, or roadside.
Owner reports · Honest John
What owners actually report.
Verbatim faults logged by owners on honestjohn.co.uk over recent years. We didn't summarise — these are the words people typed in.
What's good
The Kona offers the choice between two turbocharged, small-displacement petrol engines. A 1.0-litre T-GDI with a 6-speed manual transmission and 120PS as standard and a high-power 1.6-litre T-GDI with 177PS with and Hyundai’s self-developed 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and four-wheel drive.
Where it falls short
For the first time in a Hyundai, the Kona's new head-up display projects relevant driving information directly into the driver’s line of sight. An optional eight-inch infotainment system integrates all navigation, media and connectivity features, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system comes with a seven-year free subscription to LIVE Services, offering updated information in real time: weather, traffic, speed cameras and online searches for points of interest.
Buying or keeping a Kona Ultimate EV?
Use the failure ranking as a pre-test checklist or a haggling lever. Treat the headline pass rate as a fleet-wide trend, not a guarantee on any individual car.
If you own a Kona Ultimate EV and your last MOT looked nothing like the ranked failures above, that's normal — individual cars vary widely. The ranking shows the patterns testers flag most often across the country.