Which New EV Should You Choose for Winter in Quebec?

Our 20-second answer

You can charge at home.
An EV handles winter well: you leave every morning with a full battery and a cabin that's already warm.
You drive mostly in town and around the region.
2026 Kona Electric: up to 420 km of estimated range, from $46,916 (as of 2026-10-04).
You often take long trips.
2026 IONIQ 5: up to 504 km of estimated range and fast charging at up to 350 kW, from $58,516 (as of 2026-10-04).
You need three rows.
2026 IONIQ 9, from $63,116 (as of 2026-10-04).
You can't charge where you sleep.
Look at a hybrid first: it fills up like a gas vehicle.

All-in prices: freight and PDI included, tax and registration extra, no rebate or incentive deducted. Range estimates by Hyundai Canada, under favourable conditions.

Range Charging Prices Test drive

What does the cold do to a battery?

A battery is a chemical system, and chemistry slows down when it's cold. Three effects follow. None is specific to any one brand.

Range drops.The battery delivers less energy, and part of it goes to heating the cabin and the battery itself. How much depends on the vehicle, the temperature and your trips.
Fast charging slows down.A cold battery won't accept its full charging power. Preconditioning exists to fix that.
Short trips are less energy-efficient.Warming up a frozen cabin takes a lot in the first few kilometres. On a long trip, that energy use is spread over more kilometres; on a five-minute drive, it dominates.

This isn't a hidden flaw. It's physics, and it can be managed when you know about it before you sign.

How should you read an advertised range?

“Up to 420 km” is an estimate obtained under favourable conditions. Hyundai Canada spells it out: actual range varies with the trim, temperature, speed, terrain and driving style.

Our advice: don't compare it to your yearly average, but to your worst winter week.

Take your most demanding day, the one that comes around often. For example, a round trip between Magog and Sherbrooke, with detours and the heat on full.
Reduce the rated range by a conservative margin to account for extreme cold.
Leave yourself a comfortable buffer: nobody likes getting home with less than 10% charge.

Silver 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 in a curve on a mountain road — The 2026 IONIQ 5 is rated for up to 504 km of estimated range with rear-wheel drive. In January, count on less.

If the result covers that day without charging along the way, winter will be a minor consideration. Otherwise, an EV may still work for you, but you need to take a closer look at charging.

Which winter equipment really matters?

Two pieces of equipment are worth checking on any electric vehicle you shop for, with us or anywhere else.

The heat pump.It heats the cabin while using less energy than a resistance heater, which preserves range. It's standard on the 2026 Kona Electric and the 2026 IONIQ 5, according to Hyundai Canada.
Battery preconditioning.It brings the battery up to temperature before a fast charge, so it accepts more power in cold weather. Also standard on both models.

Heated steering wheel and screens of the 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 — The heated steering wheel and seats warm the driver directly, using less energy than heating the whole cabin.

There's also a habit that costs nothing: preheat the cabin while the vehicle is plugged in. The heat then comes from the outlet, not the battery. You leave warm, with all your range. The heated seats and steering wheel do the rest: they warm the driver without heating the whole cabin.

Home charger or public charging: what does winter change?

A 240-volt home charger is the key to a successful winter with an EV. You charge overnight, in your driveway, and you leave every morning with a full battery. Range only becomes a question on long-trip days.

Without a home charger, in an apartment or with street parking, going electric is still possible, but winter makes it more demanding. Stops at public charging stations are more frequent, because range drops, and longer, because the battery is cold. Our advice: sort out home charging before choosing the vehicle, not after.

On the road, fast charging works in winter. Two habits make it easier: start preconditioning before you reach the charging station, and plan for a slightly longer stop than in summer.

Who is an EV right for?

It has a good chance of suiting you if…

you can install a home charger, or you already have one;
your typical days fit within the winter range, margin included;
your long trips are occasional and can be planned;
you drive enough for the fuel savings to count.

Think twice if…

you can't charge where you sleep, and nothing suggests that will change soon;
your weeks often include long, unplanned distances;
you regularly tow a trailer on long trips: consumption climbs and range drops, even more so in winter.

In those cases, a hybrid often meets your needs better. Our guide Which new hybrid SUV to choose for winter in Quebec goes over that option.

Which new electric vehicles can you find in Magog?

Prices in effect as of October 4, 2026. They include freight and pre-delivery inspection. Tax and registration are extra. No rebate or incentive is deducted. Prices are set by Hyundai Canada and can change without notice.

2026 Kona Electric

Price:from $46,916 (as of 2026-10-04)
Battery:64.8 kWh
Estimated range:up to 420 km
Fast charging:from 10 to 80% in about 43 minutes, under ideal conditions
Who it's for:city driving, trips around the region and tight parking spaces. It's Hyundai's lowest-priced EV.

Kona Electric model page and today's price · Kona Electric models available now

2026 IONIQ 5

Price:from $58,516 (as of 2026-10-04)
Battery:84 kWh
Estimated range:up to 504 km with rear-wheel drive, 463 km with all-wheel drive
Fast charging:800-volt architecture, up to 350 kW on a compatible charging station
Who it's for:long trips and the family, with all-wheel drive as an option.

IONIQ 5 model page and today's price · IONIQ 5 models available now

2026 IONIQ 9

Price:from $63,116 (as of 2026-10-04)
Who it's for:families who want three rows of seats without a gas engine.

IONIQ 9 model page and today's price

Family walking near a 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 9 parked by the sea — The 2026 IONIQ 9: three rows of seats, no gas engine.

Current prices change. The amounts above are dated and exclude rebates. The price advertised today is on each model's page. This month's rebates and rates are on the promotions page.

On the lot on October 4, 2026, according to our online inventory: 14 2026 Kona Electrics (5 Preferred, 5 Preferred with Trend package, 4 Preferred with Ultimate package), 3 IONIQ 9s and 2 IONIQ 5s, the latter two already from the 2027 model year.

Torn between the first two? Our comparison Kona Electric or IONIQ 5 puts them head to head.

Test drive an EV in Magog, on your own route

Tell us about your daily drive and where you park at night. We'll have the Kona Electric or the IONIQ 5 ready for your visit, and we'll go over charging with you. Choose the model in the form below.

Book your EV test drive

Choose the model from the list. In the message, tell us about your daily drive and where you park at night.

Frequently asked questions

Can you charge from a regular 120-volt outlet?

Yes, but it's very slow. A regular outlet is suitable for low daily mileage or as a backup. To fully recharge overnight, you need a 240-volt charger.

Are there purchase incentives for an electric vehicle?

Government programs change, sometimes mid-year. We don't list any amount here so we don't give you an outdated figure. Check the programs in effect when you buy; we'll go over them with you.

I don't have a home charger: electric or hybrid?

Without charging where you sleep, winter makes an EV more demanding: stops at public charging stations are more frequent and longer. A conventional hybrid doesn't plug in and often meets those needs better.

Are these prices still current?

The prices in this article are those in effect as of October 4, 2026. They are set by Hyundai Canada and can change without notice, especially at the model-year changeover. Today's price is on each model's page.