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2018 Hyundai Kona vs other small crossovers: How they compare on paper

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is the hottest new thing in the hottest new segment: subcompact crossovers. Or B-segment SUVs. Or whatever you might want to call this hodge-podge collection of vehicles of vaguely similar specs. Each is pretty much just a raised hatchback in some form (or literally in the case of one entry), skewing the increasingly vague line between car and SUV. If there was ever a segment that deserved the term "crossover" for more reasons than just its car-based unibody architecture, this would be it. Now, for this specs and photos comparison, we lined up the new 2018 Kona with an appropriate variety from that hodge-podge. Most are those that people are actually cross-shopping the Kona against — the Honda HR-V, Toyota C-HR and Subaru Crosstrek — while the Kia Soul and Jeep Renegade line up well in other regards. There are certainly others we could've included, but we're frankly a little pressed for spreadsheet space, and if you really want to know how a Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X or Ford EcoSport would've stacked up, you can always use our Compare Cars feature. (You can also check out our Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross comparison that includes a few larger choices) Performance, fuel economy and drivetrains Immediately you can see how all over the map this segment is. True, all but the Jeep come with a standard naturally aspirated four-cylinder and fairly comparable horsepower. Torque differs, but not wildly so. Then things get nuts. Some are automatic only, the Toyota is CVT only, the Honda and Subaru come with a manual standard and offer a CVT as an option. The Renegade's base engine is manual-only ... in 2018. Of course, then things flip-flop with the Renegade's upgrade being naturally aspirated and the Hyundai and Kia offering turbocharged mills. The Korean corporate cousins also come with automated manuals, whereas the Renegade has a box with nine gears selected by a lethargic monkey. Then there's the drivetrain. The C-HR is front-drive only, which pretty much cements the Soul's place in a segment it arguably created despite not offering all-wheel drive. That's the only way to get the Crosstrek, while the Honda and Hyundai offer a typical option of a part-time system. In Jeep fashion, the Renegade's "four-wheel drive" systems differ by trim level.

Lexus GX and TX, and Volvo EX30 revealed | Autoblog Podcast # 784

In this episode of the Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Associate Editor Byron Hurd. They've been driving the Mercedes-Benz GLB Class, as well as the Kia EV6 and EV6 GT. In the news, the new Lexus GX and TX SUVs have been revealed, Ram previewed its compact Rampage truck, Chevy has a Panther-inspired Camaro Collector's Edition, and Volvo unveiled is EX30 city EV. Our hosts take to Reddit for car recommendations, and to the Mailbag for beer tips. Send us your questions for the Mailbag and Spend My Money at: Podcast@Autoblog.com. Autoblog Podcast # 784 Get The Podcast Apple Podcasts – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes Spotify – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast on Spotify RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Cars we're driving 2023 Mercedes-Benz GLB Kia EV6 vs. EV6 GT 2024 Lexus GX revealed 2024 Lexus TX revealed Ram Rampage is a 1500-like unibody truck for Latin America 2024 Chevy Camaro Collector's Edition pays tribute to Panther code name 2025 Volvo EX30 revealed Spend my Money Mailbag Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on Apple Podcasts Autoblog is now live on your smart speakers and voice assistants with the audio Autoblog Daily Digest. Say “Hey Google, play the news from Autoblog” or "Alexa, open Autoblog" to get your favorite car website in audio form every day. A narrator will take you through the biggest stories or break down one of our comprehensive test drives. Related video:

The Kia Niro gets a plug-in model at Geneva

The Geneva Motor Show is usually a supercar event, but that didn't stop Kia from showing off the Niro hybrid. A new battery and some minor styling tweaks distinguish this Niro from the current model. The important part here is in the back of the little crossover. The standard Niro's 1.56-kilowatt-hour battery is replaced with a much higher capacity 8.9-kWh battery. When we test drove the standard Niro, Kia's representatives told us this battery should propel the Niro PHEV about 25 miles on a charge. For the European release, the range is listed as 55 km, which converts to 34 miles. However, this is likely a quirk of European fuel economy testing, which often yields higher numbers than American testing. Regardless, the Niro will have an electric range in the same ballpark as the Prius Prime plug-in hybrid. The new battery, besides offering more range, is also physically larger. It's placed under the cargo floor and rear seat, and the larger size means the cargo area shrinks by a little over 3.5 cubic feet. However, Kia says that the rest of the interior is unaffected. And an unusual note, Kia will offer a towing package that will allow the Niro PHEV to pull a trailer with brakes weighing up to roughly 2,900 pounds, although it's unclear if this is a European-only option. The Niro PHEV has a few minor styling tweaks as well. The chrome trim on the front and rear bumpers now has slim light-blue lines along the edges. The black rub strip along the doors on the normal model is now a metallic finish on the plug-in. The headlights are changed, too. Square-shaped projectors take the place of the round units on the standard model. The Niro plug-in will go on sale in Europe in the third quarter of 2017. We were told by Kia representatives on the standard car's press drive that it would arrive here by the end of the year. Related Video: