The Genesis name doesn’t have a lot of awareness yet, but it is the luxury marque of Hyundai. The brand started out as a model name for Hyundai, but now the South Korean automaker is trying to build it out to be a lineup of luxury vehicles similar to the way Toyota built out Lexus and Honda built out Acura.
An all-new model for the Genesis brand for the 2019 model year is the G70, an entry-level sports sedan. There are two powertrains–a 252-horsepower I4 engine and a 365-horsepower V6. You can order models with either rear-drive or all-wheel-drive.
The G70 is meant to go up against the BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 and Mercedes C Class.
The range of trims on the sedan between $35,000 and $50,000.
Pros: Nifty interior, including lattice-stitched leather seats; Hyundai’s first-rate telematics/infotainment system; availability of a manual transmission; taut suspension and nimble handling.
Cons: None.
The Hyundai Kona EV is the electric version of Hyundai’s new sub-compact crossover. The Kona is a very good, sporty, nimble ride. Now, you can get a version that has nearly 300 miles of electric range in the upper-priced model, and 186 miles on the base model.
Like most EVs, the Kona is swift off the line, going from zero to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. The pricing of the EV version of the Kona has not yet been announced. The base model of the gas-powered Kona begins at $21,000.
Pros: Range of EV operation; sporty handling.
Cons: None
The Honda Insight Hybrid does not have an illustrious history, ut that is changing with an all-new model.
The first Insight was an odd-looking, downright ugly and cramped, car that pre-dated the Toyota Prius, but failed to catch on in the way the Prius did. Honda threw in the towel, but then brought the Insight badge back on a new model in 2009. But that vehicle, too, was a bomb and was reduced to extreme discounting to clear the dealer lots before it faded away in 2014.
But in the 2019 Insight. Honda finally has it right.
Pros: Pleasing exterior design; 55 mpg city/45-49 mph highway fuel economy;$23,725 starting price.
Subaru is marking its 50th-anniversary selling cars in the U.S. this year, and to mark the occasion, the Japanese automaker has launched its first successful SUV.
Subaru has been long known for its crossovers, having more or less invented the category of the car-based light utility in the mid-1990s with the Outback. Later, it launched a larger Tribeca crossover, but that design was rejected by the market and is considered a failure.
The all-new Ascent crossover, which will compete against the Honda Pilot, Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander, looks to be a success with both Subaru loyalists and those who may be attracted to Subaru for the first time.
Pros: A responsive 2.4 liter turbo 260-hp engine; sporty handling; third-row seat; good visibility, base price of $32,970.
Cons: None
Volvo used to be known for Swedish simplicity and terrific safety innovations. Indeed, the classic Volvo ads of the 70s and 80s showed, for example, an elephant standing on a Volvo sedan or wagon.
Now, the Chinese own Volvo, and the company has made great strides in the last several years in terms of design and build quality, improvements over what Volvo was accomplishing on its own, or under its brief ownership by Ford.
The XC40 crossover is a very stylish suburban grocery getter, with a muscular profile. Pros: Wireless cell-phone charging; clever storage spaces; good performing Turbo-charged 2.0 L I4 engine producing 248-hp; starting price of $33,200.
Cons: A stop-start system that is not quite as good as those offered by, for example, GM.
