Unnamed Automotive Podcast · Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Episode 415: 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2026 Honda HR-V

·43 min·2 clips

Sami says the 2026 Honda HR-V's CVT makes the engine yo-yo, with 0-60 in about 10 seconds.

1. Unnamed Automotive Podcast Episode 415 compares the 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric and the 2026 Honda HR-V. 2. Sami Haj Asad hosts with Benjamin Hunting, and both identify themselves as automotive journalists who trade off current test drives and market context. 3. The episode asks whether a Kona Electric still makes sense and why the HR-V feels mismatched for Honda's lineup. 4. Sami says the Kona Electric first felt like an affordable EV, but the market now includes cheaper-feeling rivals with more range and charging speed. 5. He names the Chevy Equinox and Hyundai Ioniq 5 as direct alternatives at similar money. 6. He gives the Kona Electric's U.S. starting price as $32,000 and its loaded price as about $42,000. 7. He says the top-trim Kona Electric makes 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. 8. Benjamin notes that the Ioniq 5 comparison includes a standard-range version with less range than the top Kona but more than the low-range Kona. 9. Sami says the Kona Electric's cabin felt cramped, with knees close to the controls and a column-mounted shifter that he accidentally knocked into neutral. 10. He still describes the Kona Electric as acceptable, efficient, and better to recommend than a Nissan Leaf for many buyers. 11. Sami shifts to used-car shopping and says his household is replacing a vehicle while watching prices in Quebec. 12. He says 2021 and 2022 Kona Electric examples can be found around 15,000 to 16,000 Canadian dollars when the battery warranty is partly used. 13. He adds that examples with about 50,000 miles or 80,000 kilometers can be around 21,000 to 22,000 Canadian dollars. 14. He says the Kona Electric battery warranty is eight years or 100,000 miles, which he also frames as 160,000 kilometers. 15. Sami argues the Kona Electric works best as a used EV because its feature set has not changed dramatically and its efficiency is strong for a small, front-wheel-drive vehicle. 16. He compares it with the Bolt and says the Bolt's charging speed and older design make the Hyundai more compelling to him. 17. The HR-V segment turns much more critical, with Sami saying the 2026 refresh changes almost nothing about the drivetrain. 18. He says the HR-V uses a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, 158 horsepower, 138 pound-feet of torque, and a CVT that yo-yos in engine speed under load. 19. The tone is conversational, argumentative, and full of specific model-year, price, and drivetrain comparisons. 20. Listeners who follow small crossovers, used EV pricing, or Honda and Hyundai model strategy will get the most from this episode; listeners wanting a neutral overview with no strong opinions may skip it.

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