by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 12/01/2017 at 17:26
by "LJ909" (lj909)
Published 12/01/2017 at 17:26
No Tags
STARS: 1
Im not even going to go into this too much. Heres the basics of yet another crossover:
Coming in the spring
2 engine choices: a base 2.0 4 with 147 hp and 132 lb-ft of torque with EPA estimates of 30 mpg, and an optional 1.6T with 175 hp and 195 lb-ft of torque with 29 mpg. Both of those figures are for fwd.
Both 6 and 7 speed auto choices for those engines.
Its roughly the same size as a Kia Soul, but is 2.5 inches lower and has a wheelbase 1.2 inches longer along with being 5.1 inches shorter than an HR-V.
Comes with the usual suite of tech stuff like Apple Car play, a 8.0 in touche screen etc.
Its annoyingly aimed at us Millenials as evidecned by its exterior color choice names: Pulse Red, Surf Blue, and Lime Twist.
Interior options include black, black and gray two-tone, and black with Lime Twist accents:
And there is it. Look for it to arrive in the spring, with rumors of an even smaller crossover coming in ‘19. Thoughts on it?
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
12/01/2017 at 17:52, STARS: 0
My wife drives the one car in the mini crossover segment that’s actually a car and not a mini crossover: the Impreza hatchback.
I like mini crossovers for her because they’re basically awd hatchbacks and that’s a body style that works for her.
But we ended up with the Impreza because of assorted factors and the fact that it’s not trying to be a crossover was only one of several.
I kinda like the Kona for her, at least if it turns out to be similarly roomy as her Impreza, but I showed her a picture of it and she thinks it’s weird.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 17:55, STARS: 0
It is weird. Its almost Hyundai’s Juke styling wise. Not knocking your wife and her choices because each to his or her own, but I dont know why anyone would consider this over Hyundai’s own Elantra GT which would probably be a bit bigger, get better gas mileage and is actually handsomely styled.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
12/01/2017 at 18:04, STARS: 0
who knew the juke was going to be a trendsetter for dinky lights over bigger lights.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 18:07, STARS: 0
Yea with this and the Cherokee, though that looks to change with a refresh for it.
"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
12/01/2017 at 18:07, STARS: 1
Which makes me laugh as the first 2 in are the first 2 out.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
12/01/2017 at 18:27, STARS: 2
You know, I’m kind of OK with this trend. Yeah the stupid plastic cladding, look tough wheels etc need to die along with this whole “ooh I’m so outdoorsy” vibe they’re trying to give out. But outside of that – if people are buying more smaller hatchback/wagon type things that aren’t absolute overkill gas guzzlers, hey it’s a step in the right direction.
Once people realize that their lives fit in just fine 99% of the time to these smaller, more efficient vehicles – maybe slowly we’ll get more diversification in that segment again with regular hatchbacks, true wagons, etc.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 18:43, STARS: 0
Once people realize that their lives fit in just fine 99% of the time to these smaller, more efficient vehicles – maybe slowly we’ll get more diversification in that segment again with regular hatchbacks, true wagons, etc.
Im hoping this is the case. But the recent entries keep making less and less sense from a size, power and cost standpoint to the point I honestly think theres market oversaturation for the segment.
"Cé hé sin" (michael-m-mouse)
12/01/2017 at 18:46, STARS: 1
It’s going to go on sale in a couple of months and it’s deemed to be a 2019 car?
"Svend" (svend)
12/01/2017 at 18:47, STARS: 1
It’s not too bad.
In the most part it’s styling were used to in Europe.
In the U.K. we’ve got Acid Yellow, Blue Lagoon, Chalk White, Dark Knight, Lake Silver, Phantom Black, Pulse Red, Tangerine Comet and Velvet Dune.
1.0 T-GDi 120ps manual petrol 2wd and 1.6 T-GDi 177ps auto petrol 4wd
.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 19:06, STARS: 0
It goes on sale spring ‘18 for the ‘19 model year.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 1
Yea it fits in with all those other quirky cars you guys have over there. It would be cool if we got the manual option.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
12/01/2017 at 19:07, STARS: 1
Well yeah, I’m HOPING there is oversaturation in this segment and the herd dwindles again. But along with that I’m also hoping that many people would’ve come to appreciate the virtues of a hatchback, and also never want to go back to 15MPG being normal…thereby leading to more normal hatchbacks, wagons, etc. Either that, or some even more ridiculous abomination none of us have seen in our nightmares yet.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 19:17, STARS: 0
Yea I hope for that realization too. But theres also that you mentioned: some other segment thats even more absurd waiting in the wings. I honestly dont know how much worse it could get. Crossovers that are smaller than the cars they are based on, suv coupes that arent coupes etc.
"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
12/01/2017 at 19:22, STARS: 1
Yup, just hoping that at some point people start realizing that they’re paying MORE for less. Or at least that some manufacturers continue to offer the more affordable and less ridiculous option...instead of going “hey, why bother sell a Golf when we can throw $250 of plastic bits on it and sell it as the MountainGolfPassSurferMax_2.0TH for 25% more money!”
Oh goodness, this nightmare will not go away easily.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 19:27, STARS: 2
“hey, why bother sell a Golf when we can throw $250 of plastic bits on it and sell it as the MountainGolfPassSurferMax_2.0TH for 25% more money!”
And this is the fallacy of the segment I think that too many consumers dont realize: you’re paying more for what amounts to nothing more than a few hundred dollars worth of upgrades on a car. Im sure not a significant amount of engineering is needed to bring a lot of these models to market, unless they were already on sale overseas and they have to get them up to US crash standards.
"Svend" (svend)
12/01/2017 at 20:08, STARS: 3
Only I can’t see a 1.0 doing too well in the U.S. just as much as a 2.0 wouldn’t go down that well here.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 20:22, STARS: 0
True. As it is here many of our recent offerings are dangerously underpowered. The Nissan Kicks comes to mind.
"Svend" (svend)
12/01/2017 at 20:32, STARS: 1
My Skoda is a 1.4 with 148bhp, it’s more than enough for what I need. She’ll pull easily on steep inclines fully loaded, sit at 70+mph all day if asked and turns great fuel economy.
I can only imagine the derision if Ford released the 1.0litre Mondeo/Fusion in the U.S. 1.0 Zetec 124bhp, 0-60 in 12 secs averaging 55mpg(UK).
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 20:41, STARS: 0
Yea all of those are way down on power for me. With me living in Southern California, I need at least 170 horses. And with my Chevy Sonic (or Holden Barina. I dont think they sell them in the UK) and its 138 horses, lane changes are a gamble.
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
12/01/2017 at 20:45, STARS: 0
I’m okay with it - specifically for one reason: they are planning on offering a plug-in hybrid version.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 20:47, STARS: 0
Which you would be interested in buying?
"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
12/01/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 1
At this point, I’m not interested in buy a new vehicle - only used. I can’t justify spending that much money on a new car when our current cars work just fine. And I’d rather let someone else take the depreciation hit.
Give it 5-10 years, and then I’d definitely consider it.
"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
12/01/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 0
I’m okay with it. Crossover after crossover makes it possible to fund the R&D for fun stuff, like the N series and the new Veloster.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/01/2017 at 22:50, STARS: 1
Nah that argument doesnt hold up with me anymore.
"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
12/02/2017 at 00:43, STARS: 0
...why not? It makes financial sense.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/02/2017 at 01:44, STARS: 0
Because they really aren’t making fun stuff anymore because everyone is buying these things. They money from these just funds the development of more crossovers.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
12/02/2017 at 05:10, STARS: 1
no manual, no care.
"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
12/02/2017 at 10:32, STARS: 0
N series. There it is. New veloster. These are real things you can buy. Ford has the FocuST and FiST. Honda has the CTR and Civic Si. Volvo has Polestar. Every manufacturer is doing it. It’s factual.
"LJ909" (lj909)
12/02/2017 at 15:40, STARS: 0
I didn’t say there wasn’t. But crossovers are becoming more widespread than performance offerings to the point sales of them are just finding more. Hyundai has it’s smaller than Kona coming. Actually is going to bring over the CDX, which is an HR-V in nice clothes, Jaguar just released the E Pace of course the list goes on and on.