IF STELLAR FUEL ECONOMY,
strong brand reliability, and
standard advanced safety
features are high on your
checklist, the all-new Corolla
Hybrid could be the choice
for you. It gets an impressive
48 mpg overall.
We also tested the
redesigned non-hybrid Corolla.
Both versions drive better and
tackle corners more skillfully
than before, thanks to well-
weighted steering and limited
body lean.
The sharper driving
character doesn’t come at the
expense of ride quality; the
Corolla soaks up bumps with
the best in the class.
At the same time, these
Corollas do little to raise a
driver’s pulse. Both versions
we tested were dismally
slow, and their engines were
loud and raspy. The cabin
ambience is basic and boring.Most controls are easy to use,
although the labels for the
small buttons that fl ank
the center screen wash out in
direct sunlight. Apple CarPlay
is standard.
It’s hard to get in and out of
the low-slung cabin, and rear-
seat headroom is snug.
It would take years to
recoup the hybrid’s $3,000
extra cost (comparing LE
trims) through gas savings.
And the hybrid doesn’t off er
blind spot warning (BSW), a
safety feature we like. Both
cars have standard forward
collision warning (FCW),
automatic emergency braking
(AEB) with pedestrian
detection, lane departure
warning (LDW), and lane
keeping assist (LKA).
The key safety features,
along with better-than-average
brand reliability, boost the
Corolla’s Overall Score.THE KONA ELECTRIC is the
best electric vehicle (EV)
under $50,000 that we’ve
tested. It blends an enjoy-
able driving experience
with practicality.
Unlike the loud, sluggish
gas-powered version, the
Kona EV is quiet and quick.
It combines on-demand
acceleration with spry
handling, although its ride
can feel stiff.
It’s easy to get in and out
of the Kona because of its ride
height, but a small footprint
still makes it easy to park or
maneuver. The cabin feels
airy, and the cargo area is just
as roomy as the gas-powered
model. Most controls are
easy to use, but there’s an
unintuitive push-button gear
selector that drivers can’t
operate by feel alone.
The Kona Electric has
an EPA-estimated range of258 miles, more than other
aff ordable EVs, let alone
some luxury models that cost
twice as much. It starts at
$36,950 before rebates or tax
credits, and comes standard
with Android Auto and Apple
CarPlay. It also has standard
FCW, AEB, and BSW, which
we like.
The battery takes 9 hours
to charge from near-empty
using a 240-volt charger.
Hyundai says a 50kW DC fast
charger can bring an empty
battery to 80 percent full in
about 75 minutes. With such
a long range, however, most
commuters won’t need to fully
recharge very often.
Perhaps the biggest
drawback is its limited
availability. Unlike some
other EVs, the Kona Electric
is for sale only in select states,
mostly in the West and
the Northeast.ROAD-TEST SCORE 69 (hybrid)/68HIGHS Fuel economy, ride, controls,
standard advanced safety featuresLOWS Acceleration, rear seat,
accessPOWERTRAIN 121-hp, 1.8-liter
4-cylinder hybrid/139-hp,
1.8-liter 4-cylinder engines;
continuously variable transmission;
front-wheel driveFUEL 48 (hybrid)/33 mpg on
regular fuelPRICE AS TESTED $24,129 (hybrid)/
$23,530ROAD-TEST SCORE 76HIGHS Range, low running costs,
no emissions, acceleration, agility,
standard advanced safety featuresLOWS Charging times, stiff ride,
gear selector, limited availabilityPOWERTRAIN 201-hp electric
motor; 1-speed direct drive;
front-wheel driveRANGE 258 milesPRICE AS TESTED $42,330COMPACT SEDANSTo y o t a
Corolla
Exceptionally
EfficientCOMPACT ELECTRIC VEHICLESHyundai
Kona Electric
Long Driving Range
and Less ExpensiveROAD TEST
WE CONDUCT 50+ TESTS ON EACH VEHICLE AT OUR 327-ACRE AUTO TEST CENTER.
FOR COMPLETE ROAD TESTS, ALL-ACCESS MEMBERS CAN GO TO CR.ORG/CARS.HYBRID NON-HYBRIDOVERALL
SCORE78
OVERALL
SCORE75
OVERALL
SCORE74
PH
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SEPTEMBER 2019 CR.ORG 63