Consumer_Reports_-_April_2020

Honda Odyssey

The Odyssey packs in

refinement, quietness, fuel

economy, and a relatively

intuitive infotainment

system. Its interior is very

flexible, with the ability to slide the

second-row outboard seats sideways.

Several connectivity and storage

features keep the entire family happy.

The 280-hp, 3.5-liter V6 engine

supplies plenty of power and is teamed with a slick 10-speed transmission. The

engine is smooth, punchy, and hushed, but there is no all-wheel-drive option.

The ride is very comfortable, the cabin is quiet, and handling is sound. However,

the push-button gear selector takes getting used to. The optional 8-inch info-

tainment touch screen is easier to use than the previous offering, but it can still

be distracting. Advanced safety systems aren't available on the base LX trim.

They are standard on all other Odyssey trims.



OVERALL

SCORE

61

$30,690-$47,320

RELIABILITY

2

SATISFACTION

3

ROAD-TEST SCORE 85 MPG 22

Honda Passport

The Passport is a shorter,

five-seat version of Honda's

Pilot SUV. They share a

platform and the same

smooth, refined 3.5-liter

V6 engine and nine-speed automatic

transmission. We measured 21 mpg

overall. The five-seat, midsized

Passport slots between the compact

CR-V and the three-row Pilot, and

competes with the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano. Unlike the Pilot's ride,

we found the Passport's ride to be rather stiff, but without a marked

improvement in handling agility. The infotainment system is slow to respond,

and the push-button gear selector is tricky to use at first. The interior is roomy

and full of handy storage places. Forward collision warning and automatic

emergency braking are standard, but blind spot warning comes only on

more expensive trims.



OVERALL

SCORE

59

$31,990-$43,780

RELIABILITY

1

SATISFACTION

4

ROAD-TEST SCORE 79 MPG 21

Honda Pilot!

The Pilot is quick, comfort-

able, and refined, but it's

not exactly a joy to drive.

Its three-row seating

configuration, roomy cabin,

and abundant interior storage make it

an extremely functional vehicle. Power

comes from a slick 3.5-liter V6 rated

at 280 hp. We got 20 mpg overall in

our tests of an EX-L with the standard

six-speed automatic. We found the ride to be comfortable but the handling is

ungainly. The touch-screen infotainment system is frustrating to use. Touring

and Elite trims get a nine-speed transmission that doesn't shift very smoothly

and features a push-button gear selector that takes getting used to. All Pilots

come standard with forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking,

and lane keeping assistance.



OVERALL

SCORE

75

$31,550-$49,620

RELIABILITY

3

SATISFACTION

3

ROAD-TEST SCORE 80 MPG 20

Honda Ridgeline
!

Honda's smart pickup is

built on the same platform

as the Honda Pilot. Unlike

other trucks, it has a

unibody construction,

fully independent suspension, and

lockable trunk space below the

bed floor. Power comes from a slick

3.5-liter V6 engine, which returned

20 mpg overall in our tests, the best

of any nondiesel pickup. Towing capacity is modest at 5,000 pounds, and

the bed is shallow. Front- and all-wheel-drive versions are available. Ride

and handling are more refined than in conventional pickup trucks, and the

cabin is quiet. The infotainment system is rather tricky to use. Updates for 2020

include a new nine-speed automatic transmission, standard forward collision

warning and automatic emergency braking, and standard Android Auto and

Apple CarPlay compatibility.



OVERALL

SCORE

76

$33,900-$43,520

RELIABILITY

3

SATISFACTION

4

ROAD-TEST SCORE 83 MPG 20

Hyundai Accent

The Accent is bare-bones

transportation and

suffers from many of the

shortcomings common

among subcompacts. Its

1.6-liter four-cylinder engine returned

33 mpg overall in our tests. That is

good, but many larger, more substan-

tial compact cars can match that.

The engine sounds coarse under hard

acceleration. The stiff ride doesn't do much to soften bumps and ruts, and

road noise fills the cabin. The basic interior features easy-to-use controls.

We found the seats to be short on support, and the backseat is tight.

Advanced safety features come only on the top Limited trim, which is priced

like a compact car, and undermine the reason to buy a subcompact. For 2020

the Accent gets a continuously variable transmission, which Hyundai claims

will improve fuel economy.



OVERALL

SCORE

63

$15,195-$19,300

RELIABILITY

3

SATISFACTION

2

ROAD-TEST SCORE 64 MPG 33

Hyundai Elantra

!

The Elantra is relatively

roomy, is sparing with

fuel, and features intuitive

controls. The 2.0-liter

four-cylinder returned an

excellent 33 mpg overall in our tests

with the six-speed automatic. It now

has a continuously variable automatic

that mimics a conventional transmis-

sion quite well. The Eco version feels

more responsive but comes at a nearly $3,000 price premium. Although

handling is secure, there isn't much driving excitement. The ride is fine but

nothing special. Inside, the front seats in our tested SE are short on lumbar

support, though the power seat in the Limited is better. An available

GT hatchback with taut, nimble handling is quite different from the sedan.

Changes for 2020 include standard active safety features including automatic

emergency braking and forward collision warning.



OVERALL

SCORE

67

$18,950-$24,600

RELIABILITY

4

SATISFACTION

3

ROAD-TEST SCORE 66 MPG 33

Hyundai Ioniq

The Ioniq is the first direct

challenger to the Toyota

Prius. Evoking the Prius

silhouette and hatchback

configuration, the Ioniq

hybrid matches it as a fuel-sipper,

with 52 mpg overall. Power comes

from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine,

which, paired with the electric drive,

puts out a combined 139 hp. The

six-speed dual-clutch transmission isn't the smoothest, and there's some delay

off the line. Like other hybrids, it can drive on electric power at low speeds.

Handling lacks agility, and the ride is a bit unsettled but unobjectionable. Our

SEL had unusually long stopping distances. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

compatibility is standard. Plug-in and fully electric versions are also available.

A number of safety features, including forward collision warning and automatic

emergency braking, are standard for 2020.



OVERALL

SCORE

71

$23,200-$38,615

RELIABILITY

4

SATISFACTION

4

ROAD-TEST SCORE 67 MPG 52

Hyundai Kona

!

The Hyundai Kona is one

of the better subcompact

SUVs. It competes with

the Honda HR-V, Mazda

CX-3, and the like. The

base 2.0-liter engine is adequate

around town but can feel sluggish at

times. We got 26 mpg with it in our

all-wheel-drive Kona. The uplevel

1.6-liter turbo is more powerful, but

power delivery is neither as smooth nor as predictable. Nimble handling makes

the Kona feel very responsive in corners. The ride, however, is stiff, and the

cabin gets loud with road and engine noise. The controls are super-easy to

use. Safety features include standard forward collision warning with automatic

emergency braking, and optional blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning,

and driver monitoring.



OVERALL

SCORE

78

$20,100-$45,200

RELIABILITY

5

SATISFACTION

4

ROAD-TEST SCORE 71 MPG 26

62 CR.ORG APRIL 2020

NEW CAR PROFILES HONDA — INFINITI