Hyundai Reports it Sold 184,449 Vehicles in the US During Q1 of 2023, up 15.5%

One takeaway from the reveal of the Kona is that the upper trim levels with the 1.6t engine will be losing the 7 speed DCT and getting a real 8 speed automatic. Hyundai didn't specify whether it was going to be the glorious Turbo-Hyundaimatic - with proper torque converter and three planetary gearsets - the bulletproof design we have known for close to 20 years, or the gremlin-infested wet clutch DCT. But the refreshed 2024 Kia Seltos - cousin to the Kona and equipped with a matching powertrain while wearing an odd "KN" logo on the nose and tail - lists their 8 speed automatic along with the 1.6t. And the ratios confirm that it is in fact the A8MF1 transaxle - shared with Tucson, SantaCruz, SantaFe, Sonata, and Kia Sportage, K5, and Sorento.

Fun fact - For 2023, the Kona's competition - the 2023 Jeep Compass - is also using the Hyundai/Powertech A8MF1, which was quietly brought in to replace the quirky and expensive glitchfest ZF 9 speed. There's no way to compare mpg between the two units because they also changed out the engine - 2.4L "world engine" out and "hurricane" 2.0T motor in. But Compass owners are no stranger to Hyundai transaxles. About ten years ago, the Compass and Patriot used the Hyundai 6 speed under the name "Powertech 6F27" - which was lifted directly out of the Sonata.

With the DCT gone, they will be selling a lot more upper-trim Konas. But it is frustrating to me that they are not bringing the hybrid powertrain to the US for 2024. They already have the running gear proven and logging millions of miles in the Niro/Elantra/original Ioniq. And recent sales numbers are showing triple-digit gains in Elantra HEV and Tucson HEV sales, so the market is already showing demand. Best guess for the obvious blunder is that they don't want to cannibalize Kona EV sales. But Kia is selling the Niro HEV along with PHEV and EV, and they seem to peacefully coexist at dealers. We can only hope that they correct the misstep and bring the Kona HEV along next year.

 

I'm liking my Tucson HEV except that I'll be heading to the dealer again for another oil leak. Third time. Sigh. I like the looks of this Kona and it is right sized too. I thought that I would be using the extra space of the Tucson more than I do but the smaller Euro-sized Tucson would have been a better fit for me. The Kona is right-sized too, I think, but it has to have a reliable hybrid drivetrain or not interested.

 

Glitchfest !

 

Nissan's new Pathfinder ditched the CVT and now features Glitchfest. The way I see most Pathfinders being driven, I think the soccer moms are going to burn up the ZF units even faster than the Jatco CVTs.

The ZF transaxle is the classic case of demanding too much from the available space of a compact transverse gearbox. The engineers decided it was ok to incorporate two dog clutches as shifting elements. These dog clutches are what apply gear ratios in a manual transmission when the shift lever is moved. And synchronizer cones help to equalize the speed of the two components getting coupled together. The ZF transaxle, has several shift sequences that are in effect like shifting a manual transmission without stepping on the clutch. And waiting for the computer to fiddle with the throttle before it can shift seems like an eternity when trying to pass on the highway.

Honda was using it for a while but has quietly been replacing it with a 10 speed of their own design. I don't see any evidence that they ever got the programming nailed down to a point where owners weren't taking their cars to an exorcist for diagnostics.

No surprise that Jeep is quietly slipping the Hyundai transaxles into their FWD-based models - at least the Compass that's made in Mexico. I'm not sure the Powertech unit will make its way all the way over to Italy to be dropped in the Renegade/Hornet/Tonale/500X, so those models will likely soldier on with Pazuzu-matic under the hood.

 

I'm happy with the CVT in my Fit. I don't know who makes it ,
I just hope it lasts and lasts.

 

The Fit CVT is designed and built by Honda. They seem to do fairly well as long as the fluid is changed on schedule. From what I have seen over the years, the only two "cause of death" issues I found are degraded CVT fluid and those motorheads who boost the power on the engine without any regard for transaxle torque capacity. One guy on youtube bolted a turbo onto his Accord engine and then posted a video on the complete failure of the CVT. Gee I wonder why.

The Hyundai CVT - which swaps out the steel belt for a chain, just like the Subaru design - is listed as IVT in spec sheets and ads, and seems to be holding up well. Some early installations - first used in the Forte - were going nose-up-on-the-lawn without warning, but they diagnosed and corrected the problem really fast. And the current IVT-equipped models are showing some excellent FE numbers - even in the real world.

 

I drove my beloved leaky Tucson hybrid 75 miles to the dealer this morning and the verdict is two leaks that need to be fixed. I have a brand new Hyundai Venue as a loaner that has the IVT transmission. It underlines why I would never own a car with a CVT. It's every bit as awful as the Nissan CVTs I've driven. The Venue did get 50mpg driving 65mph across the Tularosa Basin with a slight tailwind. I am surprised at the economy! Sorry for dragging this discussion way off topic.

 

The Venue has a small engine (1.6L) that's very undersquare (long stroke) so there's no real torque to be found on the left side of the tach dial. So the IVT is programmed to keep the little engine at a rolling boil if you press the pedal too far. Smaller Nissans have the same programming.
The eCVT is not a chain or belt on variable pulleys so any change in "ratio" is instantaneous. The change is simply a matter of feeding MG2 the right size jolt. So there is no apparent slingshot effect or any annoying lag to suggest that the "full steam ahead" request is not being sent promptly received in the engine room.

 

Hyundai hybrids are parallels; a motor sandwiched between the engine and transmission. In the Tucson's case, the transmission is a 6 speed automatic. I think that's true for most of the models, with Elantra having a DCT.

Haven't heard of a full parallel hybrid being mated to a CVT. The old mild IMAs were.

 

Consumer Reports shows data on the Kona to be NOT as good as Hyundai vehicles were some years ago. Even my vaunted Elantras, of which I brag often, have gone downhill.

 

As much & even more than other pieces of equipment, gentle can extent CVT lifespan a lot. The Nissan CVT, was in the unlamented Dodge Caliber. After trading my Caliber for the Hyundai Elantra, much later I met 3 drivers of different Calibers who said their CVTs were nice & reliable, 2 near 200,000 miles & one well over 200,000 miles. Unlike so many drivers, I liked my CVT when I sold it at 54,000 miles. Yes, I say that CVTs are my favorite transmission…..except for a silky smooth manual 6 speed.

 

Elantra HEV up 57% - It's the Field of Dreams strategy - "If you build them, they will buy". The hybrid was scarce until the last year or so. They upped the production and people are buying them about as fast as they're building them. They're not stacking up on the lots at all. Local inventory is cleaned out, with only one "in transit" listed on the site.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally got my second key fob. Last year, to keep production up during the chip shortage, they were selling cars with just one key fob. Instant doubling of production for a given number of chips. Last few times I accompanied people to the dealer to buy a new vehicle, they're getting delivered with two fobs. I guess the chip shortage is easing.

The sales rep at that dealer confided in me that the EVs are not selling. This dealer will go up to $1000 under MSRP if you're willing to take one. Even with that carrot, I haven't seen the inventory change much. The problem remains that charging stations are a very rare sight, the electric rates in the area are too high (they're not far behind Hawaii), and here in the Land Of The Lease, these cars are not leasing out well at all. What is selling well? The Tucson hybrid and - when they can get them - Santa Fe hybrid. When the Santa Fe moves to the Land Rover styling next year, I think sales are going to hit the roof.

Tucson sales up 27.8% - The Tucson, with its subvented financing (0 for 48, 1.9 for 60, 2.9 for 72) is flying off the lots. One of the young ladies in my church bought a Tucson SEL Convenience and the monthly payment is $60 a month less than what she'd pay for a 2020 lease-return used RAV4 with about 25k on the clock. The financing on the Tucson makes the 6 year buy competitive with the 3 year lease payment, which is just crazy. It makes leasing impractical with you can buy the car for the same payment, and then not have to worry about finding something new in three years.

The market it changing as inflation eats away more household income and interest rates continue to climb. Pickup and large SUV sales have stalled - seemingly overnight - and people are now shopping the bottom end of the pricing scale.
*** Toyota is positioned well with the new Corolla Cross hybrid, but that model in general seems to be strangled by whatever "chip shortage" Toyota says they have.
*** The Chevy Trax is selling literally right off the transporters. They don't last 24 hours on the lot. It's all new on the VSS-S platform and is really just a new "Trailblazer Light" - with limited powertrain and trim options and pay-one-price strategy, allowing $21k-$25k MSRP. They're proving to be a big hit.
*** I think Hyundai could sell a LOT more of the Venue if they'd build more and advertise it as "new for the price of used". Venue was developed for that exact reason - to hit the price point of a 2 or 3 year old used car. It allows used car shoppers to purchase a new car - with full warranty and all the latest safety gear - for the same payment as a used car that smells like somebody else's day-old socks and light waft of french fries. As used car loans run in the 10% to 14% range, making used cars a poor choice, a nicely equipped Venue sold at MSRP starts to look like a steal.

 

Someone in our extended neighborhood(yeah in the richer, newer area) had a Venue. I liked it. At times, I’ve mentioned that Chevy Bolt was short enough for our Washington state Ferry System to give it the “short vehicle” fee discount. The Venue is even shorter than the Bolt! I didn’t know that & I’d save a bunch of money on Ferry fees. If the Venue was an EV, I could be happy with it, as a replacement for the recently discontinued Bolt. But, it probably would be $10,000 more than the Bolt. But, I might think all my Dodge/Hyundai 5bolt by 114.3 inch wheels/over-sized tires would bolt right on.
Hmmm. OK Hyundai make a KIA Soul EV sibling, but add a couple inches & a 65 kW-hr battery & call it the Electric Spirit……AND charge a pittance for it. Hmmm & more hmmmm.

 

Sure, they may be able to manage a couple of your requirements simultaneously. Some of them do conflict with each other, such as big battery and small size, or big battery and low cost. I think you should re-evaluate your battery size needs, given you expect to L2 charge all the time and would therefore not be taking the normal type of road trip that others think about. There may be something out there already that would have matched had you not required a large battery and low cost. A decent city EV seems more your speed, oh and with big tires to smooth out the bumps.

On the short car front, here's a list someone conpiled. I see the Venue is on there. A bit late now, but the Spark EV would have been a reasonable choice.

Smallest cars in USA sorted by length
2022 Chevrolet Spark. full overview + photos ...
2020 MINI Hardtop 2-door. full overview + photos ...
2021 Mitsubishi Mirage. full overview + photos ...
2020 Mazda MX-5. full overview + photos ...
2020 MINI Hardtop 4-door. full overview + photos ...
2021 BMW i3. ...
2022 Ford EcoSport. ...
2023 Hyundai Venue.
More items...

Smallest cars in USA sorted by length

smallcarsoverview.com
https://www.smallcarsoverview.com › smallest-cars

 

At 161.4 inches , my Fit is pretty long.
My 89 Civic Si was 156 inches. And manual steering !

 

My last two cars before the Prius were both 159.X", with manual steering. That's about as short as a car can be without major sacrifice of interior space.

 

All the cars mentioned get the “Washington state Ferry short vehicle” discount. All are shorter than the Chevy Bolt EV. Come visit Washington state. The Ferries are great experiences, specially the ones that run from Seattle to the San Juan islands or Victoria, BC. There are ferries further south, but not any that would dodge some of the southern Puget Sound islands. Seems that could be a ferry opportunity, except those ferries wouldn’t run very often. A southern Puget Sound car drive might be nice to see those islands from a distance. If Seattle isn’t to be visited, Anacortes, WA ferries go to the San Juans & Sydney, BC, also. Yeah, dodging islands on ferries is top-notch…..unless you’re in the fog! Also, you can drive south from Anacortes on Highway 20, catching a ferry that gets you to Port Townsend, You then, can drive to Port Angeles, WA & explore the entire Olympic National Park AND the peninsula.
Oh, yeah, there’s a few other things to do in WA state, also.

 

The idea of the 65kW-hr battery is NOT to use all the 65kW-hr battery, but remain as close to 50% charge as possible. Its size will potentially help it reach 300,000 miles. To accomplish 300,000 miles, will take a battery that travels mostly between 30% to 70% of 65kW-hr capacity (19.5kW-hrs to 45.5kW-hrs). On occasion, maybe use between 20 to 80%, but preferably after the battery has traveled 50,000 miles (maybe longer?).
My severe restrictions will allow 110miles of travel on a charge, but then charge. ABC—-always be charging on L1 or L2 (no L3 allowed).