The 2021 Honda Accord Sport and Kia K5 Go Head to Head in Edmunds’ Review

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The market for sedans is seemingly shrinking, but perhaps that is just because manufacturers are working on producing more well-rounded options rather than many options. Sporty options like the 2021 Honda Accord and Kia K5 are two prime examples of sedans that offer an enjoyable driving experience that offers plenty of practicality, too.

The Kia K5 | SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg, Getty Images

The 2021 Honda Accord

While it might not seem like an obvious comparison at first, the 2021 Honda Accord and 2021 Kia K5 are direct opponents, and when stacked up against each other on paper, it’s pretty hard to pick which one is best. While neither offers the enthusiastic driving experience of a smaller, two-seater sports car, they both offer a surprisingly comfortable and peppy drive, a dash of luxury, and many of the hot new tech features and driving aids that most buyers are looking for.

White Honda Accord Hybrid on display at the Chicago Auto Show
Honda Accord Hybrid | Raymond Boyd, Getty Images

The 2021 Kia K5

If you check out the overall scoring for the 2021 Kia K5 as Edmunds has rated it, it doesn’t help us make any choices as to which one is better. Like the Honda Accord, the K5 also received an overall score of 8.3 out of a potential 10.

The newest model year of the K5 also starts out at a similarly affordable price range as well. The base model LX costing just a hair less than the Accord, with a starting price of $24,885. It matches up to the Accord in almost every way, too, including comfort, interior space, and tech features.

RELATED: 3 Reasons Why You Need a 2021 Kia K5 in Your Life

Which sport sedan is best?

Edmunds goes into detailed ratings of all of their vehicles, breaking down scores by the categories most consumers care about and averaging them out to give us an overall opinion of each vehicle. In their comparison video, however, they put more focus on each vehicle’s performance, setting the 2021 Kia K5 and 2021 Honda Accord Sport head to head to try and determine which option offers the best sports sedan experience.

RELATED: The 2021 Kia K5’s Design Language Refuses to Release Your Attention

While these two cars do have a lot of similarities, there are plenty of reasons to pick one or the other, but when it comes down to which one is the correct one to purchase, it’s completely up to the buyer’s preference on the smaller differences like appearance.

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Does the 2022 Volkswagen Taos Have a Panoramic Sunroof?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Volkswagen has been in the SUV game for quite a few years. But the 2022 VW Taos is the brand’s first venture into subcompact crossovers. Small SUVs make up a competitive segment, so the Volkswagen Taos will have to offer something special to compete with the likes of the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Renegade.

Let’s take a look at the VW Taos and the features it will offer, including the coveted panoramic sunroof, when it goes on sale soon. 

An overview of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos

RELATED: How Much Does the 2022 Volkswagen Taos Cost?

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos is simply gorgeous. Its exterior is stunning, especially in the electric blue-and-black color scheme. The shiny silver wheel details add an extra punch of style and class. 

On the inside, the 2022 VW Taos is also quite beautiful, featuring two-toned black-and-gray cloth seats as standard. You can get genuine leather upholstery in the top-tier trim package if that better suits your style. According to Car and Driver, the interior also comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen and Wi-Fi hotspot, though several other infotainment features are available as extras or in higher trims. 

The Taos’ powertrain probably won’t excite car enthusiasts, but the turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 158 hp, will get the job done in most situations. If you need an extra bit of torque, you can also choose to upgrade to all-wheel drive. Car and Driver testers have driven only a Taos prototype, but they enjoyed the responsive handling and smooth suspension. 

Volkswagen Taos trims with a panoramic sunroof

If you want a Volkwsagen Taos with a panoramic sunroof, there are two ways to get one. First, you could purchase the premium trim level — the Taos SEL. It comes with a panoramic sunroof included in the price. 

Second, if you don’t care about the other premium features in that package, you could pay an extra $1,200 to have the panoramic sunroof installed on other trims. Either way, you can’t get a panoramic glass roof on the base- model VW Taos. 

When will it go on sale?

If you’re eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos, you have to hold your horses for only another month. It’s expected to go on sale in June. 

According to MotorTrend, the Taos starts at $24,190 for the base model. You can spend $2,045 extra for all-wheel drive. The Taos SE, the middle trim, starts at $28,440. The SE package will get you automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, an 8.0-inch infotainment display, and more. But it won’t give you a panoramic sunroof unless you opt to pay an extra $1,200. 

The top-of-the-line Taos SEL starts at $32,685. It includes all of the above plus a 10.25-inch display, a Beats audio system, automatic high beams, dual-zone climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. 

If you really want the panoramic glass roof, you’re probably best off opting for the Taos SEL package. The SEL trim would cost only about $3,000 more than the SEL with the $1,200 added to install the sunroof. That extra $3,000 gets you a whole host of other features that make the extra investment seem easy for those who aren’t on a strict budget. 

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The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Is 1 of the Cheapest Electric SUVs to Buy This Year

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Electric SUVs used to be a rarity, with the few available offerings carrying hefty price tags. Though many electric SUVs are still expensive, the segment has diversified to allow for more options at varying price points. The 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the most affordable options this year, a ranking from U.S. News shows. Here’s everything you can expect from this electric SUV.

How the Hyundai Kona Electric ranks in price

RELATED: The Hyundai Kona Electric Is the Best Electric SUV Under $50,000

With a starting price of about $37,190, the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is the second most affordable electric SUV on the U.S. News list. Only the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, which starts at $33,995, is cheaper.

Immediately above the Kona Electric in price is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, with an MSRP of $39,995. From here, the available electric SUVs continue to climb in price.

In the middle of the pack is the 2021 Tesla Model Y, which starts at approximately $50,490. The three most expensive options are the 2021 Audi e-tron ($65,900), the 2021 Jaguar I-Pace ($69,850), and the 2021 Tesla Model X ($89,990).

The Hyundai Kona Electric’s spec and features

The Hyundai Kona Electric makes 201 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque. It offers three drive modes: Comfort, ECO, and Sport. This SUV provides a decent 19.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet with them folded down.

The Kona Electric comes standard with an abundance of safety features. They include blind-spot collision warning, vehicle stability management, rear cross-traffic collision warning, and driver attention warning.

A 7.0-inch color infotainment display is standard, although a 10.25-inch display is available on higher trim levels. This SUV also comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. Other standard features include a rearview monitor with parking guidance, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an external temperature display, and push-button start.

The Kona Electric also boasts a highly competitive 10-year/100,000-mile warranty. However, U.S. News notes this SUV is available for purchase in only 12 states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Though it is possible to purchase the Kona Electric from a different state, you might face a more complex and time-consuming shopping process.

Is the Kona Electric a good buy?

RELATED: The 2021 Hyundai Kona Is a Fun, Sporty SUV Under $25,000

Because the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is one of the most affordable new electric SUVs, it’s reasonable to wonder how it compares to rivals. In terms of range, the Kona Electric is competitive for its price point. On a full charge, it can travel approximately 258 miles. By comparison, the more affordable Chevrolet Bolt EUV has a range of 250 miles. 

The Kona Electric even outshines some pricier models when it comes to battery range. The Jaguar I-Pace has a range of 234 miles, and the Audi e-tron has a range of just 222 miles. The only models with a significantly longer range are the Tesla Model Y, Tesla Model X, and Ford Mustang Mach-E, all of which can typically travel over 300 miles on a single charge.

Given how much more affordable the Kona Electric is, its range is certainly impressive. U.S. News also observes that this SUV offers a fun driving experience, an intuitive infotainment system, and an impressive array of standard safety features.

All in all, the answer is yes — the Hyundai Kona Electric is a good buy. Despite its lower price point, it holds its own against pricier competitors. For anyone shopping for a high-quality, comfortable electric SUV with competitive range and a starting price under $40,000, the Kona Electric is definitely worth a look.

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Does Your Credit Score Affect Your Car Insurance?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Shopping for a car can be tough, but shopping for car insurance can be even tougher. Although many car insurance companies are chomping at the bit to get you as their next new client, they take a few factors into consideration before doing so. But is your credit score one of those factors?

How do insurance companies come up with car insurance premiums?

Insurance appraiser from Amica Mutual Insurance Co. checking out the damage to the car of a client. | (Photo by Steve Liss/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images)

RELATED: Why Are the Honda Accord and Civic Expensive to Insure?

Car insurance companies take a few different personal factors into consideration when designing a policy for you. According to Nationwide, some of these factors include:

  • Age or driving experience
  • Year, make, and model of your vehicle
  • How the vehicle is used (business, pleasure, etc.)
  • Driving history
  • Insurance claims history
  • Geographic history
  • Credit history

We’ll go over that last factor later, however, your insurance premium is heavily influenced by the type of vehicle that you drive. Not only due to the type of car it is, but it also factors in what type of insurance you’ll need. For example, if it’s older then you might not need (or want) coverages like “comprehensive” and “collision.” Also, if you drive a classic car, then you would need a different type of insurance.

Insurance companies use an auto insurance score to assess you

A teen driver using a phone at the wheel
Teen drivers can be dangerous | BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

RELATED: 5 Unusual Used Cars That Are Really Cheap to Insure

In addition to the aforementioned factors, car insurance companies also used what’s called an “auto insurance score.” According to Wallet Hub, the auto insurance score is much like your traditional credit score, but it’s used as an indicator of your risk. This score, along with the other factors mentioned, is what insurance companies use to evaluate the drivers that they take on as clients.

A good insurance score is considered a 700 or above and it is calculated by the Fair Isaac Corporation, LexisNexis, and TransUnion. In order to obtain your auto insurance score, you would need to contact LexisNexis directly, however, do note that inquiring about your score with put a “hard pull” on your regular credit report.

How can you improve your auto insurance score?

Insurance adjuster through broken windshield
An Allstate catastrophic claims adjuster assesses the damage to a vehicle. | (Photo by Jack Hardmann/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

RELATED: Does Car Insurance Cover Water Damage?

Since your credit score is largely tied to your auto insurance score, improving your credit situation will improve your auto insurance score too. Wallet Hub mentions that drivers with no credit will pay up to 67% more on car insurance than those with excellent credit. So it’s important to keep your credit standing in check.

If you need to improve your current credit score, then Experian suggests the following:

  • Pay your bills on time every month
  • If you miss a payment, bring it up to the current status as soon as possible
  • Decrease your credit utilization rate
  • Keep an eye on your credit report to ensure all of the information is accurate

Getting a better price on car insurance

While your car insurance premium includes your auto insurance score, there are other ways to lower your car insurance rate. In addition to boosting your credit score and cleaning up your report, you can also inquire about any discounts available.

Insurance companies give discounts based on your affiliations, a clean driving record, and whether or not your car is equipped with an anti-theft device. Insurance companies sometimes don’t mention these discounts upfront, so be sure to ask for them when you shop around.  

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