Hyundai Stole 4 Spots on This List of the Best Family Cars of 2021

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Drivers have certain features they look for when browsing family vehicles. Some of the top items on their list are affordability and fuel efficiency, which is what Hyundai is known for. Since there are so many on the market that meet these requirements, it could be tough to narrow it down. 

Good Housekeeping reports the best family vehicles out there that meet their rigorous testing requirements. They came up with 18 of them and four happened to be Hyundai cars and SUVs. 

Why was the Accent the best subcompact sedan?

Despite being a bare-bones model, editors loved this subcompact sedan because of its solid build and affordability. Another feature that made the Accent one of the top recommended vehicles for families, is its powertrain warranty and complimentary maintenance. Of course, those go for all Hyundai vehicles.

If you do choose this model, you may want to consider upgrading to another version other than the base. The entry-level SE only gets a 5-inch touchscreen, and it doesn’t have the integrated Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. 

The Accent offers just about everything a family could want in a sedan, except the rear seats might be a tad too cramped, and cargo space isn’t as plentiful as some would like. 

Why Good Housekeeping recommends the Hyundai Sonata and the Hybrid version 

Tied for the best midsize sedan is the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata. Good Housekeeping thought the Sonata offered efficiency, comfort, and plenty of useful features for a midsize sedan. They also recommended the Hybrid version, because it takes the sedan to another level, which involves impressive fuel savings. 

One of the best features they noted was the infotainment system. The editors doing the testing found it to be very easy to use. The 2021 model adds a few new items to its list of standard features. One of them is the set of 19-inch alloy wheels that you can get with the SEL Plus trim, according to HyundaiNews.com. For the Limited model, you get a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat. 

Also, a Safe Exit Warning, which will alert you of oncoming traffic when trying to leave a parallel parking spot, is standard now for the SEL, SEL Plus, and Limited. Another feature that Hyundai added, which might not be all that useful, is the smart park feature. 

The hybrid model offers the best EPA ratings. While the regular Sonata is rated to get around 32 mpg combined, the hybrid is slated to get around 52 mpg.  

What makes the Hyundai Kona the best subcompact SUV?

Good Housekeeping loved its affordability, zippy engine, and smooth suspension. It also didn’t hurt that it comes with plenty of standard features, which include Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility. It also has forward collision avoidance assistance and driver attention warnings. 

Front-wheel drive is standard, but you can opt for the all-wheel drivetrain for an extra $1,400. That would bring the price of the Kona to approximately $21,900, depending on the extras you choose to add to your purchase.

For those looking for a sportier ride, the new N-Line trim would have exactly what you’re looking for, all the way down to the responsive suspension system. 

When it comes to family vehicles, there are a large number of choices out on dealership lots. Good Housekeeping dwindled that list down to what they felt was the best of the bunch. While Hyundai stole four spots on the list, there were others just as impressive, such as the Genesis G90, Toyota Avalon, and the Mazda3. 

RELATED: Best SUVs for an Adventurous Family

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The First Black-Owned Car Company Started in 1893

by Gabrielle DeSantis

America’s History is complicated and often downright terrible. However, if you wade through all the genocide, greed, and crimes against humanity, some brilliant moments shine through, but unfortunately, they don’t get the respect and attention they deserve. For instance, C. R. Patterson and Sons was the first Black-owned car company. It started in 1873 and went on to do battle with the might of Ford‘s assembly line. The early automotive market was a wild place, and Charles Patterson made his mark.

Charles Patterson | Museum of African-American History and Culture

The First Black-owned car company predates the car

C. R. Patterson is one of the baddest men ever to grace American soil. According to Autoblog, Charles Richard Patterson was born on a Virginia plantation owned by someone who believed that he could “own” another person. After 28 years of enslavement, Patterson escaped his bonds and got the hell out of there. 

He went to Greenfield, OH, where, in 1873, he partnered with a fellow named J. P. Lowe to start a coach building company. In 1895 Patterson bought out his partner, changed the name to C. R. Paterson and Sons, and brought his son Fredrick Patterson onboard. Although this would eventually become the first Black-owned car company, the automobile production came a little later. 

C. R. Patterson moves into automobile manufacturing

C. R. Patterson died in 1910. His son, Fredrick, stepped up and took over the family business. As the years went by, C. R. Patterson and Sons started to shift the business to line up with the times. In 1915, Frederick changed production to focus on the Patterson-Greenfield automobile. This new car was powered by a four-cylinder Continental engine that rivaled Ford and cost $685. This was the first car ever made by a Black-owned company. 

There is a reason the Ford Model T is the only car most people know of from this period is that Ford completely dominated the competition with his assembly line. In the mid-1910s, there were tons of smaller car manufacturers like C. R. Patterson and Sons. Unfortunately, almost none of these smaller builders could hang with Ford. 

Ford’s assembly line was so fast and efficient that these smaller builders couldn’t make cars fast enough to compete. However, C. R. Patterson and Sons wouldn’t go down without a fight; so, they pivoted. 

Instead of rolling over, Patterson and Sons moved from making their own cars to taking Ford and General Motors chassis and building trucks and busses with them. It seemed like this brilliant idea would get them out of the mess of competing with the giants, but then the great depression hit. 

The end of C.R. Patterson and Sons

An old photo of a C.R. Patterson and Sons bus
C.R. Patterson bus | Museum of African-American History and Culture

Fredrick made the company work through the Great Depression. Like almost every company and person in America at this time, the Great Depression took a serious toll on C. R. Patterson and Sons. The first Black-owned car company would close its doors for good in 1939. 

Although it may seem like this company had only hardship and struggle, it managed to be a multigenerational success story for a black family in a country that actively tried to force its failure. 

C. R. Patterson and Sons was built by a man born on a plantation under the thumb of one of the most diabolical institutions in the history of the world and ended with a company that spanned two decades and played a role in building the foundation of the automotive industry. They made an estimated 150 cars. Unfortunately, there are no surviving examples of these cars known today. 

To learn more about the history of this pioneering family, check out the book, The C. R. Patterson and Sons Company: Black Pioneers in the Vehicle Building Industry, 1865-1939, or read more at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Smithsonian. 

RELATED: This 1929 Ford Model A Is Not What It Seems

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The Honda CR-X Cursed Car Color Has Some Dark Legends Surrounding it

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Attention all Honda CR-X owners: you may have cursed paint if you have a certain car color. We’ve talked about paint colors and their popularity a good bit. Obviously, the color and quality of paint can greatly impact how much you like your car. However, we don’t often consider how that color was made or what it was made out of. We definitely don’t consider if a certain color might be cursed or not. 

This Honda CR-X car color is allegedly cursed

The folks at Car Bibles claim the Honda CR-X paint code Y-49 car color is cursed. For people who don’t have Honda paint codes memorized (people with lives), Y-49 is the paint code for Barbados Yellow. Legend has it that Honda CR-Xs in this color are cursed. Car Bibles point the legend’s origins to a particularly wacky Oocities site. According to Car Bibles, the site suddenly went offline as soon as they started asking around about the cursed car color.

The legend of the cursed Honda CR-X paint starts in the Honda factory 30-years ago when the CR-X came out. Legend has it that paint shop workers and Honda engineers supposedly fell ill by the toxicity of the paint, which, supposedly, was radioactive. Even the folks at Drivetribe and Car Throttle corroborate Car Bibles’ claim. Of course, Honda had no idea what they were talking about when asked about the cursed car color. 

Why is this Honda mystery so confounding? 

Car Bibes goes on at length about how they couldn’t find the website at all. The site they originally found is now a 404-error, and even the internet archives offered no clarity. They eventually dropped the URL in google and found a cached version of the homepage. Seems fishy. 

Basically, the story comes from Honda CR-X owners who bought these cars at the time. Many of them claim to have often had weird incidents with their yellow CRXs. The effects of the curse range anywhere from animals hitting these cars, strange freak accidents, other drivers hitting the yellow CR-Xs more often, and all manners of strange mechanical issues. 

While Car Bibles shares multiple strange accounts by CR-X owners from the now-defunct site, this one is one of the more compelling stories, and it’s from Hondatech.com. 

Forum member CRXBart posted, “I’ve never owned a Y-49, nor will I ever. I’ve had friends that have, and have had nothing, but problems. Seven years ago at Niagara six, we were driving home from the meet, and of the eight CR-Xs with us. The only Y-49 car blew its diff in the middle of Buffalo in the ghetto. The next weekend we towed it to my house with a car dolly, changed the tranny, and got stopped for street racing later that night. He is no longer into CR-Xes, the curse must have drained him of ambition.” 

MotorBiscuit weighs in on the Honda CR-X cursed car

Y-49 Honda CR-X | Joe Santos

Looking at other people’s stories can easily be a confirmation bias type situation. However, while researching this story, our very own Joe Santos had his own series of weird experiences with his personal Y-49 Honda CR-X. 

Santos commented that he had some very frustrating experiences surrounding the CR-X car color curse. He described his experience with the yellow CR-X, “it was like dealing with a stubborn child.” He said, “All I wanted to do was return it to stock and have a clean car. But, every little repair I did would eventually go wrong. It seemed like I had to do every repair twice.”

When asked for some specific examples, Santos said, “ I got the A/C system redone, including a new compressor. Three days later, it started leaking, and it had to get replaced. It also wouldn’t pass smog for various reasons, and I had to dump a bunch more money just to get it legal. It was so annoying that I sold it after less than a year of owning it.” 

So, is the Y-49 Honda CR-X a cursed car color? 

It’s hard to imagine that such a bright and fun car color could be so menacing, but there are plenty of stories to support the legends. I’m not sure if I think a car color can be cursed, but I also doubt I’ll ever buy a Barbados Yellow Honda CR-X either – to be safe. 

RELATED: 5 Slow Cars That Are Really Fun to Drive Fast

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Can the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Zoom Past a Mazda3 Premium?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With the death of the Mazda6 in the US, Mazda only has one sedan left here: the Mazda3. And it’s up against some stiff competition, especially with the arrival of the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan. But which compact carries the most speed? That’s what YouTube team Throttle House decided to test.

The 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring might be more about fuel economy than speed

2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring side 3/4 | Honda

For 2022, the Honda Civic Sedan drops one transmission option and brings over some familiar engines. While the upcoming Hatchback, Si, and Type R retain the manual, the Sedan is CVT-only. However, although the 2021 car’s engines carry over, they’ve been tweaked slightly.

Both the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine are slightly more fuel-efficient than before. On the base LX and Sport trim, the former gets 1 more mpg city and 2 more mpg highway according to the EPA. And on the EX and Touring, the EPA estimates that the latter gets 1 more mpg city.

Plus, while the 2.0-liter engine’s output is unchanged, the 1.5-liter engine does have a modest boost. The 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring and EX have 180 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, 6 more hp and 15 more lb-ft than their 2021 counterparts. And while the 2022 Civic Sedan is slightly heavier, Honda claims its performance is unchanged.

However, that’s not what Car and Driver recently found. Testers recorded a 0-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds for the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring. That’s 0.7 seconds slower than the equivalent previous-gen car. It’s a similar story with the ¼-mile times: the 2022 Civic ran it in 15.8 seconds, 0.6 seconds slower. Though to be fair, Car and Driver noted that its test car was a low-mileage example, and might not have been fully broken-in.

Even without a turbo, the 2021 Mazda3 Premium isn’t necessarily slow

A red 2021 Mazda3 Premium by a white-and-brown-wood house
2021 Mazda3 Premium | Mazda

As Throttle House films in Canada, the co-hosts tested a 2021 Mazda3 GT, a trim level that isn’t available in the US. However, there is an equivalent US-market trim, the Premium.

In the US, the Mazda3 Premium is one of the sedan’s higher trims, just below the 2.5 Turbo models. Instead of a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Premium has a 2.5-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine. So, compared to the 2.5 Turbo models, the Mazda3 Premium is less powerful.

However, the 2021 Mazda3 Premium has the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring beat in terms of output. Its 2.5-liter engine makes 186 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Plus, unlike the Civic, the Mazda sedan has a six-speed automatic. Also, while Honda doesn’t offer AWD on the Civic, it is an option on the Mazda3. But in the interest of fairness and parity, Throttle House went with a FWD model.

Even so, on paper, the 2021 Mazda3 Premium out-speeds the Civic. Although it’s about 60 pounds heavier, it went 0-60 mph in 7.0 seconds in Car and Driver’s hands. And it ran the ¼-mile in 15.4 seconds, finishing with a 1-mph trap speed. Mazda’s sedan also had faster 5-60 mph, 30-50 mph, and 50-70 mph times.

But these are still theoretical advantages. What happens in the real world?

Which sedan won in Throttle House’s races?

The Throttle House co-hosts ran the sedans through two ¼-mile drag races. The first race was from a standing start and the second from a rolling start. So, which did better, the 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring or the Mazda3 Premium/GT?

The answer is both. Despite being slower on paper, the Civic Sedan beat the Mazda3 in the standing-start race. However, in the rolling race, the Mazda sedan’s torque advantage let it take the win.

So, from a stop, the 2022 Honda Civic is the faster sedan. But once you’re up to speed, the Mazda3 beats it out.

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RELATED: The 2021 Mazda3 Is the Perfect High School Daily Driver

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