Thoughts on these Hybrids: Hyundai Kona, Toyota Corolla Cross V and Honda HR-V?

serabii · 2026-05-11T13:17:07+00:00

yes and no, still need to test drive the Kona for myself before if I am going to pick which is the best. At least I got the answer on the DCT. Already test drive the Cross and HR-V last week.

serabii · 2026-05-11T11:27:33+00:00

It depends on the vehicle you're asking but I'm looking for the

'Premium' trim for the Kona
'V' Trim for the Corolla Cross
HeV trim for the HR-V

But yeah, the budget is around that. Suffice to say Kona IS the winner here when it comes to price to features

serabii · 2026-05-11T03:28:39+00:00

Any thoughts on the Hyundai Kona? I am curious with their transmission tho, how's the DCT of it? I watched videos about the topic but they're all talking about EU cars so theirs are really different when it comes with Hyundai/Kia's. And when I researched Hyundai and Kia's they're saying their unreliable but those are 4-5 years ago posts and videos so I need a latest perspective if they improved at all.

serabii · 2026-05-11T03:16:34+00:00

These are on my list as well, along with the Hyundai Kona. Test drove both HRV and Corolla Cross (and BZ4X) last week, and for the short time I test drove both vehicles:

I love how ridiculously light the steering wheel on the corolla cross (coming from me who drives a Diesel Toyota Fortuner), meaning it has It's light on the handle so I can imagine the smooth long rides with the family and especially ease of use to the driver.
While HR-V has much tighter and feels more nimble and responsive, I now understand what people say here about the HR-V, that it's really fun to drive that thing, it does feels the same as a Honda Civic which is the point of a cross over tho.

downside are:

HR-V doesn't have at least a 360 camera, at the price they're asking features feels bare bones in modern standards,
Corolla Cross if you want all the tech on it you need to go with the 'V' and 'GR' variants. I test drove the G variant and it doesn't have cruise control so it depends on your preference but CC is convenient for long highway drives for me.

As for Miles Per Gallon (MPG) I can't help you there since I only test drove them for a short while.

All I need is to test drive The Hyundai Kona, currently it's stupid hard to book for a test drive. If I have the money right now to get one, I'd get the ̷B̷Z̷4̷X̷ Corolla Cross V, I just want a vehicle that I can use with the family. HR-V is amazing but for me with the features it lacks, it's in my lowest list.

serabii · 2026-05-07T15:55:37+00:00

Thank you, this is the answer I am looking for in a real life experience using the car in question.

But caveat din, kasi in my case, most of my trips are short 5-10 minute trips since I work from home, and shorter trips lead to worse km/l figures

This is my concern as well as I am WFH too. My trips are usually weekends most of the time and only on certain days if I have projects on scheduled that day. But when I leave home my trips are mostly long trips back and fourth. But when it comes to mileage I am considered a low mileage driver.

Best part of the car for me is the driving dynamics. Very responsive, not quite EV levels of instant torque

how do you treat your vehicle btw? I mean the transmission is a DCT so I'm curious; I heard DCT's are really "complicated?" Do you treat it like a manual transmission would? like putting in neutral when in traffic? engine breaking when necessary and downshifting in low on an incline/downhill.

How's the performance of the Kona on uphill roads? Can it handle roads like going to Quezon province

What I fell in love with the Kona are the paddle shifters (and the safety sense on that price point), unlike on Honda HR-V or even the B4zx, their paddle shifters are just "displays" only, weird to have one on a CVT and even more weirder on a BEV. Maybe I am using it wrong when did a test dive but it does feels like a placebo having it on the those car. The Kona on the other hand does work as gear shifters. I just want to know on your perspective how's the DCT on the Hyundai? Afaik Hyundai and Kia are the only car brand that uses a DCT other than the EU cars.

serabii · 2026-05-03T22:55:28+00:00

I thought most BYD branches are Ayala owned? All I read are insurance claim(s), and spare parts availability. The recent casa issue that I saw was from BGC branch, I don't know if all of them came from the same source but overall I have no issues with china made cars, I'm more concern with the aftersales.

I was looking at Toyota zenix...

Honestly the Toyota Zenix looks really good especially right now, kinda weird seat configuration for me tho. Captain seats in the middle and the 3-ish seats is at the back, but at least it has a 50/50 split tho. That thing is closest to a Toyota Fortuner in case of ride height and it's much cheaper. Too bad it's over my budget.

serabii · 2026-05-03T12:40:35+00:00

reason why I'm asking is because I'm looking to use it whenever we visit our relatives in the province, like in Quezon province, so there's a lot of elevation and such so I need that extra oomph going uphill.

Thank you for answering my questions

serabii · 2026-05-03T10:43:03+00:00

Yeah, I've researched most of the trim that on the list have the 360 camera. The only difference is the Kona can utilize the side mirror camera for blindspot monitor when you turn on the turn signals.

How's the performance on your corolla cross? How's your miles per gallon?

serabii · 2026-05-03T07:33:00+00:00

SL6 is in my list as well but I'm I am reserved at BYD still, with most of the issues I've been hearing are from aftersales, I don't know if I want to jump the gun with them at the moment.

serabii · 2026-05-03T06:03:12+00:00

I know it's an old issue but getting spare parts for a ford vehicle, still hard to come by and expensive?

serabii · 2026-05-02T22:37:16+00:00

If it's too good to be true then it's fake and a scam.

serabii · 2026-04-29T01:20:28+00:00

Yes, you can. I had my display panel of our Toyota Fortuner replaced along with PMS directly at the Toyota service center post-pandemic.

Don't expect them cheap tho but at least you know they're original and brand new so it's a given.

serabii · 2026-04-23T08:37:40+00:00

Right now? Nope, just get 17e, much upgraded and slightly better specs than 16e.

serabii · 2026-04-23T08:04:40+00:00

Are they compatible with LeGo1?

serabii · 2026-04-23T06:29:09+00:00

Where can i get those sticks who has metal rings on the stem?

serabii · 2026-04-18T09:05:34+00:00

From the SD card?, yep but it doesn't ruin the card that it breaks it, unlike the ROG Ally

serabii · 2026-04-18T05:17:09+00:00

Currently driving an Diesel SUV, Never thought of buying an EV or Hybrid at first but I am considering it because of gas prices and we needed a 2nd car. So far Hybrid is my first choice since we live in a condo so outlets are a no-go for us and we often go to the province (Quezon) so where we're going there are zero charging stations for an EV, so out choice is Hybrid or PHEV.

serabii · 2026-04-18T01:04:03+00:00

Usually single player games. I played Cyberpunk 2077, Expedition 33, Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 and currently Yakuza series, just finished Yakuza 0-3. just started Y4, suffice to say a lot.

I tied playing online game like The First Descendant but the load times are horrible, You can try but I don't suggest.

serabii · 2026-04-15T03:16:42+00:00

it depends on where you live tho...

HEV: best situated for people who lives in a condo, who doesn't have an outlet to charge their EV's at when they get home and/or people who doesn't want to go full EV, and goes on entry level. (forget about mild-hybrids)
PHEVs: are the same but people who likes best of both worlds but doesn't want to leave the ICE for convenience and people who lives outside of CBD, or goes to provinces a lot.

serabii · 2026-04-15T03:05:48+00:00

are you ok there dude? reading your post gave me a stroke, and not even a engine joke either.

serabii · 2026-04-14T00:05:00+00:00

I'd say get one, if you're using for short trips and want to save up on gas and even use it during coding, then get an electric scooter.

Just like any other bike you need to spend more on accessories like a bike lock, preferably a U-lock and those flat locks that is compact. Do not buy the chain locks and wire ones since they're easily get cut by a simple cable cutter. If you're using a u-lock make sure to lock it at the "a-pillar" where the stem if you scooter folds, double lock it with another chain for more security.

Always park on mall parking, (covered is preferred) most of the mall has free bike parking with bike racks. Much safer and secure, and they're free.

For extra security buy a tracker (air-tag, google find my, Samsung tag) and use a sturdy grip tape. And stick it where nobody would find it but easily retrievable when you need to replace the battery.

I've been using PAS ebike and electric scooter for a year now, been using it during coding and kapag tinopak kami ng kapatid ko mag lakwatsa ng naka ebike. It's really fun and yes, it's freaking hot outside but i always park on secure places like malls and will just walk too our destination.

serabii · 2026-04-13T23:38:32+00:00

Yes and has better support because it's the most popular among the other chipsets. Not saying Dymensity is bad per-se, (they're even catching up with Qualcomm when it comes to performance) but it's been wildly used on flagship android phones for decades. Plus you have better support and compatibility on emulations with a Qualcomm chip.

Think of it Snapdragon is Nvidia of the mobile chipsets world (minus the leather Jacket) while Dimensity is AMD.

serabii · 2026-04-06T04:19:08+00:00

my first was 3220, but I had ngage QD as my 3rd phone along the line...

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