THE BEST AMERICAN-MADE CARS

EV Channels Review

This episode of The Driveway Podcast tackles the complex definition of "Made in America," focusing on vehicles assembled within the US, regardless of brand origin. The hosts highlight the Honda Civic Hatchback as their top pick for small cars, praising its Indiana assembly, practicality, and enjoyable driving dynamics, noting it's a "home run" without compromise. The Honda Accord is lauded as the best mid-size car, built in Ohio, offering a delightful blend of space, comfort, and engaging driving. For sports cars, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray (built in Kentucky) is celebrated as an unparalleled dollar-for-dollar performance value and an iconic American symbol. The Honda CR-V, assembled in Ohio and Indiana, is recognized for its stylish design, practical interior, and refined driving experience in the small SUV segment. The Kia Telluride, manufactured in Georgia, is deemed the best mid-size SUV for its true three-row capability. In the luxury SUV category, the BMW X5, built in South Carolina, is praised for its exquisite feel and luxurious appointments. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 stands out as a top EV choice, assembled in Georgia, admired for its distinctive styling and spacious interior, though a rugged XRT variant is met with mixed reactions. The Rivian R1S is selected as the luxury EV, built in Illinois, noted for its personalization, impressive performance, and significant range, despite not prioritizing efficiency. For trucks, the Hyundai Santa Cruz (built in Alabama) is chosen as the small pickup, with the hosts acknowledging it might be due to a lack of other US-assembled options, while the large pickup category is not explicitly detailed in this segment of the transcript.