This Land Rover Range Rover SUV is long on luxury

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- In the land of luxury, you want to be careful.

Having tested hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles over the years, there's a tendency to just let it rip when you get a new auto to sample.

But Land Rover gives one pause ... especially taking delivery of the latest Land Rover Range Rover SE 7 LWB (as in "long wheelbase").  After all, you don't want to be making dents in a vehicle that STARTS at $120,700, right?

Precisely.  So, I can say after a week of taking extreme care in the tested Range Rover, it's worth every penny.  Yes, it is, seriously.

The seven-seater radiates luxury.  The white interior surfaces on the tester were perfectly placed and stitched.  And incredibly comfortable.

Surrounded by prime wood and metal materials -- polished to perfection -- I felt like the casual tourist walking into a five-star suite in Manhattan. I'm thinking: "Do I really belong here? I mean my name is not Rockefeller."

I could go through the long, long list of state-of-the-art comfort/convenience/safety features, but rest assured, this particular luxury liner is loaded with only the best, only the most sophisticated, only the most opulent features.  A demanding luxury lover is not going to be disappointed.

The most basic features are exceptional as well.

The 3-liter, in-line 6 engine is rated at 400 horsepower, and it responds instantly with muscular, yet amazingly quiet power.  An iron fist in a velvet glove.

I packed the tester with an exceptional amount of cargo and found it capable of carrying full-size truck levels of stuff.

The long wheelbase takes some time to master, especially in tight parking spots, but the advantages gained in the cargo area make it totally worth it.

Overall, it's a luxury lover's dream.  For those who can afford the fare, enjoy it with care.

Updates on Genesis GV70 sport-ute win over motorists

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- You know you are doing something right when former critics of your motor vehicle are now heaping praise upon it.

That was my experience with the tested 2026 Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD midsize crossover sport-utility vehicle.  I received multiple online and face-to-face communications from former GV70 haters who now loved the vehicle.

Key reason: A very thoughtful redesign, inside and out.

On the front end, the new GV70 sports a "G-Matrix Crest Grille," which for our purposes means a large, exquisitely sculpted front end -- imposing but not monster-crazy like you see on other luxury sport-utes.

Double-level headlights, a wide-shouldered stance and extended air-intake grilles complete a sporty, aggressive look that combines muscularity and elegance.  A tough look to pull off, but Genesis does it.

A luxurious and highly functional interior look is loaded with useful tech. That includes sophisticated infotainment, adjustable ambient lighting and multiple safety/security systems designed to keep the distracted driver focused on safety.

Power is significant with a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 (375 horsepower).  I found myself weaving effortlessly through downtown gridlock and dicey freeways.  For that purpose, steering was instantly responsive.  Balance was pretty much perfect, with no body sway.

This being a Genesis model, the bottom line of $72,225 is not only justified, but a bargain given the liberal doses of state-of-the-art perks.  To this day, I'm still amazed at all that Genesis gives the luxury buyer for a fair price.

Translation: You might expect to pay $10,000 or more for the same things at other dealerships.

Overall, an impressive reworking inside and out -- without downgrading the refinement one expects in a GV70.

BMW raises the bar in electronic transportation

This review first appeared in the October 2025 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- Leave it to BMW to expand the horizons of electronic vehicles.

My recent week in the new-for-2026 BMW iX xDrive45 was a revelation ... a learning experience of what an EV can be.

Luxurious, beautifully styled and high performing with dual electric motors, it's the midsize luxury crossover sport-utility vehicle in full.

Per usual BMW calls it a Sports Activity Vehicle, but it's really so much more than that.

The redesign for 2026 includes eye-catching headlights and can't-miss daytime running lights and turn indicators. My ride was particularly fetching riding on 22-inch wheels.

Fit and finish were world-class.

Oomph was dished up smoothly to the tune of 402 horsepower, but even with my right foot nearly to the floor, I never had the feeling that the power plant was straining.

It took some time for me to get adjusted to the relative electronic silence as the tester cut through traffic with effortless ease.

Passengers commented on the quiet, and the lack of bumps.  The BMW seemed to swallow every imperfection in the road.

Interior space, by the way, was surprisingly roomy for this segment.

The starting price on the iX xDrive45 starts at a surprisingly moderate $75,150, but my tester was dressed up with extras to put the bottom line at $92,775.

It was worth it.

The highlights of several packages included an illuminated kidney grille, an interior camera, driving/parking assists and BMW's very own M Sport touches.

One of the concerns of electric vehicle doubters is range.  That's not a problem with this xDrive45, with a range of more than 300 miles.

For the record, the fuel equivalent mileage ratings are 85 miles per gallon in city driving and 82 mpg on the highway.

The list of standard features (most adding to the luxurious feel) is exceptionally long.  That includes a panoramic eclipsing roof, forward collision mitigation and soft-close automatic doors.

In sum, BMW can legitimately boast that it has constructed the "ultimate driving machine" in the electronic sport-utility vehicle field.

Toyota Crown sedan reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Toyota Crown Nightshade sedan can be seen in the latest, November 2025, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

The "Hot Laps" reviews, along with my "Oil Drips" observations on anything with wheels, appear monthly in the publication.

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Hyundai's Santa Cruz compact pickup is a head-turner

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- You can draw a crowd with a fleet of Corvettes.  You can lure them to your driveway with the biggest, baddest monster truck of your dreams.

But there's something about a saucy-looking little pickup with an eye-popping paint job.

Behold my recent week with a 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz XRT AWD, a four-door compact pickup that made me the center of attention.

I'm sure the ultra-bright "Canyon Red" exterior paint -- perfectly setting off the all-black interior -- had something to do with it, but kudos to Hyundai for the sporty sculpting put in place for the 2025 model year.

It just looks sporty, as pickup trucks go.  Pretty sporty on the fly as well, courtesy of a 2.5-liter turbo-4 engine.

I wasn't so much driving the Santa Cruz as jetting it around.  I was particularly impressed with the agile moves the pickup made in a rush-hour jaunt with a time deadline.  The Santa Cruz gracefully negotiated the mob and made it on time.

The back bed featured a sliding cover that was easy to use.  And useful too, when I transported cargo during a rainstorm.  All items in the bed came out bone-dry at my destination.

I was amazed at the number of curious questioners who came running when I parked the Santa Cruz in downtown Sacramento and at various stops along Interstate 80.  One lady jumped out of her full-size pickup and came flying across a strip mall parking lot to ask me what I was driving ... and where could she get one.

I should note that the tester was nicely equipped for $42,425.  It had a suite of max five-star federal government crash test safety ratings.  Fuel mileage came in at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Obviously, this is not a truss-toting, rock-crushing brute of a pickup.  But it is a fun-to-drive looker that can do any number of humble cargo-carrying chores.  And look good doing it.

Toyota Tacoma pickup is just-right all the way around

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I've always liked Toyota's Tacoma pickup -- practical size, nicely equipped, peppy powertrains.

What's not to like?

When Tacoma underwent major upgrades for 2024, I found even more reasons to be pleased with the pickup.

A recent week in the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4X4 Double Cab with a hybrid powertrain only enhanced my good feelings.

The hybrid system -- anchored by a 2.4-liter turbo-4 -- is a responsive chore-doer, with the fuel mileage bonus coming in at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

No, it's not a monster-size vehicle, but that's just the point.  Take your 80-grand to the big truck lot for that.  The bottom line on the tester was a somewhat hefty $67,125, but it was so loaded with features that I did not blink at the price.

That included optional equipment sure to please pickup devotees: a towing technology package with wireless camera system, a rear differential skid plate and a spray-on bed liner with mini tie-downs. Standard equipment included a moonroof, a stabilizer disconnect mechanism and a 10-speaker JBL audio system.

Another civilized pickup. My Kentucky farmer grandfather would not believe it.

As pickup technology and equipment continue to expand at a nuclear-fission pace, I can hardly believe it myself.

Alas, the best part is enjoying the ride. The current-generation Tacoma checks all the boxes in that department.

Variety, quality are staples of the Mazda CX lineup

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Mazda has this sport-utility vehicle thing covered.

Besides its other SUV models, the CX compact crossover SUV lineup includes EIGHT trim levels, offering variety for the bargain hunter all the way up to the luxury enthusiast.

My recent tester was the 2025 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo Premium with all-wheel drive, priced at a nice mid-level $40,755.

For that price, one gets a lot.

My ride included standard 19-inch black alloy wheels (very handsome), all-season tires, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated power mirrors with embedded turn lamps, a power moonroof, heated/ventilated front seats, lane-keep assist and much more.

So much more that 50-grand would have been a fair sticker price.

Bonus: A suite of max five-star federal government crash test safety ratings, including five stars on the overall score.

On the fly, the 2.6-liter turbo engine (227 horsepower) is a responsive, enthusiastic performer. I was surprised how easily it took on steep hill climbs.

Cruising characteristics were smooth and quiet. Fuel mileage came in at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Mazda seems to have upped the SUV competition ante to levels that boosted the fortunes of Kia and Hyundai ... that is, put a lot of perks in the vehicles for a price that undercuts the competition.

Hard to argue with that formula, especially when it translates to an advantage for the consumer.

Overall, this CX-5 fits the formula, with a suite of customer-pleasing features that won't break the bank.

Given the blizzard of crossover SUVs on the market, that gives the CX-5 a step ahead in this ultra-competitive vehicle segment.