Amid crowded small SUV field Tucson deserves a look

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 heard it all before from family, friends and even total strangers: "Hi, I'm looking for a practical-size sport-utility vehicle that gets good gas mileage, is loaded with standard features and won't cost me a fortune."

To which I've typically replied: "Have you looked at the Hyundai Tucson?"

Over the years, several folks have turned my suggestion into a purchase (No thanks necessary, Hyundai. I'm good). And have been very happy with said purchase.

After a recent week in the 2024 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid N Line AWD, I found no reason to change my reasoning.  In fact, the current Tucson is better than ever.

Yes, it's just right in the size department, especially for those of you who aren't inclined to load a double-wide refrigerator into the back of their vehicle.  Compact, yet roomy enough for back-seat comfort.

Good gas mileage?  Well, this being a hybrid package, the tester came in at a healthy 37 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.  Most folks I know would jump at that.

As for standard features, my ride had an exceptionally long list, including items you don't normally expect to see on a compact sport-ute.  Those included alloy sport pedals, smart cruise control and a Bose premium audio system.

So, we're probably looking at 50-grand for this ride, right?  Try an entirely reasonable $37,950 on the sticker's bottom line ... a virtual steal in today's crossover SUV market.

And there's more, most notably a 1.6-liter turbo-4 engine that anchors a hybrid system and rated at 180 horsepower.  I found the tester to be a muscular off the line, and at no time did I feel that I was driving a too-small vehicle in California's always-dicey freeway traffic.

The N Line designation means you get styling and performance upgrades giving you even more behind-the-wheel confidence.

Overall, it's a small SUV with a lot going for it.  And priced just right.

Extensively reworked Kona hits all the right notes

This review first appeared in the February 2024 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 --Maybe it was because I'd driven a string of large, pricey sport-utility vehicles of late. Maybe I just needed to unwind a little bit.

Whatever the reason, I took to the tested 2024 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD like a duck to a pond.  And delighted in it.

I didn't so much drive it as whip it around the roads of Northern California.

It didn't hurt that Hyundai reworked its subcompact SUV from bumper to bumper for the new model year.  And there's a lot to like on that front.

Topping that list on the tester was an enthusiastic 1.6-liter turbo-4 engine rated at 190 horsepower.  Even better, peak torque kicks in at a mere 1,700 rpm.  Paired with a firm suspension, the power package jets the Kona around with nimble authority.

Yet I never felt on the edge of control, even on aggressive starts off the line.  Fun to drive?  You bet.

And fairly fuel-efficient in the bargain: 24 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

The new exterior look only added to the sporty feel.  The Kona's sleek roofline makes it stand apart from other SUVs that certainly offer convenience but lack the Kona's saucy sportiness.

As for those 19-inch alloy wheels that look like mounted throwing knives ... need I say more?

From the cockpit, the tester was stuffed with features, certainly more than I'd expect from a vehicle wearing a sticker of 34,695.

Besides the lengthy list of state-of-the-art safety technology, the Kona had a 12.3-inch, multi-functional, panoramic display screen; heated side mirrors; a power sunroof; a heated steering wheel; heated/ventilated front seats and a hands-free smart liftgate.

Did I mention that the new Kona is bigger -- inside and out -- than its predecessor.  Well, it is.  And while it's a subcompact, the Kona has 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats folded down.

One thing that might take some getting used to is the shifting mechanism, sort of an attached switch mounted on the right side of the steering column.  Longtime drivers might equate it to a permanent car key that stays in the vehicle.  Just saying.

All in all, Hyundai is presenting a loaded vehicle for folks looking for a practical-size sport-ute at a fair price.  Given current prices consumers are paying from grocery stores to car dealerships, there's an appeal there.

Hyundai's ability to anticipate what buyers want -- and where automotive trends are heading -- explains its emergence as a major player on the global automotive stage.  No longer a seller of cheap cars, Hyundai is delivering in all segments.  Among subcompact SUVs, the Kona has moved to the head of the class.

Comfort and luxury are plentiful in an old favorite

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 had a soft spot in my heart for luxury-laden Infiniti sport-utility vehicles.  They were some of the first vehicles I reviewed when I was evaluating autos as a newspaper columnist.

Other folks have more practical reasons for liking Infiniti's SUVs: You get a lot of luxury for less money than you'd pay for another brand.

The recently tested 2024 Infiniti QX60 Autograph AWD was a case in point.  It was wearing a sticker of $69,240, but it was dressed up to the tune of about $80,000 to $85,000 by my reckoning.

The monster-size list of standard features included a power panoramic moonroof, second row heated captain's chairs, a kickin' Bose 17-speaker audio system, intelligent cruise control and much, much more. Options on my ride included a $795 lighting package (with "welcome" tones and an illuminated cargo area).

Rarely have three rows of seating felt so comfortable on the fly. Soft, yet just firm enough and with plenty of legroom, passengers were treated a velvet-smooth ride, even at 70 miles per hour.

The 3.5-liter V-6 engine rated at 295 horsepower is a willing power plant, but even at near-full song, very little noise reaches the interior cabin.  For a three-row vehicle, the tester was remarkably agile with a tight turning radius.

Fuel mileage is so-so at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Crash test ratings are superior, including a max five-star overall rating in federal government tests.

With classy exterior styling, the tester looked at home in country club parking lots, and it drew admiring stares parked at the local grocery store.

I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. And the memories.

Powerful BMW SUV reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition sport-utility vehicle can be seen in the latest, April 2024, 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.

Kia Telluride SUV's rave reviews are entirely deserved

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 -- It has won multiple awards, including Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year in 2020. The current model has snared the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s top rating. Countless auto reviewers have sung its praises.

And the Kia Telluride is deserving of everything it has received.

That was apparent in my recent week in the 2024 Kia Telluride SX-Prestige X-Line V6 AWD tester. A lot of ornate words have been used to describe the Telluride, but here's my simple take: Kia has produced a three-row, midsize SUV that is a nearly perfect blend of urban daily driver and rugged off-road warrior.  It just feels substantial on the move.

And it moves quite well with a 3.8-liter V-6 doing the chores.  Rated at nearly 300 horsepower, the power plant is robust and responsive. Passengers in my tester remarked that they liked being pressed deep into their seats on hard accelerations.

Not the usual deal with an SUV, they said.  True enough.

My X-Line tester looked trail-ready parked at the curb, especially wrapped in "Wolf Gray" paint.  The 20-inch alloy wheels are meant to roll over rocks and run through rivers. And yet my ride was a silky smooth cruiser on the local freeways.

For all of its ruggedness, the Telluride is a dressed up and classy inside.  Nappa leather seating surfaces are comfortable, a 12.3-inch panoramic screen display is easy to read and use, and a heated steering wheel is a welcome plus on cold mornings.  Given the loaded tester, it was very reasonably priced at $54,540.

I think the Telluride's popularity can be explained in the diverse groups of motorists who like it.  The off-road crowd loves it. The daily urban commuters feel the same.  And it even gets nods from those that might not necessarily come to mind.  For example: U.S. News & World Report named the Kia Telluride the best three-row midsize SUV in its “Best Cars for Families” award program for the fifth year in a row.

Family fun and off-the-paved-road enjoyment.  Take your pick.  Telluride has a lot to offer.

Woodsy Crosstrek further boosts Subaru's reputation

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 -- It has been my experience that Subaru buyers are among the most fiercely loyal in the automotive world.

Extensive investigation on my part has revealed that this loyalty comes from the simple fact that Subaru gives its loyalists exactly what they want.  And over a couple of generations that has included a peppy boxer-style engine and masterful all-wheel drive.

The tested 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness -- introduced last year as an all-new compact SUV offering -- simply improves on all that.  It's perhaps the most complete, customer-pleasing Subaru ever built. Consider it the Subaru in full.

The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine on the tester was rated at 182 horsepower, and frankly, the car's lusty accelerations and darts in and out freeway traffic made it feel more powerful than that number.  The car's handling characteristics were quick and nimble to the max.  A pleasure to drive.

Naturally, with the Wilderness name, this Crosstrek was designed to take off road.  The hefty 9.3-inch ground clearance all but shouted that as well. Other wild country equipment included 17-inch Yokohama all-terrain tires, an all-weather package/body cladding, a retractable cargo cover, extra-study front/rear bumpers and much more.

I particularly liked the anodized copper finish accents placed outside and inside the vehicle. Ditto the LED fog lights with a hexagon pattern.

If you are a city dweller with a burning need to get lost in the Wilderness on your weekends, this might be your dream vehicle. For that matter, a suburban/rural resident might find this Crosstrek to be the perfect commuter/workhorse/daily driver.

The bonus: The bottom line investment on the loaded tester was only $35,560 ... an easy-on-the-eyes number in this time of $50,000 crossovers. Fuel mileage is pretty fair as well: 25 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway on the tested model.

Did I mention Subaru's EyeSight Driver Assist Technology, standard on all 2024 Crosstreks? That includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, pre-collision throttle management, lane departure/sway warning, lead vehicle start alert, blind-spot detection (with lane change assist) and rear cross-traffic alert.

With all this, little wonder that Subaru loyalists are determined ride for the brand.

Versatile electric Ford pickup has high-volt bonus

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 -- The last time I reviewed the Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck, it was helping me survive a nearly week-long power outage.

It charged my mobile phone, kept me up to date with the news via radio and transported me to buy food that would not go bad in the useless freezer.  It was an oasis in a desert devoid of electric power. A reliable companion.

This time around, in my week in a 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning 4X4 SuperCrew, I found more time to appreciate the other features I was too stressed to examine the first time.  Simply said, it's a remarkable machine.

And while some pickup purists have been struggling with the idea of an electric truck, I can assure you that the Lightning can do anything that an internal-combustion driven truck can do ... and more, given its electric equipment.

It's rugged and powerful, and yes, it can provide power to your home in a pinch.

Of course, there's always the fuel mileage equivalent of 73 miles per gallon in the city and 60 mpg on the highway. Zero fuel bills feel good, no matter how you feel about electric vehicles.

I must point out that my tester was loaded, pushing the sticker price to a whopping $97,674.  Was I complaining?  Not for a second. I thoroughly enjoyed the extras and the long list of standard features that made up my Lightning.

This is one of the most versatile EVs ever built, in my view.  The very fact that Ford made the effort to produce an electric, full-size truck during a time of uncertainty over public acceptance of such vehicles is, in my mind, a feather in Ford's cap.

So, Mr./Mrs. Die-Hard Pickup Driver, have you test-driven one yet?  If not, you should.  You don't know what you're missing.