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 -- Somehow, various versions of the Honda Odyssey minivan periodically show up in my driveway.

Not that I object, mind you.

The Odyssey is sort of the Rolls-Royce of minivans.  That's particularly true of the recently tested 2025 Honda Odyssey Elite.

It's absolutely loaded: state-of-the-art safety technology, five-star hotel comfort/convenience features and a roomy, cozy interior that's reassuring to passengers and a treat for drivers.

OK, I get it that minivans appeal to a specific segment of motorists.  But even sports car folks who inspected my ride came away impressed.

First off, it looks better than ever in 2025 with sportier lines and a nicely sculpted grille.  Inside, Honda has upgraded entertainment systems and bumped up the size of the high-resolution touchscreen.

For the long family road trip -- right in the minivan devotee's wheelhouse -- this Odyssey is a veritable rolling amusement park. The tested Odyssey featured wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Integration, SiriusXM audio and CabinTalk, the in-vehicle communication system that negates shouting to be heard.

And all of it can be enjoyed amid perfectly stitched leather surfaces, tri-zone climate control and a power moonroof with tilt feature.  The power, sliding side doors triggered by a key fob still provide a bit of a thrill for onlookers.  Ditto the hands-free power tailgate.

The tester's bottom line was a surprisingly reasonable $52,275.  Fuel mileage checked in at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, via a nicely responsive 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 280 horsepower.

In sum, the Odyssey is a minivan segment leader, and a fun-to-drive vehicle for all odysseys.

'Grander' Highlander has all the bells and whistles

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 -- Let me start by saying that I have always liked Toyota's Highlander sport-utility vehicle.

But now we have a Grand Highlander, which is, well ... grander.

My recent tester was a 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander Nightshade Hybrid, and it was a three-row, perk-laden luxury liner to be sure ... with a bottom line price of $56,818.

Some asked: "Isn't that a Lexus."  And the answer is, yeah, pretty much.  It seems that Toyota, as always, wants to have all customer desires covered.  And this Grand certainly goes a long way toward doing that.

My ride came with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 245 horsepower. It felt stronger than that and handled everything quite well. The hybrid system was rated at 36 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

But Toyota devotees have more options: the Grand Highlander also can be had with a gas-fueled 2.4-liter turbo-4 rated at 265 horsepower or a road-ripping "Hybrid MAX" power plant tipping the scales at 362 horses.

This being a near-Lexus, the long list of standard features on the tested Grand Highlander included cross-traffic alert, 3,500-pound towing capacity, all-wheel-drive "Trail Mode," a hands-free power liftgate, heated seats in the first and second rows, leather surfaces all around, three-zone climate control and so much more.

Add the Nightshade touches, the optional panoramic roof and panoramic view monitor and we're talking four-star hotel territory.  And yet, you might notice that a couple of those features are geared to taking the big-shouldered Grand Highlander off-road ... although I'm not sure I'd want to risk scratching the exquisitely painted surface with tree branch scratches.

The control-loaded interior is roomy and comfortable, I should mention.  And the exterior looks good riding on those 20-inch alloy wheels.

Overall, for those looking to spend wisely in this SUV segment, I'd says this Highlander is simply grand.

BMW's X3 SUV upholds automaker's stellar 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 -- I was parked in a grocery store lot when I was reminded that BMW still matters to many.

In 10 minutes, no less than a half dozen folks walked up to my open driver's side window and commented on what a "lovely, beautiful, gorgeous, hot" vehicle I was occupying. And then most went over the top when they realized that the object of their affections was a BMW.

Like a dinner guest learning that your wife's pretty necklace was bought at Tiffany & Co.

OK, I'm convinced.

Sure, my ride was wearing rich "Vegas Red Metallic" paint, made even more striking by a fourth-generation restyling that is both sporty and classy.  But it was more than that.  Folks are still moved by a brand that bills itself as a builder of the "ultimate driving machine."

Priced at $72,225, the tested 2025 BMW X3 M50 xDrive certainly qualifies as a primo SUV in the luxury midsize segment.

For starters, the tester was absolutely loaded with customer-pleasing, high-tech features. What do you like?  My ride had it: adaptive suspension, variable sport steering, multiple infotainment options, Sky Lounge panoramic roof, wireless device charger and enough driving-enhancement/safety tech to soothe the soul of even the most nervous driver.

Seating for five is roomy and comfortable.

Besides the classic BMW grille, the automaker separates the X3 from the blizzard of crossover SUVs by calling its creation a Sports Activity Vehicle.  It's an apt label as the 3-liter, twin-turbo 6 (393 horsepower) dishes up power in aggressive, large helpings.  Once at freeway cruise speed, the ride is buttery soft and smooth.

The mild hybrid system on the tester was rated at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

To be truthful, it will likely take an X3 buyer a month to figure out all the vehicle can do.  It will be time well-spent, a bonus from an automaker that still matters.

Kia's new K4 is a head-turning, fun compact sedan

This review first appeared in the May 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 -- When Kia introduces something new, I pay attention.

That goes naturally for a car company that went from making cheap machinery to producing some of the best motor vehicles rolling on our roadways.

My latest week was in a 2025 Kia K4 GT-Line, a head-turning compact sedan with a surprising amount of interior space.

It didn't just turn my head.  Other heads also were on a swivel, thanks to a sleek, aerodynamic design that seems to go on forever at the back end.

Can't say that about a lot of compacts these days.

But wait, there's more.

The nearly 73-inch width leads the compact sedan segment.

“By juxtaposing the K4’s fastback roofline and wide stance, we split the difference visually between the compact and midsize segments,” explained Tom Kearns, chief designer with Kia Design Center America. “The creative tension that the 'Opposites United' design language stresses allowed us to improvise on the traditional three-box form factor.”

Sure, okay.  Myself and a few volunteer passengers simply thought it looked cool. Oh, it's also fun to drive.

The standard 2-liter, four-cylinder engine on the tester was rated at 147 horsepower, enough to handle pretty much everything in this segment.  But please note, the 2025 K4 can be equipped with a 1.6-liter turbo that raises the horsepower curve to a power-packed 190.

Passengers remarked at the spacious interior for a compact model, and they were equally impressed by the generous perks that came with my ride, priced at an entirely reasonable $28,345 on the sticker's bottom line.

Standard features included driver-attention warning, smart cruise control, a 12.3-inch touchscreen with myriad functions and a wireless phone charger.  Optional extras included heated front seats and a power sunroof with sunshade.

The special GT-Line package added more goodies: a primo Harman Kardon audio system, black exterior accents and a sport steering wheel (with paddle shifters) among them.

Yeah, all that for way less than 30-grand. Typical of Kia to stuff more in for less money than one would spend elsewhere for the same amount of features.

Fuel mileage is pretty good too at 29 miles per gallon in the city and 39 mpg on the highway for the 2-liter power plant.

Ordinarily, seasoned auto buyers recommend waiting until the second generation of a new model hits the market before writing a check for those wheels.

Frankly, I see no reason to wait with this K4.  It pleases varied tastes with multiple trim levels ... for a price that's easy on the checkbook.

All in all, an excellent new kid on the block.

Kia's Carnival reviewed in the latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2025 Kia Carnival Hybrid SX Prestige can be seen in the latest, June 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.

Bravo Alex: a masterful drive wins him Indy 500 crown

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

The Indianapolis 500 was run for the 109th time on May 25. Mark Glover attended for the 60th time.  Here's his take on a memorable race:

And so, after it was all over -- after the spins, the wall impacts, the car part-altering scandals, the racing team firings, the rookie pole position winner and 200 laps around the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on a teeth-chattering cold Saturday -- the cream rose to the top.

Alex Palou, the 28-year-old Spanish sensation, won the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. The driver and car that have dominated the 2025 IndyCar season won the biggest jewel in the IndyCar crown. And frankly, looking back, they did it with ease.

I started closely watching Palou halfway into the race.  What I observed was a master at work, a master getting a lot of help from some of the smartest people in high-speed racing.

Palou seemed to be cruising along among the top five, apparently content to ride things out.  I realized that Palou was making very little effort to pass cars in front of him -- cars that I figured were far inferior to his.

A few laps later, I started doing the math and figured it out: he's trying to get home on just two more pit stops.  And he's saving fuel by following in the aerodynamic tow generated by the cars in front of him.

So simple, so brilliant.

It's part of a strategy that has worked for Indy 500 winners dating back to the 1920s.  Don't burn out your car, be patient, strike when it's go time at the finish.  Al Unser was a master at it. So was Rick Mears.  Both won the 500 four times.

I figured 35 laps to go was the maximum risk point to make a final pit stop.  Smarter to get a couple laps below that number.  Sure enough, Palou did just that.  When it was winning time with less than 20 laps to go, Palou blew past the last threat and sailed home with apparent ease.

Checkmate.  Lovely to watch.

And now, the question all the other drivers want answered is: Can anyone beat Palou?

Palou answered that on Sunday.  I'm guessing the answer will not change -- at least not dramatically -- through the remainder of the 2025 IndyCar season, with Palou nailing down his fourth IndyCar title well before his 30th birthday.

Bravo Alex. Bravo.

A remarkable rookie and four Indy 500 contenders

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

The Indianapolis 500 will be run for the 109th time on May 25, and Mark Glover will be attending his 60^th 500. Here's his take on the race to come:

Just when you think you've figured out the Indianapolis 500, a 25-year-old newcomer with no oval racing experience wins the pole position for the 109th running of the race.

Robert Shwartzman's incredible run to the pole -- averaging 232.790 miles per hour over four laps -- was, in my view, the most remarkable pole position storyline in the history of the race. Coming into last weekend, it looked like Spanish IndyCar star Alex Palou would continue his dominance.

Now, all of a sudden, he's surrounded by a crowd of contenders.

No matter, I still like his chances on Sunday.  The three-time IndyCar Series champ has been close previously, finishing second in his rookie Indy 500 run in 2021 and dominating in 2023 before his car was slammed in the pits, a mistake not of Palou's making.

This year, Palou has owned the IndyCar series, winning four of the first five races, and looking invincible doing it.  Yes, Shwartzman is fast, and there could be more chapters to come in his dazzling story, but I'll take Palou's experience in the rough and tumble, turbulent race day traffic.

Keeping in mind that anything can happen in a 500-mile race, I see three others with a good chance to win.

Six-time IndyCar series champ Scott Dixon, starting fourth, knows how to best drive the race more than anyone in the field.  The New Zealand native won the 500 in 2008 and has lost a couple of heartbreakers since then.  He's cool under fire, a master of fuel savings and always fast.  Indy win No. 2 could come Sunday.

Mexico's Pato O'Ward also knows Indy heartbreak, with two second-place finishes.  Last year, eventual winner Josef Newgarden passed O'Ward on the last lap, crushing O'Ward's normally buoyant spirits.  Nobody drives harder.  Fewer take as many chances in the heat of battle.  Will that pay off for O'Ward on Sunday?  Even bet, I'd say.

And finally, there's Newgarden, trying to do what has never been done at the historic racetrack -- win three Indianapolis 500s in a row.  Five times back-to-back race winners have had a chance to pull it off; five times it has not happened, although four of those five came very close.  Newgarden has Roger Penske power and a trophy-laden team going for him, along with his own considerable skills. He has a better than even chance of making history on Sunday.