Trailhawk SUV makes off-road travel a happy option

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- Most sport-utility vehicles are marketed these days with emphasis on their ability to do urban and rural chores on the paved road surfaces.

Not so with the recently tested 2020 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk Elite 4X4.  It's an in-your-face off-roader.

And a capable one to boot.

The tester, which looked splendid in "Velvet Red Pearl-Coat" paint, was geared to the unpaved experience, taking in everything from ride height to interior/exterior features.

The list of shout outs to the off-road enthusiast was lengthy on my ride.  A short list included Jeep Active Drive, a Selec-Terrain system, Jeep Active Drive Lock, Hill-Descent Control and an off-road suspension.

Those were just the standard features.  The Trailhawk Elite Package of options included heated front seats, a windshield wiper de-icer and a special tow package.  Throw in a full sunroof with power in the front and fixed in the rear, and you're ready to venture into the wilderness.

OK, I confess that my off-road adventure in the tested Trailhawk was a modest gravel-and-dirt trail that did not take me far from the interstate.  Naturally, I envisioned myself driving on the wildest path to be found in the backcountry of Alaska.  The Trailhawk performed well in reality and in my dreams.

Back on the paved roads, I was impressed with the performance of the turbo-4 engine, which is rated at a max 270 horsepower.  I found it pleasingly robust, and I enjoyed the bass exhaust note that made its way into the cabin when I nailed the accelerator.

Interior comfort was fine -- for driver and volunteer passengers -- although some of my volunteer riders were hoping for more cargo space in the back.

Fuel mileage was only fair at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Auto-reviewing colleagues generally agree with me that the Cherokee Trailhawk is a stout and enjoyable off-road warrior, but they tended to like the offerings of other automakers for everyday use.

I disagree.

I could easily envision the Cherokee Trailhawk as a daily driver, commuter and urban jungle multitasker.

Can I see it as the possession of a suburban or urban dweller who toils during the week and looks forward to those weekend jaunts to wooded campsites or snowy mountain cabins? Absolutely.

Please note that the price on the tester -- which had numerous options -- was a fairly hefty $45,425.  But if you passions are split between the work-a-day world and road trips into the natural world, it's a fair price to pay.

Venerable Ford Explorer rolls well in hybrid package

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- The Ford Explorer's reputation goes beyond the typical sport-utility vehicle.  In literary terms, it's a lengthy, respected novel.

How so? It's the all-time best-selling SUV for starters.  And over the years, it has withstood some highly publicized challenges to its safety and reliability.  The evolution of the SUV can pretty much be linked to the history of the Explorer, if you think about it.

My recent week in the 2020 Ford Explorer Limited Hybrid RWD added a couple more pages to the novel.  Good ones, I might add.

In fact, other reviewers -- even those who didn't necessarily rave about the Explorer in general -- expressed love for the 2020 hybrid version.  Totally understandable, I say.  Here's why:

The power plant is anchored by a 3.3-liter hybrid engine, with a V-6 configuration.  With the hybrid motor assist, you get a combined 318 horsepower equivalent.  That makes for a peppy performer and one that gets an admirable 27 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

I found the ride pleasingly powerful on city streets, freeways and wide open roads winding through rural landscapes.  It was fun to drive -- nicely responsive and just the right level of firmness coming through the steering wheel.

One other thing: the tester looked big, but drove small ... in a good way.  My ride was as easy to handle as a midsize sedan.

The hybrid is a nice offering between the basic four-cylinder Explorer and the sporty ST version, which churns out a max 400 horsepower.

I was frankly stunned at the number of standard features, from interesting to exotic, on the tester.  The lineup included dual chrome-tipped exhausts, a hands-free liftgate, a windshield wiper de-icer, rain-sensing wipers, leather-trimmed seats, ambient lighting/illuminated entry feature, power/fold third-row seat, power/tilt steering column and tri-zone climate control.

Gear changes are managed with a rotary dial, although I prefer a floor-mounted stick shifter when I'm enjoying an outing. The dial is not a deal-breaker.  Just wishful thinking.

Worth noting: An optional twin-panel moonroof and a Class III Trailer Tow Package helped swell the bottom line on the tested Explorer to $55,880 ... a hefty price but generally fair given the solid hybrid power package and generous interior/exterior perks.

Simply put, the Explorer lives up to its storied history, providing an enjoyable SUV experience.  Ford has had a long time to get it right.  And this hybrid version of the Explorer only adds to the legend.

Trailblazer returns to crowded crossover SUV segment

 Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- The Chevrolet Trailblazer name returns for the 2021 model year, and the subcompact crossover sport-utility vehicle showed me numerous surprises in my week with it.

Its appearance raised my eyebrows from the start.

The paint job on the tester was what I would describe as a super-bright turquoise.  Chevy calls it "Oasis Blue."  Labels aside, you'll never have trouble finding an SUV of this color in a crowded parking lot.

The mega-blue color was emphasized with 18-inch, black-machined aluminum wheels.  Those wheels hold up a no-doubt-about-it SUV-style body that is sleek and easy on the eyes.

Underneath the hood is a three-cylinder engine.  Boosted by a turbo, it makes a maximum 155 horsepower.

The tested Trailblazer AWD RS performed well on city streets and interstates, but it did labor noisily on steep hill climbs in the Sierra Nevada.

Given its subcompact standing, you might think that things are a bit cramped inside this Trailblazer.  You'd be wrong.  There's more than ample room in the back seating area, and the rear seats fold to create an impressive 54.4 cubic feet of cargo space.

In other words, the Trailblazer checks the boxes that small crossover SUV buyers desire -- small size, easy handling, good fuel mileage (26 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway) and good interior room to transport humans and cargo.

The starting price on the tester was a reasonable $26,900, but my ride was seriously dressed up to send the bottom line to a hefty $32,350.

And while that bottom-line number featured some customer-pleasing perks -- a power sunroof/liftgate package, wireless Android Auto/Apple Car Play, wireless charging and a high-definition rear-vision camera among them -- SUV shoppers might want to do some careful comparative shopping.  After all, the crossover SUV market is so packed today that larger models are sometimes loaded up with even more technology-comfort-convenience perks at bargain prices.  Bottom line: It comes down to dealing at the car lot.

But for Chevrolet fans and those who remember Trailblazers of old, this is an alluring offering. It also has the advantage of being "all new," which Chevy is marketing to the max.

The Trailblazer certainly is worth a test drive among those who do thorough shopping for their crossover choices.

Hot and hybrid, Hyundai Sonata steps up its game

This review first appeared in the October 2020 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – It's not every day that one gets excited about a hybrid sedan with around 200 horsepower capability.

But Hyundai manages to pull it off and get the heart racing with its 2020 Sonata Hybrid Limited model.

Maybe I was set up by the Sonata brand in general.

Over the years, I've recommended the Sonata to numerous folks as it's a nearly perfect choice in the crowded midsize sedan segment.  Yes, I've recommended the Sonata multiple times over the Honda Accord and the Toyota Camry.

Why?  Because the Sonata typically has more standard features for a more-affordable price, has proven reliability and exceptional warranties.

Apparently, I'm not alone.  The latest edition of Motor Trend magazine rates the Sonata ahead of such heavies as the Camry, the Mazda6 and the Nissan Altima.

The tested Sonata Hybrid Limited had all the trimmings, and more -- 45 miles per gallon in the city and 51 mpg on the highway, for example -- priced at $36,430.

Or maybe it was the tester's stunning "Calypso Red" paint job that turned my head.  It was topped off by a curved spoiler at the back end, a piece of hardware that included eye-catching, raised surface cuts.

I guarantee you that my take on this hybrid model was influenced by the 17-inch alloy wheels, with one of the most attractive designs I've encountered in years.

How to describe it?  I think I'd call it a bundle of sleek throwing knives radiating out from a center vortex. Super cool-looking.

But in the end, performance counts.  And this hybrid Sonata had it.

Off-the-line starts were OK, but performance on the fly was surprisingly robust.  Response was instantaneous on the freeway, something I'm not used to getting in a hybrid model.

I was able to dart and slash, as needed, blasting out of harm's way with just a quick hit on the accelerator.  That's nice work if you can get it, especially knowing that you're still getting somewhere around 50 miles per gallon when you're making aggressive moves.

So, prospective Sonata purchasers have a decision to make.

Like other popular models with hybrid power systems, Hyundai's Sonata costs some extra dough due to the hybrid technology.  Obviously, over time, you get paid back by fewer trips to the gas pumps.

Or you could pay $10,000 to $12,000 less for a more modestly-equipped, classic four-cylinder Sonata that gets a very nice 32 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

The choice is yours.  I'm just saying that, if you are a hybrid fan, and also like sporty styling and on-the-fly excellence, this Sonata Hybrid Limited is worth a good look.

Special 4Runner reviewed in the latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2020 Toyota 4Runner 4X4 TRD Pro V6 sport-utility vehicle in the latest, November 2020, edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News, published out of Folsom, California, by John Sweeney and Evonne Sotelo.

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

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