Versatile Prime version is the ultimate Toyota RAV4

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

Sacramento, California -- A Toyota RAV4 sport-utility vehicle has been part of my household for a decade now. So when I get a RAV4 to review, it's ... well, personal.

But I was not conflicted about the recently tested 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE AWD, because it all but screams what it is to owner and shopper alike.

Consider it the ultimate RAV4.

How so?, you ask.

Let's start with power, and then we'll move on to optional uses of power.

The RAV4 Prime is the most powerful RAV4 ever built.  The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine combines with a plug-in hybrid system for a combined 302 net horsepower.

Yeah, that's a lot for a compact SUV. It translates to a zero-to-60-miles-per-hour run of 5.7 seconds.

Sounds like fun, huh? But that must waste a lot of gas, belting that hot RAV4 around, right?

Not so fast.

The RAV4 Prime will transport you an estimated 42 miles on battery alone on a single charge.  And if you go the gas-and-electric route, the fuel mileage equivalent is 94 miles per gallon. That translates to a single-use range of 600 miles.

So, you have a choice.  The RAV4 prime can operate in EV mode or HV (think typical hybrid) mode -- giving city dwellers and long road trip devotees a choice ... all in one vehicle.

But wait, there's more.

With an electric motor that powers the rear wheels when needed, the vehicle's all-wheel-drive system assists in acceleration off the line and in "reduced-traction conditions" as Toyota so kindly puts it.

My time in multiple modes was comfortable, secure and, in some cases, heart-racing.  The tester pressed me deep into the driver' seat when asked, and its cornering stability was impressive.

On top of all this, my ride was equipped with all the safety, comfort and convenience perks that have made the RAV4 very popular over the years throughout California.  Standard features on my ride included heated front seats and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.  A long list of optional extras included a sizable, color head-up display and a foot-activated power liftgate.

Please note, all this brought the price of the ultimate RAV4 I tested to $49,577.  That's a significant number in the compact SUV segment.

But for RAV4 fans, it might be worth it. In a segment where eye-catching electronic features typically seal the deal, this RAV4 adds to the allure with powertrain versatility -- technology we can expect more of in the near future.

Hybrid Hyundai Tucson is crossover SUV overload

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

Sacramento, California -- There are seemingly zillions of compact crossover sport-utility vehicles out there.  Automakers are producing them faster than Cheerios.  So, what do you want?

My guess is that most want something stylish, dependable, comfortable, loaded with standard perks, peppy, value-laden and capable of bypassing gas stations for hours at a time.

Which means you might be looking for the recently tested 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited Hybrid AWD.

Thoroughly reworked for the 2022 model year, Hyundai went out of its way to provide something for all tastes.  For compact crossover SUV shoppers, this Tucson is the buffet line of your dreams.

The shape is decidedly sporty.  On the front end, the winged, jewel-like grille incorporates LED lights for an eye-catching look straight out of Tiffany & Co.  In profile, the Tucson is sleek, accented by a long hood for this segment.  Rear lights span the entire width of the back end, with nice angular cuts emphasizing the lighting scheme.

Hyundai calls it "Sensuous Sportiness."  Sure, I'll bite.

Interior space is more plentiful in the new Tucson, and the instrument layout is top-notch.

My tester included an all-touch 10.25-inch screen, which made navigation a quick-look snap.

It had a bottom line of $38,730, a bit hefty even with the hybrid technology.  But get this: everything on the tested vehicle was standard.  And everything was a full boat.

Standard perks included a panoramic sunroof, leather-trimmed seats, ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, rain-sensing wipers, heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals, smart cruise control, a hands-free power liftgate and multiple vehicle monitors.

Yes, this is a Hyundai product, not a Mercedes-Benz.

On my Tucson, power was provided by a 1.6-liter turbo-4 hybrid engine with a robust horsepower rating of 226.  That translated to aggressive starts off the line and a satisfying bump on freeway entrance ramps.  The Tucson effortlessly moved in and around tight groupings of traffic on city streets and busy freeways.

With the hybrid system, all that power comes guilt-free.  The tester was rated at 37 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

In sum, this is the compact crossover SUV in full.  In a very competitive segment, the 2022 Tucson has earned a spot on the podium.

Eclipse Cross SUV steps up with myriad upgrades

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

Sacramento, California -- Having recently tested -- and reviewed -- the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander sport-utility vehicle, I was looking forward to driving the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross compact crossover SUV.

Like the Outlander, the Eclipse Cross has been seriously reworked for the 2022 model year. The Outlander upgrades have drawn high praise from multiple auto reviewers, including Motor Trend magazine. However, the magazine was not so high on the 2021 edition of the Eclipse Cross, publishing a savage evaluation that called it an "underpowered ... oddball SUV" that lacked "competitiveness" in its segment.

Ouch!

I'm happy to report that the 2022 Eclipse Cross, redesigned and upgraded inside and out, has taken a sizable step up in quality and competitiveness in the ultra-competitive compact crossover segment.

Mitsubishi restyled the front end with what it calls a "Dynamic Shield" design.  Like the Outlander, the Eclipse Cross front has large, eye catching front lights set nicely on either side of the sporty grille. The front of the vehicle all but grabs your eyes, besides doing the job of transporting one safely in darkness or fog.

Interior space is enhanced with the addition of more than five inches of overall vehicle length. In-cabin amenities are much improved, with a long list of standard features included in the bargain starting price of $28,995 on my top-tier model, a 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross SEL 1.5T S-AWC.  While my ride was lavishly dressed up with optional extras, bringing the bottom-line sticker price to $34,670, it's worth noting that the starting fare on an entry-level Eclipse Cross is only $23,395.

Power comes from a 1.5-liter turbo-4 with an advertised 152 horsepower at 5,500 rpm.  It's not a road-ripper, but the power plant served me well for a week.  It struggled somewhat on hard uphill runs in the Sierra Nevada, but frankly, so do similarly equipped models.

Fuel mileage is OK at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

The S-AWC designation stands for Super-All Wheel Control. I'm not a mechanical engineer, so I'll simply say that the complex system is designed to enhance vehicle movements and driver comfort in accelerating, cornering and braking maneuvers. It does so by automatically manipulating longitudinal torque, lateral torque vectoring and four-wheel brake control.

Got all that?  Good. All I can tell you is that the tested Eclipse Cross was an easy driver in all conditions.  No, it won't run down a Ferrari, but that's not the point.

The point is that Mitsubishi listened to public/critic feedback and transformed the Eclipse Cross into a player in the small crossover SUV segment.  It might be the ideal choice for a family looking for a daily workhorse SUV that's affordable.

Mitsubishi has made advances over the years by upgrading its vehicle fleet, turning once bland autos into public-pleasing vehicles.  The Eclipse Cross fits into that template.

Dodge Charger Hellcat is a cut above everything else

This review first appeared in the September 2021 edition of the Cruisin' News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California ­– I was a little upset when the Bay Area test car scheduler called and said he needed to pick up my ride extra early to meet a commitment to another event.

"But we have a substitute for you," he quickly added.

When I dully asked what that might be, he said: A 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody sedan (pictured, photo by CHARLES GLOVER).

O-M-G!

This would be something akin to the Holy Grail of test rides -- a bright-red intimidating hunk of American muscle with a 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 rated at an eye-popping 797-horsepower.

"Uh, yes, that substitute works just fine for me, thank you."

Upon arrival at my driveway, the Charger drew a crowd quicker than a lemonade stand on the floor of Death Valley in July.

Being a longtime NASCAR fan, I can tell you that starting up one of its top-tier Cup cars makes a certain sound -- a rumble that shakes the ground and radiates power into the core of your chest.

The Charger Hellcat Redeye sounds just like that.  And when you start moving, you must have a light touch with your right foot, lest you zip from zero to 60 miles per hour in four seconds flat.

Then you start to notice things ... things that make this Charger unique.

Like the 220 mph speedometer, for example.

Out on the freeway, the tester was a magnet for curious motorists, particularly those driving sports cars.  A Camaro buzzing my rear bumper was particularly annoying, and I was thinking  to myself: "Please, you only have 455 horsepower."

Freeway response was something beyond powerful -- like I was driving a spacecraft -- as the Charger effortlessly bolted away from cars that had been closing in on me at 70 miles per hour just two seconds previously.

The tester held the line on sharp curves -- uphill and downhill -- with monorail firmness.  That Widebody design isn't just for show, after all.

I also found the Charger to be surprisingly light and agile in city traffic, although again, a light touch on the accelerator needs to be applied.  In case you get over-revved, the world-class Brembo brakes will stop the Charger on a dime.

Not just a muscle machine, the tester was loaded with contemporary goodies, which included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, heated front/back seats, a power sunroof and a full suite of state-of-the-art safety technology.

The cost for all this: a mere $90,060.  If I had the kind of money to drop 100K or so on a car, would this Charger be on my short list?  Absolutely, positively.

And I'd even be happy to pay for the gas to fuel a ride that gets only 12 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

Dodge crows that this Charger is "demon possessed."  Can't say that I disagree with that assessment.

Supra 2.0 coupe reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2021 Toyota GR Supra 2.0 sports coupe in the latest, October 2021, 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.

To subscribe to the Cruisin’ News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an e-mail request to cruisinnews@mac.com. Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin’ News, P.O. Box 1096, Folsom, CA 95763-1096.