Mazda deals a pair of aces with its CX SUV models

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 small packages thing down pretty well.

Folks liked the CX-30 subcompact crossover sport-utility vehicle, and there's more to like now with the introduction of the 2023 Mazda CX-50 compact crossover.

I found both tested models -- the 2022 CX-30 2.5 Turbo AWD with Premium Plus package and the 2023 CX-50 2.5 Turbo (pictured) with the same PP package -- to be willing performers with peppy, agile performance and just enough space to make the hauling chores easier.

Let's start with the CX-30.

With 227 horsepower and 310 foot-pounds of torque, I found myself repeatedly landing hard on the accelerator just to get that good feeling of dusting off a poke.  The CX-30 does this as well as any vehicle in the subcompact SUV segment, and it's enormously fun.  Handling is sharp, and it has a sleek, sporty look for this group.

Interior space is not going to take in the camping equipment of four stout outdoors types, but there is adequate space for a couple of large suitcases and smaller items stuffed between the open spaces.

Fuel mileage is good at 22 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. The CX-30 gets a max five-star overall safety rating from the feds.

I was impressed with the generous number of standard comfort/convenience and safety/security features in this CX-30.  Even with some extras, the bottom line came in at a reasonable $35,750.

Yes, the hardcore camper/SUV road warrior is going to continue to lust for a bigger vehicle, but moving up just slightly to the all-new 2023 Mazda CX-50 compact SUV is a tempting prospect as well.

In my CX-50 tester, I had the same 2.5-liter turbo-4 making that same muscular power combined with nimble handling.  Interior surroundings were a bit more refined in the CX-50, which explained a more pricey bottom line of $43,170 on the window sticker.

Jeff Guyton, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations, says the CX-50 was "developed for North America, particularly to support the active and outdoor lifestyles of customers in this region ... (It) encourages people to immerse themselves in nature without compromising on the premium design and outstanding on-road performance Mazda is known for."

Yeah, OK, I'll buy that.  This CX-50 seems particularly suited to hitting the mountain and forest trails without being overly intrusive or so large that it mercilessly tramps down the environment.

Can I picture myself in a CX-30 or CX-50 along the shores of Lake Tahoe?

Yes, in a New York minute.

Equinox carries Chevy banner in competitive segment

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 highly competitive world of compact sport-utility vehicles, the Chevrolet Equinox has taken some hard knocks.

It's kind of a mystery to me.

The 1.5-liter turbo-4 engine rated at 170 horsepower on the tested 2022 Chevy Equinox RS AWD tester was not a neck-snapper, but it did a good job of moving the little SUV around.  Certainly as able as most.

I found interior space to be admirable in this segment.  You can stuff a lot into the back of this model.

Fuel mileage is pretty fine at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

I liked the large, color touchscreen.  It was easy to master.

Strong driver-assistance features ... check!

The Equinox exterior looks good, especially the front-end fascia.

And look, right there on the sticker is a max five-star rating in federal government crash tests.

Critics of the Equinox have faulted its ride, interior cabin noise and fit/finish.  Personally, I wasn't ready to file any indictments for any of these alleged crimes.  I found the vehicle to be a competent daily driver and weekend road trip warrior.

And the sticker price on my loaded RS came in around $36,500, or just about what I expected.

Chevy fans looking for a just-right-size Chevy crossover likely will be pleased.

So, why all the sound and fury surrounding the Equinox?

Well, upon further review, it might be the segment, which is loaded.  In this grouping, you have the hugely popular Honda CR-V, the Toyota RAV4, the Subaru Forester, the Ford Escape, the Jeep Wrangler and the Kia Sportage ... to name just a few.

That's a pretty impressive lot to choose from, and the competition automakers market their wheels relentlessly.

So, if you choose the Equinox out of that crowd, the SUV's charms are likely calling out to you.  And there's nothing wrong with that, especially if you're looking for a long-term workhorse.

Looking for a hot hybrid? Lexus has your car

This review first appeared in the July 2022 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 -- The tested 2022 Lexus LC 500h Coupe is many things.

It's the flagship sports coupe of the venerable automaker.

It's a road-ripping four-seater capable of 155 miles per hour, sans engine restrictions.

It's (wait for it) $115,285.  At least mine was.

But most of all, it's one of those special cars that I call a crowd-stopper.  That's a car that, when stopped, prompts a crowd to gather around it.

It wasn't my first rodeo, but I did eventually grow weary of answering the questions of the assembled crowd: Yes, it's a Lexus. Yes, it's (add your favorite: sick, awesome, mind-blowing, boss and rad).  That last one was from some guy stuck in the 1980s, but who am I to argue?

You get the idea.  And all of it is legit, because the LC 500h Coupe is one hot hybrid.  Just looking at it gets the blood racing.

It's beautifully styled, with a long hood line, sporty/angular side cuts and a back end right out of the Corvette playbook.

Popping open the driver's door took my breath away.  I was greeted with a perfectly stitched lining of bright-orange seating surfaces.  Set off against the "Smoky Granite Mica" exterior, I felt like I was stepping into a purpose-built racing machine.

Lexus also spiced things up a bit for 2022 with what it calls "Bespoke Build," which enables buyers to configure their vehicle with a mix of performance and styling components.

Very clever.

On the fly, the Lexus suspension was rock-solid, as was the ride.  No wiggle to be had, even when I was trying to produce it.

Acceleration is pleasingly brisk, but the 500h systems work in concert to produce power without guilt.

The Multistage Hybrid System -- employing a lightweight lithium-ion battery -- combines the power of a V-6 engine with hybrid assist (two electric motors) and a multiple-output transmission.  The combined output is 354 horsepower, but the resulting fuel mileage is a surprisingly robust 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. Those are remarkably good numbers in this vehicle segment.

Please note: This is a four-seater, but those two in the back are going to find things a bit cramped.

All in all, dedicated horsepower junkies are likely to admire the looks of this Lexus but move on to the 500-plus numbers found in other sports cars.

But if you are looking for an eye-catching, superbly engineered model that's relatively easy on the fuel bill, and can be customized to your liking, this LC 500h might be your ride.

If so, be prepared to draw a crowd, and answer some questions.

'E-Mustang' GT reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition can be seen in the latest, August 2022, 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.