There are plentiful reasons behind the Genesis surge

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 -- Perhaps you've noticed: South Korean automaker Genesis has been on quite a roll of late.

Seoul-based Genesis Motor has been gorging on prestigious automotive awards like a sweet-toothed child gobbling M&M's.  It's pretty remarkable, given the competition and the fact that Genesis didn't formally launch as a division of Hyundai until late 2015.

A recent week in the 2022 Genesis GV70 AWD 2.5T Advanced compact luxury sport-utility vehicle (pictured) gave me the opportunity to take a deeper dive into the Genesis ways.

Upon closer inspection, it's easy to see why Genesis is riding the wave.

First off, be advised that the Genesis GV70 pulled down Motor Trend magazine's 2022 SUV of the Year award.

My tester was powered by a 2.5-liter, turbo-4 rated at 300 horsepower.  Like all Genesis products, the GV70 scoots.  The turbocharged engine is instantly responsive, and the suspension is sufficiently tuned for driver enjoyment.

The tested GV70 was stuffed with state-of-the-art safety technology, including rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, a driver attention warning system and lane keeping/following assist.

Comfort/convenience features are likewise plentiful, including a handy wireless device charger and multiple ports and power outlets.

The Advanced Package lays it on thick with leather seating surfaces, a Surround-View monitor, remote start and parking assistance to name just a few.

Oh, it looks good too. Sleek, sporty styling with eye-catching sculpting on the back and front ends.  Some automakers overdo the grille sculpting.  Not so with the GV70.  It's subtle, yet noteworthy.

Then you get into areas of fine detail that aren't necessarily noticed the first time around ... like the second-row seats that are shaped in such a way to provide more legroom for passengers.

Attention to detail?  You bet.

What's the cost?  I've seen similarly equipped compact luxury SUVs go for around $70,000.  The bottom line on my tester, even with the Advanced Package: $51,320.

Genesis is not lapping the field, but it's running out front with a formula that's simple and highly effective: Give 'em everything they want for a fair price. And grab the awards, of course.

Toyota 4Runner has its place in a world of EVs, hybrids

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 -- As we rush toward an electrified future, is there room for a Toyota 4Runner rated at 16 miles per gallon in the city and 19 mpg on the highway?

At this point in time, the answer is YES.

A recent week in a 2023 Toyota 4Runner 4X4 TRD Pro V6 made the point.  For starters, there's a lot for the dedicated off-roader to like.

My tester included standard Multi-Terrain Select & Crawl Control, next-level shocks/springs, an aluminum front skid plate, and Hill-Start Assist Control.

Being an off-road wimp, I did not test these features to the max.  But off-road warriors I talked with were absolutely salivating at the package on the tester's sticker.

For me, the civilized charms in addition to the rock-roaming features were eye-catching.  I did not expect to see a panoramic view monitor, a power sliding rear window, high-performance LED fog lights and a sliding rear cargo deck on this ride, but there they were.

Rugged and well-equipped.  What's not to like?

And I must talk about the exterior color: Solar Octane.

Some describe it as bright, vivid orange, but that doesn't really cover the bases.  Think Competition Orange with explosive Day-Glo accents ... under a blazing desert sun.  Yes, I think that adequately says it.

Neighbors and strangers trotted up to me with questions about the color, seemingly oblivious to what was under the skin of this 4Runner.

Too bad ... because what lies beneath is pretty nice -- bolstered by Toyota's typically excellent engineering.

The 4Runner is powered by a 4-liter V-6 engine rated at 270 horsepower.  It's a peppy, responsive power plant, but not a noisy one.  At freeway speed, the tester was silky smooth, and I found myself creeping above 70 miles per hour with very little effort from my right foot.

The tester was a strong hill climber, and it was pleasingly agile when I did some dodging on tight urban streets.

All in all, an impressive package and priced at a hefty $55,380.

As it enters its 40th year of existence, the 4Runner still has a place on our roads ... and in the hearts of Toyota devotees.

Tucson plug-in hybrid is Hyundai's long-range roamer

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 -- These days, getting a second look at a motor vehicle model is more important -- and helpful -- than ever.

Take the 2022 Hyundai Tucson.

Yes, I enjoyed my time in the 2022 Tucson Limited Hybrid AWD, and my Oct. 21, 2021 blog post/review reflected that.

Attractive, sleek exterior look. Universally praised interior, stylish and surprisingly roomy for a compact crossover sport-utility vehicle.  Generous standard features and priced below equivalent SUVs offered by competitors.

And yeah, that hybrid powertrain felt pretty good at 37 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

But a week in a 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD plug-in hybrid felt REALLY good with a gas-electric fuel rating equivalent of 80 miles per gallon.  Gas prices being as volatile as they are, the PHEV Tucson is a noteworthy option at Hyundai car lots.

The plug-in has a 1.6-liter turbo-4 base, and the gas-electric hybrid powertrain generates a max 261 horsepower.  The plug-in battery is more robust than the standard hybrid battery.

What the PHEV Tucson gave me was feisty performance and quick response. All-electric range is generally pegged at 33 miles, and with a high-speed charger, the PHEV Tucson can be restored to 100 percent in less than two hours.

Impressive?  Very.

Everything else on the PHEV is what you'd expect, with a wealth of features -- including rain-sensing wipers and smart cruise control -- not necessarily expected in the compact SUV segment.

You do pay a price for the plug-in technology.  The tester came in at $44,370, but the long-term fuel savings quickly balances the economic scales.

Overall, the Tucson competes very well in the ridiculously competitive compact SUV category.  And with the PHEV option, shoppers have a bonus in their favor.

Haven't driven Toyota's GR86? You're missing something

This review first appeared in the December 2022 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- Now hear this: Toyota knows how to produce a car.

To which you might say: Thank you, Captain Obvious.

Well sure, but I was struck by this thought in my week in a 2022 Toyota GR86 Premium coupe.  I'm willing to bet that a good 75 percent of the motoring public isn't familiar with the car.  And I'd bet that a larger percentage couldn't name the model upon seeing it for the first time.

And that's too bad...because this sleek Toyota creation is a gorgeous sports car, from its aerodynamically sculpted grille to its beautifully smooth profile to its stylishly cut rear "duckbill" spoiler.

It's a head-turner.  A crowd-stopper, literally.  Several times folks came up to my parked, bright-red tester and wanted to know what I was driving. Verbal compliments came in a flood.

So that's kind of fun.

Some critics of the GR86 -- for the record, the GR designation is a reference to Toyota's Gazoo Racing motorsports program -- complain that the performance does not live up to the visual delight.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter flat-4 rated at 228 horsepower.  OK, it's not rated at 400 horsepower, but let me tell you, the performance characteristics of the tester got my heart racing double-time, thank you very much.

I powered the GR86 around everything on the road during an up-and-down trip through the Sierra Nevada.

Response was very good.  Steering was just-right firm.  And the sport-tuned suspension was top-drawer, which means that I could feel every imperfection in the road surface at all speeds.

For those who like paddle shifting, yeah, that's on the program too.

Simply put, the car is tuned to go fast and feels most comfortable in that mode.

I agree with critics that the interior is pretty much standard issue.  And as for those back seats, I'm not sure I'd try squeezing any adults into those cramped quarters.

While the critics are adept at finding shortcomings, here's the important thing to remember: The tested GR86 had a bottom line of $33,350.  Yes, that's sub-$35,000 for a car in the super-enjoyable sports car toy segment.  That's about half of what you would expect to pay for other sports cars that draw crowds in parking lots.

Toyota doesn't miss the point, touting its GR86 as "a track-ready, driver’s car made for pure fun."

So if you are looking for that coupe/toy guilty pleasure, should the GR86 be on your test-drive list with the Porsches, Jaguars and Corvettes?

Absolutely, positively.