Two standouts in today's pricey U.S. auto marketplace

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 -- Two recent test drives found me behind the wheel of two standouts -- the 2023 Lexus ES 350 F Sport Handling midsize luxury sedan and the 2023 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo compact crossover sport-ute.

Both provided a study in contemporary marketing in the post-COVID era, a period marked by uneven dealer inventories and high new-vehicle prices.

If you desire Lexus-level luxury but find that full-size sedans and SUVs are out of your price range, the tested Lexus ES 350 F Sport Handling (pictured at right) is a near-perfect compromise.

With elegant, sporty styling and an enthusiastic 3.5-liter, 302-horsepower V-6 under the hood, this Lexus moves out with authority and handles with nimble, precise strides.  You just feel good -- and maybe even prosperous -- just sitting behind the wheel.

Six figures?, you ask.  Not even close.  The tester's sticker came in at $53,775.

And it was far from bare bones.  Standard features on my ride included a wireless charger, heated/ventilated power seats, a power moonroof and a full boat of state-of-the-art safety/enhancement systems (including intuitive parking assist). Beyond the perks, the cabin was comfortable and spacious for the midsize segment.

With the CX-50 (pictured at left), which went into production in early 2022, the appeal is a totally different ballgame.  In this SUV, Mazda reaches out to those with outdoor lifestyles.

With roof rails, a wide stance and a substantial ride height, it looks like a chore handler ready to go on a hike.  And Mazda enthusiastically encourages CX-50 buyers to try out the recent arrival on "various terrains" and a "wide variety of conditions."

While I did not come close to testing the CX-50's off-road capabilities to the max, I found it to be instantly responsive on the off-the-pavement runs I did make with it.  The all-wheel-drive system was flawless, and the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine (227 horsepower) performed like a champ ... on road and off.

For all its rugged characteristics, the CX-50 was generously stuffed with customer-pleasing standard features -- enough to make you feel as comfortable at the country club as you would on a back road in the Sierra Nevada.

The price for all this: $43,575, or nearly $5,500 below the current average price of a new auto in the United States.

Final score: Two choices. Two lifestyles. Genuine appeal on both counts in the highly competitive U.S. market.