Everything is just right with this Toyota Tacoma pickup

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 -- For my purposes, it's the Goldilocks pickup truck.

Not too big.  Not too complicated.  Not too expensive. Just right all the way down the line.

My tester was the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport 4X2 Double Cab.  The extravagantly loaded midsize truck was priced at 50,544 ... significant coin to be sure, but a feel-good number in an era of $60,000-to-start pickups.

I understand that pickup purchases are based on need.  No construction pro worth his tools wants to be laughed off the job site showing up in a comparatively miniature model.

But for my suburban needs, the Tacoma works.

I like its agile footwork.  I don't feel like I'm about to cause a multi-car crash in a tight parking lot when I'm at the wheel of a Tacoma.

The bed is just right for trips to the garden center, and should I need a washing machine, that big box will fit just fine in the back end of the Tacoma.

Driving manners are excellent.  No rattles, roars or hard bumps enter the cabin.  Instead, the tester's 2.4-liter turbocharged engine dishes up impressive power and torque in smooth doses.  The tested Tacoma was surprisingly strong off the line, dusting off sedan stragglers with ease.

Fuel mileage was fair at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

Would I take it off-road?  Absolutely.  Park it at the country club?  No problem.  The sleek lines and sculpted grille look at home wherever the Tacoma roams.

My ride was opulently dressed up, but a basic Tacoma double cab can be had for a just a few bucks more than 40,000 on the nose -- a bargain in this segment.

And given its history of reliability, the Tacoma is built for the long haul. Years of just-right service.  What a concept!

BMW sedan is the ultimate in luxury, perks, technology

This review first appeared in the August 2026 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

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Sacramento, California -- How much do you expect from a car? What makes you sit up and pay attention?

How about a BMW 760i xDrive sedan stickered at $174,725?

I have been reviewing motor vehicles for decades and climbed into hundreds of cockpits. But this one intimidated me from the start.

And no, not because of the price ... although the words HANDLE WITH CARE accompanied me from the moment I saw it.

What intimidated me was that the car was packed with so much ... and stood ready to take on more.  In a full week with the vehicle, I'm not sure I really scratched the surface.

Sure, the windshield wipers worked and the variable driving modes were spot-on.

But beyond that were dozens upon dozens of features to try out.  I eventually got to a lot of them, but only for a short time.  Those that I did get to and liked included voice head-up display, nearly head-to-toe massaging seats and a cool parking assist.

And there were other perks that were interesting, but I'm not sure I needed some of them, even at my advanced age.  That would include automatic soft-close doors.

Did I get a chance to program various functions into the vehicle?  How about software updates/upgrades? Nope.  Ran out of time.

Bottom line: This BMW is so packed with technology, electronic marvels and luxurious perks that one is inclined to ask if special permission is needed to drive it.

Oh, as for driving, it's amazing.  How to describe it?

Picture yourself in a rolling bank vault that doubles as a  presidential suite in a five-star hotel.  Yeah, solid and secure to the max, with super-spoiling luxury.

You want power?  Plenty of that too.

The 4.4-liter, TwinPower Turbo V-8 is rated at 536 horsepower.  Torque tops at 553 foot-pounds at a mere 1,800 revolutions per minute.

It's a different kind of power, however.

The vehicle is so solid and noise-reducing that hard accelerations feel like an easy jog in the park. You do get a realization of the power when you are quietly blowing past cars that seem glued to the pavement.

While it takes some juice to get this big-shouldered sedan moving, the fuel mileage rating is not terrible: 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

It's a superb highway cruiser.  Frankly, if it was mine to keep, I'd probably avoid taking it into tight city parking garages, lest a careless motorist would scratch the exquisite paint job.

So, there you have it: the ultimate luxury machine for the financially fortunate pleasure seeker.

A bit beyond my means.  But I enjoyed my week on Fantasy Island.

Hyundai has another EV triumph in its Ioniq 9 SUV

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 -- Hyundai has been bombing the U.S. market with one quality sport-utility vehicle after another ... after another ... after another.

Now comes a luxury-loaded, three-row, electric beauty that also features muscular performance.

Hyundai calls it the Ionic 9 ... or specifically in my case, the 2026 Hyundai Ionic 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy.

Hyundai's Ionic line was already getting praise in some corners as the best electrics on the market.  This Number 9 version only strengthens that argument.

Where to begin?  It looks good.  Solid and broad-shouldered, with nice cuts in profile.  The look is all SUV, with a big helping of class.

Maximum five-star federal government safety ratings are prominent on the sticker, with a bottom line of $77,335 on my ride.

The miles per gallon equivalent is a gaudy 91 mpg in the city and 79 mpg on the highway, enough to tempt even the most dedicated internal-combustion engine devotee.

Oh-so-loaded was my tester.  Safety technology alone is massive, including four collision-avoidance systems.  By my reckoning, you couldn't dent this thing if you tried.

Super-generous Hyundai warranties?  Naturally.

Dual electric motors provide a satisfying rush on hard accelerations.  Surrounding vehicles seem to freeze in time when the accelerator is pressed hard.  Freeway cruising is a quiet, silky pleasure.  Good range on a full charge ... up to 335 miles.

Overall, it's the contemporary EV in full.  For those still on the fence about EVs, this Ioniq 9 makes the case for a bright future of electric motoring.

Special Genesis sedan reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Genesis G90 3.5T E-SC MHEV Prestige Black AWD sedan can be seen in the latest, September 2026, 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.