Signia sport-ute is another jewel in Toyota's Crown

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 -- Yes, that's me with a "Finish Line Red"-painted version of the Toyota Crown Signia Limited hybrid sport-utility vehicle in my driveway.

But wait, wasn't I just in a passenger car-like Toyota Crown Nightshade? What gives?

It's all in the name.

With the Signia, the look is absolutely SUV-like.  So is the storage area ... 10 more cubic feet than the standard Crown. And there are special perks to be had, including a panoramic fixed-glass roof.

So, it all boils down to what you like, and need.

In the tested Signia, there was plenty to like.

I particularly enjoyed the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder hybrid power system (240 horsepower) that performed strongly, paired with a finely tuned suspension that saw me doing slalom moves on the open road.

Like a skier gone mad in a mountain paradise.

The payoff, of course, is fuel mileage: 39 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Toyota's current-generation 12.3-inch multimedia screen -- easy to figure out and use -- is part of the package as well. Standard features are at the Lexus level.

You pay more for the hybrid SUV compared with the standard Crown offering ... but not much.  The loaded tester came in at $52,565 on the sticker's bottom line.  Just about right given all the features, in my view.

Is this Crown Signia Limited worth test driving in a world populated by numerous practical-size sport-utes with instantly recognizable names?  A definite YES on that.

Forester Wilderness SUV is instantly outdoor-ready

This review first appeared in the December 2025 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 -- Back at the turn of the millennium, it seemed like I was getting a Subaru Forester to test every week.

Not that I was complaining.

Great engineering.  Peppy boxer-style engine. World-class all-wheel drive.

And Subaru was aggressively touting the off-road capabilities of the compact, five-seat SUV, which came onto the U.S. market for the 1998 model year.

And yeah, I could appreciate that.  But frankly, I spent the majority of my time enjoying the on-pavement charms of those Foresters.

Recently, I spent a week in a new-for-2026 Forester called the Wilderness edition.

Simply put, it delivered on the off-roading promise of all those other Foresters put together.

For starters, the 2026 Subaru Forest Wilderness just LOOKS like a backwoods tamer.  Just the right ride height. Armor in just the right places. Sophisticated differential. All-time-high towing capacity of 3,500 pounds.

Who's ready to go camping? With this Forester Wilderness, just about everybody is my guess.

And the state-of-the-art features add a feeling of confidence and security.  That included deep snow/mud modes designed to drive one out of tight spots, should that happen.

Attention to detail is a treat.

Water-resistant seating surfaces include copper stitching with the Wilderness logo embossed on the front headrests and other surfaces. A rugged cargo area is built to handle heavy loads. Tie-down hooks, of course.

Beyond its off-road charms, the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder boxer engine is nicely capable at 180 horsepower.  And even at full song on the pavement, the power plant is smooth and not noisy.

As with past Foresters, freeway runs were silky, and the vehicle felt lighter in my hands than the advertised curb weight of 3,675 pounds.

My tester was stickered at $42,430 -- reasonable for the numerous features in the package.

Overall, this Wilderness version was the most enjoyable Forester in my experience -- a pleasing combination of the rugged, the technical and the luxurious.

Looking forward to another year on the road

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 -- Another year in the books.

Another blizzard of crossover sport-utility vehicles.  Another round of all-electric autos and new hybrid offerings.  Another 365 days of tariffs and economy questions.

And another year of thoughtful readers and their communications with yours truly.

Grateful, I am.

What to expect in 2026? Much of that is easy to answer.

New electric vehicles and even more sophisticated hybrids are certainly in the pipeline.  And the technology therein continues to be mind-blowing.

Some of that technology -- personally speaking -- I can do without.  I cannot force myself to surrender control of a vehicle on the move.  Yes, I understand the technical sophistication involved in hands-free driving, but old habits are firmly entrenched in my case.

Other technology is most welcome.  On-board sensors almost certainly saved me from at least two crashes in 2025.  After each save, a prayer of thanks went out to the engineers who saved my bacon.

What will happen with auto sales in 2026?  Really good question.

The ups and downs of tariffs make consumer confidence a moving target.  Americans do not seem reluctant to spend money and extend credit, so there's that.  And motorists are keeping their vehicles for more than a decade as a matter of routine.  There must be pent-up demand for new hardware, right?

The coming year is a midterm election year.  Expect a lot of promises and endless sound bites regarding the economy.  What effect that will have on vehicle sales is pure speculation, in my view.

Whatever the case, I plan to review a steady stream of new autos, and I happily anticipate continued feedback from readers who have been sticking with me, in some cases, for a quarter century.

It has been a good ride.  I hope to continue it for years to come.

For now, here's wishing all a safe, happy and prosperous 2026.  Looking forward to seeing you up the road.

Toyota Crown amenities, performance fit for a king

This review first appeared in the November 2025 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 Toyota Crown sedan might be the automaker's least-known model, but a week in the vehicle showed me what a shame that is.

Nicely equipped, smooth on the roll and a prime example of Toyota's all-world fit and finish, the Crown is a near-Lexus with a reasonable price -- $49,900 on the tested 2026 Toyota Crown Nightshade (a designation that translates to special Batmobile-like perks).

While neighbors kept asking: "Isn't that new?" ... I brushed up on my history of the Crown. It's extensive.

The Crown actually dates back to 1955, when it rolled under the Toyopet Crown label.  That makes it one of the longest-running passenger car model names on the planet.

Who knew, right?

And  really, that's the point.  More motorists do need to know about the Crown, as it fits nicely above Toyota's entry-level models but affordably below the upper-tier Toyota/Lexus autos.

Bumper to bumper, it's easy on the eyes ... likable luxury at first glance.  With the Nightshade touches, it's particularly striking.

Power on the tester was provided by a 2.4-liter hybrid engine/system rated at 236 net horsepower.  The package is responsive and downright silky, even with the accelerator pressed near the floor.

Handling is excellent. I had to resist the temptation to drive the tester one-handed, so effortless was the suspension set-up (MacPherson strut on the front, multi-link on the rear).

Fuel mileage with that power plant is 42 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg on the highway.

For those who want more oomph, it can be had.

The Hybrid MAX version of the Crown is rated at 340 net horsepower and 400 foot-pounds of torque, featuring front/rear electric motors and the standard 2.4-liter engine.

Safety and convenience features are plentiful, including pre-collision alert, front/rear parking assist, cornering assist, backup camera with gridlines, front/rear heated seats and a wireless mobile phone charger.

Passengers praised roominess and comfort; I liked the luxurious feel of the cabin.

Overall, the Crown shapes up as the luxury liner that won't crush your wallet. Seems like more motorists should pass the word.

Iconic Ioniq showcases Hyundai's electric mastery

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's mastery of the electronic vehicle was on full display during my week in the 2026 Ioniq 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy.

Three rows of luxury and power in a sport-utility vehicle priced at $77,040.  I can't adequately describe the performance characteristics ... Smoothly blasting through a cloud, the vehicle eating up distance with silent, powerful strokes.  Maybe that comes close.

I suppose it's no surprise that Hyundai keeps churning out these remarkable Ioniqs.  After all, the automaker is on record saying it wants to produce more than 20 electric vehicles by 2030.

For now, there's plenty to enjoy.

The electric package on the tester had a fuel mileage-equivalent rating of 91 miles per gallon in the city and 79 mpg on the highway.  It does take some time to recharge this midsize with a standard charger, but once fully powered up, it's worth the wait.

The response from the tester was so instantaneous that I found myself repeatedly darting from a standstill to 50 miles per hour or higher, just to savor the effortless, buttery feel of acceleration.  I was startled by the length of separation I was getting from other cars, including high-horsepower vehicles.

And sure, I could go on and on about the numerous, state-of-the-art comfort, convenience, safety and driving-enhancement features, but there are plenty of basic charms as well.

For starters, there's plenty of room for cargo and passengers.  Volunteer passengers raved about the legroom.  Comfortable seating surfaces also prompted positive reviews.  Some passengers said they didn't want to leave.  I don't think they were joking.

A fine-tuned suspension was a pleasure to experience.  The vehicle softened seemingly every imperfection on the roads.

As we continue to rocket toward an electric vehicle universe, this Ioniq 9 represents a small group of EVs that are carrying the ball, giving motorists a glimpse of what is possible ... and what works well.

Hybrid Forester sport-ute scores with its versatility

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 -- I recently had some seat time in a Subaru Forester Wilderness sport-utility vehicle, and if Subaru was determined to instill an outdoorsy feel in a venerable model, mission accomplished.

So, a separate week in a 2025 Subaru Forester Sport Hybrid probably felt like a plate of leftovers, right?

Not even close.

I'm not sure I've ever experienced two genetically linked models that were so distinctly different in ambience, feel and ... well ... just about everything.

While I am sure that the Forester Sport Hybrid would do just fine on an off-road excursion, it had all the personality of the do-everything vehicle.

Motor Trend magazine summed up the 2025 Forester redesign in one sentence: "The Forester needs to look like it can confidently conquer dirt, mud and asphalt, and it has that down pat."

I couldn't agree more.

Sure, I'd take it to the country club -- yeah, like I'm part of that crowd in my dreams -- after a jaunt in the woods.  Naturally, I'd wash it first.  But the point is that the vehicle has everyman/woman road manners.  A pleasure to drive and a highly functional machine in diverse environments.

And then there's the hybrid bonus -- a powertrain matching a 2.5-liter boxer-4 engine with two electric motor generators.  That will get you 35 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway.

But wait, there's more.  Some critics felt that the standard Forester power plant lacked sufficient oomph.  But the hybrid system kicks up the power rating to a combined output of 194 horsepower.  In the tester, that was more than enough to handle all driving encounters.

And from there, it's the usual goodies from the Forester formulators: world-class all-wheel drive, a roomy interior, 8.7 inches of ground clearance and top-tier driver-assist technology.

Freeway cruise? A roll in the mud? Family road trip?  The Forester handles all with ease.

And with the tester's price of $39,415, you're getting a feature-loaded SUV that might find you paying $45,000 to $50,000 at other lots not named Subaru.

Kia produces another winner with the Sportage 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 -- You can get lost in the blizzard of compact crossover sport-utility vehicles available at dealerships across the United States.

If you get lost, it's good to know that you'll find contentment if you find yourself behind the wheel of the recently tested 2026 Kia Sportage X-Pro Prestige AWD.

For the new model year, Kia is offering the latest version of the reliable Sportage with three powertrain choices, two of them hybrid.  For my purposes, I had the internal combustion engine version -- a 2.5-liter in-line 4 rated at 187 horsepower.

The power plant proved smooth and surprisingly gutsy.  I was a nimble warrior in dicey urban traffic, and the engine showed admirable muscle on equally dicey freeways.  It easily darted me in and out of open spaces ... and powered me out of harm's way multiple times when asked.

As a freeway cruiser, it was top-notch. Mileage was pretty fair as well, at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Per usual with Kia, the $42,055 tester was absolutely stuffed with amenities -- enough to keep one's nose buried in the owner's manual for a solid week.

I particularly liked the advance-warning technologies (the kind you might find on Cadillac or Lincoln models at a higher price), the easy-to-master 12.3-inch panoramic display screen and the smart power liftgate.

Also per usual with Kia, top-of-the-line warranties are part of the deal.

Oh, it looked nice as well.  Smooth and tastefully sculpted and wearing handsome "Wolf Gray" paint.

I have become spoiled by Kia's ability to churn out quality motor vehicles, and the automaker has been rightfully awarded for its conversion from a maker of cheap autos to a producer of some of the best autos on the market.

Overall, this Sportage is another quality offering from Kia.