BMW's sleek "SAC" combines best of two segments

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 -- Nothing more embarrassing for the automotive journalist than taking delivery of a motor vehicle ... and not knowing exactly what it is.

Take the recently tested 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i, for example. To my eye, it looked a lot like a sedan. No, wait, it's a sport-utility vehicle, right?

BMW weighs in by calling the X2 a Sports Activity Coupe (SAC), which blows the minds of folks who like precise vehicle definitions.

Fortunately, I'm not quite that obsessed. For 2024, BMW built this compact crossover sport-ute with diverse customer needs in mind.  And it all works, for $52,745 on the tested vehicle.

I liked the looks of the X2 xDrive28i from the beginning.  Sleek and, yes, sedan-like.  The double-panel BMW grille is not overstated, and the back end has enough sculpted chop to make it a sporty number. The long hood and roof lines make the vehicle appear bigger than reality.

BMW throws technology fastballs at an intimidating pace, and I did have to consult the owner's manual on some of the featured safety/security/comfort/convenience items.  But once mastered, I found all of the tech perks helpful.

Perhaps most significant among everything in the vehicle: the 2024 X2 is nearly eight inches longer than its predecessor, which translates to more interior comfort for five human beings.

Performance was enjoyable, courtesy of a twin-power turbo-4 engine making 241 horsepower between 4,500 and 6,500 revolutions per minute. The X2 makes the zero-to-60-mph trip in just 6.2 seconds.

Fuel mileage is pretty fair at 24 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

For my money, this BMW appeals to a wide-ranging audience: luxury lovers, performance people, sedan devotees and SUV fans who like just a little cargo-carrying room. I'm guessing all will feel at home in this driving machine.

Kia's EV9 is a sophisticated, and fun, electric vehicle

This review first appeared in the August 2024 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 -- Kia, once a builder of cheap cars, now produces one of the most sophisticated electric vehicles on the market.

It's the three-row EV9.  My tester, the 2024 EV9 GT-Line AWD, gave me plenty of reasons to smile.

Where to start?

It looked good, riding on 21-inch alloy wheels and with sharp, angular cuts in the body and window frames.  My ride was enhanced by an attractive "Ocean Blue" paint job.

Power was certainly plentiful, courtesy of dual electric motors rated at 379 horsepower and a whopping 516 foot-pounds of torque. I felt only a bit guilty zipping the big sport-ute around in traffic, hustling into tight spots on the freeway and dusting off speeders when I came blazing down on-ramps.

Then there was the 99.8 kWh battery with 300 miles of all-electric range.

And there was the full suite of state-of-the-art safety/driver-assistance technology, including a crash-avoidance system.

Fuel savings?  Naturally: an 80 miles per gallon equivalent rating in combined city/highway driving.

Did I mention the full-recliner seats?  No, I'm serious.  Just power up the leg rests and relax.

The EV9 does the basics well, of course. You get 82 cubic feet of cargo space behind the first row, and 5,000 pounds of towing capacity.

In sum, I'm not sure I've ever driven a vehicle that offers so much right off the truck, besides the fact that it's all-electric.

Frankly, this EV9 competes well with anything currently being produced in the luxury/SUV/EV class.  And it's appropriately priced for that: $78,430 on the tester's bottom line.

Given all this, the prospective buyer has some things to consider.  We are on the verge of the all-electric car age, but not quite there.

So, yes, you could buy an EV9 and consider trading it in within a few short years, betting that even more EV technology will be developed for a cheaper price.  Or you could buy an EV9 for the long term, knowing that the market is leaning ever-more into the electric realm, and with the knowledge that you have a sophisticated, and fun to drive, head start on the future.

I tend to think that the latter option is the way to go.

Ascent SUV has all of Subaru's standards, and more

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 -- Subaru has a reputation: all-wheel drive masters, boxer engines, styling and safety.

They're wrapped up to the max in a three-row SUV I recently sampled. All the strengths of Subaru were on display in the 2024 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Limited, priced at $48,140.

With a surprisingly spacious interior, top-tier federal crash test scores (including a maximum five stars in overall safety) and an enthusiastic power plant, I was immediately impressed with the vehicle's ability to feel right at home off-road or on the highway ... or in the crowded urban jungle.

Power comes from a 2.4-liter turbo boxer engine rated at 260 horsepower and paired with a seamless continuously variable transmission that also features an eight-speed manual mode.

Gears can be selected, if desired, via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters.

Need some help off the beaten path?  The Ascent gives you an able assist with the latest off-road technology, including hill descent control and a traction management system.

Twenty-inch wheels and a nearly 9-inch ground clearance also make one feel secure in off-road operations.

While it can tackle the rustic roads, the tested Ascent featured numerous luxury-level features.  Those included a power panoramic moonroof, a Harman Kardon audio system, leather surfaces, LED headlights with high-beam assist and tri-zone climate control.

If you want to haul plentiful supplies in your travels, the Ascent's towing capacity is rated at 5,000 pounds.

Please note that the Ascent trim levels include versions starting at substantially less than $40,000.

All in all, the Ascent is a remarkably versatile machine with all the best hallmarks of the Subaru brand.

Mazda MX-5 Miata is reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring can be seen in the latest, October 2024, 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.

Buick's little Encore GX competes among the big boys

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'm driving down the road, and that catchy jingle from the 1960s is playing in my head: "Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick ... "

What prompted that?

It was my time in the 2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir AWD, a subcompact sport-utility vehicle with enough room for five.

Best part of the experience: A nicely equipped model starting at $31,500. Next best part: Everything was easy to understand and use, from the on-board clock to the helpful safety/security technology.

Given the ultra-competitive world of small SUVs with widely varying prices, my ride seemed like a nice, comfortable break in a calm universe.

Power on the tester came from a nifty 1.3-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine that was more than powerful enough to power the little sport-ute around.  On the freeway, amid the slicing and dicing mob, I felt completely comfortable with the power supplied by the engine.  And the Encore GX was sure-footed in heavy traffic.

Fuel mileage was pretty fair at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The exterior look on the tester was classic compact sport-ute, but the front end had a little extra dash with nicely placed chrome accents.

The tester also included a generous helping of standard features, given the affordable price.  That included LED lighting, leather surfaces and an 11-inch, easy-to-see-and-use center dash display.

In the blizzard of small SUVs out there, it seems to me that this Buick would draw the interest of motorists who don't want to carry $50,000 to the dealership, plus those who crave utility for modest chores and family road trips of varying lengths.

I'm guessing those folks just might rather have a Buick.

Reworked Tacoma pickup draws attention, praise

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'm not a daily pickup driver, and generally speaking, I don't get overly excited about a bumper-to-bumper reworking of a midsize truck.

But it's hard to ignore the new 2024 Toyota Tacoma, star of a Super Bowl ad and winner of assorted "best buy" nods since then.

After a week in the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 Double Cab, I confess that I now understand the hype.  It's not just hype.  It's a genuine triumph.

Let's count the ways on my tester: a muscular 2.4-liter turbo-4 engine, an off-road tuned suspension with Bilstein shocks, a decidedly roomy bed for a midsize truck, crawl control, automatic high beams, road sign assist/recognition, a full boat of contemporary off-road equipment/systems and much more.

Sure, a generous package of optional equipment pushed the bottom line on my ride to $54,784, but knowing that most pickup buyers make their purchases for the long haul, it's worth the price.

All of this would be impressive as is, but the reworked Tacoma is offered in more than a half dozen trims.  And you get perks -- a turbocharged engine, most significantly -- across the board. Impressive? I should say so.

Getting down to basics, the Tacoma was a pleasure to drive.  Uncomplicated, feisty when needed and pleasantly quiet on the freeway.  I found the turning radius to be surprisingly compact for this vehicle segment, and the various equipment and conversion processes for off-road jaunts were quite easy to master.

Simply put, this is a "freshening" of your dreams, the way an extensive model reworking should be done.

Perhaps the biggest compliment I can offer: the new Tacoma is equally at home at the work site or on the town.

New CX-70 fits nicely in Mazda's sport-ute lineup

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 -- Something new from Mazda reveals a luxurious, feature-loaded, high-performing sport-utility vehicle.

And yet in the tested vehicle -- a 2025 Mazda CX-70 PHEV Premium Plus -- all my volunteer passengers wanted to talk about was the exterior paint job.

OK, it was a head-turner.  They wanted to call it Cinnamon.  The automaker calls it "Melting Copper Metallic."  You get the idea.

The CX-70 is positioned nicely amid Mazda's sport-utility vehicle offerings.  Call it a just-right choice for those wanting a five-passenger model with plentiful perks and the ability to get your heart racing during a hard acceleration from a standing start.

My tester performed flawlessly during a recent week in the California Wine Country, where it fit in perfectly among some of the classy, high-priced vehicles making the run over from the Bay Area.

So many things to like, but the performance topped my list.  I wondered how enthusiastic the CX-70 could be with those broad shoulders.  Turns out it was beyond enthusiastic with the 3.3-liter, six-cylinder, PHEV power plant churning out a maximum 323 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque.

If asked, the CX-70 would sprint like a cheetah.  If you wanted to merely dust off pokes, it did so in a relatively quiet, efficient manner.

Since I was in Wine Country, I returned to the Sacramento Valley with more than I took over, but the spacious interior of the CX-70 swallowed all of it with no problem.

Fuel mileage? If you combine electric and gasoline, you can wring a 56 miles-per-gallon equivalent out of the power plant.

Did I mention luxury?  Plenty of that, including a power panoramic moonroof, heated power exterior lamps with built-in turn signals, a sparkling 12.3-inch color center display screen, black Nappa leather and a full boat of state-of-the-art safety/security systems.  My vehicle was priced about right for all that: $59,275.

All in all, another strong SUV choice from Mazda, joining a fleet of superbly engineered models.