Land Rover Defender 90 rolls with two doors 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 -- Land Rover buyers tend to be a detail-oriented bunch.

So, listen carefully when they say: I'd like to buy a crossover segment-defying vehicle with two doors and some luxury, but I don't want to pay a hundred-grand for it. I want it to be unique, in a way that you won't see many like it on the road.

Which turns us to the recently tested 2024 Land Rover Defender 90 S, which checks all of the boxes listed above. I must admit, it got my attention before I drove it 10 feet.

First off, plenty of first-row comfort and fun gadgets.  I didn't think it needed multi-zone climate control, but there it was.  Grained leather seats, of course. Must have hill descent control to take this vehicle off-road. Heated washer jets? Absolutely.

Fuel mileage is a buyer factor at only 18 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

The fun-to-drive factor is large with an enthusiastic 2-liter turbo-4 rated at 296 horsepower. This package was sprint-off-the-line worthy, and the tight wheelbase (thus the 90 designation) made the tester an agile figure skater on four wheels.  Lots of pep and enjoyment.

The look is decidedly euro/Land Rover, but it takes some time to adjust to only one door on each side of the vehicle. That doesn't spoil the look; it's just different.

I confess that I didn't spend a lot of time navigating the back of the vehicle, although its cargo-carrying space seemed more than adequate. Packing up for off-road jaunts appears to be a major segment of the target audience.

The bottom line on the tester's sticker was $70,683, so I guess I'd amend that target audience to: off-roaders who like to go first class.

Nothing wrong with that. Consider me envious.

Bronco 'Free Wheeler' turns heads, impresses others

This review first appeared in the November 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 -- Loopy as it sounds, when the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling 4X4 sport-utility vehicle pulled into my driveway, I thought: Isn't that the vehicle they used to tour Jurassic Park in the 1993 movie of the same name?

Well, of course not.

But it gives you an idea of the impression a compact sport-utility vehicle can make wearing stripes of vivid colors.

Different?  Yes. Cool? Yes. Likeable? Absolutely.

In truth, I quickly liked pretty much everything about the vehicle right off the bat.  I was impressed -- and pleased -- with its basic simplicity and easy-to-use nature.  All that before giving a positive nod to the colorful graphics package.

Volunteer passengers felt the same way, going from "what is that?" to "I like this" in the blink of an eye.

The price was right too.  In a world of $50,000 and $60,000 sport-utes, the tester weighed in at $37,695 on the bottom line. That included a generous helping of options.

Other numbers to like: 25 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway ... plus a suite of max five-star federal government crash test ratings (including five on the overall score).

Veteran Ford fans will know that the "Free Wheeling" graphics package is a shout out to rainbow colors offered up in the 1970s.  And yes, there is a sentimental feeling climbing into a Bronco, the original SUV developed by Ford.

Sentimentality aside, the tester performed flawlessly in all conditions.   The 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine on the tester was rated at 181 horsepower, just the right amount to zip the Bronco around with enjoyable authority.

Loaded with five folks, there were no complaints about roominess, and 65 cubic feet of space behind the first row of seats translated to good volume for carrying cargo.

Ford rightly touts the Bronco's off-road charms, and I certainly agree.  But I found my tester to be a smooth-operating freeway runner as well.

The extensive comfort, convenience, safety and security features were easy to understand and use.  No long hours with my face buried in the owner's manual.

So there you have it: An OG of a sport-ute dressed up in a colorful, head-turning coat. Best of two worlds? You bet.

A challenging year, a busy 2025 ... and my thanks

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 -- The year 2024 began with a health crisis ... which now seems like something that happened a century ago.

Thanks to the Bay Area folks who deliver test motor vehicles to me on a weekly basis, Sam Toll with Cruisin' News magazine published out of Nevada and a whole bunch of TLC from my family and friends, I barely missed a beat behind the wheel ... and my brain seems to have survived everything and is urging me to crack on.

Works for me.

But not before thanking all those who provided test autos, friendship and positive feedback throughout 2024.  I am blessed beyond belief.  And grateful.

What to expect in 2025?  Well, it might end up being one of the most eventful years in the history of motorized transportation.

Public lust for electric automobiles has cooled somewhat, and it's understandable, given that electric charging infrastructure still lags behind vehicle production.  Even so, I expect automakers to keep grinding out EVs and hybrids as the times keep changing, albeit in slow motion at times.

How are the roadways?  Crowded, right?  In the Sacramento area, it seems like you see an orange Road Work Ahead sign every 100 yards.  Some of the projects around Sacramento's core are massive, but when they are finished, I'm hopeful of seeing less gridlock.

On the auto racing front, I confess that I am seeing fewer and fewer faces I recognize, particularly in NASCAR.  I am sure there are Hall of Famers just getting their feet wet, but you know you're getting old when NASCAR Cup champ Joey Logano seems like a young gun.  Be interesting to see how many Cup trophies he lifts before he's done.

In the IndyCar ranks, driver Josef Newgarden will attempt to accomplish something that has never been done in the 100-year-plus history of the sport: win three consecutive Indianapolis 500s. I plan on being at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when he attempts the feat in May.

Most of all, I enter 2025 with optimism and good feelings, thanks to kind, thoughtful readers who have regularly offered encouragement.  Can't thank you enough.  Look forward to seeing all of you up the road next year.

Sporty Prius still in its Prime among hybrid vehicles

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 have a history with the Toyota Prius ... one loaded with good memories.

At the dawn of the 21st century, the Prius convinced me and many others that this gas-electric hybrid thing was going to work out just fine.

Next thing you know, I was writing about monster-size sales of the vehicle.

One of the most memorable rides of my life was in a Prius generation two, with motoring legend Denise McCluggage at the wheel.

A recent week in a 2024 Toyota Prius Prime SE only added to my memory list.  Let me count the ways ...

While some did not like the 2023 body styling change, I loved it.  The Prius was transformed from a boxy suburban dweller to a super sporty-looking highway flyer. To this day, many are shocked to learn that the hot sports car they parked next to is a Prius.

And the power package backs up the look nicely.

On the tester, the standard 2-liter, four-cylinder engine was ably backed by a plug-in hybrid system, the combo churning out a max 220 horsepower.  The tester zipped along with Corvette-like intensity, and the perfectly tuned balance made for a secure feeling behind the wheel.

The old story is that Prius motorists drive it like they stole the vehicle.  With the Prius Prime, that feeling is doubled. And it's a guilt-free blast.

Of course, the payoff is exceptional fuel mileage -- a combined 52 miles per gallon with the gas-fueled system handling the heavy lifting.

Some reviewers have complained about the comfort level, but I had no such problems.  Volunteer passengers were likewise complaint-free.

A generous helping of standard features did little damage to the wallet.  I was genuinely surprised to find the sticker's bottom line reading (a most reasonable) $34,434.

Given everything, the current Prius still excites at a high level ... and looks good doing it.

Popular Pilot sport-utility vehicle is back in Black

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 -- It's not always easy being the popular one.  Case in point: the Honda Pilot sport-utility vehicle.

The midsize crossover SUV has long been popular among California vehicle buyers.  And yes, you can see a bunch of these sport-utes during a typical outing on the road.

But being popular, there's constant pressure to make things better, and heaven forbid, not mess up a good thing (look up Ford Taurus' radical body style change from years ago).

Happily, Honda has added a Black Edition pilot to its 2025 fleet, and it retains virtually everything that has made the Pilot a Golden State favorite.

For the uninitiated, a Black Edition features "exclusive exterior and interior styling enhancements that distinguish it from the rest of the Pilot family." Or in other words, Black Edition touches make a Honda look hot and stylish in a contemporary way.

At first glance, the Black Edition Pilot looks born to ride the off-road trails.  My tester, a 2025 Honda Pilot AWD Black Edition, looked trail-ready even in its head-turning "Radiant Red" paint job.

I should point out here that the Black Edition is the most expensive of nine trim levels of the vehicle, starting at $54,280. And while that's a fair amount of coin, a glance at the standard features list justifies the fare.

My tester was loaded up with leather, a heated steering wheel, tri-zone climate control, vehicle stability assist, 20-inch alloy wheels in gloss black, a head-up display, three-row curtain airbags and ... well, I could go on all night.  Rest assured that you're getting a lot for your 50-grand.

Fuel mileage is fair at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the open road.

I found the Pilot to be an easy, smooth cruiser, with a more-than-willing 3.5-liter V-6 (285 horsepower) handling the chores. Honda notes that it's the most powerful three-row sport-ute in its history.

Volunteer passengers also commented on the smooth ride ... and a surprising amount of room among three rows in a midsize machine.

Overall, I'd say this Black Edition will not result in the Pilot losing out in any popularity contests.

These three sport-utes help make the season bright

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 -- Christmas season is here, and it's time to get things in order. Here's a trifecta of recently driven sport-utility vehicles, all of them appropriate gifts for the fortunate motorist:

+ 2025 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium (pictured): The compact sport-utility vehicle is a reasonably-priced ride amid Mazda's impressive lineup of SUVs. Mine was loaded, stickered at $43,170 and rated at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

The lengthy list of standard features included leather seating surfaces, paddle shifters and a 10.25-inch color center display. The big screen was easy to read, and useful in many functions.

The CX-50 can be had as a fuel-efficient hybrid, but I savored the 2.5-liter turbo engine on the tester, rated at 227 horsepower.  This power plant turns the compact into a competitor.

The tester zipped around city streets and freeway stretches with aggressive, agile moves.

Fun to drive. A strong entry in a very crowded motor vehicle segment.

+ 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT 2.5T AWD: I've liked the Santa Fe for years, and I have some long-standing friends who feel the same way -- friends who bought their Santa Fe sport-utes upon my recommendation.

I had another 2.5-liter turbo power plant at my command in the Santa Fe, and yes, I again enjoyed the seat-pressing boost it provided.

Generously equipped with standard perks, my tester came in at $43,205 and was rated at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.

Hyundai touts the "next-level 3-row Santa Fe for next-level adventures." Nice way to put it, and I have to agree.  Bonus: World-class warranties.

+ 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD (EV9 Long Range AWD): Previous outings in the EV9 convinced me that this particular vehicle ranks as one of the most sophisticated among the current electric vehicle offerings.

My tester wore a sticker of $74,230, but that included state-of-the-art electric tech; top-tier safety comfort, convenience features; and a fuel-equivalent rating of 91 mpg in the city and 75 mpg on the highway.

You say it's priced like a Mercedes-Benz? Darn right.  Because it's that good.

Luxurious Lexus SUV reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2024 Lexus RX 450h Luxury sport-utility vehicle can be seen in the latest, December 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.