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.

Latest MX-5 a worthy successor to 'Mazda Miata Mania'

This review first appeared in the October 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 --I well remember "Mazda Miata Mania" back in 1989, when otherwise intelligent, thoughtful adults lusted for the newly introduced sports car like youngsters craving a Cabbage Patch Kid on Christmas morning.

Some totally hooked motorists offered to pay twice the sticker price for the little beauty. Others shamelessly begged and slobbered for a mere test drive.

Times have charged -- well, sort of -- but the appeal remains the same.  The little MX-5 is perhaps the ultimate guilty pleasure motoring toy.  Fun to be seen in. Fun to drive.

My week in the tested 2024 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF Grand Touring produced a flood of memories -- all of them good.  Just scooting the thing around the neighborhood had me laughing out loud. What a pleasure!

It's not a Corvette-type of thing either. The 2-liter, four-cylinder engine packs a max 181 horsepower, but in this small package, you feel like you're blazing through the Bus Stop chicane on the Watkins Glen road course in New York.

And with the MX-5's super-low stance, you have the feeling that you're stuck to the pavement, just gliding on top of it at heart-racing speed.  A rush? Absolutely.

And all these years later, the MX-5 still turns heads.

Curious folks approached me in parking lots and in my front yard, asking for details.  I was only too happy to talk up the sporty car's charms.

While you feel every road imperfection driving the MX-5, the tester was extremely well balanced.  It was rock-solid on corners taken a high speed. Steering response was excellent.

It looks racy just standing still. It has a few cosmetic tweaks: Exterior changes for 2024 include new LED lighting elements.

But the MX-5 is not stuck in the 1990s.  The current version has been upgraded with numerous contemporary technology features, including blind-spot monitoring (a must riding this low to the pavement on freeways) and rear cross traffic alert.

Fuel mileage is an impressive 26 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.

The bottom line on the tester's sticker was $39,895.

Modern amenities aside, the appeal remains the same as it was all those years ago.  You can have fun in the sun, a blast on the open road and a take self-satisfying journey just cruising this roadster through your neighborhood.

The MX-5 Miata remains what it was from the beginning: a good-time car that always delivers a good-time drive.

This Toyota sport-ute wears Corolla name with pride

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 -- OK, if you're going to put "Corolla" -- a name that equates to millions of motor vehicle sales over a long period of time -- on the vehicle, you better be doing something right.

Fortunately, Toyota does a lot of things right with this compact sport-ute.  My recent week in the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross HV Nightshade radiated quality inside and out ... all for a very reasonable price of $34,498.

Toyota really jumped in with both feet on this Nightshade concept, a motif dripping with black.  Black components include badging, roof racks, mirrors, alloy wheels ... You get the idea.  Even the Toyota promotion photos emphasize the theme, with the Corolla Cross emerging from a creepy-looking fog in the night.

SUV as a secret agent?  Yeah, I'm on board.

Beyond the Nightshade optics, there are plentiful perks in the SUV.  Fit and finish are excellent. Interior roominess is surprisingly good in this segment. Standard features are state of the art and generous. Loved the color: "Barcelona Red Metallic."

Toyota touts the Corolla Cross as having the functionality of a larger crossover, and I have to agree.  I put it through a series of suburban loading/transport chores and found the vehicle capable of matching all that I could throw at it.

Looking for good numbers at the gas pump?  The tester weighed in at 45 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway.  Given everything, including hybrid technology, I thought the sticker price was a bargain.  Auto-reviewing colleagues of mine have said the same.

Oh, almost forgot: it drives like a dream.

The 2-liter, four-cylinder hybrid engine is quiet, efficient and fairly peppy when my right foot asked for more. The power package feels a touch stronger than the advertised 150 horses.

Overall, this Corolla Cross in a black dress is a must-test-drive among those looking for a versatile SUV not costing $50,000 and up.

Hyundai's Tucson SUV is refreshed to please in 2025

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've driven numerous Hyundai Tucsons over the years.  I've even recommended the compact crossover sport-utility vehicle to friends who were seeking my advice on a just-right vehicle for their needs.

But I'd have to say that the recently tested 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Limited AWD is the best version of the brand that I've ever driven.

Hyundai happily touts its "thoroughly refreshed" Tucson for 2025.  I would agree, but more to the point, the fresh parts add to an already excellent package, with a starting price of just a few bucks less than $41,000 on the tested model.

Yes, I like the sporty look, with some stylish side sculpting and the smooth muscled front end. Eye-catching alloy wheels add to the look.

Inside, there's a surprising amount of space for adults who might otherwise wonder about taking a long trip in a compact crossover.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter turbo-4 rated at 178 horsepower.  The hybrid components produce a healthy 35 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving.  Accelerations were robust. Agility was impressive, especially in dicey freeway driving.

I was somewhat blown away at the number of comfort/convenience/safety features packed into this small SUV.  I particularly liked the easy-to-read 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

For 2025, Hyundai added its Forward Attention Warning system, which employs an infrared camera mounted on the steering column to help track the driver's gaze and assess alertness.  If the driver is found completely unresponsive, the system can bring the vehicle to a stop, activating hazard lights and the electronic parking brake.

Overall, the vehicle has all the appeal of one priced at $60,000.  And this is where Hyundai has made its mark in a little more than a generation: Solid engineering, numerous standard features, for an entirely reasonable price.

This 2025 Tucson Hybrid Limited checks all of those boxes.