This electric SUV is just what you'd expect from Lexus

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 -- Great expectations.

That's what you have when a Lexus sport-utility vehicle is handed over to you.  And fortunately, the tested 2026 Lexus RZ 550e AWD checks all the appropriate boxes ... a player in the world of electric power transportation. And with Lexus' F Sport enhancements, all the better.

Priced at $62,034, my tester was a high-performing, velvet-glove cruiser powered by dual electric motors with a horsepower rating of 402. On the highway at cruising speed, the ride was silky smooth.

But when asked to dart around a careless poke, the RZ 550e responded instantly, and with fist-to-the-chin acceleration.  The advertised zero-to-60 mph time is 4.1 seconds.

A pleasure and a comfort, all in one.

The payoff for the buyer is a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 102 in the city and 88 on the highway. And as a bonus, the RZ 550e is compatible with thousands of charging ports nationwide.

I was struck by the all-season travel potential (and enjoyment) of the midsize crossover SUV.

With good cargo capacity, I could envision many happy hours cruising to national parks and places of interest during summer months.  Plenty of amenities on board to keep adults and kids happy.

The tester also was equipped for winter travel, with features that included a windshield wiper de-icer and headlamp washers.

This being a Lexus, luxury expectations are met with an extensive list of features. 

I liked the panoramic glass roof and perfectly stitched leather trim. Security is enhanced by a full suite of max five-star federal government crash test ratings, including five on the overall score.

All in all, the RZ 550e was an excellent balance of performance, solid tech and luxury ... just what I expected.

Seriously, American muscle never felt quite like this

This review first appeared in the April 2026 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 remember thinking: Wow, what a beautiful Dodge Charger.

Classic American muscle car lines, with a spoiler in the back and a wing cut into the front. Serious wheels (20 inchers).

The paint job is dazzling ... a super-vivid shade of blue. The paint color has a name: Bludicrous. Love it.

I jump into the cockpit, snap on the seat belt, hit the start button and am greeted with ...

S-i-l-e-n-c-e.

I have to admit, I felt a serious stab of pain in my heart ... remembering the rumble of Hemi-equipped Chargers of years past.

Some American muscle car devotees consider an electric Charger the embodiment of blasphemy.

As for me, I get it.  I see where history is heading, and it was only a matter of time before V-8s gave way to kilowatts.

And besides, the tested 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package had plenty to like.

The look was certainly at the top of the list. The tester appeared race-ready, like it could fly. Traffic tended to bolt out of the way when they saw me coming in my four-door blue beauty.

The rumble might be gone, but power is not lacking.

The tester weighed in at a heart-pounding 670 horses. The advertised zero-to-60 time is 3.3 seconds.

No lie there.  The tester pressed me into the driver's seat with the best of them. It blazed by stragglers in silent majesty.

Fun? You bet.

The interior cabin is one of the most convenient, thoughtfully laid out of any muscle machine I can remember.  Everything is within easy reach, and there's plenty of high-tech stuff to keep one safe and alert.

By the way, the rear of the Charger can be configured into a substantial cargo-carrying area ... not something most folks think about in this segment.

The big bonus, of course, is fuel cost savings.  The fuel mileage equivalent rating is 77 miles per gallon in the city and 68 mpg on the highway.

The price of the loaded tester was a hefty $70,375.

Naturally, some folks are irreversibly convinced that a Charger is not a Charger unless it has a window-rattling internal-combustion engine under the hood.

But I have to confess that my week in the vehicle convinced me that this Charger with the electric heart is a muscle car by definition -- big, bad and fast on the draw, just like the old days.

Do I miss the rumble? Sure.

But did I enjoy the ride? Yes indeed.

Flashy Toyota Sequoia reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Toyota Sequoia 4WD TRD Pro Hybrid sport-utility vehicle ("Wave Maker") can be seen in the latest, May 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.

Art of the car featured at 75th Sacramento Autorama

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 -- Rembrandts of the road? Da Vincis of the driveway? Absolutely.

The art of the car will be on full, brilliant display this weekend as the 75th Sacramento Autorama kicks off its three-day run on Friday.

Some of the nation's top custom artists will show off their handiwork and celebrate the area's rich history of car customization on the Cal Expo grounds at 1600 Exposition Blvd.

Presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts, this year's Autorama will feature more than 500 hot rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks, and motorcycles from across the country competing to win numerous awards. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.

“The Sacramento Autorama has been a cornerstone of car culture for 75 years, and this year’s celebration is a tribute to the builders, fans and community that made it what it is today,” said John Buck, owner/producer of the show. “From historic customs to cutting-edge builds, this show continues to showcase the very best of the automotive world.”

At the conclusion of the weekend, numerous awards will be handed out. That includes the coveted Custom d'Elegance award presented by ARP (Automotive Racing Products).  It will be awarded to "the best chopped, channeled or sectioned vehicle from 1935-64 that embodies the true spirit of a classic custom." The award includes a $5,000 prize and a custom trophy.

Major "Big B" awards honor world-famous customizers from the Sacramento area, including Joe "Candy Apple Red" Bailon, Dick Bertolucci and Sam Barris.  Another long-standing, prestigious award is the Harold Bagdasarian Memorial World's Most Beautiful Custom trophy.

The World’s Most Beautiful Lowrider award, recognizing the show’s most outstanding lowrider entry, includes a $5,000 prize from ARP.

Hundreds more vehicles are expected to participate in the 19th Annual Sacramento Autorama Drive-In, featuring more than 400 autos.

The Butch Gardner Club House will again be part of this year's show, with numerous car clubs showing off their prize wheels. The Club House is organized in memory of Butch Gardner, a long-time member of the storied Thunderbolts auto club in Sacramento and a dedicated Autorama volunteer and participant. Thunderbolts club members played a key role in organizing the first Sacramento Autorama in 1950.

Daily general admission tickets for ages 13 and older are $30 each. Tickets for ages 6 to 12 are $10; children ages 5 and younger are admitted free.

Tickets can be purchased online at https://rodshows.com/sacramento-autorama or at the event. Discount tickets are available at participating local O'Reilly Auto Parts stores. Parking on the Cal Expo grounds is $10.

More information can be obtained at www.rodshows.com or by calling 877-763-7469.

Hyundai's Tucson sport-ute earns spot on the hot list

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 -- Over the years, various folks have asked me for a recommendation on a new compact crossover sport-utility vehicle. I typically give questioners three choices to test drive.

Typically, a Hyundai Tucson makes the list.

The tested 2026 Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited AWD sport-ute is decidedly list-worthy, just starting with the 77 miles per gallon equivalent rating.  (Gas only nets you a still-impressive 35 mpg.)

But it's more than energy cost savings.  Much more.

The Tucson has an instantly recognizable SUV look, but closer inspection finds clever angle cuts in profile, and a sweetly sculpted grille that's not over the top.

While the tester had plug-in charms, it was peppy enough with the 1.6-liter turbo-4 rated at 178 horsepower; frankly, it felt more powerful than that number.  A quiet cabin at freeway speeds is a bonus.

So many features on the tested model: lane-keeping assist, forward attention warning, forward collision avoidance, hands-free power liftgate, panoramic sunroof, surround-view monitor, ambient interior lighting, head-up display, Bose premium audio and on and on ...

Sixty-thousand bucks, right?  Try $50,140 on the sticker's bottom line.

No surprise there. Hyundai has prospered by offering more for less, and this Tucson makes the point with emphasis.

Simply put, the current-generation Tucson remains a contender in this very crowded vehicle segment ... worthy of being on an SUV shopper's short list.

CX-90 PHEV is an able player in Mazda's CX 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 -- In case you did not hear me the first time, this Mazda lineup of CX sport-utility vehicles is pretty special.

You can get anything you want off this menu.

This week's tester -- a 2026 Mazda CX-90 PHEV Premium Plus -- specializes in three rows of comfortable seating, surrounded by head-of-the-class technology and luxury.  All for $60,625 on the bottom line.

And it scoots along pretty well to boot, courtesy of 323 horsepower and 369 foot-pounds of torque.

Maybe the biggest tribute I can come up with: If you took the Mazda badging off the vehicle, I'm not sure I could tell it apart from top-drawer equivalents produced by Mercedes-Benz or Lexus.

There's a lot to like besides the silky freeway ride and admirable turning radius.

It looks fetching upon those 21-inch alloy aluminum wheels. Inside, the black nappa leather was raved by volunteer passengers.

Favorite features on my list included paddle shifters, the easy-to-use 12.3-inch color center display, the hands-free power rear liftgate and the primo 12-speaker Bose audio system.

Seven full-size adults fit comfortably in the cabin, and with seats folded, the CX-90 is a brawny cargo carrier.

Strongly touted by Mazda is the 56 miles per gallon equivalent for electric/gas travel in combined city/highway driving.  Gas-only is pretty good as well at an average 26 mpg in city/highway use.

Another bonus: A max five-star overall vehicle score in federal government crash tests.

This top-end model on Mazda's CX list upholds the reputation of the that group, offering value, environmental advantages and a full boat of sound technology. 

Kia Sportage sport-ute stands out with matte finish

This review first appeared in the March 2026 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 -- Ever buy a motor vehicle just for the paint job?

Having never hit the lottery big time, I can assure you that I've never done such a thing.

But if I had the means, I might be tempted to put cash on the barrel head for the recently tested (deep breath now) 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV X-Line Prestige AWD sport-utility vehicle.

OK, it's a perfectly charming version of the popular compact crossover SUV that many buyers rave about for days on end.

But what stole the show with this ride was the "Shadow Matte Gray" exterior color.

No reflection. Intimidating appearance. Secret agent cool.

Neighbors, friends, family and perfect strangers couldn't get enough of it, begging me for details and history.

I think they half expected me to hit a button on the key fob, triggering a Transformers-like conversion into a lethal, giant robot.

Yeah, I wish.

But frankly, most everything about the vehicle appealed to me.  Some quick research found agreement from other auto reviewers, who labeled the vehicle "thoughtful," "functional" and "comfortable."

I have to hand it to Kia ... The automaker keeps coming up with vehicles that please the masses.  The matte color scheme only added an air of exotic stylishness to an already solid machine.

My tester being the PHEV version, it boasted a gaudy electricity/gasoline rating equivalent of 83 miles per gallon.  Gasoline-only nets you a still-impressive 36 mpg.

The guts of this power source is a 1.6-liter turbocharged plug-in hybrid powertrain.  Very impressive piece of engineering, that.

And fun to drive.  Remarkable road manners for this segment.

Loaded to boot.  Perks included remote smart parking assist, a heated steering wheel, a head-up display, Harman/Kardon premium sound, a surround-view monitor, power folding exterior mirrors and ventilated front seats.

The feature-stuffed package was an absolute bargain for the sticker price of $49,730.

Throw in terrain modes, strong crash test scores and Kia's usual top-tier warranties, and the prospective buyer has to be tempted.

The Sportage exists in a hugely competitive segment, but it has so many advantages -- including head-turning value in its standard and HEV models -- that discriminating shoppers should have it on their test-drive lists.

Fair enough. As for me, driving enjoyment in a vehicle with Stealth bomber skin made for a memorable week.