Savoring the old-school charms of a luxury sedan

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 -- After a steady diet of electric vehicles, hybrids and crossover sport-utility vehicles, one sometimes longs for a four-door sedan with a nice mix of luxury and performance.

Enter that into a search engine and you are likely to come up with a link and photo of a Lexus IS 350 .... a 2026 Lexus IS 350 F Sport sedan in my case.

A week of fun.  No electric battery charge percentage. No cup holder overload. Just luxurious comfort and a 3.5-liter V-6 (311 horsepower) with a Muscle Beach attitude. Old-school rear wheel drive to boot.

What's not to like?

My tester wore a reasonable sticker price for this segment -- $49,703 -- and it was packed with a pleasing number of comfort and convenience features. A panoramic view monitor and the power moonroof were particular favorites.

Intuitive parking assist was part of the deal, but to be honest, I've become a stubborn "don't surrender control of the car in any way" guy of late.  Haven't started shooing kids away from my lawn yet, but there it is.

Besides, there are more important things to consider with this IS 350 ... like it looks fantastic, for example.  Beautiful sculpting in profile.  Looks pretty much racetrack-ready just parked there.  The neighbor kids, who kindly stay off my lawn, agree.  Cool-looking car, pops.

Lexus reworked the IS 350 inside and out for the 2026 model year.  Can't say that I disagreed with any of the changes.  Thoughtful bumper to bumper. And the F Sport touches only add to the sporty feel.

Ultimate sporty feel comes from mashing the accelerator.  One gets press-me-to-the-seat power and a satisfying, but not excessive rumble from under the hood. Fuel mileage comes in at 19/27.

Keep in mind that this model has been around since 1999. It says something that Lexus has continually refined it ... and not messed it up. Kudos to them for that.

Overall, a car that pleases all the senses, including luxury, for a fair price.

I believe that I have seen the future of motor vehicles

This review first appeared in the July 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 believe that I have just sampled the future of automotive transportation.

It's called a 2026 Lucid Air Touring sedan, and for someone who obtained his first driver's license when Richard Nixon was president, it took some adjustments on my part.

After all, there are certain things you expect after decades of driving.

You expect to turn off the engine, via an ignition switch (or more recently, a button). With the Lucid Air, you just walk away from the vehicle.  Hard to do, as you keep looking around to see who is watching.

And you expect the key fob to have specific buttons related to specific functions.  Not so with the Lucid Air sedan.  The fob just sort of acts as an all-powerful command center, sending out invisible signals to the machine.

And the car just starts up when you climb in; hit the brake pedal, snap the gearshift located on the steering column, and off you go.

Actually, it doesn't take too long to get the hang of all this.  And once you do, you can get acquainted with this all-electric vehicle -- priced at $107,050 in my case. (Starting price: on the basic model is $79,900.)

First off, it looks fantastic.  Space age vibe to be sure.  Sleek and modern and smooth to the max.  It looks capable of flying.

And in one respect, it does.

The horsepower rating is a healthy 620, good enough to make the zero-to-60 mph trip in 3.4 seconds.

Response is instant and exciting.  On the fly, the vehicle is a smooth operator, even when it is dispatching pokes with ease. Handling is excellent, and the turn radius is a bonus on a sedan with remarkable agility.

The payoff is a range of up to 431 miles, with miles per gallon equivalent ratings of 126 mpg in the city and 121 mpg on the highway.

Inside, the vehicle presents a high-tech marvel.  Seemingly everything is controlled with electricity, including the glove compartment.  Images float across a 34-inch glass cockpit display screen, enabling you to park precisely and have plenty of advance warning of possible danger.

The glass canopy roof  made me feel like I was sitting in the cockpit of a fighter jet, but the heat of Sacramento does penetrate that environment fairly quickly.  A boost of the AC helps cool things down.

The Lucid Air gets multiple five-star ratings in federal government crash tests, including a max five stars on the overall score.

I've said before that remarkable things are in the pipeline for cars of the future.  And California is at the heart of it in Lucid's case. Lucid Group USA Inc., is headquartered in the Silicon Valley community of Newark.

The automaker has its critics, including some high-profile ones who don't like its cost structure. OK, fine.

But in the Lucid Air, the company has given us a vision of the future of motor vehicles. And on many levels, the future looks bright.

Luxury-laden BMW reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the BMW 760i xDrive sedan can be seen in the latest, Aubust 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.

Hybrid powertrain adds to Mazda's 'Premium' sport-ute

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 -- For years, I've logged substantial seat time in Mazda's pleasant CX-50 compact crossover sport-utility vehicle.  Numerous times, it has been the turbo version in my hands.

A recent week in the hybrid version -- a 2026 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid Premium Plus to be specific -- was a revelation. It was CX-50 charm in a fuel-saving package.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter hybrid engine rated at 219 combined net horsepower, more than enough oomph for the required jobs and checking in at 39 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. Driving range is pegged at 551 miles.

While it's not quite the turbo blast, it's more than sufficient.  And it feels good motoring past those thirsty gas pumps.

Power plant aside, the usual high marks can be found in safety (multiple max five-star ratings in federal government crash tests), styling (especially dressed in the tester's "Soul Red Crystal Metallic" paint) and perks (leather trimmed seats, a wireless phone charger, traffic sign recognition, power panoramic moonroof and hill launch assist are among the many standard features in the Premium model).

Even with a nice option package on my CX-50, the bottom line came to a reasonable $43,265.

The tester qualifies as a fun highway cruiser and every day commuter, but I should note that Mazda has gone to great lengths to offer CX-50s to appeal to a wide range of tastes. That includes the outdoors-forward Meridian Edition. That new-for-2026 trim level includes 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, special badging and black roof rails.

Overall, this built-in-Alabama five-seater is a versatile offering that won't crush your wallet.

Solterra has electric convenience in Subaru package

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 -- A compact sport-utility vehicle that's a Subaru and all-electric to boot.

For a certain segment of motorists, that's an ideal combination.

I give you the 2026 Subaru Solterra EV.  My week was in the Premium edition of the SUV.  No price was listed in the accompanying documents, but Subaru loudly touts the base of $38,495 in its marketing materials.

My week in the "Midnight Tide Mica"-colored machine was a celebration of what makes Subaru popular with its devotees ... minus the boxer-style engine of course.  Power on the Solterra comes from front and rear electric motors, generating the equivalent of 233 horsepower.

Those e-motors more than did the job, propelling the tester with satisfying oomph off the line and darting through the local urban and rural roadways with effortless ease.

Yes, this is an EV but it includes a sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, for which Subaru is famous.

Volunteer passengers liked the performance characteristics and the relatively roomy space for five in the cabin. They also liked the modernistic lighting on the front and rear ends of the vehicle.

Subaru advertises electric range of 288 miles, and buyers can choose from various plug-in charging cords for convenience.

For those who wish to take the Solterra off the paved surfaces, there's a healthy 8.3 inches of ground clearance. Subaru insists that the Solterra is utterly comfortable off-road, and the vehicle includes a mode-selection feature to match specific surfaces and conditions.

The tester also included some high-end touches that I did not expect. That included dual wireless smartphone chargers, a 14-inch multimedia touchscreen and a suite of "EyeSight" driver-assist technologies.

Subaru tech in a sporty-looking electric vehicle ... Pretty nice pairing.

Kia's golden hatchback does the automaker proud

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 -- Some motorists see "hatchback" and frown.

Not me.  The tested 2026 Kia K4 Hatchback GT-Line Turbo made me smile. How could I not smile at the sporty wagon dressed up in "Sparkling Yellow" paint?

Actually, Sparkling Yellow doesn't really cover it in my book.  "Gloriously Golden" is closer to reality. Kia calls the layout a "floating roof design," and yeah, I see it.

Color aside, this new-for-2026 offering from Kia is a racy looker from grille to hatch edge. And I've never been one to discard the charms of a vehicle with a wide-opening back cover.

Roomy interior space? Of course.

Priced at a reasonable $32,870, my ride had the usual suite of max five-star federal government crash test ratings.  Generous Kia warranties...also a check.

And stuffed to the brim with standard features, including a power sunroof with sunshade, a Harman/Kardon premium audio system and a handy highway driving-assist system.

Driving it was a pleasure.  The 1.6-liter turbo-4 rated at 190 horsepower is a decidedly aggressive power plant, capable of pressing me into the seat off the line and a most agile dancer on the highway. The sport-tuned suspension highlighted the best traits of the engine.

Kia touts the vehicle as one that appeals to "active drivers." If that means drivers who like to test the limits of a car's capabilities, I completely understand.

Overall, this hatchback offers an appealing mix of sporty fun and affordable common sense. A nice combination for the times.

BMW takes 'ultimate driving machine' thing seriously

This review first appeared in the June 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 -- BMW regularly touts its "ultimate driving machine" tagline ... and when a BMW M5 Touring hybrid wagon priced at $145,775 shows up in your driveway, you tend to take it seriously.

It's only human to ask: What do I get for my 145-grand? ... After absorbing the emotional impact of the sticker price, of course.

The answer is: You get a lot.  Really, a big bunch.

Let's start with that twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 hybrid power plant.  It's rated at 717 horsepower, and believe me, it delivers a punch when you punch it.

The jolt is so powerful that you want to have two firm hands on the steering wheel as you will be blazing past that poke formerly 200 yards up the road in the time it takes to swallow once hard.

This is more than sport wagon speed.  It's competitive racing power at your fingertips.  Super amazing.  Lots of fun. But handle with care.

And then you go down the perks list that includes exotic materials, state-of-the-art safety/enhancement technology, the black roof (panoramic), the interior camera, the four-zone climate control, the sport-tuned suspension and ... I could go on all night.

BMW apparently made the decision to put all of its best in a single vehicle, and for those who want such fine things, the finance department is right down the hall.

And yet, there are other things about the wagon that appeal on a more basic level.

For example, fuel mileage in gas-only mode is 13 miles per gallon. But in electric-gas mode, that number swells to an equivalent of 54 mpg.

The exterior paint job is another example of simple excellence. A brilliant "Smyrna Green" coating found me answering questions in parking lots, and several times, motorists drove right up to my shoe tops and wanted to know what color that was on my test ride.

I confess that I enjoyed it all: the attention, the detail, the technology, the performance and, well, the opulence.

Sure, this M5 Touring is a vehicle aimed at those with incomes floating somewhere in the high clouds. And while it might be well beyond my means, as a motor vehicle devotee, I appreciate what BMW has produced in this driving machine.