Ram 1500 upholds pickup template: more is better

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 -- Faster, higher, stronger.

The Olympic motto, right?

Sure, but you could just as easily apply it to the world of full-size pickup trucks.  The producers of these American beauties keep adding, improving and strengthening their creations.

What is out there now is light years removed from the old school pickups of yesteryear ... the kind I remember on my maternal grandpa's farm.

Oh, and one other thing: Figure on bringing at least $50,000 to the table if you want one.

Amid this, I had a recent week in the 2026 Ram 1500 Express Crew Cab 4X2 pickup (which also goes by the label of 2026 Ram Tradesman Crew Cab 4X2).  This is a prototypical pickup for our times.

My ride was loaded and priced at $51,030 ... and worth every penny.

Packed bumper to bumper with the latest comfort, convenience, driving-enhancement and safety technology, I spent a substantial amount of time researching the owner's manual.  Once I was convinced that I could do everything humanly possible from the cockpit seat, it was time to take it out for a drive.

What a treat!  Amazingly smooth on the highway.  Sixty miles per hour feels like 40.  Yeah, it's that silky.

The twin-turbo, six-cylinder engine was instantly responsive and decidedly muscular.  I was particularly impressed with response even with the revs up.  For those craving more, the 1500 can be had with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

And while I enjoyed the state-of-the-art technology, I was equally happy with the truck's old-school towing potential and cargo-carrying capacity ... Still among the main reasons for getting a pickup, best as I can determine.

Fuel mileage was fair for this segment, at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg on the open road.

Does this 1500 compete on equal footing with the Ford, Chevy, Toyota and other pickups out there?

Absolutely.

Mazda's CX-70 SUV could be just what you're seeking

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 could be the definition of what most auto buyers are looking for these days: A peppy, midsize sport-utility vehicle stuffed with numerous customer-pleasing perks and priced around $50,000.

It was my tester for a pleasant week, wearing the label of 2026 Mazda CX-70 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus.

Mazda's CX lineup is loaded and formidable, and buyers looking for something in the middle range won't be disappointed with the CX-70.

The look is sleek and sporty, which matches the performance characteristics of the vehicle.  Power is provided by a 3.3-liter, six-cylinder turbocharged engine rated at 280 horsepower.

The power plant feels much stronger than that 280 number, especially off the line from a standing start.  And yet, as a freeway cruiser, the CX-70 smooths out for a serene, quiet ride that volunteer passengers absolutely loved.

The interior is modern, stylish and useful. From safety to luxury, the features added  up to a steal, given the reasonable $51,795 sticker price.

Particular favorites included Nappa leather, hill descent control, 21-inch alloy wheels, rain-sensing windshield wipers, heated front and second row seats, a hands-free power liftgate and rear cross-traffic alert. Really, this is a $60,000 vehicle with a starting price of $49,570.

Fuel mileage was pretty fair for this segment, at 24 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.  A max five-star federal government overall crash test score was another plus.

Taken in full, this CX-70 likely appeals to a wide demographic of motorists, particularly prospective buyers seeking value amid a blizzard of practical-size crossover sport utes.

Feature-loaded Toyota Highlander SUV is in Grand form

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 believe I've said it before: The Toyota Grand Highlander is so grand that it's pretty much a Lexus.

That's not a bad thing. Quite the contrary.

The tested 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max was a luxurious, powerful machine stickered at $60,770.  Lexus territory all the way.

My ride looked sharp on 20-inch alloy wheels. The usual big grille was set nicely on an aggressive front end.

And again edging into Lexus-level luxury, it had extra-nice features throughout.  I enjoyed the panoramic view monitor, full-time electric all-wheel drive, the panoramic moonroof and much more.  Passengers loved the second-row heated seats on a particularly chilly day.

The best part? Exceptional performance for a three-row SUV.

Power comes from a hybrid 2.4-liter turbocharged system ... Hybrid in this case does not translate to anemic.

The power plant, rated at 362 horses, was a warrior off the line and an agile heavyweight in dicey traffic.  It was easy to dart out of harm's way, and I found the Grand Highlander especially nimble in downtown traffic.

Simply said: A very pleasant, smooth machine.  Fun to drive in every way.

The hybrid contribution equates to fuel mileage ratings of 26 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Please note: The Grand Highlander can be had in several versions. And for those who need something more than the smaller Toyota RAV4, the Grand Highlander represents a tempting option for prospective buyers.

Hyundai's Palisade sets bar high among three-row SUVs

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 -- Taking everything into account -- styling, luxury, performance and price in that mix -- I have regarded the Hyundai Palisade as the gold standard among three-row sport-utility vehicles.

Happily, Hyundai has upped the ante with thoughtful upgrades for the 2026 model year.

Can a three-row sport-ute be stylish?  The Palisade (my tester was the 2026 Palisade Calligraphy AWD) radiated elegance, particularly on the finely sculpted front end.  There's virtually universal agreement among auto reviewers that the interior is elegant, comfortable and as functional as anything in the segment.

Volunteer passengers praised the third-row roominess -- a plus in an era when third rows are sometimes considered an afterthought.

From the driving cockpit, I was surrounded by helpful features ... all within easy reach and a snap to master.

Everything from the head-up display to the heated steering wheel provided useful convenience and comfort, and much of what you need can be done via the 12.3-inch digital display screen.

The ride was buttery smooth, and I had no discomfort that sometimes comes with driving a sizable SUV. Even in tight parking lots, steering was one-hand easy.

The 3.5-liter V-6 is advertised at 287 horsepower, which some auto-reviewing colleagues found a bit lacking.  Personally, I found the power plant capable in all situations, even hill climbs.  Fuel mileage was posted at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

FYI, the Palisade can be had in hybrid form.

I think the thing that most draws me to the Palisade it its versatility.  Many sport-utes I've tested check boxes here and there, but don't quite emerge with a perfect score.  Not so with the Palisade.  It checks every box.

And for $60,000 to $75,000, right?  Not even close; the sticker on the tester was an exceedingly reasonable $57,800.

This reworked-for-2026 Palisade has drawn a lot of praise from diverse sources.  All of those kudos are well-deserved.

Hybrid Lexus SUV reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2025 Lexus LX 700h sport-utility vehicle can be seen in the latest, February 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 Lexus NX sport-ute features luxury for less

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 -- Here's an automotive checklist for our times: Luxurious, stylish, responsive, powerful, safety-loaded and plug-in hybrid efficient.

I had all that in the recently tested 2026 Lexus NX 450h+ AWD, priced at $67,134.  While that might strain some budgets, I would have guessed my tester's value at $90,000 to $100,000 before looking at the sticker's bottom line.

It was that loaded.  And for those with the means to seek out an SUV in that ballpark, this NX should be at or near the top of your wish list.  Simply said, one gets a lot for a comparative bargain in this luxury SUV segment.

It's a sleek piece of work, but the heart and soul of the NX 450+ is the 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid electric engine rated at 304 horsepower.  Zero to 60 miles per hour is touted -- a pretty good number in this class.

I found the power plant quite enthusiastic, and guilt-free in combined gas-electricity mode with a miles-per-gallon equivalent of 84 mpg.  Gasoline-only gets you 34 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Lexus also claims up to 37 miles in electric-only mode.

I was happily rolling along the busy interstates in the tester ... rock-solid on the turns, quiet on the roll and muscular when I asked for it. Front and rear torque with the AWD system was silky smooth.

Volunteer passengers commented on the comfortable, roomy seating areas.  And they liked the fact that quiet conversations could be heard even at freeway speeds.

Helpful standard perks on the tester included a head-up display, a power moonroof and a power rear door with kick sensor.

All in all, this NX is a good find for the discriminating luxury SUV shopper.

Mazda CX-30 'Aire Edition' wins points for style, perks

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 had a lot of seat time in Mazda's subcompact crossover sport-utility vehicle, the CX-30.  And yet, I only recently experienced the latest version.

The "Aire Edition" joins the lineup for 2026.  Simply said, it has all the usual pleasing amenities, some special perks and an easy-on-the eyes sticker price.

Let's start with amenities ... Wow, a long list.  Plenty to keep one's nose buried in the owner's manual for days.  Happily, virtually everything in the package is easily mastered.

Helpful features include heated front seats, a lane-departure warning system, rear cross-traffic alert, four-wheel disc brakes and LED lights all around.  Driver-assistance technology is exceptional for this vehicle segment.

Special touches are part of the Aire Edition label.  Think black.

The tester included gloss black badges, 18-inch black metallic aluminum alloy wheels, black roof rails and black side mirrors.  Stylish and distinctive.  I liked it.

Now, about that price.  A 2026 CX-30 starts at $25,975.  There's a number you don't see on a lot of SUVs.  Seems like you need 50K just to walk in the door these days.

My exceptionally loaded tester -- full name 2026 Mazda CX-30 2.5 Turbo Aire Edition -- came in at $37,240 ... still a nice number in today's market.

So, how does it drive?  Quite nicely. A fun, agile vehicle with a responsive power plant.

The 2.5-liter turbo engine is rated at 227 horsepower and 310 foot-pounds of torque ... ample oomph for all driving situations.  And having loaded plenty in the back of my tester, I'm guessing most will be surprised at the vehicle's cargo-carrying capacity.

Seating surfaces are comfortable.  Large adults in the back seats might feel a bit cramped.  After all, it's a subcompact.

Bonus: A full boat of max five-star ratings in federal government crash tests, including five on the overall vehicle score.

In sum, Mazda's Aire Edition is yet another solid model in the automaker's CX lineup.