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.

Lucid sedan is reviewed in the latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Lucid Air Touring sedan can be seen in the latest, July 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 Crosstrek sport-ute highlights all that is Subaru

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 vehicle you are getting is a Subaru.

Well, over the years and leading up to right now, that means something.

Among the things with meaning: Exceptional engineering, outstanding safety and a boxer engine (where the cylinders are horizontally laid out on either side of a centered crankshaft).

Cool, right?  I certainly think so.

I enjoyed my recent week in the 2026 Subaru Crosstrek Sport Hybrid, a sleekly styled five-passenger sport-utility vehicle priced at $35,415.  That's a fair price for a nicely equipped model produced by an automaker with a reputation for high quality.

The 2026 version has some trophies to make the point.  In February, it was named the Most Dependable Small SUV in America in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. That same month, it made the Consumer Reports 2026 Annual 10 Top Picks list for the third consecutive year.

Fine, so how does it drive?  Pretty well in my time with it.

The tester was equipped with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder hybrid/boxer power plant rated at 194 horsepower. Response and acceleration were brisk, on and off paved surfaces.  Cruising speed is a quiet breeze, and the tester was an agile performer in urban gridlock.

The Crosstrek is fully equipped for off-road excursions, including Subaru's touted hill descent control, nearly nine inches of ground clearance and, naturally, all-wheel drive. And there are plentiful features for the times, including a power moonroof and a wireless phone charger.

The hybrid payoff is 36 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving.

Overall, this Crosstrek makes a driver feel safe, secure and entirely satisfied. Or in other words, a typical Subaru.

Toyota's Cross SUV hits the target for value shoppers

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 -- You have needs.  We all do, especially when it comes to putting down substantial cash for a new motor vehicle.

You're looking for a target.  Let's say you're a relatively young human being looking to buy a small sport-utility vehicle that doesn't cost $50,000 (or more), and you want the gas-saving convenience of a hybrid power plant. You crave style and reliability.

As targets go, you've pretty much hit the bull's eye with the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.  My tester was the comparatively fancy XSE model, with a bottom line on the sticker of $37,339.

For that money, one gets a liberally loaded compact crossover SUV with a Toyota pedigree.  Not a bad way to go these days.

On the tester, I was struck by the interior comfort.  Sure, freeway rides were silky smooth, but so were aggressive jaunts in suburban gridlock and downtown traffic.

A tight turning radius came to my rescue numerous times.  I felt comfortable behind the wheel within minutes of hopping into the cockpit for the first time.

A 2-liter, four-cylinder hybrid power plant is rated at a combined net 196 horsepower, and I found it to be a capable engine in all conditions.  Cabin noise, even at full song, is minimal.

The big payoff comes in fuel mileage: 46 miles per gallon in the city and 39 mpg on the highway.  A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster enables the driver to handle everything with ease, and the neighbors liked the sleek profile and 18-inch alloy wheels ... their praises offered unprompted.

Keeping in mind that alternative versions of the Corolla Cross come at a more-affordable price, Toyota touts the advantages to be had by "entry SUV customers."  Pretty hard to argue with that.

This Corolla radiates style and value, with a hybrid bonus to take to the bank.

Subcompact Hyundai Venue SUV is packed to please

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 automaker that brought you the Palisade sport-utility vehicle doesn't mind thinking small.

That's why we have the 2026 Hyundai Venue, a subcompact packed with a lot.  My tester was the SEL trim level, with the extra bonus of a two-tone roof.

Upon receiving the vehicle, my eyes drifted toward the sticker's bottom line, where I saw the number $24,440. Now there's a price I can live with these days.

And while we're talking subcompact here, there was plenty to like in my ride. Particularly plentiful were the safety technology features.  Among the perks were collision avoidance, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic collision warning and driver attention warning.

Combined with Hyundai's usual top-flight warranties, I felt about as secure as I could be in the little sport-ute.

Power comes from a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine with dual-port fuel injection (121 horsepower).  My Venue scooted admirably with those numbers and climbed hills with just a touch of noise increase reaching the interior cabin. Volunteer passengers liked the ride, noting that highway imperfections were not reaching their backsides.

Fuel mileage is good at 29 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

Other standard surprises for the advertised price included a wireless phone charger, heated side mirrors and heated front seats.

And it looks sharp rolling on those 17-inch alloy wheels.

I could picture a satisfied buyer (for that price, yeah!) enjoying many a commute and numerous road trips in this Venue. Thinking small has its advantages.

Mazda3 has all the makings of an ideal motor vehicle

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 -- Practical, affordable, reliable.

You can sell a lot of cars with those traits. Take the Mazda3 sedan, for example.

My tester was the 2026 Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition AWD version, with a bottom line of $32,520.  That's an easy-on-the-eyes number in a world of numerous vehicles priced at $40,000 and up.

And for that price, a lot was included.

I particularly liked the power sliding glass moonroof, the 8.8-inch color center display and the grippy four-wheel disc brakes.

This being a Carbon Edition, the look is striking. The tester sedan was dressed up with Polymetal Gray Metallic premium paint, Jet Black Mica exterior touches and a red leather interior.  Art of the car, and nicely expressed.

The safety/security package on the tester included a generous number of features, including lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist and radar cruise control.

The 2.5-liter engine, rated at 186 horsepower, is completely competent -- good off the line and responsive in traffic. Fuel mileage is pretty fair at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway. A full boat of max five-star federal government crash test ratings is a bonus.

So while this might come off as a laundry list of talking points, it all goes back to the beginning -- a practical, affordable, reliable sedan in an era of challenging household budgets and high prices.

That's pretty much transportation gold for value shoppers, first-time new-car buyers and maybe even households looking for a solid second car.

This Mazda3 meets all those needs.