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."

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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.

Electric muscle car reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2026 Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack Track Package can be seen in the latest, April 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.

Toyota's sporty Prius shines on the inside as well

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 transformation of the Toyota Prius from boxy runabout to head-turning sports car wowed me so much that I frankly overlooked the advancements inside the car during an initial test.

So I spent more time concentrating on the interior perks during a recent week in the 2026 Toyota Prius Nightshade Plug-In Hybrid.

I was only partly successful.  I mean those smooth lines and sporty sculpting do so much to turn your attention away ...

Where was I?  Oh yeah, inside the machine.

My tester weighed in at $41,304 on the sticker, an entirely fair price given the plug-in hybrid technology and all the perks.  And the perks were plentiful.

I liked the 7-inch digital gauge cluster, the instantly responsive cross-traffic alert, the front/rear parking assist and the carbon fiber detail on the dashboard.  This being a Nightshade model, black badges, black trim and 19-inch alloy wheels with a black finish contributed an edgy look to the package -- edgy in a good way.

Options included a glass roof feature.

What more could a save-the-planet devotee with a love of sports cars want?

How about a 114 miles per gallon equivalent in combined city/highway driving, a rating based on combined electricity and gasoline usage?  The number is still impressive with gasoline only: 48 miles per gallon.

And yes, you can get your sporty on with combined net horsepower of 220. My tester scooted sharply off the line and was a responsive, agile dancer in dicey freeway traffic.

For a motor vehicle that was a long-ago pioneer in hybrid technology, this current Prius plug-in still ranks as state of the art in the segment. With good looks and plentiful customer-pleasing features thrown in.

Loaded and electric, Kia's EV9 sport-ute stands tall

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 -- Kia's reputation for building quality motor vehicles is enhanced with the 2026 EV9 GT-Line AWD, my tester during a recent week.

In case anyone misses the point, Kia adds words to the sticker: EV9 Long Range AWD GT-Line. Yes, I get it.  Electric power. Long range. Sporty touches.

The electric bonus is substantial for this three-row model: a 92 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving and 72 mpg on the highway.

My tester was loaded with popular comfort, convenience, safety and driving-enhancement features, all of which pushed the bottom line on this top-of-the-line model to $76,670. And yes, that's a fair price for all that's in there.

Bargain hunters be advised that a 2026 EV9 Light SR trim level of the vehicle can be had for a starting price of $54,900.

Either way, you are going to get a smooth-sailing, feature-loaded sport-ute for a fraction of what other automakers might charge for the same, luxury/feature-laden SUV.

While the freeway manners of the EV9 were excellent as usual, I was surprised at the inner-city agility of the vehicle.  Several times, I quickly darted out of harm's way in urban gridlock. Typically, a three-row SUV does not react so quickly in tight quarters.  Pleasantly surprised?  Yes, I was.

As per usual with Kia, the warranties are generous.

Volunteer passengers gushed happily about the comfort and roominess, even in the back-end seats.

Oh, it looks good as well.  A long roofline and a nicely sculpted, understated grille, combined with the GT-Line touches, make for a head-turning package.

All things considered: A Kia triumph in a vehicle segment of sizable, all-electric transportation.

BMW sport-ute upholds 'ultimate driving machine' label

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 can drive and drive. You can study and test.  You study interior and exterior motor vehicle features until your eyes glaze over.  And just when you think you have it all figured out...

They deliver a BMW Alpina XB7 sport-utility vehicle to your drive way.  Sticker price: $159,145.  Three rows of everything you can imagine riding on 23-inch wheels.

Some vehicles have this and some of that and ... you won't need to worry about that if you drop some serious coin on this vehicle.  It has so much that BMW's "ultimate driving machine" slogan seems like a humble statement.

Lap of luxury?  How about soft-close automatic doors? Gotta have those crystal headlights and illuminated kidney grille. Not just cupholders but heated and cooling cupholders.  I could go on about extras, but rest assured that the list is quite long.

And that's on top of seemingly every state-of-the-art driving-enhancement, security and safety device known to the globe. Connectivity technology is particularly impressive in this Alpina XB7.

So, how does it drive?  Here's a clue: the power plant is a 4.4-liter bi-turbo V-8 rated at 631 horsepower.  That's more than some purpose-built professional racing machines.

Off the line, power comes on in a relatively quiet manner, but physical forces mash you deep into your seat.  With revs up, it's a dominant freeway force, capable of blazing through tight spots with startling ease.  Indeed, every other vehicle seems frozen in place when the Alpina is at full song.

Muscular performance does impact fuel mileage, which comes in at 16 miles per gallon in the city and 20 mpg on the highway.

Needless to say, this Alpina is in a lofty vehicle segment, one occupied by Mercedes-Benz sport-utes and Cadillac Escalades to name just two.  I can only imagine the satisfying high of browsing six-figure machines for purchase.

For those who know that high, this Alpina XB7 deserves a look.

Chevy Blazer EV sport-ute fills the wish list with 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 -- One of the common complaints I hear among folks reluctant to drive or buy an electric vehicle is ... EVs don't have everything I want in a motor vehicle.

For those folks, I offer up the recently tested 2026 Chevrolet Blazer EV SS AWD midsize crossover sport-utility vehicle.

First off, you get the Blazer name, a well-established label that virtually everyone in America knows.  No guessing involved.

So, you want performance?

How about dual motors dishing up 615 horsepower, enough to send you from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.4 seconds.  It took me some time to adjust to the regenerative braking rhythm of the tester, but once there, I was blasting off the line and dispatching freeway stragglers with remarkable ease.

Volunteer passengers were enthusiastic about the acceleration rush.  I advise handling it carefully.  You can be touching 80 mph before you realize it.

The payoff: A miles per gallon equivalent rating of 92 in the city and 77 mpg on the highway. Chevy touts a driving range of 302, given careful driving.

So, you want good looks?

The Blazer is not your typical SUV block. It profiles low with an extended roofline, cutting through the wind smoothly. My ride was a crowd-pleasing eye-catcher with one of my all-time favorite paint job names: Habanero Orange.

So, you want popular, top-tier features?  My tester had a ton of them.

Extra-special perks on the tester included Brembo brake calipers, a 17.7-inch diagonal color LCD display, a head-up display, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a primo Bose audio system, heated rear seats and a smart power liftgate.

All that added up to $64,485 on the sticker.

That price is just about right in this most competitive vehicle segment, in which this Blazer competes very well.