Pacifica leads the way in the minivan segment

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- In auto-reviewing circles, more than a few knowledgeable folks consider the Chrysler Pacifica the best minivan in the segment.

Given the grief minivans get these days compared with the praise heaped upon crossover sport-utility vehicles, I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing.  I, for one, believe minivans still have a purpose, and a market.

Arguably, the tested 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited is the ultimate vehicle for the minivan fan, and with a starting price of five bucks short of $45,000, I would think the buyer of this vehicle would want to consider it a long-term investment ... 10 years minimum, I'd speculate.

For that, you get pretty much everything that can be put into a state-of-the-art minivan. The Pacifica is positively loaded with comfort and convenience features, for example.  Take your pick: fold-into-the-floor third row seats, 7-inch full color digital display, heated seats/steering wheel, multiple communications/media features, three-zone climate control and, well, I'd need a small booklet to get it all in.

The list of safety features was exceptional, with high-tech enhancements the norm.

My ride was dressed up with extras that included a primo Harman Kardon audio system, a Blu-ray player and a tri-pane panoramic sunroof.  That pushed the sticker price to nearly $50,000. Again, if I am going to put down $50,000 on a minivan, I want it to be in my possession through two full presidential terms, minimum.

The look of the Pacifica is basic minivan, but the low step-in height is a plus for passengers who are, well, vertically challenged.  My passengers pointed this out and were grateful for such a thoughtful step.

The hybrid feature tops off the full Pacifica minivan experience.  Yes, you're paying for the hybrid technology, but the long-range payoff on that is that you'll be getting around 84 miles per gallon equivalent, with the fully operational hybrid system.  Gasoline alone, via a 3.6-liter V-6, nets you a still-respectable 32 mpg. Total range for the vehicle tops 500 miles.

With the hybrid powertrain capable of generating more than 250 horsepower, the Pacifica was a quiet, smooth freeway cruiser.  You still need to handle the seven-passenger vehicle with care on city streets and in tight parking lots.  It climbs surprisingly well in the countryside.

The Pacifica's sound-dampening technology is impressive, but please note, the hybrid powertrain makes a sound very similar to an approaching siren when the vehicle is slowing to a stop or getting up to speed from a standstill.  That takes some getting used to, but it's not a deal-breaker.

If you want to lay claim to having the best minivan on the block -- or maybe on the planet -- this hybrid Pacifica is the way to go.  And yes, you should count on having a long, happy relationship with this impressive vehicle.

Ford's EcoSport is a cute ute, and a hoot to drive

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- Awww, it's so cute, this all-new Ford subcompact crossover SUV!  Really, I can't help myself.

Looking adorable in "Lightning Blue" skin paint and taking up very little space in my driveway, the tested 2018 Ford EcoSport Titanium 4WD pretty much summed up the state of the auto industry these days: think small, versatile, crossover SUV ... as opposed to the glory days of the midsize sedan, for instance.

Nothing wrong with that.  The tested EcoSport -- the Titanium is the top of four trim levels, starting at around $25,000 and change -- did all that was expected of a commuter/suburban workhorse.

Its small size made it easy to handle, and the tester responded instantly to my beat on the steering wheel.  The 2-liter four-cylinder engine with 166 horsepower offered more than enough pop to tackle crowded urban streets and suburban roads.  Even twisty runs in the Sierra Nevada foothills were a snap, although the EcoSport did amp up the noise level on sharp uphill climbs.

Full disclosure: More humble versions of the EcoSport can be had with a 1-liter, turbo-3 engine with 123 horsepower, but frankly, I'm not sure that offers up enough power to manage the sometimes ruthless urban jungle.  Still, other drivers might like it, given the circumstances of where, and how, they live.

Not surprisingly, fuel mileage on the four-cylinder SUV was pretty good at 27 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the open road.

Also, the four-wheel disc brakes functioned admirably.  The interior space was adequate up front but a tight fit for adults in the back seats.  Cargo-carrying capacity was surprisingly generous.  What more could a young family want, right?  Or a retired couple of empty nesters on the go?

The list of standard features was impressive, and you get a loaded boat with the Titanium version.  Available features include a power moonroof, a remote-start system and a voice-activated navigation system.  Those are impressive offerings in this segment.

A strong list of state-of-the-art safety features also impressed me.

Overall, this is a solid B-plus effort in the current automotive world of less is more.  Did I happen to mention that it's cute?

Luxurious Lexus sedan raises the horsepower count

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo reviews of the latest motor vehicle models also can be seen on The Sacramento Bee’s website at www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

This review first appeared in the September 2018 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – Back in the day, I remember thinking that the Lexus LS was all you needed in a daily driver sedan, no matter how much money you had.

It was luxurious, attractive and peppy.  The asking price was not too bad either, given the luxo segment it occupied.

Over the years, the regal-looking LS has evolved into something else, something else you might expect from, say, a Mercedes-Benz with AMG tuning.  My recent week in the 2018 Lexus LS 500 F-Sport AWD sedan hammered home this point with authority.

Lexus restyled its signature, top-line sedan for the 2018 model year.  With its wide stance and refined cuts and angles in the chassis, it all but shouts the news that it's a high-performance machine.

The look is backed up with a 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6 putting out 416 horsepower and 442 foot-pounds of torque.  Lexus touts the "Formula One technology" within the power plant.  I believe it.

Mashing the gas dishes up serious, press-me-to-the-seat power, yet it is a smooth and comparatively quiet run up to green-flag speed.

The tester's exquisitely engineered suspension was rock-steady even as I was laying on hard acceleration in sharp turns and up steel hills. Very impressive.

Gone are the days when fellow motorists might glance at the LS and think, "Lucky stiff, must be nice to be making that kind of money."  Now, the thinking is probably more along the lines of, "I can't believe that Lexus LS just blew past me like I was glued to the road."

Yes, evolution has its joys.

Inside, the Lexus LS 500 is packed with top-notch luxury features and state-of-the-art technology that you fully expect in this long-running model. My ride included beyond-the-norm goodies such as intuitive park assist and auto door closer.  There's a power rear sunshade as well, a feature that passengers love when you suddenly trigger it from the cockpit.

Lexus contends that the LS sedan embodies the marque's history and image more than any model it makes, and I completely agree with that.  The flagship has evolved remarkably over a generation, and for my money, it has gotten better with each reworking.  I'll admit that I tend to favor periodic increases in horsepower, so shoot me.

I remember when the LS could be had for a payout in the 50K range.  My, how times have changed.

The bottom line on my tester was just a few bucks short of $83,000.  In this segment, given the assortment of competitors priced in the six-figure ballpark, that's still not too bad ... relatively speaking.

In the end, my week in the LS reaffirmed one of the positives of automotive life: The Lexus flagship sedan just keeps getting better with age.

Performance Lexus reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2018 Lexus GS F sedan in the latest, October 2018, edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News, published out of Folsom, California, by John Sweeney and Evonne Sotelo.

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 e-mail request to cruisinnews@mac.com. Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin’ News, P.O. Box 1096, Folsom, CA 95763-1096.