At long last, Nissan's Leaf shows its best colors

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- I don't know exactly why, but the all-electric Nissan Leaf and I have been avoiding each other for years.

It's not a hostility thing ... well, at least I don't think so.  I have nothing against the Leaf, rightfully touted as a groundbreaking electric marvel in 2010.  And I hope the Leaf creators have nothing against me.

Sure, among fellow auto reviewers, I winced at the single-charge driving range of less than 100 miles when the Leaf made its North American stage debut.  I figured that limited the Leaf to being a stay-close-to-home urban vehicle.

A recent week in the 2019 Nissan Leaf SL Plus changed my mind about everything.  Here's the key fact:  The Plus model's enhanced battery pack and powertrain enable a single-charge range of up to 215 miles.

That is a game-changer.  Let's say I wanted to drive from Sacramento to Los Angeles.  In previous Leaf models, that meant a serious online search for charging stations up and down Interstate 5 ... and praying that those stations were not jammed with other vehicles.

With the SL Plus, that's a much less serious concern.

And there's a bonus: The SL Plus high-capacity battery and more powerful 160kW motor team up to produce 214 horsepower and a serious torque boost of 250 foot-pounds.  That was clearly evident in my test runs into the Sierra Nevada, where the Leaf easily climbed steep hills and sailed past highway stragglers like a champ.

It was smooth, strong and, well, very much like a fine-tuned internal-combustion machine.

Wait, there's more.  Plugging previous EV testers into the standard, external electric outlet next to my garage usually produced a charging speed somewhere equivalent to that of a massive glacier.  Not so with my Leaf ride, with a 25 percent (or more) battery boost over a typical night's sleep.  Very impressive.

On top of everything else with this technologically-marvelous hatchback was a comfortable interior and an extensive layout of comfort/convenience features.  The eight-inch color-touch display, the leather-appointed seating surfaces (perfectly stitched) and the HVAC timer to preheat/precool the cabin were particular favorites.

All this comes at a price, which was a somewhat hefty $44,315 on the bottom line of the tested model.  But given everything this Leaf has, I don't consider that price to be a deal-breaker.  In fact, it's a fair price to pay for this thoroughly modern, environmentally friendly vehicle.

I'm just a little upset that I didn't hook up with the Leaf sooner.

Volkswagen's Golf SportWagen is practical and peppy

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- Words you don't hear much from car shoppers these days: I'm looking for a wagon.

True enough, but if you are looking, might I suggest a visit to your local Volkswagen dealership.

I offer this up after a recent week in a 2019 VW Golf SportWagen 1.4T SE, a nifty little wagon with surprising pop and a long list of customer-pleasing standard features.  And you get a pretty good bonus on the fuel mileage as well -- 27 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The SportWagen is what I would call a specific destination for prospective buyers.  There are so many compact crossover sport-utility vehicles out there that the analytical mind might ask:  Why would I purchase a wagon?

I can hazard a guess or two.  You love Volkswagen products.  You like the lean, aerodynamic look of a wagon as opposed to the various look-alikes on the SUV market.  And maybe you even want something unique with a German name.

So here's why I think you might like the Golf SportWagen.  First off, I thought they were joking when they told me the 1.4-liter turbo-4 was rated at a max 147 horsepower.  The engine felt way more powerful than that.  I would have guessed 180 on a blind test.  The torque rating -- 184 foot-pounds -- is more in line with the performance characteristics of the car.

Said characteristics found me blazing around freeway stragglers and surface street pokes with equal delight.  147 horses?  C'mon, really ?!

This SE version of the Golf SportWagen was $30,890 on the bottom line, but that included pretty much everything in a generous lineup of standard features.

Safety features ran the high-technology gamut (my ride had a max five-star score in overall crash tests conducted by the feds).  In-cabin comforts were plentiful and comfortable.  Front footwell lighting and LED reading lights added a touch of refined coziness.

Volkswagen calls this SportWagen "a wagon for both practicality and performance."  I agree on both counts.

Nissan's Rock Creek sport-ute carves a rugged path

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- You want rugged?  I give you the Nissan Pathfinder.

The Pathfinder has taken on some of North America's roughest motoring routes since its introduction in 1986.  Rock-riddled roads and oceans of mud have fallen in shame under the wheels of this venerable sport-utility vehicle.

Having done all that, what do you have to offer today's motorists?  The Rock Creek Edition of course.

My ride was the 2019 Nissan Pathfinder SV Rock Creek Edition 4WD.  It's a long name, but it tells you a lot.  Let me explain.

The Rock Creek Edition is a special value option package that pays homage to rugged Pathfinders of years past.  The RCE package goes for $995, which is actually a bargain of some several hundred dollars compared with building your Pathfinder with the same equipment from the a la carte menu.

So, what do you get for that?  Four-wheel drive for starters, and I mean 4WD built by the pros.  Black molded over-fenders are part of the deal, along with black front/rear fascia accents and special Rock Creed Edition badging on the doors. My SV Pathfinder also included NissanConnect and navigation services, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated exterior mirrors.

In other words, the vehicle all but screams off-road warrior just sitting there parked in your driveway.

But the tester proved to be more versatile than a one-note Sierra Nevada adventurer.  In my hands, the 3.5-liter V-6 with 284 horsepower was a responsive and muscular performer.  Smooth freeway cruises were the norm ... so smooth that I sometimes found myself touching 80 miles per hour before backing off.

With an interior cabin generously equipped with comfort/convenience features -- tri-zone temperature control, intelligent cruise control and rear sonar were among them -- the Pathfinder seemed right at home in the role of a high-end daily commuter and chore workhorse.

Even with the Rock Creek Edition extras, the bottom line on the tester was a pretty reasonable $40,070.

Fuel mileage was fair at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.  A strong safety equipment package was topped off by a max five-star overall rating in federal government crash testing.

In sum, the tested Pathfinder came off solid as a rock ... as a rugged individualist and a multi-passenger urban transporter.

A fond farewell to an automotive industry icon

This review first appeared in the July 2019 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – These might be the saddest two words ever incorporated into a motor vehicle model name: Final Edition.

But that's exactly what I saw when I recently took delivery of a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 2.0T Final Edition SEL.

Alas, it's true.  Production of the iconic Beetle is coming to an end.  And as auto history goes, this is big.

The lineage of the Beetle dates back to the 1930s, and yes, it was a major component of a concept developed by Adolf Hitler, who wanted cheap, basic transportation for citizens to use on the network of new roadways being constructed in Germany.

A team led by engineer Ferdinand Porsche ultimately came up with the basic design, and simply put, the Beetle went on to become the most-produced motor vehicle off a single platform in automotive history.

Sigh, no more.

Happily, Volkswagen opted to pay tribute to this storied history with the 2019 Final Edition droptop.

And for those of you who remember Beetles of long ago, my Final Edition tester was light years removed from those early arrivals.

For starters, my loaded version had a bottom line of nearly $31,000 on the sticker, and special features included LED lighting, diamond-stitched leather seating surfaces, rain-sensing wipers, stainless steel pedals and super-fancy 18-inch alloy wheels.

My ride was "Stonewashed Blue," a nod to the 1970 Jeans Bug and most recently seen on the 2016 Beetle Denim.

Nostalgia all around?  You bet.

Oh, and it drove like a dream too.  The 2-liter turbo-4 engine rated at 174 horsepower moved the little bug around with authority.  It cornered like a champ, and the four-wheel independent suspension was rock-solid in all conditions.

Fuel mileage was good at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

A push of a button dropped the soft top into position, and from there, driving was a pleasure ride that took me back years.  Neighbors and passersby seeing me piloting a Beetle under the California sun broke into big grins and offered up enthusiastic waves, all unprompted.

And why not?  This was a vehicle made to have fun in the sun, and I'm suspecting that some of those smiling faces were remembering their own experiences in a Beetle ... on the beach ... up and down the Pacific Coast Highway ... or maybe a jaunt in the Sierra Nevada.

So, if you can get your hands on one of these Final Edition models for the fun, or maybe the memories, have at it.  The Beetle might never return, but you can have your own piece of history in your garage.

Genesis G70 sedan reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the award-winning 2019 Genesis G70 luxury sport sedan in the latest, August 2019, 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.

Lexus hybird sport-ute enables you to have it all

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews also can be seen in the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News magazine published monthly out of Folsom, California.

Sacramento, California -- Don't be ashamed to say it: You want it all.

You want a Lexus, but you don't want to take out a second mortgage or put up one of the kids as collateral to pay for it.

And you care about the planet, so you're thinking a hybrid would be nice.

Resolved, you don't need a big-as-a-bus sport-utility vehicle ... just something convenient and comfortable for the daily driving chores and the occasional road outing.

No sweat, Lexus has you covered with its Lexus NX line.  My tester was the 2019 NX 300h, which meets all of the have-it-all requirements listed above. In a nushell, it's a sweetly styled, agile handling, generously equipped compact luxury crossover SUV with a hybrid package that will net you 33 miles per gallon on city streets and 30 mpg on the highway.

My ride was smartly dressed in a head-turning "Blue Vortex Metallic" paint scheme that accentuated the sharply cut angles of the sporty body.  If a small SUV can prompt double-takes in this day and age, this is the one.

The tester was a pleasure to drive, with instant response and surprising pop.  Slalom runs could be done one-handed, and the NX stuck to the road with barely a shudder.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle four-cylinder engine and a small high-torque electric motor, with the gas engine and e-motor sharing the burdens as needed.  The combined package adds up to a 194 horsepower equivalent.  That's matched up to an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.

The standard vehicle package includes a long list of safety, comfort and convenience features that should please anyone aiming to put a Lexus in their driveway.  By the way, the NX 300h received a max five stars overall vehicle score in federal government crash tests.

So, what would you guess for all that?  Maybe 50-grand?  How about a starting price of $38,835?  Yeah, that surprised me too.

My tester was dressed up with numerous optional perks -- including a panoramic view back-up monitor, 18-inch all-season tires, triple-beam LED headlamps and a navigation system -- but even with all that the bottom line on the sticker was nearly $1,500 less than $50,000.

Still want it all?  Then you might want to take the NX 300h out for a test drive.