Big Ford Expedition is a smooth highway cruiser

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 -- A Ford Expedition sitting in the driveway is the picture of intimidation ... big, broad and seemingly in need of two drivers to have complete control of it.

But such thoughts are dismissed after driving about 100 yards down the roadway.  That was my experience in the tested 2020 Ford Expedition Platinum 4X2, which operated in quiet, silky smoothness during my time behind the wheel.  For such a large vehicle, it drove pleasingly small.

Turning this full-size sport-utility vehicle into a buttery driver was no small feat.  Kudos to Ford engineers.

Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of big SUVs, but this Expedition grew on me in a hurry.  I could easily envision myself taking it cross country and back, loaded with gear for outdoor destinations and yet agile enough to weave through crowded city streets.

My ride -- priced at a hefty $75,925 on the sticker's bottom line -- was generously loaded with just about everything one would need for such an ambitious road trip.

Seats can be heated, power folded and maneuvered for various passenger/cargo comforts.  State-of-the-art safety features added to my feelings of on-road security.

Perks included automatic LED lighting, a panoramic vista roof, power/heated/folding exterior mirrors, power-deployed running boards (a seriously beneficial help for stepping up into the driver's seat), power-adjustable pedals, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, a voice-activated navigation system and contemporary entertainment systems.

Yes, pretty impressive.  One other bonus on the safety front: multiple max five-star federal government safety ratings, including the overall vehicle score.

The guts of the smooth Expedition drive is a 3.5-liter, 375-horsepower V-6 matched to a seamless 10-speed automatic transmission.  Accelerations in the tester were surprisingly swift, but my favorite part was opening up the Expedition on the freeway climbing into the Sierra Nevada high country.  The vehicle seemed totally at home in this environment, and it was a pleasure to experience the simple joy of driving in this well-engineered SUV.

So, what's not to like?  Fuel mileage, I suppose.  The tester came in at only 17 miles per gallon in the city and a so-so 23 mpg on the highway.

Other than that, the Expedition shapes up as one of the most impressive large SUVS in the U.S. marketplace.  Full-size sport-utes aren't everybody's cup of tea.  But if you're in the market for one, the Expedition checks most of the positive boxes.

Pacifica Hybrid leads the pack in minivan segment

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 -- After spending some more seat time in the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid recently, I came to the conclusion that it's really the ultimate minivan in today's market.

So what?, you say.  It's just a minivan.

So, says I, there's still something to be said for a large, comfortable, well-equipped people/cargo mover with a seamless gas-electric hybrid system capable of hitting the equivalent of 82 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.

I wish such a vehicle existed when I was a young father transporting various young folks.  I would have jumped at it in a New York minute.  As it was, on the road, I typically rented the founding fathers of the modern minivan -- Dodge Caravans/Chrysler Voyagers -- back in the day.

The 2020 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Limited I recently tested makes those oldies/goodies seem like farm plows.

Where to start?  Sure, the tester looked like a minivan, but with a sleek design that made for a handsome profile and cut through the air with relatively noiseless enthusiasm.  Interior comfort and space are generous ... much more than you get in the typical crossover sport-utility vehicle these days.  The honeycomb grille pattern also was a head-turner.

I confess that I love triggering the power sliding side doors and rear gate from the key fob.  The veteran family road trip driver can hit the buttons and have everybody seated and belted by the time the ignition is hit.  No small pleasure, that.  My ride was spiced up with an "S Appearance Package" featuring Nappa leather bucket seats.

Power from the gas-electric hybrid system generates the equivalent of some 260 horsepower, more than enough for all the roadway chores.  On the highway, the minivan cruises along with exceptional smoothness, and a nicely firm feel in the steering wheel. It will run 30 miles in all-electric mode, and battery recharging is a snap.

My ride was loaded with entertainment perks to please a diverse crowd.  That included a primo 20-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, a Blu-ray/DVD player, seatback video screens, top-tier wireless headphones, video USB port and state-of-the-art  media hubs.

Beyond that, the tester was stuffed with dozens of comfort/convenience/safety features -- what you might expect to see in three separate car purchases.

It comes at a price -- $51,025 on the tester -- but I'm assuming most minivan shoppers -- young, old or in-between -- are looking to buy in for the long haul.  If that's your game plan, this Pacifica Hybrid Limited deserves a look

No minivan does it better.

New, nimble Kia Seltos gets 2021 off to a good start

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've been bombarded recently with South Korean-made subcompact crossover sport-utility vehicles ... Not that I mind that.

My recent weeks with the Hyundai Kona and Hyundai Venue were entirely pleasant.  Next up, something completely new: the 2021 Kia Seltos S Turbo AWD.  Perhaps you've seen TV commercials of the Seltos blasting through sand and soil like a muscular Land Rover.

OK, it's not a Land Rover.  But this Seltos -- the name reportedly derived from Celtos, son of Hercules in Greek mythology -- was a remarkably peppy vehicle in this segment.  The 1.6-liter, turbo-4 power plant is rated at 195 horsepower, and those numbers translate to robust performance on the road.

My Seltos mixed it up easily amid freeway warrior/commuters, and it was a firmly responsive performer on country roads and surface streets.  I felt instantly at ease behind the wheel, not always the case in a smallish SUV.

Kia openly admits that the Seltos is aimed at Millennials, and the standard  interior offerings reflect that.  However, I wouldn't limit this 2021 model to a narrow audience.  There's much to like for all ages.

That's particularly true in the suite of safety measures, including standard blind-spot collision warning/avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision warning/avoidance and downhill brake/hill-start assistance control.

The tester also had standard heated front seats, an 8-inch touchscreen, power/heated outside mirrors (with LED turn signal indicators). LED lighting front and back, a dual-level cargo floor, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

My ride also looked spiffy in Neptune Blue paint and riding on 18-inch alloy wheels.  The relatively long hoodline makes the Seltos look bigger than its subcompact crossover designation.  And it's surprisingly roomy inside, comfortable for five adults.

Fuel mileage is good at 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

All this with a pretty reasonable bottom line of $26,740 on the tester.

Sound good?  If so, add another Korean-made sport-ute to your test-drive list.

This hot Honda hatch can be a mixed blessing

This review first appeared in the June 2020 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – Driving around in a 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring sedan creates good news and bad news.

The good news is that this is a sported-up version of the venerable Honda Civic, with looks that broadcast performance and open-road pleasure.

This particularly salty Civic is dressed up to look comparatively racy, especially on the back end, with a sculpted wing, centered dual exhausts, 18-inch alloy wheels and a wide-stance design that resembles the back end of a contemporary sports car purpose-built for racing.

The looks are backed up with substantial power delivered via a 1.5-liter turbo-4 rated at 180 horsepower.  This scoots the Civic hatch around with neck-snapping authority, and it's a genuine blast darting the machine around in dicey freeway traffic.

All good, right?  So, what's not to like?

Well, perhaps you've heard that souped-up Honda Civics are a favorite on the highly illegal street-racing circuit.  (They're also popular at equally illegal "sideshows," motor vehicle burnout/stunt shows that got their start in Oakland a generation ago.)

So what?, you might be asking.

When you're test driving a 2020 Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring sedan with its race-me-now appearance, that means you get a lot of young folks in similarly hot Honda Civics pulling up next to you and inquiring as to whether you might be interested in a competitive dash over, say, the next quarter mile.

Never mind that the driver behind the wheel of the hatch is receiving Social Security and Medicare.  This sort of thing happens.

Fortunately, given my mature age and advanced wisdom, I resisted the temptation to accept these random challenges. But maybe some folks will like the idea of being chosen, a throwback to those wild days of youth.  Could be.

Otherwise, the sporty Civic Hatch is an enjoyable daily driver, and well-equipped.  Standard interior features on the tester included leather surfaces, a strong 12-speaker audio system, heated front/rear seats, dual-zone climate control and a power moonroof.

Fuel mileage is excellent at 29 miles per gallon in the city and 35 mpg on the highway.  A full boat of max five-star federal government safety ratings -- including the overall vehicle store -- is part of the package.

And the price on the tester was fair at $29,780.

Looking for affordable, sporty, safe and reliable?  This hatch has all that.  Just don't be surprised if you're invited to street race.