Baby steps back to normal; an electric future ahead

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

Sacramento, California -- In the annual Glover family Christmas letter I sent out this year, I hinted that I'm a glass-half-full kind of guy.  Consequently, I reasoned that 2021 was better than the awful year of 2020.

And I feel that way about the world in general, even though COVID continues to dominate virtually every aspect of our lives. You can't go anywhere to get away from it, right?

And yet, we saw stadiums and racetracks filled with fans in 2021, a sharp pivot from the silent -- or artificially pumped up enthusiasm -- at venues throughout 2020.

We saw vaccines and boosters that seemingly punched COVID in the nose on millions of fronts.

Car dealers struggled to keep inventory, and a global microchip shortage cut into auto manufacturing numbers.  But if you saw the blizzard of TV commercials from numerous automakers to close out this year, you got the impression that wheels were still a popular sales item.

So, what to expect in 2022, automotive-wise that is?

Well, I can guarantee you that the proliferation of electric and hybrid vehicles will continue in full force. For old-school purists, the slow demise of internal-combustion engine-powered autos is a thing to mourn.

Don't feel bad.  Just looking at some of the electric/hybrid cars in the pipeline gets my heart racing. The technology in some of these models is mind-blowing, and I don't say that lightly.

I've already been stunned at the rapid development of on-vehicle sensors and driver-assist features. What's coming up the road is light years beyond that.  Seriously.  It's something to look forward to.

Naturally, electric charging infrastructure will continue to expand, especially in California.  What about hydrogen?  Is it still in the mix?  Yes, it is.  Stayed tuned on that front.

In the world of auto racing, youth was served in 2021, and you can expect more young talent to step up in 2022.  Consider the ages of the season champions in three major racing series: Formula One's Max Verstappen, age 24; IndyCar's Alex Palou, age 24; and NASCAR Cup's Kyle Larson, age 29.

Youth aside, the most anticipated motorsports story of 2022 will be Helio Castroneves going for an unprecedented fifth Indianapolis 500 win.  If he gets it next May, he will do so at 47 years of age.

I look forward to all of it with optimism ... with the idea being that getting back to pre-COVID normal can be done in a series of baby steps.  I can't wait to gulp down that half glass of water when the journey is completed.

Ranger in Tremor trim makes truck an off-road warrior

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

Sacramento, California -- I've always been a fan of midsize pickup trucks.

Sure, the big brutes out there can handle heavy duty at work sites, on ranch lands or if you need to transport that industrial-size clothes dryer from store to home.

But give me the charms of the midsize model.  It's easy to maneuver on city streets and dicey freeways.  There's less chance of me snapping off a light pole in tight parking lots. And a reasonable-size bed enables one to carry large cargo but not feel like you need a special commercial hauler's license.

Wrap it all up in a Ford Ranger, and life is good.

My recent tester was the 2021 Ford Ranger Lariat SuperCrew 4X4 with a five-foot box and a 126-inch wheelbase. But wait, there's more.  Mine was equipped with the Tremor Off-Road Package.

So, aside from its midsize perks, the tester looked ready to take on the wildest wilderness. And look good doing it.

The tester had black and red striping on the hood and the sides. And in case anyone missed the point, the "Tremor" label was displayed prominently on either side of the back end of the truck, which wore "Cactus Gray" paint underneath the striping.

To be honest, the striping made it look like a racing machine, and a couple of passing motorists shouted out, "Hey, nice-looking truck, man."

A quick glance at the tires showed me that racing the truck was not part of the equation ... unless the race was held, say, over the top of the Sierra Nevada.  My ride was shod with 17-inch all-terrain beauties, which looked capable of mowing down a grove of trees.

Other Tremor off-road extras included skid plates, a trail-control system, an off-road suspension, an electronically-controlled locking differential and a trailer towing package. The Tremor trucks also have a wider stance and better ground clearance than their Ranger siblings.

Everything on the tester added up to a bottom line of $48,110 -- a bit hefty, but a fair fare given all the perks.

Inside, the tester was loaded with standard goodies, but I was most impressed with the interior roominess.  Volunteer passengers also noticed this and stretched out accordingly.

For an off-road warrior, the on-pavement ride was smooth and peppy.  Power came from from a 2.3-liter Ecoboost, four-cylinder engine rated at 270 horsepower.

Fuel mileage was a bit tepid at 19 miles per gallon in both city and highway motoring.

All things considered, the Ranger competes nicely with other midsize trucks made by other manufacturers. For off-roaders, the Tremor edition might be enough to seal the deal.

Elantra compact sedan excels with N Line extras

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

Sacramento, California -- Hyundai introduced the seventh generation of the venerable Elantra compact sedan for the 2021 model year, but my tester was a cut above the capable four-door car.

Mine was the 2021 Hyundai Elantra N Line, which translated to multiple sporty design elements and an impressively muscular power plant.

My ride looked striking in "Intense Blue" paint and riding on 18-inch all-season tires. Handsomely sculpted wheels added to the sporty look.  N Line touches included sport-tuned suspension and steering.

The sporty qualities, however, go beyond what meets the eyes.

On the fly, the Elantra was pretty much a pocket rocket.  The turbocharged, 1.6-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 201 horsepower performed like a road warrior.

Accelerations off the line pressed me into my seat, and the Elantra zipped in and around freeway traffic with robust authority.  Within minutes, I was making aggressive moves at high speed, feeling completely comfortable with the Elantra's road-hugging characteristics.

Very little noise penetrated the cockpit.  Interior comfort was good, and volunteer passengers talked up the comparatively roomy back seats, a plus in the compact sedan segment.

From the driver's seat, controls were within easy reach, and the standard offerings surpassed what I would expect in this price range ($26,360 on my tester).  Part-of-the-deal perks included heated front seats, an eight-inch high resolution touchscreen and alloy pedals.  Another standard extra was a hands-free smart trunk release.

Given the N Line's pop, fuel mileage was excellent at 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Another bonus: Exceptional federal safety ratings -- a maximum five stars overall.

Little wonder that the Elantra pulled down the 2021 North American Car of the Year award.

And with the N Line extras, Elantra buyers can get pretty much all they desire in a compact sedan.

Sporty Genesis sedan reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Sport Prestige sedan in the latest, December 2021, edition of the 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.

Toyota 4Runner charms endure in the electric auto age

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

Sacramento, California -- In this time of nearly five-bucks-a-gallon gasoline and increasing numbers of hybrid and electric vehicles, is it possible to have a fondness for a sizable sport-utility vehicle that gets a combined 17 miles per gallon?

Well, sure.  Of course.

For those who like the Toyota 4Runner, there's a new player for the 2022 model year -- the TRD Sport, which was mine to test for a week in 4X4 trim.

What's to like?

Well, it scoots rather well for a big-shouldered sport-ute.  I found the 4-liter V-6 a responsive power plant.  With 270 horsepower, it rolled down the freeway entrance ramp with authority, slotted into dicey traffic with effortless ease and even tackled some steep climbs in the Sierra Nevada with just a slightly noisy note.

On curves taken at high speed, the tester hugged the line with admirable agility.

Interior comfort was good, with plenty of room to spread out.  The dash controls were easy to master and spot, something I've come to appreciate more and more in recent years.

It looks like an old-school SUV parked in the driveway, but it has just enough sculpting here and there to keep the neighbors interested.

Standard perks I didn't expect to be part of the package were a particular treat. Those included LED lighting all around, a power sliding rear window, hill-start assist control and automatic high beams.

Mine had an impressive list of optional extras, bringing the bottom line to $45,904.

OK, this is a vehicle that requires frequent stops at the gas pumps, and if you have aggressive save-the-planet friends and relatives, there's a chance that you will be the recipient of relentless scorn for as long as you own your 4Runner.

Then again, there is a reason that Toyota has been producing the 4Runner for nearly 40 years.  And Toyota tends to stick with vehicles that sell well.  Just saying.

Here's how Toyota puts it: "The Toyota 4Runner has carved out its place as the ready-for-anything SUV that’s at home whether on pavement or the trail."

That sums up the 4Runner's long-standing appeal better than any words I can come up with; as for me, I enjoyed my week with the old-is-new-again 4Runner.