Award-winning Telluride is worthy of all that praise

 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 -- Sometimes, when I review a newly introduced motor vehicle that goes on to win high acclaim, I ask myself: "Did I miss something the first time around?"

And so it was with the Kia Telluride, which I first tested as it was on its run to be Motor Trend magazine's SUV of the Year for 2020.  Sure, I liked it, but was I getting the whole picture?

Consequently, I was happy to have another go with the recently tested 2021 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD sport-ute.  A car-reviewing colleague of mine suggested that I more closely examine the SUV's charms while it was sitting still, and keep the driving characteristics on the back burner.

It was good advice.

In a world of look-alike SUVs, the Telluride stands out as a stylish winner. A large, elegantly sculpted -- yet not over-the-top -- grille gives the Telluride an impressive front-on look.  And unlike other SUVs that seem squat and pressed in profile, the three-row midsize sport-ute actually has a pleasant stretched-out sedan stance.

My ride had an eye-catching color scheme of "Everlasting Silver" exterior paint, set off nicely with a black interior.

As for fit and finish, we're talking head of the class. I was looking for the most minor flaws and came away with nothing on that front.

Inside, the cabin is comfortable and spacious, with generous riding room for a crowd. A healthy helping of comfort/convenience controls are within easy reach and easy to master quickly.

It's not considered a luxury SUV, but I'd rate this midsize model within a baby step of that segment with standard features that include tri-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, a rear sunroof, a surround-view monitor and a Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system.

Even with a $795 towing package and a $2,300 "Prestige Package of extras (with head-up display, Nappa Leather seat trim and heated/ventilated second-row seats), the bottom line on the tester came to a reasonable $48,720.

Safety features were excellent, capped off by a max five-star federal government overall rating in crash tests.  Fuel mileage on the tester was fair at 19 miles per gallon in the city and 24 mpg on the highway.

On the fly, the Telluride was just as a I remembered it -- smooth, quiet, comfortable and agile.  It's an excellent freeway cruiser, and colleagues who have taken it on more-challenging off-road adventures than I dared swear by its off-pavement excellence.

The 3.8-liter V-6 rated at 291-horsepower handles most conditions easily, although I found myself pressing the accelerator hard on steep uphill grades.

So, after a second test run, is this Telluride worthy of all the high praise it's getting?  Absolutely.

 

Feature-loaded Chevy Silverardo also has plenty of pep

 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 -- Receiving the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab RST 4WD one week after testing the new Ford F-150 was unplanned.

Seriously!

But what better way to size up the two mega-competitors than back-to-back?  And yes, I concede that the Ram trucks have made serious progress, including an unprecedented three consecutive Truck of the Year awards from Motor Trend magazine.

Fine, but here's the truth: The Silverado is a very fine pickup.  Loaded.  Comfortable.  Solid.

With a sticker price more than $5,000 less than last week's mega-loaded Ford F-150 -- the tested Silverado weighed in at $56,950 -- the Chevy truck was generously equipped with highly appreciated features.

Standard fare included remote start, brake pad wear indicator, dual-zone climate control, a 10-way power driver's seat with lumbar adjuster, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, a corner step rear bumper, a tailgate with "EZ Lift" and power lock, LED lights all around and a heated bench across the front.

The "All Star Edition Plus" package of options -- a lengthy list of extras priced at $2,100 -- included a rear sliding power window, cargo bed outlets, wireless/voice-recognition technology, 20-inch painted aluminum wheels and much more.

So, this Silverado stands up well in an era where major truck builders stuff everything and the kitchen sink into their full-size offerings.

But where this Silverado stood out -- to my surprise -- was in the performance field.

The 3-liter, six-cylinder, Duramax Turbo-Diesel -- a $2,390 power plant -- produced a ear-pleasing roar and neck-snapping acceleration ... so much so that I found myself exceeding speed limits and squealing rubber off the line before adjusting to the engine's brute force.

The max horsepower rating on the engine is 277, but the key numbers can be found in the torque -- 460 foot-pounds at 1,500 RPM.  Yes, that will pull you out of a few mud holes and zip you down the freeway at heart-racing clip.

I was completely taken aback at the tested Silverado's ability to function as a road warrior, and yet the steering felt light and just-right firm.  Kudos to Chevy engineers on this sporty arrangement.

So, with two trucks reviewed in two weeks, the age-old questions arises: Would I choose the Ford or the Chevy?

Sorry, no way I'm getting into that argument.  And I've found that Ford and Chevrolet fans, respectively, swear by their loyalties and are not easily convinced otherwise.

Who can blame them?  Both parties are getting exceptional trucks in these 2021 models.

 

Ford turns its popular F-150 into a super truck

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 -- What can you do to improve a full-size pickup truck that is part of  a model group that has been the nation's top seller for more than 40 years?

You turn it into a super truck.

That's pretty much what Ford has done with the extensively updated 2021 Ford F-150.  My ride was the 4X4 SuperCrew Platinum -- part truck, part rolling power plant, part auxiliary work office and part temporary residence.

Yes, this new F-150 can be all that.  Believe me.  I lived it.

Let's cover the basics for starters.

The tester packed a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine rated at 400 horsepower.  This power plant moved the big truck around with comparatively quiet ease.  On-ramp accelerations were brisk affairs, and nobody wants to cut off a full-size pickup that gets up to 70 miles per hour in a hurry.

The F-150 was responsive and easily steered in all conditions.  It climbed steep hills with gusto. Bravo, I say.

About an hour in, I started fiddling with all the comfort/convenience features and found that there were so many that I had to periodically pull over to make sure I knew how to work them all.  And then I started finding things I'd never seen before.

One of those items included a button that folds the center console-mounted gear shifter flat into the console ... the better to make space to use your laptop computer.  A push of a button lifts the shifter back to vertical.

Then you have the standard on-board 120-volt outlet and auxiliary ports to charge your phone and other devices -- pickup truck staples in this day and age.

Oh, there's also a flat phone-charging pad in the center console.  This came in handy for me when a monster-wind winter storm shut off the power to my home for 48 hours.

By candlelight, I learned about one of the newly reworked F-150's most touted features -- the Pro Power Onboard system.  It's a vehicle-mounted power generator ... great for the work site I'm sure, but also a handy thing to have when you're temporarily separated from the power grid.

I was grateful for the Ford F-150's power-producing options being available to me at a time when I needed them.  The adjustable pedals (with memory) are nice.  Ditto the twin panel moonroof.  But heat and power were a godsend in my powerless period.

Ford is running a TV ad showing an outdoorsman basically using the new F-150's features to build a cabin in the woods.  Based on my week in the tester, I completely believe that the truck could handle this, no sweat, and function as the cabin builder's off-site home for a brief time.

Criticisms of the pickup have included shots that the new F-150 looks a lot like the old F-150.  OK.  Frankly, I thought the old F-150 looked just fine, so this didn't even enter my mind as a concern.

I will note that all of these F-150 features come at a price, which was $62,230 on my tester.

That's a lot of bucks, but worth it for the truck devotee who wants plentiful extras and plans on enjoying those extras for a long time.

Kia's Niro PHEV puts driving future in perspective

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 have come to the conclusion that everyone should be required -- even for a brief period -- to drive a plug-in electric vehicle every year.

Why? Because it gives you perspective.

And arguably the best vehicle offering up this kind of perspective is the recently tested Kia Niro PHEV EX Premium, a hybrid subcompact crossover.

It's perfect because you can get the full electric-powered experience right off the bat.  And you skip the anxiety square because the gasoline-fueled engine seamlessly takes over for hundreds of miles to come once the electric battery power is used up.

Since we're heading toward a future with fewer and fewer internal-combustion engines, there's no better halfway house for making this adjustment than the Niro.

As halfway houses go, the tested Niro was a luxurious transporter.

My ride had leather seat trim, a heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated front seats, a top-flight Harman Kardon audio system, a power tilt/sliding sunroof, LED exterior lighting and much more.

Safety features were likewise generous, including a Forward Collision Avoidance system and smart cruise control.

All this and a sophisticated hybrid driving system for a bottom line of only $37,790 on the tester's sticker.  Pretty fair deal, I'd say.

But let's face it, the priority is the propulsion systems, anchored by a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder gas engine; a 60 horsepower electric motor; and a workhorse lithium ion polymer battery.

You start the Niro, and you get a top-center dashboard reading of 24 to 26 miles of driving range on a full electric charge. Not surprisingly, the eyes stay glued to this readout as the e-miles count down to zero.

It takes longer than you might think.  I used my e-power bonus for a good hour or so at low and high speeds on surface streets and freeways.  Once used up, the gas engine kicked in with a readout indicating I could drive from Sacramento to Los Angeles before refilling the tank.

Let's put all that in perspective: The gas-electric combination equates to an equivalent rating of 105 miles per gallon.  If you count only the gasoline engine, the fuel mileage rating is a still-impressive 46 miles per gallon.

Have your attention now?  I'm sure.

For those who have never recharged a plug-in and might be nervous about it, fear not.  It's as simple as snap-snap on a power cord, which locks into place on the vehicle exterior and can only be removed by taps on your key fob.

Overall, I felt like I was driving a vehicle that millions of unborn children will consider commonplace in their lifetimes. From that perspective, I think the continually evolving electric vehicle technology will serve them well.

 

Pricey, sporty Lexus reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2021 Lexus LC 500 Convertible in the latest, February 2021, 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.

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