Lexus RX checks right boxes on midsize luxury SUV list

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 -- If you're in the market for a midsize luxury sport-utility vehicle that's an effortless driver, well-appointed inside and looks good just parked there in the driveway, you'd be hard-pressed to find something better than a Lexus RX 350.

Keep in mind that it's not that simple, but this vehicle does check a lot of boxes that motorists consider high priorities.

My tester was the enthusiastic 2021 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, and as the name suggests, this version gets sporty touches beyond the normal takeout menu.

F Sport features include 20-inch alloy wheels, special badging, LEG ambient illumination and more. Given all that, I was most taken with the exterior paint color: Grecian Water.

There's a name you can lord over the neighbors.

Oh, I also had the Black Line Special Edition, which netted me, among other things, an imposing, shiny black workup on the oversize front grille.

The sporty touches are backed up by a more-than-capable 3.5-liter V-6 with 295 horsepower.  The power plant is responsive and digs in with quiet determination on uphill runs.  On crowded city streets, the tester handled with the ease of a comfortable sedan.

Freeway cruises are silky smooth, with cabin quiet staying at a perfectly low level for five folks engaged in conversation.

I was particularly impressed with the long list of safety technology on the tester.  For the 2021 model year, the automaker's Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert systems are standard across all trims ... a nice little bonus.

Alas, working the infotainment system remained a challenge for yours truly.  I've never mastered the remote touchpad.  Just when I think that I've zeroed in on my favorite radio station, I arrive home to find that I actually ordered a meat lover's pizza.

Well, maybe not that crazy, but you get the idea.

Fuel mileage on the tester was an OK 20 miles per gallon in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

Getting back to my warning that all things are not simple, the bottom line on the tester's sticker was just a few hundred bucks short of $60,000.  That's pretty standard fare among luxury SUV offerings, but it is significant enough that any prospective RX 350 buyer should not only test drive it thoroughly, but take a hard look at the competition as well.

My guess is that most motorists opting for the purchase of an RX 350 will be pleased with their choice, for many years to come.

Ram 1500 pickup shows off award-winning charms

 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 recently polished off my old investigative skills and spent a day looking into a 2021 Ram 1500 pickup truck, with a goal of explaining how Ram has been able to win three consecutive Truck of the Year awards from MotorTrend magazine.

Turns out it didn't take a lot of investigative work.  Everything was pretty obvious.

In a nutshell, it boils down to this: Everything in the Ram 1500 is not only in its place ... It's perfectly placed.

That's everything from the storage areas, the electrical connections, the seats, the tons of safety equipment, the extensive technology and even the headlights.  And yeah, it helps that it's an exceptionally comfortable freeway cruiser.

Did I happen to mention that my tester was equipped with a 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 rated at a slight tick short of 400 horsepower?  Yeah, that helped too.

Specifically, my tester was the 2021 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4, starting at $47,530 but loaded up with optional goodies that sent the bottom line on the sticker to a lofty $64,565.

For that kind of money, a pickup needs to have a lot to like.  Ram goes overboard to make those wishes come true.

On the tester, the list went on forever.  What's your pleasure?  How about pedestrian emergency braking technology, surround-view camera, adaptive cruise control, parallel/perpendicular park-assist, head-up display, wireless charge pad, leather seats, multi-function tailgate (with power release), braking enhancements, hill-descent control, a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, heated second-row seats and LED lighting all around?

That's just a partial list.  Obscene, is it not?

Depends on your viewpoint, I suppose.

Again, even with all those perks and technology fireworks, the Ram does not assault you with too many buttons and confusion.  You can get on friendly terms with your Ram 1500 in quick order ... a big plus in my book.

With the big Hemi capable of dusting off freeway mortals, there is a price to pay on fuel mileage.  It's 15 miles per gallon in the city and 21 mpg on the highway.

Eye-catchers on the sticker included a max five-star overall vehicle score in federal government crash tests and a five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

So, is all this enough to turn the heads of super-loyal Ford F-Series buyers and Chevrolet Silverado devotees.

Well, it apparently was enough to turn the heads of those often-picky MotorTrend vehicle judges ... for three years running.

 

Toyota Avalon TRD a sporty cut above usual sedan

This review first appeared in the May 2021 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin' News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California ­– The Toyota Avalon has long been one of my favorite full-size sedans, and I've always said it was basically a Lexus with a Toyota badge.

So my recent week in the 2021 Toyota Avalon TRD threw me a bit of a curveball.

The TRD gave me all the usual Avalon perks: comfortable, spacious seating; downright luxurious interior appointments; a generous helping of standard comfort/convenience features and that silky-smooth ride.

But the TRD -- which stands for Toyota Racing Development -- also has sporty exterior styling/colors and a willing 3.5-liter V-6 power plant with 301 horsepower.

Think of it as the Avalon with Toyota Supra aspirations.

Starting the TRD produces un-Avalon-like, rumbling exhaust note that turns heads for a quarter-mile around.

The promise of the sound was delivered on the road as the tester blazed into small openings and zipped through dicey freeway traffic with effortless ease.

Steering was instantly responsive, and even during quick maneuvers, the tested Avalon remained perfectly balanced, with virtually zero body sway.  Strong brakes also are part of the deal. Good road manners?  Absolutely.

In other words, the racy marketing and touches are not hollow promises.  They're reality.  Kudos to Toyota for that.

While I enjoyed the Avalon TRD's sporty agility, I did take time to appreciate the small, thoughtful, luxurious things that have made the Avalon special.

Controls are within easy reach.  Stitching on the seats and steering wheel is spot-on perfection. Power lumbar support provides genuine relief, and in-car audio is expertly balanced among the spread out speakers.

Again, it's a Lexus-like experience.  And it's not just me saying so.  Motor Trend magazine ranked the Toyota Avalon as its No. 1 full-size sedan in its 2021 Buying Guide.

Even with the robust power plant, fuel mileage on the tester came in at 21 miles per gallon in the city and an impressive 30 mpg on the highway.

As sedans go, mine represented a substantial investment, priced at $46,074.

With all those SUVs screaming for your attention on dealer lots, is a sporty sedan worthy of consideration?   This Toyota Avalon TRD is, to be sure.

Chevy Trailblazer ventures into crowded SUV 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 -- Chevrolet puts an old name, Trailblazer, on an all-new-for-2021 sport-utility vehicle to compete in the ultra-competitive compact SUV segment.

And for the most part, it competes rather well.

The tested 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer AWD ACTIV looked sharp in the driveway, and a jet black interior was surprisingly spacious for this class.

The ACTIV version is a shout-out to off-road adventures.  Paired with an ample ride height, the ACTIV/AWD package also gets you special shock treatments, underbody shielding and "sport terrain" tires designed for work far removed from the paved patches of road.

The tester also had multiple drive modes for varying conditions. Roof rack and side rails? Of course.

From the driver's seat, all-around vision is good.  And I quickly noticed that my tester was extremely well-appointed, with standard features that included a leather-wrapped steering wheel, signature LED lights and a lane departure warning system.

Oh, and then there were more than $2,500 in options that sent it into the luxury cloud level.  Those features included an eight-inch diagonal touchscreen, a wireless charging station, a premium Bose audio system and rear park assist.

Safety ratings were good, with a max five-star overall vehicle score from the feds.

Power on the tested Trailblazer came from a 1.3-liter turbo-3 with 155 horsepower.  The power plant handled things well in the Central Valley, but it struggled climbing in the Sierra Nevada.  Most criticisms of the new Trailblazer have centered on the lack of engine power.

But to be fair, big horsepower is not a hallmark of the compact SUV segment.  Most buyers want a practical-size vehicle that is a useful chore-doer.

The engine's humble size also pays off on the fuel mileage end, a solid 26 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway.

Overall, I found the Trailblazer to be a comfortable, quiet vehicle with admirable interior space and comfort.

But if you go shopping for one, you have some decisions to make.

For starters, Chevy touts the basic Trailblazer starting price of $19,995.  However, my dressed up Trailblazer tipped the scales at a hefty $30,580.  Motor Trend magazine's review of the Trailblazer noted a similar sticker jolt --"32,350 out the door."

So, you have to ask yourself: Do I want a small Chevrolet SUV at the entry level price and fewer goodies?  Or do I want to spring for an option-loaded Trailblazer that I'll likely stick with for a number of years?

It's your call.  And a little homework never hurt anybody, especially with a new model showing up in a very competitive market.

Lexus sport sedan reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2021 Lexus IS 350 sport sedan in the latest, June 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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