Hyundai's Kona Electric is sporty, with all the comforts

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

Sacramento, California -- For someone who grew up with internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, adjusting to the brave new world of electrics is all about comfort level.

And the tested 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Limited had comforts in abundance.

Smooth, surprisingly peppy, well-equipped and sporty-stylish in appearance, the Kona was as comfortable to operate as anything with gas-fired pistons.

Oh, and there's the 250-miles-plus range and fuel mileage equivalent ratings of 132 mpg in the city and 108 mpg on the highway.

For the 2022 model year, Hyundai upgraded and redesigned the compact crossover sport-utility vehicle.  The result is a sportier-looking machine. Sleek front and rear fascia blend smoothly with the side sculpting, and Hyundai added new alloy wheels for 2022.

Power comes from a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor with a 201 horsepower rating.

If it's possible to feel guilty driving an electric vehicle, I was there as I continually accelerated hard from a full stop.  I got hooked on the surprising performance off the line, a byproduct of nearly 300 foot-pounds of torque distributed to the front wheels. Even with my repeated brisk starts, electric power was consistently distributed at a reasonable rate.

Worth noting: For those living in the Sierra Nevada or other cold climates, the Kona can be had with a battery warmer system that can minimize battery-power losses at low temperatures.

And if you can insert a plug into a socket, you pretty much have mastered the quick and easy battery-charging process.

Interior comfort was fine in the front seats, but it's a bit of a tight squeeze in the back.  From the cockpit, everything was within easy reach, and my Limited edition was stuffed with standard features -- heated/ventilated front leather seats, a power sunroof, rain-sensing wipers and smart cruise control among them.

Given all the perks and the sophisticated electric system, the $43,880 sticker price on the tester seemed reasonable.

The more I drive electric vehicles, the more comfortable I feel in them.  And the comforts of this Kona were many, helping me work my way farther down that road of the future.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid is substantial to the max

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

Sacramento, California -- The current generation of the Toyota Highlander, the midsize crossover sport-utility vehicle that has been around for more than 20 years now, is the most substantial version in the SUV's history, in my view.

And with a strong hybrid system thrown in, it's even more substantial.

That was my conclusion after an enjoyable week in the 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum, with all-wheel drive.

The Highlander has long been nicely situated between the compact Toyota RAV4 and the much larger Toyota SUV offerings. In today's overused language, it's a "just right" Goldilocks vehicle.

Maybe it's just me, but my tester just looked bigger and bolder than I remembered, with big shoulders, an imposing grille and a generous cargo area in the back. Again, substantial comes to mind.

The tester was powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and front/rear electric systems, the overall package combining to put out a max 243 horsepower.

On the fly, the tester performed at a level that felt way above that horsepower number.  The Highlander was peppy off the line and surprisingly forceful, when asked, in dicey freeway traffic.  It did not drive "big," however.  Steering was perfectly firm and balanced, and I was able to easily put the Highlander right where I wanted it, thanks to its sedan-like characteristics.

Bottom line: Mechanical functions were spot-on perfect.  For discriminating Highlander shoppers, please note that it can be had with front-wheel drive as well.

The hybrid payoff on the tester was 35 miles per gallon in the city and 34 mpg on the highway, good numbers given the performance level.

Another bonus: a max five-star overall vehicle score in federal government crash tests.

Inside, the tester was darn near Lexus-like.  There's plenty of room for driver and passengers, and on my ride, I had numerous comfort/convenience menu choices to sample.

The lineup of included standard perks included leather-trimmed seating for seven, a 12.3-inch touchscreen, heated/ventilated front row seats, heated captain's seats in the second row, a head-up display and a premium audio system with 11 JBL speakers.

For those not accustomed to current price trends among sizable, loaded crossover SUVs in the current marketplace, the tester's sticker price of $52,493 might prompt a hard swallow.

But given Toyota's reliability and the typical California trend of purchasing a new vehicle as a 10-year investment, this Highlander is worth the price.  And given its hybrid standing, the sticker price on this Highlander is entirely within reason.

G70 packs a punch, and might be sedan of your dreams

This review first appeared in the December 2021 edition of the Cruisin' News published out of Folsom, California – mg 

Sacramento, California ­– I'm routinely asked: What is your favorite motor vehicle? And that's impossible to answer.

But I'm also asked what car I'd recommend to a buyer who wants, say, everything possible from that old chestnut: the sedan.

Years ago, I might have answered with the Lexus LS, a full-size beauty with power and luxury.  It's still a great car, but the price now hovers in the $100,000 ballpark.

So, I've downsized of late and lean toward the Genesis G70 compact sedan.  A recent week in the 2022 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Sport Prestige only strengthened my feelings.

Mine was a super-loaded version, and yet the bottom line read a comparatively modest $51,945.  For this car, that's a steal.

Keep in mind that the G70 was Motor Trend magazine's Car of the Year in 2019.  For 2022, it's better than that ride.

A restyling ushers the G70 into the automaker's "Athletic Elegance" design segment.  And it's an accurate label.  Quad lamps on the front end are LED-laden and symbolize the wings on the Genesis emblem.

The headlights are set on either side of a stylish grille that resembles a graceful bird in flight.  More front-end sculpting is found below those eye-catching features.  Quad lamps can be found on the back end as well, resting over elliptical dual exhausts.

The overall look is elegant.  Ditto the interior feel.

Performance is decidedly sporty.  Power on the tester was provided by a finely tuned, turbocharged, 3.3-liter V-6 rated at 370 horsepower.

Lots of cars have more than 350 horses, but the tuning on this engine is so exquisite that it performs at a level far higher than the advertised number.

Case in point: I'm on a steep downhill portion of Interstate 80 in the Sierra Nevada, with an 18-wheeler poking in front of me and traffic closing fast in my rearview mirror.  In most cars, I wouldn't try to shoot the gap. In most cars, the acceleration would be comparatively slow.

Not so the G70. Hitting the gas produces what I call "physics-defying straight-line speed."  In simple terms, the G70 instantly digs in and blasts the car in a straight burst, even as I'm barely turning the steering wheel for easy control.  The whole thing takes two seconds. Fun? You bet.  And not even dangerous as I cleared all surrounding vehicles by multiple vehicle lengths.

Interior comfort in the G70 is accentuated by a smooth, quiet ride.  Don't let the compact designation fool you.  Five folks can travel in comfort.

And believe me when I tell you that seemingly every form of safety, comfort and convenience technology can be had in this vehicle.  But again, for nearly half the price of what you might pay in other models.

Sound like the sedan of your dreams?  Yeah, I know.  And you're welcome.

Sporty Lexus coupe reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the Lexus RC F coupe in the latest, February 2022, 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.

Two-door Ford Bronco tackles trails, ups power ante

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

Sacramento, California -- Back in the fall, I reviewed the new-for-2021 Ford Bronco Sport, a four-door sport-ute built in the tradition of rugged off-roaders.

So why evaluate the more recently tested 2021 Ford Bronco 2-Door Advanced 4X4 Badlands sport-utility vehicle?  Well, because the vehicles are remarkably different ... and it goes way beyond two doors versus four doors.

Take the price, for example.  The Bronco Sport, which I enjoyed, came in at $36,005 on the bottom line.  The two-door Bronco Advanced, which I enjoyed even more, was listed at $55,550.  If you're guessing that the Advanced had a lot more perks going for it, go to the head of the class.

Maybe it was just me, but the two-door version just seemed to be more off-road inclined than its four-door cousin.  Perhaps it was the compact, tight look on the two-door wheelbase. When I took the Advanced 4X4 off the pavement for a comparatively mild excursion, it just handled things with more gusto.

What I really liked in the two-door model in particular was the 2.7-liter turbocharged V-6 engine that performed like a strutting, muscular champ.  The high level of peppy performance was a blood-racing blast -- an opinion shared by other auto reviewers.

Please note, the 2.7-liter V-6 makes an advertised 330 horsepower and 415 foot-pounds of torque when loaded up with premium fuel.  Drinking regular-level octane, those numbers drop to 315 and 410, respectively.

Oh, my two-door ride looked particularly fetching in "Cyber Orange" exterior paint, a dramatic offset against the black interior.

For an off-road warrior, the two-seat Advanced was luxuriously appointed with leather trim, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera and much, much more. This particular Bronco might have ranked as the most lavishly appointed pure off-roader I've ever driven, at least in my memory.

Both of my test Broncos were Badlands editions, which equate to enhanced off-road ability.  That includes a heavy-duty suspension and advanced four-wheel-drive technologies. In truth, the off-road technology involved is so advanced in some cases that my humble words don't do it justice.  Suffice it to say that you feel as secure as a babe in your mother's arms when rolling over the rocky trails.

Ford touts the Bronco's "Built Wild" characteristics and the long-appreciated Bronco language of the G.O.A.T. -- Goes Over Any Type of Terrain.

Sound like your cup of tea? Well, I have no doubt that I didn't test the two Broncos' off-road tools at anything close to the level that the hardcore rock climber desires. But even after my comparatively modest off-road testing, I can appreciate the joy of taking the Bronco far off the paved pathways.