This 'Taco' is a likable, trail-worthy pickup truck

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I'm not a hardcore pickup truck driver.  People who are hardcore pickup truck drivers know this ... seemingly by just looking at me.

They know I'm not part of the club.

So I really stood out at a recent gathering of pickup pros when I rolled into a parking space with a 2022 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4X4 Double Cab, my test vehicle for the week.

My feet had just touched the ground when one of the group spoke to me: "Nice Taco."

Say what?

"Taco ... Tacoma. You need to get the lingo straight, man," my good-natured acquaintance said with just a touch of irritation.

OK, maybe so.  But I know what I like, and this Tacoma had it.

With a big-shouldered grille and wearing "Lunar Rock" paint, my Tacoma literally gleamed in the evening twilight. Inside, tan stitching on a black background was visually appealing.

My Tacoma had the automaker's Trail Edition treatment, a combination of rugged equipment and visual touches. Trail-worthy to the max.

Yes, it all but begged to be taken off-road.  I barely explored the limits of this off-pavement midsize pickup.

On paved surfaces, the tester performed admirably. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V-6 rated at 278 horsepower.  The power plant provided substantial oomph when asked, and I had no trouble tackling uphill runs in the Sierra Nevada.

For a pickup, even a midsize, I considered the ride surprisingly quiet and smooth.  Fuel mileage was so-so at 18 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

Bonus points: Quick-working automatic high beams and an easy-to-see touchscreen.

The bottom line on the sticker was a just-about-right $43,164.

Overall, the Tacoma remains a strong choice for those who don't need a monster-size pickup.

Having one might just buy you a ticket into the Hardcore Pickup Drivers Club.

Toyota's Venza is a capable compromise candidate

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- Toyota revived the Venza model name for the 2021 model year, touting the midsize crossover sport-utility vehicle as a nice compromise between its RAV4 and Highlander.

And yes, compromise is good.

Among auto reviewers, the five-passenger Venza grades out well against competitive models such as the Kia Sorento, Hyundai Santa Fe and Subaru Outback.

My 2022 Venza Limited tester checked all the right boxes, and then some, for a midsize CUV priced at $44,655.

My test ride had more than I expected.  That included parking assist, bird's eye view camera with perimeter scan, a hands-free power liftgate and a heated steering wheel.

I had the Venza for a brief period in the California Wine Country, and per usual, I packed in too much luggage and vino for the return trip home. Cargo was packed floor to ceiling in the back.  No problem, though, because the Venza was equipped with a crystal-clear digital rearview mirror.  It was the perfect match of feature and need.

The vehicle's hybrid powertrain system -- combining a 2.5-cylinder, four-cylinder engine and electric motor assist -- generates a combined 219 horsepower, and that was a peppy mover that I enjoyed and used frequently to dart out of harm's way. Freeway cruising was smooth and quiet.

Handling was just-right firm. For the most part, the Venza can be driven one-handed with a complete feeling of security.

More security comes from the Venza's crash-test scores, including a maximum five stars in the overall judgment of the federal government.

With the hybrid system, the Venza gets a wallet-pleasing 40 miles per gallon in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.

Given its mix of generous standard features, its step-up standing from a compact CUV, good fuel mileage and Toyota reliability, the Venza is a nearly perfect road trip vehicle.  It's a solid compromise candidate amid Toyota's impressive lineup of sport-utility vehicles.

Toyota Sienna minivan is a good one for the road

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- It's a shame that, in some circles, minivans get the same kind of disrespect afforded to 8-track tapes.

One forgets how useful minivans are on road trips ... until you take one on a road trip.  Case in point: a recent trek to the California Wine Country in a 2022 Toyota Sienna XSE minivan.

There were four of us and our luggage.  In a small SUV, we might be forced to leave one bag -- or passenger -- at home.  In a sedan, not a chance of making the trip.  But the cavernous back end of the Sienna took everything and more, giving us the option of packing in a large barrel of wine for the return trip, should we so decide.

Then there are the things you take for granted.

There's the low step-in height, making it easy for passengers tall and small to glide into the seats.  No running jump required.

The power sliding side doors make everything easier ... and yeah, they're fun to play with ... Look, I can make the doors open magically with a wave of my hand.

And the second-row seats can slide forward and backward.  This is a huge plus for passengers who crave that's-just-right comfort amid hours-long travel shifts.

The 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine with a hybrid battery pack is rated at a combined net of 245 horsepower. That was more than adequate for the challenges of the road on my trip, and the resulting fuel mileage of 36 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving was welcome.

The tester was loaded with on-board audio and visual entertainment perks, something I would have sold my soul for back when the kids were small.

Did I mention that the Sienna looked good?  Well, it did.  Sleek and smooth in profile and wearing eye-catching "Ruby Flare Pearl" paint.

This Sienna also earned a max five-star rating in federal crash tests.

My loaded Sienna had a bottom line of $47,049, a bit hefty but pretty much in line with what one expects to pay these days for a large, loaded sport-utility vehicle.

All in all, this Sienna was a road-trip wonder.  And deserving of respect.

Electric Ford Mustang Mach-E GT is shockingly quick

This review first appeared in the August 2022 edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

To subscribe to the Cruisin' News, visit www.cruisinnews.com, call (916) 933-0949 or send an email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Sacramento, California -- Anyone who remains unconvinced about the power an electric vehicle can dish up needs to take a spin in the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT Performance Edition.

I've driven hundreds upon hundreds of vehicles, but the performance characteristics of this five-passenger sport-utility vehicle absolutely shocked me.  I didn't expect this.  It was like, like ...

You know that scene in the original Star Wars movie (1977) when the Millennium Falcon starship jumps to warp speed for the first time?  And all the stars in the sky turn into streaks of bright white light.

It's like that.

Seriously.  I'm driving along at 55 miles per hour and do one quick hit on the accelerator.  Everything around me (including surrounding cars) seems to freeze, I'm pressed deep into my seat and I look down in what seems like one second later to find that I'm hitting 80 mph.

What a rush!  So much so that I just kept doing it, making sure I had open stretches of road currently not populated by the California Highway Patrol.

Sure, I've driven horsepower-laden cars before, but this Mach-E was just different.  Maybe it's the fact that the blast is not accompanied by the roar of an internal-combustion engine.  It's -- how can I say it? -- a surreal, heart-pumping blast.

So, what are the numbers?

Ford says that Mach-E GT makes the zero-to-60 mph run in 3.5-seconds, courtesy of a max 480 horsepower equivalent and a monstrous 634 foot-pounds of torque.

And the good news is that, with electric power, all this comes guilt-free and without major wallet damage at the local gas pumps.

On top of that, the tested Mach-E GT was loaded with comfort/convenience charms one expects these days.

Worth noting: With a $5,000 GT Performance Edition package, the bottom line on my tester came to 400 bucks short of 70-grand -- a giant leap from the cost of the 1965 Mustang in which I learned to drive all those years ago.

I know that some folks are willing to pay big money for their thrills.  And this Mach-E GT provides those by the truckload.

Luxurious Wagoneer reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2022 Grand Wagoneer Obsidian 4X4 sport-utility vehicle can be seen in the latest, September 2022, edition of the Cruisin' News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news and marketplace."

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 email request to subscribe@cruisinnews.com.  Mailed requests for information should be sent to Cruisin' News, P.O. Box G, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Chevy 'Trail Boss' pickup lives up to its rugged name

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- So, when Chevrolet produces a pickup truck with "Trail Boss" in the model name, you have to believe it's a rugged off-road brute of a vehicle.

The tested 2022 Chevy Silverado Crew LT Trail Boss 4WD certainly lives up to all that.  I didn't put it through the kind of paces that you see in the TV commercials -- crushing giant trees or blazing over stacked boulders like a cannonball through whipped cream -- but I was impressed with its juggernaut-like qualities.

My ride looked imposing with a cattle-crushing grille and (wait for it) "Red Hot" exterior paint.  Those monster 18-inch Goodyear tires looked like rock smashers from a mile away.

Power was provided by a 3-liter, six-cylinder Duramax turbo-diesel rated at 277 horsepower.  That power plant was able and remarkably smooth on the paved surfaces.  For the off-road enthusiast, they key statistic is 460 foot-pounds of torque coming in at a mere 1,500 rpm.  That will take you places.

There's much more for the off-pavement trail adventurer.  The special off-road package on the tester included a two-inch lift, monotube shocks, skid plates, hill descent control and a heavy-duty air filter.

Yeah, you can pretty much go anywhere in this Trail Boss.  And you can do it in luxurious comfort, at least with the perks that came in my tester.

That lineup included Google "built-in," offering access to Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play on the infotainment screen. You have to have a power sunroof of course.  Rear sliding power window -- check. LEDs all around. And the power/heated exterior mirrors naturally.

With the Trail Boss Premium Package of extras thrown in, the bottom line on the tested model came in at $62,570 ... or just about what you expect to pay for a loaded full-size pickup in this day and age.

Fuel mileage was so-so for this segment at 20 miles per gallon in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.

In the competitive pickup segment, this Trail Boss has enough going for it to be a player, especially among those motorists who like their meat dark red and their pickups capable of tackling the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada.

If that sounds like you, saddle up and check it out.