BMW dishes up the luxury in this X7 sport-ute

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 had not been behind the wheel of a BMW for some time, but my return to the automaker's cockpit could not have been any more pleasant.

Of course, that was probably helped along by my ride being a new power-laden, luxury-loaded 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i sport-utility vehicle priced at $95,745.

Yes, class counts.  But so do many other things on this full-size sport-ute.

The look is decidedly aggressive, especially on the front end, with beautifully cut, split headlights and a sculpted, big-mouth grille.  While most grilles today are just big, this one had some subtle curves and angles to make it stand apart -- in a positive way.

The interior was a five-star hotel room with exquisite, perfectly stitched white leather and a thoughtful layout of dash controls, all sort of aimed at the driver for his/her convenience.  Sitting in the cockpit gives one a feeling of security and complete control.

Ditto all the technology built into this X7.

Driving-assist and enhancement controls are helpful without being overly intrusive.  And it's really easy to command everything with that massaging driver's seat and the primo Harman Kardon surround-sound audio system filling the cabin with pleasant noises.

I will confess that, while the BMW in-vehicle technology is similar to that found in other makes/models, it is triggered in different ways.  I had to study the owner's manual to master things, but it was a short, quick study.  Like riding a bicycle again?  Yeah, pretty much.

Auto-reviewing colleagues generally raved about the 3-liter TwinPower Turbo 6 engine in their reviews, and I second their endorsements after a week in my tester. The 375-horsepower engine is muscular off the line and silky smooth on the cruise once the revs are up.  A pleasure to drive.

Fuel mileage is OK at 21 miles per gallon in the city and 25 mpg.

Any gripes?: The third row seats are a bit of a tight fit.

Otherwise, this is likely the full-size luxury sport-ute that fans of the segment dream of owning.

More than a Toyota Highlander, it's simply Grand

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 -- You would think that Toyota would be perfectly happy with the highly successful Highlander midsize crossover sport-utility vehicle, positioned nicely above the compact RAV4 but smaller than those other sizable Toyota SUVs.

Instead, for 2024, the venerable automaker has rolled out a Grand Highlander, sort of a super Highlander.  Full size and proud of it.

My tester, the 2024 Grand Highlander 4WD Limited, showed up looking as big as a battleship to my eyes.  I chalked that up to my own biases and expectations, having tested numerous Highlanders over the years.

A little time together brought us to an understanding.  Yes, it's large.  But it doesn't drive that way. It's easy to maneuver, and I was pretty much accustomed to the vehicle's borders within five minutes.

Power on my Grand Highlander was provided by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system rated at 245 horsepower.  Frankly, the power plant felt stronger than that as I had to throttle back on aggressive starts, lest I catch the attention of the local peace officers.

Simply put: The Grand Highlander drives as easily as the good ol' midsize Highlander.

The hybrid system also offered pleasant fuel mileage numbers: 36 miles per gallon in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.

Per usual, everything else on the Toyota was spot-on: excellent fit and finish, good 360-degree vision from the cockpit and a generous list of standard features. Highlights included leather heated/ventilated/power front seats, a wireless smartphone charger, three-zone auto climate control and an exceedingly sharp 12.3-inch color multi-info display.

Did I mention that it looks good?  Yeah, it does, especially riding on those muscular 20-inch alloy wheels.  The angular cuts on the body raise it a notch above the standard big SUV look.

Priced at $53,238, the tester was wearing a sticker very much expected of a big-shouldered SUV. But in my view, worth the price for the Grand experience.

Hyundai's Tucson continues to please in numerous ways

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 -- Over the years, I've bragged a lot about the Hyundai Tucson. I considered it the perfect choice for a motorist looking to buy his/her first sport-utility vehicle.

I've even recommended the Tucson to some who ended up buying one. So, a recent opportunity to again climb into a Tucson cockpit offered me a chance to change my mind about things.

That did not happen. If anything, my confidence in the Tucson was boosted even further after a week in the 2023 Hyundai Tucson PHEV Limited AWD. How so?

In this era when seemingly everyone is talking about "checking the boxes," the Tucson checks so many boxes that they need to be continued on the next page.

For starters, it's perfectly sized as a compact crossover SUV ... especially for those looking to jump into the SUV market for the very first time.  No need to move things around to make room in the garage.  You feel comfortable behind the wheel within seconds of slipping it into Drive for the very first time.

It handles with midsize sedan ease. My Tucson had a 1.6-liter turbo-4 base power plant handling the chores. The engine is rated at 180 horsepower; the electric motor maxes at 90 horses. Strong enough, and then some.

In the tester, fuel cost concerns fell to the bottom of the list. My ride had a combined city-highway fuel rating of 35 miles per gallon. Throw in the electric factor, that jumped to a whopping 80 miles per gallon.

Right away, you feel like you're ahead of the game. Because you are.

So, now it's time to look around the interior cabin and appreciate what has been installed there.

There's admirable roominess for a small SUV, and beyond that, my tester was loaded with luxury and customer-pleasing perks. The lengthy list included leather seating surfaces/steering wheel, a hands-free power liftgate, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance system, surround-view monitor, rain-sensing windshield wipers and an excellent 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

My tester was essentially a $50,000 to $55,000 package, but Hyundai has a habit of offering its vehicles for thousands less than similarly equipped competitors. So, no surprise at the bottom line on the tested Tucson: $46,305.

Throw in Hyundai's generous warranties and ever-improving reliability ratings and one is hard-pressed to find a worthy compact crossover SUV segment rival.

Toyota's Crown features lifted look, hybrid power

This review first appeared in the October 2023 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 -- The names of venerable Toyota models roll effortlessly off the tongue: Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota Prius ...

Toyota Crown.

Did that last one trip you up?  Perhaps. Yet that model name has been in the global marketplace since the mid-1950s.

Let me explain.

The Toyota Crown's arrival in the United States edges the long-standing Toyota Avalon sedan to the sidelines. In a nutshell, the Crown sedan hopes to lure a diverse group of buyers who have grown accustomed to crossover SUVs, fuel-sipping powertrains and distinctive styling.

To that end, all three Crown trim levels feature hybrid systems, a "lifted" sedan look and some saucy styling on the front and back ends.  All-wheel drive is part of the package as well.

So while the Crown label has been around for decades, it's a newbie name to most on our shores.

My 2023 Crown Limited sedan was a fetching number in "Supersonic Red" paint and eye-catching round/angular cuts on the front and rear bumpers. It rode high on 19-inch alloy wheels. It's certainly not a staid-looking four-door vehicle.

And I couldn't complain about a hybrid system getting 42 miles per gallon in the city and 41 mpg on the highway. The old-school part of the hybrid system was a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine.

On the move, the Crown was responsive and a few notches above peppy, rated at 236 horsepower. (Please note: The top-level Platinum model puts out 340 net horsepower.)

Accelerations in my tester were brisk, and the Crown demonstrated admirable darting ability when I wanted to get in and out of tight spots in a hurry.

The tester also doubled as a luxury liner with a strong list of standard features, including heated rear seats and a dazzling 12.3-inch multimedia control center that handled numerous chores.

Even with a nearly $3,000 Technology Package, the bottom line on the tested Crown's sticker came in at $50,648 ... or about $7,500 to $10,000 less than what one might expect in today's market.

All in all, a solid effort.

The zillion-dollar question: Will the changes/features found in the Crown prompt thousands of consumers to write checks for the car in the financial offices of dealerships nationwide?  Time will tell.

What I do know is that Toyota has a history of instituting shifts and making pivots that have proved lucrative.

It will be interesting to see if this Crown ends up being another jewel.

Luxurious Lexus SUV reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

My review of the 2023 Lexus LX 600 Ultra Luxury sport-utility vehicle can be seen in the latest, November 2023, 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.

Mazda3 hatch shows its strengths in Lake Tahoe trip

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 -- A late October trip to Lake Tahoe.  What is the best vehicle for the job?

Based on my recent trip, I nominate the 2024 Mazda3 2.5 Turbo hatchback, equipped with the Premium Plus package and all-wheel drive.

How so?  It covers all the bases.  Let me count the ways.

For starters, you need a vehicle capable of tackling the tricky Highway 50 run up to Daggett Pass in Nevada.  From the Sacramento Valley floor to the pass summit, that's a climb of nearly 7,500 feet.

The turbo-boosted Mazda3 handled it like a champ. The 2.5-liter engine is rated at 227 horsepower with 87 octane gas, but the power curve jumps to 250 horses with 93 octane.  Either way, the Mazda3 tester charged into hill climbs with muscular vigor.

In those short passing zones on Highway 50, the Mazda dusted off stragglers in quick order before zipping back into line with one quick twist of the wrists. Fuel mileage is pretty good at 23 miles per gallon in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.

Inside the hatch, there are more road trip advantages.  With the rear seats folded flat, two full-size suit cases fit perfectly side by side, still leaving plenty more room to haul additional gear.

With the Premium Plus package, I was treated to a nearly obscene amount of perks for a five-door hatch. That's in addition to a full boat of safety/security technology.

Among the long list of items, I was particularly impressed with the easy-to-use, easy-to-see 10.25-inch center color display, with touchscreen functionality.  On unfamiliar roads, the nav system kept me informed and secure in all situations.

So, what's the cost.  Figure $45,000, right?  Try $38,410 on the test vehicle ... a bargain to be sure.

Mazda never disappoints with performance and driving-enhancement technology, making short road trips or long cross-country drives a snap.  The Mazda3 I had was a vehicle I could trust in the high country, and fun to drive all the way around.