Toyota Tacoma pickup is decidedly off-road-worthy

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- Toyota sells a bunch of Toyota Tacoma pickups, and I've enjoyed my share of various reliable midsize Tacomas over the years.

The recently tested 2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road 4X4 Double Cab pickup was a different animal.  It too was enjoyable, for different reasons.

OK, I'm not an off-roading jockey who likes to take a full day smashing through mud, streams and fallen logs on some remote Sierra Nevada foothills trail.  But I was completely convinced that my Tacoma was more than up for that task.

With a tall ride height and imposing-looking tires that seemed capable of leveling a national forest over a long weekend, the tester was all menace and monster machine, made even more intimidating in "Barcelona Red" paint.  The most reckless off-road warrior would be challenged to get high-centered or on his lid in this model, equipped with a blizzard of state-of-the-art driving assists for climbing up and over rocks, hills and through fast-moving waters.

Impressive?  Very.  Even for a comparatively civilized pavement driver like myself.

Speaking of that, the Tacoma was a smooth suburban driver and remarkably nimble when I put it through some quick-lane-change maneuvers and urban slalom runs.  Those muscular tires did make some major noise on freeway surfaces, but hey, they're supposed to do that.  I wouldn't whine about tire noise if I was on the Rubicon Trail, believe me.

For all its brutish off-road charms, the tester's interior was comfortable and classy.  Lots of room for beefy adults in the cabin and a nice layout of comfort/convenience features within easy reach of the driver's seat.  A strong list of safety features made me feel secure in all conditions.

Fuel mileage is not so hot at only 18 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway.

I sometimes have dreamed of being a Northern California rancher big shot, living in a sprawling, comfortable rock house with a fireplace the approximate size of Vermont.  I've fantasized about all that would require.

Take it from me: Number one on that list would be purchasing this off-road-worthy Toyota Tacoma.

Hyundai's Kona is a winning newcomer

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- Hyundai calls its all-new 2018 Kona SUV an auto perfect for "urban adventures" and "the small crossover with a big personality."

I call the compact sport-ute the latest smart move by an automaker that has rarely put a foot wrong over the past quarter century.

My tester was the 2018 Hyundai Kona Ultimate AWD, and you could almost hear it coming with its eye-popping "Lime Twist" exterior paint job.  I discovered that the saucy, sporty look of the little SUV and its lime-overload paint scheme prompted instant reactions from observers.

They either loved it or disliked it, in a heartbeat.

I ended up in the former category, especially when I stepped into the cockpit and sampled the super-generous lineup of standard perks.  That included a head-up display, a 315-watt audio system with eight speaker, a power tilt/slide sunroof and rain-sensing windshield wipers.  All this and more -- including Hyundai's exceptional warranties -- for a sticker price of $29,775.

This Kona is straight out of the Hyundai playbook.  Build a good-looking model and stuff it full of standard features that will cost you much more in the equivalent model built by the competition.

You might expect Hyundai to make up some dollars by installing a tepid power plant.  You'd be wrong.

The 1.6-liter turbo-4 rated at 175 horsepower was a more-than-willing engine.  It sprinted admirably off the line and hit the hill climbs with gusto ... make that surprising gusto, in my book.

With multiple infotainment features, the Kona is marketed as the near-perfect CUV for young folks.  To which I say: Why let them have all the fun?  The Kona stacks up as a fun daily driver for retired folks who periodically like to hit the road on a moment's notice for weeklong outings or make weekend trips to visit the kids and grandkids.

And despite its compact label, the Kona is surprisingly roomy inside.  Fuel mileage is pretty impressive as well as 26 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

Overall, Hyundai has come up with another winner.  Like yours with a Lime Twist?  I'll drink to that.

VW Beetle Coast model is California-forward

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo reviews of the latest motor vehicle models also can be seen on The Sacramento Bee’s website at www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

This review first appeared in the July 2018 edition of the Northern & Central California Cruisin’ News published out of Folsom, California – mg

Sacramento, California – A handful of motor vehicle models span generations, enabling young folks and seniors to debate the charms of their particular rides.

Arguably, the prototype vehicle for such discussions is the Volkswagen Beetle, which came to the United States in 1949.  Since then, numerous Beetle variations have hit the roadways.

For 2018, a new Coast model is part of the long gray line of Beetles, and this Coast is decidedly California-forward.

VW hypes the new model as "ready for seaside adventures," all but screaming at Golden State motorists: "Buy me."

The tested 2018 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible 2.0T Coast did indeed stack up as the ultimate beach vehicle, complete with a "Deep Sea Teal Metallic" paint and a "surfboard-look dashpad."

Oh, to be a young surfer dude on California's coast with this ride.  But be advised that today's Beetle is just a touch more pricey than Beetles past: $27,690 on bottom line of the tested model.

I ran this sticker number by long-ago Beetle owners who paid less than $1,000 for their Beetles, and they just shook their heads.

Well, the price of progress is not cheap.

Happily, the tested Coast was loaded with contemporary goodies to justify the price.  That included halogen headlights, heated/power/folding exterior mirrors with built-in turn signals, rain-sensing windshield wipers, blind spot monitors and a long list of state-of-the-art safety/entertainment features.

The Coast retains the classic Beetle look, adding a spoiler on the rear and riding on 17-inch alloy wheels.  The power soft-top is a snap to operate, as a single push drops the roof out of harm's way; ditto bringing it back up into the closed position.

The best part of my week in the Coast was its peppy performance.  The 2-liter, turbo-4 engine is advertised at 174 horsepower, but that moved the relatively lightweight Coast off the line with authority.

Accelerations from a standing start were robust, and the Coast was a quick-footed rabbit in traffic.  It dug into hill climbs with little asking from my right foot.  It stuck well in speedy slalom runs.

For all that oomph, fuel mileage is an impressive 26 miles per gallon in the city and 33 mpg on the highway.

I had numerous folks say to me that they wished this Beetle was available to them when they were carefree youngsters, and yes, I'm sure VW had this in mind when it styled the vehicle.

Want to recapture some of your California past?  You might want to get this Coast and take a trip along the coast.

Smokin' Kia Stinger reviewed in latest Cruisin' News

Check out my review of the 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 AWD V6 high-performance hatch in the latest, August 2018, 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.

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.

This Accord goes to the head of the class

A menu of Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen on the Business page of The Sacramento Bee’s website – www.sacbee.com/news/business/article4005306.html

Sacramento, California -- Recently, I tested the best Ford Fusion I've ever driven.  This time around, I had an enjoyable week in the best Honda Accord I've had the opportunity to pilot.

And yes, I've driven a fair number of Accords over the years.  How did I get so lucky?

For starters, the Accord received a major makeover for the 2018 model year.  On first glance from a distance, my ride could have been mistaken for a Lexus.  And I mean that in a good way.

Stylish, bold front end.  Very smooth lines stretching from the tip of the hood and over the roofline.  Nice angles and rounding on the back end.  This Accord has the full visual package.

Interior comforts on the tester were exceptional.  Downright luxurious.  With my ride being the relatively opulent 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring sedan, it was equipped in impressive fashion.  A full boat of state-of-the-art safety features was bolstered by plentiful leather surfaces, a primo audio system with 10 speakers, a head-up display and heated/ventilated seats (12-way power on the cockpit chair).

With all this, the thing that grabbed my attention was the vehicle's performance, especially with a hybrid power plant. The tester had a 2-liter in-line 4 engine matched with an electric propulsion motor churning out a combined 212 horsepower.

It felt like more.

During a spirited run from the Sacramento Valley floor over the top of the Sierra Nevada to Truckee (and back), the tested Accord Hybrid performed with extraordinary enthusiasm.  It dug into hill climbs like a robust sports car, yet made very little noise during the heart-racing effort.

Volunteer passengers who have ridden with me numerous times -- therefore knowing what a smooth ride feels like -- said they were impressed by the smoothness and quietness of the tested Accord, even when it was doing a 70 miles per hour sprint up a steep mountain grade.

I agreed with their assessment.

Throw in fuel mileage of 47 miles per gallon in both city and highway driving, plus across-the-board five-star safety ratings in all federal government crash-test categories, and the $35,605 sticker price on the tester felt like a steal.

Best Accord ever?  Yeah, it gets my vote.