Ask most any person familiar with the car market to name the premium, medium to large sedan that first comes to mind and they most likely will mention a model from BMW, Mercedes, Lexus or Audi. Few would say Genesis.
I drove the new 2020 Mazda CX-30 about a year ago and explained to readers how it fit in between Mazda’s CX-3 and CX-5 in both size and price. The CX-30 is based on the same platform that also underpins the Mazda3 hatchback and sedan.
2021 Jeep Gladiator Trail Rated Review By Larry Nutson
2021 Jeep Gladiator
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
A whopping 2.9 million pickups were sold in the U.S. last year, making up roughly 20% of the entire auto market, according to Cox Automotive.
Full size and midsize pickups are offered by eight different brands. Soon we’ll see some compact pickups coming back into the market. And, we’ll also see new brands entering the scene with battery-powered electric pickups.
The Jeep Gladiator is the newest model in the pickup truck segment having been introduced for the 2020 model year. The Gladiator is somewhat unique among pickups with its strong Jeep heritage and off-road, rock-crawling ability. The Gladiator is offered only in a 4-door crew-cab, 5-seat configuration and with only a 5ft.-long bed.
Expert New Car Review: 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe by Larry Nutson
Both Style and Utility
Chicago Bureau
The Auto Channel
As we gradually emerge from this pandemic tunnel we’re all in, the hard-hit auto industry is seeing an increase in sales. The Hyundai brand is doing very well. They’ve recently seen two record-setting months and overall sales are up 48-percent for the first four months of this year.
Hyundai’s Santa Fe 5-passenger compact utility vehicle (UV) is doing well. This fourth generation of the Santa Fe has gotten a mid-cycle refresh with design changes and many new features for the 2021 model. Sales are up 53-percent in the first third of 2021.
Kia pulled out all the stops for this replacement for its long-running Optima midsize sedan, adding performance and optional all-wheel drive. The Optima was a bellwether of Kia’s steady march from econo-brand to a design and value leader. The K5 continues that, generating interest in the sedan as SUVs surged to 65% of Kia’s total sales. K5 prices start at $23,495.