The distinct style of the Jeep Cherokee – its seven-slot grille and slit running lights which pass as headlights to most observers, as well as its high-riding rectangular taillights at the rear – makes it easy to notice the multitude of those models driving the roads of the Front Range.

The Cherokee 4X4, perhaps more than other popular compact crossovers Escape, CR-V, RAV4 and Forester, fills the pleasing role of smooth, comfy family cruiser in the one lane and with the push of a button or twist of a dial meets the demands of the rugged offroad bruiser in the other lane.

In its year and a half of sales in these parts, the Cherokee has made its presence known.

It outsells the bigger, more luxurious Grand Cherokee. Through the first four months of this year, Jeep has sold 67,285 Cherokees. Other totals for the make are Wrangler 60,967, Grand Cherokee 59,407, Patriot 39,162, Compass 18,530 and the new, small Renegade 5,157 in its first month.

In the Colorado market in the past year, the Jeep ranked sixth, outsold only by Toyota, Ford, Subaru, Honda and Chevrolet. A million Jeeps were sold worldwide last year, including 692,348 in the U.S.

On a recent warm afternoon following a previous week of 4 inches of rainfall, while on a soft, sticky trail of a road I chose the “sand and mud” setting of the Cherokee’s Selec-Terrain system. This adjusted the throttle and delayed shifts to keep the wheels spinning through the gooey surface. Other terrain sets, besides sand and mud and the normal automatic, are those for snow, sport and rock. These are dialed in, and 4wd Low can be engaged with push of a button.

The Cherokee performs somewhat brisk with its 271-horsepower, 3.2-liter Pentastar V-6 engine and 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s a smooth operation; shift points are nearly imperceptible. Base engine for the crossover is a 184-hp, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder, also mated to the 9-speed.

The Cherokee Limited review model averaged 22.7 miles per gallon for the full week; 18 months ago I averaged 21.7 with the more rugged Trailhawk edition using the same powertrain. The Cherokee Limited averaged in the 25s on an easy drive to Denver and back.

“Stop and remove hands from steering wheel” was the message when I tested Jeep’s ParkSense assist system for parallel parking. When I obeyed, the steering wheel turned slightly every couple of seconds as it guided the vehicle into the available space. I maintained control of the accelerator, shift lever and brakes during the maneuver. I’d prefer to do the full park myself, in most situations.

Pairing indigo blue and Jeep brown on the nappa leather seats, company officials say, “mirrors the evening hues of Italy’s Mt. Vesuvius.” A bit of zebrano wood trim is added to the interior’s doors. Handy are a 12-inch-deep glove box and a covered bin over the audio screen atop the dash.

Cheaper than the Limited and Trailhawk are Sport and Latitude versions of the Cherokee.

The Limited’s V-6 and 9-speed, adaptive cruise, park assist and UConnect with Bluetooth and navigation pushed sticker price to $39,505. Also included are a stop/start system, hill-descent control, lane-departure warning, power liftgate, heated and ventilated front seats, offroad suspension and rain-sensitive wipers.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Jeep Cherokee Limited 4X4:

• Capacity 5-passenger compact crossover
• Wheelbase 106.3 inches
• Length 182 inches
• Width 73.2 inches
• Height 66.2 inches
• Curb Weight 3,985 pounds
• Track 62 inches front, 61.9 rear
• Ground Clearance 8.7 inches
• Turn Circle 37.6 feet
• Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
• Engine 3.2-liter V-6
• Horsepower/Torque 271/239
• Transmission 9-speed automatic
• Steering speed-sensitive electronic
• Suspension independent offroad
• Fuel mileage estimate 19/26
• Fuel mileage average 22.7
• Fuel Tank 15.9 gallons, regular
• Wheels 18-inch
• Tires Continental ProContact 225/60R18
• Cargo Volume 24.6 cubic feet
• Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain

Competitors Ford Escape, Kia Sorento, Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, Chevrolet Equinox

Assembly Plant Toledo, Ohio

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 71%, Mexico 16%

Base Price of Lowest Model $24,500; Base Price of Review Model $30,395; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $39,505.

Our most recent jaunt was a very easy, carlike drive and quiet ride in the new aluminum-bodied Ford pickup. The 2015 F-150 Lariat SuperCab 4X4 carried Jan and me to Redstone for her birthday.

The new truck, even in its less-than-spectacular gray metallic finish, looked good parked outside the old Redstone Inn.

The F-150, you know, showed up this year with aluminum body panels in place of steel, initiating a great amount of buzz among supporters and skeptics. Many weigh the benefits of the lighter structure against the potential added cost of repairing aluminum over steel.

The aluminum body, weighing 4,800 pounds, is 700 pounds lighter than a comparable F-150 from a year ago.

So, in the F-150 review model I drove, the lesser weight allowed Ford to equip it with a 2.7-liter V-6 EcoBoost engine; that is the smallest-displacement V-6 engine in any half-ton pickup in the country. And don’t assume the small size equates to low power – the 2.7 is a twin-turbo producing 325 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque, with towing capability of 7,600 pounds.

Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, it performed with plenty of power, maintaining highway speeds on the climbs to Eisenhower Tunnel and Vail Pass and maneuvered some sharp twists on narrower roads once we left I-70 at Glenwood Springs. Its road manners are excellent; its suspension of double-wishbone front and leaf springs rear soaked up the road imperfections, including the roughness on the eastbound descent of Vail Pass.

Redstone is on Colo. 133, 15 miles south of Carbondale. For the overall trip of 488 miles, the F-150 averaged 22.9 miles per gallon. The 4X4’s EPA estimate is 18/23; the two-wheel-drive version of the F-150 is rated at 26 mpg on the highway, topped only by a diesel.

For those pickup buyers who still like the feel and sound of V-8 power, the F-150 offers the 5.0-liter, as well as two other V-6s, the base 3.5 and a turboed 3.5 EcoBoost engine.

Our stay at the Redstone Inn lent opportunity to meet Bruce and Libby Yaple of Lakewood; Bruce is owner of Yaple Company Real Estate in Lakewood. He was reared in Michigan, so, of course, he has an interest in cars. Parked out front of their room at the Inn was a Lexus RX350.

Power lumbar front seats added comfort over the four-hour drive each day. Rear-seat access isn’t particularly handy with the SuperCab, as the doors are rear-hinged and can be opened only when a front door is open. An easy-drop tailgate can be lowered by double-clicking a button on the Ford’s key fob.

Among options on the F-150, which brought sticker price to $47,060, were remote start, 3.65-ratio rear axle, voice-activated navigation, 36-gallon fuel tank, integrated trailer-brake control, leather bucket seats and blind-spot detection.

The Ford F-150 is the runaway best seller among all cars and trucks in the U.S. For the past year, Ford has sold more V-6-powered F-150s than those with V-8s.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Ford F-150 4X4 SuperCab:

• Capacity 5-passenger pickup
• Wheelbase 145 inches
• Length 231.9 inches
• Width 79.9 inches
• Height 77.2 inches
• Curb Weight 4,795 pounds
• Track 67.6 inches front, 67.6 rear
• Ground Clearance 9.4 inches
• Turn Circle 47.2 feet
• Drivetrain Four-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6
• Horsepower/Torque 325/375
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering electric power-assisted
• Suspension Double-wishbone front, leaf springs rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 18/23
• Fuel mileage average 22.9
• Fuel Tank 36 gallons, regular unleaded
• Wheels 18-inch
• Tires Goodyear Wrangler 275/65R18
• Cargo Volume 6-foot-6 bed
• Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors Chevrolet Silverado, Ram, GMC Sierra, Toyota Tundra

Assembly Plant Dearborn, Mich.

Parts Content N.A.

Base Price of Lowest Model $30,395; Base Price of Review Model $42,500; Destination Charge $1,195; Sticker Price $47,060.

Better-looking, I’d say, of the new four-door style added to the 2015 Mini Cooper.

I’ve been driving the Mini Cooper S Hardtop 4 door with the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed Getrag automatic transmission.

The added length (almost 6 inches) and two extra doors give it some authority in its stance and may put to rest some of the good-natured go-kart references of the little Mini. The four-door’s side view, enhanced with stripes and Union Jack flag stickers, is attractive.

The front-wheel-drive Mini made its debut in Great Britain in 1959 and was imported into the U.S. from 1960 to ’67. Sales over here were stopped and didn’t resume for 35 years. Under ownership of BMW, though still built in England, the Mini Cooper was reintroduced to the U.S. in the spring of 2002.

I reviewed in the Post one of the first ‘02s to come to Denver, a red-and-white model.

My lead read, “Look at the new Mini Cooper, and you’re apt to smile.” The same hold true in 2015. Deeper into the ’02 review, I wrote, “The ride is on the rough side.” The same holds true in 2015. Avoid all potholes.

The new Mini is an excellent handler, even improved, it seems to me, over the smaller one. The S version’s performance is strong with the twin-power turbo kicking out 189 horsepower and 207 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard engine is a 134-hp, turbocharged 1.5-liter 3-cylinder. The S model is worth the extra dollars, plenty of power, almost enough to be called a Super Duper Cooper. Parking is a pleasure.

The added weight of the four-door (200 pounds) reduced EPA fuel estimate to 26/33; I averaged 28.4 with the review model.

A Sport mode added fun to driving the Mini, sharpening the throttle response and firming up the steering feel. For a tamer tour, normal and “green” modes are offered.

Inside the Mini, seat cushions are supportive and front-seat thigh extenders offer increased comfort for long drives. Dual moonroofs brighten the interior and a feature is a ring of colored light changing from green to red, depending on driving habits, around the center display screen. Any difficulty in programming audio selections can be solved by simply pushing the voice button and stating a preference, then set it as a favorite.

Expanded shoulder room and headroom in the rear-seating area create space for two full-sized adults, though legroom is still tight. Cargo space has grown from 8.7 cubic feet in the two-door to 13.1 in the four-door; flatten the rear seatbacks in the new one and the space grows to 40 cubic feet.

The Mini is known for oversized oval headlights. Open the hood and it’s as though two large eyeballs are peering back at you.

The price of the four-door Mini jumped from a base of $25,100 to $35,900 sticker with the addition of navigation, harman/kardon sound, Bluetooth and USB connections, heated front seats, the moonroofs, the automatic transmission, leather-covered steering wheel and head-up display.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Mini Cooper S Hardtop 4 Door:

• Capacity 5-passenger sedan
• Wheelbase 101.1 inches
• Length 157.4 inches
• Width 68 inches
• Height 56.1 inches
• Curb Weight 2,930 pounds
• Track 59.1 inches front, 58.5 rear
• Ground Clearance 5.7 inches
• Turn Circle 35.4 feet
• Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
• Horsepower/Torque 189/207
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering electromechanical power
• Suspension strut front/multilink rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 26/33
• Fuel mileage average 28.4
• Fuel Tank 11.6 gallons, premium
• Wheels 18-inch
• Tires Pirelli 205/40R18
• Cargo Volume 13.1 cubic feet
• Warranty 4years/50,000 miles basic, 4/50,000 powertrain

Competitors Volkswagen Golf, Fiat 500, Honda Fit, Nissan Juke

Assembly Plant Oxford, United Kingdom

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 5%, Germany 35%, United Kingdom 25%

Base Price of Lowest Model $25,110; Base Price of Review Model $25,100; Destination Charge $850; Sticker Price $35,900.

“Well, hell’s bells,” let me mutter.

My longed-for time in the SRT Hellcat version of the Dodge Charger in reality lasted five hours. The ‘Cat is the beast with a 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8 engine and 8-speed transmission.

I walked from my garden one afternoon last week to welcome the Hellcat into my driveway. That evening, four of us were aboard when I drove away from a small-town restaurant for a short run of the powerfully built Dodge. Along the way, prompted by the Charger’s driver info center, we detected an oil leak. The big four-door was quickly parked, Chrysler execs soon reclaimed possession and it is in Detroit getting a once-over and retuning.

It will be back; I’ll drive it again, and I look forward to it. What a potentially awesome sedan.

In the meantime, let’s talk of my week with the 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 Crew Cab.

Setting the review model apart from the already likeable Sierra pickup were the dazzling and cushy Denali trim and a $2,500 package adding the 6.2-liter V-8 power and an 8-speed automatic transmission. The engine/tranny option is a step above in performance and smoothness over the standard 5.3 V-8 and 6-speed automatic.

A new magnetic ride control suspension adds increased containment of body motion by instantly changing damping to meet the demands of the roadway.

With Jan along, I got to test the four-wheel-drive capability when we drove the Sierra into Big Thompson Canyon, west of Loveland, during a mid-April snowstorm. The switch of grip controls – from two-wheel to automatic all-wheel to four-wheel-high to four-low is as simple as turning a dial at the extreme left side of the dashboard.

GMC’s Denali, named for the vast national park in Alaska, offers bright chrome honeycomb grille, easy-lift and lower tailgate, heated and cooled front bucket leather seating, wood trim, Bose surround sound and navigation with Bluetooth/USB and rearview camera. Big, roomy bins are a highlight in the front center console. The ease of entering and exiting the four doors of the Sierra are aided by 6-inch-wide step rails. Rear bumper cornersteps lend access to the pickup box.

Horsepower for the 6.2 engine is 420, with 460 lb.-ft. of torque. The 8-speed smooths shift points and the driver gains more direct control with use of paddle shifters at the steering wheel. Overall fuel mileage for my drives was 17.7 miles per gallon; EPA estimate is 15/21.

Options not aforementioned in the $57,820 sticker price were power sunroof, trailer brake controller, lane-departure warning, forward-collision alert and safety-alert seat. Some other standard equipment features were spray-on bedliner, power sliding rear window, remote vehicle start, power-adjustable pedals, heated steering wheel and dual-zone climate control.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 GMC Sierra Denali 1500 Crew Cab:

• Capacity 5-passenger pickup
• Wheelbase 143.5 inches
• Length 229.5 inches
• Width 80 inches
• Height 74 inches
• Curb Weight 5,750 pounds
• Track 68.7 inches front, 67.6 rear
• Ground Clearance 8.9 inches
• Turn Circle 47.2 feet
• Drivetrain Four-wheel-drive
• Engine 6.2-liter V-8
• Horsepower/Torque 420/460
• Transmission 8-speed automatic
• Steering electric power rack-and-pinion
• Suspension Magnetic ride control
• Fuel mileage estimate 15/21
• Fuel mileage average 17.7
• Fuel Tank 26 gallons, premium recommended (not required)
• Wheels 20-inch
• Tires Goodyear Wrangler LT 265/60R20
• Cargo Volume 5-foot-8 bed
• Warranty 3years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain

Competitors Ford F-150 King Ranch, Ram 1500 Laramie Limited

Assembly Plant Silao, Mexico

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 45%, Mexico 52%

Base Price of Lowest Model $41,115; Base Price of Review Model $52,155; Destination Charge $1,195; Sticker Price $57,820.