Yearly Archives: 2021

Bud’s 2,500th review – ‘Merry Christmas’

The 2022 Grand Wagoneer moves Jeep into the luxury field. (Bud Wells photos)

“Merry Christmas” I shout out from the open window of the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer.

It is a special time for me, as the Grand Wagoneer is the 2,500th car or truck I’ve reviewed over the past 44 years – since Christmas Eve 1977.

The 1995 Chevy Corvette at Georgetown.

Of those 2,500 models I’ve driven, 162 were Fords, the most for any of the 70 brand names, followed by Chevrolet, Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen and BMW.

It started Dec. 24, 1977, when I walked out of The Denver Post building at 15th and California downtown and rode north to Griffith Chrysler Plymouth in Northglenn and was handed keys to a ’78 Chrysler Cordoba.

The next four drives were in an AMC Pacer Wagon, Mercury Zephyr Z-7, Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel and Pontiac Trans Am. Cheapest I drove were a ’78 Mazda GLC at $4,030 and ’78 Chevrolet Monza at $4,085. Highest-priced was the 2021 Rolls-Royce Cullinan at $394,275 last summer.

Saab was one of the greatest of handlers in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. (Bud Wells)

Majority of my reviews were in The Post, though diversions earned me columns in the Rocky Mountain News, Pueblo Chieftain, Villager, Greeley Tribune.

For the 2,500th, it is the big, new Grand Wagoneer, Jeep’s pricey step up into the luxury SUV field to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln, even Range Rover and Mercedes.

The Grand Wagoneer, with overall length of 214.7 inches and curb weight of 6,340 pounds, performs impressively with a 471-horsepower, 455 lb.-ft. torque, 6.4-liter Hemi V-8, 8-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

It comes in four trim levels – Series I at $87,845, Series II $95,440, Series Obsidian $100,400 and Series III $104,845.

The Series I model I drove was finished in velvet red with a painted black cap and seven-bar grille out front. One of the first I showed it to, said, “I thought it might be a bit sleeker,” to which I replied, “Jeep hasn’t used the word ‘sleek’ in 80 years.”

Today’s automotive luxury field is low volume in sales, but very high in profit. The Grand Wagoneer, based on body-on-frame underpinnings derived from the Ram 1500, features independent rear suspension rather than solid rear axle, for smoother ride.

The popular Quadra Lift air suspension, which automatically adjusts between efficiency on the highway and greater ground clearance in offroading, is standard on the Grand Wagoneer. Twenty-inch wheels are standard on Grand Wagoneer Series I, while the upper trim levels get 22-inchers.

As the Hemi roars with high levels of power, the EPA estimate remains low in fuel mileage – 13 in town, 18 on the highway, my driving averaged 15.4 mpg.

A beautiful, plush interior is a highlight of the new offering and includes a Mcintosh sound system, newly refined for the automotive field. McIntosh designed the special audio for the 100th anniversary Ford GT in 2003.

One late afternoon in the Jeep, there I was at the busy postal depository for my handful of Christmas cards, window down and several more cars pulling in line behind me. In order to reach the small slot in the postal chute, I unhooked my seatbelt, stretched my arm to its length and tipped the cards in. Half a dozen cars waiting behind me now, I twisted the dial shifter to D, pressed lightly on the throttle, got nothing, no forward movement. Tried again, moved shifter back to P, then past R and N to D, deeper into throttle, got noise, nothing else. Another 20 seconds, Jan offered some words of advice, I noticed my seat belt light flashing, buckled the belt, moved shifter to D, accelerated and pulled away from the post office.

Following are the numbers of each make I’ve driven through the years:

The rear-drive Crown Vic, last of the big Fords, in the Rockies.
An S4 Cabriolet is one of 85 Audis driven and reviewed by Bud Wells. (Bud Wells photo)

List of 2500 Vehicles Driven

  1. Ford 162,
  2. Chevrolet 145,
  3. Toyota 126,
  4. Nissan 124,
  5. Volkswagen 104,
  6. BMW 103,
  7. Dodge 101,
  8. Mercedes-Benz 99,
  9. Subaru 92,
  10. Mazda 87,
  11. Audi 85,
  12. Jeep 73,
  13. Volvo 71,
  14. Infiniti 69,
  15. Chrysler 65,
  16. Honda 65,
  17. Lexus 61,
  18. Cadillac 57,
  19. Kia 56,
  20. Hyundai 53,
  21. Land Rover/Range Rover 49,
  22. GMC 47,
  23. Jaguar 47,
  24. Mitsubishi 47,
  25. Acura 44,
  26. Pontiac 44,
  27. Buick 40,
  28. Suzuki 36,
  29. Lincoln 33,
  30. Mercury 31,
  31. Ram 28,
  32. Saab 28,
  33. Oldsmobile 24,
  34. Saturn 21,
  35. Mini 19,
  36. Fiat 17,
  37. Porsche 17,
  38. Isuzu 16,
  39. Plymouth 15,
  40. AMC 10,
  41. Hummer 9,
  42. Alfa Romeo 7,
  43. Geo 7,
  44. Scion 7,
  45. Datsun 6,
  46. Bentley 5,
  47. Lancia 4,
  48. Triumph 4,
  49. Aston Martin 3,
  50. Eagle 3,
  51. Genesis 3,
  52. MGB 3,
  53. Rolls-Royce 3,
  54. Daewoo 2,
  55. Ferrari 2,
  56. Imperial 2,
  57. Lamborghini 2,
  58. Lectric Leopard 2,
  59. Maserati 2,
  60. McLaren 2,
  61. Sprinter 2,
  62. Electrek 1,
  63. Excalibur 1,
  64. Fisker 1,
  65. Lotus 1,
  66. Marathon 1,
  67. Maybach 1,
  68. Peugeot 1,
  69. Renault 1,
  70. Stryker 1.

Genesis GV70 earns divisional recognition

An ultramodern 2022 Genesis GV70 contrasts with a long-ago business of the little town halfway between Wray and Yuma. (Bud Wells photos)

“Is that a Bentley?,” Robert McKeigan hollered out the window of his pickup as I parked in a fueling lane at Stub’s Gas & Oil in Wiggins early afternoon on my way to Wray.

“No, it’s a Genesis,” I responded, “you know, from Hyundai’s new luxury division.”

More specifically, I was driving a 2022 Genesis GV70 all-wheel-drive SUV crossover, one that drew attention wherever I took it. It is a new luxury compact competing with the Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes GLB and GLC and others.

The winged emblem of the Genesis GV70 SUV crossover.

McKeigan and his wife, Adriana, were impressed with the GV70’s sleek structural beauty, and the guess that it might be a Bentley was based on its winged emblem at the front of the hood. The Genesis wings have similarities to several other car logos, including Aston Martin and Chrysler.

The Genesis name was a Hyundai model for 10 years before launching a slow start toward its own division in 2017. Today it is a full-fledged division with five models, based in Ulsan, Korea. In addition to the GV70, the nameplate also rides on three sedans – G70, G80 and G90 – and a larger SUV crossover, the GV80. Famed golfer Tiger Woods was driving a GV80 when he was seriously injured in an auto accident in California in February.

The good-handling GV70 has the feel of a relatively heavy compact, and sizes up that direction when compared with the popular Audi Q5. The Genesis has longer wheelbase, is an inch longer overall and 200 pounds heavier than the Audi.

The top-trim-level GV Sport Prestige’s twin-turboed 3.5-liter, 6-cylinder engine is powerful and smooth, tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission (with paddleshifters) and standard all-wheel drive. The V-6 develops 375 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. It averaged 23.4 miles per gallon on drive to Wray and back. Available also is a turbocharged 2.5-liter, 4-cylinder of 300 horsepower.

It is a delight to drive; a complaint, though, is the closeness on the center console of two rotary dials, making it not unusual to grab and twist one for the other until the driver is more familiar with the setup.

The forward-placed dial controls infotainment on a large, 14.5-inch touchscreen. Directly behind it is the gearshift rotary.

In my first drive of the review vehicle, I wondered why a small “eye” kept looking up at me from its insertion into the dash; it is an eye for scanning the driver’s fingerprint, which allows activating the GV without a key.

The GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige model’s base price of $52,600 climbed to $64,045 with addition of a Sport Advantage package of nappa leather, heated steering wheel, remote smart parking assist (practice this before using it in downtown Denver) and Lexicon premium audio. Also a Sport Prestige package of 21-inch wheels, carbon fiber trim, heated rear seats, manual rear-side sunshades and head-up display.

Genesis models are currently sold at Hyundai stores; beginning in 2022 the company will open exclusive Genesis stores.

Hybrid switch brightens Toyota minivan

The ’22 Toyota Sienna Hybrid in Boulder. (Bud Wells photos)

A bright position in a slumping automotive market category of minivans appears to be that of the Toyota Sienna and its maker’s decision a year ago to produce and sell only gas/electric hybrid models.

Contrasting that is FCA’s axing a bit earlier of the Dodge Grand Caravan, the greatest-selling minivan of all time.

Results through nine months of 2021 show the Toyota Sienna rising from fourth to first place in sales on the strength of an astounding 190% increase; the FCA minivan two-pack of Grand Caravan and Chrysler Pacifica which traditionally owned more than 50% of the market, has skidded to 24% by the Pacifica, alone without the Dodge’s presence.

In the face of worldwide chip shortages and pandemic slowdowns, it isn’t clear as to whether the Sienna sales surge will be of prolonged duration, and with the long-popular Grand Caravan gone, will loyal Dodge minivan buyers turn to stablemate Pacifica for replacement.

“The Toyota Sienna and its all-hybrid powertrain have surpassed customers’ expectations with a combined 36 miles per gallon, Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard equipment at no extra cost and built-in quality, said Christine Henley, Western communications manager for Toyota North America. 

A strong selling point for the Toyota hybrid is the claim of much higher economy; on that basis of information, I requested and received one.

Distinguished educator James Colwell visits with Jan Wells in Boulder.

For testing the 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid XSE All-Wheel-Drive minivan, we drove from Greeley to Boulder to visit with James Colwell in a retirement community, on in to Denver to autograph a copy of “The 100-Year Deal” at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, then on out southwest for dinner at the home of Kurt and Tammy Wells.

The Sienna performed smoothly, if not powerfully. Its hybrid engine is made up of a 190-horsepower, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, which is driven by two electric motors; total output is 245-hp. This is tied to an electronic continuous variable transmission.

For the 170-mile drive, the Sienna Hybrid averaged 34.9 miles per gallon, right at its EPA estimate of 35 in the city and 36 on the highway. Performance was a bit more satisfactory a year ago when I drove a gas-only Sienna Limited Premium AWD minivan equipped with 3.5-liter V-6 and 8-speed automatic transmission; its mpg, though, was 20.1.

The large ’22 Sienna is 17 feet long and weighs 4,610 pounds with sport-tuned suspension. The red-stitched SofTex (more durable than leather) front seats are very well-bolstered, the second-row captain’s chairs are of long-slide capability and third row seat is split and can be stowed in one motion.

Sticker price on the ’22 Sienna, including a full range of Toyota Safety Sense features, is $47,215.

Colwell, 95, English instructor for my freshman year at Sterling High School 70 years ago, enjoyed a distinguished career as an educator.

Jan and I were assisted at the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association by Kim Jackson and Savannah Hatcher. The book-signing was for John McCallan, whose family was associated in a Colorado dealership before moving to California, where John is involved in several large-scale automotive operations.
Minivans at the turn-of-the-century sold more than 1 million annually; the tally this year will be down around 310,000.

Colo. Auto Hall of Fame induction

Lisa Schomp, Colorado Time Dealer in 2007, is on stage with CADA officials Steve Zeder, left, and Anthony Brownlee. (CADA photos)

More than 600 persons gathered beneath a large tent on an evening in mid-September 2021 on the grounds of the Elitch Gardens to celebrate the induction of the inaugural class for the Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame.

The 12th annual Gala, sponsored by the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association (CADA), featured 50 former Time Dealer Award winners from Colorado as inductees, and many family members were in attendance. I, too, was included in the Hall of Fame honors for my many years of automotive coverage.

At the dinner’s conclusion, the gates into Elitch from its parking areas were opened for an early look at the 2021 Denver Auto Show.

“Dealers consistently and generously contribute to the lives of their communities,” said Tim Jackson, president and CEO of CADA, at the awards dinner, “and we’re very proud to honor these wonderful individuals who have made this industry a driving force in our state.”

Emcees were Ed Greene and Claudia Garofalo, of KUSA9, and presenting the awards were Steve Zeder, CADA chair, of Glenwood Springs, and Anthony Brownlee, auto show chair for the CADA.

Colorado’s 50 Time Dealer Award winners who were inducted into the Hall of Fame are:

Russel Lyons of Boulder,

Gene Markley of Fort Collins,

Richard Deane of Denver,

Vern Hagestad of Lakewood,

Charlie Williams of Colorado Springs,

Al O’Meara of Denver,

Ralph Schomp of Littleton,

Gene Wilcoxson of Pueblo, George McCaddon of Boulder,

Tony Fortino of Pueblo,

Dwight Ghent of Fort Collins,

Nate Burt of Denver,

Jack Maffeo of Arvada,

Don Doenges of Colorado Springs,

Florian Barth of Denver,

Hugh Tighe Jr. of Denver,

Richard Dellenbach of Fort Collins,

Joe Luby of Denver,

Harry Dowson of Denver,

Bob Fisher of Boulder,

Robert Markley of Greeley,

Doug McDonald of Denver,

Jim Suss Sr. of Denver,

Roland Purifoy of Fort Lupton,

Herrick Garnsey of Greeley,

Jim Reilly Sr. of  Colorado Springs,

Lloyd Chavez of Denver,

Fred Emich III of Denver,

Kent Stevinson of Lakewood,

Dean Dowson of Lakewood,

John Schenden of Northglenn,

Lee Payne of Golden,

Jim Morehart of Durango,

Jeff Carlson of Glenwood Springs,

Barbara Vidmar of Pueblo,

Lisa Schomp of Littleton,

Don Hicks of Aurora,

John Medved of Golden,

Jack TerHar of Broomfield,

Doug Moreland of Denver,

Mike Shaw of Denver,

Jay Cimino of Colorado Springs,

Bob Ghent of Greeley,

Scott Ehrlich of Greeley,

Bob Penkhus of Colorado Springs,

Bill Hellman of Delta,

Todd Maul of Denver,

Mary Pacifico-Valley of Denver,

Fletcher Flower of Montrose,

Christina Dawkins of Loveland.

John Medved, left, who has sold his Colorado dealerships, was Colorado Time Dealer in 2009; he received HOF congrats from Brownlee.
Bob Markley of Greeley, Colorado Time Dealer in 1990, is applauded by his son, Dave, Claudia Garofalo at left, Zeder and Brownlee, right.

Notes from Elitch: A short visit with Jay Cimino was enjoyable before the beginning of the awards ceremonies; he is president and CEO of Phil Long dealerships, and one of the oldest execs heading automotive groups. . . . . The younger generation is active, too. When Lisa Schomp complimented her son, Aaron Wallace, on his aggressive expansion of holdings by the Schomp group, I asked, “Is he 40 yet?” “No, he’s 38,” she said. . . . .A couple other notables among the successful auto dealers at the dinner were John Elway, Denver’s football favorite, and Jason Stein, who recently resigned as publisher of Automotive News  in Detroit in order to accept a position as president of global venture consultancy Motormindz and host his own SiriusXM show. . . . . Sharing a table with Jan and me at the dinner were Kim Parker, Kurt and Tammy Wells, Dale and Sandy Wells, Kathy and Bill Allen, Brent and Tina Wells. . . . .When Fred Brown gave me a wave from across a wide table at the Hall of Fame dinner, he was close enough that I could read the Garnsey & Wheeler script above a pocket. Brown, about 15 years ago, was general manager of longtime Garnsey & Wheeler Ford at Greeley; the dealership was purchased a short time later by Spradley Barr of Pueblo. . . . .A note of congratulations from a former classmate of mine at Wray, ended with: “I don’t even really do cars, but I do read your articles.”

From the CADA:

Bud began work at The Denver Post in 1968, after 11 years at the Sterling Journal-Advocate and a year at the Rocky Mountain News. At the Post, he attained the position of Page One Editor, then in the mid-1970s oversaw the creation of an automotive news section for the Post and soon became the paper’s auto columnist.

He is a native of Wray, where his father, Dale Wells, opened a Chrysler/Plymouth dealership in 1935 and added the Ford/Mercury franchise in 1939.

The Wells family at HOF dinner included, from left, Bill and Kathy Allen, Brent and Tina Wells, Sandy Wells, Kim Parker, Dale Wells, Bud and Jan Wells, Kurt and Tammy Wells. (Cheryl Burnside photo)

Bud in the 1980s operated a car sales business in Sterling, served as publications director for Curtis Publishing Co. history book division in Dallas, and was with the Pueblo Chieftain for 1½ years.

He rejoined the Rocky Mountain News in 1991, became editor of the Advertorial Department and wrote about cars. In 1996, Bud authored “The Colorado Car Book,” a look at the 100-year history of the automobile in this state. He returned to The Denver Post in 2000 and continued to write weekly automotive columns.

Bud retired from the paper in 2003, though continued his car columns and in 2021 is still writing about cars for The Post. Living in Greeley since 2005, Bud wrote weekly auto columns for The Greeley Tribune, in addition to The Post.

In 2009, Bud was honored when the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association named its board room after him for his “extensive commitment of time, energy and passionate reporting on all aspects of Colorado’s automotive industry.”

Bud has driven and reviewed nearly 2,500 new cars and trucks, including the Porsche Cayenne on the frozen lakes of Whitehorse in the Canadian Yukon. In 2012, he was presented the Lee Iacocca Award “for dedication to excellence in perpetuating an American automotive tradition.” In 2014, he worked with CADA President and CEO Tim Jackson in overseeing “The 100-Year Deal,” an automotive history including a reprint of The Colorado Car Book.

He is a member of the Denver Press Club, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press and United Methodist Church.

A close advisor and confidant has been his lovely wife of 65 years, Jan. They have five children, 13 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Jeep testing plug-in Wrangler

The Jeep Wrangler plug-in hybrid at Lake Estes. (Bud Wells photo)

Jeep? Electrified?

I’ve seen it and driven it, a plug-in hybrid. For the Wrangler offroad star to be primed for the alternative power source probably means the entire automotive industry is making preparation.

In fact, Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis which is new name of the FiatChrysler/PSA merger, said recently, “we’re committed to an electric future and will not make any major future investments in internal combustion engines.” Jeep was FiatChrysler sales leader.

Delivered to me was a 2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 4XE, a plug-in hybrid with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine and two electric motor-generator units and an 8-speed automatic transmission. Electricity is stored in a 400-volt, 17-kw lithium-ion battery pack beneath the rear seat for combined 375 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque.

Three choices of power source with buttons marked Hybrid/Electric/E-save. Hybrid, the default mode, combines torque from the turbocharged gas engine and electric motors as needed. It seems to favor electric use and, with limited range, this is expended fairly quickly. With moderate acceleration, speeds will reach into the low to mid-60s before the gas engine replaces the electric power. The Electric mode uses full electric power, as long as it is available, while the E-Save mode will preserve battery power.

Drove to Loveland, south on U.S. 287 to Longmont, west on Colo. 66 to Lyons and on to Estes Park. The red Wrangler drew interest, while most seemed impressed that Jeep has moved into the busy plug-in hybrid testing.

By the time we returned home, over two days we had driven 166 miles with two overnight charges providing 52 miles of electric range, resulting in an overall fuel mileage of 27.6 miles per gallon. The mpg peaked at 30.9 after Monday’s 26 electric miles had been expended. Then, under full gasoline power, it gradually dropped to 27.6.

It takes 12 hours to fully charge the 4xe with a Level 1 (120V) system plugged into a typical household outlet. A Level II (240V) charger can do it in approximately 2 hours.

Interior of the 2021 Jeep® Wrangler Rubicon 4xe includes Surf Blue accent stitching on seats and interior trim.

Options worth $8,500 pushed the Jeep’s price past $60 grand at $61,265. Among those options are leather-trimmed and heated buckets, full-speed forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, advanced brake assist.

The two most recent Wranglers I’ve driven were higher-priced than the plug-in hybrid. They were the EcoDiesel at $64,380 and the 392 Hemi at $78,740.

The Rubicon trim level maintained the Wrangler’s offroad features, including Rock-Trac fulltime 4-wheel-drive, a 4:1 low-range gear ratio and electronic-locking front and rear differentials.

The SunRider One-Touch sliding roof opened most of the way back; it can be completely unbolted and removed, as can the four doors, and the windshield can be folded down.

Of the unveiling of the 4XE, Christian Meunier, Jeep brand chief executive officer, said, “We are committed to make Jeep the greenest and most exciting SUV brand. The electrification of the Jeep lineup will allow commuters to travel solely on electric power, delivering an efficient and fun on-road experience and offering an ability to enjoy even more off-road capability in nearly complete silence.”

Back then. . .’81 Maserati Merak

The 1981 Maserati Merak SS was mid-engined sport speedster. (Bud Wells photos)

(Forty years ago, in 1981, I enjoyed testing the Maserati Merak SS, an Italian dream machine which I reviewed in The Denver Post.)

The ’81 Maserati at $42,637 was the highest-priced auto I drove and reviewed until July of 1993, when I tested the quickness of the ’93 Toyota Supra Turbo, with a sticker price of $43,607.

Price tag on 1980 Porsche 928 was $39,024.

The Maserati was built for the Alps, from speeding over the mountain passes to tight cornering in the hairpin turns. It was loaned to me for a few days in the summer of 1981 by Bill Stewart of the Royal Carriage Works at My Garage, 455 Broadway, Denver.

Following are excerpts from the review in The Post:

The driver sits very low in the reclining red leather seat, with black leather on the console, a red instrument panel and dark suede on the dashtop. Pleasant-sounding AM-FM cassette stereo is by Blaupunkt.

The car’s turning circle is a narrow 34.4 feet. It stands only 44.6 inches high and weighs 2,905 pounds on a wheelbase of 102 inches. It is 180 inches long and 69.6 inches wide. Front tread is 58 inches, with 56.9 inches at the rear. Brakes are disc, impressively large in swept area. Steering is rack-and-pinion, with adjustable tilt and height of the wheel.

The 181-cubic-inch V-6 engine has 8.5-to-1 compression ratio and 180 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Fuel delivery in the mid-engined Maserati comes from three twin-throated Weber carburetors.

I’ve driven a couple of cars which were quicker off the line than the Merak, but they were V-8 powered. This one really moves after the initial moment. Second gear performs especially strong in the 3,000 to 5,000 RPM range. It will power up a hill in any of the five gears. It cruises 55 miles an hour at 2,600 rpm and runs the same speed in 4th and at 3,350 rpm. Balance is excellent at high speeds. Top speed is somewhere above 140 mph, Maserati officials say.

Though the Merak’s EPA rating is only 10 miles per gallon, the test model averaged 17.1 over highways in the Denver area.

Added to the $40,225 base price of the Merak SS is $550 for gas-guzzler tax, $600 for special two-tone paint and $1,262 for transportation, bringing total to $42,637.

The light stalk is situated so close to the signal stalk that a driver unfamiliar with the controls might mistake one for the other a time or two after dark.

Under the hood is a small luggage compartment, including an impressive leather-bagged set of tools.

The rear deck provides access to the engine, battery, spare tire and fuel system. Air conditioning and alternator are at extreme rear of engine.

Maserati also in 1981 builds a 4,600-pound four-door Quattroporte, which sells for about $56,000. It is powered by a 5-liter V-8 engine. The big luxury model has in the trunk a complete set of leather luggage to match the car’s interior.

Subaru adds Wilderness to Outback

Wilderness edition adds offroad features to Subaru Outback. (Bud Wells photo)

A new Wilderness edition for the long-popular Outback wagon is being heavily promoted these fall days (2021) by Subaru.

A 260-horsepower, turbocharged 4-cylinder boxer engine with electronic high-torque continuously variable transmission, front skid plate and Yokohama Geolandar all-terrain tires on 17-inch wheels are highlights of the 2022 model.

Ground clearance has been elevated to 9.5 inches; 25 years ago, the 1996 Outback promoted the fact its clearance had been increased to 7.3 inches. It has been a steady increase since.

Subaru’s X-mode, which maintains lower gearing for stronger power when needed, becomes of more wheel-slip control in deep snow, sand and mud. Front and rear bumpers have been redesigned for improved approach and departure angles.

Wilderness anodized copper accents and logos inside and out identify the special edition.

The new Subaru Wilderness, by a mere $35, remained below 40-grand in sticker price. The addition of a package of navigation system with 11.6-inch touchscreen, power moonroof and reverse automatic braking brought the total to $39,965.

I suspect the turbo, so well-received as a performance boost, took a toll on fuel mileage. The Wilderness’ EPA estimate is 22 city/26 highway/24 combined; my overall average was 21.5 miles per gallon.

The Outback is built on Subaru’s Global Platform in Lafayette, Ind.

’22 Kia Carnival makes run to Springs

The 2022 Carnival replaces the Kia Sedona among minivans. (Photos by Jan Wells)

It wasn’t enough that I drove the Carnival 130 miles to Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs; the Pikes Peak road to its new Visitor Center was closed on a Saturday in August, and I would have to come back another day.

The 2023 Nissan Z Car, to go on sale next year, drew crowds to Broadmoor World Center.

That was okay, for we had other reasons to be there – to see an early preview of the 2023 Nissan Z Car at the Broadmoor World Center and to enjoy lunch nearby with a friend, Nissan manager of corporate communications Steve Parrett.

Shape of the new Z, expected to arrive next spring, is a throwback to the Datsun 240Z of the 1970s, and a twin-turbocharged V-6 will generate 400 horsepower, replacing a naturally aspirated 3.7-liter V-6 of 332-hp. The Z will challenge the Toyota GR Supra.

The Carnival referenced in the opening sentence is a new Kia minivan replacing the Sedona; it shares a platform with the Kia Sorento crossover. Kia refers to the Carnival as a multipurpose vehicle, citing exterior styling changes which give it a bigger look.

The more distinctive upgrades, though, appear to be inside, with room for up to eight occupants and cargo space behind the third row of seats is 40.2 cubic feet. It offers comfortable, supportive seats, with small-item cubbies throughout and 11 cupholders. The middle seat of three in the second row can be folded down into a table between the two outboards.

Navigation is tied to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration and wireless phone charger. Its dual rear-seat entertainment system can play separate movies on the two screens mounted on the backs of the front-seat headrests.

It is of front-wheel-drive configuration, has no all-wheel-drive capability, nor does it offer a hybrid.

Its 290-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission, somewhat slow in low-end acceleration, perform very well in midrange torque and shift smoothly.

The fairly heavy van (4,600 pounds), in the I-25 drive to Colorado Springs and back and some stop-and-go travel in Manitou and Colorado City, averaged 24.4 miles per gallon overall. Its EPA estimate is 19 in city and 26 highway. The Carnival can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

Among driver-assist technology are forward-collision and blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and smart cruise with stop-and-go.

The Carnival SX review model carries a base price of $42,275, with $495 added for the ceramic silver paint for a sticker price of $42,770. Three lesser-priced trim levels are the EX, beginning at $38,775, the LX and LXS. A higher-priced trim is the SX Prestige.

The Carnival carries a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty.

The Carnival, built at Sohari, Korea, will compete with the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Minivan sales, like those of midsize sedans, have been on the decline in recent years.

Bronco 4-door to pit Ford, Jeep in sales race

The new, big 2021 Ford Bronco offroad near Drake. (Bud Wells photo)

Ford vs. Ferrari, it’s now on the shelf.

Ford may be stirring for another race – Ford vs. Jeep, subtitled Bronco against Wrangler Unlimited, 4-doors, of course.

Ford’s been without a Bronco since 1996 and for the past 15 years has watched Jeep sell thousands of Wrangler Unlimiteds.  So the Dearborn boys went back to the drawing board, got busy and created, first, the small Bronco Sport which we drove in May, and, now, the big, four-door Bronco.

Take a look at the Wrangler Unlimited; then another glance at the Bronco First Edition Sasquache. Yep, it’s a sales race in the making.

The big Bronco gets up and down the hills with power to spare from Ford’s optional 2.7-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission; it delivers 310 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Standard engine is a 275-hp turbocharged EcoBoost 4-cylinder. Considering the Ford’s near-5,000-pound weigh-in, the EcoBoost V-6 is definitely a more satisfactory choice.

We climbed and twisted our way in the Bronco to Glen Haven on the Devil’s Gulch road between Drake and Estes Park. We stopped at the Glen Haven General Store, visited with Steve and Becky Childs, and shared one of her cinnamon rolls.

A switch on the shifter is used to engage manual-mode control of the 10-speed. Driver-selectable G.O.A.T. (goes over all types terrain) modes include Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand, with Baja, Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl for off-roading.

On our return drive back to the east, I stopped for 10 or 15 minutes, tossed a line into the North Fork of the Big Thompson River, and took home a brown trout.

The 1996 Ford Bronco was the last produced until this year. (Ford)

Production of Ford’s previous generations of Bronco ended in 1996; it was a big, two-door model. One Denver Ford dealer purchased dozens of the final model, staged a big sale. Doug Freed and Karrie Mowen, working associates of mine, rushed out and bought one each; both were well-satisfied. Manual mode shifting is engaged with a switch on the shifter.

The all-new Bronco family includes a Bronco two-door, first-ever Bronco four-door model and all-new rugged, small SUV, Bronco Sport

The First Edition Sasquatch I drove is equipped with an advanced 4X4 system with automatic on-demand engagement between 2Hi and 4Hi. With the auto engagement, the 4WD setup will send torque to the front wheels for improved performance under all types of road conditions. The doors and roof panels are removable on the Bronco.

The review model averaged 18.2 miles per gallon; its EPA estimate is 17 in city, 17 on highway.

Sticker price on the 2021 Ford Bronco First Edition Sasquatch is $63,210. It is built in Wayne, Mich. It rides on Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT LT315/70R17 tires.

Super Cruise smooth in new Escalade

The redesigned 2021 Cadillac Escalade on a cloudy, rainy afternoon. (Bud Wells photo)

The precaution built into the Cadillac Escalade’s Super Cruise “hands-off” system was reassuring to me as I tested the large, luxurious SUV.

A highlight of the Super Cruise at this stage of its development is the opportunity for hands-free lane changes on Interstate highways.

Driving on I-25 north of Denver, the push of a button engaged the system, I pulled a lever down for a left turn and self-driving took over. My intention was to move from center lane to left lane and pass a slower-moving sedan. With its cameras and radar in effect, Super Cruise gradually started to move us to the left but detected at the same moment I caught sight in the side mirror a fast-moving vehicle approaching from behind in the left lane. The Cadillac returned to the center lane; after the speedster passed us and the gap returned, the system guided us into the left lane, I speeded up, then signaled right turn and, gaining clearance, the system guided us back into the center lane ahead of the slower-moving motorist. A task well-done, very safely.

A federal safety agency has told automakers it will begin investigating safety issues that could emerge in automated systems, such as Tesla’s Autopilot, General Motors’ Super Cruise and others.

The Cadillac seemed smooth and precise in its Super Cruise lane-changing. Though I prefer the traditional “hands-on” style of driving, as an auto reviewer I take seriously my role in testing the technological advancements so plentiful these days.

The lane-change feature, at this time, is usable in Colorado only on I-25, I-70 and I-76.

The Escalade, with Super Cruise, air-ride adaptive suspension, 6.2 V-8 power and 22-inch wheels, has softly though powerfully moved capably into the full-size luxury circle of SUVs, alongside the Mercedes GLS, BMW X7, Audi and Lincoln. It has followed the others also into six-figure pricing at $113,065.

The quilted-leather seats in the Cadillac are well-bolstered and well-cushioned, somewhat softer than a full-size GSL from Mercedes, which normally opts for a more-firm ride.

To that softness add strong performance from the Cadillac’s 420-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 with 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive. It handled the climbs and twists of County Road 64E from Livermore to Red Feather Lakes with ease.

At Red Feather Lakes, Jan and I got out in a nice, light summer rainfall, and walked into the Hill Top General Store and Antiques, where we enjoyed visiting with Linda Duque, who began work there this summer.

The Cadillac Escalade’s technologically inspired instrument panel. (Cadillac)

The redesigned Escalade offers three rows of comfortable seating and pleasant ride, an elegant interior and large cargo area. Approach the rear of the SUV at night with key in pocket, and the Cadillac emblem shines beneath the bumper; swing a foot at it and the liftgate will open.

Most of the miles of driving the Escalade were via highway, which resulted in an average of 19.1 miles per gallon overall. Its EPA estimate is 14/19.

When I reviewed the spirited Cadillac CTS-V at $68,445 in 2010, I wondered whether the prices could continue their  rapid rise; five years later the 2015 Escalade showed a sticker of $90,985. In the recent drive, the Cadillac and its Super Cruise burst through the $100,000 barrier.