A couple things to know about the BRZ sports car: It’s Subaru’s only model that isn’t all-wheel drive (it is of rear-wheel-drive power), and it is also the only slow-selling Subaru in Colorado.

Rear drive; slow sell; oh,well – the agility and maneuverability from its small stature make it one of the more fun cars to drive anywhere.

The BRZ is Subaru’s half of a split of twin models with Scion, which calls its little one the FR-S. The two cars were designed and developed jointly by Subaru and Toyota (Scion’s parent).

The BRZ looks the part of a sports car, from its low-slung front to a busy rear end featuring a carbon fiber wing and dual exhausts.

Inside are two well-bolstered sport seats (heated and cooled), and a rear seat that is squeezed into such tight quarters that only an infant might rest back there; no legroom whatsoever. The trunk? Forget it, only 6.7 cubic feet.

Drop into the driver’s side and concentrate on the coupe’s superb cornering, handling and precision steering. Forget the fact its 200-horsepower, 2-liter flat-4 has only moderate acceleration capabilities. The boxer power is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The rear-drive two-door averaged 26.7 miles per gallon; EPA estimate is as high as 30 on the highway.

The BRZ review model carried a designation as Series Blue Edition, which added Subaru STI front, side and side rear underspoilers; 17-inch STI black-finish alloy wheels with red-painted brake calipers; leather and alcantra trim with blue stitching.

All this and it’s affordable, too. Pricetag is $30,285, including among other amenities, side-curtain airbags, AM/FM/CD audio with XM/USB port/Bluetooth, automatic climate control, cruise, power locks/mirrors/windows, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter.

Here are the specifications for the ’15 Subaru BRZ:

• Capacity 2-passenger sports car
• Wheelbase 101.2 inches
• Length 166.7 inches
• Width 69.9 inches
• Height 50.6 inches
• Curb Weight 2,824 pounds
• Track 59.8 inches front, 60.6 rear
• Ground Clearance 4.9 inches
• Turn Circle 35 feet, 4 inches
• Drivetrain Rear-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.0-liter flat-4-cylinder
• Horsepower/Torque 200/151
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering electric power
• Suspension sport-tuned front strut, rear double wishbone
• Fuel mileage estimate 22/30
• Fuel mileage average 26.7
• Fuel Tank 13.2 gallons, premium
• Wheels 17-inch
• Tires Michelin 215/45R17
• Cargo Volume 6.9 cubic feet
• Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors Scion FR-S, Mazda Miata, Mini Cooper S

Assembly Plant Ota, Gunma, Japan

Parts Content Japan 85%

Base Price of Lowest Model $27,695; Base Price of Review Model $27,695; Destination Charge $795; Sticker Price $30,285.

A surprisingly good, comfortable ride and responsive steering are attributes quickly noticeable aboard the 2015 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI.

The added turbodiesel power moves it even higher in both performance and phenomenal fuel mileage, which should lend longer-lasting satisfaction to its ranks of owners.

Tiny paddleshifters, easy to use and of good fit with the steering wheel, offer enhanced use of the turbo, whether better matchup of gear and torque or in downshifting for improved grip on cornering.

The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder TDI engine and 6-speed automatic transmission experience a lag on takeoff; once the turbo kicks in, though, it develops all the acceleration necessary.

The SportWagen is a popular addition to the Golf line.

The VW Golf SportWagen TDI was fourth best-seller in June among light-duty diesels. The top 10 light-duty diesels for June were Ram 1500 pickup 5,050; VW Passat 2,489; VW Jetta 1,852; VW Golf SportWagen 1,506; VW Golf 955; Audi Q5 462; BMW X5 422; Audi Q7 360; Chevrolet Cruze 350 and VW Touareg 328.

The leaders for the first six months of the year are the Ram 1500 with29,658 sales; VW Passat 11,746; VW Jetta 11,692; VW Golf 4,989; VW Golf SportWagen 3,940; BMW X5 3,265; Audi Q5 2,544; Porsche Cayenne 2,159; Mercedes-Benz GL Class 1,938 and Chevrolet Cruze 1,920.

The Golf SportWagen delivered to me was a “can’t miss” color – tornado red.

In a wide variety of drives, including some curvy country roads to test its handling and cornering, it averaged 38.9 miles per gallon of clean diesel fuel. Its EPA estimate is from 31 to 42 mpg.

Sticker price on the ’15 Golf amounted to $26,515, including the diesel power and leatherette seating.

Among other standard items are heated foldable power adjustable side mirrors; variable intermittent front windshield wipers; cooled glove compartment; touchscreen AM/FM/CD radio with MP3, SiriusXM and Bluetooth; cruise control; trip computer and front and rear head-impact airbags.

The front-wheel-drive SportWagen rides on Continental ProContact 205/55R16 tires. Its parts content included 45 percent from Germany, 25 percent Mexico and 5 percent U.S. The wagon is expected to be offered with 4Motion (all-wheel drive) within the next two years.

Here are the specifications for the ’15 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen TDI:

• Capacity 5-passenger wagon
• Wheelbase 103.7 inches
• Length 179.6 inches
• Width 70.8 inches
• Height 58.3 inches
• Curb Weight 3,246 pounds
• Track 61 inches front, 61 rear
• Ground Clearance 5.5 inches
• Turn Circle 35 feet, 8 inches
• Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbodiesel
• Horsepower/Torque 150/236
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering electric-boost power
• Suspension strut front, multilink rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 31/42
• Fuel mileage average 38.9
• Fuel Tank 13.2 gallons, clean diesel
• Wheels 16-inch
• Tires Continental ProContact 205/55R16
• Cargo Volume 30.4 cubic feet
• Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid, Toyota Prius V, Ford C-Max Hybrid

Assembly Plant Puebla, Mexico

Sticker Price $26,515.

A bright light (blue, of course) amid dismal sales reports for hybrid automobiles is the six-month report of the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, spurred by its regenerated 2016 model.

Hyundai’s “blue drive system” smooths and quickens the hybrid pulse with a new 2.0-liter engine and electric motor (tied to a 6-speed automatic transmission), a lighter lithium-ion polymer battery pack, stop-start capability, redesigned brakes and an especially low drag coefficient.

The new one delivers an EPA miles-per-gallon rating of 39 city and 43 highway, up 3 mpg from the 36/40 rating of a Hyundai hybrid I drove a couple of years ago. Kick in its sport mode for increased throttle and tighter steering and it performs beyond the standards of other hybrids.

Hybrid sales, overall, are down 18 percent in the U.S. in 2015. As gas prices remain below $3 per gallon, consumer focus is heavier toward pickups, SUVs and crossovers.

Of the 15 top-selling hybrids, all except the new Sonata have suffered sizable slips in sales for the past six months.

Sales for the perennial leader Toyota Prius Liftback hybrid have declined by 14 percent over the same period a year ago. Even sharper hybrid losses are 39 percent for the Ford Fusion, 30.5 for the Lincoln MKZ, 30 for Toyota Avalon, 28.5 for Toyota Camry, 28.2 for Lexus ES and 24.3 for Lexus RX450h.

The Sonata, on the other hand, since January has sold 11,828 hybrids, compared with 11,349 at this time a year ago, an increase of 4.2 percent.

Against the newness of the hybrid powertrain, Hyundai planners seemed to turn very conservative in their approach to the sedan’s exterior design and finish. It’s all right, but lacks the pizzazz of the past (fluidic sculpture, Hyundai called it).

Once inside, though, a wide, horizontal center stack, lit up in blue lights at night, is gorgeous, rivaling the dash attractions of some of the premium luxury sedans. A roomy back seat and full-length sunroof are other interior features.

The 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, is rated at 154 horsepower and 140-lb.-ft. of torque. With the addition of the electric motor, combined hybrid output is 193 horsepower for the front-wheel-drive four-door. Hyundai believes its automatic transmission gives it an edge in performance over those competitors which are equipped with continuously variable transmissions.

The hybrid battery pack is hidden beneath a flat trunk floor, which leaves 13.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The available storage would be even smaller, except for the fact there is no spare tire in the trunk. It has a tire mobility kit with small air compressor and canister of liquid sealant in case of flat.

The “smart trunk” opens automatically if the driver, with Proximity Key in a pocket, moves within 3 feet of the back of the vehicle for more than 3 seconds.

The ’16 Sonata Hybrid I drove was the Limited trim level, which added leather seats (heated and cooled in front and heated in rear), lane-departure and forward-collision warning systems, smart cruise control, navigation with 8-inch touchscreen display and Infinity surround sound.

Sticker price on the Hyundai is $35,765.

Also offered for the Hyundai is a plug-in electric hybrid, which, Hyundai claims, can run 24 miles on electric-only driving before the gas engine is needed.

The top 20 sellers of hybrids for the first six months of the year are Toyota Prius Liftback with 54,173; Toyota Prius C 18,921; Toyota Camry 15,571; Toyota Prius V 14,165; Ford Fusion 12,683; Hyundai Sonata 11,828; Ford C-Max 7,640; Lexus CT200h 7,123; Honda Accord 6,407; Toyota Avalon 5,671; Kia Optima 5,340; Lexus ES 4,991; Lincoln MKZ 4,180; Subaru XV Crosstrek 3,250; Lexus RX450h 3,185; Buick LaCrosse 2,707; Honda Civic 2,264; Infiniti Q50 2,040; Toyota Highlander 1,758 and Honda CR-Z 1,292.

Here are the specifications for the ’16 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid:

• Capacity 5-passenger sedan
• Wheelbase 110.4 inches
• Length 191.1 inches
• Width 73.4 inches
• Height 57.9 inches
• Curb Weight 3,560 pounds
• Track 63.1 inches front, 63.3 rear
• Ground Clearance 5.3 inches
• Turn Circle 35.6 feet
• Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
• Horsepower/Torque 154/140
• Motor 270v electric
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering power rack-and-pinion
• Suspension MacPherson strut front, multilink rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 39/43
• Fuel mileage average 39.8
• Fuel Tank 15.85 gallons, regular
• Wheels 17-inch
• Tires Kumho Solus 215/55R17
• Cargo Volume 13.3 cubic feet
• Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles basic, 10/100,000 powertrain

Competitors Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Toyota Prius Liftback

Assembly Plant Asan, Korea

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 1%, Korea 91%

Base Price of Lowest Model $27,500; Base Price of Review Model $30,100; Destination Charge $825; Sticker Price $35,765.

Wagons, once the prevailing choice for family travels, have barely survived against the advancement of, first, minivans, then SUVs and now crossovers.

There are still a few around, some good ones.

Best-known of the eight or 10 wagons sold in the U.S. is the Subaru Outback, which got a grip on Colorado roads 20 years ago and hasn’t turned loose.

Best-handler of the bunch, though, is the Audi allroad. With quattro all-wheel drive adding security, the German-built wagon provides a fun drive through the Colorado mountain roads, particularly when the pilot opts for paddle-shifting its 8-speed automatic transmission.

The allroad is relatively small, for it is based on the Audi A4; some years ago it was a derivative of the larger A6.

Among the few other wagons available are an impressive newcomer, the Volvo V60, and the Outback, BMW 328xi, Volkswagen Golf and Jetta SportWagen, Volvo XC70, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Toyota Prius V, Ford C-Max and several others.

The allroad’s smaller physique is noticed when slipping into the driver’s seat and for the fact its front-seat cushions are about an inch shorter than seats of the competition’s.

Out on the twisty roadways, though, it is all about good ride and maneuvering and strong performance. The turbocharger for the 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder kicks in with lots of thrust at low rpm and continues through midrange speeds. Shifts are quick with the 8-speed. The small-block engine develops 220 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. In a wide variety of driving duties, both in town and on the open road, the allroad averaged 26.9 miles per gallon (21/28 EPA estimate).

The review model was dressed inside like other German products with a black interior, brown leather seats and chrome trim. Opening the shade on a full-length moonroof will brighten the dark finish.

The allroad’s cargo space of 27.6 cubic feet is far roomier than that of the Volvo V60, though it doesn’t match up to the roominess in the Outback and XC70.

Added to the allroad’s base price of $42,400 were two packages:

The technology list, $2,900, included navigation with voice control and color display, parking system with rearview camera and side assist for blind-spot warning.

The premium list, $2,100, features heated front seats, multifunction steering wheel, auto-dimming and heated power-folding exterior mirrors and auto-dimming interior mirror with compass.

These brought sticker price to $48,325.

Here are the specifications for the ’15 Audi allroad:

• Capacity 5-passenger
• Wheelbase 110.4 inches
• Length 185.9 inches
• Width 72.5 inches
• Height 58 inches
• Curb Weight 3,891 pounds
• Track 62.3 inches front, 62 rear
• Ground Clearance 7.1 inches
• Turn Circle 37.7 feet
• Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
• Engine 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
• Horsepower/Torque 220/258
• Transmission 8-speed automatic
• Steering electromechanical power
• Suspension five-link front, trapezoidal-link rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 21/28
• Fuel mileage average 26.4
• Fuel Tank 16.1 gallons, premium
• Wheels 18-inch
• Tires Pirelli Cinturato 245/45R18
• Cargo Volume 27.6 cubic feet
• Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles basic, powertrain

Competitors Volvo V60, Subaru Outback, BMW 328xi, Volvo XC70, Mercedes-Benz E Class

Assembly Plant Ingolstadt, Germany

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 1%, Germany 57%, Hungary 27%

Base Price of Lowest Model $42,400; Base Price of Review Model $42,400; Destination Charge $925; Sticker Price $48,325.

Did you ever hear a Hellcat growl? The roar is most awesome at full throttle in the few seconds from 50 to triple-digit speeds.

Shut the Hellcat down with the help of its big Brembo brakes, open the hood and there you see from where the growling comes. A big silver supercharger cover sits atop die-cast aluminum rocker covers painted Hemi orange. The 6.2-liter engine is Chrysler’s first-ever supercharged Hemi V-8 and makes the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat the world’s most powerful production sedan.

It boasts an absolutely astounding 707 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque, tied to a ZF/TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle-shift capability.

I’ve not driven anything near that in power.

Among the highest horsepower performers of my past are the Bentley Continental Supersports AWD Coupe with 622, Chevy Camaro ZL1 580, BMW M6 Coupe 560, Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG 557, Cadillac CTS-V sedan 556, Cadillac CTS-V wagon 556, Jaguar F-Type R Coupe 550, Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG 550, Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 550, Nissan GT-R Premium 545, Jaguar XKR Convertible 510 and Lamborghini Gallardo 500.

The Bentley was a 12-cylinder, the Lamborghini a V-10 and the Nissan GT-R a 6; all the others were V-8s.

As I drove the Hellcat out east away from traffic on a Wednesday afternoon, clouds moved overhead and dropped rain, enough of it to create wet highway surfaces. The big, heavy, rear-wheel-drive four-door maintained excellent grip with its Pirelli P-Zero tires; oh, the limits it could have tested on dry pavement, for sure it could have exceeded those attained with one of the CTS-V’s several years ago.

Jan, in the front passenger seat, remarked how much better was the ride and the comfort level than she’d expected from a super-performance sedan. The Charger, designed as a family sedan, is spacious in its rear seating area, and has outstanding visibility for its driver. Those are differences in the Hellcat versions of the four-door Charger and the two-door Challenger.

Performance is nearly the same; the sporty Challenger, however, has been equipped with higher-tuned and stiffer Bilstein suspension. In either car, a launch control mode can be set to predetermined rpm for takeoffs. Red calipers draw attention to the Hellcat’s 15.4-inch brake discs.

After lots of testing, kickdowns and performance runs, and some cruising back to home base, the Hellcat averaged 17.7 miles per gallon; its EPA estimate is 13/22.

A base price of $62,295 for the Charger Hellcat jumps to $70,865 sticker with addition of Laguna ventilated leather performance front seats, Harmon Kardon audio with 19 speakers, power sunroof, UConnect 8.4-inch touchscreen navigation. It has an all-black interior, with a touch of chrome trim.

Would I drive it again? Well, hell’s bells, this was my second thrill in the Hellcat. The first ended five hours after delivery to my driveway in May with a leaking oil plug near Johnstown. This time, the growl was much longer-lasting.

The Charger Hellcat will run 0 to 60 in 3.7 seconds, say company officials, and has a top speed up to 204 miles per hour. All the more impressive in the near-4,600-pounder.

Can anything top this? There is that V-10 sitting under the hood of the Dodge Viper. What might it develop, supercharged?

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat:

• Capacity 5-passenger four-door
• Wheelbase 120.2 inches
• Length 200.3 inches
• Width 75 inches
• Height 58.3 inches
• Curb Weight 4,575 pounds
• Track 65 inches front, rear
• Ground Clearance 4.3 inches
• Turn Circle 37.7 feet
• Drivetrain Rear-wheel-drive
• Engine 6.2-liter supercharged Hemi V-8
• Horsepower/Torque 707/650
• Transmission 8-speed automatic
• Steering performance-tuned
• Suspension Bilstein performance
• Brakes Brembo 6-piston high-performance
• Fuel mileage estimate 13/22
• Fuel mileage average 17.7
• Fuel Tank 18.5 gallons, premium
• Wheels 20-inch
• Tires Pirelli P Zero 275/40ZR20
• Cargo Volume 16.2 cubic feet
• Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain

Competitors Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG, BMW M6, Chevrolet SS

Assembly Plant Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 67%, Mexico 20%, Germany 5%

Base Price of Lowest Model $62,295; Base Price of Review Model $62.295; Destination Charge $995; Sticker Price $70,865.

Would you rather ride in a yellow sub or a yellow Sube?

Thoughts of a yellow submarine have faded some in recent years, as has the sounds of the Beatles which brought the matter to the forefront 45 years ago.

That hue of Subaru, though, has gained prominence this model year with the popularity of the 2015 XV Crosstrek, finished in sunrise yellow. It is very bright, and quite a standout.

The Subaru XV Crosstrek is a sensibly built, small crossover with all-wheel drive, based on the Impreza platform.

To see the ’15 model show up in my driveway with such bright exterior was no surprise. This is the third Crosstrek I’ve tested since it was introduced for the 2013 model year. The first was of tangerine orange color and the second, a Crosstrek hybrid, was splendid in plasma green.

The Crosstrek’s boxer engine is a 148-horsepower, 145 lb-ft. torque, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with a mile-mannered continuously variable transmission. A new transmission for 2015 offers paddle shifters with gearlike settings.

In a 50-50 split of in-town and highway driving miles, the Crosstrek averaged 28.5 miles per gallon. Its EPA estimate is 26/34.

Front seats are comfortable and supportive. Once into the rear seating area, there is plenty of legroom and headroom; getting through the door opening is a bit tight, however.

It has seemed to me the Crosstrek is considerable car for the money. This one for a sticker price of $26,140 offers the fairly economical AWD powertrain with the CVT, push-button start, power moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, Starlink infotainment system, heated front seats, rearview camera, cruise control, power windows/locks/mirrors and tray and tonneau cover for the rear cargo area.

Four-cylinder, turbocharged engines are kicking up performance levels for competitors in the crowded luxury compact crossover field. Most of the 10 makes offer turbo or supercharged power.

Horsepower claims have reached as high as 400 for the Porsche Macan, 325 for Volvo V60, 302 for Mercedes-Benz GLK and 300 for the BMW X3.

Coming my way last week was the 2016 version of the Acura RDX all-wheel-drive model.

The stately looking RDX appears to be somewhat of an anomaly, for three years ago it dumped its 4-cylinder turbo in favor of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine.

And, in bucking the turbo craze, the RDX seems to be on track, lonely as it may be.

The RDX is best-seller among the 10 luxury compact crossovers, with 20,657 sales in the first five months of this year. Others, in order of sales, are Audi Q5 17,396; the new Lexus NX 16,546; Mercedes-Benz GLK 11,286; BMW X3 10,982; Volvo XC60 9,461; Lincoln MKC 9,385; Range Rover Evoque 5,845; Porsche Macan 5,183; Infiniti QX50 1,015.

The RDX’s 279-horsepower V-6 (6 more hp than last year) and 6-speed automatic transmission deliver smoothness ahead of performance, which fits the style and image of the second-generation Acura.

The V-6, which falls short of the turbo users in low-end acceleration, is designed with cylinder deactivation capability for highway use. It can cruise on three cylinders, with the other three deactivated until needed for an incline or increased pedal.

The RDX AWD carries an EPA estimate of 19/28 miles per gallon; my overall average was 21.6.

Twist of a dial on the center console engages Sport mode from Eco for a more responsive throttle, stiffer steering and delay in upshifts. Relatively short paddle shifters are well-designed on the steering wheel crosspiece; they’re easily touched for instant shifts.

Acura is the luxury division for Honda, and though the RDX shares its underpinnings with Honda’s CR-V, it has the appearance of a considerably larger vehicle. In reality, it is 4 inches longer.

Its sharp exterior styling and new jewel-eye headlamps lend it one of the best-looking finishes among all the luxury compact crossovers. It would look in place among Lincolns, Buicks and Cadillacs at the downtown theatre on Friday nights or the church parking lot on Sunday mornings.

Offroading; probably not. Its all-wheel-drive setup, however, has been retuned to the capability of sending more torque from front wheels to rear in perilous driving situations.

The interior is roomy, with perforated leather seats, fairly flat and very supportive. A dual-screen multi-information setup includes an 8-inch display at the top of the center stack. A large storage bin dominates the center console. Twenty-six cubic feet of cargo room is easily accessed from the rear liftgate; the space falls 5 feet short of that in the Volvo V60.

Sticker price climbed to $44,340 with the addition of an AcuraWatch package of adaptive cruise control, multiview camera, land-departure warning and expanded-view driver’s side mirror.

This is the fourth 2016 model I’ve driven; others are the Kia Sorento, Mazda6 and Fiat 500X.

Here are the specifications for the ’16 Acura RDX AWD:

• Capacity 5-passenger
• Wheelbase 105.7 inches
• Length 183.5 inches
• Width 73.7 inches
• Height 66.1 inches
• Curb Weight 3,902 pounds
• Track 63.1 inches front, 63.4 rear
• Ground Clearance 8.1 inches
• Turn Circle 38.9 feet
• Drivetrain All-wheel-drive
• Engine 3.5-liter V-6
• Horsepower/Torque 279/251
• Transmission 6-speed automatic
• Steering electric power rack-pinion
• Suspension MacPherson strut front, double-wishbone rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 19/28
• Fuel mileage average 22.4
• Fuel Tank 16 gallons, premium
• Wheels 18-inch
• Tires Michelin Primacy P235/60R18
• Cargo Volume 26.1 cubic feet
• Warranty 4 years/50,000 miles basic, 6/70,000 powertrain

Competitors BMW X3, Audi Q5, Lincoln MKC, Range Rover Evoque

Assembly Plant East Liberty, Ohio

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 70%, Japan 15%

Base Price of Lowest Model $36,495; Base Price of Review Model $43,420; Destination Charge $920; Sticker Price $44,340.

I’ve taken a final drive in the outdated 2015 Nissan Titan 4X4 Pro-4X pickup, still operating with its 317-horsepower, 5.6-liter V-8 and 5-speed automatic transmission with gated shifter.

The tough Titan was a fine competitor 10 years ago; today its lack of updates is apparent and the lapse has been costly – in all of 2014, only 12,000 Titans were sold, less than 1 percent of the light-duty truck market.

The dismal sales totals will soon climb, say Nissan truck officials, who point to a total rebuild of the 2016 Titan for unveiling late this year.

The ’16 Titan XD will show up in the fall with renewed power from a Cummins 5.0-liter V-8 diesel engine and Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission. The crew cab will be joined a couple of months later by an extended-cab model, both units becoming available with V-8 or V-6 gasoline engines, in addition to the diesel.

A choice of three engines will be of good cheer to Nissan prospects, who to date have had available only the 5.6 V-8, which has a relatively low EPA fuel-mileage rating of 12/17. Only twice during the week did I turn the 4-by-4 dial from 2hi to 4hi, and then for short stretches of travel, and my overall average with the Titan was 14.4 mpg.

The crew cab, equipped with a 5-foot-7 box, carried a base price of $40,370. The addition of these options pushed sticker price to $46,365:

• Rockford Fosgate premium audio with 10 speakers,
• NissanConnect navigation,
• leather seating (heated in front),
• under-seat storage bin,
• sliding bed extender,
• rear-bumper step assist,
• spray-on bedliner,
• utili-bed track channel system with tiedown cleats,
• memory mirrors and pedals.

The bed extender flips over onto the tailgate.

With a big boost from its fuel-mileage-leading status, the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel pickup has moved to the top of the auto industry’s light-duty diesel sales chart.

The Ram has raced past perennial leaders from Volkswagen – the Jetta, Golf and Passat TDI diesels.

Through the end of May, Ram has sold 24,608 ecodiesel pickups, followed by the VW Jetta with 9,840 car sales, VW Passat 9,257, VW Golf 4,034, BMW X5 2,843, VW SportWagen 2,434, Audi Q5 2,082, Porsche Cayenne 1,848, Mercedes-Benz GLK 1,821, Mercedes GL-Class 1,631, Chevrolet Cruze 1,570, BMW 3-series 1,553.

These are not to be confused with the sales of Cummins, Powerstroke and Duramax heavy-duty diesels; three-quarter and one-ton trucks of Ford, Chevy (GMC) and Ram stage their own competitive sales race in that bigger category.

The Ram 1500 delivered to me was the dressed-up Laramie Longhorn Crew Cab edition. Even in its four-wheel-drive configuration, it carries an EPA highway estimate of 27 miles per gallon (29 for rear-wheel drive), best among half-ton pickups.

We drove to Boulder, up and around the increasingly crowded University of Colorado campus and back to Greeley, averaging 24.2 mpg. Daily in-town drives and a bit of offroad maneuvering dropped the overall average to 22.7 mpg, which also included a drive to Parker to test the barbecued steaks of Daniel Hansen.

The Ram engine, also available in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, is a 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel built by VM Motori of Cento, Italy, developing 240 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque. It performs with strong midrange torque and smooth shifts from the German-developed 8-speed automatic transmission, controlled from a dial on the dash. Just beneath that are buttons for the electric shift-on-the-fly transfer case between two-wheel, four-wheel and low-range settings. The half-ton crew cab offers 9,250 pounds of tow capacity.

The pickup provides a very comfortable, controlled ride, based on its coil springs at all four corners. Typically, half-tons use coils in front and stiffer leaf springs at the rear. The Ram offers an electronically controlled air suspension as an option, and parent company Fiat Chrysler Automobiles believes most truck buyers, if seeking best hauling capability, will opt for the company’s 2500 and 3500 units with strong leaf springs.

The Laramie Longhorn edition features wide, supportive front seats, heated and cooled, with lumbar support. The cattle tan interior is finished with lots of leather and trimmed with light wood atop the display screen and around the air/audio controls of the center stack. Dual glove boxes and a large center console bin boost storage possibilities.

The Ram’s short bed (5-foot-7 length) is complemented with Ram boxes for lockable cargo along the upper sides of the pickup bed. A step can be lowered from the left corner of the rear bumper for ease of access into the box; it seems not as handy as those steps built into the corners of both sides of the Chevy Silverado bumpers.

The ecodiesel engine and RamBox cargo compartments on both sides of the pickup bed boosted sticker price on the Ram 1500 to $55,970. Among the many amenities not aforementioned are deep cherry red exterior, Laramie Longhorn instrument cluster, remote start, backup camera, UConnect 8.4AM/FM/navigation and integrated voice command with Bluetooth, nine amplified speakers with subwoofer, leather-wrapped and heated steering wheel, power adjustable pedals, rear power sliding window and heated second-row seats.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Ram 1500 Longhorn EcoDiesel Crew Cab 4X4:

• Capacity Half-ton diesel pickup, 5-passenger
• Wheelbase 140.5 inches
• Length 209 inches
• Width 79.4 inches
• Height 76.6 inches
• Curb Weight 5,895 pounds
• Track 68 inches front, 67.9 rear
• Ground Clearance 9.9 inches
• Turn Circle 45.1 feet
• Drivetrain Four-wheel-drive
• Engine 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel
• Horsepower/Torque 240/420
• Transmission 8-speed automatic
• Steering electric power rack-and-pinion
• Suspension independent coil front, multilink coils rear
• Fuel mileage estimate 19/27
• Fuel mileage average 22/7
• Fuel Tank 26 gallons, diesel
• Wheels 20-inch
• Tires Goodyear Wrangler P275/60R20
• Cargo Volume 5-foot-7 bed
• Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/100,000 powertrain

Competitors 2016 Nissan Titan XD diesel

Assembly Plant Warren, Mich.

Parts Content U.S./Canadian 61%, Mexico 23%, Germany 5%, Italy 5%

Base Price of Lowest Model $30,940; Base Price of Review Model $50,080; Destination Charge $1,195; Sticker Price $55,970.

Hustling into town on a recent morning, I was headed for one of the newer event venues, the Blanc, for a preview of one of the newer compact crossovers, the Fiat 500X.

The 2016 500X was shown to members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press at a luncheon meeting at the Blanc, 3150 Walnut St., Denver.

Fiat executives expect the new little crossover will help chase away the blues brought on by slow sales in the U.S. of other versions of the 500 – the standard Fiat 500 since its introduction to the U.S. in 2012 and the lengthened 500L which was added last year. In particular, Fiat expects the 500X all-wheel-drive model to gain favor in Colorado.

The 500X, offered in front-drive or AWD, will compete with the new Honda HR-V, Nissan Juke, Mazda CX-3, Mini Cooper Paceman and Chevrolet Trax.

Its stiffest competition, I believe, will come from a sister model off the same platform as the 500X, the Jeep Renegade. Nicole Longhini-McElroy, a Fiat representative, showed little interest in discussing that aspect of the 500X’s challenge in coming to Denver.

Rounded off with lots of Italian style, the 500X will be available in five trim levels – the Pop, Easy, Lounge, Trekking and Trekking Plus.

I teamed with friend Bob Sweeney, publisher of The Villager, in driving the little Trekking FWD model on a fairly short course about the streets in the vicinity of the Blanc, where it displayed excellent steering response and good suspension from its MacPherson struts and coils in front and Chapman struts and coils at the rear.

Performance was adequate from its 180-horsepower, 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and shifts were near-seamless, thanks to the 9-speed automatic transmission. Twelve-inch vented rotors up front came through with impressive stopping strength. In front-wheel-drive form, its EPA estimate is 22 in the city and 31 on the highway. The fuel-mileage rating goes even higher when the 500X is equipped with a turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission.

The 500X Trekking review model, finished in rosso passion (red), carried a base price of $23,100. Boosting sticker price to $25,300 were options of power driver seat with lumbar adjust, heated front seats and steering wheel, dual-zone temperature control, ambient lighting, cargo compartment cover and 18-inch aluminum wheels, as well as destination charge of $900.

The Fiat 500X, built in Melfi, Italy, is swinging into full sales at Fiat dealerships this month.