Three new models which have remained in my mind as among the most outstanding for 2024 are the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring four-door, the ’25 Ram 1500 Crew Cab with the Hurricane 3.0-liter inline-6 twin-turbo engine and the ’24 Kia EV9 seven-passenger SUV electric crossover.
The Honda Civic, 3 inches longer and 300 pounds heavier, averaged 47.5 miles per gallon from its 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with two electric motors. The Ram 1500’s I-6 engine, replacing the famed Hemi V-8, has equaled the bigger block in power and exceeded it in fuel efficiency in drives I made in Poudre Canyon and out east to Grover. The Kia EV9 electric displayed amazing instant torque from its high-voltage battery and dual-motor powertrain, was very effective with firm lane-correction and assist, and carried us in bumper-to-bumper traffic to Buc-ees in its opening week in March.
As we head into Year 2025, here are a few other highlights from the past year:
Most affordable – The Buick Envista, built in South Korea, with a 120-horsepower, 3-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, at $29,215.
Priciest – The Mercedes-Benz EQS 450 SUV 4Matic electric, $121,765.
Most powerful – Hyundai Ioniq 5 N electric, 641 hp, 0 to 60 in 3.2 seconds.
Crunch sound – The noise of the minivan’s tires breaking through an icy snow cover, occurring on a bitter-cold 7-below-zero night in late January 2024 aboard the new Toyota Sienna AWD hybrid van. The Sienna churned steadily on through the crusted snow and provided good grip on cornering.
Book signings – Fun gatherings at my two former hometowns; an Alfa Romeo Stelvio carried us to Sterling in February and a Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 electric made the run to Wray in September. These were for the book, “2,600 Cars and a Dog Sled, Bud Wells’ 67 Years in Newspapering and Automobiles.”
Booking closed – Projected to be the biggest signing session of all at the Colorado Convention Center in April for the Denver Auto Show, it ended with a thud when I passed out 10 minutes into the event. I was driven to St. Joseph Hospital emergency, treated and released.
Timber!!! – The Warn Zeon 10-S winch at the front of the Ford Bronco Everglades 4WD sport ute let us fell a tall aspen tree in June at the corner of our residential property in Greeley. The project was directed by Bill Allen and Dale Wells.
Lifetime achievement – I had no idea who was being honored when Mary Conway began talking of the award at the annual Christmas party of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press in December; when she mentioned the “Sterling Journal-Advocate in 1956” I knew and was thrilled and will cherish this all my remaining days.
Hall of fame – It was my privilege to nominate Tom Botterill for induction into the Colorado Automotive Hall of Fame; he was one of the first prominent car dealers in Denver, serving the city for more than 40 years until retiring in the mid-1940s. Others honored in 2024 were John Bowell, Ed Bozarth, Mike Feeley, Art Stapp and Steve Taylor.
Out of state – Driving the Subaru Ascent at Palm Desert, Calif., vacationing with Kim, Missy, Dale and Sandy.
Jan’s favorite – The Honda Civic Hybrid.
Best greeting – Happy New Year!