Almost a quarter-century ago, in the fall of 1996, two of my co-workers, Doug Freed and Karrie Mowen, excitedly took advantage of a blockbuster sale on the last of the big, 2-door Ford Broncos. Each bought one.

The Bronco exodus paved the way for the launch of the 1997 Ford Expedition, a roomy 4-door SUV aimed at stealing some sales from rival General Motors’ long-successful Suburban-size sport utes.

One of the first Expeditions to show up in Denver in that fall long ago was loaned to me for a drive to Durango and Southwest Colorado and back. That one was 3 inches shorter than today’s version  in wheelbase, 6 inches shorter in overall length, was equipped with a 4.6-liter V-8 with tow capacity of 6,100 pounds compared to today’s 9,200 tow capacity with the EcoBoost V-6, which has replaced the V-8. EPA fuel estimate back then was 14-18; today’s is 17-23.

Derived from the F-150, the Expedition was a popular new entry. Sales surged for the first four years from 1997 through 2000, when more than 200,000 Expeditions were sold each year. Sales dipped below 100,000 in 2006 and have remained there since. Sales last year climbed to 86,422 from 54,661 the previous year.

Since 2018, when the fourth-generation model was introduced, the Expedition has been powered by the impressive 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission.

Delivered to me recently was a silver-metallic-finished 2020 Ford Expedition Limited 4X4, with a window sticker price of $71,865.

With a business matter awaiting me up north in Wyoming, Jan and I on a Monday afternoon drove the Expedition to Fort Collins, then followed U.S.  287 to the northwest. That road to Laramie, Wyo., is a swift highway and, over the 65 miles, the elevation gain is more than 2,000 feet, from 4,982 to 7,165. There are lots of truck traffic and numerous passing lanes, in which the Ford took advantage with its EcoBoost power. From a 78-degree reading in Fort Collins we got into falling temps and heavy rain by the time we reached the Wyoming state line. Temperature in Laramie was at a cool 41, unusual in June.

Response of the 5,600-pound Expedition with the EcoBoost V-6 was strong. The drive, which began and ended in Greeley, covered 202 miles; from Laramie we headed east to Cheyenne, then south to Greeley via U.S. 85. Fuel-mileage average for the drive was 20.9 and, when including some in-town trips, overall mpg was 19.5 (EPA estimate is 17-22).

The body-on-frame Expedition is equipped for offroad duty, with 9.8-inch ground clearance, terrain-management system, continuously controlled damping suspension, hill-descent control and push-button activation of four-wheel high and low. It’s a tough competitor for the GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia. It rides on Michelin 275/65R18 tires.

The three-row Expedition is an eight-passenger vehicle; behind its back row are 20 cubic feet of cargo space which can be expanded to around 60 by folding the third row. The fold can be accomplished by pushing a button inside the opened rear liftgate.

Among  its options are the Ford Co-Pilot360 package of advanced driver-assistances, voice-activated and touchscreen navigation, panoramic roof, 360-degree camera and running boards.

Besides the Limited, cheaper trim levels are XL and XLT and upper levels King Ranch and Platinum. In addition to the standard Expedition, an extended-length Max version is offered; it is 12 inches longer

Heading south on a Monday morning on U.S. 287 aboard the new 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid Touring crossover, Jan and I turned toward Lafayette and into the Indian Peaks subdivision. The sharply restyled Honda looked right at home amid the well-manicured yards and overall landscaping beauty.

After going in circles through much of the neighborhood, we stopped long enough to photograph the CR-V, which is the most recent model to join the gas/electric hybrid market.

When it comes to the gas/electrics, the CR-V is late to the game among compact crossovers; Toyota, Ford, Nissan, Chevy and others have been there for months, some for years.

Late it may be, but the CR-V Hybrid is the first gas/electric Honda SUV crossover in the U.S.

The CR-V hybrid uses the same powertrain as the Honda Accord Hybrid midsize sedan. It combines an Atkinson-cycle 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with two motor-generators and a 1.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, which is positioned beneath the rear seats. The gas engine and electric motors generate 212 horsepower and 232 lb.-ft. of torque. Transmission is single-speed, and often, on acceleration, emits some whining, like other CVT-equipped autos.

Gear control is from a rather awkwardly designed push-button shifter on the center console. Driver may select from three drive modes – Eco, sport and EV (full electric power). Honda has added its Acoustic Vehicle Alert System as a noisemaker to gain attention of pedestrians when the vehicle is driving in normally all-quiet EV.

The standard Honda CR-V gasoline version has led sales of compact SUVs/crossovers in six of the past 10 years and was either second or third in the other four years. The new CR-V hybrid comes in at a $1,200 price premium over the traditionally powered models; a difference that in many instances might take approximately four years to overcome, based on the hybrid’s fuel savings.

In a week’s worth of driving with the new hybrid, the CR-V averaged 39.6 miles per gallon. Its EPA estimate is 40 in the city, 35 on the highway; heavy usage of the electric motors in lower speeds is responsible for the higher rating for city maneuvering. Two months ago, I reviewed the gasoline-only version of the CR-V Touring; it averaged 26.6 mpg in lots of snow and icy conditions.

The CR-V Hybrid is a great handler and is easy to park with responsive steering and 104.7-inch wheelbase. Its all-wheel-drive system sends torque to its rear wheels in low-grip situations. It rides on Continental CrossContact 235/55R19 tires. Suspension is MacPherson struts in front and multilink at the rear.

Sticker price on the well-equipped CR-V Touring Hybrid is $35,590, including Honda Sensing safety features – adaptive cruise, collision-mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist and road-departure mitigation. The CR-V is built in Greensburg, Ind.

Pacing along at about 50 miles per hour against the slickness of 5 to 6 inches of snow one morning in April, the 2020 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro 4X4 Double Cab carried us into the Fort Collins area.

It was an excellent vehicle for challenging the wet, cold spring snowstorm, and its performance was capped in a transfer of grip from 4-Hi to 4-Lo on a steep climb along a country dirt trail on our return drive home.

Finished in army green, the Tacoma seemed to seize the opportunity in showing its prowess over the adverse conditions with TRD-tuned offroad suspension and Fox shocks, Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain 265/70R16 tires, electronically controlled transfer case and automatic limited-slip differential.

The holdover 3.5-liter V-6 engine, producing 278 horsepower and 265 lb.-ft. of torque, is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission (a 6-speed manual is an option). Tow capacity for the 3.5 V-6, 4WD double cab is 6,400 pounds.

Running up the A pillar on the passenger side of the truck is the Desert Air Intake, which draws fresh air into the engine from a post high above the level of dirt and dust.

Accessing the interior requires a high, 24-inch step-in. Seating is firm and the ride is somewhat stiff. The Tacoma is Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatible, with an 8-inch touchscreen. At the rear is a 5-foot pickup box.

On the safety side is a precollision system with pedestrian detection and automatic braking support, part of Toyota Safety Sense which also includes lane-departure alert and steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high beams.

The Tacoma’s overall fuel mileage of 17.9 was at the low end of its EPA rating (18-22).

The desert-air snorkel added $725 to the total tally, bringing it to $49,599. Heated front leather seats, JBL speakers, subwoofer and amplifier are standard items.

The Tacoma, built in San Antonio, competes against the Jeep Gladiator, Ford Ranger, Chevy Colorado and Nissan Frontier.

Only a few automotive models had defied the lengthy slump in sedan sales across the country before the coronavirus slowed down the entire industry. One which increased its presence was the Dodge Charger, with or without a Hemi under its hood.

It had been five years since I’d reviewed a Charger when the 2020 GT V-6 all-wheel-drive model was brought my way in late April. In the meantime, though, I had driven five Dodge Challengers and four Chrysler 300s, which share a platform with the Charger.

While sedans generally have been on a sales slide in the U.S. in recent years, Charger has remained strong for Dodge. In the first quarter of 2020, the Charger outsold its well-regarded stablemate, the Chrysler 300, by more than a 3-to-1 margin. And in all of last year, almost 100,000 Chargers were sold.

With all-wheel drive available since 2007, Charger and 300 have claimed an edge in winter driving capability in Colorado against such big-car rivals Impala, Maxima, Avalon, Camry and Accord, which haven’t had the option.

The Charger is a good-sized car on a wheelbase of 120 inches, 198.4 inches in overall length and curb weight of 4,235 pounds.

The GT is equipped with a 300-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 engine, 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive featuring a front-axle disconnect. Those and a hood scoop, spoilers front and rear, sport seats – aesthetics to a gearhead. Optional engines are 5.7, 6.2 and 6.4-liter Hemi V-8s, available only with rear-wheel-drive Chargers.

The Charger GT, with its smooth and quick-shifting 8-speed automatic transmission, averaged 22.9 miles per gallon in a drive into northern Colorado. Heading south from Glen Haven toward Estes Park, there are two steep, extremely tight switchbacks adding diversion to the drive. Without slowing to an absolute crawl, the concern was keeping the big sedan on its side of the road. With the T-grip shifter handle moved to sport mode, I paddleshifted the transmission into 1^st gear, pressured the throttle and maintained tight grip to quickly turn steering wheel to the cruiser’s starboard side. It responded very well, very safely, not as quickly or as loudly as a Hemi, but impressively for a V-6 in a car with 120-inch wheelbase.

The Charger GT AWD carries a relatively modest base price of $34,995; the addition, though, of nearly 50 optional items, ranging from a $30 cargo net to a $1,000 premium Alpine Audio Group, pushed sticker price to $46,385. Among other additions are nappa/alcantra seats heated and cooled in front and heated at the rear, heated steering wheel, memory for radio/driver seat/exterior mirrors, navigation, power sunroof,  adaptive cruise/forward-collision warning/lane-departure warning/automatic high-beam headlamp control.

Those Chargers I drove five years ago were the V-6 AWD in a snowstorm and the 707-hp Charger Hellcat (what a memorable drive that was).

The original Charger showed up in 1965 and by ’68 was competing with Pontiac GTO, Chevy Chevelle and Camaro, Ford Mustang, the Plymouth Cuda and a couple others for muscle-car supremacy. My son Brent in the summer of 1983 guided his ’68 Charger to “king of the hill” trophy for the season at the Julesburg drag strip.

Notes from email: Bud, I enjoyed reading the Dodge Charger review and the reminiscences about the earlier versions. Back in 1967, my Dad bought my older brother a fire-engine-red Charger – I think through his business, the Beacon lounge, on Main Street in Grand Junction. Well, Nick got a few speeding tickets – gotta wonder how anybody would expect to get away with speeding unnoticed in a bright red muscle car in Junction, which had a population of about 20,000 in the 1960s. So, Dad took away the Charger and gave it to our Mom, who taught Latin at Grand Junction Central High. You guessed it: She got caught speeding, too! Is a lead foot hereditary? – Pete C.

Among the many features set aside by the postponement of the 2020 Denver Auto Show was what would have been an imposing sight in the GMC display – a big, tall four-door truck, the ‘20 GMC heavy-duty Sierra Crew Cab. The 2500HD and 3500HD are all-new this year.

The show dates set for early April were postponed in order that all considerations and regulations be met for dealing with the coronavirus invasion.

Regarding the big, tall trucks, performance on one I drove – the Sierra 3500HD Crew Cab AT4 4WD – was impressive from the 6.6-liter V-8 DuraMax turbodiesel and an Allison 10-speed automatic transmission. That combination delivers 445 horsepower and an astounding 910 lb.-ft. of torque.

Trailering capabilities have jumped with the greater torque, beefed-up chassis, a variable-speed cooling fan and attention to suspension. Trailer weight ratings for the 3500HD with standard bed are maximum 20,000 pounds with conventional hitch and 21,300 with fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitch.

The DuraMax/Alison combo in a regular-cab, two-wheel-drive 3500HD with gooseneck hitch is rated at 35,500 pounds.

With GMC’s 6.6-liter naturally aspirated V-8 gas engine on a crew cab, the tow rating drops to 14,500 with conventional hitch and 16,410 with fifth-wheel or gooseneck.

Opting for the turbodiesel and other amenities on the four-door review model raised sticker price to $78,775. The DuraMax turbodiesel added $9,890, the AT4 premium package $4,215, a technology package $2,125, electric sliding sunroof $995, driver-alert package $645, gooseneck/5^th wheel preparation $545.

The Sierra 3500HD was equipped with the fascinating MultiPro tailgate, part of the optional AT4 premium package. A year ago, the tailgate was featured on the Sierra 1500 pickups. The gate offers use as an easy step-up, a workbench, half-open capability, more handy access to the bed or as a seat at a tailgate party.

I received a brief walkaround of the GMC heavy-duty from Milt Brown, new car sales manager at Weld County Garage in Greeley. The tall hoodline on the big, black truck stands 58 inches off ground level; it’s the AT4 trim level – all-terrain four-wheel drive – which rates just above the SLT and below the Denali.

Highlighting the comfortable, roomy interior are leather seating, navigation, wi-fi connectivity, Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and wireless charging.

Included in the AT4 build are offroad suspension, Rancho shocks, skid plates and red tow hooks.

Also offered in the GMC heavy-duty line are up to 15 camera views, including the industry-first transparent trailer view and the first-ever heavy-duty in its class with head-up display and rear-camera mirror.

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Most of us, at one time or another, have thought how rewarding it would be to own a BMW 3 series auto.

BMW’s newest model offers the opportunity into a similar ride for lesser price and very little sacrifice.

It’s the 228i xDrive Gran Coupe. A coupe won’t do? Gotta have four doors? Well, this coupe is of four-door structure. I know, coupes were always of two-door build, I’ve always believed that, but that was back in the day. Those German factories today turn out such fine premium cars, their designers can describe them however they wish.

That 228i has the look of a 3 series, though at 178.5 inches in overall length, it is 7 inches shorter than a 3 series model, so a bit more limited in legroom and trunk space.

The neat part of the comparison is that base price for the 228 Gran Coupe is about $5,000 cheaper than the starting price for the comparable 3-series with the same 4-cylinder turbo as the “coupe.”

The 228i xDrive’s sticker climbed from $38,495 to $47,845 with the addition of M Sport steering and spoiler, heated front seats and steering wheel, panoramic moonroof, head-up display, ambient lighting and SiriusXM radio.

Performance comes from a 2.0-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine developing 228 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque, mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.

Best results come after switching the drive mode from comfort to sport and occasionally using the paddle shifters. As the suspension stiffened in sport mode, the heavier steering put me in much more direct feel of the road.

Brisk shifts occur with the paddles, as the turbocharged 4-cylinder is matched up well with the 8-speed automatic.

We drove on a Sunday to Fort Collins, then followed U.S. 287 to Livermore. Our plan was to reconnect with I-25 via the Owl Canyon Road to the east, but a mile into it convinced us to save that drive for an SUV. The Gran Coupe can be a rough rider.

Back on the highway, the BMW’s lane-guidance system is effective, though it has a bit of ricochet feel to it, not as smooth as Mercedes I’ve driven. Other safety features included automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

Along with handling, fuel-mileage is an attribute for most BMWs; this one averaged 31.1 miles per gallon for 200 miles. Its EPA estimate is 23/33.

The 2 series models are built at Leipzig, Germany, home to one of BMW’s most modern assembly plants. The 228i rides on the same platform as the X1 and X2 SUVs.

BMW’s 2 series entry-level luxury model will compete against Mercedes-Benz’ A-class sedan and Audi’s A3.

That land yacht driven up my way was a brightener on a cloudy day.

The timing, perhaps, could have been better, with the pandemic still alive, as well as the “stay-at-home” directive.

But it is the 2020 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, the most ultraluxurious model ever delivered to me.

The last time I drove a Rolls was more than 40 years ago, in 1978, and I’ll not pass the opportunity to assume control of this new one, even for just a few days.

The full-sized Cullinan last year became the first sport utility vehicle ever produced under the Rolls-Royce marque, as well as the first all-wheel-drive vehicle. It is named for the Cullinan Diamond, the largest gem-quality rough diamond discovered.

The $394,275 sticker price on the 2020 Cullinan review model is more than $100,000 higher-priced than the previous top-ticket item I’d driven 10 years ago, the 2010 Bentley Continental Supersports at $286,845.

The first Rolls I drove way back in ’78, if I remember correctly, was in the $75,000 to $80,000 range. I was with Bill Stewart, the Rolls-trained mechanic who took over the Rolls-Royce franchise of Kumpf Motor Co. and opened Royal Carriage at My Garage at 4^th and Broadway in Denver. He retired a few years ago from an expanded lineup of exotics out on County Line Road.

So, with the many years behind me, this Rolls-Royce is special.

Henry Royce, an electrical and mechanical entrepreneur, built his first motor car in 1904; in May of that year he met Charles Rolls, who sold cars in London, and they formed the Rolls-Royce automobile company.

Rolls-Royce today is fully owned by BMW of Germany. Bentley, Rolls-Royce’s onetime partner and a rival today, is owned by Volkswagen.

Each Rolls-Royce automobile is built by hand at Goodwood, England.

Rolls-Royce’s famed “flying lady” emblem still, after more than 100 years, rests out front at the edge of the hood. When David Polley, driver of the Cullinan to my home, got out of the SUV I noticed he pushed a button on the key fob and the flying lady disappeared beneath the surface of the Rolls. This new feature is responsible for decreasing the rate of thefts of the prized emblem.

Under the huge, long Cullinan hood is a 571-horsepower, 6.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V-12 engine (627 lb.-ft. of torque) with 8-speed automatic transmission.

The big Rolls rides on a wheelbase of 130 inches, is 210 inches in overall length, 85 inches wide and 72.3 in height. Curb weight is 5,865 pounds, just under three tons.

This may be the quietest luxury car I’ve driven was my thought after a short while in the Cullinan on Tuesday. And then it snowed on Thursday.

In spite of the Cullinan’s brawny size, it’s an exceptional handler.  It has a much lighter feel out on the roads than you’d expect from an ultraluxury showpiece in the three-ton category.

Much of its agility on the curves and climbs can be attributed to its aluminum-inspired space frame, double-wishbone front and five-link rear and self-leveling independent air suspension. I believe, also, it’s assisted by the four-wheel-steering capability. Those rear wheels will turn direction 3 degrees. The air suspension is designed with technology to read the road ahead and adjust itself accordingly.

Out front is the traditional Rolls-style upright grille, and at the front edge of the bonnet (hood) is the Spirit of Ecstasy. Beneath the car’s bonnet (hood) is the Rolls’ impressive 12 cylinders. It’s an upgrade from the 6.6-liter V-12 used in the BMW M760i xDrive and Rolls-Royce Ghost sedan. While horsepower is the same 571 in both the 6.75 and 6.6, the Cullinan develops 627 lb.-ft. of torque. The Cullinan’s acceleration is quick and smooth and effortless. It will sprint 0 to 60 in under 5 seconds.

The all-wheel drive, which can be enhanced with an offroad button, was grip-sure in last Thursday’s 6-inch snowfall and cold temperatures.

Jan and I in the Rolls one morning cruised west on U.S. 34 to I-25, then south to 144^th Avenue, where we pulled the big beast off and into a drive-thru line at Starbucks. The young woman cashier, “wowed” by the RR, told us the driver in the car ahead had paid for our drinks. I, in turn, paid for the order from the car behind us – it was son Kurt, in wife Tammy’s Lincoln.

The air suspension drops entry level 1 ½ inches, as a welcome to the plush, quiet interior finished in beautiful charles blue with the finest leather on the seats and lambswool at the floor. Hidden inside each of the forward-opening rear doors is an $1,800 umbrella.

The $394,275 hand-built Cullinan competes with the Bentley Bentayga, Lamborghini Urus and Range Rover. I was on hand in the fall of 2015 at Bentley of Denver out on East County Line Road for the unveiling of the Bentayga. That ushered in the market for ultraluxury SUVs.

There is scarce need to mention fuel mileage for an auto that weighs 5,900 pounds with all-wheel drive and is driven by a huge, twin-turboed, V-12 engine. I’ll tell anyway; overall average for the Cullinan was 14.9 miles per gallon.

Bearing a “can’t miss” tag, the 2020 Nissan Sentra showed up in January with excellent styling and revised engine on a new platform and a price that seems “very reasonable,” comparatively speaking ($25k). It is one of the better-looking compact sedans in the U.S. auto market.

Its brightening of showrooms at introduction in late January and early February faded almost overnight upon impact of the coronavirus infection a month later. Few have had opportunity to view the new product, which with closure of showrooms to the pandemic scare, even fewer have had opportunity to buy. New-car showrooms in Colorado are closed (still, in April), though many dealers are open to online business.

The Sentra was to be 2020’s guide in Nissan’s efforts to avoid a third consecutive year of sliding sales. But the fact the ’20 version missed most of the month of January, then suffered from the virus shutdowns the last two-thirds of March, sales for Sentra amounted to only 23,879 units in the U.S. during the first quarter; a year ago, the Sentra at the same time had totaled 56,793 sales.

I took a liking to the Sentra SR model delivered to me, oh, it lacked some in performance, but it looked great, was well-equipped and maintained outstanding fuel mileage.

It was finished in white with a black roof, and Nissan designers continue to tweak the C-pillar window treatment. The newest look gives the small C-window a fine point, and it goes well with the sleekly sloped rear roofline and deck.

The new Sentra sits 2.2 inches lower with a 2.4-inch-wider track, is slightly longer and is 150 pounds heavier in 3,047 curb weight. Handling is impressive from independent front strut and multilink rear suspension.

For the new platform, the Sentra’s overall length was stretched a half-inch to 182.7 inches. Interestingly, that now measures up the same overall length of the Honda Civic, Kia Forte and Subaru Impreza. Those four at 182.7 are lengthier than the Toyota Corolla at 182.3, the Hyundai Elantra at 181.9, the Mazda3 at 175.6 and the Volkswagen Golf at 167.6.

Sentra’s new engine is a 149-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, linked to a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive, riding on 18-inch Hankooks. It replaces last year’s 124-hp, 1.8-liter engine; a small optional turbocharged engine from 2019 is also no longer available.

Overall fuel mileage in my drives was 32.4 miles per gallon; the Sentra’s EPA estimate is 28/37.

An interior highlight is an 8-inch color touchscreen with Bose audio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Rear seating is somewhat snug; trunk space is 15 cubic feet.

The Sentra SR trim level carries base price of $22,355 and climbs to $25,825 sticker price with these optional items:

Power moonroof, heated front leatherette seats, heated steering wheel, thin-type LED headlights, around-view monitor and interior ambient lighting.

Since Super Bowl Sunday in very early February, interest has grown toward the 2021 Kia Seltos, the flashy little subcompact crossover which drew so much acclaim when it was featured in a commercial with the Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs.

Styled similarly, in smaller measure and with a bit more boxiness, to the hot-selling Telluride midsize crossover, the Seltos sizewise is positioned between the Soul and Sportage in the Kia lineup.

What the heck is a “Seltos?” Kia says the name is inspired from Greek mythology and the legend of Celtos, the son of Hercules. Replacing the C with S in Seltos is to signify speed, sportiness and strength, the company says.

“Wow, I like the style of that one,” said Alex, the young man serving in the Starbucks window and referring to the new Seltos. “What is it,” he asked.

I explained that it is the new Kia subcompact crossover, Seltos, then asked Alex, “How about the color, do you like it?” It’s called starbright yellow, kind of a yellow/green mix.

“No, no,” he responded, “I’d want black or a lighter color, but I wouldn’t want this color.” I agreed with him.

Twice I was surprised by messages delivered into the Kia’s driver information center. The first was while sitting in a drive-thru line and after the car in front pulled ahead, the message read: “The leading car is driving away.” The second was while I sat in the idling Kia on a cold morning as Jan went into the pharmacy for a prescription, the message was: “Vehicle will be turned off automatically in 30 minutes.” Plenty of time.

The Kia Seltos is 172 inches in overall length on a wheelbase of 103.5 inches, with curb weight of 3,317 pounds. It is 3 inches longer than the key-rival Honda CR-V, 200 pounds heavier and owns a half-inch edge in ground clearance.

Plenty of performance pop came from a 1.6-liter, turbocharged 4-cylinder that makes 175 horsepower and pairs with a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. Standard engine on less-expensive models is a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated 4-cylinder of 146-hp mated to a continuously variable transmission. The CVTs are good for our times; this quick-shifting 7-speed automatic is better, though, much better.

On a relatively quiet morning in the Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland, I pushed the drive mode button for Sport, slapped the shifter handle into manual-mode gate and the Seltos gripped the road surfaces and treated very nimbly these curves as though it’d been over them dozens of times. With fewer than 60 miles on the odometer, I knew it was a first-time trial for this Kia.

A roomy interior, including lots of rear-seat legroom, is a plus for the subcompact Seltos. Its cargo space behind the rear seats is 26.6 cubic feet; that’s 3 feet more than available in the Honda HR-V.

Besides the Honda, the Seltos will compete with the Subaru Crosstrek, Buick Encore, Jeep Renegade, Chevy Trax, Ford EcoSport, Mini Cooper Countryman, Nissan Kicks, Toyota C-HR and others.

The drive into the mountains and back averaged 28.3 miles per gallon. EPA rating for the Kia is 25-30 for the turbo engine and 7-speed automatic; for the cheaper AWD models with the non-turbo and CVT transmission the rating is 27/31.

In a walkaround and inspection of the model with Dustin Pew, general sales manger at Peak Kia North at Windsor, he pointed out the high-end equipment level on the SX, including LED headlights, 10.25-inch navigation touchscreen, adaptive cruise control and driving assist which can adjust speed according to the posted limits.

All these features and the Seltos’ sticker price remained below $30,000 – well, barely below at $29,935, which included a $700 sunroof.

In a direct contrast to last year’s winner, the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid has been named Car of the Year by members of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Style and 52-miles-per-gallon fuel estimate earned this year’s prize for the Corolla Hybrid; the honor a year ago went to the 480-horsepower Ford Mustang Bullitt.

Two other standout models – the Jeep Gladiator and Kia Telluride – were voted Truck of the Year and SUV of the Year, respectively.

The winners were announced on April 1 by Craig Conover, president of RMAP. That would have been the day of the Preview Gala kicking off the 2020 Denver Auto Show, had it not fell victim to the coronavirus pandemic.

The big, tough-looking ’20 Gladiator, Jeep’s first pickup since the early ‘90s, beat out ’19 Chevy Silverado 1500, the ’20 GMC Sierra 1500 and the ’19 Ram 2500.

Opposing the Kia Telluride for SUV crossover honors were the Subaru Outback, Hyundai Palisade and Fiat 500X Trekking. All are 2020 models.

The sharp-handling ’20 Toyota Corolla Hybrid earned the car crown against the Subaru Legacy, Nissan Versa and ’19 BMW M850i xDrive convertible, a $131,000 premium luxury showpiece that didn’t seem to fit with the others.

The Corolla, powered by a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors, is estimated to produce 52 mile per gallon in overall driving duties.

The Kia Telluride, when it showed up at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2019 was noticeably larger than the established Kia Sorento, a relatively “small midsize entry.” A 292-horsepower, direct-injection 3.8-liter, V-6 engine with 262 lb.-ft. of torque is tied to an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Performance in the Kia gets a boost in Sport mode, and passing power is more than adequate on the highway. Properly equipped, the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The Kia has 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third row of seats, and by folding down the back row that is expanded to 46 feet. The Kia is built in West Point, Ga.

The Jeep Gladiator, a four-door pickup, has coil springs all around, lending it a “good ride” rating.

Lowering the rear seatback on the passenger side of the Jeep reveals a removable Bluetooth wireless speaker, which can be lifted out and used nearby as a receptor of music.

The Gladiator 4X4 receives strong performance from its 285-horsepower/260 lb.-ft. torque, 3.6-liter V-6 engine and 8-speed automatic transmission with manual-mode shifting.