The TRD badge, a synonym for “performance” for years on Toyota trucks and SUVs, has surprisingly been added to Avalon and Camry sedans, and I showed one off in a drive to Sterling in July.

The TRD (Toyota Racing Development) parts and trim were built into a 2020 Avalon four-door, finished in supersonic red with matte black alloy wheels and red brake calipers. It is one of the few remaining large cars sold in the U.S., without including luxury models.

The drive to the northeast was to attend memorial services at Christ United Methodist Church in Sterling for Don Miles, longtime sports editor at the Sterling Journal-Advocate. He served that position, except for three years’ service in the U.S. Army, from 1954 into the 1990s. He was inducted into the Colorado Coaches Hall of Fame in 1973.

When Miles left the Sterling paper for service in the Army in October 1956, it created the opening for me to become a newspaperman at age 19. On Miles’ return in 1959, I moved over to the news side of the J-A and eventually was promoted to editor before moving on to Denver newspapers.

Miles is survived by his wife, Margaret; a son, Jim Miles of Joliet, Ill.; a daughter, Debra Petterson of Peoria, Ariz.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Regarding this big, front-wheel-drive Avalon (4 inches longer and 400 pounds heavier than a Camry), it averaged 30 miles per gallon for the 200-mile run to Sterling and back to Greeley. Its 3.5-liter V-6 engine develops 301 horsepower, and the powertrain includes paddleshifting capability for the 8-speed automatic transmission.

What makes the Avalon somewhat special and much more competitive with a Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger or Nissan Maxima are the TRD tweaks, such as thicker underbody braces, sport-tuned front and rear suspension that lowers the body 0.6 inch; with the front and side aero skirts, it is noticeably low-slung.

From a safety standpoint, the front brake discs have been increased from 12 inches to 12.9, with two-piston calipers rather than singles. Active Cornering Assist applies braking of inner wheels in cornering to reduce understeer.

Among interior highlights are a shift knob with TRD logo, red-stitched seats and steering wheel and red seat belts. Premium audio is included with 14 speakers and subwoofer, along with navigation, hands-free Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay compatibility. A large trunk offers 16 cubic feet of space.

Precollision system with pedestrian detection is included in the sticker price of $46,147, as well as radar cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist and automatic high beams.

“Yes, it’s a Camry,” I responded the following week to numerous onlookers impressed with the sleek, low-slung, powerful-looking Camry sedan, finished in red. It surely doesn’t fit the image of the long-cherished, four-door family midsizer.

The midsize sedan field, once the largest market in the U.S., has been shrinking for several years.

Other than for the Chevy Malibu, the domestics have either abandoned or are in the process of vacating the midsize and larger  markets. The Chrysler 200 bailed out a couple years ago; since then the withdrawals have included Ford Fusion and Taurus, Buick LaCrosse and Regal, Chevrolet Impala, as well as smaller sedans Dodge Dart, Ford  Focus and Fiesta, Chev Cruze and Sonic and Buick Verano.

Responding to the fact a number of competitors of Toyota are abandoning the midsize field, a Toyota executive said, “We plan to take as much of the remaining share as we possibly can, we’re building for it” (explaining the expansion into TRD trim).

The addition of TRD brings to six the number of trim levels for Toyota Camry; the other five are L, LE, SE, XSE and XLE.

The 2020 Camry TRD V-6 review model, built at Georgetown, Ky., is on a wheelbase of 111.2 inches, measures 194.6 inches in overall length, with curb weight of 3,572 pounds, 300 heavier than lesser-equipped, 4-cylinder-powered models.

With all that power at hand, the Camry averaged an impressive 27.9 miles per gallon overall. Its EPA estimate is 22/31,

Body control is much improved with the new Camry through tuned suspension and stiffer underbody braces.

Its $32,920 sticker price includes cruise control, precollision braking system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure alert and steering assist, hands-free Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, sport seats with red seat belts.

The huge vehicle showed up at my house on a Thursday morning; a high-roof Sprinter 2500 passenger van, built by Mercedes-Benz.

It stands 9 feet in height, has seating for 12. Behind the driver and front-seat passenger are a second row of three seats, a third row of three and a fourth row of four.

The question I had of “what will I ever do to review all this seating space” was answered when daughter Kathy Allen, mentioning that seven from her neighborhood had planned a drive Saturday evening to Stoneham for dinner at Dewey’s Bar & Grill, and added, “why don’t you and Mom (Jan) drive us there and enjoy the dinner party.

The step-in height of the van is 24 to 25 inches, and those friends we loaded for the drive out east appreciated the fact we had a 9-inch step stool with us to ease access and egress. Those boarding the Sprinter were Karen Goehring, Will and Jody Kulp, Jon and Nancy Weaver and Kathy and Bill Allen.

Excellent performance was provided by a 188-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 turbodiesel and 7-speed automatic transmission for the four-wheel-drive people hauler. The van, more nimble in handling than expected, followed Colo. 392 through Lucerne and on to Briggsdale, then east on Colo. 14 to Stoneham, 70 miles from Greeley.

Dewey’s is known for its steaks, and there was no disappointment, as the group was well-taken-care-of by the establishment’s owner Ron Ladd and staff member Angela Whitman.

The van’s interior is rather austere, it’s designed for work purposes, and there’s little hint of Mercedes luxury anywhere. The backup camera was very small, approximately 2-inch-by-2-inch, confined to one end of the narrow rearview mirror.

The Sprinter held the course very well on the way home in the dark, when the automatic headlamps got a good tryout.  It was somewhat of a rough ride home, particularly in the far-back row of seats.

Price of the Sprinter van climbed to $61,333 from a base of $48,990 with these optional add-ons – jet black paint $1,015; leatherette seats $400; 4X4 low and high range $7,800; driver convenience $1,210; comfort seats and headrests $690.

Mercedes has announced that it will introduce a new engine, 2.0-liter 4-cylinder diesel, this fall (2020) for Sprinter vans. It competes with the Ford Transit, Chevrolet Express, Ram ProMaster and Nissan NV2500.

The Sprinter van’s braking system is superb, and was tested in a near-collision on our return at 10^th Street and 35^th Avenue when another motorist ran through a red light as the Sprinter began crossing on green. Only quick braking avoided a crash. My reflexes are just fine, thank you.

The automotive mix continues.

Toyota has returned a hatchback to the Yaris subcompact lineup for 2020, after a year’s absence; it is a version of the Mazda2 and produced in a Mazda plant in Salamanca, Mexico. Pricing falls below $20,000.

It’s the smallest car sold by Toyota in the U.S. The little Yaris, from a rear corner, somewhat resembles the long-gone Chrysler PT Cruiser.

The Yaris in the subcompact field outsells Chevy Sonic, Ford Fiesta and Fiat 500, but trails the Nissan Versa, Honda Fit, Mitsubishi Mirage, Hyundai Accent, Kia Rio and Mini Cooper.

The new hatchback at 161.6 inches is approximately the same in overall length as the Honda Fit hatchback. It provides 15.9 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats. Legroom is limited for the rear seating area.

The front-drive Yaris is rated at 32/40 miles per gallon from its little 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engine generating 105 horsepower with a 6-speed automatic transmission. It edged past the 40-mpg mark on a 55-mile drive out east of Eaton and back, and its overall average for 125 miles was 38.9, that’s impressive. A Sport mode quickens the shifts and tightens the steering feel.

With sticker price of $19,705, the Yaris Hatchback XLE is dressed up with leatherette seats and leather trim for its dash, steering wheel, shift knob and park brake handle. It also adds low-speed precollision braking, rain-sensing wipers, 7-inch color touchscreen display, Bluetooth/AppleCarPlay/Android Auto.

Right around 350 bucks is all that separated sticker prices on two new cars I drove back-to-back for review in The Post.

The 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI 2.0T Autobahn rolled in at $37,415; almost matching that is the ’20 Mini Cooper SE all-electric at $37,750. Close in price, yet far apart in their respective market niches.

The Mini, with a limited range of 110 miles, is for short-distance runs, so, on a spring morning, with 93 miles of all-electric range showing on the Mini’s info screen, Jan and I  headed for Costco 25 miles away near Fort Collins. The load of groceries we purchased wouldn’t begin to fit in the Mini’s tiny 7.5-cubic-feet of cargo space, so we dropped the rear seatbacks, then nearly filled the entire space.

The Golf GTI, though, is launching its eighth generation, dating back 45 years, as a leader in the “great-handling hot hatch” category. It’s meant to be driven – so, we did, 600-mile round trip to Jeffrey Lake near Brady, Neb., joining Kurt and Tammy Wells for two days of the Memorial Weekend at their lakehouse.

A mile from my home on the return drive, a mechanical issue shutdown the GTI. It seemed to be a clutch problem, and I limped it home in 2^nd gear with no shifts.

Since the 1970s, I’ve driven for review approximately 95 new Volkswagens; this is the first VW ever towed away from my home. I remember a Fiat towed away in the ‘70s, an Audi in the ‘90s, a couple Fords more recently for sidewall tire punctures, and the first Dodge Charger Hellcat I drove was loaded onto a transport, after emptying most of its crankcase of oil, and hauled back to Detroit.

The 2020 Golf GTI performed with a 242-horsepower, 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed manual transmission in front-wheel-drive configuration. Optional is a 7-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission.

The newest GTI is a bit longer and sits lower than previously. Its comfortably bolstered front sport seats were plenty supportive over the lengthy run to the Nebraska lake. With more than half of the driving on Interstate highways, the GTI averaged 30.8 miles per gallon. We visited cemeteries at Sterling enroute and at Wray on the return.

The new Golf GTI sits on a wheelbase of 103.6 inches, is 168 inches in overall length, with curb weight of 3,062 pounds. It is fitted with lane-keeping assist and autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring.

A favorite of youthful drivers around the world, the GTI made its premiere at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1975. More than 2.3 million have been produced. The 2020 model is built at Puebla, Mexico.

Roars from my garage on numerous startups during Father’s Day weekend were from the English-built 2020 McLaren 570S Spider. What an absolute treat for this old dad.

This beautifully structured superperformer drew admiring stares and waves almost everywhere, from backing out of my garage to parking in a Starbucks lot to pausing among four women and a guy in a classy, age-restrictive neighborhood and out onto the roadways of northern Colorado.

Finished in elite vega blue, the $233,000 McLaren 570S boasts 562 horsepower/442 lb.-ft. of torque from a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-liter V-8 engine mounted midship and 7-speed dual-clutch seamless-shift automatic transmission in rear-wheel drive. It will run 0 to 60 in barely over 3 seconds, with a top speed of 204 miles per hour. Throttle and suspension can be set from normal to sport to track. Bright yellow calipers draw attention to its huge ceramic brake discs, 15.5 inches in front and 15 at the rear.

With its butterfly (dihedral) doors opened and the top in place, there is no smooth manner in or out of the driver seat; it is much less a chore with the top dropped. The spider stands just under 4 feet in height and its ground clearance is a tight 3.7 inches. With the touch of a button by the driver, the low-slung car will raise by 1 ½ inches and avoid scraping the driveway curbing, then as speed reaches just over 35 miles per hour the car lowers to normal diving height.

Mike Ward, the dealer out south near C-470 who operates McLaren Denver and six other luxury marques, mentioned that the 570S is the entry-level machine for McLaren. It is overshadowed by the 720S, with that much (720) horsepower. Ward said his store had sold 200 McLarens in three years. There are 26 McLaren dealerships in the U.S. The closest to Denver is at Scottsdale, Ariz., owned also by Ward. High-end businessmen and women are buyers of most McLarens, he said.

The McLaren company, launched by Bruce McLaren in 1963, today operates at Surrey, Woking, England, where the McLarens are hand-built. Among options pushing sticker price of the review model to $233,780 are Bowers & Wilkins audio and $4,780 for upgrade to twin-spoke lightweight wheels.

My final drive in the supercar was on a Monday morning, over through Loveland to Masonville and on north through Rist Canyon to Fort Collins. The well-planted McLaren, of carbon-fibre construction and responsive with adaptive dampers, fears no cornering, and it conquered every one of the hundreds of twists of Rist. Among others I’ve tested on Ritz road are Chevy Corvette Grand Sport Coupe, Porsche Carrera, Ford Mustang GT, Chrysler 300 SRT8 and Fiat 124 Abarth roadster. The McLaren’s fuel mileage was 18.9.

Seat controls, out of sight at the front inner corner of the bottom cushion, made seat and seatback adjustments on the 2020 McLaren 570S Spider a guessing game at times. I questioned, too, the small, 2-inch-square brake pedal pad for a super-performing auto such as that.

From an onlooker’s vantage, though, the McLaren drew nothing but “oohs” and “aahs.”

Its fluid style was well-received. “What a beautiful car; I love it and I don’t even know what it is,” said Colleen Callahan of Greeley. After being told it is an English-built McLaren, she said, “My late husband had a Sunbeam Tiger,” a rare sports car also from England in the mid-1960s.

Here are optional items which pushed the price of the McLaren from a base of $208,800 to sticker of $233,780:

• Ignition key,
• MSO Black Pack,
• tyre pressure monitoring system,
• Pirelli P Zero tires,
• ceramic brakes with yellow calipers,
• twin-spoke lightweight wheels,
• nose life,
• parking sensors,
• rear parking camera,
• battery charger,
• branded floor mats,
• carbon fibre interior components,
• carbon black leather steering wheel,
• carbon black alcantra headliner,
• electric steering column,
• electric and heated memory seats,
• luxury pack,
• jet black interior theme,
• nappa sport interior trim,
• soft-close doors,
• stealth exhaust finisher,
• sports exhaust,
• vega blue exterior paint,
• satellite radio,
• Bowers & Wilkins audio,
• transportation.

Laura Tilley,  McLaren public relations manager, reminded me before delivery of the 570S that I am restricted to only 250 miles of use. I’d completed the Rist Canyon drive and was heading home when the odometer’s trip computer registered 250.0, and I . . . . . the quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s head, the quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s head, the quick, brown fox jumped over the lazy dog’s head, the quick,

Same old truck (still a model year away from redesign) until the hood is lifted.

My gosh, Nissan has pulled a fast one, moving ahead the production of powertrain for the new-look 2021 Frontier pickup and slipping it into the long-in-the-tooth 2020 version.

And, oh, my, what a difference, as the standard 4cylinder and the optional 4.0 V-6 have been replaced with a 310-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 engine and the old 5-speed automatic transmission has given way to a smooth, quick-shifting 9-speed automatic.

Among new standard features are push-button start, leather shift knob, manual-tilt steering, power door locks and power windows.

The new direct-injection V-6 delivers 281 lb.-ft. of torque and provides quick response with the shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system.

The old-style 2020 Frontier with the new power will go on sale in July.

Why would Nissan go to the trouble of installing the new engine and transmission in the old body for such a short time before the redesigned 2021 arrives? To sell a few more of the old truck; to act as a teaser for the performance capabilities of the new one; to use it as a test before its major run in ‘21?

I’ll admit it was a pleasure to drive the ’20 Frontier, particularly the 9-speed tranny and its oft, quick shifts. The new engine/transmission combination boosted fuel mileage by a couple miles per gallon; my drives averaged 21.5 miles per gallon.

Brought to me was the Frontier Pro-4X Crew Cab pickup, the highest trim level offered. It included 16-inch offroad design machine-finish alloy wheels and Hankook all-terrains, rear differential locker, Bilstein offroad high-pressure shocks, skid plates for oil pan, fuel tank and transfer case; satin chrome ring accent around white-face meter gauges and a Pro-4X tailgate badge. The move into 4WD and 4Lo is with an electronic switch on the dash.

Cheaper trim levels for the Frontier are S and SV models. Those and the Pro-4X are available in the King Cab and the Crew Cab four-door.

Tow capacity with the new powertrain is 6,700 pounds, with payload of 1,400 pounds in the cargo bed. Ground clearance with the Pro-4X is 10.1 inches.

The performance improvements will help the Nissan midsize pickup as it competes with an outstanding group of competitors – the Ford Ranger, Toyota Tacoma, Jeep Gladiator, GMC Canyon, Chevy Colorado and Honda Ridgeline.

The Nissan Frontier is built in Canton, Miss.; the new 3.8 engine is assembled at the Nissan Tennessee engine facility, which also produces the Endurance V-8 for the full-size Titan pickup.

The first Frontier I drove was way back in October 2000; “It’s my all-time favorite product from Nissan,” I said at that time. But this is 2020; other than a slight facelift in 2010, the truck is basically unchanged for 15 years.

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.