On The Road

Courtesy of Fiat
The new Fiat 500X Lounge comes with a 180-horsepower engine with 175 pound-feet of torque.

We recently drove two new vehicles that are practical and fun at the same time – the Volkswagen Golf GTI SE and Fiat 500X Lounge.

They are two examples of the several models in the ultracompetitive compact crossover category of automobiles. Spirited and peppy, in a size that’s easy to maneuver and reasonably economical to buy and own but configured to handle a reasonable amount of cargo, these vehicles are perfect for the young person in college or just starting a career.

One of the maintenance activities handy people often still want to do on their own is change their car’s battery.

I have no problem with people trying do-it-yourself projects, but approximately a quarter of the time a new battery doesn’t actually fix the problem. In these circumstances, we usually end up discovering that a light was left on, a component is causing a draw or the car has some sort of parasitic draw.

Photo courtesy of Toyota
The new Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited sells for just under $45,000. The car gets 43 mpg in mixed driving conditions.

Last month we discussed the eventual prospect of sedans and hybrid cars becoming extinct – like dinosaurs and passenger pigeons.

Realistically, however, that future won’t come quickly or all at once. So for that next automobile, for those of you who think that a car should be down-to-earth and comfortable while still being earth-friendly and practical, the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited could be your next car.

Because I am in the auto industry, many of my customers and friends ask me what kind of car I drive and which car would I buy.

My column last month reviewed the concept of protected bikeways, which embody a different philosophy from the thinking that the best way to achieve cycling safety is for bicyclists to behave like motorists and share the road.

courtesy of Jaguar
The 2019 Jaguar iPace offers a range of 240 miles on a single charge. A direct competitor with Tesla’s Model X, the iPace has a base price of $80,050.

No matter what the future of automobile transportation may hold, Tesla will always be remembered as the first successful company to offer totally electric long-distance luxury automobiles.