2025 RANGE ROVER SPORT

IF YOU ARE GOING MOUNTAIN CLIMBING, YOU MAY AS WELL GO IN COMFORT AND STYLE

My first experience with a Land Rover model came a little over 20 years ago at a preview of its Discovery SUV at the automaker’s off-roading school in Vermont.

 

After wrapping some sandwiches in tin foil and placing them on the Discovery’s engine manifold to heat them up for lunch, we took off and headed for the nearby Green Mountains.

There we got off the highway and began a climb up a ski trail. At the mountain’s summit, we paused for our lunch, either the warmed up roast beef sandwich or another prepared offering, and then began the trek down the ski trail we had just traversed making good use of the Hill Descent Control.

For the record, no skiers were harmed in the making of this adventure. This was in the summer and there was no snow either.

I have had numerous opportunities for off-roading experiences since then but not in Vermont and not with the Discovery, which is nearing the end of its fifth generation. And no ski trails.

Of course, you don’t have to go mountain climbing to enjoy getting behind the wheel of an SUV from Land Rover such as the Range Rover Sport that this review covers, but it’s nice to know if you want to run up a mountain — and you can find one — you can.

The 2025 Range Rover Sport is — as the name might suggest — a somewhat sportier and smaller version of the Land Rover’s flagship Range Rover SUV, but is no less capable and luxurious. It’s a versatile vehicle with a wide range of powertrains with 6-cylinder and V8 power and even a pair of plug-in hybrid drivetrains among the options..

Each of the gas-engine models are also mild-hybrid. A small electric motor provides a boost to the engine but, unlike the plug-in hybrid, its purpose is only to assist the gas engine, not to drive the vehicle’s wheels.

The 2025 Range Rover Sport comes in basic three trim levels with the base SE model getting performance upgrades the company dubs “Dynamic,” essentially resulting in three other trims. There is also a supercharged SV version with 635-horsepower engine and a $180,000-plus price tag.

The 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography models also bears a V8 that offers 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque and will get you moving from zero-to-60 mph in under five seconds, according to Land Rover.

That engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a 2-speed transfer case for your adventures on the trail. Comfort, Dynamic, and Eco modes lets you choose your driving experience.

Fuel efficiency ratings — if you can call them that — are 16 miles-per-gallon city, 23 highway, and 19 combined on premium fuel. According to the government, that means you will spend $7,250 more over a 5-year period than you would over the average new vehicle.

Inside the 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography you’ll find lots of infotainment and tech features that operate only off the large touchscreen that dominates the center stack. There are no buttons or knobs to make it easy to adjust the radio and climate controls.

If you can hunt down those systems behind the various interfaces, you’ll find a Meridian Premium Sound System, navigation, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto among the features. 

Standard safety features include blind-spot warning, a surround view monitor, adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, park assist, rear traffic monitor, and lane-keeping assist.

The starting price for the 2025 Range Rover Sport Autobiography is $125,025 including the destination and delivery charge. My test model added just a few options that ran the final total to $130,110.

What I liked about the 2025 Range Rover Sport: The interior is classy, roomy, and comfortable. Lots of choices are offered when it comes to the . The 4.4-liter twin turbo V8 packs plenty of punch to move its nearly three tons of body weight. The two-tone exterior gives it a distinctive profile. Cargo capacity with the second-row seats in place is generous (31.9 cubic feet).

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Range Rover Sport: Land Rover has eliminated buttons completely and getting to the proper setting on the large touchscreen to operate infotainment features can be a chore.  Pricing is on the high side in the segment, especially for the Autobiography trim.

Would I buy the 2025 Range Rover Sport? The Autobiography trim that served as my test vehicle carries a hefty price tag. Three of the four lower trims fill most wants when it comes to performance and luxury features while keeping pricing in the high five figures.

2025 KIA NIRO HEV

NIRO’S GOT YOU COVERED WHEN IT COMES TO ALL ASPECTS OF ELECTRICAL POWER

Debuting as a 2017 model, the Kia Niro compact crossover SUV and has had only minor changes since the 2023 model moved it into its second generation with a complete redesign inside and out and an updated infotainment system.

The 2025 Kia Niro offers you a choice of three drivetrains — standard hybrid (HEV), plug-in (PHEV) and fully electric (EV) in five different trim levels. This review is based on the standard gas-electric hybrid in THE top-of-the-line SX Touring trim.

The entry level trim is designated LX followed up the pricing ladder to EX, EX Touring, and SX.

The HEV drivetrain sports a 1.6-liter 4 cylinder engine that is mated to a 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission. Combined with the electric motor it puts out a meager 139 horsepower but a healthier 195 pound-feet of torque to get you moving.

The government says the 2025 Kia Niro HEV will deliver combined fuel mileage of 49 miles-per-gallon, but several other sources report the Niro coming up short of that lofty figure.

As the top-of-the-line trim, the 2025 Kia Niro SX Touring comes with a nice package of standard convenience features that include wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but unfortunately some are behind interfaces that hide control buttons. One set operates the radio, another climate control functions.

The 10.25-inch touchscreen for infotainment features includes navigation, and a Harman Kardon premium sound system is included in the SX Touring trim. It also gets vegan leather seats, which means no cows lost their lives to coddle your tush.

Safety features on all trims of the Kia Nro HEV include forward collision avoidance assist, rear cross traffic collision avoidance, blind-spot warning, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, parking distance warning, and adaptable cruise control, 

Pricing for the 2025 Kia Niro HEV starts at $28,985 for the base LX. The 2025 Kia Niro SX Touring tops the chart at $36,785 including the destination and delivery charge.

The only extras on my test 2025 Kia Niro HEV were $395 for floor mats and a cargo cover. That kep it under the $40,000 mark, making the Kia Niro a competitive bargain among hybrid SUVs.

All-electric versions of the 2025 Kia Niro that at $40,995 for the base model dubbed Wind and $45,995 for the Wave trim. The 2025 Nia Niro PHEV start at $35,885 for the base EX and $42,185 for the top-of-the-line SX Touring.

What I liked about the Kia Niro HEV SX Touring: The choice of powertrains lets you tiptoe into the world of electrified driving. Its size lets you squeeze into crowded (and often tightly marked) mall parking lots but still offers good room for passengers. The 6-speed dual clutch automatic transmission is a big plus over the continuously variable transmission (CVT) found in most hybrid and fully electric vehicles. If pushed, it can scoot away from an intersection rather quickly. Auto hold is easily activated to prevent creeping at intersections.

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What I didn’t like about the Kia Niro HEV SX Touring: Radio and climate functions work off convenient knobs but you must first find the correct interface by punching a very small button on the bottom menu of the console center stack, which can be a distraction for the driver. Though it claims SUV status, all-wheel drive is not available.

Would I buy the Kia Niro HEV SX Touring? It’s a good choice for someone who wants a bigger rear storage area than a compact sedan offers. I like the standard hybrid (HEV) setup, but the Niro lets you dive a little deeper into the electrification pool with plug-in and all-electric options.

2024 HYUNDAI SANTA FE

NOW IN ITS FIFTH GENERATION, SANTA FE JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER WITH AGE

After starting life as kind of a chubby little crossover with bulbous fenders and out-of-the-box design, the Hyundai Santa Fe has matured since its launch as a 2001 model and now features more traditional SUV styling.

The boxier profile of the fifth generation that kicked off with the redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe boosted passenger interior volume by just over 20 cubic feet to 152.0 cubic feet, making room for standard third-row seating and a 7-passenger capacity.

The two-tone interior has a premium feel with standard Nappa leather seats standard for the top-of-the-portfolio Calligraphy trim that served as our test vehicle. A suite of tech features that includes navigation operates off a 12.3-inch touchscreen with buttons to aid in such functions as audio and climate control. 

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard across all trim levels starting with the base SE and continuing up the line with SEL, XRT, Limited, and Calligraphy.

The Santa Fe is available with a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain, but we’re dealing with the traditional ICE Santa Fe here. It is rated at 277 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, enough to get its 2-plus tons moving from zero to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds, according to zeroto60times.com.

Fuel efficiency for FWD models are rated at 20 miles-per-gallon city, 28 highway, and 24 combined with AWD knocking highway rating down a notch to  27 mpg and the combined to 23 mpg, but keeping city rating at 20 mpg.

Those performance numbers are not going to match those of midsize luxury SUVs with their highly tuned engines, but the lush cabin of the Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy is right up there with luxury brands that cost thousands more.

Comfort and convenience features in the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy trim include keyless entry and push-button start, dual automatic climate control with second- and third-row air vents, Nappa Leather seats, a head-up display, suede headliner, heated front and second-row seats and ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, charging ports for all three rows, Bose premium audio, Hyundai Bluelink connective services, adjustable interior ambient lighting, and a dual charging pad for two wireless phones.

Other standard features include LED headlights, taillights, and daytime running lights, dual-pane sunroof, roof side rails, and a power liftgate with a wide opening.

Safety features include remote parting assist, highway driving assist, forward collision-avoidance assist, tear cross-traffic assist, parking collision-avoidance assist and park distance warning, lane following and lane keeping assist, a surround view monitor. A blind-spot monitor is activated by your turn signals.

The 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy, which gets no significant changes from the 2024 model, is actually a bit less. SE and SEL FWD models start in the mid-$30,000 range with AWD adding $1,800 across the board.

What I liked about the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy: The interior is roomy and has feel and looks of a
luxury class SUV with lots of easy to use tech features. You can even select ambient lighting from several different colors. Functions like Auto Hold and Stop/Go systems are activated by the punch of clearly marked buttons on the console. The ride itself is comfortable, and the 4-cylinder engine provides adequate power so you’re not left lagging at intersections. 

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy: When not folded, the third-row seats leave little room for cargo space. The listed 14.6 cubic feet is mostly vertical. Adult passengers will find those third-row seats are pretty snug. Front seat-belt latches are difficult to reach, especially the driver’s side

Would I buy the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy? The Santa Fe has grown too large for my own personal preferences ,but it is a solid choice for anyone in the market for 3-row SUV.

2025 KIA SORENTO PHEV

SORENTO PLUG-IN EASES FEARS OF ANXIETY RANGE FOR RELUCTANT EV BUYERS

A big selling point when it comes to plug-in electric hybrid vehicles that offer a gasoline engine as a backup to the primary electric motor power source is that they eliminate what holds many people back from buying a pure EV.

That would be range anxiety or the fear of running out of juice at the end of a long drive.

The modern plug-in vehicle, or PHEV, alleviates that concern because when it runs out of electric power, a gasoline engine simply takes over. You can then go as long as you have gas in your tank.

The downside is that a PHEV provides only a fraction of the range that a pure EV (or BEV for battery electric vehicle) is good for these days. Many newer EVs can go over 300 miles on a full charge while most PHEVs languish in the 30- to 40-mile range.

It would be nice if it were the other way around with the battery being good for over 300 miles and a smaller gas engine then kicking in for 30 more. Maybe that will come some day.

Kia added a plug-in version of its Sorento SUV for 2022 a year after introducing a standard gas-electric hybrid drivetrain to the lineup in the Sorento redesign for 2021.

The 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV gets refreshing that include updated exterior styling, a new instrument panel and 12.3-inch touchscreen display, and a new EX trim to serve as the base model. This review is based on the top of the portfolio 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige trim.

Both trims feature a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gas engine paired with an electric motor and mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is standard and it offers an all-electric driving range of about 30 miles.

Combined horsepower and torque are 261 hp and 270 pound-feet and earn a combined MPGe rating of 74 and gas-only of 33 miles-per-gallon

While the exterior is sleeker and comes in several new colors, it is the stunning interior of the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige that wowed me starting with its 2-tone color scheme and the white leather seats..

A new 12.3-inch curved touchscreen standard on the SX Prestige trim dominates the front and features a multitude of user-friendly functions. Believe me, if you have a 2-year lease that agreement will end before you can explore all the functions.

Standard features on the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige include navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, and Smart Key with push-button start. 

Driver aids include navigation-based Smart cruise control, parking distance warning, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, and forward and rear-cross traffic collision avoidance assist. and a selection of snow-mode, eco, normal, sport, and Smart drive modes, the latter adapting to your driving style.

Other features on my test 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige like a panoramic sun roof, LED interior lighting, surround view monitor and blind spot monitor, blind-spot collision assist, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, aluminum sport pedals, heated second-row seats, and a Bose premium sound system were included in the starting price of $53,090.

The only extra costs were $225 for carpeted floor mats and $1,375 for a freight charge, bringing the final MSRP to $54,690.

That puts the plug-in version at the solidly top of the of the Kia Sorento pricing chart.

What I liked about the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige: The interior has a prestige look and appeal and is packed with an abundance of tech features that, with one possible exception (see below), are easy enough to operate. The combination of  the gas engine and electric motor offers good power and around 30 miles of all electric driving for shorter trips. The overall size is manageable and it still accommodates 3-row seating.

What I didn’t like the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige: There are knobs to adjust audio levels and surf the radio dial, but they are kind of hidden. You have to get to the proper setting on the touchscreen to operate them. Third-row seats eat up rear cargo space and offer less than 30 inches of legroom. The plug-in version is the most expensive model in the Sorento portfolio.

Would I buy the 2025 Kia Sorento PHEV SX Prestige? If you are in the market for a 3-row SUV it definitely should be on your “look” list.

2024 FORD MUSTANG

 

FIGHTER PLANE OR A HORSE? MUSTANG DOES TRIBUTE TO BOTH

Though it sparked the birth of a segment that became known as the “pony car” and silhouettes of a running horse dominate its logo, the common story behind the birth of the Ford Mustang is that was named for the P-51 fighter plane that played a huge role in the Allies’ victory in World WarII.

An account of Ford Mustang history detailed on the website hotcars.com, however, also includes the idea that the inspiration for the name does indeed refer to a horse because of a suggestion by a Ford marketing manager who bred quarter horses.

Still another theory outlined is that Lee Iacocca, an executive with Ford in the 1960s and often referred to as the father of the Mustang for getting the project started, wanted to name the car after the SMU Mustangs football team.

Though the SMU logo features a horse that is shown running in the opposite direction of the Ford Mustang emblem, I have my doubts about the Iacocca theory. 

SMU was winless in in the 1960 college season and won only 8 games against 22 losses and a tie from 1961 to the 1963 season while the car was being developed. I can’t imagine a marketing director that would want that image for a new car.

The P-51 story is the more popular theory and several sources flat out credit it as the origin without even mentioning the other possibilities. I don’t recall, however, any TV ads linking the car and U.S. fighter, but early commercials certainly featured horses (check YouTube).

So the mystery remains. What isn’t questioned, however, is the enormous impact the Ford Mustang has had in automotive history.

Now in its seventh generation since its launch in the spring of 1964 as a 1965 model (often dubbed 1964 1/2), the Ford Mustang was an instant hit. The company hoped for 100,000 in sales for the first year and  22,000 were sold the first day it hit showrooms. Nearly 560,000 were sold in 1965, its first full year on the market.

The Mustang has been featured in several movies, including the James Bond classic Goldfinger in its first year.

As mentioned earlier, it also spawned a whole slew of smaller, sporty, rear-wheel-drive coupes and convertibles that formed what became known as the “pony car” segment.

Some of its competitors have disappeared from the scene entirely with the folding of companies like Plymouth, Pontiac, and American Motors, but the Ford Mustang still reigns.

To save you from going the math, the 2024 Mustang celebrates its 60th anniversary as it approaches 10-million in sales all-time.

The 2024 Ford Mustang is offered in coupe and convertible form and in five trim levels: Ecoboost, Ecoboost Premium, GT, GT Premium, and Dark Horse.

The turbo-charged 2.3-liter engine in the Ecoboosts models are rated at 315 hp and 355 lb.ft. but have a significant advantage in efficiency with EPA ratings of 22 miles-per-gallon city, 33 highway and 26 combined compared to 15/24/18 for the naturally aspirated V8.

Ecoboost models come only with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The V8 can be mated with either an automatic or a 6-speed manual. This review is based on the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible with the automatic. With either engine you get a choice of six drive modes — normal, sport, slippery, track, drag strip, and custom. 

Designers significantly updated the interior for the 2024 Ford Mustang convertible, giving it a more upscale appearance and more comfortable setting. (Well, except for the two backseat riders.)

Two curved displays dominate the dash. You can customize the 12.4-inch instrument display to your liking, and infotainment features in Ford’s Sync 4 system are easily accessed on the 12.3-inch touchscreen.

Standard features on the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible include LED headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a power adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support, dual zone automatic climate control, leather-trimmed seats, heated and cooled front seats, Smart charging ports, a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, keyless entry and push-button start, rear parking sensors, a wireless charging pad and the Ford Co-Pilot system (blind-spot warning, lane-keeping alert, collision warning and more). An illuminated Mustang logo greets you when you approach the car at night while in possession of the key.

The fully lined cloth top is lowered and raised via a button above the interior mirror, but you still have to close a latch to secure it.

The base 2024 Ford Mustang Ecoboost convertible starts at just over $39,000, and the 2024 Ford Mustange GT Premium convertible starts at $52,880.

Pricing was not available for my test 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium, which add optional extras like a GT Performance Package. Come on, Ford. Please put it on the Monroney spec sheet. I promise not to try to sell it. Keep it yes, sell it no.

What I liked about the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible: Performance is a real kick. Tech features are plentiful and easy to operate. The fully lined cloth top folds conveniently into a specific rear space without intruding on an already snug trunk (10.3 cubic feet). The sound from the dual exhausts is mesmerizing.

What I didn’t like about the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible: The backseat is pretty useless as far as accommodating passengers (unless they have no legs). 

Would I buy the 2024 Ford Mustang GT Premium convertible? In a heartbeat. Yes, 4-cylinder Mustangs offer the same classic looks  and are good performers in their own right, but to experience the full scope of what the Mustang is all about you have to go with the V8 version, which means GT or Dark Horse.

2025 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD

THERE IS BIG AND THEN THERE IS REALLY BIG, WHEN IT COMES TO PICKUP TRUCKS

Last fall I got to experience the refreshed full-size SUV QX80 from Infiniti and in my review remarked on its overwhelming size.

“Big,” I noted, didn’t seem adequate to describe the bigget SUV in the Infiniti fleet. “Hugh” and “humongous”  even came up short, if you will pardon the pun.

More recently, however, I got to experience what “big” in a vehicle really is after spending a week in the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD.

At nearly 21 feet long and almost 82 inches wide even with the huge side mirrors folded, the 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD takes up about half an acre of parking space. The massive hood seems to be in one zip code the rear cargo bed in another.

It sits so high, and with no running board, it was like climbing up a mountain to get into my test 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD. Getting out was like jumping into a swimming empty of water.

This is a truck is made to be a workhorse. Comparing it to the QX80 (or any SUV) is like matching a Clydesdale against a thoroughbred race horse.

In addition to the LTZ trim already mentioned, the 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD is offered in six trim levels with the Work Truck (or WT for short) serving as the base. The LTZ serves as the basis for this review. Other variants are Custom, LT, ZR2 and High Country.

Adding to the multitude of variations, the 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD is offered with a regular cab, extended cab, or crew cab and either a standard or long bed, though not every combination is available with every trim level.

The standard engine is a 6.6-liter V8 running on gasoline, but an optional 6.6-liter turbo V8 really boosts power and working capacity. The Duramax diesel in my test 4WD 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ was rated at 470 horsepower and a whopping 975 pound-feet of torque for a towing capability of over 18,000 pounds when equipped with a gooseneck hitch or 16,000 with a ball hitch.

 

Either engine is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and the 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HH is available in either 2-wheel or 4-wheel drive.

Standard equipment on my test 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ included Chevy’s Premium 3 infotainment features with a 13.5-inch touchscreen display and built-in Google capability, navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keyless open and push-button start, remote start, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, 10-way power seats, LED fog and daytime running lights, power lock and release tail gate, and step-ups to ease access to the bed (but not the cabin).

An optional safety package added front and rear parking assist, rear cross traffic alert, bed view camera, trailer side blind side alert, and rear cross-traffic alert for $1,245.

The base MSRP of $62500 puts the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ at the high end of the myriad of trims available.

Options on my test 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD LTZ included $9,490 for the Duramax diesel engine, $2,565 for the addition of off-roading add-ons in the Trail Boss package, $1,680 for the LTZ Convenience package that added ventilated front seats and Bose premium sound, and $1,050 for the LTZ Convenience II package that added a rear power window and heating capability for the outboard rear seats.

All that ran the final total to $82,390 including the $1,995 destination and delivery fee, which is a pretty big jump from base trim 2025 Chevy Silverado 2500HD

What I didn’t like about the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ: The size is overwhelming, making for an arduous search for parking spaces in crowded mall lots. With no running board getting in is a chore and exiting puts you at the risk of breaking an ankle. Many desirable features come as options, running up the price.

Would I buy the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD LTZ? Nope. There is a limited market here to begin with, and it doesn’t include me. Someone who wants a large vehicle for hauling or to go off-roading and has a big budget should take a look, however It’s not a good choice for every day transportation.