2026 FORD EXPLORER

TRADITION-RICH EXPLORER LEADS THE WAY WHEN IT COMES TO MID-SIZE SUVS

Tracing the history of the SUV to find the vehicle that started it all depends on how you define the segment.

If you’re talking about a vehicle that combines a truck chassis with an enclosed body that accommodates both passengers and cargo, the 1935 Chevrolet Suburban Carryall stakes a claim as the original ancestor.

if you’re looking for a forerunner to today’s more modern SUV, you’d go with the 1963 Jeep Wagoneer that featured more car-like styling and features and offered 4-wheel drive capability as opposed to the Suburban’s rear-wheel configuration.

But though it was late to the party compared to those earlier vehicles, the Ford Explorer might be the first that comes to my mind at least among today’s younger generations when it comes to the lineage of the modern-day SUV.

There certainly is a strong case as there is little doubt about the Explorer’s impact when it was introduced as a 1991 model to replace the Ford Bronco II. Throughout the 1990s, Ford Explorer sales averaged nearly 370,000 a year for the decade with a high of over 431,000 in 1998.

The Explorer reached its current all-time yearly high of 445,157 vehicles to kick off 2000 as the SUV began gobbling up the sedan as American families’ auto transportaion of choice.

Those sales numbers have tailed off in recent years not because of anything Ford has done wrong with the Explorer but because of an explosion in the number of SUVs in today’s market.

After a slump in sales earlier this decade that saw the Explorer dip to under 187,000 in 2023 and just over 194,000 in 2024, sales were back to nearly 223,000 in 2025 and are over 189, 000 through September of this year, an increase of 17.6 percent over the same period a year ago. At that pace it should top the 200,000 mark when October’s numbers are in.

The 2026 Ford Explorer is offered in six trims with a new Tremor version being introduced. My test vehicle was the 2026 Ford Explorer ST which, along with the new Tremor, gets a 3.0-liter Ecoboost (Ford language for turbocharged) V6 engine as standard instead of the 2.3L Ecoboost 4-cylinder engine standard in other trims.

Ford introduced the ST trim with 2020 models that kicked off the Explorer’s sixth generation. Its twin-turbocharged V6 generates 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, resulting in a zero-to-60 mph clocking of just over 5 seconds, not bad for an SUV. 

A 10-speed automatic transmission is standard with either engine. With the 4-banger, fuel economy numbers are 20 mpg city, 29 highway and 24 combined. AWD models lower them to 20/27/23. The V6 is a bit thirstier with 18/21/25 for RWD models. 

My 2026 Ford Explorer ST with with AWD drank regular octane fuel at the rate of 18/25/20 mpg, according to the government, though I guess my driving style was not the most economical and drove those numbers down a bit.

The Explorer’s various trims don’t just distinguish themselves with alpha-numeric codes but equipped for specific purposes. The Platinum has more upscale features, the new Tremor has tweaks like all-terrain tires for off-road ventures, and with its robust engine the ST is more performance-oriented. The base model is the Active trim and the ST-Line is a step up from the Active with upgraded upholstery and a Bang & Olufsen premium sound system.

Standard features on my test 2026 Ford Explorer ST included 21-inch wheels, power rear lift gate, heated and ventilated front seats, second-row heated seats, power-fold third-row seats, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a 13.3-inch touchscreen for tech features, 360-degree camera, performance brakes, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and six selectable drive modes (normal, sport, eco, slippery, tow/haul and trail for light off-roading).

Standard safety features include the suite of features in Ford’s Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 system (adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, lane-keeping, and pre-collision assist) and Ford’s Personal Safety System that adds extra protection for front passengers in frontal crashes.

All that was included in my test vechile’s starting MSRP of $56,770.  Options, including $2,995 for a Sun and Sound package and an outrageous $4,895 for the black painted roof, ran the final total to $68,350 including the $1,695 destination and delivery charge.

The base Active trim starts at $40,260. ST-Line models start at $46,950. and Tremor and Platinum versions carry starting MSRPs in the low $50,000 range.

What I liked about the 2026 Ford Explorer ST: The V6 engine provides plenty of punch and the roomy interior is packed with plenty of user-friendly tech features. There’s even a knob to adjust volume levels for the radio and handy buttons to turn off the auto Stop/Start and activate Auto Hold. A tray in the center stack serves as a handy shelf for other items like cell phones, sun glasses, coins, keys, etc.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Ford Explorer ST: Third-row seating is on the cramped side. It also cuts cargo space down to a sedan-like 16.4 cubic feet. A phone charging pad does not come standard.

Would I buy the 2026 Ford Explorer ST? Unless you want the extra performance of the ST models, other less expensive trims like the ST-Line and even the base Active are good choices.

2027 KIA SELTOS

 

SELTOS ON PACE TO SET ITS 

BEST SALES NUMBERS YET IN 2026

Since its introduction as a 2021 model, the Seltos has been a consistent seller for Kia.

It’s not the South Korean automaker’s best seller — that would be the much older and updated Sportage — but it is moving up. After posting its best year with sales of 60,053 in 2023, a jump of nearly 15,000 after  sinking to its all-time low of 45,711 in 2022, the Seltos has bounced back over the last three years and in 2026 is on pace for its best ever year with three months still to go.

With sales reaching 58,207 through September, the Seltos is within 1,846 of the record total for 2023. It has averaged nearly 6,500 sales per month this year.

That is pretty good evidence the company is doing a lot of things right with this spunky compact 5-passenger SUV.

Kia already has a redesigned 2027 Seltos in showrooms. It is slightly larger than its predecessor and comes in five trim levels with the top offering, X-Line SX, serving as my test vehicles. It is the only one of the group that gets a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. 

That turbo-4 is rated at 190 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. LX, S, EX, X-Line S trims are outfitted with a 2.0-liter 4-banger that produces 147 hp and 132 lb.ft. The difference in zero-to-60 mph clocking is over a second and a half for the turbo, though at 7.3 seconds it’s not exactly a neck-snapper.

The turbo-4 in the Seltos X-Line SX trim also is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmissions while other models get a performance-sapping CVT, which Kia calls Intelligent Variable Transmission.

The 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX and the X-Line S come with all-wheel drive while the other models are front-wheel drive with AWD as an option. X-Line SX models also feature more drive modes (Normal, Sport, Terrain, Snow, Mud, and Sand) than other trims (Normal, Sport).

Standard features on the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX trim include a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Syntex synthetic seat upholstery, wireless charger, power driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, LED headlights and tail lamps, roof rails and rear spoiler, Smart key with push-button and remote start, power rear lift gate, a heated steering wheel. and dual-zone climate control.

Exclusive features on the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX include 19-inch alloy wheels with a gloss black finish, wide projection headlights, and an optional Harmon Karon premium sound system, ventilated front seats, and a surround view monitor. 

Safety features include forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping and lane-following assist, adaptable cruise control, rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, blind-spot warning and collision avoidance assist, 

and driver attention warning.

MSRP for the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX starts at $32,790. Adding the X-Line SX Package (12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, ventilated front seats, parking collision avoidance, and a memory driver’s seat) and all-season floor liners and carpeted floor mats ran the final total for my test vehicle to $37,250 including the $1,495 destination and delivery charge.

Other trims start at $24,990 for the FWD Seltos LX,  $26,390 for the FWD Seltos S,  $28, 390 for the FWD Seltos EX, $25,690 for the AWD Seltos LX, $28,090 for the AWD Seltos S, $28,990 for the AWD Seltos X-Line S, and $30,090 for the AWD Seltos EX.

What I liked about the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX: The interior is pretty roomy for its class with 27.8 cubic feet of storage space with second-row seats in place and 40.4 inches of front legroom and 39.0 for the second row. Tech features are easy to follow with hard buttons supplementing the touchscreen. The turbo 4-cylinder engine is a worthwhile upgrade.

What I didn’t like about the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX: Only the top X-Line SX trim gets the turbocharged engine. The extra power boost from the turbo is a benefit but it is thirstier than other trims when it comes to fuel mileage.

Would I buy the 2027 Kia Seltos X-Line SX? The Seltos is a good option in the small but competitive SUV market with lots of tech features and a pleasing appearance.

2026 SUBARU WRX

 

MANUAL TRANSMISSION SETS WRX 

APART IN COMPACT SPORT SEDAN SEGMENT

A joke I recently saw — one that those of us in the older generation probably appreciate more — is that if you want to confuse younger drivers put them behind the wheel of a car with a manual transmission and give them instructions written in cursive.

Others have joked that a straight stick transmission is in effect a security system for a modern vehicle.

This is, like many jokes, a bit of an exaggeration.

The elimination of cursive writing may not be as widespread as commonly believed —according to data I turned up in an internet search just over half the 50 states, or 26 in all, still  require instruction in cursive writing in some form— but the situation is not as positive for cars with manual transmissions.

Available data (not all manufacturers break down their sales by available transmissions) show that manual trannies account for less than 1 percent of the 16 million vehicle sales in the U.S. in 2025. With the Volkswagen reportedly eliminating the manual Jetta GLI after this year that number is sure to fall further.

Soldering on in the segment, however, is the Subaru WRX compact sports sedan. Again according to data collected by Artificial Intelligence, about 85 percent of the WRXs sold in the  U.S. were straight stick models in 2025.

And there is even better news for the spunky little performer that delivers a little fun while still serving as a 4-door hauler.

Subaru reports that WRX sales jumped nearly 40 percent in year-to-date sales through August of 2026 compared to the same time period in 2025,  and the total of 10,324 sold in the first eight months nearly match the total of 10,930 sold in the entire 12 months of 2025.

Yes, the 2026 Subaru WRX remains pretty much a niche vehicle in the compact sports sedan market, but that doesn’t translate to “second class” vehicle.

As a Subaru, it offers all-wheel drive and the company’s innovative  EyeSight System that offers adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning,  and lane-keeping assist, and automatic braking that will will stop you if a frontal or collision appears imminent. 

Those features are included on all trims for the 2026 Subaru WRX.  This review is based on the Base model that starts in the low $30,000 range. Going up the ladder are Premium, Limited, GT, tS and a new Series.Yellow special edition.

All come with a turbocharged 2.4-liter horizontally opposed Boxer engine that puts out 271 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. All but the GT trim come with a come standard with the 6-speed manual tranny. The GT gets a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission), which is optional on all but the tS trim.

Subaru didn’t skimp when it came to outfitting the Base trim. In addition to the features found on all trims the Base gets as standard 18-inch aluminum wheels shod with Summer Performance tires, dual exhaust tips, performance designed f
ront seats, dual-zone climate control, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel with Bluetooth and audio control switches, keyless entry and push-button start, and leather-trimmed steering wheel and gear shifter.

Starting MSRP for my test 2026 Subaru WRX Base trim was $32,494. With no options the final total was $33,690 including the destination and deliver charge.

Starting MSRP for other trims of the 2026 Subaru WRX top out at $47,190 for the new Series Yellow models. The Premium trim ($35,190) is the only other model that starts under $40,000.

What I liked about the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE: The manual transmission is fun to drive. The base model is well-equipped. It features Subaru’s all-wheel drive and Eyesight Driver Assist System. The WRX accelerates and handles like a more expensive sports sedan. Infotainment functions work off a user-friendly 11.6 inch touchscreen.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE: Road and wind noise is excessive. It sits very low and you must take care when parking. Fuel economy is only so-so.

Would I buy the 2026 Subaru WRX BASE? If you are looking for a sedan and want to separate from the crowd, the well-equipped base model WRX is a good bargain. 

MUSTANG MACH-E

FORD CALLS IT A MUSTANG BUT MACH-E EV 

IS NOT YOUR TRADITIONAL PONY CAR

It may bear the name and the proper equine logos, but the 2026 Mustang Mach-E is no Pony Car, at least in the traditional sense.

You can tell that from a quick glance even before you pop the front hood to reveal a small storage space instead of a beefy V8 gas engine.

Instead of a Pony Car’s fastback, 2-door coupe styling, the Mustang Mach-E has the look of a 4-door, hatchback sedan. Performance comes from electric motors mounted on the front and rear axles on all-wheel-drive models and on the rear axle of rear-wheel-drive trims.

Underneath the passenger compartment between the front and rear axles is a large battery back that provides the juice for those motors. 

The standard range battery boasts a driving range of  240 or 260 miles for RWD Mach-Es depending on the trim level while the extended range battery can deliver over 300 miles, again depending on the trim level.

The exceptions to the latter are the Mustang Mach-E GT that is offered in AWD form only and delivers an estimated 280 miles on a full charge and the AWD Mach-E Rally version that limits range to 255 miles.

Ford introduced the all-electric Mach-E for 2021 with five trims but the First Edition trim was around only that year. An off-road focused Rally model took the spot occupied by  the California Route 1 trim for 2024.

The 2026 lineup comes with Select, Premium, GT, and a mysteriously marketed Rally trim. News reports have claimed that some dealers say they are not able to order the Mach-E Rally edition. Yet the ford.com website lists it on its website. 

Frankly, the possibility that Ford has plans to scrap the Mustang Mach-E in the not too distant future likely adds to the speculation surrounding the status of the Mach-E Rally. 

Sales of the Mach-E have fallen off dramatically this year which follows a trend for the EV segment. In response to that slowing EV market Ford has cut back on Mach-E production, but it hasn’t halted it completely. 

My test 2026 Mustang Mach-E was the GT trim.

In addition to benefits of all-electric driving like instant torque and throttle response, the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT had a nice assortment of standard features.

Among them are a 15.2 inch touchscreen for operating many infotainment features, wireless charging and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 5G modem, dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way driver and 8-way front passenger power seats, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, power liftgate, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column , Ford’s B&O premium sound system, push-button door openers, a suite of driver aids in the Ford Co-Pilot 360 package.

One-pedal driving and Brembo front brakes are standard and Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving system is offered as an option.

Starting MSRP for the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT is $53,395. Options that included Blue Cruise, a California Special Package that adds several distinctive design touches like a hood stripe and rear spoiler, and a panoramic roof, ran the final total to $65,485 including the $2,045 destination and delivery charge.

Pricing starts at $40,335 for the Mach-E Select, $43,135 for the Premium, and $59,735 for the Rally including destination and deliver charges.

What I liked about the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT: It’s fun to drive with the instant throttle response typical of electric vehicles. There are some fussy facets about the tech features (especially when manually adjusting climate control) but overall they are fairly easy to operate. The frunk (front storage area) is of a usable size.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT: Putting pony  logos and adding a racing stripe n the hood on this vehicle doesn’t make it a Mustang. It borders on sacrilege to the classic Mustang model to call it that. Charging seems slow even at fast charge outlets. My test model showed a range of 246 miles when I charged it to 100 percent, less than the advertised 280 miles. You ned to get the Performance Grade , a $1,995 option, if you want the quickest zero-to-60 time of 3.3 seconds.

Would I buy the 2026 Mustang Mach-E GT? If I’m going to get a Mustang, I’m going for a gas model. A less expensive trim for the Mach- E is going to fit most of your needs.

2026 FORD F-150 HYBRID

F-150 LEADS THE WAY AS FORD’S F-SERIES CONTINUES TO DOMINATE AUTOMOTIVE SALES

When it comes to automotive royalty, there is no question what vehicle is the king of the road. For going on a half-century, the Ford F-Series has been the nation’s best-selling pickup truck and for well over four decades it has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. overall.

The reign began when the Ford F-Series beat out the Chevrolet C/ K for the No. 1 spot in U.S. sales in 1977 and has continued ever since. 

Even with a 12 percent drop in overall sales the first six months this year, the F-Series held off off a challenge from the Chevrolet Silverado to maintain the crown.

Combining sales numbers for the Silverado with its GMC twin Sierra has given the GM duo the sales lead for the last six years, but the Ford F-Series which includes the heavy duty F-250, F-350, and F-4540 models, remains the No. 1 nameplate. Chevrolet and GMC are separate truck lines.

Though Ford does not break out sales numbers for it, the standard bearer for the Ford F-Series portfolio is the F-150, which is in its 14th generation since its introduction as a 1975 model. This review is based on the gas-electric hybrid version of that vehicle, which debuted as a 2021 model.

The 2026 Ford F-150 is offered in eight trims (including the Tremor and Raptor) but only five are offered with the hybrid setup, which Ford dubs PowerBoost. My test vehicle was the top-of-the-line Platinum version of the  2026 Ford F-150 HEV.

The power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine paired with an electric motor for a combined 430 horsepower and 570 pound-feet of  torque. That’s nearly the horsepower and more torque than the performance-based F-150 Raptor with its 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 (450 and 510, respectively). The standard transmission is a 10-speed automatic.

The advantage for the hybrid set up over the all-electric F-150 Lightning is that the hybrid is consistently recharging itself through regenerative braking as you slow down.

You can get a little all-electric drive out of the electric motor at very low speed, and there is silence when you first press the starter button before the V-6 engine kicks in.

The hybrid setup does save you a little in the way of gas mileage though not what you might expect out of a typical hybrid vehicle. The government pegs the 2026 Ford F-150 HEV at 22 miles-per-gallon city, 24 highway, and 23 combined in all-wheel-drive configuration. Models with 2-wheel drive are tagged at 24 mpg combined.

Those numbers are not all that far off those for the 2026 Ford F-150 with a turbocharged V6 and 4-wheel drive. It earns a rating of 20 mpg combined city/highway with a range of 756 miles combed compared to the hybrid’s 704-mile range.

The Supercrew cabin of the F-150 Hybrid is spacious and comfortable, and running boards and grab handles ease the way when climbing in and out. Heated and ventilated front seats are power adjustable and second-row seats are heated. All seats feature leather surfaces, and both the steering column and the pedals are power adjustable..

A 360-degree camera provides pease of mind when maneuvering through tight spaces. Other standard features include dual zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, power sliding rear window, and LED lights. The FordPass Connect infotainment system includes a 5G hotspot.

The 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid Platinum also includes safety systems like lane-keeping assist and blind-spot warning.with rear cross-traffic alert.

Starting MSRP  for the Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid Platinum edition is /$72,400 but options can quickly run up the total. The final tab for my test vehicle was $89,725 including a hefty destination and delivery charge of $2,595.

What I liked about the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid: The F-150 portfolio is all about choices. They run the gamut from engines to cabins to bed sizes and more. The Hybrid (HEV) model is the most fuel efficient of the powertrains, but gas mileage isn’t overwhelming in all-wheel drive configuration. The spacious cabin is packed with easy to operate tech features, and large knobs for audio and climate control supplement touchscreen functions. My test vehicle came with optional power running boards, but standard non-power steps are fine. One or the other is a must. Auto Hold prevents creeping at intersections and can be activated or turned off via touchscreen settings. A button on the key fob opens and closes the power tailgate.

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid: The overall size (231.7 inches long, 79.9 wide) can be an issue when searching for strip mall parking spaces. Options drive up the final price to high levels.

Would I buy the 2026 Ford F-150 4X4 Hybrid? I have no need for a pickup so personally no. But your final choice when truck shopping is likely to come down to one of the three leaders in the segment and the F-150 heads the class.

  

BEAR BRYANT

Photo: Bear Bryant, 1977 — Malcolm W. Emmons / Heritage Auctions, via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain).

THE TIME I TRIED TO POKE THE BEAR

I hadn’t thought about it until the other day when I came to the final page of the 2026 Lindy’s College Football Preview. There it recalls significant events of past college football seasons at intervals of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years ago.

For the 50-year mark this year’s edition highlighted the success of Heisman winner Tony Dorsett and his 1976 national champion Pittsburgh team.

My recall of the 1976 campaign is slightly different. That was the year I was introduced to Southeastern Conference football and attended my first press conference with Bear Bryant.

I had just taken over the University of Kentucky football and basketball beat for the Courier-Journal in Louisville and one of my first assignments was a trip on the SEC Skywriters tour.

Today SEC football writers all rather in Birmingham and coaches and selected players from the various teams come to them, but back in the 1970s (and earlier) writers and broadcasters traveled in a charter plane around the South to visit the various schools themselves. The name “Skywriters” came from the practice of many to write their stories while flying to the next destination.

The second stop on the 1976 tour was in Tuscaloosa and I had one specific question I planned to ask Bear. 

A little background is necessary here. Bear had already established his legendary status by then after winning the first four of his eventual six national championships in previous years. The 1975 team came close but had ended the season No. 3 with an 11-1 record.

Bama’s season had ended with a Sugar Bowl victory over Penn State but how that matchup came to be was not without controversy. Bama entered the game ranked No. 4 and Bear felt he was going to be denied a shot at No. 1 because the Orange Bowl had matched up his preferred opponent for No. 3 Oklahoma with No. 5 Michigan. No. 8 Nebraska, which had lost the Big 8 conference championship to Oklahoma, was the highest ranked available opponent for Alabama.

Butwhen it came time to pick an opponent for the Crimson Tide in the Sugar Bowl Bear, told the bowl he wanted to play No. 9 Penn State ad the Sugar Bowl obliged. 

Big 8 coaches in particular were upset that the Cornhuskers had been passed over and many in the media suggested it was because Bear wanted to play a team he could beat, which it turned out he did but only by a 13-6 score. 

Oklahoma got the national title when it beat Michigan in the Orange Bowl to jump Ohio State and Texas A&M, which had lost their bowl games.

Back to the Skywriter tour and my question for Bear.

Being new to the SEC and in a room full of what was mostly strangers I was a bit apprehensive. But finally as the session wore down, it came to it being now or never and in a lull I blurted out

“Who do you want to play in the Sugar Bowl?”

I waited for the barrage of belligerence I was sure would come. But no.

“I don’t know if we can get there,” Bear said in his low rumbling growl. “But if we do, I’ll decide though.”

I felt relief. I had not been chewed up and spit out like I expected. Laughter, not scorn, filled the room.

It turned out Bear was right about his team not making the Sugar Bowl in 1976. It was Georgia that represented the SEC and the Bulldogs lost to Pitt. Alabama finished 9-3 to finish 11th in the final polls after a 36-6 rout of UCLA in the Liberty Bowl.

Later after I had moved from Louisville to Jackson, Mississippi, I had other opportunities to see Bear at other press conferences, including his 1981 Iron Bowl win over Auburn that made him the winningest coach in college football at the time with 315 wins.

The only thing I remember about that press conference was that when Bear was asked (not by me) how he was going to celebrate the milestone win, he said he was going home to have some bread and milk, which not being a native Southerner puzzled me.

Bread and milk? A friend had to explain to me Bear meant  cornbread. Better but with Bear’s reputation as a hard smoker and drinker, I had my doubts about the milk.

Another time I approached him (nervously) in the locker room after a game and found him sitting in a chair by himself. (Back then post-game press conferences weren’t formalized. You simply gathered around coaches and players one-on-one by their locker or a chair.)

I don’t remember exactly what my question to him was, something like why he had done something like punting on third down, and he simply growled again: “Cuz I was trying to win.”

Boy what a great quote, I thought as I scurried back to the press box. Later, I found out that was Bear’s stock answer when he wanted you to quit bothering him, like swatting away a fly.

After replacing Amos Alonzo Stagg as college football’s winningest coach (a distinction now held by Penn State’s Joe Paterno at the top level of college football) Bear spent one more season as Alabama’s coach. Bama lost four of its last six regular-season games to finish with an 8-4 record in 1982.

Four weeks after the Tide closed out the season with a 21-15 win over Illinois in the Liberty Bowl, Bear died of a heart attack after being admitted to the hospital because of chest pains.

Alabama tried several coaches after the Bear, and with a couple of exceptions, they struggled. Those exceptions were Gene Stallings, who won a national championship by beating Miami in 1992, and Nick Saban, who topped Bear’s record with seven national titles before retiring a couple of years ago.

I don’t know about Stallings, but I’m pretty sure I would have gotten a different reaction from Saban on my question to Bear.

2026 CADILLAC OPTIQ

 

CADILLAC ADDS PERFORMANCE V-SERIES 

MODEL TO ALL-ELECTRIC OPTIQ LINEUP

In only its second year, the 2026 Cadillac Optiq already has built an impressive résumé in the electric SUV market. The smallest and most affordable all-electric SUV in Cadillac’s portfolio, the Optiq ranks as the company’s second-best seller among the company’s EVs behind the ground-breaking Lyriq and was sixth overall among all premium electric SUVs in sales figures covering the first six months of this year.

Offered in four trims (Sport 1 and Sport 2 and Luxury 1 and Luxury 2) in its debut as a 2025 model. the 2026 Cadillac Optiq now offers a performance-driven V-Series version that reduces range but makes for a more exhilarating driving experience

The 2026 Cadillac Optiq V-Series, which this review is based on, comes with a dual-motor and standard all-wheel-drive. It is rated at 519 horsepower and 640 pound-feet of torque and Cadillac estimates it will scoot from zero-to-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

That’s about a second quicker the Optiq’s Sport and Luxury trims with the optional dual motors. Sport and Luxury trims also are available either with single-motor and rear-wheel drive.

In addition toan initial price tag of $14,000 to $17,000 over the other trims, the 2026 Cadillac Optiq V-Series loses a bit in the way of electric driving range. Cadillac says range for the Sport and Luxury trims is about 317 miles for single-motor versions and 303 for those with dual motors while the Optiq-V delivers a disappointing 278 miles.

The good news is that all models are equipped with a North American Charging Standard (NACS) ports whic
h means you can hook up at any one of the 29,000 Tesla outlets and other public facilities as well.

The Optiq may be Cadillac’s smallest SUV but that doesn’t mean it scrapped or lacks comfort. The cabin is roomy and comfortable with 41.6 inches of legroom up front and 37.8 inches in the second row.

Cargo space expands from 26 cubic feet with the second-row seats in place to 57 cubic feet when the back row is folded.

Most infotainment functions work of a hi-def screen and Cadillac thoughtfully includes a row of hard buttons underneath to manually adjust climate control settings. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, however, are not offered. 

Wireless phone charging is available, and the radio gets an AM band to go along with FM and Sirius-XM Satellite Radio. GM’s hands-free driving Super Cruise also is among standard features.

Starting MSRP for the 2026 Cadillac Optig AWD V-Series is $68,795. Other trims start at $52,395 (Luxury), $54,595 (Premium Luxury), $52,995 (Sport), and $55,095 (Premium Sport).

What I liked about the 2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD V-Series: It has a sporty profile and a comfortable, upscale interior. Stantard tech features include GM’s Super Cruise hands-free driving system. You can adjust climate control via hard buttons instead of going through the touchscreen. Some controls also can be operated via a rotary controller on the console. Unlike some EVs, the radio includes an AM band

What I didn’t like about the 2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD V-Series: The touchscreen can be slow to respond to touches at times. There is no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, forcing you to use the built-in Google system. No front storage area (frunk) is offered. In my experience, the tilt-and-telescoping steering column in luxury vehicles is usually power adjusted via a button but the on the Optiq it must be adjusted manually. The dual-motor configuration in the V-Series may deliver extra performance but you pay for it with considerably less driving range.

Would I buy the 2026 Cadillac Optiq AWD V-Series? I’m not really interested in electric vehicles in general and the V-Series seems like overkill when it comes to performance as EVs as a class provide instant torque for quick getaways.  Other trims make more sense financially.