In 1701, it would have been unfathomable for French explorer Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, to consider that some 200 years later, a person born in the “New World” would not only found a company named after him but the company bearing his name would set the standard for luxury in a motor coach that could move without horses. And it certainly would have been outside the realm of reality to think that 120 years after Cadillac was founded, the Escalade would set the benchmark for American SUV luxury. However, this is not a far-fetched story. It’s reality. It’s the 2021 Cadillac Escalade 600.
Read MoreOne hundred years of engineering and the growl of the 5.3L V8 ECOTEC3 engine provoked a big grin on my face as I started up Chevrolet’s Centennial Edition Silverado Z71. The bold front end mated to the truck’s stance with special commemorative badging was just a hint of the awesomeness I would enjoy as my family and I departed for Seminole Canyon State Park, located near the Mexico/U.S. border in Texas.
Chevy is no stranger to quality-built trucks and the 2018 Silverado 1500 LTZ with the Z71 package is no exception. Three powertrain options are offered, including a 4.3L V6 with variable valve timing, putting out 285 hp and 305 lb.-ft. of torque, averaging 17/22 mpg in the four-wheel drive version; a 5.3L V8 with variable valve timing, putting out 355 hp and 383 lb.-ft. of torque, averaging 16/20 mpg in the four-wheel drive version; and a stout 6.2L V8 with variable valve timing, putting out 420 hp and 460 lb.-ft. of torque, averaging 15/20 mpg. Our crew cab test vehicle’s 5.3L V8 provided plenty of power when needed, though fuel efficiency really suffered with the Patriot Campers X2 camper in tow, delivering a paltry 11.5 mpg at highway speeds despite the truck having an eight-speed automatic transmission and trailer tow rating of 11,700 lb. This is relevant as the trailer, fully loaded as it was for our journey to Seminole Canyon, weighed about 1,800 lb. I’m curious how the larger, stouter 6.2L V8 performs with a comparably sized trailer in tow.
Read MoreAs a native Texan I’ve been around trucks my entire life. And as is the case with most everything in my home state, trucks are bigger in the Lone Star state. Enter Nissan’s Titan full-sized truck.
Introduced with the 2004 model year, the Nissan Titan has evolved to become one of the most underrated trucks on the market. The example I spent my time in, the PRO-4X, is one of several Nissan vehicles enhanced with an off-road prowess that’ll get you from Point A to Point B, whether it’s to the local grocery store or across the Sonoran Desert.
Read MoreNearly 100 years ago, Swallow Sidecar Company began the eventual journey that became the Jaguar brand. Over the years, Jaguar has established itself as a namesake heralded the world over. It’s rich automotive history has included wins at the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally as well as cinema as a favorite of James Bond. Given such pedigree, I was excited to put my foot to the pedal in the 2019 F-Pace SVR, a crossover that’s all muscle wrapped in the body of an SUV that wants to be a sports car.
Read MoreThe sky was gloomy — a light drizzle fell upon the grass and nearby pavement, leaving a moist glaze I knew we’d have to drive through as we began our jaunt toward the mountains. I could easily imagine I was standing in a meadow along some backroad in the U.K. Even one of my English colleagues said it felt like home. The setting, however, was southern Utah and the dreary sky didn’t last long as we began a meandering two-day journey in the all-new Land Rover Discovery.
Land Rover launched the Discovery model over 28 years ago. This vehicle was hugely instrumental in establishing the luxury SUV market in the United States. Its iconic boxy shape saw four iterations over the subsequent 27 years with measurable upgrades to suspension, functionality and comfort along the way. When I was handed the keys and turned towards the vehicle, the first thing I noticed was the departure from the iconic boxiness of its predecessor. Admittedly, it took a while to get used to the Discovery’s complete redesign though it didn’t take long for me to succumb to its allure. Once inside, I was captivated by the deceptively roomy and incredibly comfortable interior.
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