Cleveland: Rock and Roll City Offers Good Times for All

 AAE's Midwestern swing featured a trip to Cleveland, the crown jewel of northeast Ohio and home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Featuring tributes to artists and genres of all types, the hall is a music lover's mecca. 

Downtown Cleveland was clean, vibrant and entertaining, with restaurants and other attractions that make it a worthy destination for visiting. 

Holland, Mich.: European Inspiration, Midwestern Charm

 AAE stopped in on Holland, Mich., a town along Lake Michigan and not far from Grand Rapids. The quaint downtown featured a college campus, eateries and shops that offered a range of goods. 

Holland also featured Windmill Island, with a replica of a Dutch windmill and verdant plant life that made for an enjoyable scene.

Traverse City: Beautiful Outpost in Northern Michigan

 AAE recently visited beautiful Traverse City, Mich., a town in the northern part of the state that is situated on the shores of Lake Michigan. The vibrant downtown offered shops and restaurants and walkable streets that were perfect for spending a relaxing afternoon and evening. And the views of Lake Michigan couldn't be beat. 

Six Tips to Help Your Car Beat Summer Heat, from Georgia's Clean Air Force

 

2021 GMC Yukon: Redesigned and Featuring a Smooth Ride

 

Redesigned for the 2021 model year, the GMC Yukon is a spacious and stylish full-size SUV that offers a smooth ride. 

The Yukon has seating for up to nine passengers over three rows. It offers a maximum cargo capacity of 122.9 cubic feet when the second- and third-row seats are folded down.

The Yukon is offered in four trims: SLE, SLT, AT4, and Denali. Our test model was an SLT.

Under the hood, the Yukon features a standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine that makes 355 horsepower and is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission that makes 383 pounds-feet of torque. Also available is a  6.2-liter V-8 engine that makes 420 horsepower. 

The standard drive train is rear-wheel drive, with four-wheel drive optional. 

The Yukon's fuel economy for the base engine is an EPA-estimated 16 mpg city, 20 highway. If you bump up to the larger V-8 engine, numbers are 14 and 19.

Our test drive adventure included a trip from the Deep South to the far north Great Lakes region. The Yukon was very equal to the task, offering a comfortable ride and a fair amount of space for cargo, the load of which included dorm supplies and furnishings for our student who is studying in Michigan. 

Additionally, gas mileage was surprisingly good, as we averaged about a little over 21 mpg for the entire round trip. 

Pricing for the Yukon starts at around $52,000 and ranges to around $73,000.

For a full-size SUV that offers a smooth ride and some nice styling, the Yukon definitely deserves a look. 

Nissan Frontier: Light-Duty Truck that's Heavy on Value

A sporty midsize truck, the Nissan Frontier is a great choice for those looking for a light-duty utility vehicle that is affordable and versatile. 
The Frontier is available in five trims: the S, SV, SL, Desert Runner and PRO-4X.
It comes in two cab sizes: King (seating four) and Crew (seating five). 
Crew models are available with short or long bed sizes. 
Nissan offers 15- to 18-inch wheels on the Frontier, and a factory spray-in bedliner is among the other options. 
Pricing starts at around $20,000 and ranges to around $37,000.

2020 Toyota Tacoma: Sporty Ride that Offers Great Utility

The midsize pickup truck segment has seemingly made a comeback in recent years. Some would argue that it never really went away, and while that's probably true, for most of the past decade or so, the full-size trucks seemed to garner all the attention.
However, there are great choices in the midsize segment these days, including the 2020 Toyota Tacoma. It offers two cab body options: Access and Double. 
Trim levels include the SR, SR5, TRD Sport, TRD Off Road, Limited and TRD Pro.
Under the hood is a standard 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 159 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed automatic or a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. 
Also available is a 3.5-liter Atkinson cycle V-6 that makes 278 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed automatic. 
Rear-wheel drive is standard, with four-wheel drive optional with either powertrain.
Fuel economy is 17 mpg city, 20 highway with the V-6 and 20 and 24 with the four-cylinder. 
The Tacoma starts at around $27,000 and ranges to around $47,000.