Sweet Time in Great Salt Lake

Atlanta Auto Examiner recently visited Salt Lake City, Utah. The scenery was beautiful, as witnessed in this image taken at sunset. The Wasatch Mountains are visible in the background, with a sweeping view of the city in the foreground.

The Mormon Temple complex is seen here in downtown Salt Lake City. The sprawling complex features beautiful architecture and a number of historical markers and statues.

This view from downtown captures the close proximity of the mountains to the city. The city is very walkable but also has an easy-to-use public transportation system.

Scenic and Historic: San Juan, Puerto Rico

A recent trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico, produced beautiful vistas of the island, which is still trying to recover from Hurricane Maria. This street in Old San Juan reflects the traditional architecture and bright colors that make the city so distinctive.

This row of toilets made for an interesting attraction in a bar in San Juan. Must admire the creativity.

Colorful neighborhood scene from La Perla section of Old San Juan. Beautiful views of the water.

This historic site offered breathtaking views. It is a popular gathering spot.

This is Carmelo Anthony Court in La Perla section of Viejo San Juan. The basketball star built this court partly to honor his father, who was Puerto Rican.

2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: A Good Way to Go Green

In the ever popular world of small SUVs, one of the key drawing points is fuel economy. This week's test model, the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, can certainly lay claim to being a leader in that space.
The Outlander PHEV is a plug-in hybrid version of the traditional Outlander. 
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 190 horsepower and a 60-kW electric motor linked to a single-speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel drive is included. 
There are two trim levels: SEL and GT, which our tester was.
The EPA estimates the Outlander PHEV's total driving range to be 310 miles, with a pure electric range of 22 miles. 
That's pretty impressive. 
The interior is comfortable, even though it's not hugely spacious. Our tester had plush leather seats, dual zone climate control and touch screen audio on the center dashboard.
The Outlander PHEV accelerates better than you might expect, with solid braking and handling. 
Pricing starts at over $36,000 with our top of the line tester going for $42,625.
If you're looking for a small SUV with green credentials, the Outlander PHEV is worth a glance.

Beautiful Brazil - Rio de Janeiro

A recent visit to Rio de Janeiro included a trip to Sugarloaf Mountain. The beautiful site can be accessed via cable cars that give breathtaking views of this magnificent city.

The scenic city of Rio has so much to offer, visually and culturally. This view from above gives a glance at the amazing vantage points.

2019 Mazda CX-9: Smooth, Spacious and Smart

With a spacious interior, luxurious styling and good fuel efficiency, the 2019 Mazda CX-9 is a formidable competitor in the SUV market. 
The CX-9 provides seating for up to seven passengers across three rows. The roominess of the interior is striking, as technically the CX-9 is considered a midsize SUV. But when you experience its cavernous space, it seems much more like a large SUV.
Under the hood, the CX-9 features a standard turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 250 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. 
Front-wheel drive comes standard, with all-wheel drive optional. 
Fuel economy is rated at 22 mpg city, 28 highway for front-wheel drive models and 20 and 26 for all-wheel drive.
The CX-9 offers four trim levels: Sport, Touring, Grand Touring and Signature, which our test drive model was.
Amenities in the Signature model included leather seating, three-zone climate control, HD radio and side mirror safety notification when a vehicle is close by in the lane on either side.
The CX-9 offers smooth handling and steady acceleration, as we've come to expect from Mazda and its famous Zoom-Zoom mantra.
The CX-9 starts at around $34,000 and tops out at the price of our tester, which was $47,285.
For a spacious SUV with a great set of amenities, the CX-9 offers an appealing choice. 

2019 Toyota C-HR: Small Crossover Offers Big Value

Crossovers have gained substantial popularity in recent years, but within that trend, there has become something of a sub-trend, if you will: the popularity of subcompact crossovers. 
This week's test drive vehicle fits into that category.
The 2019 Toyota C-HR offers seating for five and has a maximum cargo capacity of 36.4 cubic feet with the rear-seat folded down.

It comes in three trim levels: LE, XLE and Limited, which our tester was.
Under the hood, the C-HR features a standard 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 144 horsepower and is linked to a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive.
Fuel economy is rated at 27 mpg city, 31 highway by the EPA. 
When you first see the C-HR, you are struck by how truly small it appears. But then you get in the vehicle, and you're struck by how much room you actually have in the cabin. 
We took a nice holiday-weekend getaway trip in the CH-R (see below post), and the three of us all fit in nicely, along with our bags. No one was uncomfortable.
Driving dynamics are pretty good, with more than adequate pickup and responsive handling. 
And the styling of the vehicle, especially the exterior, is distinctive. Sports car vibes meet subcompact looks with a little bit of SUV influence thrown in. 
The C-HR starts at around $23,000, with our topped-out model carrying a sticker price of $29,643.
It's not entirely clear why the subcompact crossover market has burgeoned as it has. Maybe it's because folks want the great fuel economy of a subcompact car, but with a little more interior room.
If that's the case, the Toyota C-HR fits the build beautifully. 

Great Place for a Getaway: Abingdon, Va.

The scenic Holston River just outside Abingdon, Va., is a perfect spot for getting away from it all and enjoying the beauty of nature.

This historic building in Abingdon's downtown has served many purposes over the past couple of centuries. It has been a civil war hospital, a residence and currently is the site of The Tavern, an upscale dining spot offering gourmet food and drinks.