2019 Kia Forte: New Styling, Surprising Performance

Small sedans have held steady in the automotive market, thanks to their good fuel efficiency and typically low price tags. A strong competitor in this segment is the 2019 Kia Forte.
For this model year, it has been given a revised look, with more angular and sleeker body styling. 
The Forte comes in four trim levels: FE, LX, S and EX, which our tester was. 
The Forte's power plant is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 147 horsepower and is linked to a six-speed manual or automatic transmission (tester was automatic). Fuel economy is rated at 30 mpg city, 40 highway with the automatic, and 27 and 37 in the manual. 
Driving dynamics were surprisingly nimble for this type of small sedan. At times, it truly felt as if it had a little sports car DNA in it. The steering system uses sensors to adapt to the lane lines on the highway. That takes a bit of getting used to, but once you become comfortable, it's a nice convenience. 
Don't tell anybody, but for a short stretch of highway driving, we took our hands off the wheel and the Forte performed just fine, that is, before flashing a message on the dashboard to "Keep hands on the wheel." Ok, just checking.
Pricing for the Forte starts at around $19,000, but our highest trim tester carried a sticker of $26,515. That might seem a little high for a non-luxury subcompact, but the features and the cool styling make a solid case for it being a decent value.
As compact sedans go, the Forte has just about everything you might be looking for. 

2018 Ford EcoSport: Small and Efficient, with Big Value

The small crossover market has become one of the auto industry's most popular segments in recent years. So much so that a number of automakers are announcing plans to significantly reduce production of small and midsize cars. Ford is one such brand, and it can point to its 2018 Ford EcoSport as justification for the strategy shift. 
The EcoSport is a new subcompact SUV with seating for five. It is available in four trim levels: S, SE, SES and Titanium, which our tester was. 
The SES model is promoted by Ford as the sportiest, design-wise, and features distinctive style cues. 
The EcoSport has two engines available: a turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost (also offered in the Fiesta and Focus, which are going away). It is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission. 
The other engine is a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder with standard all-wheel drive, which was found in our tester. 
Fuel economy is rated at 23 mpg city, 29 highway for the four-cylinder.
Driving the EcoSport proved pleasant enough, as its small size made it easy to handle and its visibility was good. However, it was slightly lacking in power, as one might expect. This isn't a deal breaker, though, just something to be mindful of when merging onto a busy freeway with a tractor trailer bearing down. 
In an unusual touch, Ford went back to the swing out gate for the rear, instead of the nearly ubiquitous upward opening gate found on most crossovers today. Not quite sure the rationale behind that, because the swing gate occupies more space in places like tight garages. Perhaps just trying to be different. The interior of the EcoSport has a standing 8-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dash that includes Ford's latest Sync 3 multimedia system, standard on the Titanium models. Lower trim levels have a 4-inch or 6-inch screen in the same area. 
Ford says Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered, as well as the FordPass app that connects the vehicle's systems through smartphone. The Titanium model features a Harman - B&O sound system called B&O Play, a 675-watt premium audio system featuring 10 speakers, including a subwoofer.
Storage is ample in the cozy EcoSport, with up to 30 cubbies, hooks and storage bins in the cabin. The second-row seats fold and stow to provide extra cargo room. There's also a false floor board in the cargo area to create a place for larger items. 
Pricing on the tester was listed at $25,485, but remember that it is at the high end of the trim levels, so a lower level one would presumably be significantly less.
For a practical, fuel efficient small crossover, the EcoSport presents a strong offering. 

2019 Ford Expedition: Large SUV Excellence

Cavernous SUVs, such as the 2019 Ford Expedition, are popular because you can haul the soccer team, a load of groceries and maybe even the dog, all at once. 
And in the case of this Expedition, you get a pretty smooth ride with some luxury touches on the interior. 
There are three trims available: XLT, Limited and Platinum, which our tester was. 
The Platinum is powered by a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine that makes 400 horsepower and 280 pounds-feet of torque and is linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Horsepower drops to 375 for the other two trim levels.  
The Expedition seats up to eight passengers in three rows. The top cargo capacity is 104.6 cubic feet when you fold the rear seats down.
In addition to being spacious, the interior offers comfortable seating with good leg and head room. At the foot of the dashboard is a convenient storage area where you can charge your mobile phone. We had a little trouble getting the cover to stay open, though. 
The dash is well organized and bright for easy access to the controls. 
On the exterior, styling is fairly reserved, but it's still attractive. The keyless entry feature is convenient, but we had some trouble locking the vehicle with the touch pad on the door handle. We had to pull the key out of our pocket many times and hit the button (horrors!). 
But the ride is smooth. Acceleration is rapid for a vehicle this size, but appropriately under control. The Expedition doesn't ride nearly as heavy as you might suspect. 
Fuel economy is rated at 17 mpg city, 22 highway. 
All in all, this is a great vehicle for those in the market for a full-size SUV. 

2019 Ford Mustang GT Premium: Muscle-Car Magic

They might not be the most practical vehicles, but muscle cars sure can be a lot of fun. Such is the case with the 2019 Ford Mustang, which offers strong performance and a sleek body style. 
There are four trim levels offered, including the EcoBoost, EcoBoost Premium, GT and GT Premium, which our tester was. 
The GT Premium is powered by a 5.0-liter V-8 engine that makes 460 horsepower and 420 pounds-feet of torque. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission and features standard rear-wheel drive. 
The EcoBoost models feature a standard 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder linked to a six-speed manual or optional 10-speed automatic. Horsepower is rated at 310.
The GT Premium handled with agility, accelerated powerfully and shifted smoothly.
Seating in the front is comfortable, but for the driver, visibility can be a bit of a challenge. Rear seating is only for tiny passengers. 
Fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg city, 25 highway. 
The sticker price was $49,370.
If you're looking for some muscle-car magic, check out the Ford Mustang.

Bogota, Colombia - Mountainous and Majestic

We recently visited beautiful Bogota, Colombia. This city nestled in the mountains is attractive and friendly.

Bogota's neighborhoods are clean and welcoming.

By foot or by automobile, it is pleasant to tour Bogota and to see all of its attractions.

2019 Ford F-150 Raptor: Powerful and Smooth

The 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor is a large, powerful truck that rides smoothly and is plenty capable of handling work projects. 

It is powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, delivering 450 horsepower and 510 pounds-feet of torque from 3,500 rpm. That type of power enables it to reach 60 mph in about five seconds. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and efficiently. 

Fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg city, 18 highway. Four-wheel drive is standard. The Raptor rides smoothly despite, or maybe because of, its weight of more than 5,500 pounds.

The interior is cavernous. There is ample head room and leg room in the front and back seat areas. The back seat bench even features head rests - a baby one in the middle flanked by larger ones on both sides. The back seating area is so comfortable you can expect passengers to want to come ride in it frequently. 

The interior is designed with luxury and utility in mind. The trim is attractive, as are the Recaro leather seats, a new feature for this model year. And as you might expect, the large center console has ample room to store a laptop or other goods that you might want to tote. 

The sticker price on the model we tested, which was fully loaded out, was around $69,000.

As an attractive and functional truck, the Ford Raptor makes a strong statement.

  

Hawaii: A True Paradise

A recent visit to Hawaii was time spent in paradise. The natural beauty was breathtaking, and the culture was fascinating. Pictured above is Chinaman Hat Mountain off the north shore of Oahu.

In the distance is Diamondhead. The boat trip that took us there featured several sightings of sea turtles.

The north shore of Oahu is beautiful. This area is near the location where Jurassic Park was shot, as well as the TV series "Fantasy Island."