Third Time's A Charm: The 2019 Honda Insight Touring

The 2019 Honda Insight Touring.

Honda, the carmaker that very rarely gets it wrong, has done so at least twice---ten years apart.

In 1999, Honda decided to be the first with a hybrid in North America.  The first-generation Insight beat the original Toyota Prius to showrooms by seven months.  The head start was of little help.  In seven years, just as the second-gen Prius was setting sales records, Honda pulled the plug on the Insight.  It was funny-looking (even compared to the Prius) and impractical, as it had only two seats.

Honda regrouped and in 2009, came back with an Insight that looked like it was meant to compete head-to-head with the Prius.  Seating for five, styling that looked like someone had pretty much put a sheet of tracing paper over a Prius brochure and then made some adjustments to keep the lawyers happy.

It died in five years.  It might have looked better than the first and been a couple of thousand dollars less than a Prius, but it wasn't nearly as good as a Prius.

Well, here we are, living in a year ending with a "9", and here comes Honda again---with the third Insight.

And it's just plain tremendous.

Saving The Best For Last: The 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD

The 2019 Buick Regal GS AWD.

Shopping for a sports sedan?   Here’s a radical idea.

Buick.

Okay, I know.  This is 2019.  The last time Buick sedans were hot, Grandpa came home with a block-long Electra 225 with tailfins.

Things change.  And now, things have changed back in Buick’s favor. 

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line w/4MOTION

The 2019 Volkswagen Arteon 2.0T SEL Premium R-Line w/4MOTION.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My tenth and final drive for the day was the new 2019 Volkswagen Arteon.

30 Minutes With: The 2020 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Subaru Outback.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My ninth drive of the day was the 2020 Subaru Outback on the off-road course.

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Range Rover HSE P400e

The 2019 Range Rover HSE P400e.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My eighth drive of the day was the 2019 Range Rover HSE P400e.

30 Minutes With: The 2020 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD

The 2020 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My seventh drive of the day was in the 2020 Kia Telluride SX V6 AWD.

What Next? The 2019 Nissan Maxima SL

The 2019 Nissan Maxima SL.

These are hard times, you may have heard, for the traditional three-box (hood, passenger compartment, trunk) sedan.  Harder still for the larger ones. Over the past decade, when faced with the choice of a large sedan or a crossover, American families have chosen the car-based SUV enough  times to send some nameplates to the great dealership in the sky (Ford Taurus) or put them on the endangered list (Chevy Impala, which was to have ended production by now, but has been given at least a one-year reprieve, likely at the request of rental fleets).

In the midst of this, the Nissan Maxima has just received a mid-cycle refresh for 2019.  That's a confidence-inspiring move.  But for 2020, Nissan is introducing an all-new Altima that's larger than the Maxima, and that makes the Maxima's future a bit more murky.

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition

The 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My sixth drive of the day was the 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon

The 2019 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

Round Five of the day for me was a ride in a 2019 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon on the Land Rover Experience off-road course.

Like A Locomotive That Needs No Tracks: The 2019 Range Rover 3.0 liter Td6 Diesel

The 2019 Range Rover 3.0 liter Td6 Diesel.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My fourth drive of the day was on the Land Rover Experience course---in the 2019 Range Rover 3.0 liter Td6 Diesel.

30 Minutes With: The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD

The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My third drive of the day was at the wheel of the 2018 (the 2019 is the same, as will be the 2020) Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio AWD.

30 Minutes With: The 2020 Ford Explorer ST 4WD

The 2020 Ford Explorer ST 4WD.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My second vehicle of the day was the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer ST.

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet

2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My first car of the day was a stunner---the 2019 Mercedes-AMG E53 Cabriolet.

Performance Edge: The 2019 Ford Edge ST AWD

The 2019 Ford Edge ST.

With cars rapidly fading from its product portfolio, Ford has decided to imbue its surviving crossovers with some performance via its ST line. 

The new 2020 Explorer will come in ST form (a "30 Minutes With" short drive from the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day 2019 in Carmel Valley will post here at TireKicker in the next few days), and the 2019 Ford Edge ST is already available.

Heroism and Heritage: Jeep at the USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum

2020 Jeep Gladiator at USS Hornet Sea, Air and Space Museum, Alameda, California.

Automobile ride-and-drives are a fairly common thing.  Between your local dealer's tent event, the area auto show, and manufacturers pitching a key group of potential buyers, to say nothing of press events, there's probably a ride-and-drive somewhere in America every single week, if not most days of the year.

But Jeep went all-out last week for a general public event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing by staging an event on the very aircraft carrier that plucked the Apollo 11 astronauts out of the sea after splashdown and ferried them to dry land with a United States president on board.