The general thoughts of someone buying a three-row SUV tend to focus on things other than power and the ride quality -- Buyers seek out storage space, they want maximum seating and they want safety features on the family vehicle. Often, people will settle for a disappointing ride if the other boxes are checked, since their priorities have changed due to that thing called family.

Luckily, they don’t always have to make that sacrifice, as evidenced by vehicles like the 2018 Mazda CX-9, which I was recently able to spend some time in. Despite being a three-rower with capacity for seven, the experience of driving the CX-9 is not what you would expect -- in a good way..

The electric vehicle just got a whole lot more fun, as BMW this week introduced the 2019 BMW i8 Roadster at the L.A. Auto Show.

The Roadster combines the BMW i8’s green tendencies with  powerful performance, and gives you the chance to enjoy the cool breeze in your hair on top of that.

Total output reaches 369 horsepower, and the first-ever BMW i8 Roadster (and its coupe counterpart) can both cover up to 18 miles in purely electric driving.
0-to-60 speed is in the low 4-second range, and top speed is estimated at 155 mph.

Passengers in the BMW i8 Roadster can either choose to drop the top (which opens in about 15 seconds) or stay covered. Standard equipment on the BMW i8 Roadster includes 20-inch wheels.

Sales of the i8 Roadster and i8 coupe  will commence in spring 2018, with prices yet to be announced.

Did I hear the word diesel?

It’s pretty rare these days … as diesels were never that hot on this side of the pond, and after the scandals involving Volkswagen and other automakers in recent years it’s a format that few automakers are eager to explore here, as they choose to leave their diesel offerings overseas and not stateside.

But for those who dare (GM is offering diesel engines on the Chevy Cruze and GMC Terrain in addition to the Equinox), it remains an alternate way to offer better fuel milage without offering hybrid or electric vehicles.

The question is: Can diesels ever really catch on the U.S.A.? I recently tested a 2018 Equinox diesel and I’m back with a full report.

Cars come in all shapes and sizes, and serve various purposes.

And while all the hype is about larger vehicles these days, for people who don’t need much cargo space and are seeking a commuter car, there are a lot of options in the subcompact category -- including the 2018 Kia Rio, which I recently had a chance to test.

LOOKS

The 2018 Kia Rio is a little sedan, by all measures (as the term subcompact would clearly indicate). The back seat was nearly non-existent (only small children will fit comfortably), and my head was near the ceiling (I’m six feet tall). The vehicle is made for single people who don’t carry a family around, or families who need a second, smaller car for getting to and from work.

On the plus side, I was very impressed with the sharp red and black color scheme in my test model, which featured quality and comfortable leather seating. There was lots of hard plastic in the Rio,  as can be expected in the class, but the seats themselves are impressive for the class.

The exterior didn’t stand out much in the class, and mostly blended in.Space is also an issue, not only for passengers but also for trunk space, which is limited. You do, however, get the choice between four-door and five-door (hatchback) offerings.

Mercedes-Benz this week unveiled the 2019 version of its CLS model, which will come to market late in the 2018 calendar year. It was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Updates include reduced lines, a grille contour that widens towards the base and a forward-slanting front section, plus wide, low-set headlights and two-section taillamps.
The vehicle features a new inline six-cylinder engine and is the first vehicle in the Mercedes-Benz lineup with 48-volt technology with ISG, which they claim offers increased efficiency and comfort.  The all-new four-door coupe will also seat five passengers for the first time.

At the L.A. Auto Show this week, Lexus has unveiled a three-row version of its RX crossover, dubbed the RX L. The RX is an annual top seller among luxury SUVs, and this adds another option to the RX portfolio. Seating capacity in the RX L will be either 6 or 7 passengers, depending on the configuration. Two models will be offered: The 2018 RX 350L and RX 450hL (hybrid) models.

To achieve the third row option, the RX L is 4.3 inches longer in the rear, and the tailgate window uses a steeper angle. Third row can be accessed via a lever that slides and folds the second seat forward. The six-seat configuration features second-row captain’s chairs.

Also, in the 2018 RX L models, full-length side curtain airbags are installed for all three rows, and the Lexus Safety System+ remains standard.

Due to arrive at dealerships by year’s end, the 2018 RX 350L will start at $47,670 (FWD) and $49,070 (AWD).

Even as they rose in popularity, SUVs weren’t always something that people thought would make their way to every single automaker -- particularly sports car brands like Jaguar.

But Jaguar couldn’t resist, and it’s even spread from there (Alfa-Romeo, Maserati and Lamborghini now have SUV offerings, and Ferrari is reportedly has one in the pipeline -- who woulda thunk it?).

As much as the sports car purists are made sick by this development (“how dare they tarnish the brand” or something like that is often muttered), there’s no denying the SUV and its practicality are here to stay -- even in the upper echelons of the automotive world.

Having debuted for the 2017 model year (and now already updated for 2018 edition with more engine options and other additional features), the F-Pace made its mark in the luxury SUV class instantly. As the brand continues to grow its offerings in this segment (the compact E-Pace and electric I-Pace are just around the corner), the F-Pace was their opening shot.

I spent some time in an F-Pace 35t R Sport, and here’s my take on how it fits in the scheme of luxury SUVs.