The Village Green sets the scene for a friendly community. This ceremonial center of Ellis provides a place of activity, encouraging impromptu gatherings and feel-good fun in the sun. Make memories as you enjoy effortless, family-centered outings year-round.

Warm summer months aren’t the only thing to brighten your day at Ellis — our friendly community and array of connected parks are a special experience. At Orchard Park, the latest addition to Ellis’ list of parks, discover an inviting green space and gazebo, perfect for summertime picnics. Or put a little oomph in your activity with the outdoor gym and exercise equipment. No matter how you choose to play, this park is your canvas for the great outdoors.

Get into the swing of things at Western Park. Imaginative play structures keep the littlest residents entertained while a multipurpose lawn and picnic area welcome warm gatherings and an inviting sense of community. With a family game zone that features cornhole, table tennis and foosball as well as pickleball courts, this park serves up plenty of friendly competition. Game on!

There’s plenty more fun to come. With a spectacular dog park set to open this fall, you’re perfectly poised to plan a paw-some day for your pup — from games of fetch to doggy meetups, it’s all on the agenda.

The future Village Center will be more than a hub for retail and dining. From farmers markets to haircuts, the possibilities for special neighborhood retail and services are nonpareil. A future state-of-the-art TK-8 school in the sought-after Jefferson School District will nurture young minds, just a short walking distance from our thoughtfully planned neighborhoods.

Get ready to make a splash. The planned Tracy Aquatic Center is in the works at Ellis. From water slides and pools to a lazy river and swim lessons, the aquatic park will fill hot summer days with cool family-friendly activities.

What awaits beyond Ellis is cause for excitement. Easy access to Interstate 580 and Tracy’s historical and lively downtown means weekends full of unique local finds and award-winning breweries are right around the corner. The nearby ACE train brings everything the greater Bay Area has to offer even closer, too.

With new neighborhoods coming in 2025, your comfortable retreat at Ellis is well underway. Stay tuned for the future Avenues and Gardens neighborhoods. These future neighborhood collections will bring more of the unique and contemporary living Ellis has become synonymous with.

Whatever the vibe, find it at Ellis — visit EllisTracy.com and follow @liveatellis on Facebook and Instagram for what’s to come. With a welcome retreat at home and a world of adventure beyond your front door, you can’t miss Ellis.

Advertorial provided by Surland Companies

There are two BMW iX configurations to choose from. The BMW iX xDrive50 has a base price of $87,100, while the BMW iX M6 starts at $111,500.  Your final price will depend on how many options you choose. BMW iX price points reflect the sheer amount of luxury in a performance SUV, starting with a configurable 14.9″ center stack digital display screen and an electronic panoramic eclipsing dark to light tinted glass sky roof.

To showcase this highly optioned electric SUV, BMW sent me a 2024 iX to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this xDrive50 model is: $87,100. The options on the test SUV are: the stone grey microfiber wool blend interior for $500, the driving assistance pro package for $2,300, the premium interior package for $3,700, the sport package for $2,500 and the adaptive LED laser lighting package for $1,000. The manufactures suggested retail price (MSRP) plus the $995 destination charge, is: $98,095.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $110,357. At just over $110 Grand, you get to experience BMW’s xDrive50 EV power and performance with a pair of high voltage electric motors that combine to make 516 HP horsepower, with all wheel drive (AWD) as standard equipment. The iX xDrive50 goes from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds.

The iX comes with standard features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, wireless device charging, ambient interior lighting and cabin preconditioning. The xDrive50 model has brake regeneration and a high voltage lithium ion battery pack that can go 307 miles on a full charge. The charging time on a 240 volt level II home charger is only 11 hours, and the fuel economy rating is 83 MPGe city, 82 MPGe highway and 83 MPGe combined.

BMW has bundled the most desirable features into one single option for the base xDrive50: the Premium Package. For $3,700, buyers will receive a Harmon Kardon surround sound system with 18 speakers, a surround view camera, head up display, an interior camera, multi functional power folding seats, and parking assistant plus.

With parking assistance plus there is no need to worry about visibility when parking. Parking assistant plus helps you park and maneuver, by using several cameras positioned all around the vehicle, to give you a full 360 display of your surroundings, and it’s all in 3D. The iX also has Highway Assistant, which enables attentive hands-free driving, at speeds up to 85 mph on controlled access highways.

As this is a high dollar BMW, comfort, safety and convenience are top priorities. The iX 50 comes with: heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 4 zone climate control system, perforated cooling seating surfaces, gold and bronze interior trim accents, a thermally insulated windshield, front and rear parking distance control, frontal collision warning, active blind spot detection, lane departure warning, parking assistant, back-up assistant, active cruise control with stop and go, active lane assist with side collision avoidance, traffic jam assist and dynamic brake control.  All BMW’s come with a free maintenance program for the first 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, on scheduled service. Now you have peace of mind, and your wallet, for the next 36 months.

BMWs are known for their excellent build quality. Many other brands tend to cut corners on things like paint work, interior materials, and dashboard design in order to save some cash. BMW does not do that, and never will, as they make sure everything has a premium look and feel, inside and out. So, if you’re in the $100,000+ electric vehicle buyers club, and want to impress your co-workers and neighbors, then this is the one to buy, or lease.

Call, click or visit your local BMW dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2024 BMW iX xDrive50 all electric SUV. And remember that the base price for a new iX starts at only $87,100. BMW – The Ultimate Driving Machine.

Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net 

The highly acclaimed EV9 is an advanced EV with impressive capabilities. Like many modern EVs, it is available as a single-motor rear-wheel-drive that is more efficient or a dual-motor all-wheel drive that provides better performance. The 379 horsepower AWD models are only available with a 99.8kWh battery and can venture up to 280 miles on a single charge. The RWD models can be purchased with a smaller 76.1-kWh battery or the 99.8-kWh battery. The EV9 achieves its maximum driving range of 304 miles when the RWD is configured with the larger battery, while the smaller battery provides 230 miles of range. The two RWD models deliver respectable fuel economy for a mid-size SUV, with the long-range version earning a combined MPGe rating of 89 and the short-range version getting 88. The combined MPGe rating drops to 83 with the addition of all-wheel-drive. The purchase of the AWD GT-Line decreases MPGe even further to 80 and reduces driving range from 280 to 270 miles. All EV9 models benefit from Kia’s 800-volt electrical architecture, which facilitates rapid refueling at the fastest public charging stations. Equipped to handle powerful 350-kilowatt DC fast chargers, the EV9 can recharge its depleted battery from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes. When charging at home using a capable Level 2 AC charger, it will accept 240-volt current fast enough to fully recharge overnight. To sweeten the pot even further, Kia is offering 1,000 kWh of free charging credit through Electrify America’s network.

Many automakers are reducing the costs of their electric vehicles by deploying standard drivetrain platforms that remain consistent across a variety of wheelbase lengths. The versatile strategy saves money by improving economies of scale and reducing design costs. The EV9 rides on the Electric Global Modular Platform developed for the Hyundai Motor Group, which includes Kia, Genesis, and Hyundai. Hyundai’s award-winning Ioniq 5 and Ioniq 6, and the luxurious Genesis GV60 ride on the same platform as the EV9. The expandability of the platform allowed Kia to develop its seven-passenger SUV quickly, filling a niche that has largely been overlooked in the EV market. The spacious interior of the EV9 can be utilized in a variety of ways by folding down seats, and it can be customized for six-passengers by replacing the 3-passenger bench seat with two captain’s chairs.

The EV9’s starting price of $55,000 represents good value, but Kia is determined to reduce that figure by qualifying the vehicle for the $7,500 federal tax credit. Foreign automakers were caught off guard when the finalized tax credit rules disqualified all EVs assembled outside of North America. The first EV9s to go on sale have been shipped from South Korea, but they will soon be rolling off of Kia’s new assembly line in West Point, Georgia, and are expected to become eligible for the full credit. If you and your family are a good fit for the EV9, it’s never too soon to take a test drive.

Unveiled in late 2018, the mid-sized crossover SUV is the carmaker’s only three-row vehicle. It continues the brand’s reputation, including its standard all-wheel drive.

Available in base, Premium, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition Limited, Limited and Touring, all Ascents are equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. All variants also feature 260 horsepower matched with a continuously variable transmission.

Gas mileage averages are 21 mpg in city driving, 25 mpg on the highway. The low tallies are the vehicle’s primary downfall and an unsatisfying characteristic of the three-row SUV segment. Acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour takes 6.9 seconds, which doesn’t help when a quick burst around a potential traffic dilemma is needed.

The brand’s signature attractions remain. The Ascent does everything right and without extravagance. But therein lays a potential problem. As a pillar of restraint, the inside-the-box SUV is part of one of the more competitive segments.

Value aside, the 2024 Ascent is a holdover from last year’s refreshed model and the continuation of the car’s six-year-old first generation. Segment leaders, including the Kia Telluride and the newly acclaimed Mazda CX-90, have infused luxury into the three-row midsized SUV offerings.

The Telluride and Mazda cost more and can match the Subaru in many areas. The Honda Pilot was a segment standout for many years before lapsing into the status quo. But the Pilot has also had a makeover for 2024. The Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer and Hyundai Palisade have all been refreshed or offered in a new generation.

While Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive system is the carmaker’s signature feature, overall vehicle safety is its strongest attribute. All models come standard with a long list of advanced safety features. Higher trims have further safety upgrades. The NHTSA awarded it five out of five stars in its evaluations; the IIHS named the 2023 Ascent a Top Safety Pick+, its highest rating.

While not the most spacious mid-sized, three-row SUV, the Ascent has its cargo and people moving strengths. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance, off-road excursions are handled better than most of the competition. Seating for seven or eight is available and cargo capacity is 75.6 cubic feet. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds. The Nissan Pathfinder has a 6,000-pound maximum and Ford Explorer can haul 5,600 pounds.

Like several automakers, Subaru’s third-seat design is problematic. The area is tight for adults and entering and exiting requires basic yoga skills.

Upgrades abound on The Onyx and Onyx Limited editions. The former includes 20-inch black finish alloy wheels, a panoramic sunroof, a power liftgate and water-repellent synthetic leather upholstery. The reviewed Limited Edition gets most of its close relative’s features. But it also has a driver’s seat memory function and additional adjustments, heated second-row seats and an intercom system called Cabin Connect.

The infotainment center is functional and simply designed. Features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The standard 11.6-inch touchscreen has easy-to-use, large onscreen icons. They operate only via touch, increasing the potential for distracted driving.

With its options, the 2024 Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition Limited costs just under $49,000. Several rivals surpass the $50,000 plateau. The segment’s serious competition keeps manufacturers alert. There’s plenty right with the Ascent, but its rivals, while largely most expensive, have quickened the pace. Subaru best take note.

James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, is the founder and senior editor of theweeklydriver.com. Email: james@jamesraia.com.

Its vehicles often have a dual existence. They look great, combine innovative design with high-tech advancements and boast handsome interiors. But they rarely drive as well as their appearances. The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is an exception.

A midsized SUV available in several powertrains, the 2024 Range Rover, specifically the SE Dynamic trim, is void of former dubious traits. Gone are the backseat bumpy ride and sluggish acceleration. The new Range Rover, despite the word sport in its title, isn’t particularly sporty.

But it is versatile. Seating, well-padded, is firm and easily adjustable. The cabin is quiet for Range Rover’s SUV segment. Road and wind noise are minimal.

The reviewed P400 SE Dynamic featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a mild hybrid system. It included 395 horsepower, an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration standard is achieved in 5.8 seconds. Gas mileage averages are 19 mpg in city driving, 26 mpg on the highway.

It’s not cavernous, but the new Range Rover has enough cargo space for average-sized needs. It offers 31.9 cubic feet behind the second row; with the 40/20/40-splitrear seats down, the area expands to 53.0 cubic feet. It’s a similar tally to the several competitors, but Mercedes-Benz and BMW, the Range Rover’s top rivals, have larger cargo areas.

Two classy features: the air suspension can be lowered with the touch of a button in the hatch to make loading and unloading cargo easier. Likewise, folding or raising the seats is push-button easy. It’s often a cumbersome task in many SUVs.

Land Rover offers a generous standard features list. Even the base P360 SE features leather upholstery to adaptive air suspension and a 16-speaker Meridian sound system with a 13.1-inch curved center touchscreen. Safety features are plentiful, forward collision warning to parking sensors and lane keeping assistance to a surround-view camera system.

The P400 SE Dynamic includes most of the standard equipment for lower-level trims. But the black-on-black color scheme, including black calipers, black exterior trim and black lettering, adds a unique appearance. It’s a luxury SUV with an attitude.

Standard driving features also include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning and surround-view cameras. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto have wireless connectivity. For multi-taskers, there’s a plentiful supply of USB-C and USB-A ports throughout both rows and a wireless charging pad.

Land Rover built its enduring legacy off-road on safaris and in military use. For daily drivers, the carmaker’s strengths are still in place via its ample supply of available “packs.”

The Cold Climate Pack ($450) includes a heated windscreen and heated headlight with washer jets. The Hot Climate Pack ($1,805) features: two-piece sun visors with illuminated vanity mirrors, a front center console refrigerator compartment, four-zone climate control and a cabin air purification system.

Several additional packs were included, pushing the MSRP from slightly more than $90,000 to $104,655.

Like its siblings, the new Land Rover is a luxury SUV with a confident presence. It’s a status symbol with curbside appeal and a legacy to uphold. It’s handsome inside and outside.

And finally, the package is complete. The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport drives like a luxury SUV should.

James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, is founder and senior editor of theweeklydriver.com. Email: james@jamesraia.com.

Pricing starts at around $47,000 for the 2024 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 Pinnacle edition, and goes up to $52,000 for the GLC 300 Pinnacle 4MATIC model, and then it tops out at $57,000 for the 2024 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 4MATIC SUV, plus options of course.

This week Mercedes Benz sent me a 2024 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 4Matic SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this AWD model is: $57,000. The options on the test SUV are: the metallic paint for $750, the active distance crash avoidance system for $600, the night package for $200, and the AMG Line body styling package for $2,850. The manufactures suggested retail price, MSRP, including the destination and delivery charge, is: $61,400.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $69,075. If your budget is capped at $70 Grand then this is the SUV you have been looking for. Not only it is priced at just $69K and change, you get the prestige and luxury driving status of a Mercedes Benz.

The 2024 GLC 300 is powered by a 2.0L Liter 4 cylinder turbocharged mild hybrid gas engine, with an impressive 255 HP horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, bolted to a G-Tronic 9 speed automatic transmission, and then routed into a 4Matic all wheel drive AWD traction control system, with dynamic terrain select. This drive line has the ability to supply superior traction and driving control in all weather and road conditions.

The 5 passenger interior is covered in AMG MB-Tex with silver diamond pattern trim and the front seats are powered, heated and have lumbar support. The memory system for the driver controls the seat, steering column and exterior mirrors positions. The comfort and convenience list includes: a dual zone automatic climate controlled air filtration system, keyless entry, keyless start, keyless go, power folding side mirrors, split folding rear seats, a panorama sunroof, rain sensing windshield wipers, ambient lighting, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, and a Burmester surround sound audio system.

Your safety and security starts with: Mercedes Benz connected services, a 11.9″ center stack digital touch screen, a 12.3″ digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth connectivity, an advanced air bag system, a anti-theft alarm system, anti-lock automatic braking, an electronic stability program system, active emergency braking assist, blind spot assist, automatic light sensing headlamps, LED daytime running lamps, LED headlights, LED tail lamps, adaptive high beam assist, rear door child safety locks, a rear view camera, and a 24 hour / 7 days a week roadside assistance program.

The AMG body line styling upgrade package comes with brushed aluminum sport pedals with rubber studs, a MB Tex covered instrument panel and beltlines covered in black Nappa look leather, a flat bottom AMG sport multi-function steering wheel, AMG floor mats, perforated front disc brake rotors with MB logo painted brake calipers, and it’s all blended together with AMG wheel arch trim that’s painted to match the body color.

The Night package adds high gloss black painted trim elements starting with: a black front air flow splitter, black front grille trim, a black rear air diffuser, black side mirror caps, black side window trim, a black headliner, and a set of gloss black roof rails. This Night package adds just enough black accents to set your GLC 300 apart from the crowd.

The GLC is one of my favorite midsize premium luxury crossover SUVs. It offers smooth and efficient power, a classy interior, and plenty of helpful technology features. This newest 2024 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 is intelligent, sporty, luxurious, and practical, plus it get 24 MPG city, 30 MPG highway, and a nice 26 MPG in combined driving.

So, call, click or visit your local Mercedes Benz dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2024 Mercedes Benz GLC 300 4Matic SUV. And remember that the base price for a new GLC 300 starts at only $47,450. Mercedes Benz – The Best or Nothing.

Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial  provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net 

Unlike the electric Clarity, which originated as a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle and was also configured as a plug-in hybrid, the Prologue was designed from the ground up as a competent BEV. The Clarity had a 25.5-kWh battery pack that provided just 89 miles of range and was only practical as a local runabout. The Prologue SUV is powered by an advanced, 85 kWh Ultium battery pack developed by General Motors, and the front-wheel drive model scan venture 296 miles on a single charge. The range figure drops to 281 miles when the powertrain is upgraded to dual-motor all-wheel-drive, which increases horsepower from 212 to 288.The Prologue is reasonably efficient for an SUV of its size and shape, which are similar to the Honda Passport. The FWD models earn a combined MPGe rating of 99, while the AWDs are rated at 95. All Prologue models deliver fairly standard charging speeds, accepting 11.5 kilowatts of alternating current at Level 2 and 155 kilowatts of direct current at Level 3. Like most modern BEVs, the Prologue is designed to fully recharge at home overnight. It can also make efficient use of the more powerful public charging stations, loading the ample battery pack from 20% to 80% in as little as 35 minutes. Other than its remarkable good looks, the Prologue has no distinctive strength to give it an advantage over its BEV competitors, but it has no glaring weakness either.

Honda has been cautious about its transition to BEVs but continues to build one of the most efficient full-line fleets in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency’s latest Automotive Trends Report ranks the real-world fuel economy of Honda’s 2022 fleet just below the first place fleet built by Hyundai. The Korean automaker took the gold medal with a fleet average MPG of 29.1 and average tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions of 302 grams per mile. Honda’s silver medal fleet was close behind with an MPG of 29.7 and emissions of 309 grams per mile.

The aptly named Prologue marks the beginning of a new era in Honda’s evolving environmental efforts. State-of-the-art BEVs will make up an increasing share of its offerings between now and 2040.The addition of two new BEVs to Honda’s lineup will help the progressive automaker maintain its extraordinary environmental record. Both the Prologue and Acura ZDX rely heavily on the Ultium platform developed by General Motors, but Honda intends to become more independent as it ramps up extensive new BEV production facilities in Ohio and nearby Ontario. Many of Honda’s loyal customers who care about tailpipe emissions have been eagerly awaiting the appearance of serious new BEVs. The Prologue has arrived, and it was worth the wait.

Lexus has three distinct SUVs, with the RX flanked by the smaller NX and the larger three-row LX and new TX models. The RX series has several options, including gasoline V6 engines and hybrid systems.

The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+, a plug-in hybrid, is new this year. It’s the upgraded version of the 350h and has 304 horsepower and a larger battery. Lexus estimates the 450h+ has a 37-mile electric-only range can be recharged in 2 1/2 hours at 240 volts with the standard 6.6-kilowatt onboard charger.

While advancing with its four-cylinder, gas-powered persona, the RX 450h+ is equipped with the same engine as the NX offering. It’s rated with an 83 mpg equivalent combined.

Storage is among the primary reasons SUVs have dominated sales for many years. The new Lexus plug-in hybrid has few downsides, but its interior is smaller than top rivals. The Acura MDX has 39.1 cubic feet available behind the second round of seats and the Mercedes-Benz GLE has 33.3 cubic feet of storage in the same area. The Lexus storage cavity is efficiently designed without odd, unusable areas. But it’s also only 29.6 cubic feet with the rear seats up.

The front bucket seats are well-constructed with easy entrance and exit. The rear seat has 40/20/40 power-operated split. Besides power-folding capabilities, rear seats also offer optional heating and ventilation.

Sometimes, fewer choices are better. It’s the case with the RX450h. What trim is best is a moot point since it’s only available in what Lexus calls its Luxury trim. It’s not a mistake. Simple luxury applies, with the SUV’s interior dominated by semi-aniline leather and microsuede. The materials are used handsomely together. The microsuede is on the dash, door panels, headliner and seats.

Bamboo or open-pore wood trim is offered and complements the well-placed materials. Several interior color schemes trim styles are offered including black, ash bamboo, black open-pore wood and dark-finished aluminum. Seat and trim colors include medium brown, black, off-white, light brown, maroon and red.

The combinations provide a signature Lexus trait. Its vehicles are good-looking, inside and outside. The exception throughout the Lexus lineup is the always overt spindle grille.

Still, the luxury-only theme extends to the car’s technology. The RX 450h is equipped standard with a 14-inch infotainment system. Base models have 9.8-inch units. Lexus has utilized a remote touchscreen interface for years, but it’s increasingly unpopular. The new Lexus relies primarily on screen-located functions.

Ambient lighting, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a head-up display, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and a panoramic moonroof are optional.

Smooth, confident driving is another Lexus trait, with the RX 450h+ compliant. It has 21-inch wheels, and it advances smartly, turns with precision and maintains a quiet, confident persona in city and highway driving. The SUV’s 0-to-60 miles per hour acceleration is 5.8 seconds.

The Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 also is standard. The bundle includes adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection and lane departure steering assist.

Lexus debuted as the luxury segment of Toyota in 1989 and retains its status. It once had few competitors in its SUV lineup but competition is now brisk.

With its various options and taxes, the 2024 Lexus 450h+ crosses the $75,000 barrier. The costs is likely fine for loyalists who know Lexus and its pedigree. The tally is likely too much for a new buyer in the plug-in hybrid market.

James Raia, a syndicated automotive columnist in Sacramento, is the founder and senior editor of TheWeeklyDriver.com, online since 2004. Email: james@jamesraia.com.

The Free Wheeling special edition features sunset inspired design touches and reflective exterior graphics, and pays homage to the stylish Bronco’s off roaders that captured our hearts decades ago. Slide into the driver’s seat and experience the perfect blend of technology, nostalgia and modern innovation, as you unleash your adventurous soul.

A lot of people are drawn to the Bronco Sport due to how it’s designed to leave the city behind, so we’re going to focus on that first. It offers excellent off road performance and overall capability thanks to its two available engines, starting with the standard 1.5L EcoBoost Turbo I-3 that delivers 181 HP and has all wheel drive as standard equipment.

The Bronco Sport is more than just a Ford Escape playing dress up. Available exclusively with AWD all wheel drive, it also has some real on road tech and off road abilities, making it one of the most capable compact crossover SUVs when the pavement ends.

To prove that point, this week Ford sent me a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport 4×4 SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker for this Free Wheeling edition is $33,730. The options on the test SUV are: the Ford CoPilot 360 assist package for $895, the class II trailer tow package for $690 and the convenience package for $1,785. The manufactures suggest retail price, MSRP, minus the $1,000 in package discounts, plus the $1,595 destination and delivery charge is: $37,695.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your garage total purchase price came to: $42,407. At just over $6,000 LESS that the average sales transaction price of $48,800, this Bronco Sport 4×4 is a very good buy. The Bronco Sport is aimed at compact SUV buyers who want a sporty looking SUV with 4×4 capability, so they can go off road at any time, and drive right down to the lake.

Power and traction control start with a 1.5L liter Ecoboost inline 3 cylinder gas engine with automatic stop and go, that makes 181 HP horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque, bolted to an 8 speed automatic transmission, then routed into a full time AWD all wheel drive 4×4 transfer case. Traction to the ground goes thru a set of 225/65 R17 all season A/S black wall tires mounted on very colorful 17″ black and red painted alloy wheels.

This drive train gets 25 MPG in city driving, 29 MPG on the highway, and a respectful 26 MPG in combined overall daily driving. The greenhouse gas rating is a 5, and the smog rating is a 7, both out of 10. The government safety crash ratings are all 5 stars, and the annual fuel cost is only $2,100 for a full year. Of course, your gas mileage may vary.

As the 8 speed automatic transmission and four wheel drive are standard equipment, the ride is firm, and handling is taut and agile. The controls are very easy to use, including the infotainment system, and you can adjust your drive mode to match the environment. The Bronco Sport has 5 standard G.O.A.T. Modes “Goes Over Any type of Terrain” with Sand, Slippery, Sport, Eco and Normal traction control at the spin of a console dial.

The convenience package adds in: a wireless phone charging pad, LED fog lamps, a universal garage door opener, a 8 way power drivers seat, rear parking sensors and heated front seats. Plus it comes with a AM/FM stereo with 6 speakers, remote keyless entry, Sirius XM radio, auto start and stop, a security anti-theft system, and a perimeter alarm.

So, call, click or visit your local Ford dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the new 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Free Wheeling Edition 4×4 SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Bronco Sport starts at only $29,795. Bronco Sport – Built Ford Wild.

Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net 

In that column, the person waited for an inheritance to help buy a house. You have several columns of that nature. The theme is that an older family member tells the younger recipient of a sizable down payment on a home to wait until home prices go down. I, too, am in a similar position. Waiting seems illogical.

As your examples demonstrate, home prices keep rising. In fact, what if a 10% home-price rollback does not help? In your examples, home prices in the Bay Area and California usually rise monthly and yearly. I do not want to wait. My parents presented me with a downpayment. Unfortunately, it is “When home prices go down.”

How can I urgently persuade my parents to give me the down payment now?

Answer: Your trusted local real estate agent can help. The real estate agent will have a preferred loan officer. These two professionals are well-versed in the real estate market and belong to or subscribe to different real estate websites. Full stop.

The historical home-price statistics can be presented in a variety of formats. The information will be accurate. Plus, the home sale prices, when visualized, paint a clear picture of the market trends. Your parents will see your point. If home prices roll so far back to make a difference, the economy might be in trouble, and your job may be, too.

Here is an update thanks to the economic team at the California Association of Realtors:

The median sold price of California’s existing single-family homesApril 2024 $904,210April 2023 $811,510Price change year-to-year +11.4%

The California median sold price of condominiums/townhomesApril 2024 $688,000April 2023 $634,000Price change year-to-year +8.5%

The California Association of Realtors also breaks down the states into regions. The statistics are telling. Note the strength of the median sold home price in these areas:

San Francisco Bay Area single-family homesApril 2024 $1,444,000April 2023 $1,250,000Price change year-to-year +15.5%

Central Valley single-family homesApril 2024 $493,500April 2023 $463,000Price change year-to-year +6.6%

Central Coast single-family homesApril 2024 $1,077,500April 2023 $1,020,000Price change year-to-year +5.6%

Far North single-family homesApril 2024 $364,900April 2023 $385,000Price change year-to-year -5.2%

Inland Empire single-family homesApril 2024 $607,000April 2023 $565,000Price change year-to-year +7.4%

Los Angeles Metro Area single-family homesApril 2024 $840,000April 2023 $740,000Price change year-to-year +13.5%

Southern California single-family homesApril 2024 $880,000April 2023 $785,000Price change year-to-year +12.1%

It is time to find that real estate agent and loan officer in your area. If not, I am here to help if you need more information. In the meantime, you and your parents can also see real-time home statistics via the webpage link in my signature information below.

Good luck!

For Housing Market Data in your area, visit my webpage for trends here. Do you have questions about home buying or selling? Full-service Realtor Pat Kapowich is a Certified Trust and Probate Specialist, Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager and career-long consumer protection advocate.

He is based in his hometown of Sunnyvale, California. Office: 408-245-7700; Broker# 00979413 Pat@SiliconValleyBroker.com