RAISE and PRAISE! Which Vehicle(s) Have Been SHINING STARS So Far In 2019?

2019 has been a rather interesting year for the automotive industry. Some are suggesting we've reached "peak car," and the electric vehicle movement is very real.

But aside from Tesla, it doesn't seem like EVs are exactly flying off dealer lots.

Sport-utility vehicles of all sorts, however, are moving. Three-row-equipped vehicles are doing especially well.

At first I didn't quite get it. But after having had the chance to drive two all stars for the 2019 model year, I am coming around.

The first vehicle that deserves a standing ovation is the all-new Kia Telluride in SX trim with the six-cylinder motor. With a sticker under $50,000, there's no way you're going to find a better product for the coin. In a day and age when a nicely optioned Toyota RAV4 goes for about $35,000-40,000, the Telluride is especially attractive. If you haven't driven one and you're in market, just give it a shot. Put the snobbery aside. We're thinking you'll be mighty surprised as this is probably the best vehicle Kia and Hyundai — its parent company — have ever built.

In the batter's box is the all-new BMW X7. Simply put, it could potentially nullify the 7-Series. If you're seeking a sporting SUV this isn't it as its cushy suspension is built for cruising. If you put it into Sport mode it'll do an OK job in the twisties but it's certainly no sports car. If you want a usable third row that's suitable for more than just torsos, the second row can get a tad tight and loading people into the third row isn't exactly swift. It's not perfect. But, boy, when you're driving it, the X7 is super comfortable and its interior is excellently trimmed, even if its interior design is not groundbreaking. Frankly, I think Range Rover's mojo may be threatened as the BMW has better technology and a better drive. The only reason you'd buy a Range Rover now is if you want that exterior design and you want to overpay for a lesser product. And if BMW offers an option to ditch the third row and provides buyers with four-place seating, you'd have to be an idiot to buy the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

That said, I've shown you my cards. Show me yours.

runninglogan1 - 6/8/2019 1:34:08 AM

+1 Boost

Model 3.

OneOfOne - 6/8/2019 11:06:10 AM

-4 Boost

your forgot the 'is a poorly made POS from a company that is dying.'

bmw7er - 6/8/2019 1:34:41 AM

+1 Boost

The new Lincoln Navigator dropped onto the scene and moving 10 places ahead of every competitor. The Cadillac Escalade doesn't come close to the new Navigator, and after the latest Ghevrolet/GMC reveal, I have little hope that the new Escalade will look or be as good. Lincoln did very well. Only misses I can find, 1) No soft close doors on a $100K model, 2) the hatch button does not have a lock feature on it, and 3) there are no redundant audio control buttons. Otherwise, I can't find a complaint.

Car4life1 - 6/8/2019 2:06:37 PM

+1 Boost

The G Wagon which demonstrates how successful a product can be when the company listens to consumers feedback. Benz manage keep all the charm of the original while making the new one more comfortable, practical, and desirable than ever.

Agent00R - 6/8/2019 8:29:03 PM

-1 Boost

Agreed.

The all-new Navigator is a gem.

OneOfOne - 6/8/2019 11:06:58 AM

-4 Boost

obviously another bus rider

Agent00R - 6/8/2019 8:29:46 PM

0 Boost

Tell me how you really feel. LOL!

pauerb - 6/8/2019 9:20:31 AM

+5 Boost

Agree with both the Model 3 and RDX

MDarringer - 6/8/2019 9:39:29 AM

-1 Boost

The X7 if definitely the shot in the arm that BMW needed to be taken seriously in the premium crowd.

Similarly, the Lincoln Aviator is a godsend for Lincoln. Keeping them in stock is a challenge.

The Kia Telluride is a transformative vehicle for the brand.

OneOfOne - 6/8/2019 11:07:49 AM

+1 Boost

because yeah nobody knows that bmw is a premium brand....

Truthy - 6/8/2019 11:27:45 AM

+1 Boost

From a sales standpoint, the BMW 7-Series was not a well known product. The new X-7 is well executed and lifts the upeer end of the range for BMW.
Similarly, the Telluride does the same for Kia. The interior shows many second tier luxury brands how it is done. A home run.
The Genesis is a fantastic car. They need to do better on marketing and get their dealers better sorted.

MDarringer - 6/8/2019 11:32:16 AM

-4 Boost

Hyundai is very slowly making nice with the dealers it jerked around when they demanded stand-alone dealers and then jerked that away.

MDarringer - 6/8/2019 1:24:19 PM

+1 Boost

BMW has lost MAJOR ground against Mercedes in the premium segment.

The S Class is simply so much better than a 7 Series that the latter feels like a class down.

Similarly, the CLS was so much better than the 6GC that it prompted BMW to rename their car with the remake. BMW lost there.

BMW loses BIG TIME to Mercedes in the $100K+ segment.

BMW has NOTHING like the Maybach trim level on the S Class that people clamor for.

Along comes the X7 and BMW is suddenly very much back in the game and the new Mercedes GLS simply isn't as impactful.

Truthy - 6/9/2019 5:04:09 PM

0 Boost

See MD, on everything but politics we agree and not as far apart on politics as you would think. My wife's great uncle gave me an earful last night (good naturedly of course) and for a moment I thought he might be you. I respect him tremendously and he supports Trump at least as much as anyone posting here.

Truthy - 6/9/2019 5:04:43 PM

0 Boost

And it has me thinking.

MDarringer - 6/9/2019 6:21:54 PM

0 Boost

In person, you and I would be towel snappers.

I had fun this morning. I finally got the 76 Lagonda project in a drivable state. It has an LS9 under the hood and is in no way stock. It looks stock. I bled the brakes and took it for a spin. The road in front of my house is pretty much a freeway that dead ends into a park. So I hot footed it out to the park. As I flipped a U in the park, a deputy pulled me over because he had no idea what a Lagonda was. I invited him home to see a few more cars and 15 minutes later my driveway was cluttered with cop cars. The neighbors assumed something horrible had happened.

How was your morning?

Truthy - 6/9/2019 10:23:08 PM

0 Boost

Not quite as exciting. Although last week a friend invited me to his "car condo." It is a storage place for exotic cars that includes a living space. All are unique. My friend collects Porsches. I drove a Boxter GTS. I get it. A very memorable and fast drive.
A Lagonda. Nothing looks like it.
We have the same good taste in cars.

MDarringer - 6/9/2019 10:41:54 PM

0 Boost

From the road my property looks like it has a main house and a guest house. The guest house is a facade from the front hiding a garage. It's really a steel building with a veneer. The security on it is unobtrusive, but clever.

You'd love what I have parked inside. The Lagonda is a project car for a client. It's just visiting for the weekend. Assuming all is ship-shape with the Lagonda it will be on a 5th wheel headed for New Mexico and then on to Texas on Tuesday along with a Jensen and a Z06.

MDarringer - 6/9/2019 10:50:32 PM

0 Boost

PS I wish this site had behind the scenes chatting. You'd be one of my faves along with CommunistComments who is also one of the people here I enjoy a lot like I do chatting with you. Rick would be another and throw in xjug too.

Truthy - 6/10/2019 8:23:01 PM

0 Boost

You are going to make money on the Lagonda, but great that you are driving it too. A former colleague of mine rebuilt a 1968 Miura.
A lot of work and he drives it still
A Jensen has to be hard to find in the US. My favorite would be the FF. Interesting autos.

MDarringer - 6/10/2019 9:50:02 PM

+1 Boost

That's why you go to the UK and get "parts cars" that you then rebuild. I'm always on the look out for ones in the USA. I've gotten several--one a pristine stock/original example--in Georgia. I'm always scouring.

I have an LS7 Interceptor that I adore.

The Lagonda was an American spec model.

TomM - 6/8/2019 7:49:58 PM

+1 Boost

Mayback S650 - simply fabulous for the money.
Rolls Phantom - They don't get better than this.
Ferrari 812 Superfast - ALright - Not a 2019 - I'll take it anyway

Having ALL three - priceless

Agent00R - 6/8/2019 8:32:13 PM

-1 Boost

Living the dream, Tom!

MDarringer - 6/9/2019 3:19:06 PM

0 Boost

Long live correct spelling.

deaHelkcunK - 6/9/2019 3:32:36 PM

+3 Boost

The new X7 has really upped the ante

MDarringer - 6/9/2019 8:22:27 PM

+1 Boost

Hell yes it has. The X7 is so good that it makes the Rolls Royce Cunanan look asinine.

Truthy - 6/11/2019 2:47:52 PM

+1 Boost

Just saw the X7 at the dealer today and you are right, The X7 looks expensive and restrained at the same time. It has real presense.
The RR looks overwrought.