Judging Every Car on the Way to Traverse City
Last Friday my dad and I took his 2023 Kia Telluride SX north to Traverse City for a weekend of live music and golf. Four hours and change either way. We queued up some playlists and started talking about what his next car could be. More on that soon.
Which led, naturally, to judging every car we passed on both sides of I-75. And as we judged books by their covers, it took me back to the auto show days with my grandfather, my dad, and my brothers. A 5 a.m. wake-up call to head down to Cobo Hall on a frigid January morning. That was the birthplace of seeing each year's new models. Everyone wanted to see the updates to their favorite cars. It taught me to keep a keen eye on vehicle design, big or small.
The Telluride, Old and New
We started with the car we were sitting in. My dad has driven a Telluride for the last six years or so. Loves them. The perfect three-row vehicle, which helps when you have six grandkids. Easy to drive, fits everything he needs, quick pickup, smooth ride. And he has the advanced tech: adaptive cruise, blinker cameras for changing lanes, the works.
The new Telluride design, though? Thumbs down. Way too boxy and modern. It seems like Kia, among others, is trying to be Range Rover. This all started with the logo change a few years back, which is illegible unless you're already a fan of cars. This new line of Kias certainly fits that logo. And to be clear, I'm only judging the exterior here. Not enough edges, and the Darth Vader grille doesn't sit right with me. Just too futuristic for my taste. But I'll give the new Telluride credit for one thing: the orange headlamps are sweet.
The Santa Fe Situation
We saw the new Hyundai Santa Fe on the road too. Two thumbs down. The taillights try to make the Hyundai H, which is unnecessary, and they sit awfully low on the car. Then, a mile down the road, we passed a 2010 Ford Flex, and I looked at my dad and said, "That's the same car."
I know history repeats itself. And I love the Ford Flex. That car was ahead of its time. But design-wise, I don't think either of them wins many awards. Same story as the new Kias: too futuristic, too much Range Rover wannabe.
Jeep, Finally
Jeep is an interesting one. I've written before about my affinity for the late-2010s Grand Cherokee. Design-wise, a deeply satisfying car. In that same era, I thought the Cherokee was a thumbs down, and I've been waiting on a design upgrade for a long time.
The new Grand Cherokees have really grown on me. Did I think they should have ever changed it? No. But that's not how life works. The dark grey ones, or white with black accents, look sharp. And the new Cherokee finally looks solid. The old design and size made it look incomplete, like a car that shipped before it was done. The bulkier style gives it more moxie. It's a mini Grand Cherokee now, which is exactly what it should be.
Lightning Round
What else got covered in eight hours of judging? A teaching moment, from me to my dad: the Ford Bronco versus the Bronco Sport. The car stuff comes from my mom's side of the family. And the Chevy Traverse and Buick Enclave both got style upgrades that caught his eye. Yes, we saw a Traverse on the way to Traverse City. It felt right.
The Verdict
So who's designing cars right now? Jeep, finally. Who's designing spaceships? Kia and Hyundai, boldly going where the Ford Flex already went fifteen years ago.
Grandpa taught me that every new model year deserves a good hard look. Some looks last four hours on I-75.
Windows down.