Jesus R. Garcia

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Jesus R. Garcia |Jesús García

I vividly remember opening the driver-side door of the Nissan Kicks when it was introduced in the U.S. as a compact crossover in 2017 and noticing how light it felt to the touch as I dropped into the cloth seats and rubbed the plastic-feeling steering wheel. At the time, Kicks were assembled and imported from Mexico. This little car had assembly plants all over the world, from Taiwan to Brazil, to fulfill a global demand for affordable personal transportation.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Jesus R. Garcia |Jesús García

Some cars are born instant classics, whether through captivating design, overachieving engineering or unanticipated high sales numbers. When these cars show up out of nowhere and take the world by surprise, it is a cherished moment. But it's getting tougher to surprise the automotive community. We've reached a point where someone "leaking" images or details about an upcoming model has become an expected part of a marketing campaign.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Jesus R. Garcia |Jesús García

Hyundai's first pickup truck sold in North America was the compact Santa Cruz, debuting in 2021 for the 2022 model year. This little four-door truck falls into a niche crowd alongside other hybrid body types like the Subaru Baja, Pontiac Aztek and Chevrolet SSR, vehicles that dare to be different without losing sight of the task at hand. Of them all, the Hyundai Santa Cruz is the only vehicle on the market styled with sideburns and a mullet.

1 month ago | houstonchronicle.com | Jesus R. Garcia |Jesús García

Supercars are commonly viewed as the pinnacle of performance and status. The vehicle of choice for those wanting to expressing success and wealth, even if it says "Rent Me" on the license plate frame. Supercars prove that some of us never outgrew our race car beds (yes, I had one) and Hot Wheels collection. Supercars cause an inherent reaction regardless of whether they are viewed from the perspective of ultimate desire or vulgar distaste. For me, supercars are a career move.

2 months ago | houstonchronicle.com | Jesus R. Garcia |Jesús García

I test-drove the 2025 Genesis GV80 mid-size luxury SUV recently, spending a day in the commercialized cowboy country of Fort Worth. It left a mighty fine first impression, but would it hold now that I had some time to appreciate the brand's hyper-fixation on style? The GV80 3.5T shown here models a luscious Storr Green exterior in a premium matte finish ($1,500).