Tim Plouff

Maine

Columnist at The Ellsworth American

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Articles

On the Road Review: Toyota Tacoma TRD Double Cab

1 week ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

Once typical winter weather arrived — enough snow — we scheduled multiple snowmobile trips to “Northen Maine,” this year visiting the wonderful King family operation at Shin Pond Village, west of Patten. With various lodging options, a wicked friendly staff and an excellent dining hall/bar/nourishment retreat, two separate riding groups got all of the winter fun we needed visiting the Eagle Lake Ghost Trains, dining at remote Libby Camps and racing up and down the Huber Road trail.
Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige

2 weeks ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

For decades, the auto industry’s standard-bearer was the family sedan. Big, long and usually a six-passenger conveyance, these sedans were a staple here and in most other markets, covering basic driving needs and luxury customers as well. In the mid-1960s, the Chevy Impala was the best-selling automotive product in America, at one time accounting for over 12% of total market sales all by itself, a dominance not seen since.
Acura RDX A-Spec Advance

3 weeks ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

Like many automakers today, Honda’s Acura luxury division is more focused on its profitable crossover/SUV products, like this week’s compact class RDX. Still (loosely) based on the CR-V platform, the RDX is the second best-selling product in Acura’s small lineup, with more units sold each year than all of the brand’s sedans combined. These five-door devices are the market’s bread and butter.
On the Road Review: Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy 2.5T

1 month ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

It had already been a long day when I slid into the massaging power seat of the top-end Santa Fe Calligraphy. With 310 miles to get home, there was plenty of time to get acquainted. Hyundai gave the midsize Santa Fe an extreme makeover last year. With a squared-off body and front fascia with distinctive H-pattern LED lights, larger rear portal opening, plus a wider, more open cabin, the latest Santa Fe has long abandoned its initial compact class crossover roots for a more modern, up-tempo style.
On the Road Review: Mazda CX-70 S Premium Plus

1 month ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

The roads were snow-covered and greasy as I headed southbound to meet Tommy for the next review vehicle. The morning commute was well underway, before the buses, but the total absence of any road plowing or salting was notable as the number of vehicles off the road escalated with each mile traveled. Six cars were off the side of the hill in Holden. As I met Tommy with this week’s Soul Red Metallic Mazda CX-70 in Topsham, the sun was breaking out and the roads were getting needed attention.
On the Road Review: Nissan Kicks SR

1 month ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

If Nissan were an oil company, you’d have to admit that they have hit some “dry holes” of late. Their Ariya EV has been a dud in the marketplace, the full-size Titan pickup truck experiment has ended after flailing about for 20 years, while its most popular midsize sedan — the Altima — has been fading against its primary rivals, which remain popular. And Nissan currently has no hybrid powertrains in its lineup, the power systems that buyers are gravitating towards.
On the Road Review: Chevrolet Traverse Z71

1 month ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

Back in 2008, GM rolled out a foursome of jelly bean-shaped three-row people movers to replace its slow-selling minivan lineup. Based on a new unibody platform called Lambda, the Chevy Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook had the space, driving comfort and functionality of a minivan — without the sliding doors and the negative marketing stigma evident at the time. The driving public immediately gravitated to these “new” family wagons.
On the Road Review: Mercedes GLC43 AMG

2 months ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

High-performance luxury-class offerings have become standard fare for each of the premium German automakers. Audi, BMW, Mercedes and Porsche have liberally sprinkled these high-priced halo products throughout their extensive lineups, including new electric product offerings. While perhaps a niche marketing effort that excels at earning eyeballs in all advertising, these Autobahn-burners earn extra profits while also creating additional showroom traffic.
On the Road Review: Honda Odyssey Elite

2 months ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

Honda Motor Company was in the news a lot around the end of the year. The steady Asian brand announced a proposed merger with Nissan (bad idea), the return of the sporty Prelude as a hybrid-powered sporty car (very good), as well as the success of its new Prologue EV, which beat several rivals in sales in 2024. Honda also enjoyed a modest sales increase in 2024, beating the previous year by 7% despite slower sales activity at luxury arm Acura.
On the Road Review: Three weeks with a Land Rover Defender 110

2 months ago | ellsworthamerican.com | Tim Plouff

This past holiday season found us enjoying Land Rover’s top-selling Defender for three weeks. Now available in three body styles (2-door 90, 4-door midsize 110, plus three-row 130 models) the Defender employs three distinct power plants pouring out 296 horsepower, 395 hp or 518 hp, with a fourth OCTA engine coming soon with a 626-hp twin-turbo V-8. With numerous December chores, holiday gatherings and typical winter weather events, we put our sample Defender to work.