2013 BMW X1 & 2013 Chevrolet Spark

HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK!

JOIN US AND SEE IF BMW'S DOWN-SIZED X1 PACKS ENOUGH PUNCH TO HANG WITH THE BIG BOYS.

PAT GOSS PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN ON A PAIR OF COMMON BRAKE PROBLEMS.

STEVEN CHUPNICK PUTS A WHOLE LOT MORE DOWN WHEN HE GOES OVER THE EDGE...

IN A TANK!

AND THEN WE'LL SEE IF THE CHEVROLET SPARK CAN IGNITE MINI CAR SALES.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.

JESSICA, I HAVE SOMETHING I WANT TO ASK YOU...

YES?

WHEN I'M SWITCHING TO WINTER TIRES DO I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL FOUR OR CAN I JUST PUT TWO ON THE FRONT AXLE?

I DON'T KNOW.

Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

GET SOME WINGS?

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.

John Davis: BMW'S APPROACH TO SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES -- OR SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES AS THEY LIKE TO CALL THEM -- HAS BEEN PRETTY CONSISTENT.

AND THAT'S TO GIVE BUYERS THE ROOM OF A UTILITY BUT WITH MUCH OF THE PERFORMANCE YOU EXPECT IN A BMW.

WELL, NOW THEY'VE TAKEN THAT FORMULA EVEN FURTHER... OR SHOULD WE SAY, SMALLER, WITH THE ALL-NEW X1.

THE 2013 BMW X1 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE IS NOT ACTUALLY AN ALL-NEW VEHICLE; AT LEAST NOT IN EUROPE WHERE IT HAS BEEN ON SALE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

BUT THIS SUB-COMPACT CROSSOVER IS FRESH FOR US IN THE U.S.

BUILT WITH A MIX OF BOTH 1 AND 3 SERIES PARTS, YOU MIGHT THINK IT IS DIRECTLY AIMED AT LUXURY CROSSOVER BUYERS LOOKING FOR EVERYDAY UTILITY IN AN EVER SMALLER PACKAGE.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO THE X1 THAN THAT.

AT 176.5 INCHES, THE X1'S LENGTH IS ABOUT 6.5 INCHES SHORTER THAN AN X3.

BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE SAME AS THE 3-SERIES SPORTS SEDAN OF A DECADE AGO.

AT 60.8 INCHES IT'S ALSO MORE CAR-LIKE IN HEIGHT; TAKING SOME 9 INCHES OFF THE X3.

PLUS, IT'S THE FIRST BMW SAV AVAILABLE IN REAR-DRIVE, AS WELL AS ALL-WHEEL.

SO, ONE MIGHT CONSIDER THE X1 MORE OF A COMPACT 5-DOOR HATCHBACK OR SPORT WAGON THAN CROSSOVER, AND EVEN A PLAUSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO THE EVER GROWING 3-SERIES.

EXCEPT FOR ONE THING...

THE X1 IS VERY UN-SPORTY CAR LOOKING.

IT'S AN AWKWARD TWO BOX SHAPE WITH A LONG HOOD LEADING TO A RATHER BULBOUS GREENHOUSE.

SO, BMW'S SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE MONIKER STILL FITS BEST.

THE X1 IS ALL BMW THOUGH; WITH KIDNEY GRILLES, 17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS WITH RUN-FLAT TIRES, RISING CHARACTER LINES, AND SPORTY FLARED WHEEL ARCHES, ALL PORTRAYING BRAND HERITAGE.

R THE FULL BMW EFFECT, OPT FOR THE M SPORT PACKAGE AND GET UPGRADED SUSPENSION BITS BEHIND 18 OR 19-INCH DOUBLE SPOKE WHEELS.

ENGINES ARE FAMILIAR BMW FARE, WITH OUR XDRIVE28I PACKING THE 2.0-LITER TWINPOWER TURBO I4.

IT PROVIDES MORE THAN ADEQUATE MOTIVATION WITH 240-HORSEPOWER AND 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT ITS "ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES FEEL" AGAIN BEFITS A CROSSOVER MORE THAN A 3 SERIES.

IT'S CONNECTED TO AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT INCLUDES BOTH SPORT AND ECO-PRO MODES, AS WELL AS AUTOMATIC STOP/START.

ALL AIMED BETTER GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, OF COURSE, WHICH WITH XDRIVE ARE 22-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED, WHICH IS A DECENT BOOST OVER THE X3.

STILL, IT MAKES FOR A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, INHALING 12.7 BARRELS OF OIL A YEAR WHILE EXHALING 5.3 TONS OF CO2.

FOR MORE POWER, UPGRADE TO THE XDRIVE35I WITH THE X3'S 300-HORSEPOWER INLINE-6.

IF ONE DOES GO THE XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ROUTE, THEY'LL FIND ITS MULTI-PLATE CLUTCH JUST AS EAGER TO HELP OUT WITH DRY ROAD HANDLING AS IT DOES WINTER TRACTION.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ADD PERFORMANCE CONTROL FROM THE M SPORT PACKAGE.

WE USED ALL AVAILABLE TRACTION IN OUR XDRIVE28I TO DEPART THE STARTING LINE ON OUR WAY TO 60 IN 6.4-SECONDS.

DOWN THE STRIP POWER FELT STRONG AND SHIFTS BRISK, HELPING US ECLIPSE THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.9-SECONDS AT 91 MILES-PER-HOUR, ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY INSPIRING, AND YES, SPORTY EXHAUST NOTE.

HANDLING WAS PLENTY INSPIRATIONAL AS WELL; OUR XDRIVE'S HYDRAULIC STEERING DELIVERED TIDY TURN-INS, OBEDIENT EXITS, AND MUCH MORE FEEL THAN THE ELECTRIC STEERING FITTED TO THE REAR DRIVER.

ON BRAKING, STOPS WERE SMOOTH AND CONSISTENT, AVERAGING A DECENT 120-FEET, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF PEDAL VIBRATION THAT GAVE US AN UNEASY FEELING.

STILL, OVERALL PERFORMANCE IS ABOUT WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM ANY BMW, THOUGH IF YOU'VE SPENT MUCH TIME IN AN OLDER 3-SERIES, IT STILL COMES UP A LITTLE SHORT.

ALSO CONSISTENT WITH OTHER BMWs IS THE PEACEFUL FEEL INSIDE THE X1'S CABIN.

WE'RE FANS OF THE OVERALL LAYOUT, AND FIT AND FINISH IS EXCELLENT.

UP FRONT YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF ROOM; BUT IN THE REAR, NOT SO MUCH.

SEAT UP CARGO CAPACITY IS AGAIN MORE SEDAN-LIKE THAN CROSSOVER AT 14.8 CUBIC-FEET.

AN ADEQUATE 47.7 CUBIC-FEET WITH SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

THE X1'S RIDE QUALITY IS CLASSIC BMW, FEELING BOTH MORE LIVELY AND QUICKER TO RESPOND THAN THE SLIGHTLY LARGER X3.

IT'S ALSO MUCH EASIER TO MANEUVER IN TIGHT SPACES.

FOR EVEN MORE HELP, AN OPTIONAL DRIVER ASSISTANCE PACKAGE COMES WITH BOTH PARK DISTANCE CONTROL AND REAR-VIEW CAMERA.

PRICING STARTS AT $31,545 FOR THE REAR-DRIVE SDRIVE28I, WHILE THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE XDRIVE28I STARTS AT $33,245.

BUT ADDING OPTIONS CAN QUICKLY SEND YOU INTO THE MID-$40s.

WE VERY MUCH ENJOYED OUR TIME IN THE 2013 BMW X1.

IT IS A WELL DONE EFFORT, BRINGING BACK MUCH OF THE DRIVING JOY OF SMALLER 3 SERIES OF YORE, WHILE STILL BEING ELASTIC ENOUGH WHEN IT COMES TO DAILY NEEDS.

THAT'S A NICHE THAT NO OTHER NEAR-TERM SUBCOMPACT UTE IS LIKELY TO HIT.

BUT DOES A REALLY SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVER MAKE SENSE IN AMERICA?

THE X1 IS INDEED A RISK FOR BMW AND OTHER PRESTIGE BRANDS ENTERING THE SAME ARENA.

BUT, AS THEY SAY, YOU GOTTA PLAY TO WIN.

WHILE OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY STEVEN CHUPNICK IS ALWAYS DOING BATTLE WITH SOME PIECE OF MECHANICAL HARDWARE OR ANOTHER, NEVER BEFORE HAS HE BEEN THIS WELL-ARMED.

AND AS WE'RE ABOUT TO SEE, HE HAD A SMASHING GOOD TIME!

Steven: EVER PASS BY A MILITARY BASE OR AN ARMY RESERVE CENTER AND SEE A RETIRED TANK OUT FRONT AND THOUGHT, MAN, I'D LOVE TO DRIVE ONE OF THOSE.

BUT I'M NOT IN THE MILITARY, AND I'M NOT IN THE MOOD TO START A COUP.

WELL, STOP THINKING AND DO IT!

AND NO GOVERNMENT OVERTHROW NEEDED.

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GET TO DRIVE A TANK IN YOUR LIFE?

JUST COME TO KASOTA, MINNESOTA AND LIVE OUT A CHILDHOOD FANTASY!

ABOUT AN HOUR SOUTH OF MINNEAPOLIS IS ONE AWESOME LOCATION.

SIMPLY PUT, DRIVE A TANK IS JUST THAT... YOU GET TO DRIVE A TRUE COMBAT TANK.

Tony Borglum: IT'S THE ONLY OPERATING PLACE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE CIVILIANS AND PRIOR MILITARY ALIKE, CAN COME AND OPERATE TANKS AND OTHER MILITARY VEHICLES.

Steven: TONY BORGLUM ACQUIRED 10 BRITISH ARMORED VEHICLES... AND BRITISH RATHER THAN AMERICAN TANKS BECAUSE THE U.S.

DOESN'T SELL ITS RETIRED TANKS.

THE SHEER SIZE OF THESE IS AMAZING, AND TRYING TO GET INTO A CHIEFTAIN MARK 11 MAIN BATTLE TANK IS JUST AS SURREAL.

THEY CALL THIS ONE "LARRY."

I JOINED A GROUP FROM A FINANCE COMPANY IN CHICAGO.

THEY DROVE UP TO CELEBRATE ONE OF THE PARTNERS' BIRTHDAYS.

AND YES, I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE THINKING...

EVEN MONEY GUYS LIKE TO LET LOOSE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE.

Tony Kutharski: IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME THING.

I MEAN, YOU CAN'T FIND THIS THING ANYWHERE ELSE.

Steven: AFTER AN OVERVIEW AND SAFETY BRIEFING, WE ALL PILED IN OUR TRANSPORT TRUCK AND OFF WE WENT.

AND IN IT RUMBLED.

THE FV432 ABBOT, WEIGHING 15 TONS, WITH A ROLLS ROYCE K60 ENGINE, ABOUT 500 HORSEPOWER.

KEEPING EVERYONE STRAIGHT INSIDE AND OUT OF THE TANK, IS TANK COMMANDER MARKESSA BAEDKE.

Markessa Baedke: I INSTRUCT PEOPLE, I INTRODUCE THEM TO THE TANK.

KIND OF GET THEM IN THERE AND SHOW THEM WHAT TO DO TO GET IT GOING, AND HOW TO TURN IT AND STOP IT, AND HAVE FUN.

Steven: THE STOPPING AND TURNING PART I GOT.

THE FUN PART, I DEFINITELY GOT!

THE SPLASHING MUD COMING UP AND OVER THE TANK... YEAH, I GOT THAT, TOO.

AS I CAME STORMING BACK FROM THE COURSE, ONLY A FEW WORDS DESCRIBE HOW TRULY AWESOME THIS IS... THAT WAS INSANE!

AND YES, I DID GET A LITTLE MESSY, GOT A LITTLE MUDDY.

BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT.

BUT THERE'S MORE...

REMEMBER OUR GOOD FRIEND LARRY?

SO WHAT'S BETTER THAN DRIVING A TANK?

DRIVING A TANK OVER A CAR.

BIRTHDAY BOY, TONY, GOT HIS SHOT AT TAKING OUT TWO MINIVANS.

Tony Kutharski: WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE TANK, MY KNEES WERE WEAK.

I WAS WORRIED I WAS GOING TO FALL OFF THE TANK.

I WAS SO NERVOUS.

Steven: AS FOR ME, HERE'S THE AFTERMATH OF THIS 96 MONTE CARLO.

HOW DID IT ALL GO DOWN?

WE'LL LET THE VIDEO DO THE TALKING... YOU KNOW WHAT?

I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THAT AGAIN.

OH, AND AFTER A LONG DAY OF DRIVING A TANK, THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN FIRING OFF A FEW ROUNDS OF SOME AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.

[GUNFIRE] REALLY PEOPLE, YOU WANT TO HAVE AN AMAZING ADVENTURE WITH YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY AND MAYBE EVEN YOUR CO-WORKERS, TAKE A TRIP TO DRIVE A TANK.

BUT BE PREPARED, IT CAN GET A LITTLE DOWN AND DIRTY.

DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE THINGS ARE BUSIER THAN EVER, BUT PAT PUTS THE BRAKES ON LONG ENOUGH TO HELP US OUT WITH A COUPLE OF PROBLEMS.

PAT GOSS: LIKE MANY THINGS ON AUTOMOBILES, BRAKE PROBLEMS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY APPEAR TO BE.

TAKE THAT PULSATION YOU GET WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKE PEDAL.

MAYBE IN THE PEDAL OR IN THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKE, SOMETHING SHAKES.

YOU AUTOMATICALLY THINK THAT YOU HAVE A WARPED BRAKE ROTOR; IT'S NO LONGER SMOOTH.

WELL, THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE, ESPECIALLY IF THE CAR'S BEEN SITTING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.

WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE ROTOR RUSTS, AND THEN IN ONE SPOT, RIGHT UNDER THE PAD, WHERE IT'S BEEN SITTING, YOU HAVE A CLEAN SPOT LIKE THIS.

WELL, WHAT HAPPENS HERE IS, THAT THIS BUILDS A LITTLE BIT OF AN EDGE, ON EITHER SIDE OF WHERE THE PAD WAS.

SO WHEN YOU HIT THE BRAKE, THAT EDGE, AS THE PAD GOES OVER IT, THAT EDGE MAKES THAT PULSATION THAT YOU FEEL IN THE CAR.

AND NO, IN MOST CASES, DRIVING IT WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY.

SO HOW DO YOU CORRECT IT?

WELL, YOU START OUT BY CLEANING ALL OF THE RUST OFF THE SURFACE OF THE BRAKE ROTOR, USING A GRINDER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

THIS IS A VERY SIMPLE AIR-POWERED GRINDER WITH A SCOTCH BRITE PAD ON IT.

JUST CLEAN THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE ROTOR, ONLY TAKES A FEW MINUTES TO DO, PROBLEM GONE.

SAVES YOURSELF A LOT OF MONEY.

ALL RIGHT.

NOW, SOMETHING ELSE.

CHEAP SHOPS, TECHS THAT DON'T KNOW, DO-IT-YOURSELFERS THAT DON'T KNOW, THEY MAY CREATE A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE HOSE.

EITHER IN REPLACING THE BRAKE HOSE, OR REPLACING THE BRAKE CALIPER.

SEE, IT'S REAL EASY TO GET THESE THINGS TWISTED.

AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T WANT A TWISTED BRAKE HOSE ON YOUR CAR.

BRAKE HOSES HAVE THESE LITTLE RIDGES IN THEM, AND THOSE RIDGES HAVE TO BE ABSOLUTELY PARALLEL THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE HOSE.

IF THEY'RE TWISTED LIKE THIS ONE, THAT'S GOING TO STRESS THE FABRIC INSIDE THE HOSE, AND EVENTUALLY THE HOSE WILL BREAK AND YOU'LL HAVE A BRAKE FAILURE.

ALL RIGHT.

IN THIS CASE, IT WOULD BE REALLY EASY BECAUSE SOMEBODY JUST PUT THE CALIPER ON WRONG.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TURN THE CALIPER OVER.

AND IN OTHER CASES, IT MIGHT MEAN REMOVING THE BRAKE HOSE AND STRAIGHTENING IT OUT.

BUT ONCE YOU'RE DONE, THE LINE SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABSOLUTELY PARALLEL.

BIG SAFETY FEATURE RIGHT THERE.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.

John: THE GOAL OF A LONG-TERM ROAD TEST IS TO SIMULATE UP TO THREE YEARS OF NORMAL USE IN ONLY 12 MONTHS.

WELL, WITH 29,906 MILES ON ITS CLOCK AT TEST END, WE DID JUST THAT WITH OUR 2012 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE LIMITED 4X4.

OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE PICK FOR BEST FAMILY UTILITY PROVED TO BE EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE FOR LONG TRIPS, AND EXTREMELY CAPABLE FOR THE WORST WEATHER AND TERRAIN WE COULD FIND.

WE ALSO PUT TO REST ANY DOUBTS WE HAD ABOUT JEEP QUALITY, AS WE NEVER HAD TO VISIT THE DEALER TO FIX ANYTHING.

WHAT WOULD HAVE LIKED TO FIX IS FUEL ECONOMY.

OUR AVERAGE OF 20.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IS NOTHING TO WRITE HOME ABOUT.

THE 290-HORSEPOWER 3.6-LITER PENTASTAR V6 IS A GREAT PERFORMER, BUT THE GC NEEDS FUEL ECONOMY HELP.

FORTUNATELY, HELP IS ON THE WAY WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC ON 2014 MODELS, ALONG WITH THE RETURN OF A V6 TURBO DIESEL OPTION.

BOTH GREAT ADDITIONS TO A GREAT SUV, AND ONE WE ARE VERY SORRY TO SEE LEAVE US.

WE'LL CHECK THE LOG BOOK ON OUR MAZDA CX-5, AND HYUNDAI ACCENT, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

TIME NOW FOR MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

FOLLOWING THE RECENTLY REDESIGNED HONDA CR-V AND FORD ESCAPE COMES AN ALL-NEW TOYOTA RAV4.

AND MUCH LIKE ITS MAJOR COMPACT CROSSOVER RIVALS, THE NEW RAV IS EVEN MORE CAR-LIKE; RACING TO INCLUDE THE FEATURES THAT YOUNG FAMILIES NEED TO PERFORM THEIR DAILY DUTIES.

WHILE LONGTIME FANS MIGHT MOURN THE LOSS OF THE SWING OUT TAILGATE WITH SPARE TIRE, MOST OTHERS WILL BE HAPPY TO SEE IT REPLACED BY A TRADITIONAL LIFTGATE AND UNDER CARGO FLOOR SPARE.

BEHIND THAT LIFTGATE IS 38.4 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE, AND ROOM FOR A CLASS LEADING 73.3 WITH THE REAR SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

WHAT'S ALSO MISSING IS AN OPTIONAL V6, AS BUYERS WILL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH A 176-HORSEPOWER, 2.5-LITER I4.

BUT THE TRANSMISSION GETS A MUCH NEEDED BOOST FROM 4 GEARS TO 6.

Brian Robinson: THE NEW RAV4 IS BETTER IN EVERY ASPECT.

MOST NOTICEABLE TO ME WAS JUST THE BETTER DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AND WHILE SOME MIGHT MOURN THE LOSS OF A V6 OPTION, THE FOUR CYLINDER OFFERS PLENTY OF POWER FOR MOST PEOPLE'S NEEDS.

John: OF COURSE, THE INTERIOR HAS MAJOR UPDATES AS WELL, AND IT'S STILL A VERY COMFORTABLE PLACE TO EAT UP SOME MILES.

CONTROLS ARE NOW EASIER TO REACH, AND THERE'S LOTS OF SPACE FOR SMALL ITEM STORAGE.

SALES BEGIN EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR WITH PRICES UP SLIGHTLY, STARTING AT JUST OVER $24,000.

EARLIER IN THIS EPISODE, IN OUR TEST OF THE BMW X1, WE WONDERED ALOUD IF AMERICAN LUXURY BUYERS ARE READY FOR REALLY SMALL CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLES.

WELL, WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT AS BUICK LAUNCHES ITS PREMIUM SUB-COMPACT CROSSOVER, THE 2013 ENCORE.

BUICK, HOPING FOR A REPEAT OF THE SUCCESS OF THE NEAR FULL-SIZE ENCLAVE, HAS PROVIDED ENCORE WITH MANY OF THE STYLING CUES OF ITS MUCH LARGER, AND MUCH THIRSTIER BROTHER.

INDEED, THE DESIRE FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY IS WHY INDUSTRY EXPERTS THINK SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVERS WILL BE A GROWTH MARKET HERE.

INTERNATIONAL IN DESIGN, ENCORE WAS CONCEIVED IN GERMANY AS THE OPEL MOKKA, AND IS BUILT IN SOUTH KOREA, SHARING ITS BASIC CHASSIS WITH THE CHEVROLET SONIC SUBCOMPACT-CAR.

INDEED, UNDER THE HOOD IS THE SONIC'S 1.4-LITER I4 TURBO RATED AT 138-HORSEPOWER, WHICH COMBINED WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL-MODE AUTOMATIC GIVES THE ENCORE THE HIGHEST FUEL ECONOMY OF ANY DOMESTIC CROSSOVER; 33 MPG HIGHWAY IN FRONT DRIVE AND 30 WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

BUT A BIG PART OF THE LUXURY PICTURE IS ALWAYS THE INTERIOR, AND OUR INITIAL IMPRESSIONS ARE THAT THE ENCORE HAS A VERY NICE ONE.

THE FIVE-SEAT LAYOUT IS SURPRISINGLY SPORTY WITH HOODED AND BINNACLED GAUGES, PLUS TASTEFUL SPLASHES OF CHROME AND WOOD TRIM.

LEGROOM IS FAIRLY GENEROUS IN FRONT, ADEQUATE IN THE REAR.

SEAT DOWN CARGO ROOM MAXS OUT AT 48.3 CUBIC FEET.

DESIGNED AS MUCH FOR CROWDED EUROPEAN AND ASIAN STREETS AS OUR OWN WIDE OPEN ONES, THE ENCORE HANDLES BOTH CITY STREETS AND EXTENDED HIGHWAYS JAUNTS WITH EQUAL APLOMB.

RIDE IS NOT AS CUSHY AS THE ENCLAVE, BUT IT SEEMS NEARLY AS QUIET.

ENCORE IS ARRIVING AT DEALERS NOW WITH PRICES STARTING JUST UNDER $25,000.

NEW CAR KEYS ARE ALWAYS TRICKLING IN, SO WE'LL HAVE MORE FIRST IMPRESSIONS FOR YOU SOON.

John: MINI CARS, WHILE STILL A NICHE MARKET, THEY ARE PROVING THEIR WORTH IN A WORLD OF EVER RISING GAS PRICES.

AND RECENT ENTRIES, LIKE THE SCION IQ AND FIAT 500, ARE SEEING SOME MODERATE SUCCESS HERE IN THE STATES.

YET WITH NO MAJOR DOMESTIC BRAND TESTING THE WATERS, IT'S HARD TO GAUGE THEIR TRUE POTENTIAL.

WELL, CHEVROLET AIMS TO CHANGE THAT WITH THE ALL NEW SPARK.

SO LET'S SEE IF IT CAN SPARK THE ATTENTION OF AMERICAN BUYERS.

THE MINI-CAR, THOUGH SMALLER THAN A SUBCOMPACT, HAS NEVER GAINED MEANINGFUL TRACTION IN AMERICA.

WHETHER IT'S A LACK OF POWER, AESTHETIC APPEAL, OR VERSATILITY, BUYERS HERE EXPECT STYLE AND SUBSTANCE FOR THEIR HARD-EARNED DOLLARS.

BUT IT ONLY TOOK A SHORT TIME WITH THE 2013 CHEVROLET SPARK FOR US TO CONCLUDE THAT THERE IS PLENTY OF BOTH IN THIS ULTRA-COMPACT CRUISER.

THE HATCHBACK SPARK FITS NEAR THE MIDDLE OF ITS TINY, CITY-CAR CLASS.

WITH AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 144.7 INCHES, IT'S ABOUT A HALF FOOT LONGER THAN THE FIAT 500, YET DWARFS THE SCION IQ AND SMART FORTWO.

COVERING SO LITTLE GROUND MAKES IT EASY TO PARK, ALTHOUGH WE THOUGHT ITS TURNING DIAMETER WOULD BE SMALLER THAN 32.5 FEET CURB-TO-CURB.

OUR TOP LEVEL SPARK 2LT CERTAINLY SCORED STYLE POINTS WITH US.

ITS NARROW, YET TALL TWO-BOX SHAPE IS COMPLETE WITH TRENDY DETAILS LIKE A CHROME-TRIMMED LOW SLUNG GRILLE, AND EXPRESSIVE HEADLIGHTS.

CHARACTER LINES SWEEP OVER STANDARD 15 INCH ALLOY WHEELS THAT ARE PUSHED TO THE CORNERS.

REAR DOOR HANDLES HIDDEN IN THE C-PILLARS GIVE THE 5-DOOR SPARK THE APPEARANCE OF A SPORTIER 3-DOOR.

THE SLIGHTLY BULGED TAIL END DROPS OFF QUICKLY FROM OUR CAR'S HATCH TOP SPOILER.

BIG TAIL LIGHT CLUSTERS SPILL INTO THE BUMPER, WITH A INTEGRATED CHROME EXHAUST TIP COMPLETING A LOOK THAT ADDS MORE THAN A FLICKER OF MODERN STYLE TO THIS CITY CAR.

INSIDE, THAT FLARE BECOMES A FLAME, AS ITS TRENDY MOTORCYCLE INSPIRED COCKPIT REALLY SHINES WITH A HOST OF "CAN-DO'S," INCLUDING PLENTY OF LONG DISTANCE ROOM FOR TWO UP FRONT, AND ENOUGH TO SQUEEZE TWO CONSENTING ADULTS IN THE BACK.

REAR LEGROOM IS TIGHT BUT BEARABLE.

UNDER THE HATCH, THERE'S MORE SEAT-UP LUGGAGE ROOM THAN ANY OTHER MINI CAR.

AND ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO FOLD THE SPLIT SEATS DOWN CORRECTLY -- IT EVEN TOOK US A WHILE -- SPARK ACCOMMODATES 31.2 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO, ALSO THE MOST IN ITS CLASS.

2LT SEAT UPHOLSTERY IS TWO-TONED LEATHERETTE, AND FEELS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH.

DOOR AND DASH GET THE HARD PLASTIC TREATMENT WITH BODY COLOR ACCENTS.

THERE'S A NO-NONSENSE APPROACH TO CLIMATE, AND HEATED SEATS ARE AVAILABLE.

THE STRIPPED DOWN GAUGE CLUSTER AUGMENTS AN ANALOG SPEEDOMETER WITH A DIGITAL TACH AND TRIP COMPUTER SCREEN.

WE FOUND CHEVY'S MYLINK TOUCH SCREEN AUDIO SYSTEM IMPRESSIVELY EASY TO USE.

STANDARD ON ALL BUT THE BASE CAR, MYLINK ALLOWS THE USE OF POPULAR APPS LIKE PANDORA THROUGH YOUR SMARTPHONE.

WITH MORE APPS COMING, VISUAL NAVIGATION MAPS COME COURTESY OF BRING-GO FOR A ONE TIME FEE OF ONLY $50.

ALL MODELS INCLUDE SPOKEN NAVIGATION THROUGH ONSTAR.

UNDER THE TINY HOOD SITS A TINY ECOTEC 1.2-LITER I4.

RATED AT A MEAGER 84 HORSEPOWER AND 83 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, THE EMPHASIS FOR SPARK IS EFFICIENCY.

AND INDEED, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS PLACE OUR FIVE SPEED MANUAL SPARK AT 32 CITY AND 38 HIGHWAY, FOR A COMBINED 34 MPG.

THE FRONT DRIVE FOUR SPEED AUTOMATIC HAS A COMBINED OF 32.

WE ACTUALLY BEAT THE RATINGS AT 39.8 MILES PER GALLON.

AN ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 9.7 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION IS ON PAR WITH MINI CAR RIVALS, AS ARE ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF A LOW 4.3 TONS.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE SPARK DIDN'T EXACTLY LIGHT UP OUR TEST TRACK, AND CLOCKED A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 11.3 SECONDS.

THE 1/4 MILE CAME IN AT AN "ARE WE THERE YET?"

18.2 SECONDS AT 80 MILES PER HOUR, AND THAT'S WITH THE FIVE SPEED MANUAL.

ANY SHORTCOMINGS ARE EASILY FORGIVEN WITH A BASE PRICE OF JUST $12,995.

EVEN WITH ALL THE NICETIES, LIKE MYLINK, SPORT TRIM, AND HEATED SEATS, OUR 2LT SPARK RANG UP TO ONLY $15,795.

SO IS THE SPARK GOING TO SET THE CAR WORLD ABLAZE?

WELL, IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT AT THE VERY LEAST, IT SHOWS A DOMESTIC BRAND IS FINALLY GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT VERY SMALL CARS.

AND WE HOPE THAT'S ONE FIRE THAT DOESN'T GET SNUFFED OUT ANYTIME SOON.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , AS WE GET FOUR PAW POWER IN THE NEW JAGUAR XF ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THEN POUNCE ON THE CROSSOVER SEGMENT IN THE ACURA RDX.

PAT GOSS HAS NEW ADVICE ABOUT AGING TIRES.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A SMART WAY TO FEED THE METERS.

AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

Announcer: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE, VISIT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

AGED OR YELLOWED LENSES REDUCE BRIGHTNESS OF HEAD, TAIL AND DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS.

THE 3M HEADLIGHT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE LENS CLARITY FOR SAFER DRIVING.