HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE PRESENT ANNUAL DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS!
OUR BEST PICKS OF THE YEAR IN NEW CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES.
WE CERTIFY THAT PAT GOSS HAS THE BEST USED CAR ADVICE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
AND WE'LL HEAD TO A WHOLE NEW KIND OF GARAGE WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IN THIS WEEK'S FYI.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... AND THAT IS WHERE BABIES COME FROM.
DAD, I HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU DO?
DOES THE ASYMMETRICAL TREAD PATTERN OF A TIRE HAVE ANY EFFECT ON STOPPING DISTANCE?
Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.
UH... GO ASK YOUR MOTHER.
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: HERE AT MOTORWEEK , WE TEST WELL OVER 150 NEW CARS, UTILITIES, AND TRUCKS EVERY YEAR.
AND KEEPING UP WITH SUCH A VARIED LOT IS CHALLENGING, EVEN FOR US.
SO, ONCE EVERY 12 MONTHS WE PAUSE IN OUR TESTING TO HIGHLIGHT THE VEHICLES THAT WOWED US THE MOST AND AWARD OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.
NOW, SOME OF OUR WINNERS ARE VERY FUEL EFFICIENT, SOME ARE CLASSY, AND SOME ARE JUST A PURE JOY TO DRIVE.
SO LET'S GET ROLLING WITH OUR PICKS OF THE BEST CARS OF 2013.
IN THIS ERA OF FUEL ECONOMY CONSCIOUSNESS, THERE WERE NO SHORTAGE OF SMALL CARS THAT MADE THEIR WAY TO US LAST YEAR.
BUT NO SUBCOMPACT HAD ROAD MANNERS THAT IMPRESSED US MORE THAN LAST YEAR'S WINNING DUO, THE HYUNDAI ACCENT AND KIA RIO.
SURE, THEY NO LONGER CLAIM THE 40-MPGs THAT WERE FIRST PROMISED, BUT WE'RE JUST FINE WITH A FEW LESS IN A PACKAGE THAT'S AS STYLISH AND PRACTICAL AS THE ACCENT, OR AS SPORTY AS THE RIO.
SO, IT'S A REPEAT WIN FOR THE HYUNDAI ACCENT AND KIA RIO.
NEW COMPACT CAR ENTRIES WERE EVEN MORE PLENTIFUL, AND OUR TROPHY GOES TO A BRAND THAT'S BEEN OUT OF THE 4-DOOR COMPACT SEDAN SEGMENT FOR A WHILE, BUT RETURNED WITH A MIX OF ITALIAN FLAIR AND AMERICAN INGENUITY, THE DODGE DART.
AVAILABLE IN MODELS FROM MILD TO WILD, THE ALFA ROMEO BASED DODGE DART GETS OUR NOD THANKS TO ITS FUN TO DRIVE NATURE, ADVANCED POWERTRAINS THAT ARE BOTH SPIRITED AND FUEL EFFICIENT, A GORGEOUS EXTERIOR DESIGN, AND A KNOCKOUT INTERIOR WITH CHANGEABLE GAUGES AND THE LARGEST TOUCH SCREEN IN ITS CLASS.
IT'S THE FIRST ALL-NEW CHRYSLER PRODUCT DEVELOPED UNDER FIAT LEADERSHIP, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT'S COMING NEXT.
OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN WINNER IS THE SECOND GENERATION MID-SIZE FORD FUSION.
SURE, ITS ASTON MARTIN FLAVOR KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE PARK IN STYLING, BUT FUSION HITS ABOVE AVERAGE AS WELL IN HIGH TECH FEATURES, PRACTICAL COMFORT AND SPACE, AND FUEL ECONOMY WITH ALL FOUR-CYLINDER POWERTRAINS, PLUS HYBRID AND PLUG-IN MODELS.
INDEED, THE 2013 FUSION BULKED-UP BIG TIME ON DRIVER ENJOYMENT, THANKS TO AN AVAILABLE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR THE 1.6-LITER ECOBOOST ENGINE; WHICH IS ONE REALLY HOT COMBO.
THESE ARE THE DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS AFTER ALL.
MOVING ON TO BEST CONVERTIBLE, IT'S THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DROPTOP.
WHILE THE "TOUGHER" MAKEOVER DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH TO FULLY WIN OVER THOSE WITH BOTH X AND Y CHROMOSOMES, THE CONVERTIBLE BUG STILL PUT A SMILE ON OUR FACES.
AVAILABLE WITH BOTH GAS AND FUEL STINGY TURBO DIESEL POWER, THE CLOTH POWER-TOP FOLDS QUICKLY, STORING MORE COMPACTLY THAN BEFORE; GREATLY INCREASING VISIBILITY.
GOOD NEWS FOR DRIVERS WHO LIKE TO SEE WHAT'S BEHIND THEM.
AND ITS $25,000 STARTING PRICE IS EVEN BETTER NEWS FOR ANYONE WHO LIKES TO HAVE THEIR TOP DROPPED AND STILL HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT IN THE BANK.
LIKE SOME WORDS, LUXURY IS HARD TO DEFINE.
BUT LIKE SOME OTHER WORDS, WE KNOW IT WHEN WE SEE IT.
AND INCREASINGLY WE'RE SEEING TRUE LUXURY ON CARS WITH SMALLER AND SMALLER PRICE TAGS.
AND THAT'S A BIG REASON WHY OUR BEST LUXURY SEDAN AWARD GOES TO THE LEXUS ES.
NOW BASED ON THE FULL-SIZE TOYOTA AVALON CHASSIS, THE ES HAS ENOUGH INTERIOR SPACE AND UPSCALE AMENITIES TO PLEASE MOST EVERYONE.
SO, WHETHER YOU CHOOSE THE SILKY SMOOTH ES350 OR THE ECO-CONSCIOUS ES300H HYBRID, YOU'LL WANT FOR LITTLE AND DO IT WITHOUT A 6-FIGURE INVESTMENT.
YOU MIGHT THINK OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN WINNER IS A SHOCKER, BUT NOT IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE CADILLAC ATS.
ONCE YOU'VE MASTERED ITS CUTTING-EDGE CUE VOICE AND TOUCH SCREEN CONTROLLER; IF YOU KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL AND YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR, YOU'LL BE IN FOR AN AMERICAN-MADE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT'S AS CLOSE TO A CLASSIC EUROPEAN SPORTS SEDAN AS YOU CAN GET.
ADD IN GREAT STYLE, GOOD COMFORT, AND PLENTY OF OTHER HIGH-TECH GOODIES, AND THE ATS IS A MAJOR GAME CHANGER FOR CADILLAC!
DESPITE THE RETURN OF THE AFFORDABLE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SPORTS CAR AT SUBARU AND SCION, IT'S ACTUALLY A FRONT DRIVER THAT GETS OUR NOD FOR BEST SPORT COUPE, THE FIAT 500 ABARTH.
AND THAT'S BECAUSE EVEN WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, IT TACKLES THE ROAD BETTER.
THE ABARTH LOOKS MEAN, SOUNDS GREAT, AND, OF COURSE, HANDLES WAY BETTER THAN ANY OF US EXPECTED, ALL WHILE GETTING 34 MILES-PER-GALLON, OFFERING A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF STORAGE SPACE, AND COSTING A COUPLE GRAND LESS THAN THE FR-S AND BRZ.
LAST YEAR, FORD TOOK OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR PRIZE WITH THE BOSS 302 MUSTANG, AS NO OTHER CAR OFFERED MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK.
WELL, THIS YEAR, FORD ONE-UPS THEMSELVES WITH THE SHELBY GT500.
WE COULD SUM UP OUR REASONING BY JUST SAYING 662-HORSEPOWER FOR $55-GRAND, BUT THE GT500 IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
IT'S A TOTAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE BUILT FOR THE TRACK, BUT MANAGEABLE ON THE STREET.
WE FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS SHELBY AT THE FIRST TURN OF THE KEY.
CHOOSING OUR BEST ECO-FRIENDLY WINNER HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT, AS THE FIELD IS INCREASINGLY CROWDED WITH NEW EVs, HYBRIDS, PLUG-INS, AND EVEN DIESELS.
WELL, WE ALWAYS SIDE WITH CARS THAT WE ENJOY DRIVING, SO OUR PICK THIS YEAR IS THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA HYBRID.
WITH ITS 40 PLUS MILEAGE EXPECTATIONS, THIS FULL HYBRID IS THE BEST EXAMPLE OF GETTING YOUR ECO ON WHILE HAVING FUN DOING IT.
HOW CAN YOU ARGUE AGAINST A CAR WITH SPIRITED HANDLING, PLUS THE BEST ACCELERATION, MOST REAR SEAT LEGROOM, AND LARGEST TRUNK IN THE COMPACT SEDAN HYBRID CLASS?
WE NORMALLY DON'T CONSIDER FUEL ECONOMY PERFORMANCE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PRICE-IS-NO-OBJECT DREAM MACHINE CATEGORY, BUT THIS YEAR WE MADE AN EXCEPTION WITH THE TESLA MODEL S. THIS PURE EV UPSTART DELIVERS HIGH LUXURY, HIGH STYLE, AND HIGH PRACTICALITY THAT RIVALS THE WORLD'S BEST KNOWN LUXURY SEDANS.
TURNING FROM ECO-PERFORMANCE TO ALL OUT PERFORMANCE, OUR NEXT DREAM MACHINE FOR 2013 IS THE SRT VIPER.
IT'S BACK!
AND WHILE THE EXTERIOR HAS BEEN TAMED SOMEWHAT, ALL OF ITS V10 FURY REMAINS INSIDE.
AND WE DON'T JUST DREAM ABOUT CARS EITHER.
THE LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BRUTE IN A TUXEDO, BUT NOW IT'S DROPPED SOME 700 POUNDS OF WEIGHT, AND PUT ON SOME FANCIER DUDS FOR TRUE EXCEPTIONAL TOWN AND COUNTRY LIVING.
WE'LL BE BACK LATER IN THE SHOW WITH MORE DRIVERS' CHOICE AND OUR PICKS FOR BEST TRUCKS AND UTILITIES OF THE YEAR.
ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES ATTRACT AN EXCLUSIVE, YET GROWING GROUP OF BUYERS.
BUT WITH ADVANCED POWERTRAINS AND COMPLEX TECHNOLOGY, SERVICING THEM CAN BE A BURDEN... ON YOUR WALLET AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
WELL, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS FOUND A GARAGE WHERE GREEN MOTORING ISN'T JUST A SPECIALTY, IT'S A LIFESTYLE.
Yolanda Vazquez: SAN FRANCISCO IS A HOTBED FOR HYBRIDS.
IN FACT, RECENT NUMBERS SHOW IT'S ONE OF THE TOP SELLING MARKETS IN THE COUNTRY FOR HYBRID VEHICLE SALES.
WITH SO MANY CARS AND TAXI CAB FLEETS ON THE ROAD, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT BUSINESS IS BOOMING AT THIS BAY AREA GREEN GARAGE DEDICATED TO HYBRID VEHICLE REPAIRS.
Carolyn Coquillette, Owner: I HAD NO IDEA WHETHER THIS WAS GOING TO WORK, IT WAS AN EXPERIMENT.
AND IF IT WOULD SUCCEED, THEN FANTASTIC.
Yolanda: WHEN CAROLYN FIRST OPENED LUSCIOUS GARAGE IN 2007, THE IDEA OF A SHOP DEDICATED TO HYBRIDS WAS VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT.
WELL, CLEARLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE, WITH VEHICLES LIKE THESE BECOMING MORE MAINSTREAM.
OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, LUSCIOUS GARAGE HAS SEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN THEIR CUSTOMER BASE.
THANKS TO THEIR EXPERTLY TRAINED TEAM OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS, A STEADY FLOW OF WORK ORDERS, AND CONSTANT QUERIES FROM CUSTOMERS.
Carolyn: IT'S JUST THIS LITTLE BATTERY, AND THAT'S THE WHOLE ISSUE.
ITS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A TRADITIONAL CRANKING BATTERY, BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T CRANK.
Yolanda: WHILE SHE'S PLEASED WITH THE SERVICES HER GARAGE OFFERS, AND THE POSITIVE REPUTATION THEY'VE BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY, COQUILLETTE IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE UNIQUE REPAIR SPACE SHE'S CREATED.
ONE THAT INCORPORATES GREEN BUSINESS PRACTICES AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PHILOSOPHIES.
Carolyn: WE LIKE TO THINK THAT WE'VE DONE THE SAME THING TO THE AUTO REPAIR SYSTEM AS THE HYBRID HAS DONE TO REGULAR CARS.
AND THAT'S BEING GREEN, HIGH TECH, AND CUTTING EDGE.
Yolanda: FOR STARTERS, LUSCIOUS GARAGE IS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING WITH A WOOD BARREL ROOF AND EXPOSED BEAMS.
THE WAITING AREA IS MORE LOUNGE LIKE WITH COZY SEATS AND A FREE WiFi CONNECTION.
TO CONSERVE ENERGY, LIGHTS ARE ONLY TURNED ON WHEN THEY SERVE A PURPOSE.
Carolyn: WE ACTUALLY HAVE ALL THESE LIGHTS ON SOLAR SENSORS THAT YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE FROM UP HERE, BUT ONE OF THESE SKYLIGHTS HAS A SOLAR SENSOR THAT ACTUALLY WILL CONTROL WHEN THE LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF ACCORDING TO AMBIENT LIGHT.
SO THE LIGHT'S DON'T HAVE TO BE ON IF WE DON'T NEED THEM.
Yolanda: LARGE GREEN PLANTS ARE SCATTERED ABOUT TO HELP FILTER THE AIR, AND THIS 3,000 GALLON TANK HARVESTS RAIN WATER FROM THE ROOF.
THIS HELPS REDUCE FRESH WATER CONSUMPTION.
RECYCLE BINS FOR ALL KINDS OF MATERIALS ARE IN CONSTANT USE, AND AS CAROLYN SHOWS ME... Carolyn: SO HERE THEY'RE SAYING ITS ECO-POWER, ECO-FRIENDLY MOTOR OIL.
BUT ITS ENTIRELY THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WE REQUIRE FOR THESE CARS.
IT'S VERY HARD TO HAVE A CONSUMER BASED ECONOMY AND YET NOT HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE TAKEN THE APPROACH OF WE'RE NOT SAYING WE'RE GREEN, PER SAY, WE'RE REALLY LESS BROWN.
THE IDEA IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CONSTANTLY DO THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN.
Yolanda: AND INSTEAD OF THE TRADITIONAL SERVICE ADVISOR SETUP, CUSTOMERS TALK DIRECTLY TO THEIR TECHNICIANS ABOUT REPAIRS.
Carolyn: IT'S A MUCH MORE COOPERATIVE THING, WHERE YOU ACTUALLY GET TO SEE YOUR WORK ORDER AND ANY INFORMATION WE'VE GATHERED ON IT.
Yolanda: IT ALSO CONTAINS A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE CAR'S SERVICE RECORDS FOR REVIEW, AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULER, AND A NOVEL WAY TO PAY YOUR BILL... YOU SIMPLY SIGN AND TAKE A PICTURE AS PROOF.
IT WILL THEN BE EMAILED TO YOU, NOT PRINTED OUT, THEREBY REDUCING THE USE OF PAPER BY THE SHOP.
Mark Duro, Customer: IT'S FUNNY, I KIND OF CONSIDER LUSCIOUS AS MUCH OF A TECH KIND OF FOCUSED BUSINESS AS IT IS ENVIRONMENTAL BUSINESS.
Yolanda: CUSTOMERS LIKE MARK DURO APPRECIATE THE INVITING ATMOSPHERE AND TOP NOTCH SERVICE THEY PROVIDED FOR HIS 2008 PRIUS.
Mark: I'VE HAD GOOD AND BAD EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH VARIOUS MECHANICS, BUT REALLY NEVER HAVE I HAD ONE WHERE OVER SUCH A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S BEEN SO CONSISTENTLY GOOD.
Yolanda: SHE'S HOPES OTHERS WILL EMBRACE HER NEW KIND OF REPAIR SHOP CULTURE AND IMPLEMENT SOME GREEN CHANGES ALONG THE WAY.
Carolyn: AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE INCREASED TRANSPARENCY, REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT -- IN GENERAL, JUST ETHICS THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY.
AND WE WANT TO DO THAT WITH THE CARROT, RIGHT?
WE'RE TRYING TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS THAT EVERYONE ELSE IS GOING TO WANT TO EMULATE.
THAT'S REALLY THE GOAL.
TIME NOW TO HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT WARNS US TO READ THE FINE PRINT ON THAT TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE CERTIFIED USED CAR.
Pat Goss: BUYING A USED CAR THESE DAYS IS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT USED TO BE FEW YEARS AGO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL OF IS BUYING A USED CAR FROM AN INDIVIDUAL.
THAT IS NOT A SMART THING TO DO IN A LOT OF CASES.
WELL, LET'S SAY YOU DECIDE TO BUY FROM A LICENSED DEALER, THAT MEANS THAT ONCE YOU GET TO A DEALERSHIP, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BE FACED WITH A DECISION TO BUY A CPO, THAT'S A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED CAR, OR A NON-CPO CAR.
NOW, THERE'S SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK.
NUMBER ONE, WHO IS CERTIFYING THE CAR?
IS IT THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER OR IS IT THE DEALERSHIP?
IF IT'S THE DEALERSHIP, YOU MAY BE GETTING NOTHING AT ALL, OTHER THAN THE WORD CERTIFIED.
THE MANUFACTURER, IN MOST CASES, HAS A LONG CHECK LIST, OFTEN 150 TO 200 ITEMS ON THE CAR THAT'S GOING TO BE CHECKED, AND HAS TO BE SIGNED OFF BY A TECHNICIAN WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
THEY'RE GOING TO CHECK ALL THE STUFF UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR THAT AFFECTS RELIABILITY AND THE WAY THE CAR PERFORMS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO RAISE THE CAR UP IN THE AIR; THEY'RE GOING TO CHECK BRAKES, AND TIRES, EXHAUST, AND SUSPENSION, AND STEERING.
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT CAN AND DO WEAR OUT ON A CAR.
THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO CHECK THE ACCESSORIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THE POWER SEATS WORK, AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS.
ONCE ALL OF THIS IS DONE, THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CERTIFICATION FOR THAT CAR.
AND THAT'S WHERE YOU HAVE TO DO SOME COMPARISON SHOPPING.
WHAT ARE YOU GETTING?
AND HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING FOR WHAT YOU'RE GETTING IN THAT CERTIFICATION?
IT MIGHT MAKE SENSE IN SOME CASES WHERE THE CERTIFIED CAR COSTS ENOUGH EXTRA THAT YOU COULD BUY A NON-CERTIFIED ONE THAT HAS A WARRANTY ON IT, AND BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY.
SO YOU HAVE TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND YOU HAVE TO SHOP.
BUT, KEEP IN MIND THAT MANUFACTURERS CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLES ARE OFTEN ONE OF YOUR BETTER CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING A USED CAR.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
John: OVER THE YEARS, THE DUTY AND DEFINITION OF THE WORD "TRUCK" HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
NO LONGER CONSIDERED PURELY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, TODAY'S TRUCKS; PICKUPS, SUVS, AND CROSSOVERS; DO A LOT MORE FAMILY HAULING THAN THEY DO HEAVY HAULING.
SO LETS SEE WHICH "TRUCKS" ARE OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE PICKS FOR THE BEST OF 2013.
INDEED, TODAY'S TRUCKS AND UTILITIES ARE ALL ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES GET THROUGH THEIR WEEKLY TASKS AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN HAVING WHAT IT TAKES TO DELIVER FUN ADVENTURES ON THE WEEKEND.
AND FOR SMALL FAMILIES, NONE DOES IT BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL SMALL CROSSOVER, THE TOYOTA RAV4.
THE ALL-NEW 2013 EDITION IS THE 4TH GENERATION OF THE RAV.
AND WHILE ITS EXTERIOR MAY HAVE GOTTEN A BIT SMALLER, MOSTLY FROM THE RELOCATION OF THE SPARE TIRE FROM OUTSIDE TO INSIDE, INTERIOR ROOM IS UP; INCLUDING CLASS BEST MAXIMUM CARGO ROOM.
BESIDES MORE SPACE, THE INTERIOR IS FAR MORE LUXURIOUS AND TECH-SAVVY.
GONE TOO IS THE PREVIOUS GEN'S DOUR LOOKING SHEET-METAL, REPLACED BY A MUCH MORE VIBRANT LOOKING DESIGN THAT MATCHES ITS MORE DYNAMIC DRIVING CHARACTER.
FOR EVEN MORE EVIDENCE OF THAT SHIFT TO INCREASED COMFORT AND LUXURY, LOOK NO FARTHER THAN OUR BEST LARGE UTILITY, THE NISSAN PATHFINDER.
WHILE THE PREVIOUS GENERATION BOASTED A FULL FRAME AND OPTIONAL V8 WITH BEST IN CLASS TOWING, THE NEW PATHFINDER CASTS ALL OF THAT ASIDE FOR A UNIBODY CHASSIS AND V6-ONLY POWER.
BUT THAT'S OKAY BY US AS IT REMAINS PLENTY CAPABLE OFF-ROAD AND CAN STILL TOW 5,000 POUNDS.
AND OF COURSE YOU CAN RATCHET THE LUXURY FACTOR UP TO THE HILT BY UPGRADING TO ITS KIN, THE INFINITI JX.
NOT ONLY WILL YOU TRAVEL IN A DOWNRIGHT PLUSH ENVIRONMENT, BUT DO SO IN A BOLD BUT RICHER EXTERIOR DESIGN, WITH A RIDE THAT'S AS SMOOTH AS YOU'LL FIND IN THE CROSSOVER RANKS, MAKING THIS AMERICAN-MADE PAIR AN EASY WINNING HAND.
PERHAPS THE BIGGEST SURPRISE OF THE TRUCK YEAR IS THE EMERGENCE OF OUR BEST PICKUP TRUCK WINNER, THE RAM 1500, AS A FUEL-ECONOMY TRENDSETTER AMONG FULL-SIZE HAULERS.
RAM DESIGNERS RECOGNIZED THAT WHILE PICKUP SALES REMAIN STRONG, BUYERS WANT MORE OPTIONS TO SAVE ON GAS.
THE RAM 1500 GIVES IT TO THEM WITH AN ULTRA-MODERN V6, BACKED BY THE FIRST 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC IN A FULL-SIZE TRUCK.
ITS 305-HORSEPOWER IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO HANDLE MOST FAMILY HAULING DUTIES, INCLUDING TOWING 6,500 POUNDS.
AND IF YOU NEED MORE TOW -- TWO V8s, INCLUDING A HEMI, ARE STILL AVAILABLE.
RAM'S NEW GUTS ARE JOINED BY THE GLORY OF A HANDSOMELY RUGGED EXTERIOR FACELIFT, AND A COMPLETE OVERHAUL IN TRUCK INTERIOR DESIGN THAT PROVIDES A NEW BENCHMARK FOR PRACTICAL COMFORT.
HUGE CONTROLS, AND THE BIGGEST FACTORY NAV SCREEN GOING, MAKE THIS "BIG" TRUCK AND BIG WINNER IN OUR BOOK.
SO WHILE KINDER AND GENTLER MAY BE THE NEW NORMS FOR TRUCKS, THESE HAULING WINNERS STILL DELIVER THE GOODS.
STAY TUNED FOR OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!
NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF YEAR IT IS, WE ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING NEW TO DRIVE ON OUR LOT.
SO LET'S GRAB A FEW FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON THIS WEEK'S CAR KEYS.
A LONGTIME SALES LEADER FOR THE BRAND, THE 2014 ITERATION OF THE SUBARU FORESTER AIMS ABOVE AND BEYOND ITS CROSSOVER RIVALS, HOPING TO BE THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE CAR-LIKE CROSSOVER SEGMENT IT HELPED PIONEER.
HITTING A GROWTH SPURT IN ITS FOURTH GENERATION, THE ALL-NEW FORESTER GROWS ALMOST EVERYWHERE, MAKING IT QUITE LARGE BY COMPACT CROSSOVER STANDARDS.
WHILE SIZE ADDS WEIGHT, IT ALSO MEANS MORE CARGO ROOM AND PASSENGER COMFORT.
REAR SEAT LEGROOM JUMPS NEARLY FOUR INCHES!
NO WORRY IF YOU MISS CALLING SHOTGUN.
THE CARRYOVER 2.5-LITER, 4-CYLINDER BOXER STILL SERVES AS BASE ENGINE, RATED AT 170 HORSEPOWER.
BASE TRANSMISSION IS AN ALL-NEW SIX SPEED MANUAL, THOUGH A CVT AUTOMATIC REPLACES LAST YEAR'S 4-SPEED.
MORE EXCITING, AND ALSO ALL-NEW, IS THE FORESTER XT'S 2.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED BOXER 4, PUMPING OUT 250 HORSEPOWER, AND MATED TO A HIGH TORQUE PADDLE SHIFT CVT.
DESPITE ADDED SIZE, WEIGHT AND STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THE CVT HELPS PUSH FORESTER FUEL ECONOMY TO THE HEAD OF ITS CLASS.
ESTIMATES ARE 27-COMBINED MPG WITH THE 2.5-LITER AND 25-COMBINED MPG FOR THE TURBO XT.
A NEW "X-MODE" WITH HILL DESCENT CONTROL AIDS SUBARU'S ALREADY IMPRESSIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM ON HIGH END CVT MODELS, PROVIDING ENGINE, THROTTLE, BRAKE, AND TRANSMISSION MANAGEMENT IN LOW SPEED, LOW TRACTION DRIVING.
THE LOOK OF THE FORESTER IS MORE OF THE SAME, THOUGH SUBTLE CHANGES ABOUND.
A SLEEKER PROFILE FOR AERODYNAMICS, UNIQUE FRONT FASCIA AND REAR CLADDING FOR THE XT, AND STYLING CUES THROUGHOUT BOTH MODELS KEEP THINGS FRESH.
INTERIOR DESIGN CONTINUES IN A NO NONSENSE FASHION, THOUGH THE ADDITION OF A DASH MOUNTED INFO SCREEN ABOVE THE CENTER STACK IS A WELCOMED TOUCH.
ON SALE LATER THIS SPRING, THE 2014 SUBARU FORESTER STARTS AROUND $23,000, WITH THE TURBOCHARGED XT AROUND $29,000.
AND WE'LL GET BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!
WELL, YOU'VE SEEN OUR BEST CARS AND TRUCKS OF THE YEAR, SO YOU MIGHT THINK WE'RE DONE DOLING OUT THE TROPHIES.
BUT YOU'RE WRONG.
THERE'S STILL ONE MORE TO GO... OUR 2013 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!
THE 2013 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST OF THE YEAR GOES TO THE MOST IMPRESSIVE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN EVER TO WEAR AN AMERICAN BRAND NAME, THE 2013 CADILLAC ATS.
THE ATS NOT ONLY TAKES ON ESTABLISHED SEGMENT LEADERS LIKE THE BENCHMARK BMW 3 SERIES, BUT DOES SO WITH TOTAL COMPETENCE.
WE CANNOT OVERSTATE JUST HOW REFRESHING IT IS TO SEE A DOMESTIC AUTOMAKER BUILD A SMALL, REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT SEDAN WITH PERFORMANCE AS ITS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
YET, YOU CAN ALSO LABEL THE ATS COMFORTABLE AND PRACTICAL.
AND THIS LANSING, MICHIGAN ASSEMBLED SPORT SEDAN IS ALMOST BARGAIN PRICED.
WEIGHING IN AT JUST 3,400 POUNDS WITH NEAR 50/50 WEIGHT BALANCE ON A CONCISE 109-INCH WHEELBASE, THE ATS DRIVES LIKE WAS BRED FOR TIGHT, HIGH SPEED CURVES.
AND IT WAS.
NOT THAT IT FALLS SHORT WHEN IT COMES TO CIVILITY AND LIVABILITY.
THERE'S PLENTY OF SEAT COMFORT AND LOTS OF HIGH TECH AS WELL, INCLUDING THE NEW CUE SYSTEM THAT USES A CAPTIVE TOUCH TABLET-STYLE INTERFACE AND NATURAL VOICE RECOGNITION.
THERE'S ALSO POWERTRAIN CHOICES TO PLEASE ALL COMERS.
STARTING WITH A 200-HORSEPOWER 2.5-LITER I4 AND ENDING AT A 320-HORSEPOWER 3.6-LITER V6; WITH OUR FAVORITE, THE 272-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO, IN BETWEEN.
BOTH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND 6-SPEED MANUAL ARE AVAILABLE.
AND YOU CAN EVEN GET ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED.
AND IT'S ALL WRAPPED IN MODERN LOOKING SHEET METAL THAT SMOOTHES OUT THE ART AND SCIENCE DESIGN THEME, YET LOOKS EVER MORE AGGRESSIVE.
THE ATS IS A CAR THAT ONCE AND FOR ALL PUTS TO REST ANY QUESTION ABOUT CADILLAC STANDING ON A WORLD STAGE.
WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING A PURE DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH THAT ULTRA-CONNECTED FEEL WE COVET SO HIGHLY, THE ATS DOES MORE THAN JUST TAKE THE CHECKERED FLAG, IT PUTS MOST OF THE COMPETITION A LAP DOWN.
AND THAT'S WHY WE CHOSE THE CADILLAC ATS AS THE 2013 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS BEST OF THE YEAR.
WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL SNAKE AROUND ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY IN THE AWESOME SRT VIPER.
AND THEN WE'LL FIND OUR WAY HOME IN THE NISSAN PATHFINDER.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.
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