2014 Lexus IS & 2013 Honda Civic

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

JOIN US AS WE SEE IF LEXUS HAS FINALLY ACHIEVED SPORTS SEDAN NIRVANA WITH THE ALL-NEW IS.

PAT GOSS UPGRADES OUR OUTPUT KNOW-HOW DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS THE LOWDOWN ON HOW TO REALLY SAVE ON CAR INSURANCE.

AND WE GIVE THE RE-REDESIGNED HONDA CIVIC ONE MORE SHOT.

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: IN THE WORLD OF SPORT SEDANS, THE LEXUS IS TENDS TO GET OVERLOOKED.

AND IT'S NOT LIKE IT HASN'T TRIED, WITH THE TOP IS-F MODEL GETTING NEAR UNIVERSAL PRAISE.

IT SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A BRAND THING; UPSCALE BUYERS SEE LEXUS AS FAR MORE COMFORT THAN CORNERING.

BUT WITH DYNAMIC NEW ENTRIES LIKE THE CADILLAC ATS GETTING GOOD NOTICES, LEXUS HAD TO DO SOMETHING.

SO THE 3RD GENERATION IS HAD BETTER BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

THE 2014 LEXUS IS IS EASILY RECOGNIZED AS A NEW-GEN LEXUS, FULLY TAKING ON THE BIG MOUTH, WIDE STANCE, AND DYNAMIC HIGH-SHOULDERED LOOK OF ITS LARGER GS AND LS KIN.

THE NEW IS COMES IN BOTH 250 AND 350 MODELS, WITH BOTH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND F-SPORT VERSIONS OF BOTH OBTAINABLE.

WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME IN A 250 AWD.

THE 250 NOMENCLATURE IS INDICATIVE OF THE 2.5-LITER ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD, WHICH IS THE SMALLER OF THE TWO V6s AVAILABLE.

IT CARRIES OVER UNCHANGED FROM LAST YEAR OUTPUTTING THE SAME 204-HP AND 185 LB-FT. OF TORQUE AND SENDING POWER THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH MANUAL SHIFTING AND A REV-MATCHING SPORT MODE.

THE 350'S 3.5-LITER V6 IS ALSO CARRYOVER, DELIVERING 306-HORSEPOWER AND 277 LB-FT. OF TORQUE; ONLY NOW IT ATTACHES TO A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

WELL, THE IS HAS CLEARLY GOTTEN BIGGER.

WHEELBASE IS UP ALMOST THREE INCHES, WHILE OVERALL LENGTH GROWS MORE THAN THREE.

IT'S ALSO WIDER, A BIT TALLER, AND IT'S WRAPPED IN SOME GREAT LOOKING NEW SHEET METAL.

SHOCK-AND-AWE SEEMS THE THEME, AS THE NEW IS TAKES AN EVEN MORE AGGRESSIVE TURN, SPORTING ITS OWN UNIQUE TAKE ON THE NOW FAMILIAR LEXUS SPINDLE GRILLE.

FOG LAMPS ARE STANDARD ON ALL BUT F-SPORT MODELS, WHICH DROP THEM IN FAVOR OF AIR INTAKES FOR BRAKE COOLING DUCTS.

FROM THERE, SHARP BODYLINES HIGHLIGHT THE WHEEL ARCHES AND RISE TO REAFFIRM THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE PROPORTIONS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF AERO TREATMENTS THROUGHOUT, HELPING THE IS CUT THROUGH THE AIR BETTER THAN LEXUS LFA SUPERCAR.

THE CABIN IS SET BACK, FURTHER ACCENTUATING THE LONG HOOD.

17-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, WITH THREE TAKES ON 18s AVAILABLE.

F-SPORT MODELS DON AN EVEN MORE HOSTILE MAKEOVER WITH AN EXTRA AGGRESSIVE CHAIN-MAIL GRILLE INSERT, AND OF COURSE BADGING TO SET THEM APART.

THERE'S A STIFFER STRUCTURE LYING UNDERNEATH ALL ISs, WITH ADDITIONAL BRACING AND REVISED PLATFORMS FOR MOUNTING THE ALL INDEPENDENT FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSIONS.

THE REAR GOT EXTRA ATTENTION WITH A NEW MULTI-LINK DESIGN THAT BOTH IMPROVES PACKAGING FOR MORE TRUNK SPACE AND INCREASES CORNERING GRIP, WHICH SHOULD TRANSLATE INTO A MORE REWARDING EXPERIENCE WHERE IT MATTERS MOST, ON THE TRACK.

AND WE GOT A CHANCE TO SAMPLE THE FULL LINE-UP OF ISs AT DRIVEWAY AUSTIN IN TEXAS.

WEIGHT IS STILL UP THERE, AROUND 4,700 POUNDS DEPENDING ON MODEL, AND A GOOD PORTION OF THAT STILL SEEMS TO REST OVER THE FRONT WHEELS, BUT OVERALL, DYNAMICS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED.

Ben Davis: ALL THE WORK THEY'VE DONE TO ADD RIGIDITY TO THE BODY REALLY PAYS OFF ON THE TRACK.

TURN-INS ARE LIGHTNING CRISP, EXCELLENT FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FLEX, BACK-END FOLLOWS THROUGH BEAUTIFULLY.

THIS CAR IS SUCH A BLAST TO DRIVE ON THE TRACK.

AND THE FASTER YOU GO, THE BETTER IT GETS.

John: AND OF COURSE INTERIORS DON'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN LEXUS EITHER, THOUGH THE IS BRINGS A MORE COCKPIT APPROACH TO THE LINE-UP WITH THE CENTER CONSOLE RISING HIGH TO MEET THE VERY HORIZONTAL DASH.

MATERIALS ARE ALL FIRST-RATE OF COURSE; THERE ARE SELECTABLE DRIVING MODES, LANE DEPARTURE WARNINGS, AND TRAFFIC AND WEATHER INFORMATION THAT ARE SUBSCRIPTION FREE.

LEXUS'S REMOTE TOUCH CONTROLLER IS AVAILABLE FOR MANAGING THE STANDARD DASH-TOP 7-INCH DISPLAY, AND THERE'S ALSO A 4.2-INCH TFT SCREEN IN THE I.P.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

F-SPORT MODELS ADD THEIR OWN UNIQUE GAUGE PACKAGE INSPIRED BY THE LFA.

FRONT SEATS FEATURE PERFORATED LEATHER AND GOOD SUPPORT, WHILE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS BENEFIT MOST FROM THE ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE AS LEG ROOM IS UP BY OVER AN INCH-AND-A-HALF.

TRUNK SPACE IS UP AS WELL, WITH ROOM FOR 13.8 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS HAVEN'T BEEN FINALIZED, BUT EXPECT THEM TO RANGE FROM 21-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED FOR THE 250, TO 19-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, 22-COMBINED FOR THE 350.

NOR HAS PRICING BEEN SET JUST YET, BUT WE DON'T EXPECT THEM TO INCREASE MUCH OVER THE CURRENT MODELS, WHICH WOULD PUT THE STARTING FIGURES RIGHT AROUND $36,000 FOR THE IS 250 AND AROUND $41,000 FOR THE IS 350.

THE BATTLE IN THE COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN ARENA HAS HEATED UP RECENTLY AS NEW ENTRIES ARE REALLY TAKING AIM AT TRADITIONAL CLASS STANDOUTS LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES.

SO, HOW DOES THE 2014 LEXUS IS FIT IN?

AND IS IT INDEED SPECIAL?

WELL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE ULTIMATE TRACK WEAPON, QUIET SIMPLY, THE IS FALLS SHORT; THOUGH IT HAS BEEN GREATLY IMPROVED IN THIS AREA.

IF, ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A HIGHLY CAPABLE HAULER THAT WILL ALSO CODDLE YOU IN LEXUS LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY, THEN YOU'LL FIND THE NEW IS TO BE VERY SPECIAL INDEED.

WITH GAS PRICES ON THE RISE, NOT TO MENTION REGISTRATION FEES, AND THE PRICE OF VEHICLES THEMSELVES, VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IS TRYING TO CONTAIN THE COST OF DRIVING.

AND OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS CERTAINLY NO DIFFERENT.

SO SHE DID A LITTLE RESEARCH INTO ANOTHER KEY OPERATING COST, INSURANCE.

AND WHAT SHE FOUND COULD HELP KEEP THOSE PREMIUMS FROM BREAKING YOUR BANK.

* LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR STATE FARM IS THERE * Yolanda: WE'VE ALL SEEN THE COMMERCIALS ABOUT WAYS TO LOWER YOUR CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

YOU'RE GOOD.

Yolanda: MOST ARE PRETTY CLEVER AND WORTHY OF A FEW CHUCKLES.

BUT THEY DO POSE A VALID QUESTION: ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR CAR INSURANCE?

Renita Prevot: IN THIS DAY AND AGE, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO SAVE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN ON CAR INSURANCE, AND OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM WITH THAT.

Yolanda: STATE FARM AGENT RENITA PREVOT SAYS BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO COMPARISON SHOP, YOU SHOULD FIRST REVIEW YOUR POLICY WITH YOUR CURRENT INSURER.

ONCE YOU DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF COVERAGE YOU NEED, ASK ABOUT A HIGHER DEDUCTIBLE.

Renita: I TELL YOU, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT DEDUCTIBLES, IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE; WHAT ARE YOU COMFORTABLE TAKING OUT OF YOUR POCKET SHOULD YOU HAVE A CLAIM?

Yolanda: THIS FIRST COST-SAVING TIP IS LIKELY TO LOWER YOUR RATE.

IN FACT, THE INSURANCE INFORMATION INSTITUTE SAYS INCREASING YOUR DEDUCTIBLE FROM $250 TO $500 COULD REDUCE YOUR PREMIUM BY 15% TO 30%.

AND UPPING IT TO $1,000 COULD SAVE YOU 40% OR MORE.

THE SECOND COST-SAVING TIP IS TO GET RID OF ANY UNNECESSARY COVERAGE.

IF YOU HAVE AN AGING VEHICLE WITH NO LIENHOLDER, PREVOT SAYS YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER TAKING COMPREHENSIVE AND/OR COLLISION COVERAGE OFF YOUR CAR.

Renita: WHAT I TELL PEOPLE IS TO LOOK AND SEE WHAT IS THE VALUE, OR WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR CAR IS WORTH.

Yolanda: AS A GENERAL RULE, IT'S NOT COST EFFECTIVE TO KEEP COMP AND COLLISION IF YOUR CAR IS WORTH LESS THAN A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS.

YOU CAN CHECK WITH NADA GUIDES OR KELLEY BLUE BOOK TO DETERMINE YOUR CAR'S CURRENT VALUE.

THE THIRD COST SAVING TIP IS TO DO A DISCOUNT DOUBLE-CHECK.

SOME CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES, LIKE STATE FARM, OFFER DISCOUNTS TO DRIVERS WHO PUT FEWER THAN A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF MILES ON THEIR VEHICLE EACH YEAR.

SO ASK ABOUT A LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNT.

AND THEN THERE'S MULTI-LINE DISCOUNTS -- IF YOU HAVE OTHER TYPES OF INSURANCE WITH YOUR COMPANY.

AND DON'T FORGET ABOUT GOOD STUDENT AND GOOD DRIVER DISCOUNTS.

BEING ACCIDENT FREE LIKE ME COULD SAVE YOU MONEY.

WHILE A GOOD DRIVING RECORD IS IMPORTANT, SO IS BEING SAFE ON THE ROADS.

Kent Krabbe: OBEY THE LAWS, DRIVE SAFELY, DON'T BE AGGRESSIVE, DON'T TEXT AND DRIVE, DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE OBVIOUSLY.

Yolanda: KENT KRABBE, EXEC.

DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE FUND, SAYS ACCIDENTS ARE THE BIGGEST SINGLE CONTRIBUTOR TO HIGH INSURANCE PREMIUMS.

Kent: SO BE SAFE ON THE ROADWAYS.

Yolanda: HE ALSO RECOMMENDS RESEARCHING AUTO RATES ON A PARTICULAR CAR BEFORE YOU BUY AND CHECK TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY DISCOUNTS FOR CERTAIN SAFETY FEATURES OR ANTI-THEFT DEVICES LIKE CAR ALARMS OR ELECTRONIC TRACKING SYSTEMS.

Kent: MANY INSURERS GIVE DISCOUNTS FOR HIGHLY RATED, SAFE VEHICLES, AND ALSO SOMETIMES MORE COSTLY TO INSURE VEHICLES MORE PRONE TO THEFT.

Yolanda: AND IF YOU STILL FEEL LIKE SHOPPING AROUND, HERE'S TIP NUMBER FOUR: GET AT LEAST THREE QUOTES, BUT DON'T SHOP ON PRICE ALONE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THE COMPANY'S REPUTATION, CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RELIABILITY.

Renita: IT'S NOT NECESSARILY ABOUT BEING CHEAPER AND LOWER, IT'S ABOUT HAVE YOU GOT THE RIGHT COVERAGE -- ARE THEY GOING TO BE AROUND WHEN YOU MAKE THE CLAIM?

BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT YOU ARE PURCHASING WHEN YOU'RE BUYING AUTO INSURANCE.

WHOOPSIES.

Yolanda: SO WHILE THESE CATCHY COMMERCIALS MAY LURE YOU IN, DO YOUR HOMEWORK TO MAKE SURE SAVING A FEW BUCKS WON'T COST YOU IN THE END.

John: PERFORMANCE UPGRADES CAN BE TEMPTING.

AFTER ALL, WHO DOESN'T WANT MORE POWER?

SO LET'S CHECK IN WITH PAT GOSS TO SEE IF IT'S THE RIGHT MOVE FOR YOU.

Pat Goss: IT SEEMS THAT EVERYBODY WANTS A COMBINATION OF BETTER PERFORMANCE AND MORE MILES PER GALLON.

WELL, MANUFACTURERS CAN DO THIS BY REDESIGNING THE ENTIRE VEHICLE.

BUT CAN YOU DO IT AS AN ADD-ON?

WELL, YES AND NO.

YOU SEE, FIRST WE'VE STARTED WITH THIS TOYOTA FJ CRUISER, AND WE WANTED TO DO TWO OF THE MOST COMMON MODIFICATIONS THAT PEOPLE DO.

WE PUT A COLD AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM ON IT AND A CAT-BACK EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NOW, DO THEY IMPROVE FUEL ECONOMY?

WELL, YEA, BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST THAT.

FIRST, WHAT ABOUT THE MODIFICATIONS THEMSELVES?

WELL, WE CHOSE TOYOTA -- AND ALL MANUFACTURERS HAVE A LINE LIKE THIS -- BECAUSE I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I DIDN'T GO AFOUL OF EMISSIONS LAWS, WE WANTED THINGS TO FIT, AND DIDN'T WANT TO DAMAGE ANYTHING ON THE VEHICLE.

ALRIGHT, SO, WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY STUFF.

WE SPENT ROUGHLY $1,500 -- IF YOU INCLUDE THE NORMAL LABOR TO INSTALL THE PARTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND BEFORE WE DID THIS, WE DROVE IT FOR 5,000 MILES TO ESTABLISH A BASELINE MILES PER GALLON.

IT WAS 20.7 MILES PER GALLON.

AFTER IT, ANOTHER 5,000 MILES UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES AND WE GOT 21.1 MILES PER GALLON.

FOUR TENTHS OF ONE MILE PER GALLON INCREASE.

NOW, YOU WOULD SAY, "WELL, I'M GOING TO BE SAVING MONEY."

WELL, NO, YOU'RE NOT.

FIRST, WE HAVE TO PAY BACK ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE PUT INTO THE MODIFICATIONS.

THAT'S GOING TO TAKE 46K, 47,000 MILES BEFORE WE EVER SAVE THE FIRST PENNY.

SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT PART OF IT.

THE SECOND THING IS, DID IT IMPROVE PERFORMANCE?

WELL, YEA, BUT WE COULDN'T MEASURE IT ON A STOP WATCH.

BUT IT DOES FEEL MORE RESPONSIVE.

BUT HERE'S THE RUB ON THAT: U CANNOT PRODUCE MORE HORSEPOWER AND USE THAT HORSEPOWER WITHOUT BURNING MORE FUEL.

SO, YOU CAN DRIVE IT NORMALLY, YOU'LL GET A LITTLE BIT BETTER MILES PER GALLON.

USE THE EXTRA POWER AND YOU'RE GOING TO GET LESS MILES PER GALLON.

THERE'S NO WAY TO PRODUCE POWER WITHOUT BURNING FUEL.

SO YOU HAVE TO FACTOR THESE THINGS IN.

IS IT A FEEL-GOOD CONVERSION?

YEA, IT IS.

THAT MUCH I CAN TELL YOU.

BUT DO THE MATH BEFORE YOU SPEND THE MONEY.

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

John: FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE KEY.

SO LET'S GRAB SOME KEYS AND SEE WHAT WE THINK.

WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT PONY CARS WARS WITH THE MUSTANG AND CAMARO CONSTANTLY TRYING TO OUTDO EACH OTHER IN PERFORMANCE.

BUT THAT BATTLE PALES IN SIGNIFICANCE TO THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK WARS WHERE HEAVY HAULERS DUKE IT OUT FOR AN EVER BIGGER SLICE OF AMERICA'S MOST POPULAR VEHICLE SEGMENT.

THE SALVO THIS TIME COMES FROM THE SECOND BIGGEST PROVIDER OF PICKUPS, CHEVROLET, WITH AN ALL-NEW 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO.

THIS IS TRULY A NEW GENERATION FROM THE FRAME UP, INCLUDING THREE NEW TRUCK ENGINES; A V6 AND A PAIR OF V8s.

EACH ALL-ALUMINUM "V" IS PACKED WITH CUTTING EDGE FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGY; VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, DIRECT INJECTION, AND CYLINDER CUT OFF.

THE EXPECTED VOLUME LEADER IS A 355-HORSEPOWER 5.3-LITER V8 THAT'S ALREADY CLAIMING CLASS BEST FUEL ECONOMY OF 23 MILES PER GALLON HIGHWAY WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THAT'S BETTER THAN FORD'S ECOBOOST V6 SO POPULAR IN THE F-150.

COMPARED TO THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING F-150, THE CHEVY SILVERADO APPEARS AIMED MORE AT THE WORKAHOLIC SIDE OF THE BUSINESS WITH MEANINGFUL INNOVATIONS FOR CARRYING A LOAD.

ALL REAR BUMPERS INCLUDE INTEGRATED CORNER STEPS, WITH AVAILABLE EZ LIFT TAILGATE AND BOX MOUNTED UPPER TIE DOWNS.

IN ADDITION, UNDER RAIL LED LIGHTING MAKES FOR EASY CARGO MANAGEMENT AT NIGHT.

CHEVY ALSO CLAIMS BEST IN CLASS TOW RATINGS AS WELL.

CHEVROLET HAS FOLLOWED DODGE AND TOYOTA IN MAKING THE REAR DOORS ON ITS EXTENDED CAB OPEN CAR LIKE, WHILE ALSO ADDING MORE INTERIOR ROOM.

CREW CABS ALSO GAIN EXTRA INTERIOR SPACE AND THE OPTION OF A LONGER 6 FOOT-6 CARGO BOX.

BOTH THE EVOLUTIONARY EXTERIOR AND ALL-NEW INTERIOR SHARE A BRUTISH, BLOCKY SHAPE THAT LOOKS ESPECIALLY MENACING WHEN SEEN IN A REAR VIEW MIRROR.

A SIX GAUGE CLUSTER, INFO SCREENS, AND BIG CONTROLS DOMINATE THE UPSCALE INTERIOR.

YOU SIT HIGH, WIDE, AND HANDSOME IN THESE NEW BRUTES.

ALL OF GM'S LATEST CONNECTIVITY IS AVAILABLE, INCLUDING VOICE RECOGNITION AND BLUETOOTH APPS INTEGRATION.

BOTH MANUAL AND AUTOTRAC 4X4 SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE ALONG WITH THE Z71 OFF-ROAD PACKAGE AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL.

THE 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO, ALONG WITH ITS KIN, THE GMC SIERRA, GO ON SALE LATER THIS SPRING STARTING AT AROUND $25,000 AND UP.

IT'S HARD NOT TO LOVE THE TINY BUT CAPABLE FIAT 500, OR CINQUECENTO AS IT'S KNOWN; AND HAS TRANSLATED INTO QUITE A FEW SALES FOR THE RETURNING BRAND.

BUT THE LINEUP IS GETTING CROWDED, WITH PERFORMANCE UPGRADES PLUS CABRIO JOSTLING FOR LOT SPACE.

AND NOW THERE'S ONE MORE, THE VERY DIFFERENT, 2013 FIAT 500E.

THAT'S "E" AS IN EV.

THIS FULLY ELECTRIC PLUG-IN 500 WILL NO DOUBT RELY ON ITS STYLISH REPUTATION TO CHARGE UP THE EV MARKET WITH AN OFFERING BUYERS WILL ACTUALLY WANT TO BE SEEN IN.

VERY FEW CHANGES FROM A STANDARD 500 ARE APPARENT, THOUGH THE "E" DOES TACK ON AERO ACCENTS, UNIQUE WHEELS, AND AN AVAILABLE ELECTRIC ORANGE COLOR SCHEME.

THE INTERIOR IS A BIGGER DEPARTURE THOUGH; STILL STYLISH AND VERY MODERN, BUT UNIQUE TO THE 500E.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE A 7-INCH TFT DISPLAY GAUGE AND PUSH BUTTON ELECTRIC SHIFTER.

NUMBERS, WHILE IMPRESSIVE, AREN'T FAR-OFF FROM SMALL EV RIVALS; ITS 24 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY BOASTS A RANGE OF 87 COMBINED MILES, GENERATING 111 HORSEPOWER.

BUT WITH A UNIQUELY TUNED SUSPENSION AND CHASSIS, IMPROVED WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, AND 147 LB-FT OF TORQUE AVAILABLE FROM STANDSTILL, THE 500E IS VERY SPIRITED AND INCREDIBLY BALANCED.

Ben Davis: THE DYNAMIC OF THE VEHICLE IS WHAT REALLY IMPRESSES ME.

THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING -- YOU CAN'T EVEN REALLY TELL.

YOU HIT THE BRAKES AND THERE IS REGENERATIVE BRAKING GOING ON, BUT IT FEELS LIKE NORMAL BRAKING.

John: ON SALE IN CALIFORNIA THIS SUMMER, THE 2013 FIAT 500E WILL ALSO BE OFFERED WITH A VERY APPEALING $199 PER MONTH LEASE.

AND WE'LL CHARGE UP WITH MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS THERE'S A NEW HONDA CIVIC.

THE BAD NEWS IS THE REASON BEHIND A NEW MODEL FOR 2013 IS BECAUSE THE ALL-NEW 2012 CIVIC TOOK SUCH A BEATING FROM THE PRESS, WITH MANY FEELING IT DIDN'T LIVE UP TO ITS REPUTATION AND MUCH OF ITS COMPETITION.

WELL, HONDA'S NOT USED TO GETTING TOO MANY BAD REVIEWS, SO THEY WASTED NO TIME IN MAKING SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO THE CIVIC.

SO LET'S SEE HOW THEY WENT!

THE 2013 HONDA CIVIC IS INDEED A RE-FRESH OF A ONE YEAR OLD RE-DESIGN.

AND WE GIVE HONDA CREDIT FOR ADMITTING THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE DONE AND NOT WAITING YEARS TILL A "MID-CYCLE" FRESHENING TO MAKE CHANGES.

NOT THAT CIVIC SALES HAVE BEEN BAD, BUT THE BIG BOOST IN SALES FROM A REDESIGN SO TYPICAL FOR A HONDA PRODUCT DIDN'T MATERIALIZE UNTIL WELL AFTER LAUNCH.

THE BIGGEST GRIPES SEEMED TO REVOLVE AROUND A LACK LUSTER INTERIOR THAT LOOKED "PIECED TOGETHER," AND THAT'S WHERE THE NEW CIVIC, BOTH SEDAN AND COUPE, SEES ITS BIGGEST UPDATES.

AND AS IF TO FURTHER DRIVE HOME THAT POINT, HONDA SENT US A FAIRLY SPARSELY EQUIPPED EX SEDAN TO CHECK OUT.

AND IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS TO US THAT THERE'S A HUGE IMPROVEMENT IN INTERIOR MATERIAL QUALITY.

THE DASH LOOKS MORE COHESIVE AND FEELS BETTER, AS DO THE DOOR PANELS.

EVEN THE SEATS FELT MORE COMFORTABLE, BUT MAYBE WE'RE JUST GETTING GIDDY.

THERE'S ALSO MORE STANDARD EQUIPMENT TO BE HAD, INCLUDING AN UPDATED I-MID THAT INCLUDES USB INTERFACE, BACK-UP CAMERA, AND TEXT MESSAGING SUPPORT.

UNFORTUNATELY, ALL CONTROLS ARE THE SAME AND WE'RE STILL NOT FANS OF THE RADIO INTERFACE.

NOR IS THE TWO-TIER, DOUBLE CLUSTER IP LOVED BY SOME OF OUR STAFF, BUT IT IS HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL, AND MOST APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION IT PROVIDES.

OUR CIVIC SEDAN'S EXTERIOR GOT A MAKEOVER AS WELL, AND A VERY NICE ONE AT THAT.

THE FRONT END WEARS A WIDER AND MORE EXPRESSIVE FACE THANKS TO A LARGE LOWER GRILLE OPENING AND NEW CHROME TRIM, AND THE HOOD SITS A LITTLE HIGHER.

THE PROFILE REMAINS THE SAME, BUT THE BACK END IS BROADENED WITH A NEW REAR BUMPER, JEWEL-LIKE TAIL LIGHTS, AND A SIMULATED LOWER DIFFUSER.

THE END RESULT IS ONE FINE LOOKING COMPACT FOUR-DOOR THAT PRESENTS ITSELF AS A MORE EXPENSIVE CAR THAN BEFORE, LOOKING EVEN BETTER THAN THE NEW ACCORD.

WHILE MANY FOUND FAULT WITH THE LATEST CIVIC'S RIDE AND HANDLING, WE JUDGED IT TO BE JUST FINE AND WE STILL LOVE IT.

THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN RECALIBRATED WITH STIFFER SPRINGS AND THICKER STABILIZER BARS.

THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING HAS ALSO BEEN QUICKENED.

AND HOW DID ALL OF THIS TRANSLATE AT OUR TEST TRACK?

WELL, THE QUICKER STEERING WAS NOTICED IMMEDIATELY AND MUCH APPRECIATED.

UNDERSTEER SEEMS DIALED DOWN A BIT AS WELL, AND TIRES OFFERED GOOD GRIP THROUGH THE SLALOM.

AND FOR BRAKING AS WELL, HELPING THE 4-WHEEL DISCS WITH ABS ON OUR EX BRING THINGS TO A HALT IN A SHORT 123-FEET.

BASE LX MODELS MAKE DO WITH REAR DRUMS.

THE CIVIC IS STILL NOT THAT IMPRESSIVE OFF THE LINE HOWEVER, WHERE A SLOW CLIMB TO REDLINE WILL GET YOU TO 60 IN 9.5-SECONDS.

THERE'S TOO MUCH ENGINE NOISE, AS THE CAR SEEMS TO STRAIN TO GET TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE, TAKING 17.3-SECONDS AND 82 MILES-PER-HOUR TO DO IT.

BUT NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE BUY A STANDARD CIVIC FOR THE PERFORMANCE NUMBERS.

FOR MOST, THE 140-HORSEPOWER AND 128 LB-FT. OF TORQUE FROM THE 1.8-LITER I4 IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

FUEL ECONOMY STATS ARE LIKELY OF MORE IMPORTANCE AND WHETHER YOU OPT FOR THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC OR STICK WITH THE BASE TRIM'S 5-SPEED MANUAL, YOU'LL DO JUST FINE.

THE AUTOMATIC ACTUALLY DOES A BIT BETTER HOWEVER, WITH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 28-CITY, 39-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 33.8 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE, BURNING JUST 10.3-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE EMITTING 4.6-TONS OF CO2.

HONDA HAS ALSO LOWERED HIGHWAY NOISE EMISSIONS; THAT IS NOISE HEARD INSIDE THE CABIN, BY ADDING THICKER GLASS AND ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS.

UPGRADES ARE RARELY FREE, AND THEREFORE PRICES HAVE INCREASED A LITTLE, BUT MOSTLY DUE TO THE ELIMINATION OF THE DE-CONTENTED DX TRIM.

THE MORE LOGICALLY EQUIPPED LX IS NOW THE BASE MODEL AND IT'S UP JUST $160 TO $18,955.

EX MODELS START AT $21,605, EX-Ls FOR $23,055.

AND OF COURSE SI AND HYBRID MODELS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AS WELL.

OBVIOUSLY, IT'S NOT AN INEXPENSIVE ENDEAVOR FOR HONDA TO REMODEL THIS HIGH VOLUME COMPACT AFTER ONLY A YEAR ON THE MARKET.

BUT TO US, IT WAS MONEY WELL SPENT.

THE 2013 HONDA CIVIC IS NOW MUCH MORE IN LINE WITH WHAT WE EXPECT FROM HONDA.

SO, WHAT LOOKED LIKE A CHINK IN HONDA'S ARMOR HAS BEEN REPAIRED.

THAT'S BAD NEWS FOR THE COMPETITION, AS THE CIVIC IS BACK ON TRACK.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL SEE IF THE NEW-LOOK MAZDA6 HELPS LEVEL THE FAMILY SEDAN PLAYING FIELD.

AND IF MOTORING DREAMS COME TRUE IN THE ALL NEW RANGE ROVER.

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.

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.