2014 Chevrolet Silverado & 2013 Nissan Sentra

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

JOIN US, AND SEE IF CHEVY'S NEW SILVERADO TAKES THE FULL-SIZE PICKUP TO A BETTER PLACE.

PAT GOSS TURNS A FADED CLASSIC INTO FANTASTIC.

IS THERE A MORE "NATURAL" SOURCE FOR NATURAL GAS AS AN AUTOMOTIVE FUEL?

AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE NEW NISSAN SENTRA SHAKES IT'S WALL FLOWER STATUS FOR GOOD.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: >> AND THAT, IS WHERE BABIES COME FROM.

>> DAD, I HAVE A QUESTION.

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>> JOHN: THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO, THE PERENNIAL NUMBER TWO BEST SELLING PICKUP TRUCK IN AMERICA, WAS LAST REDESIGNED FOR 2007.

AT THAT TIME, FUEL ECONOMY WAS NOT A MAJOR CONCERN FOR PICKUP TRUCK BUYERS.

BUT SINCE THEN GAS PRICES HAVE STEADILY RISEN AND BOTH RAM AND FORD HAVE RESPONDED WITH MORE EFFICIENT, BUT CAPABLE V6 POWERTRAINS.

SO, WHEN IT WAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE ALL NEW, 2014 SILVERADO WOULD STILL USE A V8 AS ITS PRIMARY POWER, TRUCK WATCHERS WONDERED IF CHEVY DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE.

WELL, APPARENTLY THEY DID.

>> JOHN: CHEVROLET NOT ONLY GOT THE MESSAGE, THEY ANSWERED IN TRIPLICATE, WITH THREE ALL NEW, TOTALLY MODERN ENGINES.

AND, IN THE PROCESS WRESTLED THE LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TOWING AND V8 FUEL ECONOMY CROWNS BACK INTO THE GM FOLD.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT THE 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AS A WHOLE?

WAS THIS FULL SIZE PICKUP TRUCK WORTH A SEVEN YEAR WAIT?

AFTER ALL, THE NEW SILVERADO DOESN'T LOOK RADICALLY DIFFERENT THAN LAST YEAR.

A TALLER, BOLDER TWIN-PORT GRILLE, YES.

A MORE RUGGED AND UPRIGHT STANCE, CERTAINLY.

AND A TOUCH MORE MODERN WITH AVAILABLE PROJECTOR BEAM HEADLIGHTS.

SURE.

BUT THE BIG DIFFERENCES ARE IN THE DETAILS.

THE HOOD IS NOW MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM, JUST ONE OF THE SILVERADO'S MANY WEIGHT SAVING MEASURES.

OTHERS INCLUDE A ROLL FORMED STEEL BOX AND ALUMINUM SUSPENSION COMPONENTS.

THOUGH BIG PICKUP TRUCKS WILL PROBABLY ALWAYS RESEMBLE MOVING BRICKS, GM PUT A BIG EMPHASIS ON AERODYNAMICS FOR BOTH FUEL ECONOMY AND NOISE CONTROL, WITH TRIPLE-SEALED INLAID DOORS, NEW BODY MOUNTS, CAB-TO-BOX SEALS, AND EVEN A SPOILER SHAPED TAILGATE TOP.

STILL, CHEVROLET IS COMMITTED TO THE WORKING MAN, AS THE NEW SILVERADO HAS ADDED MANY FEATURES TO HELP THEM CARRY OUT THEIR DAILY TASKS, INCLUDING A DAMPED EZ LIFT AND LOWER TAILGATE, AVALANCHE-INSPIRED REAR BUMPER SIDE STEPS AND BOX GRAB HANDLES, UNDER BED RAIL LED LIGHTING, BOX MOUNTED UPPER TIE DOWNS, AND STANDARD BOX TOP CAPS.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT THOSE THREE NEW ENGINES?

ALL ARE UP TO DATE WITH ALL-ALUMINUM BLOCKS AND HEADS, DIRECT INJECTION, VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, AND CYLINDER DEACTIVATION.

THE TRIO STARTS WITH A 4.3-LITER V6, BUT THE HIGH VOLUME POWER PLANT IS A 5.3-LITER V8 RATED AT 355-HORSEPOWER AND 383 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

IT ALSO RATES 23 MILES-PER-GALLON HIGHWAY.

THAT'S THE BEST OF ANY TRUCK V8 AND EVEN BEATS THE FORD F-150'S POPULAR ECOBOOST V6.

IT WILL OUT TOW IT AS WELL, AND ALL LIGHT DUTY V8S, HAULING A MAX OF 11,500-POUNDS.

TOP ENGINE OPTION WILL BE A 6.2-LITER V8.

ONE OF THE FEW CARRYOVER PARTS IS THE HYDRAMATIC CL60 SIX-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT EACH ENGINE WILL GET ITS OWN REAR END.

BOTH MANUAL AND AUTOTRAC HI-LOW FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEMS ARE AGAIN AVAILABLE.

NEW ON THE Z71 IS HILL DECENT CONTROL.

THE REAR SUSPENSION MAINTAINS ITS TWO-STAGE MULTI-LEAF SPRINGS, BUT GETS IMPROVED BUSHINGS AND NEW SHOCKS.

FOUR-WHEEL DISC ARE STANDARD WITH NEW, LONGER LIFE CORROSION PROTECTION.

THE INTERIOR GETS A FULL-SCALE RE-DESIGN INCLUDING BETTER, SOFTER MATERIALS ALL AROUND AND A MORE FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT WITH A VERY VERTICAL DASH AND BIG HANDED CONTROLS.

THE SHIFTER IS STILL COLUMN MOUNTED, WHICH HELPS FREE UP SPACE IN THE CABIN.

THE STANDARD BENCH SEAT HAS A BUCKET STYLE FORM, OR YOU CAN OPT FOR REAL BUCKETS WITH A WIDE, DEEP CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN.

NEW HIGH-DENSITY SEAT FOAM DELIVERS IMPROVED COMFORT.

THE SIX-GAUGE LAYOUT IS GREAT.

THAT PLUS AN INFO SCREEN PROVIDES ALL OF THE INFORMATION YOU COULD WANT IN A WORKING TRUCK THAT WILL ALSO BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME DOING FAMILY DUTIES.

AND THE LATEST VERSION OF CHEVROLET'S MY LINK INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WILL HELP KEEP YOU CONNECTED AS WELL AS ENTERTAINED.

CREW CABS, NOW 60% OF THE MARKET, HAVE DOORS THAT OPEN WIDER THAN BEFORE.

DOORS ON THE EXTENDED DOUBLE CAB MODEL ARE NOW FRONT HINGED, OPENING CAR-LIKE, INSTEAD OF CLAM-SHELL STYLE.

THAT, PLUS A FORWARD B-PILLAR MAKES THE DOUBLE CAB REAR SEAT NOW MORE SUITABLE FOR ADULTS.

WHETHER ON THE WAY TO THE JOB SITE OR THE WEEKEND GETAWAY, YOU'LL FIND THE NEW SILVERADO TO BE MUCH QUIETER THAN BEFORE.

SILVERADO'S RIDE REMAINS A SMOOTH ONE, BUT NOW WITH BETTER BODY CONTROL THANKS TO A STIFFER BUT LIGHTER STRUCTURE AND RE-VAMPED SUSPENSION.

THE NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ALSO DELIVERS AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF FEEL THROUGH A GRIPPIER STEERING WHEEL.

SO FAR, CHEVROLET HAS ONLY RELEASED FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 5.3 V8, WHICH ARE 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED IN REAR DRIVE; AND 16-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED FOR THE 4X4.

REGULAR CAB SILVERADO'S WILL BEGIN AT $24,585.

THAT'S THE SAME PRICE AS THE CURRENT MODEL; AND GM IS LOOKING TO TOW THE PRICING LINE WITH ALL CABS.

TRIMS INCLUDE WORK TRUCK, LT, LTZ, AND NEW PREMIUM HIGH COUNTRY FOR THE SILVERADO BUYERS WHO WANT IT ALL.

DESPITE FIRST IMPRESSIONS, THE 2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO IS INDEED A HUGE IMPROVEMENT OVER THE CURRENT MODEL, AND IT HAS CERTAINLY CAUGHT UP WITH THE PACK WHEN IT COMES TO FUEL ECONOMY AND TECHNOLOGY.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, EVERYTHING SEEMS TO FIT INTO ONE COHESIVE, TIGHTLY DESIGNED PACKAGE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO MAKE AN F-150 FAN SWITCH, BUT WE ARE CERTAIN IT WILL KEEP THE CHEVY FAITHFUL HAPPY FOR YEARS TO COME.

>> JOHN: THE USE OF CLEAN, DOMESTIC NATURAL GAS AS HIGHWAY FUEL IN PLACE OF IMPORTED OIL IS GROWING IN POPULARITY WITH FLEETS AND TRUCKING COMPANIES.

WHILE NATURAL GAS FROM UNDERGROUND DEPOSITS IS ARGUABLY A LIMITED RESOURCE, THERE IS A RENEWABLE, ECO-FRIENDLY ONE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN THE U.S.A.. AND WE'RE HERE NOW TO GIVE YOU THE STRAIGHT POOP!

>> JOHN: EVERY FAMILY, FARM ANIMAL AND FOOD PROCESSING PLANT IN AMERICA PRODUCES ORGANIC WASTE THAT CREATES A MIX OF METHANE, CO2 AND OTHER ELEMENTS CALLED BIO GAS WHEN IT DECOMPOSES.

ROTTEN VEGETABLES, MOLDY BREAD, LAST NIGHT'S LEFTOVERS, THEY ALL BREAK DOWN WHEN OUR GARBAGE GETS TO THE LAND FILL.

INCREDIBLY, FOR YEARS THE MAJORITY OF THESE GASES HAVE BEEN SIMPLY VENTED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE OR FLARED OFF TO GET RID OF THEM.

BUT BIO GAS CAN EASILY BE CONVERTED INTO CLEAN NATURAL GAS AND USED FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY, HEAT, OR TRANSPORTATION FUEL.

AND A GROWING NUMBER OF FORWARD-THINKING PROJECTS ARE DOING JUST THAT.

THOUSANDS OF U.S.

LANDFILLS, BOTH ACTIVE AND LONG-CLOSED, ARE PRODUCING BIOGAS IN SIGNIFICANT VOLUME.

FOR DECADES, WASTE MANAGEMENT, THE NATION'S LARGEST RECYCLER, HAS BEEN CAPTURING LANDFILL GAS TO GENERATE BOTH ELECTRICITY AND FUEL AT OVER A HUNDRED LOCATIONS.

THIS LANDFILL IN LIVERMORE, CALIFORNIA TAKES IN 3,500 TONS OF WASTE A DAY BUT ALSO RECOVERS ENOUGH GAS TO POWER 300 REFUSE VEHICLES.

ORGANIC MATERIALS CAN ACCOUNT FOR UP TO 60% OF A LANDFILL'S INTAKE, BUT DIVERTING BIOMASS ELSEWHERE TO PRODUCE ENERGY CAN HAVE IMMEDIATE RESULTS: QUASAR ENERGY, AN OHIO-BASED WASTE-TO-ENERGY COMPANY, HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE ANAEROBIC DIGESTION SYSTEM THAT BREAKS DOWN ORGANIC MATERIALS SUCH AS FOOD PROCESSING WASTE, SEWAGE, GREASE, FATS, AND OILS TO MAKE RENEWABLE NATURAL GAS AS WELL AS A NATURAL SOIL CONDITIONER TO REPLACE CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS.

EVERYTHING FROM EXPIRED POTATO CHIPS TO OFF-SPEC DOG FOOD HAS ENERGY VALUE AND NO LONGER GETS THROWN AWAY AS TRASH.

THIS FACILITY IN COLUMBUS, OHIO TAKES IN TEN TO TWELVE TRUCKLOADS OF BIO SOLIDS EACH DAY.

THE MATERIAL IS PUMPED INTO LARGE OXYGEN-FREE SILOS WHERE MICRO-ORGANISMS BREAK DOWN THE WASTE AND RELEASE BIOGAS.

THIS SITE ALONE PRODUCES ABOUT 3,600 GASOLINE GALLON EQUIVALENTS OF NATURAL GAS EACH DAY.

ENOUGH TO GENERATE ITS OWN ELECTRICAL POWER AND ROUTINELY FUEL 30 TRUCKS AT IT'S ON-SITE CNG FILLING STATION.

QUASAR IS LOOKING TO INSTALL DIGESTER SYSTEMS ON-SITE AT FOOD PROCESSORS, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS OR FARMS TO REDUCE TRUCKING COSTS AND RETURN THE ENERGY RIGHT BACK TO ITS SOURCE.

THIS MODEL MIMICS A LONG-STANDING PRACTICE IN GERMANY, WHERE IN A SPACE THE SIZE OF MONTANA, LOCAL FARM CO-OPS HAVE BUILT MORE THAN 6,000 GAS AND FERTILIZER-PRODUCING DIGESTERS.

BUT THERE ARE 8,000 DAIRY OR SWINE FARMS IN THE U.S. LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT DIGESTER OPERATIONS OF THEIR OWN.

ONE EXAMPLE, INDIANA'S FAIR OAKS FARM, HARNESSING THE RENEWABLE ENERGY OUTPUT FROM 30,000 COWS.

MANURE IS PROCESSED AND FED INTO THIS 18-FOOT-DEEP UNDERGROUND ANAEROBIC TANK.

THE RESULTING BIOGAS IS USED FOR LOCAL POWER GENERATION AND YIELDS ENOUGH CNG TO FUEL IT'S FLEET OF 42 MILK DELIVERY TRUCKS, DISPLACING 2 MILLION GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL EACH YEAR.

>> MARK STOERMANN: SO WE CAN RECYCLE AND REUSE AND MAINTAIN A RENEWABLE ENERGY FROM WHAT WAS A WASTE.

AND SO WE'RE NOT USING FOOD FOR FUEL, WE'RE NOT PUTTING UP THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE OBJECTIONS TO.

WE'RE TAKING A THING THAT PEOPLE HAVE AN OBJECTION TO AND ACTUALLY USING IT IN A WAY TO PRODUCE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

IT'S VERY EXCITING.

>> JOHN: THE IMPORTANCE OF PRODUCING AND USING ENERGY LOCALLY CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED.

RENEWABLE FUELS COULD POTENTIALLY DISPLACE 10 BILLION GALLONS OF OIL ANNUALLY.

AND THAT WILL CERTAINLY MOO'VE US TOWARDS A CLEAN DRIVING FUTURE!

>> JOHN: WHO DOESN'T DREAM OF RESTORING A CLASSIC CAR?

BETTER YET, DOING IT OURSELVES!

BUT AS PAT GOSS IS ABOUT TO SHOW US, PARTS OF THAT DREAM SHOULD BE LEFT TO THE PROS.

>> PAT: THIS IS OUR OLD '68 CADDY CONVERTIBLE THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SO MUCH WORK ON.

WELL, WHEN WE GOT INTO THE BODY WORK, WE DECIDED THAT THERE WAS WAY TOO MUCH INVOLVED FOR THE AVERAGE DO-IT-YOURSELF-ER.

SO WE BROUGHT IT TO PETE HERE AT CLASSIC CAR SHOP IN BALTIMORE.

PETE, WHY WAS THIS NOT A REALLY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELF-ER?

>> PETE: THE SCOPE OF THE PROJECT WAS VERY LARGE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF BODYWORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE.

BASICALLY, AFTER WE STRIPPED THE CAR, WHICH HAD FIVE LAYERS OF PAINT ON THE CAR, WE FOUND A LOT OF PREVIOUS REPAIRS, THAT HAD BEEN DONE OVER THE YEARS.

AND WE HAD TO DO INTENSE BODYWORK.

WHICH INVOLVED PUTTING NEW PATCHES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FENDER.

DOWN HERE WE HAD TO PUT A 6X18 INCH PATCH; WE HAD TO PUT A 4X9 INCH PATCH IN THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR; ANOTHER, ABOUT, 9X4 PATCH IN THE REAR.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAD TO PUT A PATCH OVER THE WHEELHOUSE IN THE QUARTER, AND THE BOTTOM OF THE QUARTER; FROM ABOUT HERE, DOWN.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE AVERAGE HOBBYIST, CANNOT FORM, SHAPE, OR WELD IN THOSE KIND OF PATCHES.

IF THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF BODY WORK, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF PRIMING OR IF YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD, EXCELLENT CAR WHEN YOU START OFF, THEN THE AVERAGE HOBBYIST CAN DO THAT KIND OF REPAIRS.

BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO A LARGE PROJECT, LIKE THIS, AN OLDER CAR THAT'S HAD PREVIOUS REPAIRS, IT NEEDS TO GO TO A PROFESSIONAL.

>> PAT: NOW, YOU'VE SPENT ABOUT THREE WEEKS, TWO OF YOU ON IT, FULL TIME, BRINGING IT TO THIS STAGE.

AND RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE BLOCKING THE PRIMER, GETTING IT READY FOR THE FINAL PAINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT BLOCKING IS.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT PLEASE?

>> PETE: WELL CERTAINLY.

BASICALLY, BLOCKING IS SANDING THE CAR, REMOVING THE HIGHS, THE LOWS, THE IMPERFECTIONS IN THE BODY OF THE CAR.

WHETHER ITS BACK HERE, WHERE WE'VE PUT IN NEW METAL, AND DONE SOME PLASTIC FILLER WORK, OR IN AREAS THAT WERE JUST BARE METAL.

NONE OF THE CARS ARE PERFECT WHEN THE SHEET METAL IS BRAND NEW.

THEY ALL HAVE TO BE PREPPED FOR IT.

IT'S BASICALLY JUST SANDING IT WITH A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT TOOLS.

WHETHER IT BE A SMALL BLOCK, A LARGE BLOCK, A POWER SANDER, OR WHATEVER.

>> PAT: NOW THESE ARE ALL CRITICAL STEPS, AND SOMETHING THAT TAKES AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF TIME IF YOU'RE DOING IT BY YOURSELF.

A PROJECT LIKE THIS WOULD TAKE MONTHS, AND MAYBE EVEN YEARS WITH A DO-IT-YOURSELF-ER.

WHICH MAKES IT TOTALLY IMPRACTICAL.

FOR MOST PEOPLE.

>> PETE: CORRECT.

>> PAT: PETE, THANK YOU.

WE'LL COME BACK AND VISIT YOU AFTER IT'S ALL DONE.

AND FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE.

RIGHT HERE, AT MOTORWEEK.

>> JOHN: NOW LET'S TURN FROM CLASSIC CARS, TO TODAY'S LATEST, AS WE GRAB NEW SETS OF CAR KEYS.

>> JOHN: WHEN OUR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE LATEST ALPINA B7 ENDED, WE WEREN'T QUITE SURE HOW IT WOULD FEEL BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A GARDEN VARIETY 7 SERIES.

BUT IT ONLY TOOK A FEW MOMENTS WITH THIS BMW 740LI TO RECALL THE LUXURY, AND COMMANDING FEELING THAT THE BRAND, AND THE 7 SERIES, CONTINUALLY DELIVERS.

THERE ARE POWERTRAINS APLENTY; AND THOUGH THE STALWART 760'S TWIN-TURBO V12 AND REVISED TWIN-TURBO V8 OF THE 750 ARE STILL AVAILABLE, WE CHOSE THE TAMER, 3.0 LITER TURBO INLINE 6, NEW TO THE 740 THIS YEAR.

AND ITS 315 HORSES PROVED CAPABLE, HAULING US TO 60 IN UNDER 6 SECONDS.

>> PATRICK LUCAS: THE NEW ENGINE DEFINITELY FEELS MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN IT LOOKS ON PAPER.

WE WERE WORRIED IT WOULD FALL FLAT ROWING THROUGH 8 GEARS IN A CAR THIS HEAVY, BUT IT'S GOT SOME SERIOUS MUSCLE.

AND IT ACTUALLY SAVES A LITTLE WEIGHT, TOO, SO HANDLING IS MUCH BETTER.

>> JOHN: RESTYLED LED HEADLIGHTS AND A NEW KIDNEY GRILLE HIGHLIGHT CHANGES UP FRONT, WHILE INTEGRATED SIDE MIRROR TURN SIGNALS, AND CHROME ACCENTS ON THE REAR, ARE NEW, TOO.

INTERIOR TOUCH UPS PROVE THAT THE BACK SEATS CAN BE THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE, WITH REAR HVAC AND IDRIVE CONTROLS, AVAILABLE 16 SPEAKER BANG AND OLUFSEN AUDIO SYSTEM, AND MILES OF LEGROOM.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2013 BMW 740LI BEGINS PRICING AROUND $78,500, UP 4 GRAND OVER THE STANDARD WHEELBASE 740I.

XDRIVE AWD IS AVAILABLE, AS WELL.

AND WE'LL CLIMB BACK IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR MORE CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

>> JOHN: WHEN WE'RE ASKED WHICH COMPACT UTILITY TO BUY, THE HONDA CR-V IS ALWAYS A TOP SUGGESTION.

THERE ARE OTHER SMALL CROSSOVERS THAT HAVE AN EDGE IN ECONOMY, FEATURES, OR STYLING.

BUT, NONE COVERS THE ESSENTIALS WITH MORE QUALITY AND VALUE THAN THE CR-V. AS IT LEAVES US, THIS 2012 EX-L WITH NAV CR-V HAS BEEN EXTREMELY RELIABLE AND CONSISTENT OVER 12 MONTHS AND NEARLY 28,000 MILES.

OUR ONLY FAULT WAS THE LEFT FOOT DEAD PEDAL PAD CAME UNGLUED.

THE CR-V'S CARGO BAY IS LARGER THAN SOME MID-SIZE UTES, AND THE SECOND ROW SEAT IS A SNAP TO FOLD.

THE SMOOTH IF SLIGHTLY NOISY 2.4-LITER I4 HAS A BROAD POWER BAND, AND RETURNED A GOOD TEST AVERAGE OF 26.5 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM WORKED SEAMLESSLY TOO.

INDEED, BOTH ON AND OFF-PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE PROVED EXCELLENT.

AS WE SAY ABOUT A LOT OF HONDA PRODUCTS, THE CR-V MAY NOT BE THE BEST IN ANY ONE AREA, YET IT DOES EVERYTHING WELL ABOVE AVERAGE.

COMING UP, ANOTHER POPULAR COMPACT CROSSOVER, THE MAZDA CX-5, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

>> JOHN: TIME TO CHECK IN WITH YOLANDA VAZQUEZ, WHO'S UP TO DATE ON ALL THE LATEST MOTOR NEWS.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: THE RISE OF HYBRID ELECTRICS, PLUG-INS, AND EVS HAS OVERSHADOWED DIESEL POWER AS CHOICE FOR AMERICANS SEEKING BETTER FUEL ECONOMY.

BUT THAT HASN'T STOPPED MOTOR CITY AUTOMAKERS FROM TESTING THE DIESEL WATERS ONE MORE TIME.

AND THE FIRST TO DIVE IN IS GM, WITH THEIR 2014 CHEVROLET CRUZE OFFERING A 2.0 LITER TURBO DIESEL OPTION.

WITH 148 HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND FEET OF TORQUE, THE NEW CRUZE DIESEL AIMS AT THE SEGMENT LEADING VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI, CLAIMING A BETTER 0-60 TIME AND A CLASS BEST 46 MPG HIGHWAY RATING.

THE CRUZE DIESEL WILL BE AVAILABLE HERE THIS SUMMER.

MEANWHILE, CHRYSLER'S RAM TRUCK DIVISION IS TRYING TO EXPAND THE POPULARITY OF THEIR HEAVY DUTY DIESELS TO THE LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCK MARKET.

THE RAM 1500 WILL ADD A DIESEL OPTION FOR THE 2014 MODEL YEAR.

IT IS THE SAME ITALIAN SOURCE 3.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED ECODIESEL V-6 USED IN THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE WHERE IT IS RATED AT 240 HORSEPOWER AND 420 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

AS THE ONLY LIGHT DUTY DIESEL PICKUP, RAM SAYS IT WILL BE CLASS BEST IN FUEL ECONOMY, WHICH MEANS MORE THAN 25 MPG HIGHWAY.

AND THERE WILL BE MORE DIESEL POWER IN THE MASS MARKET PIPELINE, AS FEDERAL FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS GROW STRICTER.

MAZDA HAS PLANS FOR THE NEW MAZDA6 AND CX-5 TO RECEIVE DIESEL ENGINES, AND RUMORS ARE SWIRLING THAT THE CADILLAC ATS AND CHRYSLER 300 MAY JOIN THE PARADE AS WELL.

WHILE DIESELS MAY NEVER BE AS POPULAR IN AMERICA AS THEY ARE ELSEWHERE, THEY CAN CERTAINLY PLAY A ROLE IN SQUEEZING OUT MORE MILES PER GALLON.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

>> JOHN: THE NISSAN SENTRA HAS STRUGGLED IN RECENT YEARS WITH A SEVERE IDENTITY CRISIS.

IT IS NEITHER AS SPORTY TO DRIVE AS THE BEST OF THE ORIGINAL SENTRAS, NOR AS INVITING TO OWN AS CURRENT COMPACT STALWARTS CIVIC, COROLLA, AND NOT TO MENTION THE GREAT LOOKING HYUNDAI ELANTRA.

CLEARLY, A MAJOR CHANGE IS IN ORDER.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THIS NEW 7TH GEN SENTRA WILL DO MORE THAN JUST MAKE DO.

>> JOHN: THE TASK OF STANDING OUT IN THE COMPACT CAR SEGMENT ISN'T GOING TO GET ANY EASIER.

BUT, DITCHING ITS "CLOAK OF INVISIBILITY" IS WHAT THE 2013 NISSAN SENTRA MUST DO IF IT WANTS TO BE A MAJOR SMALL SEDAN PLAYER.

THAT'S GOOD NEWS IF YOU'RE A BUYER, AS WITH SO MUCH COMPETITION, BRANDS ARE CRAMMING MORE AND MORE FEATURES INTO THEIR SMALL FAMILY CARS WHILE LOWERING PRICES ALONG THE WAY.

THE NEW SENTRA SEEMS TO EMBRACE THAT MORE-FOR-LESS THEME FULLY.

>> JOHN: THE EXTERIOR IS STILL NOT AS DRAMATIC AS SOME RIVALS.

BUT, SENTRA'S SOFT, SWOOPY, ALMOST ELEGANT LINES ARE A SCALE DOWNED VERSION OF THE VERY POPULAR ALTIMA MIDSIZER.

THAT SAID, IT'S INSIDE THE NEW SENTRA WHERE THE REAL REVOLUTION IS TAKING PLACE.

NOT ONLY IS IT A WHOLESALE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS SENTRA, BUT WE THINK IT OUTRANKS EVEN THE ALTIMA WHEN IT COMES TO MATERIAL QUALITY AND FUNCTIONALITY.

THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION PACKAGE INCLUDES A BACK-UP CAMERA, AND BOTH IT AND THE BOSE PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM WORK VERY WELL.

MAKE MORE OF THE BUTTONS LARGER AND IT WOULD BE PERFECT.

THOUGH IT RIDES ON THE SAME BASIC PLATFORM, AND WHEELBASE IS STRETCHED SLIGHTLY, REAR SEAT LEGROOM GROWS ALMOST THREE INCHES.

REAR SEAT BACKS ALSO FOLD.

TRUNK ROOM GOES WAY UP AS WELL, TO 15.1 CUBIC-FEET.

IT'S IMPRESSIVELY WELL FINISHED, AND FOR TOTING REALLY LONG ITEMS, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK ALSO FOLDS FLAT.

BUT, THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DOWNSIZED FROM 2.0-LITERS TO 1.8 WITH AN EYE CLEARLY TOWARDS INCREASING FUEL ECONOMY, WHICH IT ACHIEVES, BUT AT THE SACRIFICE OF POWER.

THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY CARS THAT WE WOULD CALL UNDERPOWERED, BUT THIS ONE CERTAINLY QUALIFIES, WITH OUTPUT OF JUST 130-HORSEPOWER AND 128 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

AS WITH MOST MODERN RE-DESIGNS, WEIGHT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT, 150 LBS IN THIS CASE WHICH HELPS COPE WITH SO LITTLE POWER.

IT ALSO ASSISTS IN UPPING THE BACK ROAD FUN FACTOR SLIGHTLY.

SUSPENSION RESPONSE IS COMPLIANT ENOUGH, BUT BY NO MEANS SEAMLESS.

HOWEVER, THE SENTRA FEELS PLENTY STURDY COMPARED TO MOST OF ITS COMPACT COMPETITION.

AND WITH SUCH LITTLE POWER COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, THE CVT TRANSMISSION ROARS AS IT WORKS OVER TIME TO GET YOU UP TO SPEED.

STILL, AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE SENTRA FELT SURPRISINGLY WILLING OFF THE LINE, BUT, AFTER A SECOND OR TWO, THE SOUL DRAINING CVT TAKES HOLD AND ROB PRECIOUS SECONDS OF YOUR LIFE, AS WELL AS YOUR 0-60 TIME, TAKING A LENGTHY 9.8-SECONDS.

WHILE TACKLING THE HANDLING COURSE, THE SENTRA PROVED VERY SOFT, AND THE WELL WEIGHTED ELECTRIC STEERING STILL HAD LESS FEEL THAN WE HOPED.

THERE'S LOTS OF SIDE TO SIDE WEIGHT TRANSFER AS WELL.

IT'S CERTAINLY NO JETTA.

STILL, COMMUTERS AND FAMILY WILL LIKELY SEE THE FLIP SIDE OF THESE RESULTS.

A SMOOTH RIDING SEDAN THAT IS MORE FIT FOR LONGER TRIPS THAN MOST FOUR-DOORS OF IT'S SIZE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ALSO QUITE GOOD AT 30-CITY, 39-HIGHWAY, AND 34-COMBINED WITH THE CVT.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS ALSO AVAILABLE, BUT DOESN'T DO NEARLY AS WELL.

OUR MILEAGE LOOP WAS SHORT OF THE COMBINED MARK AT 30.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

STILL, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ABOUT AS GOOD AS IT GETS FOR A NON-HYBRID USING 9.7-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE PRODUCING 4.3-TONS OF CO2.

PRICING IS INDEED A TAD LOWER THAN LAST YEAR STARTING AT $16,780.

A VERY WELL EQUIPPED SL WILL TAKE YOU JUST OVER $20,000.

SO, EVEN WITH ITS FAULTS, YOU CAN BUY A LOT OF SENTRA FOR THE MONEY.

AND, THAT, PLUS FUEL ECONOMY, ARE UNDOUBTEDLY WHY SENTRA SALES ARE WELL AHEAD OF A YEAR AGO.

THE 2013 NISSAN SENTRA IS COMPETENT, SOLID, WITH AN EXCELLENT INTERIOR, IF STILL A LITTLE HARD TO PICK OUT OF A CROWD.

IT ALSO CONTINUES THE TREND OF RECENT NISSANS BY GROWING IN SIZE AND VALUE.

IT MAY NOT WIN US OVER, BUT AT LEAST FOR NOW, IT IS CLEARLY WINNING ON THE STREETS.

>> JOHN: WELL I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK.

AND STRAP IN FOR A HIGH FLYING TEUTONIC TWO-FER, THE AUDI S6 AND BMW M5 LUXURY SPORT SEDANS.

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.

TO ORDER A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-873-6154.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK: AND BY... >> ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

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>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

BE MORE.

PBS.