2014 Jeep Cherokee & 2014 Toyota Corolla

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE RESURRECTED JEEP CHEROKEE IS WORTH BRINGING BACK... PAT GOSS SMOKES OUT A FEW COMMON PROBLEMS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... WE CELEBRATE TWO DECADES OF DOING WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL OF US... AND FOR THE 11TH TIME, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S NEW WITH AN ALL-NEW TOYOTA COROLLA!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... GOODBYE, MY DEAREST.

WAIT!

YES?

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ISN'T THE ROAD PRETTY MUCH THE ONLY TERRAIN I'LL BE ON?

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DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM John: WHEN JEEP SAID IT WAS BRINGING THE CHEROKEE NAMEPLATE BACK TO AMERICA, MOST OF THE RESPONSE WAS POSITIVE.

BUT WHEN PHOTOS OF THE NEW UTILITY WERE LEAKED, THAT RESPONSE BECAME AN UPROAR.

JEEP FANS, IT SEEMED, WERE LESS THAN THRILLED WITH THE SLICK NEW STYLING.

FORTUNATELY, IT DOES LOOK FAR BETTER IN PERSON.

PLUS, THERE'S A LOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE NEW CHEROKEE BEYOND WHAT MEETS THE EYE.

FOR JEEP PURISTS, THE 2014 CHEROKEE IS A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW.

THE SQUINTY LIGHTS, FOLD OVER GRILLE, AND EVEN A WEDGE-Y WINDOW PROFILE.

AND THEN THERE IS THE MATTER OF IT BEING A CROSSOVER DERIVED FROM A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAR.

HERESY!

GRANTED, THIS CHEROKEE'S NEW LOOK MAY NOT BE AS MACHO AS A SLEEVELESS DENIM JACKET; AND IT'S CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK AS PURPOSEFUL AS THE ORIGINAL SQUARE JAWED, 1980'S VINTAGE XJ, BUT WE DON'T AGREE THAT IT'S BEEN HIT WITH AN UGLY STICK.

THERE ARE MANY REASONS THAT A BOXY SHAPE WAS DISCARDED IN FAVOR OF A SLICKER DESIGN, BUT AERODYNAMICS IS CERTAINLY A KEY ONE.

THE NEW FORM CUTS THROUGH THE AIR FAR MORE EFFORTLESSLY, ENABLING BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AND A QUIETER RIDE.

AND DESPITE THE SOFTER LINES, THE CHEROKEE STILL HAS A NICE STANCE TO IT.

ITS 182-INCH OVERALL LENGTH PUTS IT IN BETWEEN COMPACT AND MID-SIZE SUVs, BUT THE FACT THAT IT SHARES A PLATFORM WITH THE DODGE DART MAKES IT A COMPACT TO US.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FRONT LIGHTING, WITH ITS HIGH-MOUNTED, NISSAN JUKE-STYLE, SLANTED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DRAWING MOST OF THE IRE.

HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS ARE STACKED BELOW.

FORTUNATELY, A DEDICATED TRAILHAWK MODEL PACKS WHAT SHOULD MATTER MOST TO JEEP FANS; STANDARD FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE WITH AN OFF ROAD KIT THAT ADDS AN INCH OF GROUND CLEARANCE, SKID PLATES, RED FRONT TOW HOOKS, AND THE BIGGIE...A LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

DODGE DART INFLUENCE EXTENDS TO THE STANDARD TIGERSHARK 2.4-LITER I4 ENGINE.

RATINGS ARE 184-HORSEPOWER AND 171 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AVAILABLE IS AN ALL-NEW 3.2-LITER V6, THE SECOND MEMBER OF THE PENTASTAR FAMILY.

IT CRANKS OUT 271-HORSEPOWER AND 239 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ANOTHER DEBUT IS CHRYSLER'S NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND IT SEEMS TO CHECK ALL THE BOXES OF FUEL ECONOMY, ACCELERATION, AND TOWING CAPACITY; 4,500-POUNDS WITH THE V6.

AND FOR THOSE WHO DARE, THE NEW "TRAIL RATED" CHEROKEE IS CAPABLE OF SOME PRETTY SERIOUS OFF-ROAD TERRAIN.

BOTH FRONT AND REAR OVERHANGS ARE MINIMAL FOR ROCK CLIMBING; WHILE JEEP ACTIVE DRIVE I SINGLE SPEED, JEEP ACTIVE DRIVE II 2-SPEED, AND JEEP ACTIVE DRIVE LOCK WITH LOW RANGE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEMS ARE ALL AVAILABLE, AS IS SELEC-TERRAIN FROM THE GRAND CHEROKEE.

STILL, FOR THOSE THAT HOLD THE OLD XJS SACRED, IT IS DOUBTFUL THAT ANY MODERN JEEP WAGON WOULD MAKE THEM HAPPY.

THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH IS, TODAY'S TYPICAL SUV BUYER WILL GLADLY TRADE OFF-ROAD PROWESS FOR ON-ROAD COMFORT AND CAPABILITY.

HERE THE NEW CHEROKEE REALLY SHINES.

RIDE QUALITY IS ON PAR WITH THE BEST OF BOTH COMPACT AND MID-SIZE CROSSOVERS.

BUT THANKS TO THE DART'S ORIGINAL ALPHA ROMEO ROOTS THINGS ARE SPORTIER THAN MOST.

INSIDE, THERE'S SEATING FOR 5, WITH THE FRONT SEATS DELIVERING ADEQUATE COMFORT.

REAR SEATS OFFER A BIT LESS, BUT SLIDING SEAT BOTTOMS ALLOWS EXTRA ROOM FOR EITHER PASSENGERS OR CARGO.

SEATBACKS FOLD 60/40 TO EXPAND THE CARGO HOLD FROM 24.6 CUBIC-FEET TO 54.9; AND A CARGO MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LETS YOU TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SPACE AVAILABLE.

THERE'S PLENTY AVAILABLE UP FRONT TO PAMPER BOTH DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS; FROM A HEATED STEERING WHEEL AND HEATED AND VENTILATED SEATS, TO A WIRELESS CHARGING PAD FOR MOBILE DEVICES.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, AIDED BY THE 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION, ARE 21-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 24-COMBINED FOR 4-CYLINDER 4X4s.

FOUR-WHEEL-DRIVE V6s DO A LITTLE WORSE, BUT NOT BY MUCH, AT 19-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

BOTH ENGINES SCORE "AVERAGE" ON THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE WITH THE I4 BURNING 13.7-BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WHILE PRODUCING 6.2-TONS OF CO2.

PRICING IS ALSO IN BETWEEN COMPACT AND MID-SIZE CUV, STARTING AT $23,990 FOR A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT; WHERE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE COSTS TWO GRAND MORE.

TRAILHAWK MODELS BEGIN AT $30,490.

THE OLD XJ CHEROKEE IS WELL LOVED AROUND THE WORLD, AND IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT THIS ONE WILL EVER ATTAIN SUCH GLOBAL CULT STATUS.

NOR IS IT AS CAPABLE AS THE WRANGLER.

BUT SO WHAT IF IT'S NOT?

JEEP ALREADY SELLS A 4-DOOR WRANGLER, WHY DO THEY NEED TWO?

AND WHILE SOME MIGHT WISH CHRYSLER WOULD HAVE CALLED IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN CHEROKEE, WE SAY THE NAME SUITS IT JUST FINE, AS JUST LIKE BEFORE, THE 2014 JEEP CHEROKEE IS A TRULY CAPABLE CHOICE IN THE FIVE PASSENGER UTILITY MARKET.

YOU CAN TELL BY OUR ROAD TESTS WEEK AFTER WEEK THAT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS FINALLY GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT FUEL ECONOMY.

BUT REDUCING THE USE OF IMPORTED PETROLEUM, AND SEEKING CLEANER ALTERNATIVE FUELS IS HARDLY A NEW CRUSADE.

FOR DECADES, ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES IN GROUPS LIKE THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CLEAN CITIES INITIATIVE HAVE BEEN BUILDING AWARENESS AND DEMAND FOR CLEAN, EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES.

AND IT'S A CRUSADE WHERE ALL OF US ARE THE WINNERS.

BACK IN 1981, WHEN MOTORWEEK WENT ON THE AIR, THE '70s GAS CRISIS WAS STILL INFLUENCING CAR SALES AND DESIGN, AND THE SEARCH FOR HIGH MILEAGE SOLUTIONS WAS IN FULL SWING.

THIS PERIOD OF FREEWHEELING EXPERIMENTATION PRODUCED SOME IDEAS THAT WERE INTERESTING, IF NOT ENTIRELY GROUNDED IN REALITY: THE POUGH CARBURETOR PROMISED 200 MILES PER GALLON, BUT AS FAR AS WE KNOW, STILL HASN'T DELIVERED.

AND THIS GM SEDAN THAT RAN ON COAL DUST WAS DOOMED FROM THE GET-GO!

DIESEL ENGINES MADE THE GRADE IN ECONOMY, BUT WERE NOTORIOUSLY SLOW, SMELLY, AND UNRELIABLE.

A STIGMA THAT CARRIED ON FOR DECADES UNTIL THE RECENT ADVENT OF CLEAN, LOW-SULFUR DIESEL FUEL PROVED DIFFERENTLY.

CNG AND PROPANE VEHICLES HELD PROMISE AS CLEAN ALTERNATIVES, BUT MOST WERE AFTERMARKET CONVERSIONS AND NO NATIONAL FUELING INFRASTRUCTURE EXISTED.

THE GM EV1 POINTED THE WAY TO A CURRENT CLEAN DRIVING TECHNOLOGY BUT MADE IT CLEAR THAT MUCH WORK STILL NEEDED TO BE DONE BEFORE ELECTRIC CARS COULD PRACTICALLY ROAM OUR STREETS.

WITHOUT LARGE-SCALE SUCCESSES TO RALLY AROUND, THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS MOVEMENT MIGHT HAVE FIZZLED OUT, IF NOT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CREATION IN 1993 OF THE CLEAN CITIES INITIATIVE.

THIS WAS A GROUNDBREAKING NETWORK OF COMMUNITY-BASED COALITIONS, EACH TASKED WITH ENCOURAGING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS IN THEIR AREA.

STARTING WITH JUST SIX CITIES IN 1993, CLEAN CITIES HAS NOW GROWN TO NEARLY 100 COALITIONS, COUNTING 20,000 STAKEHOLDERS AS MEMBERS.

FOR 20 YEARS NOW, CLEAN CITIES COORDINATORS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH FLEET MANAGERS, FUEL SUPPLIERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PREACH THE CLEAN FUELS GOSPEL: APPEALING TO THEIR BOTTOM LINE BY SHOWING HOW FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS CAN BE REDUCED, AND SELLING THE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS AS A FEEL-GOOD ICING ON THE CAKE.

EACH CLEAN FUEL CONVERT, FROM BIG NAMES LIKE FRITO-LAY, AT&T, AND UPS, TO SMALL MUNICIPALITIES, TAXI COMPANIES AND REFUSE HAULERS HAS DRIVEN DEMAND FOR ALT FUEL, ELECTRIC AND HYBRID VEHICLES AND HELPED TO EXPAND THE NATIONAL CLEAN FUELING AND CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO WHERE IT IS TODAY.

IT'S BEEN A WINNING FORMULA, AND THE RESULTS ARE IMPRESSIVE: 550,000 NEW AFVs ON THE ROAD, 5 BILLION GALLONS OF IMPORTED PETROLEUM ELIMINATED THROUGH ALT FUELS, CLEANER TECHNOLOGIES, AND SMARTER DRIVING, AND 34 MILLION TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS PREVENTED FROM ENTERING THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE.

Roy Willis: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ABOUT CLEAN CITIES IS, THEY'RE A CONNECTOR...

THEY CONNECT FUEL SUPPLIERS, EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS, WITH FLEETS AND OTHERS THAT USE ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES.

AND THOSE CONNECTIONS I THINK ARE PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE SEEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE PAST FIVE TO SIX YEARS IN THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS IN THE COUNTRY.

John: IN 1997, ONLY 6% OF U.S.

TRANSIT BUSES USED ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

SINCE THEN, THAT NUMBER HAS JUMPED TO OVER 20%, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE ARE IN CLEAN CITIES' TERRITORIES.

BUT DESPITE ITS TREMENDOUS GROWTH, CLEAN CITIES IS STILL VERY MUCH A GRASSROOTS OPERATION AT HEART, CELEBRATING VICTORIES ONE RIBBON-CUTTING AT A TIME, AND RELYING ON EACH OTHER FOR MUCH NEEDED SUPPORT.

Dennis Smith: THE STRENGTH OF CLEAN CITIES HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TEAMS AND THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT THEY FORM.

BOTH IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THINGS THAT NO SINGLE COMPANY OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY COULD POSSIBLY DO ON THEIR OWN.

John: THE IDEA OF GOVERNMENT EMPOWERING LOCAL CITIZENS TO BE AGENTS OF CHANGE FOR THE COMMON GOOD IS AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH THAT HAS EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS.

AND IF THE PAST 20 YEARS IS ANY INDICATION, THE CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE CHARGE FOR ENERGY CHANGE.

PAT GOSS KNOWS THE WORLD OF CAR CARE CAN BE A LOT OF SMOKE AND MIRRORS, SO THAT'S WHY WE TURN TO HIM FOR A CLEAR VIEW.

Pat Goss: NOW, HERE'S A PART OF YOUR CAR THAT YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE.

ALL CARS NOW HAVE THEM, BUT THEY'RE USUALLY WELL HIDDEN EITHER UNDER THE HOOD OR SOME PLACE UNDER THE BODY OF THE CAR.

THIS IS A VAPOR STORAGE CANISTER.

YOU SEE, MANY YEARS AGO, BEFORE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS ON CARS, WHAT WE HAD WAS A GAS TANK THAT WAS VENTED DIRECTLY TO THE ATMOSPHERE.

SO THE FUMES THAT ARE PRODUCED AS GASOLINE EVAPORATES, THEY WENT OUT INTO THE ATMOSPHERE AND POLLUTED IT.

WELL, NOW THE WAY THIS WORKS IS, THAT THOSE FUMES ARE TRANSMITTED FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE VAPOR STORAGE CANISTER THROUGH A SERIES OF HOSES AND FILTERS, CHECK VALVES, ELECTRIC SOLENOIDS, A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

QUITE A COMPLICATED SYSTEM.

NOW, BECAUSE IT'S COMPLICATED, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PROBLEMS WITH IT.

NOW, YOU MAY GET YOURSELF IN TROUBLE IF YOU GO TO A SHOP THAT SIMPLY READS A CODE AND THEN REPLACES THE PART THAT IS DESCRIBED IN THE LISTING FOR THAT CODE.

SEE, THAT DOESN'T USUALLY WORK.

NOW, YOU HAVE TO TEST THE SYSTEM, AND IN ORDER TO TEST AN EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM, WELL, YOU NEED A TOOL LIKE THIS.

THIS IS A SMOKE MACHINE AND IT PRODUCES SMOKE.

NOW, WHAT WE DO WITH THAT SMOKE IS WE PUT IT INTO THE APPROPRIATE HOSE, EITHER AT THE BACK OF THE CAR OR UP UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR, AND WE FOLLOW THE SMOKE.

WHERE THE SMOKE COMES OUT IS WHERE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT TELLS US EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO REPLACE.

NOW, TO HELP THE TECHNICIANS SPOT THE LEAK, WE HAVE A SPECIAL PAIR OF GLASSES THAT ENHANCES THE VISIBILITY OF THE SMOKE, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHAT WE SEE IS VERY, VERY SMALL.

THE BIG THING IS, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET IT FIXED AND SAVE MONEY IN THE PROCESS, WELL, YOU LOOK FOR A SHOP THAT HAS ONE OF THESE SMOKE MACHINES, AND THAT THEY USE IT IN YOUR TEST PROCEDURE.

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

John: THE NEW CAR SEASON IS IN TOP GEAR, SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICK SPIN IN A COUPLE OF THE LATEST.

THIS WEEK WE'RE SPINNING UP FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS ON THE LATEST FROM VOLKSWAGEN.

AND WHILE MOST VW'S ARE ALREADY FAIRLY FUN TO DRIVE, ENHANCING THAT IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

SO VOLKSWAGEN IS EXPANDING THEIR R-LINE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THROUGHOUT THE LINEUP.

JOINING THE ALREADY AVAILABLE CC R-LINE, ARE THE BEETLE COUPE, BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, TOUAREG, AND TIGUAN R-LINES, BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 5 MODELS.

WHILE NOT A FULL-ON PERFORMANCE MAKEOVER, AS THERE IS NO ADDITIONAL POWER, R-LINE MODELS DO GET NEW RIMS, MORE AGGRESSIVE BODYWORK AROUND THEM, AND BEST OF ALL, RETUNED UNDERPINNINGS.

Brian Robinson: IN ADDITION TO THE LARGER WHEELS, R MODELS GET A SPORT SUSPENSION THAT REALLY STIFFENS THINGS UP NICELY, ESPECIALLY IN THE TIGUAN AND TOUAREG, MAKES THEM MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE.

John: THE INTERIOR GETS IN ON THE GAME AS WELL WITH UPDATED TRIM AND MATERIALS, STAINLESS STEEL PEDALS, AND EVEN A NEW STEERING WHEEL.

AND DESPITE THE STIFFER SUSPENSION, RIDE QUALITY REMAINS GOOD; NO NEED TO BRACE FOR IMPACT WHENEVER YOU SEE A POTHOLE IN THE ROAD.

TIGUAN R-LINE WILL BE AVAILABLE IN BOTH FRONT AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND SINCE ALL TOUAREGS COME STANDARD WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, ALL TOUAREG R-LINES WILL AS WELL.

AS FOR THE BEETLE, BECAUSE A NEW 1.8-LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE WILL SOON REPLACE THE NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.5-LITER I5 AS THE BASE ENGINE, BEETLE TURBO COUPES AND CABRIOLETS WITH THE 2.0-TURBO ENGINE WILL NOW GET THE R-LINE MONIKER AS WELL, AND SEE THE BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION WITH THE MOST AGGRESSIVE STYLING OF THE BUNCH.

PRICE IS DEPENDENT ON MODEL, BUT R-LINES UPGRADES WILL UPGRADE YOUR VOLKSWAGEN'S PRICE TAG BY QUITE A FEW GRAND, AS THEY WILL BE THE TOP TRIM LEVEL ON MOST MODELS.

THE DODGE DURANGO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLAYER, BUT NEVER A LEADER AMONG LARGE SUVs.

EVEN THOUGH IT SEATS SEVEN IN THREE ROWS, IT OFTEN TAKES A BACK SEAT TO ITS MORE PULAR TWO-ROW 5-SEAT JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE KIN.

BUT DODGE IS NOT GIVING UP ON DURANGO, AT LEAST NOT YET, AND THE 2014 EDITION INCLUDES WORTHWHILE IMPROVEMENTS.

LIKE THE GRAND CHEROKEE AND RAM 1500, DODGE NOW PAIRS THE DURANGO'S STANDARD 290 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6 WITH A ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND ROTARY-STYLE SHIFTER.

FUEL ECONOMY IMPROVES NEARLY 10% TO 25 MPG HIGHWAY.

STILL OFFERED IS THE 5.7 HEMI V8, WITH CYLINDER DEACTIVATION AND A DEDICATED ECO MODE ALSO PAIRED WITH THE 8 SPEED AUTO.

MORE BIG CHANGES COME IN STYLING, TOO; A NEW FRONT FASCIA AND GRILLE DESIGN, LED ACCENTS UP FRONT AND LED LAMPS BEHIND, AND SHARP LINES ADD A MORE RUGGED PRESENCE.

THE TOW-HITCH INTEGRATED INTO THE REAR FASCIA IS NEW AS WELL.

INSIDE, THE DURANGO ADDS CHRYSLER'S 8.4-INCH UCONNECT TOUCH SCREEN AS AN OPTION, AND THE BRAND'S 7-INCH CUSTOMIZABLE GAUGE CLUSTER IS STANDARD.

A NEW TRIM LEVEL, LIMITED, INCLUDES HEATED LEATHER SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL, IN V6 AND V8.

PADDLE SHIFTERS ARE ALSO STANDARD.

MUCH LIKE THE GRAND CHEROKEE, THE DODGE DURANGO PACKS A PUNCH, YET SOFTENS THE BLOW AT THE SAME TIME.

THERE'S POWER WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT MOST OF THE TIME YOU'LL GET A PLUSH RIDE WITH PLENTY OF LONG HAUL COMFORT.

AND WITH THE ADDED BONUS OF THREE ROWS OF SEATING, PLUS 7,400 POUNDS OF TOWING.

AVAILABLE NOW, THE 2014 DODGE DURANGO BEGINS AROUND $31,000, WITH THE NEW LIMITED TRIM AT $37,000.

AND WE'LL BUCKLE UP, AND SPIN UP, MORE FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS SOON!

IN OUR MID-ATLANTIC REGION, FALL IS THE IN-BETWEEN SEASON FOR BIG UTILITIES.

SUMMER VACATIONS ARE OVER, AND YOU DON'T YET NEED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE FOR WINTER WEATHER.

SO, CROSSOVERS, LIKE OUR 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER, ARE DOING MORE DAILY SHORT HOPS THAN LONG DISTANCE RUNNING.

STILL, WE ARE EXTREMELY IMPRESSED WITH THE COMFORT AND VERSATILITY OF THE PATHFINDER.

WHY, IT'S ALMOST AS VERSATILE AS...SHALL WE SAY IT... A MINIVAN!

INDEED, A COUPLE OF PASSERSBY'S ACTUALLY THOUGHT IT WAS ONE.

WELL, IT DOES HAVE THREE ROW, 7-PASSENGER SEATING AND A VERY VERSATILE CARGO FLOOR.

BUT NO SIDE SLIDERS, SO PATHFINDER RETAINS ITS DIGNITY.

WHILE NISSAN IS LAUNCHING A GASOLINE-ELECTRIC HYBRID VERSION OF THE PATHFINDER, WE CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT THE 24 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE V6 IS DELIVERING AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF USE.

AND WITH NEARLY 18,000 MILES ON ITS CLOCK, THERE ARE NO MECHANICAL OR EVEN EMOTIONAL ISSUES.

WE'LL DRIVE UP IN OUR SUBARU FORESTER AND KIA OPTIMA HYBRID ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

THE NUMBER ONE SELLING CAR NAME OF ALL TIME IS TOYOTA COROLLA.

NEVER ONE TO WOW WITH STYLE AND FLASH, THE HUMBLE COROLLA HAS SOLDIERED ON DECADE AFTER DECADE PROVIDING COMFORT AND RELIABILITY IN AN AFFORDABLE, IF TO FOLKS LIKE US, A TOTALLY BORING PACKAGE.

WELL, THAT'S SUPPOSED TO CHANGE WITH THE NEW 11TH GENERATION COROLLA.

IT HAS A LOOK WE FIND FRESH AND APPEALING INSIDE AND OUT.

BUT WILL LONG TIME COROLLA FANS BE IMPRESSED?

FEW CARS ARE LIKELY TO BE AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO BE REDESIGNED 11 TIMES.

BUT THEN, NO SINGLE CAR MODEL HAS EVER APPROACHED THE 40 MILLION SALES OF THE TOYOTA COROLLA.

AND WHILE 2014'S DYNAMIC NEW STYLING DIRECTION MAY NOT BE NECESSARY FOR ITS CONTINUED SUCCESS, WE DON'T THINK LONG-TERM FANS WILL OBJECT TO DRIVING A MUCH BETTER LOOKING CAR.

AS BEFORE, THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE COROLLA IS AVAILABLE IN A MORE DYNAMIC S TRIM, ONLY NOW IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE THAT WAY FROM THE BEGINNING.

NO TACKY ADD-ONS!

IT WEARS BY FAR THE MOST AGGRESSIVE FACE FOR A COROLLA YET, AND THE COOL LED HEADLIGHTS COME STANDARD, NOT JUST ON THE SPORTIEST S MODEL.

WHEELBASE IS UP 3.9-INCHES, AS IS OVERALL LENGTH, TO 183.1-INCHES FOR THE COROLLA S. IT ALSO SITS WIDER AND LOWER, AND UNLIKE MANY OF TODAY'S CARS, THE REAR LOOKS JUST AS INTERESTING AS THE FRONT WITH SHARP LOOKING TAILLIGHTS, THE USUAL DECK-LID SPOILER, AND REAR FASCIA WITH DIFFUSER.

WHILE 15-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, 16-INCHERS ADORN S MODELS, AND YOU CAN OPT UP TO 17s.

THE COROLLA'S 1.8-LITER ENGINE IS CARRIED OVER FROM LAST YEAR, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

IN FACT, THERE ARE NOW TWO VERSIONS OF THE I4.

L, LE, AND S MODELS COME WITH A 132-HORSEPOWER VERSION RATED AT 128 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ODDLY ENOUGH, LE ECO MODELS ACTUALLY DELIVER MORE HORSEPOWER AT 140, THANKS TO A NEW VALVEMATIC VARIABLE VALVE CONTROL AND A HIGHER COMPRESSION RATIO, BUT A TAD LESS TORQUE AT 126 POUND-FEET.

TRANSMISSIONS VARY FROM AN OLD SCHOOL 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC, TO RATHER NICE 6-SPEED MANUAL, AND A NEW CVT WITH ECO AND SPORT MODES.

IT'S PROGRAMMED WITH SEVEN SIMULATED GEARS THAT IN S TRIM ARE TRIGGERED WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS.

UP FRONT, MACPHERSON STRUTS FEATURE L SHAPED LOWER ARMS, WHILE A SIMPLE TORSION BEAM HANDLES SUSPENSION DUTIES IN THE REAR.

BUMPS ARE SOAKED UP NICELY, AND BETTER THAN BEFORE, AND THE COROLLA HANDLES JUST FINE.

BUT AS BEFORE, STOPS WELL SHORT OF BEING SPORTY.

TYPICAL FOR THE COMPACT CLASS, THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING LACKS FEEL, BUT IT'S SUITABLY PRECISE.

DRUM BRAKES STILL OCCUPY THE REAR AXLE ON MOST MODELS; YOU HAVE TO STEP UP TO 17-INCH WHEELS AND THE S PLUS OR PREMIUM PACKAGES TO GET REAR DISC.

THE INTERIOR FEATURES A THEME THAT IS A PLEASANT CROSS BETWEEN RAV4 AND AVALON, AND OVERALL, IT'S A NICE PLACE TO SPEND SOME COMMUTE TIME.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS AND A NEW 3-PIECE STEERING WHEEL DESIGN.

GAUGES VARY WITH TRIM LEVEL, BUT LOOK THEIR BEST IN THE S MODEL WITH A CLASSIC DUAL DIAL SETUP WITH A TFT INFO SCREEN BETWEEN.

8-AIRBAGS ARE STANDARD, INCLUDING A DRIVER'S KNEE AND A NEW PASSENGER'S SEAT CUSHION AIRBAG.

A BACK-UP CAMERA IS STANDARD ON ALL BUT THE BASE L TRIM LEVEL.

ANOTHER PLACE TOYOTA DID NOT SCRIMP ARE THE SEATS.

THEY ARE PLENTY COMFORTABLE UP FRONT, AND ALSO IN THE REAR, WHERE THE EXTRA WHEELBASE ALLOWS FOR OVER 5-INCHES MORE LEGROOM.

AND YET THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF TRUNK SPACE; A VERY CAPABLE 13.0 CUBIC-FEET, EVEN BEFORE YOU DROP THE STANDARD FOLDING REAR SEATBACKS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE SOLID, RANGING FROM 27-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY AND 31-COMBINED FOR THE 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TO 30-CITY, 42-HIGHWAY, AND 35-COMBINED FOR LE ECO WITH THE CVTI-S TRANSMISSION.

BASE PRICE IS HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR, STARTING AT A STILL REASONABLE $17,610, WHILE COROLLA LE ECO MODELS GO FOR $19,510; WITH COROLLA S STARTING AT $19,810.

SO, IS A MORE DYNAMIC LOOKING COROLLA A BETTER COROLLA?

YES, AS FAR AS OUR EYES ARE CONCERNED.

BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE PRETTY NEW FACE THAT MAKES THIS COROLLA A WINNER.

WHAT HASN'T CHANGED IS THE COROLLA'S FRIENDLY COMMUTER NATURE, AND WE EXPECT, ITS HIGHLY RELIABLE REPUTATION.

WE THINK THE COROLLA FAITHFUL WILL BE THRILLED.

INDEED, THE 2014 TOYOTA COROLLA IS SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, AND SOMETHING FOR COROLLA FANS TO FINALLY BE EXCITED ABOUT!

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL CHECK OUT THE ALL-NEW CADILLAC CTS LUXURY SPORT SEDAN.

THEN STRETCH OUT IN THE NEW, BIGGER, HYUNDAI SANTA FE.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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