HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AND SEE IF A NEW NAME PUTS A NEW SPIN ON A TOP DRAWER SPORTS SEDAN WITH THE INFINITI Q50.
PAT GOSS SMOKES OUT A FEW COMMON PROBLEMS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR A LESSON IN STREET SURVIVAL.
AND AN ICON RETURNS... WE'LL SEE IF THE NEW JEEP CHEROKEE KEEPS THE LEGACY ALIVE.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING IS A SERVICE OF MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... >> MAN: AHH!
OHH.
AHH.
>> MONK: YOU MAY ASK ONE QUESTION.
>> MAN: [HEAVY SIGH] WHICH TIRE CATEGORY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO GET THE MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE?
>> ANNOUNCER: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.
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.
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.
DIEHARD.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
>> JOHN DAVIS: WITH EXCITING NEW ENTRIES LIKE THE CADILLAC ATS PROVING THAT THE EURO SPORTS SEDAN SEGMENT HAS NEVER BEEN RIPER FOR THE PICKING, YOU'D THINK IT WOULD BE PERFECT TIMING FOR A NEW INFINITI G-SERIES TO BUILD ON ITS ALREADY GREAT REPUTATION.
WELL, THAT'S NOT THE WAY INFINITI SEES IT.
WITH A BRAND-WIDE RENAMING STRATEGY THAT RETURNS THEM TO THEIR ROOTS, THEY'VE DONE AWAY WITH THE G, NAMING THEIR NEXT GENERATION COMPACT SPORTS SEDAN, THE Q50.
INFINITI'S NEW NAMING STRATEGY, SIMPLY PUT, LABELS ALL SEDANS AND COUPES WITH THE LETTER Q, AKIN TO THE FIRST INFINITI Q45 BACK IN 1990, AND ALL SUVs WITH THE LETTERS QX.
THE 2014 INFINITI Q50 HAS NOTHING ELSE IN COMMON WITH THAT FIRST Q45.
INDEED, THIS NEW "Q" REPLACES THE G-SERIES SPORTS SEDAN IN THE LINE-UP... OR SO WE THOUGHT, AS INFINITI HAS SINCE ANNOUNCED THAT THE G37 SEDAN WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE THROUGH 2015.
AND NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THAT SQUARED AWAY, WE MUST ALSO SAY THAT THE NEW Q50 IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A G WITH A NEW NAME.
IT'S A VIRTUALLY ALL-NEW LUXURY SPORTS SEDAN THAT NOT ONLY GOES UP AGAINST SEGMENT LEADERS LIKE THE BMW 3-SERIES, BUT SETS THE TONE FOR INFINITI CARS TO COME.
AND JUST LIKE A WELL-TAILORED SUIT HIDES THE BAD WHILE ENHANCING THE GOOD, THE Q'S FLOWING BODY PANELS ADD A PREMIUM LOOK TO THE ATHLETIC PROPORTIONS OF THIS COMPACT REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE SPORTY FOUR-DOOR.
CLEARLY, IT IS MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN ANY PRIOR G SEDAN, BUT THAT MIGHT BE WHERE THE LOVE AFFAIR ENDS.
MORE ON THAT LATER.
THE STANDARD POWERTRAIN DOES CARRY OVER FROM THE G, WHICH IS JUST FINE BY US AS THE SMOOTH RUNNING 3.7-LITER V6 WITH ITS 328-HORSEPOWER AND 269 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF OUR FAVORITES.
A 3.5-LITER V6 BASED HYBRID IS ALSO AVAILABLE, AS IS ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH EITHER ENGINE.
A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH MANUAL MODE AND DOWNSHIFT REV MATCHING IS STANDARD.
THERE'S NO TRUE MANUAL GEARBOX, BUT SPORT MODELS DO COME WITH SOLID MAGNESIUM PADDLE SHIFTERS MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN, NOT ON THE STEERING WHEEL ITSELF.
A TOUCH SERIOUS DRIVERS WILL LIKE.
DRIVING MODES INCLUDE SNOW, ECO, STANDARD, AND SPORT; AS WELL AS A PERSONALIZED SETTING WITH ENGINE, TRANSMISSION, AND SUSPENSION ALL RESPONDING ACCORDINGLY.
IF EQUIPPED WITH INFINITI'S NEW DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING STEER-BY-WIRE SYSTEM, IT WILL BE ADJUSTED AS WELL.
NOW, OUR Q50 SPORT WAS NOT SO EQUIPPED, AND WHILE WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SAMPLE THE SYSTEM FOR OURSELVES, BASED ON MOST REPORTS, WE WERE BETTER OFF WITHOUT IT.
AS WE FOUND HANDLING ACTUALLY QUITE GOOD THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE.
EVEN ON A VERY COLD TRACK, THERE WAS PLENTY OF GRIP AND ONLY MILD UNDERSTEER.
THROTTLE ON OVERSTEER COULD ALSO BE INITIATED, BUT IT TOOK A LITTLE WORK TO DO SO.
BACK ON THE DOWNSIDE, EVEN WITH THE STANDARD SPEED-SENSITIVE STEERING, ROAD FEEL IS HARD TO COME BY, YOU FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM THE CAR.
APPARENTLY THAT ONLY GETS WORSE WITH STEER-BY-WIRE.
THE Q IS CERTAINLY NOT ALONE HERE AS MOST TOP-TIER SPORTS SEDANS SEEM TO BE TRADING WHEEL FEEL FOR LUXURY, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO LIKE IT.
WE DO LIKE THE POWER THAT COMES ON IN A RUSH AS YOU JUMP TO 60 IN JUST 5.3-SECONDS.
THE MOMENTUM DOESN'T LET UP FROM THERE AS YOU CLEAR THE QUARTER-MILE IN 13.6-SECONDS AT 103 MILES-PER-HOUR.
BRAKING IS ALSO VERY GOOD, WITH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING A SHORT 117-FEET.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE INTERIOR, THERE IS ALSO LITTLE TO REMIND YOU OF THE G. BOTH MATERIAL QUALITY AND LUXURY APPOINTMENTS ARE TAKEN TO A NEW LEVEL.
IT'S ALSO A VERY CUSTOMIZABLE ENVIRONMENT WITH A PROGRAMMABLE I-KEY SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZES AND ADJUSTS SEATING, CLIMATE, AUDIO, NAVIGATION, AND TELEMATICS SETTINGS FOR UP TO 4-DRIVERS.
ALL SEATS OFFER GOOD COMFORT; AND WHILE FOR THE MOST PART THE DUAL TOUCH SCREEN INTERFACE WORKS WELL, IT'S YET ANOTHER REMINDER OF THE Q50'S LUXURY OVER SPORT PRIORITIES.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE FAIRLY AVERAGE AT 20-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.
THOUGH WE MANAGED A VERY GOOD 26.3 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ACCEPTABLE AT 14.3-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED ANNUALLY WITH CO2 EMISSION OF 6.4-TONS.
THE CHANGE FROM G TO Q HAS ALSO COME WITH AN INCREASE IN PRICE, AS A BASE Q50 GOES FOR $37,955.
SPORT MODELS START AT $44,455.
THE 2014 INFINITI Q50 IS BETTER LOOKING, MORE LUXURIOUS, AND STILL HAS GREAT PERFORMANCE.
SO WHY AREN'T WE CRAZY ABOUT IT?
WELL, IT'S LOST THAT EDGE THAT MAKES A SPORTS SEDAN SO DESIRABLE TO US.
THE BMW 3-SERIES AND CADILLAC ATS HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB IN THE TRADEOFF BETWEEN LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE.
A LOT MORE STEERING FEEL WOULD HELP THE Q50, AND MAYBE A TRUE MANUAL GEARBOX OPTION.
IN SHORT, PUT A LITTLE MORE OF THE OLD G IN THE NEW Q AND WE THINK IT WILL BE A-OK.
UNLIKE IN MOST COUNTRIES, AMERICANS VIEW DRIVING AS MORE OF A RIGHT THAN A PRIVILEGE.
SO EVEN WHERE FORMAL DRIVER'S TRAINING IS REQUIRED, IT'S PRETTY BASIC.
MOST DRIVERS GET LITTLE OR NO TRAINING IN HOW TO HANDLE THE UNPREDICTABLE HIGHWAY SCENARIOS OF THE REAL WORLD.
BUT OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER, ZACH MASKELL HAS FOUND A GROUP OF EXPERTS THAT WANT TO MAKE SURE YOUNG DRIVERS KNOW THEIR STUFF.
>> ZACH MASKELL: DRIVER ERROR IS THE REASON THOUSANDS OF TEENS AND NOVICE DRIVERS ARE KILLED IN THE U.S. EVERY YEAR.
HAD THEY BEEN TAUGHT MORE OUT OF THE CLASSROOM ABOUT CAR CONTROL, THEIR HANDS-ON SKILLS COULD'VE SAVED THEM.
>> INSTRUCTOR: ANYBODY AWAKE?
ALRIGHT, GOOD.
>> ZACH: BUT THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS EARLY ON A SATURDAY.
THIS TIME IN SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND.
GROGGY, SEEMINGLY UNINTERESTED TEENS LEARN THE PHYSICS OF THEIR VEHICLES, AND HOW THEY'LL USE THEM ON THE TRACK AT THE MARYLAND STATE DRIVERS' TRAINING FACILITY.
>> INSTRUCTOR: I PROMISE YOU, BY LUNCH TIME, YOU'RE GOING TO BE EXCITED.
IT REALLY IS FUN.
>> INSTRUCTOR: GOOD JOB.
CAN YOU MAKE IT?
CAN YOU MAKE IT?
EASY.
OHHH, YOU GOT A LITTLE CONFUSED.
YOU GOT SCARED.
>> INSTRUCTOR: YOU SKIPPED THE TURN!
>> ZACH: MOSTLY INEXPERIENCED TEENS PUSHING THEIR CARS LIKE NEVER BEFORE.
>> INSTRUCTOR: OFF THE GAS, OFF THE GAS.
OFF THE GAS.
OFF THE GAS!
>> ZACH: ADRENALINE PUMPING... NERVES THROUGH THE ROOF.
BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG UNTIL I FOUND A GROWING TREND.
HOW ARE YOU FEELING RIGHT NOW?
>> STUDENT: NERVOUS BUT EXCITED.
>> STUDENT: I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE THIS EXTREME.
SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES.
IT'S REALLY FUN.
>> ZACH: STREET SURVIVAL IS EXACTLY THAT; TEACHING DRIVERS HOW TO SAVE THEMSELVES IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION.
>> PARENT: EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE TO DO THIS.
IT COULD BE LIFE OR DEATH.
>> ZACH: BEFORE TRACK TIME, EVERYONE'S RIDE GETS AN INSPECTION.
ONE STUDENT FOUND OUT HIS TIRE PRESSURE WAS NINE POUNDS LOW.
>> PARENT: HE WAS CONVINCED THAT, OH, I'M NOT GOING TO LEARN ANYTHING.
WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO TEACH ME I DON'T ALREADY KNOW.
>> ZACH: VANASSE SAID IF HIS SON WANTS TO TAKE ADVANCED DRIVING CLASSES, HE HAD TO START HERE.
>> STUDENT: I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE MORE CLASSROOM ORIENTED, BUT IT'S NOT.
>> ZACH: EVERY PARENT WATCHED THEIR KIDS PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND THE TRANSFORMATION WAS OBVIOUS.
>> PARENT: FROM WHAT I'VE SEEN SO FAR... OOP, THERE GOES ONE CONE.
...I THINK HE'S DOING ALRIGHT.
>> ZACH: THE SLALOM TEACHES CONTROL, QUICK LANE CHANGES FOR ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE, AND EMERGENCY BRAKING TO SHOW HOW THEIR VEHICLE REACTS BOTH TURNING AND STRAIGHT ON.
BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THE SKID PAD TO DEMONSTRATE OVER AND UNDERSTEER.
IN MANY OTHER COUNTRIES, THIS KIND OF TRAINING IS REQUIRED.
>> STUDENT: WHEN WE WENT TO EUROPE AT RACES AND STUFF, ALL THE GUYS THERE HAVE GONE AND JUST TALKED ABOUT THEIR DRIVERS AND HOW MUCH HARDER THEY ARE.
>> ZACH: SOME OF THE STUDENTS CAN'T GET ENOUGH.
>> STUDENT: THIS IS MY THIRD TIME DOING IT.
SO, I WAS EXCITED, AND RIGHT NOW I'M JUST...I'M AMPED.
I COULD GO FOR THE REST OF THE DAY UNTIL THE SUN GOES DOWN.
>> ZACH: LEADING THESE TEENS ARE HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAR CLUB MEMBERS WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE.
STREET SURVIVAL IS RUN BY VOLUNTEERS, WITH OVER 100 SCHOOLS HELD NATIONALLY IN 2013 BY LOCAL CHAPTERS.
>> INSTRUCTOR: I WISH EVERY STUDENT WHO GOT THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSE HAD TO GO THROUGH A COURSE LIKE THIS.
>> ZACH: WHETHER THEY REALIZED IT OR NOT, THE INSTRUCTORS WERE CONSTANTLY TESTING THE DRIVERS.
>> INSTRUCTOR: WHAT WORKED FOR ME WAS I HAD MY GUY RECITE THE ALPHABET BACKWARDS.
HE WENT FROM BEING VERY GOOD IN AN EXERCISE TO TOTALLY INCOMPETENT.
>> ZACH: WE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING TODAY... FROM AN INTEGRA THAT'S PAINTED WITH PALM TREE LEAVES... TO A SUPERCHARGED MUSTANG.
THE INSTRUCTORS TELL US THERE'S GOOD REASON FOR THAT, TOO.
>> INSTRUCTOR: IF THEY'RE ON THE STREETS AND SOMETHING STRANGE OR TERRIBLE HAPPENS, IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN THEIR OWN CAR, AND EVERY CAR HANDLES DIFFERENTLY.
>> ZACH: AS THE TEENS GOT MORE COMFORTABLE, THE SMILES CAME OUT.
EVEN ROBBIE, WHOSE PORSCHE 944 DECIDED IT HAD ENOUGH AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME.
>> STUDENT: IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY...UNTIL MY CAR BROKE.
>> ZACH: HIS CAR HAS AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE AVERAGE, BUT AFTER COMING TO THESE CLASSES, HE WISHES MORE YOUNG DRIVERS WOULD EXPERIENCE IT.
>> STUDENT: I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAY, OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOUR CAR DOES THAT.
WELL, YOUR CAR CAN PROBABLY DO IT TOO, YOU JUST DON'T KNOW.
>> ZACH: CONES WERE KILLED, TIRES LOST TREAD, AND YOUNG DRIVERS GAINED CONFIDENCE.
SOUNDS AWARD WORTHY TO ME.
>> STUDENT: I LOVED TODAY.
IT WAS SO MUCH FUN.
>> STUDENT: DOING THESE CLASSES JUST OPENED MY EYES.
NOTHING BETTER I CAN SAY.
>> JOHN: 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: 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.
WHEN ACURA'S NEW FLAGSHIP, THE 2014 RLX, ARRIVED LAST SPRING, WE PRAISED ITS REFINEMENT AND HIGH-TECH NATURE, INCLUDING THE PRECISION ALL-WHEEL STEER SYSTEM, AND THE ABOVE AVERAGE ROAD MANNERS IT BESTOWED.
BUT FOR A BRAND WITH ACURA'S SPORTING LEGACY, WE FOUND THE RLX TO BE LUXURIOUS, SAFE AND SOLID, BUT SORELY LACKING IN EXCITEMENT.
WELL, THAT PICTURE MIGHT CHANGE WITH THIS CAR, THE 2014 ACURA RLX SPORT HYBRID.
HOW?
WELL, THE SPORT HYBRID TAKES THE RLX'S FRONT DRIVE 3.5-LITER V6 AND ADDS NOT ONE BUT THREE ELECTRIC MOTORS.
THEY RAISE TOTAL OUTPUT FROM 310 TO 377 HORSEPOWER.
THE FIRST ONE, A 35 kW ELECTRIC MOTOR, AND ITS 1.3 kWh LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, ASSIST THE V6 PROVIDING A HIGH VOLTAGE BOOST WHEN NEEDED.
BUT THE REAL FUN COMES INTO PLAY WITH THE TWO 27 kW ELECTRIC MOTORS THAT POWER THE REAR WHEELS, TAKING THE SUPER HANDLING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CONCEPT TO AN ELECTRIFIED NEW LEVEL.
BOTH REAR MOTORS WORK INDEPENDENTLY DELIVERING EITHER POWER OR REGENERATIVE BRAKING TO THE WHEELS TO HELP TORQUE VECTOR YOU AROUND CORNERS.
ALSO REPLACING LAST YEAR'S TORQUE CONVERTER 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS A NEW 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH UNIT WITH DRIVE SELECTED BY WAY OF PUSH BUTTONS, AND MANUAL GEAR SELECTION WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS.
FOR MORE SPARKLE, THERE'S ALSO A NEW MULTI-PAGE HEAD-UP DISPLAY.
>> BRIAN ROBINSON: HOW DOES IT ALL WORK?
WELL, YOU KNOW THE POWER IS BEING SHUFFLED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN ALL FOUR WHEELS, BUT YOU REALLY DON'T FEEL IT MUCH.
THE RLX HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT HIGH-TECH AND LUXURY.
WHILE THAT DOESN'T FULLY CHANGE HERE, IT HAS GOTTEN A LOT MORE ENTERTAINING TO DRIVE.
>> JOHN: THE WORD HYBRID MEANS THERE MUST BE SOME FUEL ECONOMY GAIN, AND THERE IS.
THE COMBINED MPG RATING GOES FROM 24 TO 30.
PRICING HASN'T BEEN FINALIZED, BUT YOU CAN EXPECT A HEALTHY INCREASE OVER BASE RLX PRICES WHEN THE 2014 ACURA RLX SPORT HYBRID ARRIVES AT DEALERS THIS SPRING.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR SINCE WE PICKED THE 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 AS OUR DRIVER'S CHOICE BEST SMALL UTILITY.
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SAY, WE'RE STILL HAPPY WITH OUR CHOICE AFTER LIVING WITH A "RAV" FOR 6 MONTHS AND SOME ,000 MILES.
IT'S ROOMY, COMFORTABLE, AND VERSATILE IN ROUTINE USE.
IT ALSO DRIVE'S NICELY, IS WELL CONTROLLED WITH GOOD ENERGY, AND QUITE QUIET AT SPEED.
PLUS, IT'S BEEN TROUBLE FREE.
THE TEST FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE OF 24.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IN MOSTLY URBAN DRIVING IS DECENT, AND RIGHT ON WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED NUMBER.
OUR LIMITED ALL-WHEEL DRIVER IS VERY WELL EQUIPPED, AND WE GENERALLY RATE TOYOTA'S ENTUNE TOUCH AUDIO/NAV INTERFACE WITH EMBEDDED APPS AS MOST EFFECTIVE.
INDEED, FROM PUSH BUTTON START TO AN ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT POWER HATCH, IF YOU LIKE GIZMOS IN A ROCK SOLID COMPACT UTE, THE TOYOTA RAV4 IS A GREAT CHOICE.
WE'LL CHECK IN ONE LAST TIME ON TWO FAVORITES; THE MAZDA6 AND NISSAN PATHFINDER, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
TIME NOW FOR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ AND MOTOR NEWS YOU MUSTANG FANS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
>> YOLANDA: THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG HAS OFFICIALLY BROKEN OUT OF THE STABLE.
AND DESPITE SOME EARLY NEWS LEAKS, IT STILL KICKED UP PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT.
FOR ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THE 2015 MUSTANG BUCKS SOME OF ITS STORIED HERITAGE FOR MODERN DAY APPEAL.
THE BIG NEWS INCLUDES THE ARRIVAL OF AN INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION, REPLACING THE LIVE-AXLE SETUP FROM PREVIOUS GENERATIONS, PLUS THE INTRODUCTION OF FORD'S ECOBOOST TURBO FOUR CYLINDER ENGINE TO THE LINEUP.
PROJECTED OUTPUT IS AROUND 305 HORSEPOWER FROM THE 2.3 LITER I-4.
OTHER NOTWORTHY CHANGES ARE MORE OBVIOUS, AS THE MUSTANG'S STYLING HAS TAKEN A PROGRESSIVE LEAP FORWARD IN BOTH ITS FASTBACK COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE BODY STYLES.
LAST YEAR'S V-6 AND V-8 ENGINES RETURN, NOW SLIGHTLY TWEAKED FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AND EFFICIENCY.
FORD PLANS FOR THIS MUSTANG TO BE A TRUE WORLD CAR, AS THEY'VE ANNOUNCED SEVERAL NEW MARKETS AROUND THE GLOBE, INCLUDING AUSTRALIA, THE U.K., AND JAPAN.
FORD HAS SOLD MORE THAN 9 MILLION MUSTANGS IN THE CAR'S 50-YEAR HISTORY.
LOOK FOR THIS HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED RIDE TO HIT DEALER SHOWROOMS IN LATE 2014.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> 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.
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE LOOK FOR THAT ELUSIVE BLEND OF LUXURY, PERFORMANCE AND EFFICIENCY IN THE LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT.
AND THEN SHIFT GEARS WITH THE ALL-NEW CADILLAC CTS SPORTS SEDAN.
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.
DIEHARD.
THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.
DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.
