>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK!
JOIN US AND SEE IF BMW'S NEW 4 SERIES COUPE KEEPS THE BRAND'S SPORT SEDAN PROWESS DESPITE LOSING TWO DOORS.
PAT GOSS GIVES US A CLOSER VIEW WHEN IT COMES TO VEHICLE REPAIRS.
BRIAN ROBINSON HITS THE TRAIL IN THE KAWASAKI TERYX.
AND WE'LL SEE IF A NEW KIA SOUL STILL DELIVERS THE FUNK!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
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>> John Davis: THE 4 SERIES IS A NEW LINE FOR BMW.
OR IS IT?
YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S JUST A NEW NAME FOR THE OLD 3 SERIES COUPE TO BRING IT IN LINE WITH THE BRAND'S LATEST -- ODD NUMBERS FOR FOUR-DOORS, EVEN FOR TWO-DOORS - NAMING SCHEME.
BUT IN CHANGING THE NAME, BMW SAYS THAT THEY ALSO CHANGED THEIR MAINSTAY COUPE INTO A DIFFERENT AND BETTER CAR.
SO LET'S HIT THE TRACK AND FIND OUT IF THAT IS INDEED THE CASE!
EVEN BEFORE THE 2014 BMW 4-SERIES COUPE AND THE NEW NUMBER SCHEME WERE ANNOUNCED, THE CARMAKER HAD BEEN TAKING STRIDES TO MAKE THE 3 SERIES COUPE MORE SPECIALIZED THAN THE SEDAN.
THINK, EVEN NUMBERS, FUN FOR 2.
ODD NUMBERS, FUN AND COMFORT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.
SO, THE NEW 4 SERIES WAS BORN.
AND INDEED, AS WE FOUND IN THE BMW 435I WE TESTED, THE 4 APPEARS AND APPEALS MORE DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 3.
FAR MORE LIKE A 6 SERIES ON A DIET.
FROM THE TRADITIONAL BMW FACE, ALL LINES POINT MORE DRAMATICALLY REARWARD, WIDENING AS THEY GO.
THERE'S AN OVERALL LOWER STANCE HIGHLIGHTED BY THE 19-INCH M-SPORT ALLOY WHEELS THAT, ON OUR CAR, TAKE THE PLACE OF THE STANDARD 18s.
DUAL EXHAUST TIPS PROJECT GREAT SOUNDS AT START UP, AND EVEN BETTER ONES AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE.
WELL, OKAY, IT'S NOT ALL UNIQUE FROM THE 3 SERIES SEDAN; THEY BOTH DO SHARE THE SAME 110.6-INCH WHEELBASE.
THE INTERIOR ALSO SHOWS A LOT OF KINSHIP, BUT IT'S NOT JUST BETWEEN 4 AND 3, BUT AMONG THE WHOLE CLAN WITH THE FAMILIAR UPSCALE BUT STILL DRIVER FOCUSED LAYOUT OF ALL RECENT BMWs.
THERE'S LESS DESIRE TO CLIMB INTO THE BACK SEAT, OF COURSE.
BUT SHOULD YOU FIND THAT A NECESSITY, THERE IS ADEQUATE ENOUGH ROOM FOR TWO ONCE YOU GET PLANTED.
POWERTRAINS ARE A COPY OF THE 3 SERIES; BASE 428 POWER COMES IN THE FORM OF A 2.0-LITER TWIN POWER TURBO I4, WITH A TURBO I6 MOTIVATING OUR 435 WITH 300-HORSEPOWER AND 300 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH EITHER ENGINE.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 435 COME IN AT 22-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.
AS FOR ROUTINE DRIVING, THIS REAR DRIVE 435I -- WELL, IT AGAIN FEELS FAMILIAR, THOUGHT WE PERCEIVE WITH SLIGHTLY MORE SPRING IN ITS STEP.
HOWEVER, LIKE ALL MODERN BMWs, MORE LUXURY HAS BEEN DIALED IN AS A TINY BIT OF THE FEEL HAS BEEN DIALED OUT.
COMPETITION IS THE AUDI A5 AND MERCEDES-BENZ C-COUPE, OF COURSE, AND WHILE THEY ARE ALL GREAT HANDLERS, AND DESPITE ITS LACK OF FEEL, THE 4 REMAINS THE MOST CAPABLE OF THE BUNCH.
BUT THE PROOF OF BEING SEPARATED AT BIRTH CAME AS WE DID ROUNDY-ROUNDS AT ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.
OUR 435 HAD A NOTICEABLY MORE SERIOUS PERSONALITY THAN THE 4-CYLINDER 328 SEDAN THAT WE HAD HERE LAST YEAR.
IS IT THE ADDITIONAL POWER?
THE SUSPENSION TWEAKS?
THE GRIPPIER TIRES?
WELL, YES, ALL OF THAT.
BUT THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING TO US IS THE SUSPENSION TUNING.
WHILE THERE IS STILL SOME ROLL IN CORNERS, AND A BIT OF A BLOATED FEEL THAT WE COMPLAINED ABOUT IN THE LATEST 3 SERIES, THERE IS NO CLUMSINESS TO BE FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE 4.
POWER DELIVERY IS VERY SMOOTH AS IS THE WHOLE CAR, AS WE FOUND OURSELVES GOING A LITTLE TOO HARD INTO CORNERS AT TIMES, LOST IN THE TRANQUILITY OF MOTION THIS CAR PROVIDES.
NO WORRIES.
THERE'S MORE GRIP HERE THAN YOU THINK.
IF TRACK DAYS ARE IN YOUR FORECAST, MAKE SURE TO OPT FOR THE M SPORT SUSPENSION AND BRAKE PACKAGES, AS THEY REALLY LIVEN UP THE WHOLE CAR.
ADD THE DYNAMIC HANDLING PACKAGE, THEN TURN THE DSC OFF AND LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL.
OUTSIDE OF THE LACK OF STEERING FEEL THAT SEEMS TO PLAGUE EVERY RECENT BMW WE'VE DRIVEN LATELY; WE HAVE NO MAJOR COMPLAINTS OTHER THAN MAYBE HAVING TO WAIT ANOTHER FEW MONTHS TO DRIVE THE M4.
BMW CONTINUES TO MAKE US HAPPY BY OFFERING A MANUAL AS A NO COST OPTION, BUT FOR SOME REASON, MOST WILL OPT FOR THE STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT IS IN OUR TEST CAR.
BUT HAVING SAID THAT, WE FOUND IT WORKED WELL ENOUGH ON TRACK TO KEEP OUR DRIVERS' COMPLAINTS TO A MINIMUM.
IT ALSO WORKS GREAT IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH QUICK SHIFTS THAT KEEP THE ENGINE RIGHT IN THE HEART OF ITS POWER BAND.
OUR QUARTER MILE TRIPS TOOK 13.6-SECONDS AT 103 MILES-PER- HOUR, WITH A COLD TRACK LAUNCH TO 60 TAKING THE FIRST 5.1 SECONDS OF THAT.
PRICING OF THE 4 SERIES COUPE KEEPS THE MAJOR FUN SOMEWHAT LIMITED TO THOSE WITH HIGHER THAN AVERAGE NUMBERS ON THEIR PAY STUBS, WITH OUR 435I AS EQUIPPED, RINGING IN AT $60,625.
YOU CAN HAVE MOST OF THE FUN WITH A BASE 435I THAT STARTS AT A MORE REALISTIC $46,925.
FOR THE REST OF US, A BASE 428I STARTS AT JUST $41,425.
THE CONVERTIBLE VERSIONS ADD $8,250 MORE.
SO, HAS THE 4 SERIES PROGRESSED FAR ENOUGH FROM THE 3 SERIES TWO-DOOR TO WARRANT SO MUCH FUSS?
WE THINK SO.
THE LOSS OF TWO DOORS HAS ACTUALLY LED TO A GAIN IN FOCUS ON THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.
AND THAT'S WHY THE 2014 BMW 4 SERIES EARNED OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SPORT COUPE.
AND WHY ODDS ARE THE NEW EVEN NUMBERS WILL ADD HITS EVEN QUICKER FOR BMW.
FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ROAD TESTS AND COMPLETE EPISODES, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
WHILE THERE ARE STILL SOME RUGGED, GO ANYWHERE VEHICLES ON THE MARKET, THE MAJORITY OF SUVs ARE NOW CROSSOVERS THAT SPEND MORE TIME PATROLLING MALL PARKING LOTS AND SOCCER FIELDS THAN THEY DO CLIMBING ROCKS OR NAVIGATING BACKWOODS TRAILS.
SO WHAT'S A WANNABE ADVENTURER TO DO?
WELL, OUR RESIDENT TWO WHEELER' BRIAN ROBINSON HAS ONE ANSWER.
>> Brian Robinson: TAKE HEART OFF-ROAD FANS, SMALL, RUGGED, GO ANYWHERE VEHICLES HAVEN'T GONE AWAY ENTIRELY, THEY'RE JUST COMING FROM DIFFERENT PLACES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SIDE-BY-SIDES OF COURSE, AND THE LATEST KAWASAKI TERYX IS READY HIT THE TRAIL AND SHOW YOU SOME 'GOOD TIMES'.
SIDE-BY-SIDES, OR UTVs, ARE A RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON IN THE OFF-ROAD INDUSTRY.
AND WITH MANY PREFERRING THEIR FAMILIAR CAR-LIKE APPROACH TO TRAIL RIDING, THEY ARE QUICKLY CUTTING IN ON ATV SALES.
SOME FALL INTO THE VERY UTILITARIAN CATEGORY FOR GETTING CHORES DONE AROUND THE FARM, WHILE OTHERS ARE ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE.
THE 2014 KAWASAKI TERYX FALLS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE, OFFERING BOTH PRACTICAL FEATURES AND PERFORMANCE HARDWARE.
THE PERFORMANCE SIDE OF THINGS STARTS WITH A NEW FUEL-INJECTED, LIQUID-COOLED, 783cc V-TWIN ENGINE, CONNECTED TO A HIGH AND LOW RANGE, BELT-DRIVE CVT TRANSMISSION AND DRIVE SHAFT.
KAWASAKI ALSO STEPPED THINGS UP BIG TIME IN THE SUSPENSION DEPARTMENT WITH FOX PODIUM SHOCKS WITH EXTERNAL RESERVOIRS AND 8-INCHES OF TRAVEL STANDARD.
TIRES ARE 26-INCH MAXXIS BIGHORN 2.0s ON 12-INCH WHEELS.
THE PRACTICALITY ASPECTS COME FROM A 28X43 INCH CARGO BED WITH 600-POUND CAPACITY AND LARGE SEALED STORAGE BINS BEHIND THE SEATS.
THOSE WARY OF ATVs WILL FIND THE STEERING WHEEL, SEAT BELTS, AND CAR-LIKE DOORS VERY COMFORTING.
AS IS THE BEEFY STEEL FRAME'S DOUBLE-X DESIGN AND THE TUBULAR STEEL CAB SURROUND.
SO WHAT'S IT LIKE DRIVING ONE OF THESE THINGS?
WELL, I SPENT TWO DAYS HAMMERING THROUGH SOME HATFIELD-MCCOY TRAILS IN WEST VIRGINIA AND CAME AWAY FAIRLY IMPRESSED.
THIS PARTICULAR TERYX TOOK A LOT MORE ABUSE THAN THE TYPICAL BUYER WILL EVER SUBJECT THEIR RIDES TO AND SEEMED TO BE ASKING FOR MORE.
THE SUSPENSION DID AN EQUALLY GOOD JOB OF BOTH ABSORBING THE HEAVY HIGH SPEED JOLTS, AND KEEPING THE TIRES PLANTED IN SLOWER SPEED CRAWLING.
THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ALLOWS YOU TO CARRY OUT CORRECTIONS IMMEDIATELY AND KEEPS YOUR ARMS FROM GETTING TIRED AFTER A FULL DAY ON THE TRAIL.
THE 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM IS SELECTABLE, FEATURES A LOCKING FRONT DIFF, AND THERE'S 11- INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.
AND BEYOND ALL OF THE CAPABILITIES, MAYBE THE BIGGEST APPEAL OF SIDE-BY-SIDES, AND THE TERYX IN PARTICULAR, IS THAT THEY JUST LOOK SO DARN COOL.
THIS CANDY LIME GREEN LE MODEL IS A HEALTHY 2-GRAND STEP UP FROM THE BASE TERYX, BUT WELL WORTH IT.
IN ADDITION TO THE EYE-CATCHING PAINT, YOU GET CAST ALUMINUM WHEELS, BODY COLORED SUSPENSION BITS, 3-TONE BUCKET SEAT COVERS, PLASTIC ROOF PANEL, A FRONT BRUSH GUARD, AND EVEN LED HEADLIGHTS.
OVERALL LENGTH IS 117.3-INCHES, WITH THE WHEELBASE TAKING UP 85.8-INCHES OF THAT LENGTH.
CURB WEIGHT IS JUST OVER 1,500 POUNDS.
ON OUR DRIVE, WE FOUND THE SEATS PLENTY COMFORTABLE, BUT KNEE AND LEG ROOM CAN BE A LITTLE TIGHT.
TERYX PRICING STARTS AT $12,999, WITH THE LE GOING FOR $14,999.
SURE, YOU CAN BUY A USED CJ OR WRANGLER FOR THAT; AND THE OBVIOUS DOWNSIDE OF THE SIDE-BY-SIDE BEING; THEY'RE FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY IN MOST PLACES, SO YOU DO NEED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO GET YOU TO TRAIL.
BUT THOSE JEEPS PROBABLY WON'T BE COMING WITH A 3-YEAR WARRANTY.
SO, FOR RELIABLE, TURNKEY TRAIL RIDING FUN, IT'S HARD TO BEAT THE 2014 KAWASAKI TERYX.
AND THE FACT THAT YOU'VE GOT THE BED ON THE BACK TO ASSIST IN CHORES AROUND THE PROPERTY MAY JUST BE THE KEY TO TALKING YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER INTO LETTING YOU DEDICATE SOME GARAGE SPACE FOR A SIDE-BY-SIDE.
>> John: PAT GOSS ALWAYS HAS AN EYE FOR DETAIL, AND HE'S FOUND A TOOL THAT HELPS ENHANCE THAT EVEN MORE.
SO LET'S SEE WHAT'S UP AT GOSS' GARAGE!
>> Pat Goss: UNDER THE HOOD OF A MODERN CAR IS VERY CROWDED THESE DAYS.
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE A LOT OF THINGS.
YOU KNOW, IN REALITY, FIXING A CAR IS RELATIVELY EASY, BUT FIGURING OUT WHAT TO FIX -- WELL, THAT IS THE DILEMMA.
SO, HERE'S A TOOL THAT COMES FROM SNAP-ON TOOLS THAT CAN HELP SAVE A TON OF DIAGNOSTIC LABOR.
IT'S A BORESCOPE.
NOW, IT HAS THE ABILITY TO RECORD VIDEO, AND TAKE STILLS, AND SO ON.
IT CAN ALL BE PRESERVED IN A MEMORY CARD INSIDE THE UNIT.
IT ALSO HAS THE ABILITY TO COME APART LIKE THIS, AND HERE YOU HAVE THE MONITOR THAT CAN BE PLACED IN A CONVENIENT SPOT SO THE TECHNICIAN OR THE VEHICLE OWNER CAN SEE IT.
NOW, WE CAN TAKE WHAT WE RECORD THERE AND WE CAN EMAIL IT TO YOU, OR WE CAN PRESERVE IT IN A PERMANENT FILE ON AN OFFICE COMPUTER.
WE CAN DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS WITH IT.
BUT THE BIG THING IS, WE CAN LOOK INSIDE OF PLACES WHERE WE NORMALLY CAN'T SEE WITHOUT DISASSEMBLING THINGS.
NOW, THIS 2.5 TOYOTA ENGINE HAS 51,000 MILES ON IT.
THIS ONE IS BRAND NEW.
NOW, EARLIER, WE PUT THE PROBE DOWN THROUGH A SPARK PLUG HOLE TO LOOK AT THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS IN THE TWO ENGINES.
THE NEW ONE, NATURALLY, IS NEW, IT'S CLEAN.
BUT AT 51,000 MILES, THIS ONE HAS A LOT OF CARBON BUILD UP ON THE TOP OF THE PISTON.
THAT MEANS THAT IT NEEDS A CARBON DEPLETION SERVICE FOR BEST FUEL ECONOMY AND PERFORMANCE.
SO IT ACTUALLY NEEDS SOME SERVICE.
BUT WE CAN DO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS WITH IT.
WE REMOVE THE OIL PAN DRAIN PLUG, LET IT DRAIN, AND THEN PUT THE PROBE UP INTO THE OIL PAN AND WE CAN SEE IF THERE'S ANY SLUDGE IN THERE.
WE CAN ALSO DO THE SAME THING UNDER THE VALVE COVER ON MANY ENGINES.
WE CAN GO INSIDE THE CAR, UP UNDER THE DASH.
FOR THE HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, THERE ARE A BUNCH OF LITTLE ELECTRIC OR VACUUM MOTORS THAT MAKE ALL OF THIS STUFF WORK, TO MAKE THE AIR COME OUT WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO AND GIVE IT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE.
WELL, WITH THIS, WE CAN LOOK UP UNDER THERE; WE CAN PUSH THE BUTTON OR TURN THE DIAL AND SEE IF THE MOTOR RESPONDS.
IF IT DOESN'T, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
SO THERE ARE A THOUSAND DIFFERENT USES FOR THIS, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOUR TECHNICIAN HAS ONE, AND USES IT, BECAUSE IT CAN SAVE MANY, MANY HOURS OF DIAGNOSTIC LABOR.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK.
>> John: BOY, IF EVER THERE WAS A WINTER TO TEST THE METTLE OF AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE UTILITY, THIS ONE IS IT.
IT'S NOT JUST THE SNOW, BUT THE RADIATOR FREEZING COLD.
FORTUNATELY, OUR LONG-TERM 2013 TOYOTA RAV4 HAS MADE QUICK WORK OF ALL OF IT.
WE CAN ATTEST TO THE FACT THAT ONCE YOU HIT THE PUSH BUTTON START, THE HEATER AND DEFROSTER WARM RAPIDLY.
AND WHEN SET ON "HIGH", OUR LIMITED'S ROCK HARD HEATED SEATS GET ALMOST TOO HOT.
COLD ALSO TENDS TO EXPOSE WEAK MECHANICAL LINKS IN A VEHICLE.
BUT AT EIGHT MONTHS AND 18,200 MILES, OUR RAV4 HASN'T REVEALED A SINGLE ONE.
MORE COLD WEATHER IDLING WAS OFFSET BY MORE TIME ON THE HIGHWAY.
SO, OUR FUEL ECONOMY AVERAGE OF 27.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR PLEASED US PLENTY.
AND THAT'S OUR FEELING OVERALL; THE TOYOTA RAV4 IS A ROOMY, VERSATILE, AND MOST IMPORTANT IN WINTER WEATHER, RELIABLE COMPACT CUV CHOICE.
YOU MIGHT THINK A SMALL CAR LIKE OUR NISSAN VERSA NOTE WOULD BE AT A REAL DISADVANTAGE IN SNOW AND COLD.
NOT SO.
FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CAN STILL HANDLE ITS SHARE OF SLUSHY ROADS, AND THE NOTE PLOWS THROUGH WITH DETERMINATION.
WE'VE ALWAYS LIKED THE NOTE'S ROOMY INTERIOR.
FOLD THE REAR SEATS AND YOU CAN CARRY AS MUCH GOODS AS SOME SMALL UTES.
GREAT FOR LOADING UP ON NECESSITIES BEFORE THE SNOW FALLS.
AFTER FIVE MONTHS AND 6,100 MILES OF ALL-WEATHER COMMUTING, FUEL ECONOMY IS STILL IMPROVING, STANDING AT 32.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.
WE DO NOTICE THE LOUD REVVING OF THE ENGINE AS THE CVT TRANNY DOES ITS THING, BUT MOST OF THAT IS BECAUSE THE NOTE IS SO QUIET THE REST OF THE TIME.
YES, YOU CAN SING TO YOURSELF IN THIS LITTLE NISSAN AND HEAR EVERY NOTE.
WE'LL TAKE NOTE OF THEUBARU FORESTER, AND THE KIA OPTIMA HYBRID, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
NOW LET'S HEAD INSIDE WHERE YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS ANOTHER MOTORNEWS UPDATE!
>> Yolanda: THOUGH SALES ARE DOWN, VOLVO HAS SLOWLY BEEN GRABBING HEADLINES OF LATE.
THANKS TO INVESTMENTS BY CHINESE OWNER GEELY, THE SWEDISH CARMAKER IS POISED FOR A MAJOR COMEBACK, AND MOTORWEEK WAS ON HAND TO CHECK OUT THE LATEST BUZZ.
ALONGSIDE SOME IMPRESSIVE CONCEPT VEHICLES AND THE BRAND'S SAFETY HERITAGE, HIGH EFFICIENCY WILL BE ONE OF VOLVO'S PILLARS GOING FORWARD.
THEIR LINE OF NEW DRIVE-E POWERTRAINS AIMS FOR "BEST IN CLASS" FUEL ECONOMY, AS WELL AS REDUCED EMISSIONS.
THE SIX AND FIVE CYLINDER ENGINES ARE HISTORY, AS THE DRIVE-E FAMILY NOW CONSISTS OF A 4-CYLINDER ENGINE IN TWO VARIANTS.
THE DESIGNATION, HOWEVER, STAYS THE SAME.
THE T5 IS NOW A 2.0 LITER TURBOCHARGED 4-CYLINDER RATED AT 240 HORSEPOWER, WHILE THE T6 IS A TURBOCHARGED AND SUPERCHARGED VERSION WITH 302 HORSEPOWER.
IN ADDITION TO UP-TO-DATE ENGINEERING, DRIVE-E ALSO INCLUDES START/STOP, REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEMS, AND A NEW 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC GEARBOX.
NO WORD ON EXACT FUEL ECONOMY, BUT VOLVO SAYS IT COULD GO UP AS HIGH AS 26%.
SIZING DOWN THE ENGINES ALSO LEAVES ROOM FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE FUTURE...OR THE NOT-SO-DISTANT FUTURE, AS VOLVO HAS AN ALL-NEW XC90 ON THE WAY, RECENTLY SNAPPED BY OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER DURING TESTING.
IT WILL INCLUDE A PLUG-IN HYBRID MODEL, COUPLING THE NEW DRIVE-E 4-CYLINDER WITH A REAR AXLE MOTOR.
THE GOAL IS TO OFFER PHEV VERSIONS OF SEVERAL MODELS AS THEIR TOP TRIM LEVELS, BOOSTING EFFICIENCY, PERFORMANCE, AND LUXURY.
AND WE'LL KEEP YOU "PLUGGED IN" TO ALL THAT'S NEW COMING UP, BUT FOR NOW, THAT'LL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.
>> John: ALMOST FROM THE MOMENT IT ARRIVED HERE FOR THE 2010 MODEL YEAR, THE KIA SOUL BECAME ONE OF THE BRAND'S TOP SELLERS.
ITS QUIRKY DESIGN, LOW PRICE, AND THE CUTE RODENT ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN, QUICKLY MADE THE SOUL UNFORGETTABLE.
WHILE AIMED AT THE YOUNG, BUYERS FROM GEN Y TO BABY BOOMERS WERE DRAWN TO THE SOUL.
WELL, NOW THERE'S AN ALL-NEW SECOND GENERATION SOUL.
SO LET'S SEE IF THE 2014 SOUL'S MASS APPEAL IS INTACT?
OR IF IT'S JUST GROWN UP AND OUT?
IT SEEMS LIKE THE KIA SOUL HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LOT LONGER THAN JUST FOUR YEARS.
YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE, NO MATTER WHAT SOCIAL CIRCLE YOU TRAVEL IN.
BUT WITH THE 2ND GENERATION 2014 SOUL, KIA IS LOOKING TO SEE ITS SOCIAL STANDING RAISED JUST A BIT.
YOU SEE, DESPITE ORIGINALLY BEING AIMED AT YOUNGER BUYERS, THE SOUL HAS PROVEN VERY POPULAR WITH MATURE DRIVERS WHO FOUND A "SOULMATE" IN KIA'S ROOMY BARGAIN BOX ON WHEELS.
ON THAT POINT, THE NEW SOUL HAS A MUCH MORE REFINED NATURE.
TO SAY THE RIDE QUALITY IS GREATLY IMPROVED IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
THE CHASSIS IS STIFFER, AND A NEW SUBFRAME, MOUNTED WITH IMPACT ABSORBING BUSHINGS, AND LONGER TRAVEL SUSPENSION, SMOOTH THINGS OUT EXPONENTIALLY.
THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT SUSPENSION HAS BEEN FURTHER REVISED BY MOVING THE STABILIZER BAR REARWARD AND THE STEERING BOX FORWARD.
AN ADDITIONAL 8/10THS OF AN INCH OF WHEELBASE HELPS THINGS AS WELL, THOUGH EVEN AFTER ALL OF THAT, A MINORITY OF OUR DRIVERS STILL FOUND THE RIDE TO BE "BUMPY."
ALL AGREED IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH QUIETER INSIDE AND IS NOW A FAIRLY COMFORTABLE PLACE TO SPEND DAILY COMMUTE TIME.
ENGINE CHOICES ARE THE SAME AS BEFORE, BUT BOTH HAVE BEEN TINKERED WITH.
THE STANDARD AND ALREADY LETHARGIC 1.6-LITER ACTUALLY RATES LESS HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE THAN LAST YEAR.
THE 2.0-LITER IN OUR SOUL EXCLAIM ADDS DIRECT INJECTION FOR THE SAME 164-HORSEPOWER, BUT A SMALL BUT WELCOMED BOOST IN TORQUE TO 151 POUND-FEET.
INSIDE, WE WERE VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE UPSCALE REDESIGN.
THE BARGAIN BLING OF THE ORIGINAL HAS GIVEN WAY TO A MUCH MORE WELCOMING ATMOSPHERE.
MATURE DRIVERS WILL LIKE THE NEW SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS AND THE NEXT GEN UVO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.
HAPPILY, KIA DID KEEP A FEW OF THE SOUL'S ORIGINAL YOUTHFUL ELEMENTS, LIKE THE SIGNATURE PULSATING SPEAKER LIGHTS.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE FOR ALL AGE GROUPS IS THE IMPROVED SEAT COMFORT AND OVERALL ROOMIER AND MORE USEFUL CABIN.
CARGO CAPACITY IS UP TO 24.2 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE FOLDING REAR SEATBACKS, 61.3 CUBIC-FEET WITH THEM FLAT.
THE DECIDEDLY UPSCALE SUN AND SOUND OPTION PACKAGE ADDS A PANORAMIC SUNROOF, INFINITY AUDIO SYSTEM, NAVIGATION WITH A LARGE 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY, AND AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL.
AND THE AVAILABLE SUPERVISION INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FEATURES A 4.3-INCH COLOR LCD SCREEN BETWEEN THE TACH AND SPEEDOMETER.
PUSH BUTTON START, HEATED AND VENTILATED LEATHER FRONT SEATS, HEATED REAR SEATS, AND HEATED STEERING WHEEL ARE ALL OFFERED AS WELL.
KIA ALSO WISELY DECIDED NOT TO TINKER TOO MUCH WITH THE SOUL'S UNIQUE EXTERIOR STYLING, STICKING WITH THE SAME BOXY BULLDOG SHAPE AS BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH ALL SHEET METAL IS NEW.
IT'S NOW MORE ROUNDED, LESS SQUARED OFF, AND A TAD MORE AGGRESSIVE THANKS TO THE LARGER OPENINGS UP FRONT AND A WIDER STANCE.
LED POSITIONING LIGHTS ARE STANDARD ON THE EXCLAIM MODEL, BUT THE HID HEADLIGHTS COME AS PART OF THE "WHOLE SHEBANG PACKAGE."
FENDERS ARE STILL VERY PRONOUNCED AND THE BLACKED-OUT A-PILLARS GIVE A WRAPAROUND VISOR LOOK TO THE GREENHOUSE.
EXCLAIM TRIM ALSO ADDS A HALO TREATMENT TO THE HIGH MOUNTED TAIL LIGHTS THAT LEND A '70s DISCO ERA SCI-FI LOOK.
STANDARD WHEELS ARE 16-INCHES, WITH THE EXCLAIM RIDING ON 18s.
BUT YOU WON'T EXACTLY BE SPINNING THOSE WHEELS OFF THE LINE TOO MUCH, AS POWER, EVEN WITH THE 2.0-LITER, IS ADEQUATE AT BEST.
SPRINTS TO 60 TAKE A SLEEPY 8.9-SECONDS.
THE 1.6-LITER SOUL COMES WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD WITH THE 2.0.
SHIFTS WERE SOFT, AND POWER SLOW TO BUILD ON THE WAY TO A QUARTER MILE TIME OF 17.0-SECONDS AND 84 MILES-PER-HOUR.
BUT ONCE WE STARTED TACKLING THE CONES, WE BEGAN TO FIND SOME "SOUL"-FUL FUN.
DESPITE THE MORE REFINED RIDE OF THE NEW SOUL, HANDLING HAS ALSO IMPROVED.
TURN-IN IS QUICK, AND BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER CAN BE FOUND IF YOU GO LOOKING.
BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS ALSO IMPRESSIVE WITH CONSISTENT STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING A SHORT 118-FEET.
GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE LITTLE CHANGED.
THE 2.0-LITER RATES 23-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.
FORTUNATELY EVEN OUR LEAD FOOTED DRIVERS WERE ABLE TO ACHIEVE 26.8 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR IN A MIXED LOOP OF DRIVING.
THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS GOOD AT 12.7-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USAGE AND 5.6-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.
EVEN WITH PRICES SNEAKING UP JUST A LITTLE, VALUE CONTINUES TO BE A STRONG SELLING POINT; WITH BASE SOULS STARTING AT $15,695.
MID-LEVEL PLUS MODELS AT $19,195, AND TOP-OF-THE-LINE EXCLAIMS START AT $21,295.
THE SOUL BECAME AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS IN A SINGLE GENERATION.
AND AFTER SOME SOUL SEARCHING OF OUR OWN, WE CONCLUDE THAT THE MOSTLY VERY WELL EXECUTED UPDATES WILL EXPAND THE 2014 KIA SOUL'S MASS APPEAL EVEN MORE.
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW.
AND FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AND COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE SUBARU WRX HANDLES THE ROAD WHEN IT GOES FROM STREET TO TRACK.
THEN WE'LL SPIN UP THE TIRES OF A CHEVROLET CAMARO SS 1LE.
PAT GOSS BUFFS OUT SOME ISSUES DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.
YOLANDA VAZQUEZ GIVES US A WOMAN'S VIEW ON BUYING A CAR.
AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.
UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JOHN DAVIS.
WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .
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