Season 33 Episode 32 | 26m 48s | Video has closed captioning.
In this episode, we do a 3-row throw down, as we matchup today’s top family utilities. We go all in on track with the Jaguar XFR-S. Our success story this week takes us to GE capital in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Pat Goss throttles up a few engine care tips down at Goss’ Garage.
Aired: 04/10/14
Expired: 04/24/15
Support provided by:
HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US FOR A 3-ROW THROW DOWN AS WE MATCH UP TODAY'S TOP FAMILY UTILITIES... PAT GOSS THROTTLES UP A FEW ENGINE CARE TIPS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AND BEHIND THE SCENES WITH THE BOYS IN BLUE... AND THEN WE GO ALL IN ON TRACK WITH THE JAGUAR XFR-S.
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
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John Davis: IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS SINCE WE GOT TOGETHER WITH CARS.COM AND USA TODAY FOR A 3-ROW FAMILY UTILITY COMPARISON TEST.
THAT STANDOFF SAW THE HONDA PILOT TAKE THE TOP SPOT.
MUCH HAS CHANGED IN 7 AND 8 PASSENGER CROSSOVERS SINCE THEN, WITH UPDATES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERY ENTRY.
SO LET'S SEE IF THE PILOT CAN KEEP ITS PLACE AS THE FAMILY HAULING STAR, OR IF THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN?
FOR BIG FAMILIES WITH LOTS OF STUFF, ONLY A 3-ROW UTILITY WILL DO.
AND WHILE SMALLER CROSSOVERS ARE GETTING THE MOST ATTENTION LATELY, IT'S THE NEAR FULL-SIZE ONES THAT REMAIN A MUST HAVE FOR MANY.
WE'VE SET UP CAMP IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH CARS.COM AND USA TODAY TO DO A DEEP DIVE WITH 7 OF THESE BIG HAULERS.
AND WITH THE HELP OF A LOCAL FAMILY THAT'S LOOKING TO MAKE A BIG-UTE BUY, WE WENT IN SEARCH FOR THE MOST COMFORT AND FEATURES FOR THE MONEY.
AS IN OUR PREVIOUS CHALLENGES, THERE WAS A STICKER PRICE CAP.
IN THIS CASE, $40,000.
ALL UTES ARE 2014 MODELS, HAVE V6 POWER WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, AND GET A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 19 OR BETTER.
MOST WERE 2-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH ONLY A PAIR OF ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CONTENDERS.
OUR CONTESTANTS ARE...
THE RECENTLY RE-FRESHENED CHEVROLET TRAVERSE...
THE ALWAYS RUGGED, YET INCREASINGLY REFINED DODGE DURANGO.
OUR PREVIOUS 3-ROW CHALLENGE WINNER, THE HONDA PILOT.
THE NOW LARGER HYUNDAI SANTA FE.
THE ATHLETIC MAZDA CX-9.
THE SLEEK, NEW NISSAN PATHFINDER.
AND FINALLY, THE FRESHEST DESIGN IN THE GROUP, THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.
SO, AFTER EVERY SEAT HAD BEEN FLIPPED AND FOLDED AND EVERY 3RD-ROW TRIED AND TESTED, THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE RANKED 7TH, DEFENDING CHAMP AND AGING HONDA PILOT 6TH, WITH THE MAZDA CX-9 IN 5TH PLACE.
AS FOR THE TOP FINISHERS, THE NISSAN PATHFINDER, A 2013 DRIVERS' CHOICE HONOREE GARNERED 4TH.
PATHFINDER HAS SUCCESSFULLY TRANSITIONED FROM RUGGED TO REFINED.
FUEL ECONOMY IS AMONG THE BEST AT 21-COMBINED, THOUGH POWER AMONG THE LOWEST FROM THE 260-HORSEPOWER 3.5-LITER V6.
PRICE, EVEN WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AND A VERY LUXURIOUS INTERIOR, WAS STILL MID-PACK AT $39,515.
Brian Robinson: LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE, I WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED WHEN THE PATHFINDER WENT THE CROSSOVER ROUTE, BUT IT'S GROWN ON ME OVER THE YEARS.
IT'S GOT A GREAT RIDE, THE INTERIOR IS WELL DONE, AND IT'S GOT ALL OF THE FEATURES MOST FAMILIES NEED.
Joe Bruzek: THE PATHFINDER'S HIGH QUALITY INTERIOR ISN'T THAT FAR OFF FROM BEING AS NICE AS A LUXURY SUV.
John: THE 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA HIGHLANDER IS THE FRESHEST FACE HERE, HOWEVER, THAT ADVANTAGE ONLY GARNERED A 3RD PLACE FINISH.
IT SHARED THE PATHFINDER'S COMBINED MPG RATING OF 21, THOUGH SQUEAKED 10 MORE HP FROM ITS 3.5-LITER V6.
BUT ITS PRICE SLOTTED JUST BELOW AT $38,947; MAKING FOR A VERY APPEALING OVERALL PACKAGE.
Chris Woodyard: THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER WAS JUST AN ALL-AROUND, WELL EXECUTED VEHICLE; NICE LEATHER, NICE PREMIUM INTERIOR, AND SOME GREAT TOUCHES.
MY FAVORITE -- IT HAS AN INTERCOM FEATURE IN WHICH THE DRIVER CAN TALK TO THE PASSENGERS IN THE REAR SEATS.
Jennifer Geiger: I LOVE THE HIGHLANDER'S GIGANTIC CENTER CONSOLE AND ENORMOUS MULTIMEDIA SCREEN; OTHER THAN THAT, IT REALLY DOESN'T IMPRESS.
John: OUR 2ND PLACE FINISHER, THE DODGE DURANGO, WAS THE PRICIEST BRUTE AT $39,930.
IT DRIVES MOST LIKE A TRADITIONAL SUV, AND TIED FOR MOST POWERFUL THANKS TO THE 290-PONIES FROM ITS 3.6-LITER V6.
YET IT STILL RATED A DECENT 20 MILES-PER-GALLON COMBINED.
ALL OF OUR EVALUATORS HAD GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE DURANGO'S WELL-APPOINTED INTERIOR AND GREAT UCONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.
Kelsey Mays: THE DURANGO'S BRASH STYLING CARRIES OVER TO THE INTERIOR WHERE CABIN QUALITY IS PRETTY GOOD; AND IF YOU CARE ABOUT PASSENGERS IN THE 3RD ROW, THE DURANGO, HANDS DOWN, THE BEST 3RD ROW IN THE GROUP.
Brian: THE DURANGO REALLY HAS THAT OLD-SCHOOL SUV FEEL, WHICH APPEALS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, MYSELF INCLUDED.
IT'S GOT A GREAT RIDE, FEELS VERY POWERFUL, THE INTERIOR IS WELL DONE.
PROBABLY ONE OF MY FAVORITES HERE.
John: AS IN SOME OTHER RECENT COMPARISONS WE'VE DONE, THE 1ST PLACE HYUNDAI SANTA FE'S PRICE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE LOWEST HERE AT $39,540; BUT IT SURE BROUGHT PLENTY OF GOODS ALONG WITH IT, PACKING MORE FEATURES AND MORE LUXURY THAN ANY OTHER SUV IN OUR COMPARISON.
AND DESPITE THE SMALLEST V6 AT 3.3-LITERS, IT TIED THE DURANGO FOR TOP HORSEPOWER AT 290, BUT DID SO WITH BETTER FUEL ECONOMY AT 21 MPG COMBINED.
Jennifer: WITH THE SANTA FE, HYUNDAI OFFERS THE TOTAL PACKAGE; THERE'S LOADS OF FEATURES, PREMIUM FEEL CABIN, AND IT'S REALLY COMFORTABLE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY.
Ed Sbalburo: WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND STARTED CHECKING OUT THE FEATURES, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH THE QUALITY OF THE INTERIOR.
THE FEATURES, LIKE THE COOLED SEATS, YOU CAN'T GET IN THE OTHER CARS.
>> John: SO WHETHER YOU'VE GOT A BIG FAMILY OR JUST NEED THE EXTRA SPACE, ALL OF THESE THREE-ROW HAULERS SHOULD GET THE JOB DONE.
IN THIS COMPARISON, THE SANTA FE USED THE TYPICAL HYUNDAI FORMULA OF OFFERING MORE FOR LESS TO WORK ITS WAY TO THE TOP.
AS IT DID IN OUR 2014 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.
AND THEN THE SANTA FE CONTINUES TO PILE IT ON BY SHARING BOTH THE MOST POWER AND BEST FUEL ECONOMY.
SO, IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD, THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE IS THE NEW THREE-ROW STAR!
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO GE CAPITAL IN EDEN PRAIRIE, MINNESOTA.
IN 2012, GE BUILT THIS 6,000 SQUARE FOOT VEHICLE INNOVATION CENTER AS A SHOWCASE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES FOR COMMERCIAL USE.
FLEET MANAGERS CAN SAMPLE A WIDE VARIETY OF ALT-FUEL MODELS -- FROM THIS PLUG-IN TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID, TO THIS COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BI-FUEL CHEVROLET SILVERADO, WITH A HALF-MILE ROAD COURSE ALLOWING DIRECT COMPARISONS.
Brad Smith: GE LEADS THE WAY IN SO MANY DIFFERENT MANNERS, AND THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THEM LEADING THE WAY IN SOMETHING THAT IS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE.
John: AS PART OF GE'S ALT-FUEL FOCUS, A SOLAR CARPORT WITH EV CHARGING IS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYEES AS GE HAS CLOSE TO 5,000 EVs IN ITS U.S. FLEET ALONE.
A CHARTER MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S NATIONAL CLEAN FLEETS PARTNERSHIP, GENERAL ELECTRIC IS CONTINUING ITS 135-YEAR COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION, INNOVATION, AND "IMAGINATION AT WORK".
WITH PRODUCTION CARS BECOMING FASTER AND MORE NIMBLE EVERY YEAR, LAW ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE KEEPING UP.
OUR OVER THE EDGE REPORTER ZACH MASKELL SPENT A DAY WITH ONE GROUP WHO MAKE SURE THAT POLICE AGENCIES WORLD-WIDE AREN'T LEFT IN THE DUST.
Zach Maskell: SINCE 1974, THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN PUTTING THE NEWEST PATROL VEHICLES TO THE TEST.
12 SEDANS, 3 SUVs, AND 7 MOTORCYCLES WERE PUT IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT BELDING, MICHIGAN'S GRATTAN RACEWAY.
WITH ELECTRONIC DRIVER AIDS BECOMING MORE ADVANCED EVERY YEAR, TEST DRIVERS REALLY HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO RAPIDLY CHANGING VEHICLE RESPONSE.
Lt. Jim Flegel: WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE ABS BRAKING AND THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF ABS BRAKING IS JUST SIMPLY INCREDIBLE.
Zach: THIS WAS THE MOST DYNAMIC PART OF THE EVALUATION.
AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE, NOTHING IS OVER LOOKED.
BUT THEY ALSO TEST FOR TOP SPEED, ACCELERATION, BRAKING, ERGONOMICS, AND COMMUNICATIONS.
THE MSP USES DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AND ALTERNATE DRIVERS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE DATA TO OVER 30,000 DEPARTMENTS IN THE COUNTRY ALONE.
Lt. Flegel: THE REASON WE USE GRATTAN RACEWAY IS WE WANT TO SIMULATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE DRIVING, OR PURSUIT DRIVING, AND THIS HAS SEVERAL REALISTIC CURVES AND TURNS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO EXPERIENCE IN THE REAL WORLD.
IT HAS DIFFERENT ELEVATION CHANGES, DIFFERENT TYPES OF TURNS, AND OFF CAMBERED TURNS.
Zach: THE TWO-MILE-LONG ROAD COURSE ALLOWS THE TROOPERS TO PUSH THE VEHICLES TO 100% OF THEIR LIMITS.
A PATROL CAR CAN SEE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES IN A YEAR, SO THEY'RE PUT THROUGH THE PACES IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN TAKE THE STRESS.
Sgt.
Ron Gromak: THIS COURSE IS QUITE PUNISHING TO THE CAR, SO IF IT'S GOT SOME KIND OF FLAW IN ITS DESIGN, IT'S GOING TO SHOW IT HERE ON THIS TRACK BECAUSE THIS IS MORE OF A DURABILITY ISSUE.
Zach: GETTING AROUND THE TRACK SUREST AND FASTEST...
THE DODGE CHARGER 5.7-LITER V8 WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.
FOLLOWING IT, THE BOW TIE BRAND CAPRICE 6.0-LITER V8, REAR DRIVE.
Sgt.
Gromak: THE MANUFACTURERS HAVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND MADE THESE LAW ENFORCEMENT CARS TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED TO KEEP THEM SAFE, BUT THEY PERFORM EXTREMELY WELL.
Zach: THE RUMORS YOU'VE HEARD ARE TRUE.
INCLUDING TUNED SUSPENSION, BIGGER BRAKES, AND A REWORKED ENGINE.
EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE SPECIALIZED VEHICLES IS MOLDED AROUND AN OFFICER'S DUTIES.
LAW ENFORCEMENT SPENDS A LOT OF TIME IN THEIR VEHICLES, THAT'S WHY IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO KEEP IN MIND JUST HOW COMFORTABLE IT'S GOING TO BE; WHAT KIND OF SEATS COME WITH IT, HOW FAR THE DOOR WILL OPEN, HOW MUCH TRUNK SPACE THERE IS, AND PLENTY MORE.
AFTER HEARING FROM THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WEAR BADGES, THE CAPRICE'S SHIFTER WAS MOVED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE TO A COLUMN-SHIFT TO ALLOW FOR MORE ROOM.
NOW POLICE OFFICERS ALSO KEEP THE COMFORT OF THE BAD GUYS IN MIND TOO.
SO IF YOU'RE EVER SO UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO FIND YOURSELF IN THE BACK OF A COP CAR, PICK A CAPRICE.
THERE'S DEFINITELY A LOT MORE ROOM BACK HERE THAN A LOT OF THE OTHER VEHICLES.
WELL, HOPEFULLY THAT OUTCOME WON'T BE YOURS.
AT TEST'S END, WHICH VEHICLES DID THE MSP FIND TO BE THE MOST WORTHY CHOICES?
FOR DEPARTMENTS WHERE ERGONOMICS AND COMMUNICATIONS ARE MOST IMPORTANT...
THE CHEVROLET TAHOE TAKES THE GOLD.
IT'S THE EASIEST TO GET IN AND OUT OF, AND HAS THE MOST ROOM.
FOR 0 TO 60, THE FORD POLICE INTERCEPTOR AWD ECOBOOST 3.5-LITER V6 IS THE WINNER.
WITH A 155 MILE PER HOUR TOP SPEED, THE CHEVROLET CAPRICE 6.0-LITER WOULD BE HARD TO OUTRUN.
THE DODGE CHARGER 5.7-LITER AWD, AGAIN SHOWING WHAT IT CAN DO, HAD THE SHORTEST STOPPING DISTANCE OF 126.5 FEET FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR SO WHICH ONES DO THE DRIVERS FAVOR?
Sgt.
Gromak: MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO I WOULD HAVE HAD A FAVORITE BUT NOW, I DON'T THINK THERE'S A BAD CAR OUT THERE.
I REALLY DON'T.
IN A DOG-EAT-DOG WORLD WHERE PEOPLE DO WHATEVER'S NECESSARY TO GET AHEAD, IT'S REFRESHING TO READ ABOUT A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO STILL LIVE BY A CODE OF HONOR.
"THE ONE PERCENTER CODE: HOW TO LIVE LIKE AN OUTLAW IN A WORLD GONE SOFT" BY DAVE NICHOLS SHOWS THERE'S A LOT MORE TO MOTORCYCLE CLUBS THAN WHAT YOU'VE SEEN ON CABLE TV SHOWS AND BAD BIKER FLICKS.
AND WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THEIR METHODS OR NOT, WE CAN ALL LEARN SOMETHING FROM THEM.
AND IF YOU'RE TRULY CLUELESS ABOUT THE WORLD OF MOTORCYCLE CLUBS, IT MIGHT HELP TO HAVE THE "ONE PERCENTER ENCYCLOPEDIA" BY BILL HAYES, TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE.
NOW LET'S STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE, AND SEE WHAT PAT HAS REVVED UP THIS WEEK!
Pat Goss: YOU MAY THINK THAT WHEN YOU BURN GASOLINE, THAT IT CLEANS YOUR ENGINE.
BUT IN REALITY, IT MAY NOT.
IT ACTUALLY DIRTIES THE INSIDE OF YOUR ENGINE.
NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF SPOTS INSIDE OF AN ENGINE THAT GET GUMMED-UP WITH CARBON AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS THAT ARE THE RESULT OF BURNING FUELS AND VAPORS FROM THE CRANK CASE.
THE TOPS OF PISTONS, THE BACKS OF INTAKE VALVES, THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE THROTTLE BODY ITSELF, ALL OF THESE AREAS IN AN ENGINE GET DIRTY AS YOU DRIVE IT.
NOW, WE FOUND SOME REALLY SEVERE CARBON DEPOSITS ON THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS AND IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS, AND SO ON, OF THIS TOYOTA.
NOW, WE HAD SOME CHOICES.
WE COULD DO INDIVIDUAL CLEANING PROCESSES WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE THEM ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPENSIVE FOR THE CUSTOMERS.
SO WE ELECTED TO DO ONE COMBINATION CLEANING.
NOW FOR THAT, WE USE THIS PRESSURIZED CANISTER.
WE PUT A SPECIAL CLEANING CHEMICAL IN IT THAT SOFTENS AND CLEANS AWAY CARBON AND OTHER HARSH DEPOSITS LIKE THAT; IT HAS A HOSE ON IT -- THE HOSE GETS CONNECTED TO THIS NOZZLE THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND WE USE SHOP AIR TO PRESSURIZE THAT VESSEL.
NOW, THE NOZZLE -- THE SPRAY NOZZLE, GOES INTO THE THROTTLE BODY OF THE ENGINE, AND WE RUN THE ENGINE WITH THIS CHEMICAL BEING MISTED INTO THE THROTTLE BODY.
THAT CLEANS THE THROTTLE BODY; IT CLEANS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH IS IMPORTANT ON A LOT OF CARS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BUTTERFLIES IN THERE THAT CHANGE THE LENGTH OF THE INTAKE RUNNERS TO MATCH THE THROTTLE SETTING.
THEY DON'T WORK?
WELL, YOU HAVE POOR PERFORMANCE AND YOU MAY GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT.
BUT THEN THIS CHEMICAL CONTINUES ON OVER THE BACKS OF THE INTAKE VALVES; CLEANS THEM; CLEANS THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND THE TOPS OF THE PISTONS.
ALRIGHT, IT'S A ONE-SHOT JOB THAT DOES EVERYTHING, IT DOES A VERY GOOD JOB.
WE CAN SEE IN OUR BEFORE-AND-AFTER PICTURES OF THIS VERY CAR.
AFTER, THE PISTON IS ALMOST SPOTLESS.
BEFORE, IT WAS COMPLETELY COATED WITH CARBON.
SO, IF YOUR CAR HAS SOME MILES ON IT, 30,000 OR MORE, THIS IS A PROCESS THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER.
IT'LL PROBABLY PAY FOR ITSELF IN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE, AND POSSIBLY EVEN FUEL ECONOMY.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SO LET'S GO FOR A COUPLE OF QUICK SPINS.
FOLLOWING A STRONG YEAR, HONDA LOOKS TO STAY IN FIGHTING FORM WITH AN ALL-NEW GENERATION OF THE FIT SUB-COMPACT.
AND WITH FAR MORE INTENSE SMALL CAR COMPETITION THESE DAYS, IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THE FIT HAS RECEIVED A TOTAL OVERHAUL.
IT'S BOTH SHORTER AND WIDER THAN BEFORE.
WHEELBASE AS INCREASED, THOUGH; OVER AN INCH, WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO ALMOST FIVE INCHES OF ADDITIONAL REAR SEAT LEGROOM, AND ALMOST 53 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE.
THE FIT'S 5-DOOR APPEARANCE ADDS SOME DRAMA WITH A FRESH TAKE ON THE FRONT FASCIA AND GRILLE, STAMPED CHARACTER LINES, AND LED TAILLIGHTS.
INTERIOR UPGRADES INCLUDE LEATHER TRIM, AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGIES LIKE PUSH-BUTTON START, HONDA'S LANEWATCH, AND A STANDARD MULTI-ANGLE BACKUP CAMERA.
THE ENGINE IS ALSO NEW, BOTH FOR HONDA AND FOR THE FIT.
A 1.5 LITER 4 CYLINDER, NOW DIRECT INJECTED WITH 130 HORSEPOWER.
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION GAINS A BADLY NEEDED SIXTH GEAR, WHILE A CVT REPLACES LAST YEAR'S 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC.
THE CHASSIS IS STRONGER, MORE RIGID, WITH THE FIT'S FAMOUSLY SUBSTANTIAL RIDE AND SPORTY ATTITUDE NICELY IMPROVED.
Ben Das: HANDLING IS MUCH MORE SPIRITED THANKS TO NOTICEABLY QUICKER STEERING.
I'M ALSO IMPRESSED WITH THE CVT TRANS AS WELL.
IT DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF DEALING OUT POWER WHENEVER YOU NEED IT.
HOWEVER, LIKE ANY OTHER CVT, IT'S A LITTLE NOISY TILL YOU GET UP TO YOUR CRUISING SPEED.
BUT FOR THE PURISTS, THE SIX-SPEED MANUAL IS REALLY DIALED-IN.
John: THE FIT ALSO TAKES BEST FUEL ECONOMY FOR ITS INTERIOR SIZE.
THE FIT CVT SCORES A GOVERNMENT RATING OF 36 COMBINED MPG.
ON SALE NOW, 2015 HONDA FIT PRICES START JUST OVER $16,000.
WHILE CAR-BASED CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLES ARE DECIDEDLY MORE EFFICIENT AND PRACTICAL, IT SEEMS THAT MANY RED-BLOODED AMERICANS JUST CAN'T DO WITHOUT A FULL-SIZE, TRUCK-FRAMED, BIG BOAT AND TRAILER TOWING SUV TO MOSEY AROUND TOWN IN.
AND NO-ONE KNOW THIS MARKET BETTER THAN GENERAL MOTORS.
FOR 2015, THEIR FULL-SIZE SUV LINEUP IS ALL NEW, STARTING WITH THE HIGH VOLUME CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SUBURBAN.
FOLLOWING THE NEW SILVERADO PICKUP, POWER IS FROM THEIR ALSO-NEW 5.3 LITER V8, GOOD FOR 355 HORSEPOWER, WITH A TRAILERING LIMIT OF OVER 8,000 POUNDS.
STYLING AND FUNCTIONALITY IS WHERE MANY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS RESIDE, WITH SHEET METAL CLEANED UP AND MODERNIZED, INCLUDING AVAILABLE HID HEADLIGHTS AND LED RUNNERS.
INSIDE, SECOND ROW LEGROOM STRETCHES TWO INCHES, WITH FLAT-FOLDING SECOND AND THIRD ROWS, AND AN OPTIONAL ONE-TOUCH FOLDING SYSTEM.
RIDE COMFORT NOTCHES WAY UP, ESPECIALLY WITH THE AVAILABLE MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL IN TOP LTZ TRIM AND INLAYED DOORS KEEP THINGS WHISPER QUIET.
LOOSE ITEM STORAGE IS FOUND IN THE CAVERNOUS CENTER CONSOLE, OR BEHIND THE NEW 8-INCH LCD INFOTAINMENT SCREEN WITH CHEVY MYLINK.
IN BACK, UNDER FLOOR COMPARTMENTS HIDE THINGS FROM CURIOUS EYES.
THE SLIGHTLY MORE UPSCALE GMC YUKON AND YUKON XL GET A SIMILAR MAKEOVER, WITH THE SAME POWERTRAIN UNDER MORE DISTINCTIVE PREMIUM SHEET METAL.
ALSO AVAILABLE ARE 20 AND 22-INCH WHEELS, AND A POSHER INTERIOR TREATMENT.
TOP TIER DENALI MODELS, BOTH YUKON AND YUKON XL, OFFER AN EXCLUSIVE 6.2 LITER, 420 HORSEPOWER V8, A COPIOUS HELPING OF CHROME, AND AN ACTIVE NOISE CANCELATION SYSTEM FOR EVEN MORE ISOLATION AT SPEED.
PRICING FOR THESE BIG GUYS BEGIN AROUND $46,000 AT CHEVY, WITH A SMALL PREMIUM FOR GMCs.
DENALI PRICING STARTS NEAR $64,000.
AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPIN IMPRESSIONS, SOON!
OVER THE LAST YEAR THERE'S BEEN MORE ENTHUSIASM OVER THE JAGUAR BRAND THAN ANY TIME IN RECENT MEMORY.
AND WHILE THE TWO SEAT JAGUAR F-TYPE MAY BE GENERATING MOST OF THE HYPE FOR THIS BRITISH MARQUE AT THE MOMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR BRAND.
ONE VERY GOOD EXAMPLE IS THIS HOT ROD JAGUAR XFR-S WE'VE EASILY SPENT MORE TRACK TIME IN A JAG OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS THAN WE DID IN THE PRIOR 30.
NO WONDER, FLOGGING A CAR LIKE THIS 2014 JAGUAR XFR-S SEDAN IS A TEMPTATION OUR TESTERS CAN'T RESIST.
AND WHY SHOULD WE WHEN IT FEELS SO AT HOME ON OUR VENUE OF CHOICE, SAVANNAH'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.
SO, WHILE THE PHRASE "HOTTER THAN GEORGIA ASPHALT" MAY HAVE RELEVANCE MOST OF THE YEAR, ON OUR JANUARY TEST DAY, ICY AIR TEMPS IN THE 30s MADE FOR LESS THAN IDEAL TRACTION.
STILL, WE MANAGED TO SPIN OUR XFR-S TO 60 IN 4.3-SECONDS.
ONCE THE TIRES STOPPED SPINNING AND STARTING THRUSTING, WE QUICKLY RAN OUT THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.5-SECONDS AT 115 MILES-PER-HOUR.
THAT'S MORE CHEETAH THAN JAGUAR.
OUR SEARCH FOR GRIP CONTINUED AROUND THE REST OF THE TRACK.
AND WHILE WE WERE ABLE TO FIND SOME HERE AND THERE; FOR THE MOST PART, IT WAS A TAIL OUT AFFAIR.
THE OVERSTEER-HAPPY XFR-S HAS SOME SERIOUS POWER AND IT'S NOT AFRAID TO UNLEASH IT, LEAVING YOU TO DEAL WITH THE CONSEQUENCES.
THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT; WE'RE ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH THAT.
THE ELECTRONIC ACTIVE DIFFERENTIAL AND DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL HAVE BOTH BEEN RECALIBRATED TO ALLOW THAT MORE AGGRESSIVE NATURE TO EXIST.
THE FRONT SUSPENSION HAS ALSO BEEN RETUNED AND STIFFER BEARINGS ADDED FOR INCREASED PRECISION; WHILE NEW KNUCKLES ALLOW FOR MORE CAMBER ADJUSTMENT.
THE REAR GETS A WHOLE NEW SUB-FRAME WITH STIFFER EVERYTHING, AND THERE'S WIDER 20-INCH FORGED WHEELS ALL AROUND.
STILL, IT TOOK A LITTLE MORE EFFORT TO LAY DOWN FAST LAPS THAN IT DID IN THE XKR-S COUPE WE TESTED HERE ON A MUCH WARMER DAY TWO YEARS AGO.
SO WHILE THIS HOT ROD XF MAY NOT HAVE ALL OF THE TRACK GRIPPING NATURE OF RIVALS LIKE THE BMW M5 OR THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE MERCEDES-BENZ E63, IT DOES HAVE A MORE RAUCOUS PERSONALITY.
THERE IS A GREAT SENSE OF LIGHTNESS, WITH VERY PRECISE STEERING AND ACTUAL FEEL; SOMETHING THE GERMANS HAVE ALMOST COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.
THE BIGGEST PIECE TO THE CURRENT RS PERFORMANCE PUZZLE IS THIS 5.0-LITER SUPERCHARGED V8.
IT STOMPS OUT 550-HORSEPOWER AND 502 LB-FT.F TORQUE.
THAT'S THE SAME HORSEPOWER AS THE E63, 2-LESS THAN THE M5; THOUGH THE E IS CLEARLY THE TORQUE CHAMP AT 531 LB-FT.
CONNECTED, IS THE USUAL ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC; HERE IN QUICKSHIFT GUISE THAT WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE F-TYPE.
BRINGING SOME AGGRESSION TO THIS JAGUAR'S SLEEK SHAPE ARE A BLACK-FINISHED GRILLE AND LARGER AIR INTAKES UP FRONT.
AND IT CAN BE FURTHER DISTINGUISHED BY ADDING A $3,500 CARBON FIBER WING TO THE REAR.
AS THE 2ND HIGH PERFORMANCE R-S MODEL FROM JAG, AND AGAIN LIKE THE XKR-S, THE INTERIOR IS UPGRADED WITH CARBON FIBER-STYLE CHARCOAL LEATHER, PIANO BLACK VENEER, AND DARK ALUMINUM TRIM.
FOR THOSE WHO CARE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.
THE XFR-S IS A VERY LIMITED ITEM, WITH JUST 100 EXAMPLES COMING STATESIDE FOR THE 2014 MODEL YEAR, STARTING AT $99,895.
AND WITH THAT RARITY, THE JAGUAR XFR-S CAN GO HEAD TO HEAD WITH THE LIKES OF THE M5 AND E63, AND ON A FEW ACCOUNTS, ACTUALLY BEAT THEM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT LETS RIVALS KNOW THAT JAGUAR IS SERIOUS ABOUT COMPETING IN THE SUPER TUNED SPORT LUXURY BUSINESS.
IT'S ALSO A REMINDER THAT JAGUAR IS STILL THE LARGEST CAT IN THE WORLD AND WILL HENCEFORTH DEMAND RESPECT.
WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!
NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR LATEST PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.
AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR AN ALL-OUT TRACK TEST OF THE CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY.
AND A DEEP DIVE INTO THE LATEST HONDA FIT.
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...
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