2015 Chrysler 200 & 2015 GM Full-Size SUVs

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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE NUMBERS ADD UP IN FAVOR OF THE NEW CHRYSLER 200... PAT GOSS HAS A QUICK FIX FOR A COMMON A/C TROUBLE... WE HEAD-OFF ON AN ALL-TERRAIN ADVENTURE WITH LAND ROVER, THAT YOU CAN JOIN, TOO!

AND WE KEEP ON TRUCKIN' AS WE LOOK AT GM'S LATEST ROUND OF FULL-SIZE SUVs.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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THIS IS BOB.

BOB'S NOT THINKING ABOUT WHERE TO BUY HIS NEXT SET OF TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT BOB'S THINKING, "SHOULD I TELL HER ABOUT THAT THING IN HER TEETH?"

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DIEHARD.

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John Davis: WHILE THE CHRYSLER 300 HAS MADE QUITE A SPLASH ON THE FULL-SIZE SEDAN MARKET, CHRYSLER'S MID-SIZE 200 HAS NOT ACHIEVED ANYWHERE NEAR THE SAME KIND OF IMPACT.

MID-SIZE BUYERS STILL SEEM TO PREFER THEIR CAMRY'S, ACCORDS, FUSIONS, AND ALTIMA'S.

BUT THE CHRYSLER GROUP HAS BEEN ON A ROLL LATELY, AND NOW IS A PERFECT TIME TO TRY AGAIN.

SO, LET'S SEE IF AN ALL-NEW 200 WILL MAKE A BIGGER IMPACT IN FAMILY SEDAN WORLD.

THE 2015 CHRYSLER 200 IS CLEARLY LOOKING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS A MORE PREMIUM CHOICE AMONG MID-SIZE SEDANS.

BOTH BY WAY OF ITS GRACEFUL NEW SKIN AND WHAT LIES BENEATH IT.

THE 200 IS BASED ON THE SAME ALFA ROMEO ARCHITECTURE AS THE DODGE DART AND JEEP CHEROKEE, ONLY HERE WHEELBASE IS STRETCHED TO NEW LIMITS AT 108.0-INCHES, WITH THE PLATFORM GROWING A TAD WIDER AS WELL.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AN IMPRESSIVE AMOUNT OF SPACE INSIDE AND A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

SIMILAR TO THE CHEROKEE, THE 200'S REAR SUB-FRAME IS ISOLATED, SO THERE'S A SMOOTH ATTITUDE TO THE SUSPENSION THAT SEEMS EQUALLY COMPLIANT OVER ALL ROADS.

THOUGH FOR THE MOST COMFY RESULTS, STICK WITH THE BASE CAR'S 17-INCH WHEELS AS BROKEN PAVEMENT BECAME A WHOLE LOT MORE NOTICEABLE WITH THE 19s ON OUR 200C TEST CAR.

NEW FOR THIS YEAR IS AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE; A VERY EFFICIENT ON-DEMAND SYSTEM WITH A POWER TRANSFER UNIT WITH CLUTCH PACKS THAT CAN SEND AS MUCH AS 60% OF THE POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS WHEN NEEDED, AND YET FULLY DISCONNECTS THE REAR AXLES WHEN IT'S NOT FOR MINIMAL IMPACT ON FUEL ECONOMY.

INSIDE THE COUPISH-STYLE GREENHOUSE RESIDES AN INTERIOR WITH ABUNDANT SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS.

EVEN THE BASE MODEL IS QUITE LUXURIOUS, WITH MUCH INSPIRATION TAKEN FROM BIG BROTHER 300.

THERE'S A GREAT LOOKING GAUGE CLUSTER WITH 7-INCH PERSONALIZED LED DISPLAY LODGED BETWEEN THE BLUE BACKLIT DUAL DIALS.

THE NOW FAMILIAR 8-INCH UCONNECT TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE IS OPTIONAL.

BUT STANDARD IS AN UP SLOPING CENTER CONSOLE, FAVORING THE PORSCHE PANAMERA'S, AND IT WORKS JUST AS GREAT HERE AS IT DOES THERE.

LOCATING A RAM STYLE ROTARY SHIFTER FAR FORWARD OPENS UP EXTRA CONSOLE STORAGE SPACE AS THE CUP HOLDERS SLIDE UNDER THE ARMREST.

A STORAGE TRAY UNDER THE CONSOLE HIGHLIGHTS THE DETROIT SKYLINE IN RELIEF; FULLY WAVING THE "IMPORTED FROM DETROIT" BANNER.

FRONT SEATS, WHILE NOT AS PLUSH AS THEY APPEAR, OFFER DECENT ALL-DAY COMFORT.

DESPITE THE CURVING ROOF, ENTRY AND EGRESS TO THE FOLDING REAR SEATS IS A BREEZE.

THEY ARE QUITE COMFORTABLE AS WELL, WITH GOOD ROOM FOR TWO ADULTS OR THREE KIDS.

SEATS UP TRUCK SPACE AT 16.0 CUBIC-FEET COMPARES FAVORABLY TO RIVALS.

THERE'S A CHOICE OF TWO NOW FAMILIAR CHRYSLER ENGINES LED BY THE 295-HORSEPOWER 3.6-LITER PENTASTAR V6.

THE STANDARD MILL IS A 2.4-LITER MULTIAIR2 4-CYLINDER THAT PRODUCES 184-HORSEPOWER AND 173 LB-FT OF TORQUE.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS A V6 OPTION ONLY.

HAVING LOGGED MANY PENTASTAR POWERED MILES IN RECENT YEARS, WE SPENT MOST OF OUR EARLY DRIVE TIME IN SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WITH THE TIGERSHARK I4.

POWER IS ACCEPTABLE, AND THE CHEROKEE'S 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOES ITS BEST TO KEEP THE ENGINE IN ITS SWEET SPOT AT ALL TIMES.

BUT WITH THAT MANY GEARS TO SHUFFLE THROUGH, IT IS HIGHLY ACTIVE TO SAY THE LEAST.

CHRYSLER SEES THE 200 AS A STRAIGHT UP FAMILY SEDAN, NOT A NEAR LUXURY INTENDER LIKE A BUICK.

BUT THE NEAR LUXURY CASE COULD CERTAINLY BE MADE AS THE ELEGANT DESIGN WILL ASSUREDLY STAND OUT AMONG GENERIC SEDAN STAPLES.

THE ROUND NOSE, WITH SLENDER UPPER GRILLE, LARGE LOWER OPENING, AND TRIM WORK THAT MIRRORS THE WINGED LOGO, IS TO BE THE NEW FACE OF CHRYSLER.

NICE, EVEN IF IT COULD BE A BIT MORE DISTINCTIVE.

HALOGEN PROJECTOR BEAM HEADLIGHTS CAN BE ACCOMPANIED BY LED TUBE SIGNATURE LIGHTING, OR LED DRLs.

THERE'S A TASTEFUL AMOUNT OF CHROME TRIM, AND AS MENTIONED, ARCHING ROOFLINE THAT BLENDS EASILY INTO THE SHORT REAR DECK.

THE TRAILING VIEW DOESN'T DISAPPOINT EITHER, THANKS TO A SMOOTH BUMPER, LARGE LED TAIL LIGHTS WITH AIR SPOILERS, AND SUBTLE BADGING.

THE 200C'S OPTIONAL 19-INCH PAINTED ALUMINUM WHEELS WEAR 235/40 NEXEN BRANDED TIRES.

AVAILABLE SAFETY MEASURES INCLUDE ADAPTIVE CRUISE, FORWARD COLLISION WARNING PLUS, AND LANE DEPARTURE WARNING PLUS, ALL PART OF THE SAFETYTEC PACKAGE, AND THEY'RE AIDED BY DUAL CAMERAS MOUNTED UP FRONT.

THE 200 ALSO OFFERS PARALLEL AND PERPENDICULAR PARKING ASSIST.

THERE ARE 4 TRIM LEVELS STARTING WITH THE LX AT $22,695, THE EXPECTED VOLUME LEADER LIMITED AT $24,250, THE BLACKED-OUT 200S FOR $25,490, AND THE VERY LUXURIOUS 200C AT $26,990.

PLAYING CATCH UP TO THE BIG BOYS IN AMERICA'S DOMINATE SEDAN MARKET WILL NOT BE EASY.

BUT TRUTH BE TOLD, THE SEGMENT HAS NEVER BEEN RIPER FOR THE PICKING.

RECENT DYNAMIC ENTRIES LIKE THE MAZDA6 AND HYUNDAI SONATA HAVE SHOWN THERE IS ROOM FOR FRESH BLOOD.

AND THE MUCH-IMPROVED 2015 CHRYSLER 200 IS JUST THAT.

AND WITH A LITTLE LUCK, THIS "IMPORT" CAN BECOME A HOME GROWN HIT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, WHERE A FAMILY-OWNED AND OPERATED LIVERY COMPANY IS MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF IN THE ALT-FUEL WORLD.

STAR TRANSPORTATION GROUP'S FIVE BRANDS USE A DIVERSE ARRAY OF VEHICLES -- FROM FORD FUSION HYBRIDS TO PROPANE-POWERED TAXICAB SEDANS, TO THESE AIRSTAR ACCESS PARATRANSIT VANS.

IN 2010, THEIR VETERAN'S TAXI FLEET ADDED SIX FORD TRANSIT CONNECT NATURAL GAS VANS.

BUT THEIR MOST-TALKED ABOUT CAR SERVICE USES COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS MV1 VANS.

EACH OF VETERAN'S 11 MV1s CAN TRANSPORT TWO WHEELCHAIRS.

Derek DeLucia: I JUST THINK OBVIOUSLY BEING IN PITTSBURGH, IN THIS MARCELLUS SHALE REGION, IT'S RIGHT HERE, IT'S PRODUCED RIGHT HERE, IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE FOR US TO GO THAT ROUTE.

John: STAR TRANSPORTATION ALSO HAS A CHEVROLET VOLT AND LEXUS HYBRID AS PART OF THEIR LIMOUSINE SERVICE.

THE PITTSBURGH REGION CLEAN CITIES IDENTIFIED NEARLY $300,000 IN STATE FUNDING TO HELP WITH PROPANE AND CNG CONVERSION COSTS.

THE 30-YEAR-OLD COMPANY'S "STAR" IS LEADING THE WAY WITH A "GO-GREEN" ALTERNATIVE IN THE CITY OF BRIDGES.

OVER THE 30-PLUS YEARS THAT MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN ON THE AIR, WE'VE SEEN SOME AMAZING PARTS OF THE WORLD, AND A LOT OF THAT WAS FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A LAND ROVER PRODUCT.

NOW, WHILE THEIR OFF-ROAD PROWESS IS WELL DOCUMENTED, YOU MIGHT THINK THE ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE SUCH ADVENTURES ARE FOR A FEW LUCKY PEOPLE.

WELL, THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE.

JUST ABOUT ANYONE WITH A DRIVER'S LICENSE CAN JUMP INTO A LAND ROVER AND HIT THE TRAIL.

HERE'S HOW!

IN OUR INCREASINGLY "CONNECTED" WORLD, GETTING AWAY FROM THINGS HAS BECOME EVER MORE DIFFICULT.

IF ONLY YOU COULD JUST JUMP IN AN ULTRA-LUXURIOUS VEHICLE, HIT THE TRAIL, AND DISAPPEAR FOR A WHILE.

WELL, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THE LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE DRIVING SCHOOL IS ALL ABOUT.

WELL, TECHNICALLY, IT'S ABOUT TEACHING YOU THE NECESSARY SKILLS TO HANDLE A VEHICLE OFF ROAD, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BRING IT AND YOU BACK HOME IN ONE PIECE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T USE IT AS AN EXCUSE TO GET AWAY FOR A SHORT TIME.

THE SCHOOL HAS MULTIPLE LOCATIONS IN NORTH AMERICA WITH THREE IN THE U.S.: EQUINOX RESORT IN MANCHESTER VILLAGE, VERMONT, QUAIL LODGE IN CARMEL, CALIFORNIA, AND THE BILTMORE ESTATE IN ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE YOU'LL GET A GREAT VIEW OF MUCH OF THE 8,000 ACRE PROPERTY THAT MOST NEVER SEE.

AND THAT'S WHERE WE TOOK IN SOME RECENT TRAIL TIME.

RAIN MADE FOR SOME VERY MUDDY TRAILS AND SLOW GOING, BUT THE LAND ROVERS HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT.

AND YOU WON'T EITHER, NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS, THANKS TO THE EXPERT INSTRUCTIONS YOU'LL BE GETTING FROM THE MANY TRAIL TUTORS ON HAND TO KEEP YOU GOING.

ANYONE CAN ENROLL WITH NO PREVIOUS OFF-ROAD EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Greg Nikolas: EVERYTHING THAT WE TEACH IS AN EXPEDITION STYLE OF DRIVING, AND IT'S REALLY APPLICABLE TO ALL TYPES OF 4-WHEEL-DRIVE VEHICLES, AND REALLY ALL TYPES OF DRIVING SITUATIONS.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE WORKING IN AN OFF-ROAD ENVIRONMENT, THERE'S A LOT OF ON-ROAD AND DAILY APPLICATIONS TO THE TECHNIQUES THAT WE TEACH."

John: VEHICLES ARE ALL CURRENT LAND ROVER SUVs, AND THE EXPERIENCE IS A GREAT WAY TO GET A TASTE OF WHAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF.

AND SPENDING A COUPLE HUNDRED BUCKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY IS A LOT CHEAPER THAN BUYING ONE.

OR IF YOU ACTUALLY DO OWN A LAND ROVER, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO SEE WHAT IT'S CAPABLE OF WITHOUT HAVING TO SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS GETTING THE MUCK OFF.

Greg: ONE OF THE APPLICATIONS OF THE LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE IS FOR A LAND ROVER OWNER TO BE ABLE TO COME HERE AND DRIVE A VEHICLE SIMILAR TO WHAT THEY MAY OWN AND ACTUALLY START TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF, AND HOW THEY CAN BECOME A BETTER DRIVER ON A DAILY BASIS.

John: EVERYTHING FROM A 1-HOUR LESSON TO MULTI-DAY EXCURSIONS ARE AVAILABLE, AND YOU CAN EVEN DO A RIDE-A-LONG IF YOU JUST WANT TO BE AN OBSERVER.

SOME LOCATIONS EVEN OFFER TRAINING FOR THE LITTLE TYKES.

ULTIMATELY, THE GOAL OF THE LAND ROVER EXPERIENCE IS TO SELL MORE LAND ROVERS BY DEMONSTRATING JUST HOW CAPABLE THEY ARE OFF-ROAD, AND HOW COMFORTABLE THEY CAN BE WHILE DOING IT.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE MARKET NOW, YOU CAN ATTEND ANY ONE OF THESE SCHOOLS, GET AWAY FOR A BIT, HAVE A GREAT TIME, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, IMPROVE YOUR OFF-ROADING SKILLS!

Greg: YOU WILL ACTUALLY WALK AWAY WITH A DEEPER DRIVING SKILL SET AND A BETTER THOUGHT PROCESS TO BECOME A BETTER AND SAFER DRIVER IN EVERY TYPE OF SITUATION.

PAT GOSS HAS AN EYE, AND A NOSE, FOR CARS.

SO LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND GET THINGS SORTED OUT.

Pat Goss: SOMETIMES PEOPLE ABSOLUTELY AMAZE ME.

SEE, IF THEY SAT DOWN AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE AND WERE PRESENTED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THESE TWO STALE, MOLDY, DECREPIT LOOKING ENGLISH MUFFINS, WELL, THEY WOULD BE HORRIFIED.

THEY WOULDN'T TO BE IN THE SAME ROOM WITH THESE THINGS.

YET, AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'LL GO OUT ON A HOT, HUMID DAY, START UP THEIR CAR, TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING, AND OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING DUCT COMES ALL OF THIS STINKING AIR.

SMELLS HORRIBLE.

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THAT SMELL IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE ON THESE ENGLISH MUFFINS.

IT'S MOLD, IT'S MILDEW, IT'S ANIMAL DROPPINGS, IT'S ALL KIND OF THINGS, AND NONE OF THEM ARE HEALTHY.

YOU SEE, WAY UP UNDER THE DASH, IN THE DUCT WORK OF THE CAR, WE HAVE THIS UNIT RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS AN EVAPORATOR.

THE REFRIGERANT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FLOWS THROUGH IT, MAKES IT VERY COLD, THEN THE FAN BLOWS AIR THROUGH THIS, WHICH COOLS THE AIR.

THAT AIR THEN COMES THROUGH AND OUT INTO THE CAR.

SO, THE EVAPORATOR IS WET, YOU'VE GOT ALL THAT STUFF THAT RUNS OUT UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND SO ON, THAT KEEPS IT WET.

THAT MEANS IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR MOLD AND MILDEW TO GROW, AND IT DOES, BELIEVE ME.

SO, THE BOTTOM LINE HERE IS, IF YOU HAVE AN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT SMELLS WHEN YOU TURN IT ON, YOU MAY BE DEALING WITH MOLD AND MILDEW, AND THAT MEANS IT COULD BE DANGEROUS.

NOW, ONE OF BEST WAYS TO TREAT IT IS WITH A PRODUCT LIKE THIS, FRIGI CLEAN, WHICH IS INJECTED INTO THE DUCT WORK BY A TECHNICIAN.

IT FOAMS, IT CLEANS THE EVAPORATOR AND ALL OF THIS STUFF, GETS RID OF ANY MOLD, ANY MILDEW, ANY ANIMAL DROPPINGS, AND IT MAKES THE INSIDE OF THE CAR A LOT MORE PLEASANT, AND A LOT HEALTHIER.

THEN, IN BETWEEN APPLICATIONS, TO KEEP ALL OF THIS UNDER CONTROL, YOU USE FRIGI FRESH, WHICH KEEPS THE MOLD FROM GROWING AS RAPIDLY.

SO, BY DOING THIS, WHAT YOU WIND UP WITH IS, WELL, A WHOLE LOT LESS OF A HEALTH HAZARD FOR YOU AND YOUR PASSENGERS.

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

John: WE'RE FRESH OFF OF A COUPLE OF QUICK SPINS, SO LET'S SEE WHAT WE THOUGHT.

AS IF THERE WASN'T REASON ENOUGH TO LOVE THE JAGUAR F-TYPE ROADSTER, THE BRAND HAS GONE AND MADE A HARDTOP COUPE VERSION, AND THE RESULTS ARE STUNNING: A MORE GORGEOUS DESIGN, BETTER PERFORMANCE, AND OH YEAH, MORE POWER!

YES, THIS F-TYPE R COUPE NOW SLOTS IN AT THE TOP OF THE LINEUP, AS BOTH THE BEAUTY AND BRAWN OF THE F-TYPE FAMILY.

WITH AN EXHAUST NOTE YOU CAN HEAR MILES AWAY, THE SAME 5.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V8 CRANKS OUTPUT UP 55, TO 550 HORSEPOWER.

THE FIXED TOP ALLOWS FOR INCREASED RIGIDITY, AND CAN SEND THE COUPE HURDLING INTO CORNERS AT MUCH HIGHER SPEEDS THAN ITS OPEN TOP COUNTERPART.

THERE'S ALSO LOTS OF FANCY NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER IN NEAR PERFECT HARMONY.

Greg Carloss: SO IN ADDITION TO THAT POWER, YOU'RE ALSO GETTING TORQUE VECTORING, WHICH IS A FIRST FOR JAGUAR.

AND YOU'RE GETTING THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE ELECTRONIC ACTIVE DIFFERENTIAL.

AND IF YOU WANT TO, YOU CAN ADD THE OPTIONAL CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES, WHICH ARE PHENOMENAL ON THE TRACK.

SO ADD ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND YOU DO HAVE A VERY COMPETENT TRACK CAR.

TOP SPEED FOR THE R IS LIMITED TO 186 MILES PER HOUR, WITH 0 TO 60 COMING IN AT AN EVEN FOUR SECONDS.

FOR THE LESS POWER HUNGRY, OR PERHAPS LESS WELL-OFF THRILL SEEKERS, THERE ARE REGULAR F-TYPE AND F-TYPE S COUPES, BOTH USING THE SMALLER 3.0 LITER SUPERCHARGED V6.

AND DON'T WORRY, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF CAR TO ENJOY.

NOW, PRICING FOR FUN CARS IS NEVER FUN TO HEAR, AND THE 2015 JAGUAR F-TYPE R COUPE IS NO EXCEPTION, STARTING AT $100,000.

V6 MODELS START AT A MORE REASONABLE $66,000.

A TREND NOT JUST LIMITED TO MANKIND, SEDANS HAVE GOTTEN NOTICEABLY LARGER AS THE YEARS GO BY.

SO FOR THOSE LOOKING TO DOWNSIZE, THE 2015 AUDI A3 SHOULD BE IN HIGH CONSIDERATION.

RIDING ON THE MQB PLATFORM SHARED THROUGHOUT THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP, THIS NEWEST A3 IS, QUITE OBVIOUSLY, A SEDAN, AND REPLACES THE CURRENT 5 DOOR A3 SPORTBACK.

IT ALSO IS A DIRECT COMPETITOR TO THE HOT-SELLING MERCEDES-BENZ CLA250.

A GREAT MIX OF FAMILY PRACTICALITY AND SPORTY DNA HELPS THE A3 ACHIEVE IMPRESSIVE BALANCE; ITS COMPACT DESIGN OFFERS GOOD INTERIOR AND STORAGE VOLUME, WHILE RETAINING COMPOSURE AROUND TOWN.

GONE IS THE CVT IN FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE AUDIs OF OLD.

BOTH THE FRONT DRIVE 1.8 LITER, AND QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 2.0 LITER RECEIVE A STANDARD AND SMOOTH SHIFTING SIX SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION.

Patrick Lucas: IN TERMS OF AUDI PERFORMANCE, THIS CERTAINLY ISN'T AN R8 OR AND RS5, BUT THE TWO TURBO CHARGED ENGINES, THEY GIVE YOU A NICE LITTLE BOOST.

THIS THING IS SO TIGHT AND COMPACT, AND LIGHT.

YOU CAN JUST FLING IT INTO CORNERS AND THIS THING JUST KEEPS COMPOSED.

IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

John: AUDI HOPES THE A3'S TECHNOLOGY WILL ALSO BE A SELLING POINT.

AND ON THAT FRONT, IT'S GOT AN IMPRESSIVE ARRAY OF SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES WORTHY OF NOTE.

USING AUDI'S EXISTING AUDI CONNECT SUITE OF APPS AND SERVICES, THE A3 BECOMES THE FIRST CAR TO USE 4G LTE DATA SERVICE.

AND AN UPDATED MMI INTERFACE GAINS A HANDWRITING RECOGNITION FUNCTION.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 AUDI A3 STARTS AT A CLA-RIVALLING $30,000 FOR THE FRONT-DRIVE, 1.8 LITER.

2.0 LITER QUATTRO A3'S ADD CLOSE TO THREE GRAND.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS AND FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, SOON!

FULL-SIZE, TRUCK-BASED SUVs MAY HAVE GIVEN WAY TO CAR-STYLE CROSSOVERS FOR MOST FAMILIES, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT BIG TOYS TO TOW OR LOTS TO HAUL, A BIG SUV IS STILL THE BEST GAME IN TOWN.

BUT SUCCESS ALSO DEPENDS ON MATCHING CROSSOVERS IN EASE OF DRIVING, CONVENIENCE, AND COMFORT.

BEING MORE FUEL EFFICIENT IS A MUST, TOO.

WELL, GENERAL MOTORS IS LOOKING TO DO ALL OF THAT WITH AN ALL-NEW TAHOE, SUBURBAN, AND YUKON.

SO LET'S SEE IF THEY DO.

WITH LAST FALL'S ARRIVAL OF THE ALL-NEW SILVERADO AND SIERRA FULL-SIZE PICK-UP TRUCKS, WE KNEW IT WOULD NOT BE LONG BEFORE THE SPORT-UTILITY WAVE ARRIVED; THE 2015 CHEVROLET TAHOE, SUBURBAN, GMC YUKON, AND YUKON XL.

BIG UTES READY TO DO THE BIG JOBS THAT MORE REFINED CROSSOVERS JUST CAN'T HANDLE.

BUT PREVIOUS TAHOES, BURBS, AND YUKONS DROVE... WELL, LIKE A TRUCK!

FEELING CUMBERSOME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND ALWAYS A STEP BEHIND IN REFINEMENT.

AND THEN THERE WAS THEIR MARGINAL FUEL ECONOMY.

BUT ONE DRIVE AND WE KNEW THAT THESE NEW SUVs, BASED ON THE NEW SILVERADO, WHICH IS EASILY THE MOST REFINED TRUCK AVAILABLE TODAY, HAVE INDEED SEEN THE LIGHT.

LET'S START WITH THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AMERICA'S BESTSELLING FULL-SIZE SPORT-UTILITY VEHICLE.

WHILE RECOGNIZABLE, EVERYTHING YOU SEE IS FRESH AS IT BLENDS THE BEST OF THE SILVERADO WITH THE TAHOE'S HERITAGE.

STILL BIG AND MUSCULAR, YET MORE AERODYNAMIC, IF ALSO MORE SLAB SIDED.

18-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD, 20s AND EVEN 22s ARE AVAILABLE.

THE CHEVY SUBURBAN ADDS 14-INCHES MORE WHEELBASE, AND OVER 20 TO THE OVERALL LENGTH.

MOVING TO GMC AND THE YUKON AND YUKON XL; AS BEFORE, THEY SHARE THE SAME DESIGNS OF THEIR BOW TIE BROTHERS, WITH DIFFERENT DETAILS, MOSTLY UP FRONT IN UNIQUE HEADLIGHTS AND GRILLWORK.

UPGRADING TO YUKON DENALI TRIM, HOWEVER, WHICH A LOT OF GMC BUYERS DO, ADDS LOTS OF BLING BOTH INSIDE AND OUT.

THESE BIG BRUTES SHARE THE SAME STANDARD POWERTRAIN STARTING WITH GM'S NEW ECOTEC 5.3-LITER PUSHROD V8 WITH 355-HORSEPOWER AND 383 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOLTED BEHIND IS A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH MANUAL SHIFT MODE.

THE COMBO TOWS UP TO 8,600 POUNDS WHEN PROPERLY EQUIPPED.

STEPPING UP TO DENALI ADDS UNIQUE POWER, AN ECOTEC 420-HORSEPOWER 6.2-LITER V8.

HI-LO ELECTRONIC 4X4 HARDWARE COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE SILVERADO AND SIERRA.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT AND GAUGE CLUSTER ALSO SHOWS KINSHIP WITH THE PICKUPS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

HOWEVER, THE STYLING HERE IS LESS BLOCKY, WHICH WE FIND MORE APPEALING.

MATERIAL QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD, ALTHOUGH IT DOES VARY A LOT BETWEEN BRANDS AND TRIMS.

ONE CAN SIT AS MANY AS 9 OR AS FEW AS 6.

THERE'S MORE LEGROOM IN THE SECOND ROW, AND ACCESS TO THE STANDARD THIRD ROW IS MUCH IMPROVED.

IN "KEEPING UP WITH THE CROSSOVERS" SPIRIT, ALL SEATS NOW FOLD MORE EASILY, AND ONE NO LONGER NEEDS TO REMOVE AND STORE THE BACK ROW FOR MAXIMUM CARGO ROOM.

BUT THIS NEW LEVEL OF FINESSE ACTUALLY CAUSES THAT TO DECLINE.

WITH A HIGHER LOAD FLOOR, THE TAHOE RATES 94.7 CUBIC FEET WITH ALL SEATS DOWN, A DROP OF 14.7 CUBIC FEET, AND SUBURBAN MAXES OUT AT 121.1, A DOWNSIZE OF 16.4 CUBIC FEET.

STILL, THE NEW 'BURB CAN CARRY MORE THAN ANY CROSSOVER EVER.

PLUS, THERE'S A NEW SMALL ITEM STORAGE BAY HIDDEN UNDER THE LOAD FLOOR.

ALL VARIANTS CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH 8-INCH TOUCH SCREEN AUDIO, WITH EITHER CHEVROLET'S MYLINK OR GMC'S INTELLILINK CONNECTIVITY, AND UP TO 6 USB PORTS.

WE RECENTLY SPENT DRIVE TIME IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WITH ALL OF THESE TRUCKS AND FOUND THAT, MUCH LIKE THE SILVERADO, RIDE QUALITY AND BODY RIGIDITY HAVE IMPROVED IMMENSELY.

NOT QUITE ENOUGH TO FOOL YOU INTO THINKING YOU'RE IN A CROSSOVER, BUT PRETTY CLOSE, AND THEY FEEL VERY SOLID.

PLUS, THE EXTREMELY QUIET INTERIOR WILL CERTAINLY GIVE FAMILY CROSSOVERS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY; AND MAYBE EVEN A FEW LUXURY ONES AS WELL.

AS FOR THE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, THEY'VE ALSO GOTTEN PRETTY DARN NEAR CROSSOVER TERRITORY, WITH A 5.3-LITER TAHOE 2-WHEEL-DRIVE NETTING 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN AT 18.3-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH 8.0-TONS WORTH OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

AS YOU MIGHT EXPECT, THERE'S A WIDE RANGE IN PRICING, WITH A BASE TAHOE STARTING AT $45,595.

SUBURBANS START AT $48,295, YUKONS AT $47,330, YUKON XLS AT $50,030, AND YUKON DENALIS AT $63,675.

4-WHEEL-DRIVE WILL COST YOU AN ADDITIONAL $3-GRAND.

SO WE FIND THE 2015 GM SUITE OF FULL-SIZE SUVs TO NOT ONLY STILL BE RELEVANT, BUT TO HAVE SERIOUSLY NARROWED THE EXPECTATIONS GAP WITH CROSSOVERS WHILE LOSING ONLY A MODEST AMOUNT OF CARGO SPACE.

THAT'S A GOOD THING FOR FAMILIES THAT NEED LOTS OF CAPABILITY, BUT ALSO WANT LOTS OF REFINEMENT.

AND A GOOD THING FOR GM AS THEIR FULL-SIZE SUVs WILL KEEP TRUCKIN' ON AS THE REALLY BIG UTES TO BUY.

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 CHARGE UP AND TAKE OFF IN THE ELECTRIFIED CADILLAC ELR.

AND THEN LIVE LIKE ROYALTY IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS.

UNTIL THEN, 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...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

IF HE WERE, TIRERACK.COM COULD HELP HIM FIND THE RIGHT TIRES.

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

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