2015 Subaru WRX STI & 2014 BMW X5

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

JOIN US FOR A RALLY CROSS ROAD ROMP IN THE ALL-NEW SUBARU WRX STI... PAT GOSS HAS A FEW SPARE TIPS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ FINDS OUT HOW OUR CITY STREETS STAY ORGANIZED... AND WE'LL SEE IF ALL IS WELL WITH THE REVAMPED BMW X5!

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION >> 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.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

John Davis: THE ALL-NEW SUBARU WRX JUST RODE HOME WITH OUR 2014 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SPORT SEDAN.

IT SIMPLY DELIVERED LOTS OF SERIOUS THRILLS FOR THE MONEY.

BUT WE KNEW THAT THE WRX WAS JUST A TEASE UNTIL THE NEXT WRX STI ARRIVED.

WELL, IT'S HERE!

SO WITH OUR HOPES FLYING SKY-HIGH, LET'S STRAP IN AND SEE IF THIS NEXT HOT SUBARU CAN MAKE OUR SMILES EVEN WIDER.

GOING DOWN THE SPEC SHEET, THE 2015 SUBARU WRX STI CHECKS ALL THE RIGHT BOXES FOR PURISTS: RALLY GRADE SUSPENSION... A SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION... OVER 300 HORSEPOWER...

CHECK, CHECK, AND CHECK.

YET FOR A VEHICLE OF THE STI'S HERITAGE, PREDICATED ON BACK-TO-BASICS, OLD SCHOOL FUN, THIS LATEST MODEL DOES BENEFIT FROM SOME NEW-AGE TECHNOLOGIES, DESPITE CHANGING LITTLE ELSE FROM PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

RETURNING IS THE BOXER HORIZONTALLY OPPOSED TURBO FLAT 4; 2.5 LITERS WORTH, AND RATED AT 305 HORSEPOWER AND 290 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

INDEED, IT IS THE SAME ENGINE AND THE SAME OUTPUT THAT THE STI FAITHFUL ALREADY KNOW.

AND IT'S MATED TO THE VERY SAME SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AS WELL.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2015 REDUCE VIBRATIONS AND MAKE SHIFTS SMOOTHER BETWEEN LOW GEARS.

SYMMETRICAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NATURALLY STANDARD, AS IS THE DRIVER CONTROL CENTER DIFFERENTIAL, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC CONTROL OF THE CENTER DIFF THROUGH VARIOUS SETTINGS.

ALL THIS, COMBINED WITH THE HELICAL LIMITED-SLIP FRONT DIFF, AND THE TORSEN LIMITED-SLIP REAR DIFF, BASICALLY TRANSLATES TO GRIP, AND LOTS OF IT.

NEW THIS YEAR IS ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING, WHICH WORKS WITH THE STABILITY AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS TO APPLY A BIT OF BRAKING WHILE CORNERING.

SO WHAT BETTER PLACE TO EXPERIENCE ALL THIS THAN AT OUR TEST TRACK.

OFF THE LINE, POWER WAS EASY TO FIND, WITH A MORE MANAGEABLE CLUTCH THAN IN OUR 2011 TEST.

WE JUST HOOKED UP AND FLEW TO 60 IN 4.7 SECONDS.

SEVEN-TENTHS QUICKER THAN THE WRX.

THEN OUR STI PUNCHED THROUGH THE FULL QUARTER MILE IN 13.2 SECONDS AT 104 MILES PER HOUR.

WHERE SUBARU SAYS THEY IMPROVED THE STI THE MOST IS IN HANDLING.

AND INDEED, THROUGH THE CONES, IT REALLY COMES ALIVE.

THE ADDED RIGIDITY AND A THOROUGHLY RETUNED SUSPENSION, WHILE A LITTLE MORE SOLID THAN BEFORE DURING COMMUTES, REALLY TAKES TO TIGHT SWITCHBACKS.

THE QUICKENED STEERING RATIO, NOW 13.0:1, ADDS PRECISION AND GREAT FEEDBACK.

GETTING TO HIGH SPEEDS IS EASY IN THE STI, AND LUCKILY, SO IS SLOWING IT DOWN; TAKING A SCANT 108 FEET FROM 60.

AS WITH THE STANDARD WRX, THE STI DISTANCES ITSELF FROM THE IMPREZA SEDAN ON WHICH IT IS STILL TECHNICALLY BASED.

WHEELBASE IS ALSO STRETCHED ONE INCH OVER THE LAST STI, TO 104.3 INCHES, AND THE A PILLARS AND WINDSHIELD ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RAKED, OFFERING BOTH A MORE SWEPT LOOK AND BETTER VISIBILITY.

BUT WHAT'S AN STI WITHOUT THE WING?

IT'S HERE, IN FULL FORCE, TO AUGMENT THE WRX'S HOOD SCOOP UP FRONT, AND QUAD EXHAUST IN THE BACK.

OUR LIMITED TESTER'S 18 INCH BBS FORGED ALLOY WHEELS CAME WRAPPED IN 245/40 SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES.

BUT OUR INNER "MR. T" WISHES WE COULD HAVE THE LAUNCH EDITION'S GOLD WHEELS AND ITS WR BLUE PEARL PAINT, AND WE PITY THE FOOL WHO DOESN'T GRAB ONE OF THE ONLY 1,000 IN PRODUCTION.

BUT WE DIGRESS.

HOP INSIDE AND YOU'LL FIND THINGS ARE ALSO VERY SIMILAR TO THE STANDARD WRX, INCLUDING RACER RED GAUGE ACCENTS, A 4.3 INCH DASH TOP SCREEN, FAUX CARBON FIBER TRIM, AND FLAT-BOTTOM STEERING WHEEL THAT FEELS GREAT.

ONE PLUS, THE IMPROVED "STI" EMBROIDERED SEATS DO OFFER BETTER GRIP, AND WE LOVED THE STI-EXCLUSIVE SHORT THROW SHIFTER.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 17 CITY, 23 HIGHWAY, AND 19 COMBINED.

EVEN DRIVING LIKE WE THINK OWNERS WILL, OUR TEST LOOP OF 23.4 ON PREMIUM WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

EVEN BETTER NEWS IS THAT STI BASE PRICING STARTS AT A REASONABLE $35,290.

LIMITED TRIM GOES FOR $39,290, WITH OUR TEST CAR ADDING A $1,500 NAV AND KEYLESS ACCESS OPTION.

IT'S A LITTLE MORE "BUCK" OVER THE WRX, BUT YOU DO GET A LOT MORE "BANG" FOR IT.

NOW IT MAY SEEM TO CASUAL OBSERVERS THAT THE STI GOT LEFT BEHIND, AS SUBARU HAS BEEN DOLING OUT THE MAJOR OVERHAULS EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THEIR LINEUP.

BUT WHILE WE ALWAYS LOVE SOMETHING THAT'S "ALL-NEW", THERE'S A CERTAIN CHARM TO HOLDING ONTO SOME OF THE "TRIED-AND-TRUE."

THE STI HAS ALWAYS BEEN A SHOWCASE OF EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE WITH AN ACCESSIBLE PRICE; WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY WE LOVE THE 2015 SUBARU WRX STI EVEN MORE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO VERO BEACH, FLORIDA.

IN 2009, THE INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BECAME THE FIRST IN THE STATE TO ADOPT PROPANE POWERED SCHOOL BUSES.

TODAY, NEARLY A QUARTER OF THEIR FLEET RUNS ON ALTERNATIVE FUEL, WITH NUMEROUS BENEFITS; INCLUDING LOWER NOISE AND MAINTENANCE COSTS COMPARED TO DIESEL, FUEL COST SAVINGS OF NEARLY $2 PER GALLON, AND REDUCED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

GEORGE MILLAR: OUR BUSES PULL INTO THE LOADING ZONES, THEY'RE IDLING THERE WHILE THE STUDENTS ARE BOARDING.

SO THERE'S NOT THE POLLUTANTS YOU HAVE WITH A DIESEL BUS OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF FUEL.

JOHN: WITH AN HONORABLE MENTION BY THE "100 BEST FLEETS IN AMERICA", AND WITH MORE PROPANE BUSES ORDERED, INDIAN RIVER CONTINUES TO WORK WITH THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CLEAN CITIES COALITION AS A "TEXT BOOK" PROPANE LEADER ON FLORIDA'S "TREASURE COAST."

WHAT DO YOU WISH FOR ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE?

HOW ABOUT A SMOOTH TRAFFIC FLOW WITH NO ACCIDENTS?

YOU KNOW, THESE DAYS, A COMMUTE WITHOUT A LOT OF STOP AND GOES IS LIKE A MIRACLE.

BUT THAT KIND OF MIRACLE DOESN'T HAPPEN WITHOUT A LOT OF BRAIN POWER AND PLANNING.

IN FACT, TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS ONLY ONE OF THE AREAS THAT CONCERNS A FLORIDA BASED TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH GROUP.

SO WE SENT OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ SOUTH TO SEE WHAT PROBLEMS THEY'RE UNSCRAMBLING NOW.

YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: JOHN, WE'RE HERE IN TAMPA TO SEE WHAT THE FOLKS AT THE CENTER FOR URBAN TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH ARE DOING IN REGARDS TO SOLVING A NUMBER OF TRANSPORTATION ISSUES.

EVERYTHING FROM TRANSIT TRAINING, TO BUS SYSTEM SAFETY, OR HOW ABOUT THE BEST WORKPLACES FOR COMMUTERS?

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE UP TO INSIDE.

ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA, INSIDE THIS TWO-STORY BUILDING SITS A FRATERNITY OF RESEARCHERS AND STUDENTS -- ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO SOLVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES, BIG AND SMALL.

AND ONE OF THOSE AREAS OF INTEREST INCLUDES MOTORCYCLE SAFETY.

CUTR USES THIS HONDA SMART TRAINER... DEBBIE SCHULTZ: GO STRAIGHT FOR RIGHT NOW.

MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN.

YOLANDA: HOW DO I DO THAT?

DEBBIE: JUST SLOW DOWN.

YOLANDA: ...TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE MOST SEASONED RIDERS ALL THE RISK FACTORS ON THE ROAD.

DEBBIE: ALMOST 50% FAIL BECAUSE IT REALLY IS DIFFICULT.

YOLANDA: THE CENTER ALSO HELPED PRODUCE THIS "RIDE SMART" VIDEO WHICH FOCUSES ON RIDER TRAINING AND THE USE OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR.

DR. CHANYOUNG LEE: FLORIDA IS ONE OF THE BEST STATES TO RIDE A MOTORCYCLE.

YOU CAN RIDE 24/7, 365 DAYS.

HOWEVER, WE WANT THEM TO BE SAFE.

YOLANDA: DR. CHANYOUNG LEE SAYS MOTORCYCLE REGISTRATION IN THE U.S. IS LESS THAN 5%, BUT NEARLY 20% OF ALL TRAFFIC FATALITIES INVOLVE MOTORCYCLES.

DR. LEE: WE'RE TRYING TO HELP THEM COME UP WITH BETTER SOLUTIONS SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY RIDE MORE AND RIDE LONGER.

YOLANDA: THE CENTER CUTS ACROSS A WIDE RANGE OF DISCIPLINES -- FROM URBAN PLANNING TO INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING -- SO THEY CAN HAVE MAXIMUM IMPACT.

I VISITED THEIR ADVANCED GEOSPATIAL INFORMATICS LAB, BETTER KNOWN AS "AGIL".

HERE, RESEARCHERS USE MAPS AND INFOGRAPHICS TO BREAK DOWN DATA INTO A MORE DIGESTIBLE FORMAT.

MARTIN CATALA: IT'S A FORMAT THAT ALLOWS POLICYMAKERS AND RESEARCHERS TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF A CIRCUMSTANCE OF INFORMATION THAT WOULD NOT BE EASILY ASSESSED BY LOOKING AT ROWS AND ROWS OF DATA.

YOLANDA: PROGRAM DIRECTOR, MARTIN CATALA, SHOWS ME THEIR LATEST PROJECT ON TRANSIT TRAVEL SHEDS.

MARTIN: AND WHAT YOU SEE HERE, THIS BLUE DOT, IS A POINT OF ORIGIN... YOLANDA: USING SPECIAL SOFTWARE, HE'S TRYING TO CALCULATE THE DISTANCE OF SEVERAL ROUTE PATHS AT VARIOUS TIMES OF THE DAY.

MARTIN: ...SO THAT WE CAN GET A BETTER SAY ABOUT HOW WELL A COMMUNITY IS BEING SERVED BY THE TRANSIT AGENCY IN THE AREA.

YOLANDA: BUT THAT SAME KIND OF DATA MINING CAN ALSO BE USED TO IDENTIFY SAFE ROUTES FOR KIDS TO TRAVEL TO SCHOOL.

MARTIN: THESE ARE 3 PATHS.

YOLANDA: THIS MAP LISTS A FEW ROUTES DESIGNATED BY THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S AGIL'S JOB TO FIND NEW ONES.

AND LIKE WITH EVERYTHING ELSE, CATALA AND HIS CREW ARE UP FOR THE CHALLENGE.

MARTIN: I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT WE'RE SORT OF PUSHING THE TECHNOLOGY AND DATA ENVELOPE IN THE SENSE THAT I REALLY THINK THAT WE'RE DOING CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH, WHICH IS OF COURSE WHAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING.

YOLANDA: ALWAYS LOOKING TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ANY TRANSPORTATION TREND, CUTR RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE AUTOMATED VEHICLES INSTITUTE.

THEY HELD THEIR FIRST MEETING LAST FALL AND HAVE BEEN CONTRACTED TO STUDY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AV TECHNOLOGY IN HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA.

VIDEO: OTHER CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES ALREADY IN USE INCLUDE TRAFFIC ASSIST, WHICH SENSES OBJECTS AROUND THE CAR, OR IF THE VEHICLE IS APPROACHING TOO FAST, SENSORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY SLOW THE CAR DOWN.

YOLANDA: WITH RESEARCH DOLLARS THAT TOTAL CLOSE TO $15 MILLION AND SPAN ACROSS NEARLY 200 PROJECTS, CUTR HAD A LOT TO CELEBRATE DURING THEIR RECENT 25TH ANNIVERSARY... VIDEO: OUR VISION... TO BE THE PREEMINENT AND INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CATALYST FOR TRANSPORTATION INNOVATION.

YOLANDA: ...AS THEY CONTINUE TO BE THE "GO-TO-GUYS" IN SOLVING SOME OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES IN THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY.

JOHN: PAT GOSS HAS SPARED A FEW MINUTES FOR US, SO LET'S ROLL ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

PAT GOSS: NOW, TYPICALLY, PICKUP TRUCKS HAVE THEIR SPARE TIRES MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE BED.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED TO GET THAT TIRE DOWN ON THE GROUND SO YOU CAN USE IT IN CASE YOU HAVE A FLAT.

NOW, THE FIRST THING, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE BUYING A USED TRUCK, MAKE SURE ALL OF THE APPARATUS FOR LOWERING THE TIRE IS IN THE TRUCK.

BECAUSE WITHOUT THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL TIME LOWERING THAT SPARE.

NOW, HERE WHERE THE EQUIPMENT GOES THROUGH THE BUMPER, USUALLY THERE IS A LOCK ASSEMBLY.

YOU OPEN THIS UP AND YOU USE THE IGNITION KEY OR THE ADDITIONAL KEY TO UNLOCK IT, IT COMES OUT, AND YOU CAN PUT THE TOOLS IN TO LOWER THE TIRE.

WELL, YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS OUT PERIODICALLY, SPRAY LOCK LUBRICANT INTO THE LOCK ASSEMBLY ITSELF, AND LUBRICATE THE BACK OF IT.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA SOMETIMES JUST TO COAT THE WHOLE BACK OF IT WITH SOMETHING LIKE WHEEL BEARING GREASE, BECAUSE THESE WILL RUST AND YOU CAN'T GET THEM OUT.

NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT YOU WANT TO DO IS YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE TIRE AND THE MOUNTING ASSEMBLY ITSELF.

NOW, THE FIRST THING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS, DOWN HERE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT THE CONDITION OF THE ATTACHING CABLE AND THE PIECE THAT GOES THROUGH THE TIRE.

MANY TIMES THEY'LL BE BADLY RUSTED LIKE THIS ONE.

THEN YOU LOWER THE TIRE AND LOOK AT THE TOP.

NOW, THE WHEEL COLLECTS ALL KINDS OF JUNK, AND MANY TIMES, THE CABLE, THE WHEEL ITSELF, AND SO ON, THIS MAY BE RUSTED TO THE POINT WHERE IT ISN'T EVEN USEABLE.

SO YOU HAVE TO CHECK IT, KEEP IT CLEAN, KEEP IT PROTECTED.

YOU CAN USE AN ANTI-CORROSION ON THE WHEEL.

THAT'LL KEEP IT FROM RUSTING, SO THAT IT CAN BE USED.

THAT WAY, IF YOU HAVE A FLAT, YOU CAN DEAL WITH IT.

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

JOHN: TIME NOW TO GET BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL FOR MORE QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

THE HYUNDAI GENESIS, ENTERING ITS SECOND GENERATION, IS TAKING ITS FIGHT ELSEWHERE.

WHILE THE FIRST GEN SHOWED WHAT THE BRAND WAS CAPABLE OF, THE 2015 GENESIS HAS HYUNDAI DIRECTLY CHALLENGING GERMAN AND JAPANESE LUXURY MARQUES LIKE BMW, MERCEDES, LEXUS, AND INFINITI.

THIS MIDDLEWEIGHT SEDAN, WHICH EXPANDS SLIGHTLY IN WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH, ALSO EXPANDS UPON HYUNDAI'S FLUIDIC SCULPTURE DESIGN LANGUAGE.

THE LOOK IS MORE PREMIUM, AND VERY MUCH IN STEP WITH OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT, FEATURING AN OVERLY PROMINENT GRILLE, LED LIGHTS THROUGHOUT, AND A WELL-EXECUTED INTERIOR SCHEME.

POWER IS FAMILIAR, A 5.0 LITER V8, NOW RATED AT 420 HORSEPOWER, AND A 3.8 LITER, 311 HORSEPOWER V6.

BOTH MATE TO AN 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE V6 ALSO OFFERS A CHOICE OF REAR-WHEEL OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

OUR FIRST DRIVES PROVED THE GENESIS SUCCEEDS ABSOLUTELY AS A CONFIDENCE INSPIRING, PREMIUM PEOPLE-HAULER.

A SPECIAL HOUSING KEEPS ENGINE NOISE, EVEN THE V8'S SUBSTANTIAL GRUNT, TO A WHISPER INSIDE THE CABIN.

AVAILABLE CONTINUOUS DAMPING CONTROL KEEPS THE CAR'S SUSPENSION ON ITS TOES, AND STEERING IS NICELY TIGHTER THAN THE FIRST GEN CAR.

HANDLING IS NOT QUITE TEUTONIC, BUT BETTER THAN MOST ASIAN RIVALS.

PATRICK LUCAS: IN TERMS OF COMFORT AND REFINEMENT, AND JUST THE SMOOTH DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT YOU GET WITH THIS NEW GENESIS -- I MEAN, I REALLY DON'T THINK YOU CAN GET MUCH BETTER AT THIS PRICE POINT.

JOHN: AN IMPRESSIVE SUITE OF TECHNOLOGIES, FOR BOTH SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE, MAKES FOR A COMPLETE PACKAGE.

BLIND SPOT MONITORING, LANE DEPARTURE WARNING AND LANE KEEPING ASSIST, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, AND AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEMS ARE AVAILABLE.

AND HYUNDAI'S SECOND GEN BLUELINK INFOTAINMENT ADDS GOOGLE SEARCH, SIRI, AND GOOGLE GLASS INTEGRATION.

STARTING AROUND $39,000, THE 2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS IS ON SALE NOW.

WHILE 2013 SAW A QUICK REFRESH TO THE HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2014 IT'S THE CIVIC COUPE THAT GETS A GENTLE REWORK.

OUR QUICK SPIN IN THE LATEST TWO-DOOR CIVIC ONLY FURTHER PROVED WHY IT HAS ENDURED OVER NINE GENERATIONS.

LIKE THE SEDAN, THE LATEST COUPE GETS MILD STYLING UPDATES OUTSIDE, AND A FRESHENED INTERIOR WITH BETTER MATERIALS AND LESS OBVIOUS SEAMS ON THE DASH.

UNCHANGED IS HOW THE CIVIC COUPE IS A PLEASURE TO DRIVE.

THAT'S DESPITE A CVT AS THE ONLY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

IT IS AS UNOBTRUSIVE AND TRANSPARENT AS A CVT CAN BE.

STILL A BIT NOISY, BUT HARDLY OFFENSIVE.

AND ITS 33 COMBINED MILES PER GALLON SHOULD ALLEVIATE ANY BUYER HESITATION.

THE FIVE SPEED MANUAL REMAINS ON BASE MODELS.

NICE CABIN TOUCHUPS INCLUDE AN OPTIONAL 7-INCH DISPLAY SCREEN FOR INFOTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY.

THE COUPE ALSO ADDS HONDA'S LANEWATCH BLIND SPOT SYSTEM -- A FIRST FOR THE CIVIC -- AND PUSH BUTTON START.

OTHER NEW TECH ALSO COMES FROM THE ADDITION OF THE HONDALINK SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION APP; IT ALLOWS FOR DESTINATION LOOK UP AND CAR INFORMATION SHARING.

DRIVING THIS LATEST CIVIC COUPE FELT LIKE A GOOD MIX OF THE NEW AND THE FAMILIAR.

IT REMAINS ENGAGING ENOUGH, WHILE NOT TOTALLY FORGETTING ITS ROOTS AS AN A TO B CAR.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2014 HONDA CIVIC COUPE BEGINS AROUND $19,000, WITH THE CVT AUTOMATIC ADDING JUST UNDER A GRAND MORE.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

THE BMW X5 ARRIVED FOR THE 2000 MODEL YEAR; A TIME WHEN RIVAL EUROPEAN BRANDS WERE BRINGING HIGH DOLLAR SPORT UTES TO AN AMERICAN MARKET THAT COULDN'T BUY THEM UP FAST ENOUGH.

WHILE THE US-MADE X5 HAS PROVEN VERY POPULAR WITH MORE THAN 1.3-MILLION SOLD, COMPETITION CONTINUES TO GROW MORE INTENSE.

PLUS MANY UTE BUYERS ARE DOWNSIZING TO SAVE ON FUEL COSTS.

SO LET'S SEE IF AN ALL-NEW X5 FACTORS IN ALL THE CHANGES.

THE MID-SIZE 2014 BMW X5 IS ACTUALLY THE 3RD GENERATION OF BMW'S ORIGINAL SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE.

AND WHILE BMW HAS EXPANDED INTO SMALLER SEGMENTS WITH BOTH THE X3 AND X1, IT'S STILL THE X5 THAT MAKES UP THE BULK OF THEIR UTILITY SALES IN THE U.S. PERHAPS THE BIGGEST NEWS IS THAT A REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE ONLY SDRIVE X5 IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT HAVE NO NEED FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THE NEW-GEN LOOKS ARE IN A WORD, EVOLUTIONARY.

BUT TWEAKS, SUCH AS NEW HEADLIGHTS WITH FLATTENED LED TRIM RINGS, AND THE INCREASING AMOUNT OF AERO ELEMENTS, WILL LET THOSE "IN THE KNOW" KNOW YOU'VE UPGRADED.

WHILE WHEELBASE CARRIES OVER AT 115.5 INCHES, OVERALL LENGTH GROWS BY 2-INCHES TO 193.2.

IT LOSES A LITTLE IN BOTH OVERALL HEIGHT AND RIDE HEIGHT, GIVING THIS X5 A MORE HUNKERED DOWN LOOK.

BUT LIKE THE GUY AT THE GYM WITH THE CUT-OFF SLEEVES, THE VERY HIGH MOUNTED FOG LAMPS AND TRADITIONAL TWIN KIDNEY GRILLES TRY A LITTLE TOO HARD TO LOOK COOL.

THICK BODY LINES ARE STILL PRESENT ALONG THE SIDES, ONLY NOW THEY EMANATE FROM A NEW FRONT FENDER VENT.

ALL-IN-ALL, NOT A BAD LOOKING REDESIGN, THOUGH SOME OF OUR STAFF DID FEEL IT APPEARS MORE MINI-VAN-ISH THAN BEFORE.

WE'RE ALL FANS OF THE DUAL TAILGATE SETUP, AS IT MAKES LOADING HEAVY AND BULKY ITEMS EASIER.

WHILE OFF-ROAD CREDENTIALS ARE PROBABLY NOT A HIGH PRIORITY, THE FULL-TIME INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM USES LOTS OF ELECTRONIC WIZARDRY TO BE VERY CAPABLE.

AND SHOULD DO JUST FINE IF THE PENDING ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE DOES ARRIVE, OR JUST ON THE SNOWY ROADS THAT WE ENCOUNTERED HERE IN THE MID-ATLANTIC THIS PAST WINTER.

REGARDLESS OF DRIVING MISSION, YOU'LL FIND THE X5 RIDES MORE LIKE A BMW SEDAN THAN ANY UTE.

THE INCREDIBLY SMOOTH SHIFTS OF THE STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND ONE OF THE MOST UNOBTRUSIVE START/STOP SYSTEMS WE'VE SAMPLED, ADD POSITIVELY TO THE EXPERIENCE.

AND AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, IT'S A GREAT HANDLING EXPERIENCE AS WELL.

THOUGH AS WITH MOST BMWs, WE MOURN THE LACK OF STEERING FEEL.

BUT IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE RESULTS, AS STEERING IS STILL IMPRESSIVELY QUICK.

DRIVEN VERY AGGRESSIVELY, THE X5 DOES BEGIN TO FEEL MORE LIKE AN SUV, BUT STILL ONE THAT HANDLES BETTER THAN MOST.

AND THIS 6-BANGER XDRIVE35I CERTAINLY HOOKS UP AND LAUNCHES LIKE FEW SUVs.

IT DOESN'T FEEL OVERLY POWERFUL, JUST A CIVILIZED WHOOSH OF ACCELERATION TAKING YOU TO 60 IN 6.2-SECONDS.

POWER CONTINUES TO POUR ON SMOOTHLY AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY DOWN THE TRACK, WITH FIRM, QUICK SHIFTS COMING RIGHT AT RED LINE UNTIL YOU CLEAR THE QUARTER MILE IN 14.8-SECONDS AT 95 MILES-PER-HOUR.

POWERTRAIN OPTIONS ARE AS BEFORE, GASOLINE AND DIESEL FUELED INLINE-6s AND A 4.4-LITER V8 XDRIVE50I.

THE V8 IS UPDATED, WHILE THE DIESEL IN THE DRIVE35D IS ALL NEW.

BUT IN OUR TEST XDRIVE35I, THE 3.0-LITER GAS I6 SOLDIERS ON, PUMPING OUT 300-HORSEPOWER AND 300 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WITH THE HELP OF BMW'S TWINPOWER TURBO.

DROPPING THE HOOD AND OPENING THE DOORS, THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE INTERIOR IS EASILY THE HUGE 10-INCH HI-RES.

SCREEN INDISCREETLY PLOPPED DOWN ON THE DASH.

IT'S CONTROLLED BY IDRIVE OF COURSE, AND WE THINK BMW HAS FINALLY STRUCK A GOOD BALANCE WITH LOGICALLY PLACED TRADITIONAL CONTROLS; MAKING TAPPING INTO IDRIVE CENTRAL ONLY NECESSARY FOR MORE DETAILED REQUESTS.

A NEW TOUCHPAD WRITE-ON FEATURE HELPS AS WELL.

SEATS, FRONT AND REAR, ARE FIRM, SUPPORTIVE, BUT COMFORTABLE.

BACK SEAT ROOM IS ADEQUATE BUT FAR FROM GENEROUS.

STILL, THE SOFT CLOSE DOORS ARE A NICE TOUCH.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 20.2 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THAT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS SO-SO AT 15.7-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH 6.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

YEAH, WE KNOW FUEL ECONOMY COULD BE BETTER, BUT WE JUST LOVE THE POWER AND EFFORTLESS FEEL OF THE GAS I6.

BUT GO THE XDRIVE35D DIESEL AND YOU GAIN 20% ON MPGs AND LOSE LITTLE ELSE.

AND THE DIESEL IS ONLY $1,500 MORE THAN OUR TESTER, AND VOLUME LEADER XDRIVE35I WHICH STARTS AT $56,025.

THE 2014 BMW X5 IS INDEED A SWEET RIDE.

WHEN IT COMES TO ALL OUT LUXURY, WE STILL PREFER A RANGE ROVER, BUT THE X5 ACTUALLY APPEALS TO A DIFFERENT BUYER.

ONE THAT NEEDS AN SUV, BUT REALLY WANTS A BMW SPORT SEDAN.

AND THAT WILL KEEP THE X5 A MAJOR MARKET FACTOR FOR YEARS TO COME.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

NOW, 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 VOLVO UPDATES THE CLASSIC SQUARE BACK WITH THE ALL NEW V60 SPORT WAGON.

AND WE'LL SEE IF SCION'S "BANG FOR THE BUCK" MANTRA CONTINUES IN THE TC.

PAT GOSS PICKS UP ON A PROBLEM DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE FOR CARS & COFFEE.

PLUS, MORE MOTORNEWS, AND A LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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...

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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