2015 Volvo V60 & 2014 Scion tC

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

JOIN US AS WE HOP BACK ON THE BANDWAGON WITH THE SPORTY VOLVO V60... PAT GOSS PICKS UP ON A COMMON PROBLEM DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL CHECKS OUT THE BUZZ ON THE CARS AND COFFEE CRAZE... AND WE'LL SEE WHAT SCION IS DOING TO THE TC TO KEEP IT A BUYER'S FAVORITE.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION >> Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

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?"

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: AH, THE HUMBLE STATION WAGON.

ONCE A STAPLE OF AMERICAN LIFE, THEY'VE LONG SINCE HANDED OVER FAMILY HAULING DUTIES; AT FIRST TO MINIVANS, THEN SUVS, AND NOW CROSSOVERS.

BUT THERE ARE A FEW BRANDS THAT HAVE KEPT THE WAGON SPIRIT ALIVE, FOREMOST AMONG THEM, SUBARU, WITH THE OUTBACK, AND OF COURSE VOLVO.

AFTER THREATENING TO FOREVER STOP IMPORTING WAGONS THREE YEARS AGO, VOLVO IS BACK WITH A NEW ONE, THE V60.

AND WITH IT, VOLVO IS LOOKING TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN.

VOLVO HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN COMPLETELY OUT OF THE U.S. STATION WAGON MARKET AS THE BEEFED UP XC70 HAS CONTINUED TO BE SOLD.

BUT THE 2015 VOLVO V60 IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR FOR THE BRAND, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO A BARELY RELEVANT SEGMENT AS IT ALSO REVIVES VOLVO'S "SPORT WAGON" HERITAGE.

THE V60 IS BASED ON THE S60 MIDDLEWEIGHT SEDAN, SO UP TO THE B-PILLAR THE LOOKS ARE NICELY FAMILIAR.

IT'S A LITTLE SOFT LOOKING FOR A "SPORT WAGON," BUT THAT'S PROBABLY JUST FINE FOR THE TYPICAL MILD-MANNERED VOLVO BUYER.

FROM THE FRONT DOORS BACK IT EVOLVES INTO A VERY SUBSTANTIAL LOOKING "ESTATE" WITH SMOOTH LINES AND HEFTY REAR FENDER HAUNCHES.

THE SLANTED BACK GLASS GIVES IT A NOT QUITE WAGON, NOT QUITE HATCHBACK LOOK THAT WE FIND VERY APPEALING.

THE DESIGN INSIDE IS ALSO AN UPDATED TAKE ON CLEAN, MODERN SWEDISH STYLE WITH VERY NICE MATERIALS ALL AROUND.

FRONT SEATS ARE INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE, THE WAY ONLY VOLVO SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO DO IT.

BACK SEATS ARE ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE, BUT LEGROOM IS VERY TIGHT FOR ADULTS.

STILL, IT WOULD MAKE A GOOD OPTION FOR COUPLES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CHILD REARING YEARS.

A VERY LOW LOAD FLOOR, SOMETHING NO CROSSOVER CAN MATCH, AND A GENEROUS AMOUNT OF SPACE MEANS THAT THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF PRACTICALITY TO BE HAD.

AND VERSATILITY AS WELL, AS THE 40/20/40 FOLDING REAR SEATBACKS EXPAND CARGO SPACE TO 43.8 CUBIC-FEET.

THERE'S ALSO A LIBERAL AMOUNT OF UNDER FLOOR STORAGE, AS WELL AS CARGO NETTING.

CONTROLS ARE UNIQUELY VOLVO'S, WITH A PICTOGRAPH FOR CLIMATE CONTROL AND RADIO INPUTS THAT ARE A BIT FUSSIER THEN THEY NEED TO BE, ALL NESTLED ON A FLOATING CENTER STACK WITH WELCOMED STORAGE SPACE BEHIND.

UP TOP IS A DISPLAY SCREEN THAT'S A TAD SMALL COMPARED TO MANY, BUT IT DOES CONVEY A WEALTH OF INFORMATION IN A CLEAR FASHION.

THE VIRTUAL GAUGES, HOWEVER, WERE A BIT DISAPPOINTING WITH THEIR LIMITED INFORMATION.

AND WE CAN DO WITHOUT THE SILLY ECO-MINDED POWER GAUGE.

THERE ARE ALSO SOME CONTROLS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DASH, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, THEY AREN'T NEEDED WHILE DRIVING.

NO COMPLAINTS FROM ANY OF OUR DRIVERS WHEN IT CAME TO ON ROAD PRESENCE.

THE V60 HAS A CONCISE FEEL THAT IS REMINDFUL OF THE PREVIOUS V40, BUT WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE REFINEMENT.

IT BEHAVES MUCH MORE LIKE THE S60 SPORT SEDAN, WITH A SOLID VOLVO NATURE.

BUT THERE'S A TAD MORE OF THE NOUVEAU-EURO ISOLATED FEEL, PARTICULARLY IN THE STEERING DEPARTMENT.

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH AND DIDN'T FEEL BUSY AT ALL, AS SOME OTHER 8-SPEEDS TEND TO BE.

THE AUTOMATIC STOP-START FUNCTION, HOWEVER, WAS VERY NOTICEABLE.

ON THE START, THERE IS PLENTY OF POWER FROM THE STANDARD FRONT DRIVE 2.0-LITER TURBO I4, WITH OUTPUT OF 240-HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; ACCOMPANIED BY SOME DIESEL-LIKE CLATTER AT TIMES.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE UPGRADES TO A 2.5-LITER 250-HORSEPOWER TURBO I5, WITH A 3.0-LITER 325-HORSEPOWER TURBO V6 ALSO AVAILABLE.

FOR MORE NUMBERS WE HEADED TO OUR TEST TRACK WHERE OUR STANDARD V60 CHARGED TO 60 IN A VERY RESPECTABLE 6.7-SECONDS.

THERE'S TORQUE APLENTY OFF THE LINE, WITH NO TORQUE STEER TO HAMPER THE FUN.

THE ENGINE REVS VERY QUICKLY WITH GOOD POWER ALL THE WAY TO THE RED-LINE.

TRIGGERING THE PADDLE SHIFTERS RESULTS IN CRAZY HARD SHIFTS, AND SOME VERY AUDIBLE WASTEGATE NOISE, ON THE WAY TO A THOROUGHLY ENJOYABLE QUARTER MILE TIME OF 15.0-SECONDS AT 96 MILES-PER-HOUR.

CARRYING SPEED THROUGH CORNERS IS EVEN MORE FUN.

A FAST, LIGHT, POINT-AND-SHOOT FEEL WITH VERY PRECISE STEERING AND GOOD BALANCE GIVES YOUR BRAIN A SENSE OF COMPLETE CONTROL, AND YOUR GUT A FEELING OF JOY.

VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL IS THE ICING ON THIS SMOOTH PERFORMER'S SOCKERKAKA.

THE BRAKES, HOWEVER, WERE NOT QUITE AS "SPORT WAGON" MINDED AS THE REST OF THE CHASSIS; WITH A SPONGY FEEL AND LONGISH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING 130-FEET.

BEING A VOLVO ALSO MEANS BEING A SAFETY LEADER.

CITY SAFETY IS STANDARD AND ADVANCED FEATURES LIKE BLIND SPOT AND CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT ARE AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 37-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

OUR RESULTS WERE RIGHT ON WITH 29.6 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS 11.4-BARRELS OF OIL USED AND 5.1-TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS YEARLY.

BUT OUR ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS ENJOYABLE V60 IS TEMPERED BY ITS PREMIUM PRICING, WHICH BEGINS AT $36,225.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE GOES FOR $37,725.

OUR PREMIER PLUS BASED AT $38,775 - WITHOUT NAVIGATION.

THERE ARE BETTER VALUES AND A HOST OF CROSSOVERS, SO WE KNOW, AND I BET VOLVO KNOWS, THAT THE 2015 VOLVO V60 WILL HAVE A LIMITED TAKE.

BUT LIKE THE OUTBACK, THERE IS A NICHE FOR IT.

ESPECIALLY A WAGON THAT DESERVES THE WORD "SPORT" ATTACHED TO IT.

SO THE VOLVO STATION WAGON LIVES ON, AND WE HOPE FOREVER.

SOMETIMES THE WORST PART ABOUT SUMMER IS HAVING SO MANY BEAUTIFUL DAYS AND NOT ENOUGH CAR SHOWS!

WELL, THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE.

THANKS TO ENTHUSIASTS EVERYWHERE, AN OFTEN WEEKLY EVENT IN MANY AREAS, CARS AND COFFEE IS HEATING UP!

Zach: GRAB YOURSELF A CUP OF JOE AND RELAX.

IT'S A TIME TO EXPERIENCE AUTOMOTIVE BLISS.

MOST PEOPLE LIKE TO SLEEP IN ON THE WEEKEND, BUT FOR OTHERS, THEY WAKE UP BEFORE THE SUN COMES UP, DO A LITTLE BIT OF DETAILING TO THEIR CAR AND JUST HANG OUT WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE THE SAME PASSION AS THEM.

THESE INFORMAL GATHERINGS, GENERALLY KNOWN AS "CARS AND COFFEE" HAVE BEEN ROLLING OUT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

AND UNLIKE OTHER CAR SHOWS, THERE ARE NO ENTRY FEES, NO JUDGES, AND NO PRIZES.

AND WHETHER THEY'RE HELD ON A MANICURED FAIRWAY AT AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA, OR A MALL PARKING LOT IN HUNT VALLEY, MARYLAND, THE SHARED ENTHUSIASM FOR EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE IS UNIVERSAL.

Vince Geppi: EVERY CULTURE OF THE CAR COMMUNITY COMES OUT AND CELEBRATES THIS EVENT TOGETHER.

YOU GET THE MOST EXPENSIVE CARS IN THE WORLD TO SOME OF THE CHEAPEST CARS IN THE WORLD.

Carl Galler: THE PEOPLE ARE GREAT!

EVERYBODY'S REAL PROUD OF WHATEVER THEY HAVE.

AND VERY FRIENDLY, WILLING TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'S NEAT.

I ENJOY IT.

Zach: THE CARS AND COFFEE PHENOMENON BEGAN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MORE THAN A DECADE AGO.

GROUPS OF LIKE-MINDED CAR ENTHUSIASTS WOULD GATHER THROUGH WORD-OF-MOUTH, ALMOST LIKE A FLASH MOB ON A WEEKEND MORNING, ENJOY A JOLT OF BOTH CAFFEINE AND HORSEPOWER, THEN BREAK UP AND BE HOME BY 10:00 AM.

Rich Williams: THIS IS SHOCKING.

SHOCKING.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S A REAL TESTAMENT TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE REGIONAL COMMUNITY.

Zach: EVERY SINGLE MEET IS ALMOST GUARANTEED TO BRING NEW FACES.

IT'S A RELAXED ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL TO ENJOY REGARDLESS OF YOUR INTEREST OR INCOME.

Woman: I'M NOT MUCH OF A CAR PERSON, BUT I DO LIKE BEING ABLE TO SEE THEM.

THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL UP CLOSE.

Zach: BODY LINES...

THE SMELLS...

THE SOUNDS...

THE CUSTOMIZATION...

IT'S OFTEN AN INDESCRIBABLE FEELING.

Man: IT'S NOT AS SEXY AS SOME OF THE MORE DESIRABLE ONES, BUT IT'S PERFECT FOR ME.

Zach: ELEVEN YEARS AGO, A BIRTHDAY GIFT FROM HIS WIFE TURNED INTO A FULL OBSESSION.

ALAN STOKES' 1969 CAMARO IS AS CLEAN AS THEY COME.

Alan Stokes: I JUST LOVE THE SHOW.

IT'S GREAT.

Man: I USED TO BE A CRAZY GUY, AND I GREW UP, SO NOW I JUST DRIVE A CRAZY CAR.

Zach: HIS SON IS THE ONE WHO CONVINCED HIM TO PILOT A LAMBORGHINI.

Tom Inscoe: HE'S A CAR GUY, TOO, HE HAS A ZR1, PUTTING OUT LIKE 900 HORSEPOWER TO THE REAR WHEELS.

WHATEVER I GET, HE MAKES SURE THAT HE CAN KICK MY BUTT.

Zach: WHEN INSCOE FEELS DOWN, HE ADMITTEDLY STEPS INTO HIS GARAGE AND STARES AT HIS CAR.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST FOR HIM.

Tom: I'LL LET ANY KID SIT IN IT THAT WANTS TO.

YOU KNOW, THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW YOU DO IT, I PREACH TO THEM ABOUT WORKING HARD.

Zach: WHILE THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF CARS AND COFFEE IS NO BURNOUTS, NO REVVING, AND RESPECT TO ALL, WE COULDN'T RESIST SOME EAR PLEASURE.

[ENGINE REVVING] Zach: MANY WOULD AGREE YOUR RIDE IS AN EXTENSION OF YOUR PERSONALITY.

HOW CAN YOU ARGUE THAT WHEN ONE MAN HAS PUT ALMOST 160,000 MILES ON HIS CORVETTE... AFTER OWNING IT 20 YEARS.

HE AND HIS WIFE HAVE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND TOGETHER.

WE STARTED DATING AND RIDING IN CARS AND CRUISIN', AND WE'RE STILL CRUISIN' 51 YEARS LATER.

Zach: SO IF YOU'RE ITCHING FOR A SHOT OF ADRENALINE TO JUMP START YOUR WEEKEND, SNIFF OUT A CARS AND COFFEE EVENT IN YOUR TOWN AND PASS THE WORD ON TO A FRIEND.

Ben Davis: AM I DREAMING?

PLAYING WITH RADIO-CONTROLLED HELICOPTERS IS NOW PART OF MY JOB!

I USE THE WORD PLAY VERY LOOSELY, AS THIS IS NO TOY.

IT'S A COMPLETE TURN-KEY PROFESSIONAL AERIAL CINEMATOGRAPHY PLATFORM FOR THE GOPRO HERO3 CAMERA.

I KNOW THAT'S A MOUTHFUL.

I JUST CALL IT AWESOME FOR SHORT.

STARTING LIFE AS A DEAD-STOCK DGI PHANTOM QUAD-COPTER, IT HAS BEEN HEAVILY MODIFIED BY DSLRPROS TO MEET THE QUALITY DEMANDS OF BIG-BUDGET FILMS AND TELEVISION.

THE FIRST THING TO HIGH-FIVE YOUR EYES ARE THE CARBON-FIBER BLADES PERCHED POWERFULLY ON TOP OF JUICED UP ANTIGRAVITY MOTORS.

WHEN EVERY OUNCE COUNTS, THIS IS THE COMBO TO HAVE.

OTHER MODS STAY CLOSER TO THE GROUND, BUT ARE NO LESS IMPORTANT.

THE MOST IMPRESSIVE BEING THE REAL TIME CAMERA'S EYE VIEW MONITOR MOUNTED TO THE SERIOUSLY UPGRADED FUTABA 8FGS TRANSMITTER.

TRUST ME, YOUR FEAR OF ENTERING ORBIT WILL TAKE HOLD LONG BEFORE YOUR RANGE SIGNAL RUNS OUT.

IT TRULY IS A GAME CHANGING TOOL THAT FITS STUNNING AERIAL SHOTS INTO THE BUDGET OF A FIRST TIME FILMMAKER, OR EVEN YOU.

DSLR PROS CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN.

John: TIME NOW TO STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE; LET'S SEE WHAT TIPS PAT HAS FOR US THIS WEEK.

PAT: IF YOU HAVE A FORD PICKUP TRUCK, YOU MAY HAVE ONE OF THESE.

THIS IS A FUEL PUMP DRIVER MODULE; A MINICOMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE SPEED OF THE FUEL PUMP TO CONTROL FUEL PRESSURE.

IT'S A VERY PRECISE WAY TO CONTROL FUEL PRESSURE, BUT -- WELL, ALTHOUGH IT'S A PLUS ON ONE SIDE, ON CERTAIN MODELS OF FORD PICKUPS, IT IS A NEGATIVE.

AND HERE'S WHY.

IN FORD'S WISDOM, THEY ELECTED TO POSITION THIS MODULE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BED, ABOVE THE SPARE TIRE.

AND COMING FROM THE FACTORY, IT IS BOLTED TIGHT AGAINST THAT FRAME RAIL.

NOW, OVER TIME, WHAT HAPPENS IS RIGHT HERE: DIRT, OR IN SALTY AREAS, SALT BUILDS UP ON THE BACK OF IT, AND WHEN YOU HAVE COLD WEATHER, YOU GET A RAINY DAY AND A COLD NIGHT, THIS CRUD ABSORBS WATER AND THEN IT FREEZES AT NIGHT.

WELL, THE NET RESULT IS RIGHT HERE: WE CAN SEE THIS MODULE IS SPLIT IN TWO.

IT'S ACTUALLY BENT FROM THE ACTION OF THE FREEZING ICE.

SO, THAT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE VERY POOR PERFORMANCE OR THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN AT ALL.

NOW, WHEN YOU BUY A NEW MODULE, YOU GET A SET OF STUDS, LIKE WE HAVE HERE, THAT HAVE SPACERS ON THEM, AND THEY SPACE THE MODULE OUT AWAY FROM THE FRAME SO THAT THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.

WELL, IF YOURS HASN'T FAILED, YOU MIGHT WANT TO UNBOLT IT, TAKE A LOOK AT IT, AND IF IT'S STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, BECAUSE SOME OF THESE WILL ACTUALLY CORRODE THROUGH, THEY'LL HAVE HOLES IN THEM.

BUT IF IT'S STILL IN GOOD SHAPE, WELL, WHAT YOU WOULD WANT TO DO IS COAT THE BACK OF IT IN SOME KIND OF ANTI-CORROSION MATERIAL, THEN BUY A COUPLE OF LONGER BOLTS AND SOME FLAT WASHERS AND POSITION THIS SO THAT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY TOUCH THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE.

THAT LITTLE BIT OF SPACE KEEPS THE DIRT FROM BUILDING UP, NUMBER ONE, AND IF IT DOES BUILD UP, THE ICE, WHEN IT FREEZES, CAN'T EXPAND ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE DAMAGE TO THE MODULE.

IT'S A SIMPLE FIX, BUT IT'S A NIGHTMARE TO FIND IF YOU HAPPEN TO WIND UP AT A SHOP THAT DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO TEST THIS THING.

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

John: WHEN WE TOOK DELIVERY OF THIS 2013 KIA OPTIMA EX HYBRID A YEAR AGO, WE DIDN'T EXPECT THAT THIS MID-SIZE, GASOLINE-ELECTRIC WOULD HAVE TO SUFFER THROUGH THE LONGEST, COLDEST WINTER IN RECENT MEMORY.

BUT IT DID, WITH A HYBRID-ISH AVERAGE OF 34.0 MPG ON REGULAR.

WHILE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN ITS GOVERNMENT STICKER, IT WAS STILL A SOLID 20% BETTER THAN OUR LONG-TERM, NON-HYBRID HYUNDAI SONATA.

THE OPTIMA GOT A REAL WORKOUT AROUND THE BALTIMORE- WASHINGTON AREA, SEEING MUCH MORE DOWNTOWN TIME THAN COUNTRY CRUISING.

STILL, AFTER 16,000 DIRTY MILES, THERE WAS NO DOWN TIME.

TRANSITIONS BETWEEN GASOLINE AND ELECTRIC REMAINED MOSTLY INVISIBLE.

SOME INTERIOR FABRICS WORE FASTER THAN EXPECTED, BUT A VERY EASY TO USE NAV SYSTEM MADE UP FOR IT.

TO A PERSON, OUR STAFF LOVED THE OPTIMA'S EURO-DESIGN, ITS ROOMY ALMOST LUXURIOUS CABIN, AND OVERALL SPORTY RESPONSE.

HARD, HIGH MPG TIRES LIMITED THIS OPTIMA MORE THAN SUSPENSION TUNING.

WE REALLY THINK KIA IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK PRODUCING FAMILY SEDANS THAT EXUDE CHARACTER.

AND DESPITE A BIG PRICE BUMP FOR A HYBRID POWERTRAIN, WE THINK THE OPTIMA TRULY DESERVES ITS NAME.

LAST SUMMER WE TOURED THE EAST COAST IN A WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER CLASS-A MOTOR HOME, SWITCHING TO A SMALLER MINNI WINNIE CLASS-C RV FOR FALL'S LEAF PEEPING SEASON.

BUT THAT WAS JUST THE PRELUDE FOR OUR 2014 RV ADVENTURE, THIS TIME ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE.

FOR THOSE LONGER, OFTEN FLATTER DISTANCES, WE STEPPED UP TO WINNEBAGO'S NEWEST REAR-ENGINED PUSHER, THE FORZA.

THIS CLASS-A 38R, BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER BUS CHASSIS, IS POWERED BY A CUMMINS 6.7-LITER TURBOCHARGED DIESEL INLINE-6.

THE SAME ENGINE FAMILY USED IN THE RAM HEAVY DUTY PICKUP.

SO FAR FUEL ECONOMY IS A GOOD 9.3 MILES PER GALLON.

THE 38R IS NEARLY 40 FEET LONG, AND SLEEPS SEVEN IN IMPRESSIVE COMFORT.

SO IT'S MADE FOR "BIG" VACATIONS.

AND WE'VE GOT "BIG" MILES TO COVER IN THE FORZA.

WE'LL REPORT ON EVERY ONE AS MOTORWEEK'S RV ADVENTURE '14 CONTINUES ON OUR NEXT LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

UP NEXT, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST.

Yolanda: WITH THEIR POPULARITY AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH, HYBRIDS AND PLUG-INS ARE SLOWLY BECOMING THE "FAMILY ROAD TRIP" VEHICLES OF CHOICE.

AND WHILE THEY ALREADY ACHIEVE MORE MILES PER GALLON, THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HAS PUBLISHED A FEW TIPS ON HOW TO STRETCH THOSE SAVINGS EVEN MORE.

AND ONE OF THOSE TIPS INCLUDES USING THE DESIGNATED ECONOMY, OR "ECO" MODE.

IT PROVIDES THE MOST OBVIOUS SAVINGS AS IT LIMITS THROTTLE INPUT AND SCALES BACK POWER FROM ONBOARD ELECTRONICS.

DURING A LENGTHY ROAD TRIP, "ECO" SHOULD PRODUCE A NOTICEABLE FUEL ECONOMY GAIN OVER A NORMAL DRIVE MODE.

KEEPING BATTERIES AT FULL CHARGE FOR PLUG-IN HYBRIDS AND EVs IS ANOTHER CRUCIAL STEP FOR MAXIMIZING A VEHICLE'S RANGE.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT DEGRADING BATTERY LIFE OR CAPACITY IN THE LONG-TERM, AS PLUGGING IN AN "ALREADY-CHARGED-BATTERY" WON'T DO IT ANY HARM.

AND REGENERATIVE BRAKING CAN BE AN AID IF USED EFFECTIVELY.

THE D.O.E.

RECOMMENDS GENTLE TO MODERATE BRAKING TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE SYSTEM; RECAPTURING THE MOST ENERGY.

HARD BRAKING CAN CAUSE THE SYSTEM TO RELY ON CONVENTIONAL FRICTION BRAKING, WASTING ENERGY THAT MIGHT OTHERWISE BE RECOVERED.

NOW, THESE TIPS MAY SEEM FAIRLY OBVIOUS, BUT WHEN COMBINED, SHOULD ADD UP TO MORE MOOLA DOWN THE ROAD.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THINGS HAVE BEEN A BIT STAGNANT IN THE SCION CAMP SINCE THE DEBUT OF THE FR-S REAR-DRIVE SPORTS COUPE; LEAVING MANY OF US TO WONDER WHAT WAS COMING NEXT?

SCION'S RESPONSE: "WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR."

IN THE MEANTIME, TOYOTA'S YOUTH BRAND HAS BEEN TINKERING WITH SOME OF ITS CURRENT MODELS, INCLUDING ONE OF OUR FAVORITES, THE TC.

QUICK, WHICH SCION IS THE BRAND'S BIGGEST SELLER?

WELL, SINCE YOU'RE LOOKING AT A 2014 SCION TC DRIVING ACROSS THE SCREEN, IT'S A SAFE GUESS TO SAY THAT WOULD BE IT.

AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT, AS 40% OF ALL SCIONS SOLD TO THIS POINT ARE THE SPORTY, FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE TC.

AND IT HAS NOW BEEN UPDATED IN A MOVE TO LOOK MORE MODERN AND KEEP ITS ELECTRONICS RELEVANT.

THERE ARE MECHANICAL UPDATES, TOO; CHIEFLY AN UPDATED 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC WITH QUICKER SHIFTS AND DYNAMIC REV MANAGEMENT.

SO IT WAS OFF TO THE TRACK TO PUT THE NEW TC TO THE TEST.

THERE'S ENOUGH TORQUE AT LAUNCH TO GET THE WHEELS SPINNING A BIT, BUT POWER BUILDS SLOWLY OFF THE LINE.

HOWEVER, THE ENGINE STILL FEELS PEPPIER THAN ITS 179-HORSEPOWER OUTPUT INDICATES.

THE NEW TRANNY MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT, ALTHOUGH SHIFTS STILL SEEM ON THE LAZY SIDE.

BUT THE ENGINE DOES STAY IN ITS POWER BAND MORE THAN BEFORE.

THE 0 TO 60 SPRINT TOOK 7.4-SECONDS; THE QUARTER MILE PASS, 15.6 AT 92 MILES-PER-HOUR.

HERE AGAIN, FEELING SWIFTER THAN IT WAS.

THE SAME IS TRUE OF HANDLING.

IT'S NOT OUTSTANDING, BUT THE TC DOES KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED.

THERE'S A LIGHT FEEL THAT ENCOURAGES SPIRITED DRIVING, AND NIMBLE RESPONSIVENESS THAT MAKES IT FUN TO DO SO.

THE VERY QUICK STEERING DOES LEAD TO SOME UNDERSTEER, BUT IT'S EASILY MANAGED WITHOUT COMPUTER INTERVENTION.

AND PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF THAT, EVEN WITH THE SPORTY NATURE, RIDE QUALITY REMAINS VERY GOOD FOR A COMPACT CAR.

WE'D FORGOTTEN JUST HOW MUCH OF A WELL-ROUNDED PACKAGE THIS HATCHBACK IS.

AND IT FEELS LIKE IT HAS GROWN UP SOME; DEFINITELY THE MOST NORMAL CAR OF ALL THE SCIONS.

DESPITE ITS TINY APPEARANCE OUTSIDE, THERE'S ACTUALLY PLENTY OF ROOM INSIDE.

THE DASH IS WELL SORTED OUT, AGAIN APPEARING ALMOST NORMAL FOR A SCION.

THE RADIO WORKS WELL, AND BOTH IT AND THE OPTIONAL NAVIGATION SYSTEM ARE EASILY UNDERSTOOD.

THERE'S EVEN A TUNE KNOB!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT'S A LITTLE LIGHT ON BELLS AND WHISTLES THOUGH, WITH NO HATCH RELEASE ON THE KEY FOB.

PLUS, A TEMPERAMENTAL BODY MOUNTED RELEASE, AND THE HATCH ITSELF IS HEAVY.

BUT ONCE UP, THERE IS A HUGE OPENING AND LOTS OF VERY USEFUL STORAGE SPACE.

SEAT BACKS EASILY FOLD ALMOST FLAT, AND WHEN THEY'RE UPRIGHT, THERE'S EVEN ADULT SIZE ROOM IN THE BACK SEAT.

FRONT SEATS ARE ALSO VERY COMFORTABLE, WITH A NICE, WELL BOLSTERED FEEL.

GAUGES ARE JUST HOW WE LIKE THEM... CLEAR, COMPREHENSIVE, AND SIMPLE.

THE 179-HORSEPOWER 2.5-LITER I4 ENGINE RATES AN ALSO MODEST 172 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

OUR TEST CAR FEATURED SOME ADDITIONAL BARK FROM THE TRD SPORT EXHAUST THAT HAD EXACTLY THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CRACKLE AND POP, WITHOUT THE ANNOYING RIPPING SOUND OF MOST IMPORT WARM RODDERS.

WE STILL LOVE THE TC'S CHUNKY, FLAT TOP DESIGN, DEFINITELY MORE MATURE THAN THE SLIGHTLY QUIRKY FIRST-GEN, AND THINK IT APPEALS EQUALLY WELL TO BUYERS BOTH YOUNG AND OLDER.

IT CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK LIKE AN ECONOMY CAR, IT'S WAY TOO HIP FOR THAT.

DISTINCTIVE ELEMENTS SUCH AS HEADLIGHTS AND HOOD HAVE BEEN UPDATED, BLENDING IN WITH A MORE OPEN GRILLE.

THE HATCHBACK DESIGN IS ALMOST HIDDEN, AS FROM MOST ANGLES IT LOOKS MORE LIKE A VERY SPORTY COUPE.

NEW 18-INCH ALLOYS ARE STANDARD.

THE OPTIONAL 19-INCH TRD ALLOYS LOOK GREAT, BUT THE TOYO PROXES TIRES DIDN'T DO MUCH FOR US ON THE WINTRY ROADS THAT WE WERE UNFORTUNATELY SADDLED WITH DURING OUR TEST.

THE TC OCCUPIES A BIT OF A UNIQUE PLACE IN THE MARKET AS THERE'S NOT TOO MANY OTHER SMALL, SPORTY 2-DOORS THAT ARE NOT JUST A HATCH OR COUPE VERSION OF A PREEXISTING SEDAN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR AUTOMATIC ARE 23-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A DECENT 27.4 MILES-PER-GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN AT 12.7-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.6 TONS.

BASE PRICING OF JUST $19,965 MAKES FOR A GREAT LITTLE BARGAIN BLASTER.

NOT AS MUCH FUN AS A FORD FIESTA ST, BUT PRICED LESS, AND WITH AN AUTOMATIC THAT MOST PREFER.

AND AS MUCH HOOPLA AS THERE HAS BEEN MADE OVER THE REAR DRIVE FR-S, UNLESS SCION EVER GETS AROUND TO PUTTING SOME MORE HORSEPOWER IN IT, WE PREFER THIS CAR.

SO, FOR 2014, THE GREAT LITTLE SCION TC GETS A LITTLE AMOUNT OF GREAT UPDATES.

THAT'S ENOUGH TO KEEP IT A WINNER IN OUR BOOK AND A TOP SELLER FOR SCION.

WELL, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE SHOW!

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST, AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME AS WE MIX HIGH CLASS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE WITH THE BENTLEY CONTINENTAL GT V8 S. AND CONTINUE THE ROAD THRILLS WITH THE NEW BMW M235I.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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