2015 Hyundai Genesis & 2015 GM Full-Size SUVs

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

JOIN US AS WE LOOK TO NEW BEGINNINGS WITH A SECOND GENERATION HYUNDAI GENESIS... PAT GOSS HAS A QUICK FIX FOR SOME COMMON A/C TROUBLES... WE SHOW YOU HOW TO HEAD OFF THE BEATEN PATH WITH LAND ROVER!

AND THEN KEEP ON TRUCKIN' IN GM'S LATEST ROUND OF FULL-SIZE SUVs.

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 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.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

John Davis: HYUNDAI'S PATH FROM REPLACEABLE ECONOBOX TO HIGHLY DESIRABLE AUTOMOTIVE BRAND HAS BEEN A QUICK ONE.

BUT THE TRACK OF THEIR GENESIS SEDAN FROM IMPORT-PREMIUM PRETENDER TO NOTABLE CONTENDER TOOK AN EVEN FASTER PACE.

AND THIS SECOND GENERATION OF HYUNDAI'S NEW BEGINNING APPEARS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

SO, SHOULD ESTABLISHED LUXURY- SPORTS CARMAKERS BE WORRIED?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

HYUNDAI'S EQUUS MAY BE THE BRAND'S POSH FLAGSHIP.

BUT IT'S THE 2015 GENESIS THAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CAR FOR THIS BRAND AND ITS EFFORTS TO EXPAND INTO LUXURY SEDAN TERRITORY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY EVER HOPE TO BE A NOTABLE CHALLENGER TO AUDI, BMW, MERCEDES, AND OTHER TOP-TIER LUXURY MARQUES.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE GENESIS IS NOT JUST A MIDDLE WEIGHT LUXURY CAR, IT'S ONE THAT HYUNDAI HAS INFUSED WITH ENOUGH SPORTINESS TO ACTUALLY MAKE US EAGER TO HOP IN AND DRIVE IT.

AND, WHEN YOU DO, YOU'LL FIND SOME OF THE SERIOUSLY GOOD INTERIOR QUALITY THAT IS REQUIRED TO BE WORLD-CLASS.

IT'S NOT ALL THERE YET, BUT IT'S CLOSE.

HYUNDAI HAS DONE A FINE JOB OF UPPING THE "CLASSY" WITH GENUINE MATERIALS SUCH AS GREAT LOOKING SATIN FINISH WOOD.

ALSO TO PLAY IN THIS CLASS, IT TAKES THE LATEST IN HIGH-TECH.

UPDATES SUCH AS SMART CRUISE CONTROL AND A HEAD-UP DISPLAY ARE IN LINE WITH ITS COMPETITION, WHILE AVAILABLE SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE LANE KEEP ASSIST AND SENSORY SURROUND HAVE THE GENESIS BORDERING ON BEING A SELF-DRIVING CAR.

THE HANDS-FREE TRUNK RELEASE IS PRETTY TRICK.

JUST STAND BY THE TRUNK WITH THE KEY ON YOU FOR THREE SECONDS AND THE LID WILL POP OPEN.

VIRTUAL GAUGES ARE BOLD AND DIRECT, WHILE THE GENERAL DASH LAYOUT IS VERY NICE.

THE DRIVER'S SEATING POSITION IS GREAT, WITH LOTS OF ADJUSTMENTS AND GOOD BOLSTERING, THOUGH SOME FOUND THE WIDE CUSHIONS A LITTLE ON THE HARD SIDE.

THE BACK SEAT BORDERS ON HUGE, WITH LOTS OF ROOM TO SPREAD OUT EVEN FOR ADULTS.

TO BE A TRUE LUXURY CONTENDER YOU ALSO NEED SOMETHING ELSE, A "BIG" GRILLE!

THE GENESIS HAS ONE...

EVEN IF IT IS AUDI-LIKE.

AND IN SIMILAR FASHION, THIS FACE WILL ALSO SOON WORK ITS WAY THROUGH THE REST OF THE HYUNDAI BRAND.

FRACTIONALLY LONGER IN OVERALL LENGTH, YET WITH THREE INCHES MORE WHEELBASE, PROPORTIONS ARE NOW MORE MODERN.

IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT MORE UPSCALE, AND THE LONGER ARCHING ROOFLINE GIVES GENESIS A FAR MORE AERODYNAMIC PROFILE.

IN THE REAR, PANELS ARE MORE ROUNDED AS WELL; AND THE JEWEL-LIKE LED TAILLIGHTS ARE MOUNTED HIGH.

THE SAME 5.0-LITER V8 AND 3.8-LITER V6 ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE, BUT BOTH HAVE BEEN REVISED FOR SMOOTHER OPERATION AND BETTER TORQUE DELIVERY.

OUR TESTER SPORTED THE 311-HORSEPOWER V6 AND ITS 293 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE V6 IS AVAILABLE WITH A NEW HTRAC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITH INTELLIGENT DRIVE MODE SELECT TO DIVERT POWER FORWARD OR REARWARD DEPENDING ON WHEEL SLIP.

BUT ALL THIS MEANS LESS IF THE MAKEOVER DE ELEGANCE DOESN'T CARRYOVER TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

WELL, IT DOES, BUT ALSO TO A POINT.

RIDE QUALITY IS VERY CLOSE TO THE BIG-3 GERMAN LUXURY CARS, EVEN IF THE SPORTY FEEL STILL COMES UP A TAD SHORT.

THINGS HAVE GOTTEN MORE RESPONSIVE, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE SETTLED, BUT WHEN DRIVEN AGGRESSIVELY, THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF ROLL; NOTHING A PROPER RIDE AND HANDLING PACKAGE WOULDN'T FIX.

THE V6 ENGINE SOUNDS GREAT, BUT LAUNCHING TORQUE IS STILL LOW, TAKING OUR GENESIS TO 60 IN 7.2-SECONDS.

RESPONSE IMPROVES MARKEDLY AS RPMs CLIMB AND SHIFTS FROM THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ARE QUICK YET SMOOTH, MAKING THE TRIP THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.4-SECONDS AT 96 MILES-PER-HOUR.

THROUGH THE CONES, STEERING FEEL WAS NUMB; LIKE MOST OF THE GERMANS.

BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, THIS REAR-DRIVER STILL RETAINS SOME OF THE FIRST GEN CAR'S TOSSABLE NATURE, EVEN WITH ITS BIG IMPROVEMENT IN SMOOTHNESS.

BRAKING IS NOT TOO SHABBY EITHER, WITH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING A SHORT 120-FEET.

THE ORIGINAL GENESIS SEDAN SURPRISED US IN BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS.

NOT JUST WITH ITS LUXURY FEEL, BUT BY THE FACT THAT WE LIKED DRIVING IT A LOT.

IT GOT GENESIS OFF TO A GOOD START AND WE'VE LOVED EVERY NAMESAKE SEDAN AND COUPE WE'VE DRIVEN SINCE, INCLUDING THIS CAR.

FOR WHICH GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

OUR 23.4 MILE-PER-GALLON AVERAGE OF REGULAR WAS A GOOD ONE.

THOUGH THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE REMAINS AVERAGE AT 15.0-BARRELS OF OIL BURNED AND 6.8 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED YEARLY.

AND AS NICE AS THE GENESIS HAS GOTTEN, IT'S STILL A GREAT VALUE PROPOSITION.

THE "MORE FOR LESS-NESS" STARTS AT $38,950.

MOST OF ITS DIRECT COMPETITION, WITH FAR BETTER NAME CACHE, START AROUND $50,000.

GENESIS SIGNIFIES BIRTH.

AND WHILE THE ORIGINAL 2009 GENESIS SEDAN WAS CERTAINLY THAT, IT'S THIS 2015 HYUNDAI GENESIS 4-DOOR THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A BRAND CHANGING VEHICLE, IF THEY CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ADDITIONAL MODELS IN THE SAME VEIN.

THEN ESTABLISHED LUXURY MAKERS WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

NOT SO MUCH ABOUT LOSING THEIR CURRENT CUSTOMERS, BUT ABOUT ATTRACTING FUTURE ONES.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S U.C.

DAVIS, A PIONEER IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE RESEARCH.

HERE, A WIDE VARIETY OF ALT-FUEL VEHICLES ROAM THE CAMPUS; FROM COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS BUSES, TO NUMEROUS PLUG-IN HYBRID CONVERSIONS, TO THIS SCION EBOX EV -- WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FILLING IN FOR THE ORIGINAL GAS ENGINE.

ELECTRIFIED VEHICLES, LIKE THE NISSAN LEAF AND CHEVROLET VOLT, ARE STUDIED BY THE PLUG-IN HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLE RESEARCH CENTER.

THE PHEV CENTER EVALUATES CONSUMER BEHAVIOR, VEHICLE TECHNOLOGIES, BATTERIES AND CHARGING STATION NEEDS, AND EVEN HELPS DEVELOP DASHBOARD DISPLAYS TO MAKE ELECTRIC DRIVING MORE PRACTICAL.

Richard Battersby: AT U.C.

DAVIS, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, AND THIS IS A WAY WE CAN PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH.

SO WE LIKE TO SET THE EXAMPLE.

WE DON'T JUST DO RESEARCH AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO OTHERS, WE DO IT OURSELVES.

John: WITH OVER 50 CHARGERS ON CAMPUS, INCLUDING 30 LEVEL 2 CHARGERS, A DIRECT CURRENT QUICK CHARGING STATION, AND EVEN AN EXPERIMENTAL WIRELESS STATION, U.C.

DAVIS IS READY FOR AN EV PLUG-IN FUTURE.

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.

WHILE PORSCHE MAY STILL FOCUS THEIR MOST PUBLICIZED EFFORTS ON THE 911 SPORTS CAR, THE LAST DECADE HAS SEEN THEM EXPAND INTO SEGMENT PURISTS NEVER SAW COMING.

AND SUCH IS THE CASE AGAIN WITH THE COMPACT MACAN SUV, NEW FOR 2015.

SHARING ITS CHASSIS WITH THE AUDI Q5, THE MACAN NEVERTHELESS IS TOTALLY DISTINCTIVE: WITH A CLEAR 911 FLAVOR UP FRONT, AND AN ULTRA-SMOOTH REAR, IT'S LONGER AND LOWER THAN THE Q5, WITH A WIDER TRACK FRONT AND REAR.

WHEELBASE, THOUGH, IS THE SAME.

THERE ARE TWO MACANS AT LAUNCH: THE MACAN S WITH A 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V6 RATED AT 340 HORSEPOWER.

THE MACAN TURBO UPGRADES TO A NEW-FOR-PORSCHE 3.6 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6 AND 400 HORSEPOWER.

BOTH ARE MATED TO THE ALWAYS GREAT 7 SPEED PDK TRANSMISSION.

IN OUR INITIAL OUTINGS, THE S SHOWED PLENTY OF POWER, WITH THE TURBO REALLY STEPPING UP THE INTENSITY; REWARDING A HEAVY RIGHT FOOT WITH A LOUD GROWL AND NEAR INSTANT RUSH.

THERE ARE OPTIONS APLENTY FOR BOTH MODELS: ADJUSTABLE DAMPING CONTROL, AN AIR-SUSPENSION TO REPLACE THE STANDARD STEEL SPRINGS, TORQUE VECTORING, SPORT CHRONO PACKAGE WITH LAUNCH CONTROL...

THE LIST, AND THE DOLLAR SIGNS, GO ON.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD, BRINGING DEDICATED "SPORT" AND "OFF-ROAD" MODES WITH IT - NOTHING TOO EXTREME, BUT ENOUGH TO GET YOU OUT OF A JAM.

AS FOR CARGO CARRYING, ITS MAX OF 53 CUBIC-FEET IS A BIT LESS THAN THE Q5.

Patrick Lucas: IF YOU'RE EXPECTING THE MACAN TO BE A SPORTS CAR, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT, BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CAR.

BUT THIS THING IS JUST INFUSED WITH SO MUCH PORSCHE DNA, AND ALL OF THEIR LATEST AND GREATEST TECHNOLOGIES, THAT YOU'RE REALLY GETTING ALMOST AS COMPLETE A SPORT PACKAGE AS YOU COULD EVER WANT.

John: ON SALE NOW, THE PORSCHE MACAN S STARTS AROUND $51,000.

THE MACAN TURBO JUMPS TO $73,000.

WORLD-CLASS LUXURY IS A LEXUS TRADEMARK.

BUT INCREASINGLY THEY ARE ADDING A REAL EDGE TO THEIR ONCE FORGETTABLE EXTERIOR DESIGNS.

AND THE 2015 LEXUS NX IS CLEARLY ON AND OVER THAT CUTTING EDGE.

DESPITE BEING TONED DOWN FROM LAST YEAR'S LF-NX CONCEPT, THE BRANDS FIRST COMPACT LUXURY CROSSOVER WILL NOT BE MISTAKEN FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

LOOSELY BASED ON THE TOYOTA RAV4, THE BASE NX200T DONS THE BRANDS FIRST TURBO GAS ENGINE; A 2.0 LITER I4 WITH 235 HORSEPOWER.

TRANS IS A 6-SPEED AUTO IN FRONT OR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ALSO ARRIVING IS THE NX300H HYBRID, WITH A 2.5 LITER ATKINSON CYCLE I4.

TOTAL GAS-ELECTRIC OUTPUT IS 194 HORSEPOWER WITH AN ESTIMATED 33 MPG COMBINED FOR FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, 32 FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR ALONE DRIVING THE REAR WHEELS.

NATURALLY, THE 200T IS THE SPORTIER SIBLING, AND THE AVAILABLE F SPORT PACKAGE MAKES IT EVEN MORE SO.

THINGS STIFFEN UP AND THE LOOK GETS MEANER, ALLOWING THE NX TO BRING A NICE BIT OF AGGRESSION TO THE COMPACT LUX-UTE SEGMENT.

LEXUS INTERIORS ALSO RANK HIGH, AND THE NX IS NO DIFFERENT.

FUTURISTIC DESCRIBES THE CABIN WELL, AS WELL AS COMFORTABLE AND FUNCTIONAL.

TRICK TECHNOLOGIES INCLUDE A TOUCHPAD CENTRAL CONTROLLER AND A WIRELESS SMARTPHONE CHARGING TRAY.

AS FOR THE UTILITY PART, THE NX'S COUPE-LIKE PROFILE LIMITS TOTAL CARGO CAPACITY TO 55 CUBIC FEET.

THAT'S NOT SO BAD.

BUT, FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SPACE SEEMED EVEN MORE CRAMPED AND TAKES AWAY FROM THE LUXURY MESSAGE OF THE APPOINTMENTS.

ON SALE SOON, THE 2015 LEXUS NX SHOULD START JUST AROUND $40,000.

AND WE'LL TAKE OFF FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, 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 SQUARE OFF IN TODAY'S LATEST SPORT COMPACTS AND PREPARE TO PICK A BIG WINNER!

THEN TREAT OURSELVES TO A FINER DRIVE 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.

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