2014 Fiat 500L & 2015 Volvo V60

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

JOIN US AS FIAT AIMS FOR A BIGGER AMERICAN FOOTPRINT WITH THE SURPRISING 500L... PAT GOSS PICKS UP ON A COMMON PROBLEM DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ZACH MASKELL STARTS HIS DAY WITH A LITTLE CARS & COFFEE... AND WE'LL HOP BACK ON THE BANDWAGON WITH THE VOLVO V60.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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THERE IS A SAYING HERE THAT "EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS".

WELL, TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, EVERYTHING SEEMS BIGGER IN AMERICA.

AND FOR THE FIAT 500 TO REALLY BE A SUCCESS HERE IN THE STATES, IT WAS A GIVEN THAT THE LINE-UP WOULD HAVE TO EXPAND, WITH ADDITIONAL MODELS, AND ADDITIONAL SIZE.

WELL, BOTH ARE NOW REALIZED IN THIS BOXY FIAT 500L.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT IF THAT OTHER SAYING, "BIGGER IS BETTER," IS ALSO TRUE.

THE 2014 FIAT 500L IS A MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE CLEARLY DESIGNED WITH THE YOUNGEST OF FAMILIES IN MIND... PARENTS THAT DESIRE A UNIQUE AND STYLISH RIDE, YET STILL NEED ROOM FOR ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT SEEMS TO ACCOMPANY JUST ABOUT ANY FAMILY OUTING.

AS FOR WHAT MPV-LIKE SPACE DOES FOR THE QUIRKY STYLE OF THE 500, WELL, IT LOOKS AS IF IT HAS ENTERED ITS AWKWARD TEENAGE YEARS, WHERE ALL OF THE PARTS DON'T QUITE SEEM TO FIT.

TO BE FAIR, NEITHER OF ITS MAIN URBAN UTILITY RIVALS, THE KIA SOUL OR MINI COUNTRYMAN, ARE GREAT BEAUTIES EITHER.

BUT THE 500L REALLY CALLS FOR A DOUBLE TAKE WITH DETAILS LIKE SPLIT A-PILLARS AND BUG-EYE HEADLIGHTS.

THE 500L ARCHITECTURE IS UNIQUE, NOT AT ALL A STRETCHED VERSION OF THE 500 HATCHBACK.

IT'S OVER TWO-FEET LONGER, WITH 12.2-INCHES OF ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE.

THE CHASSIS WILL ALSO SUPPORT JEEP'S FORTHCOMING RENEGADE CUV.

OUR 500L ALSO SPORTED A FUNKY 2-TONE, ALMOST TAXI-LIKE, TREKKING THEME.

THOUGH IT'S FAR FROM THE EXTREME COMPARED TO SOME OF THE OTHER COLOR OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

ON THE REALLY WEIRD FRONT, EUROPEANS CAN OPT FOR AN ONBOARD ESPRESSO MAKER FOR THEIR 500L.

WE WON'T BE GETTING THAT OPTION, OR THE 3-ROW VERSION.

IMAGINE THAT, EUROPEAN CARS HAVE GONE FROM NOT EVEN HAVING CUP HOLDERS TO HAVING IN-CAR COFFEE BREWING.

REGARDLESS, WHILE IT IS A MUCH BIGGER 500, IT'S STILL RELATIVELY SMALL COMPARED TO MOST ON THE ROAD.

THAT ALLOWS FOR A SURPRISINGLY REFINED AND QUITE EUROPEAN DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

A RELAXED CRUISER ON THE HIGHWAY THAT CAN ALSO HANDLE SWITCHBACKS NICELY.

ONLY ONE ENGINE IS AVAILABLE, AND HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT LARGELY DEPENDS ON WHICH TRANSMISSION IS ATTACHED TO IT.

IT'S THE TURBO VERSION OF FIAT'S 1.4-LITER MULTIAIR I4, HERE PRODUCING 160-HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO THE AUTOMATIC ROUTE, YOU'LL GET A 6-SPEED TWIN CLUTCH TRANSMISSION THAT'S CLUNKY, HERKY/JERKY NATURE HAD MOST OF OUR STAFF WISHING FOR A TRUE AUTOMATIC.

IF YOU DON'T MIND DOING THE SHIFTING YOURSELF, THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL MAKES FOR A MUCH BETTER EXPERIENCE, AND HELPS THE ENGINE AT LEAST FEEL MORE POWERFUL.

WITH THE TWIN CLUTCH TRANNY AT THE TRACK, IT'S HARD TO TELL WHETHER YOU'RE WAITING FOR THE TURBO TO KICK IN OR JUST WAITING FOR THE ENGINE TO HIT ITS POWER BAND.

BUT IT'S NOT UNTIL YOU GET THE RPMs UP THAT POWER COMES ON PRETTY STRONGLY.

IT TOOK A FULL 9.0-SECONDS TO HIT 60; AND 17.0 TO RUN OUT THE QUARTER MILE AT 85 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AND AS FOR OUR HANDLING COURSE, WE CONFIRMED OUR ON-ROAD IMPRESSIONS.

WHILE THE 500L IS DEFINITELY TUNED FOR COMFORT, IT PROVED TO BE QUITE A LOT OF FUN WHEN DODGING CONES.

STEERING, THOUGH LACKING IN FEEL, IS VERY DIRECT.

BODY ROLL IS MINIMAL, FOR WHAT LOOKS LIKE A TOP HEAVY VEHICLE.

AND THE CHASSIS HAS A NIMBLE FEEL WITH VERY LITTLE COMPUTER INTERVENTION.

BRAKES WERE NOT QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE, AS WE DID SEE SOME FADE, AND ONLY AN AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF 128-FEET FROM 60.

BUT IT REMAINED VERY STABLE.

EVEN IF YOU'RE A STARTING CENTER FOR YOUR BASKETBALL TEAM, YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF HEAD AND LEGROOM INSIDE, THOUGH THE SEATS ARE FLAT AND A BIT SHORT FOR LONG DISTANCE COMFORT.

VISIBILITY IS GREAT ALL AROUND, AND THAT INCLUDES A REAR SEAT CHILD MINDING MIRROR.

THERE IS CLEARLY A MINIVAN FEEL TO THE INTERIOR THAT INCLUDES ROOM FOR 68.0 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO.

MOST OF OUR TESTERS LIKED THE "AERO" VIBE TO THE COCKPIT.

THE LAYOUT IS FAR MORE "NORMAL" THAN THE 500 HATCHBACK, AND THAT EXTENDS TO SPREAD OUT, EASIER TO READ GAUGES.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 28.8 MILES-PER-GALLON, BUT OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS BETTER THAN AVERAGE AT 12.2-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.4-TONS.

THERE ARE FOUR 500L TRIM LEVELS, COVERING A PRETTY DECENT RANGE OF PRICES, STARTING AT $19,995 FOR POP TRIM, AND GOING TO $25,195 FOR LOUNGE, WITH OUR TREKKING NESTLED IN BETWEEN AT $22,195.

BEING THE FIRST PASSENGER VEHICLE AVAILABLE HERE THAT IS ASSEMBLED IN SERBIA IS JUST ANOTHER THING THAT MAKES THE 2014 FIAT 500L "DIFFERENT".

LIKE THE SLIGHTLY SMALLER KIA SOUL AND MINI COUNTRYMAN, THE 500L PACKS A LOT OF SPACE, COMFORT, AND UTILITY INTO A SMALL, FAMILY FRIENDLY PACKAGE.

AND THAT MAY BE JUST WHAT IT TAKES FOR FIAT TO REALLY GAIN A FOOTHOLD HERE, AND HANG ON TO IT.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA.

THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS BEEN A LEADER IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS SINCE 1995, AS THE STATE'S FIRST TO OPERATE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SCHOOL BUSES.

61, OR NEARLY HALF OF THEIR 117 BUSES, RUN ON CNG, INCLUDING NEW, SMALLER CLASS "A" BUSES.

AMONG THE LARGEST SUCH FLEETS ON THE EAST COAST, IT WAS NAMED "ONE OF THE TOP FIVE GOVERNMENT GREEN FLEETS IN NORTH AMERICA" FOR 2012.

PLANS ARE TO EVENTUALLY GO ALL-CNG.

Gerald Rineer: THERE ARE ADDITIONAL MANUFACTURERS COMING OUT WITH NEW ENGINES AND NEW EQUIPMENT SO THAT IT WILL BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVE.

WE'RE OPTIMISTIC THAT IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND IT'S GOING TO HELP CLEAN UP THE ENVIRONMENT.

John: WORKING WITH THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM, LOWER MERION IS SHOWING ITS LONG STANDING COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES IN THE DELAWARE VALLEY.

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 Maskell: 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 CUSTOMIZION...

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' '69 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.

John: TIME NOW TO STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE.

LET'S SEE WHAT TIPS PAT HAS FOR US THIS WEEK.

Pat Goss: 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: THE TOYOTA RAV4 CERTAINLY ADHERES TO THE GOLDILOCKS' PRINCIPLE OF BEING "NOT TOO BIG AND NOT TOO SMALL, BUT JUST RIGHT!"

IN SIZE AND CAPACITY THAT IS, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY IT DRIVES.

DESPITE ITS COMPACT SIZE, THE RAV4 HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE AND MOST EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO CARRY WITH THEM.

MOREOVER, THE RAV4 HAS A VERY CONTROLLED RIDE THAT IS NEITHER SOFT NOR HARSH, BUT YOU GET THAT.

WHAT YOU MAY NOT EXPECT IS THE COMPETENT WAY IT HANDLES THE ROAD.

IT'S NOT A SPORTS CAR, BUT IT IS A VERY ENJOYABLE WAY TO GO MOST ANYWHERE.

FUEL ECONOMY IS ABOUT RIGHT TOO, AT 26.0 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR AFTER 14 MONTHS AND 24,000 MILES.

THE 2.5-LITER I4 IS ONE OF THE SMOOTHEST OF ITS SIZE, MAKING THE RAV4 ANYTHING BUT A FAIRYTALE MACHINE.

A LOT OF BUYERS FANATICIZE ABOUT BUYING A LUXURY CAR, BUT FEW PREMIUM MODELS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS IN THE MANNER OF OUR 2014 ACURA RLX ADVANCE.

THAT'S BECAUSE THE RLX PROVIDES LARGE-CAR STYLE AND LUXURY, WRAPPED IN TECHNOLOGY, WRAPPED IN SPORTY PERFORMANCE, AT A PRICE THAT PUTS GERMAN RIVALS TO SHAME.

WHILE ACURA REFUSES TO CONSIDER A SMALL V8, THE RLX'S 3.5-LITER V6 LEAVES US WITH NO COMPLAINTS.

IT'S SMOOTH, AS WELL AS REASONABLY THRIFTY.

AFTER NEARLY 23,000 MILES, FUEL ECONOMY STANDS AT 25.0 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

ADD IN NOT A THING GONE WRONG AND THE ACURA RLX MAKES FANS WHEREVER IT GOES.

A CAR THAT KIA HOPES WILL BRING IT A FEW FANS IN THE LUXURY SEDAN ARENA IS THE NEW, FULL-SIZE K900.

WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE TO SAMPLE KOREA'S LATEST ATTEMPT TO CHANGE THE GLOBAL PREMIUM CAR STORYLINE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

MEANWHILE, WE'LL REVIEW THE "MUTT AND JEFF" OF OUR FLEET, THIS RAM 1500, AND NISSAN'S VERSA NOTE, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

UP NEXT, YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS OUR MOTORNEWS UPDATE.

SO LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR THE LATEST.

Yolanda: WELL, JOHN, AS YOU WELL KNOW, MOTORWEEK HAS DRIVEN OUR FAIR SHARE OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT MOST HAVE BEEN CARS AND SMALL CROSSOVERS.

WELL, NOW THE "AMERICAN ICON OF MOTORCYCLES" IS TOSSING THEIR HAT IN THE RING.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RECENTLY CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION WHEN THEY TEASED THIS ELECTRIC POWERED MOTORCYCLE, DUBBED PROJECT LIVEWIRE.

DETAILS ARE SCARCE ON THE CONCEPT BIKE, SO THERE ARE MOSTLY RUMORS ON THE MOTOR'S SIZE, CAPACITY, OUTPUT, AND RIDING RANGE.

BUT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IS CURRENTLY HOSTING A CROSS-COUNTRY PUBLIC TOUR OF THE BIKE TO GAUGE CONSUMER INTEREST.

IF ENOUGH FOLKS ARE CHARGED UP, IT COULD MEAN A MORE MAINSTREAM FUTURE FOR ELECTRIC POWER IN THE TWO-WHEELIN' WORLD.

AS ADVERTISED, FUEL ECONOMY NUMBERS FOR NEW CARS AND TRUCKS ARE A MAJOR SELLING POINT FOR BUYERS.

BUT MANY SAY THEY ARE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, AND NOW THE EPA AGREES.

IN FACT, THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS LOOKING TO AMEND THEIR OWN LABORATORY TESTING PROCEDURES TO ADD "REAL WORLD" DRIVING INTO THE EQUATION.

IT WILL BE PERFORMED ON ACTUAL ROADS; WITH EXPOSURE TO EVERYDAY ELEMENTS LIKE WIND AND ROAD FRICTION.

THE NUMBERS THAT APPEAR ON A NEW CAR'S WINDOW STICKER NOW, COME FROM DYNAMOMETER TESTING IN SCIENTIFICALLY-CONTROLLED CONDITIONS.

AUTOMAKERS DO MOST OF THE ACTUAL TESTING TO EPA SPECS.

THE NEW PROPOSAL IS DESIGNED TO MAKE SURE TEST DRIVERS AREN'T SO GOOD THAT THEIR RESULTS CAN'T BE DUPLICATED BY REAL OWNERS.

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

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.

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 WHEN WE'LL SEE JUST HOW GREEN THIS SUBARU XV CROSSTREK HYBRID REALLY IS.

THEN SHIFT OUR FOCUS TO AWESOME POWER WITH THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN.

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... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

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