Sport Compact Challenge & 2014 Mercedes-Benz S Class

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

JOIN US FOR A SPORT COMPACT CHALLENGE THAT LOOKS TO CUT DOWN ON COSTS, BUT NOT ON THRILLS... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON KEEPING OUR CARS FIT FOR WARM WEATHER CRUISING... AUTO WORLD SHOWS US GREEN CARS THAT COMPETE FOR THE GOLD... THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE 1% TRAVEL IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT HIS TIRES RIGHT NOW.

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

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.

OH MAN.

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN!

THIS IS AWESOME!"

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 Davis: CHEAP SPEED THAT IS INEXPENSIVE HIGH PERFORMANCE IS SOMETHING WE AND A LOT OF AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS ARE ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR.

BUT WHICH ONES GIVES BARGAIN HUNTING SPEED FREAKS THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK?

WELL, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

FOR THIS BATTLE OF THRIFTY THRUSTERS, WE HIGHTAILED IT TO CHICAGO, WHERE WE AGAIN JOINED CARS.COM AND USATODAY, TO BLAST OUR WAY THROUGH THIS PACK OF FRUGAL FLIERS.

LEAVING NO RPM UNTURNED, WE ALSO WEIGHED PERFORMANCE WITH PRACTICALITY FOR OUR GROUP OF 8 CONTESTANTS.

THEY ARE...

THE FEISTY FIAT 500 ABARTH THE FUN FORD FIESTA ST THE UNIQUE HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO THE EURO-FLAVORED KIA FORTE5 SX THE QUIRKY NISSAN JUKE NISMO RS THE REAR-DRIVE SCION FR-S THE IMPREZA-LESS SUBARU WRX AND THE ORIGINAL HOT HATCHBACK VOLKSWAGEN GTI.

THERE'S A WIDE VARIETY OF BODY STYLES AND DRIVETRAINS HERE, SO HEAD TO CARS.COM FOR FULL SPECS AND SCORING RUNDOWNS.

BUT ALL OF OUR COMPETITORS ARE OUT THE DOOR FOR LESS THAN $30,000.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY A LOCAL HOT SHOE LOOKING TO PURCHASE ONE OF THESE BARGAIN BLASTERS.

OUR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS WAS TO HIT THE TRACK AND GET SOME HIGH SPEED IMPRESSIONS ON WHICH OF THE SPORT COMPACTS ARE MOST CAPABLE WHEN PUSHED HARD.

AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS DOWN THE STRIP, AND MANY LAPS AROUND AUTOBAHN COUNTRY CLUB'S NORTH CIRCUIT, MUCH WAS REVEALED.

THE GTI, WRX, FIESTA ST, AND FR-S SHINED, WHILE OTHERS, INCLUDING THE FORTE5 AND VELOSTER, LEFT US WANTING.

FROM THERE, IT WAS SOME TIME ON PUBLIC ROADS; AND A COMPLETE INSIDE AND OUT EVALUATION OF EACH CAR FOR DAILY LIVABILITY.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE OTHER SHOES DROPPED.

PRACTICALLY HIT OUR EMOTIONAL FAVORITE -- THE FIAT 500 ABARTH -- HARD AS IT SETTLED INTO 8TH SPOT.

7TH THROUGH 5TH WERE THE NISSAN JUKE NISMO RS, THE HYUNDAI VELOSTER TURBO, AND ANOTHER SURPRISE, THE SCION FR-S. OUR REMAINING QUARTET OF FINALISTS SEES THE KIA FORTE5 SX IN 4TH PLACE.

WHILE IT DIDN'T OVERWHELM OUR TESTERS AT THE TRACK, FOR A DAILY DRIVER WITH A SPLASH OF EXCITEMENT IT'S HARD TO BEAT, AS IT OFFERED GREAT COMFORT AND PRACTICALITY THAT'S HARD TO COME BY IN THIS SEGMENT, AS WELL AS THE USUAL KIA BANG-FOR-THE BUCK WITH FEATURES LIKE NAVIGATION, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, AND EVEN A COOLED DRIVER'S SEAT.

Brian Robinson: AS FOR ON TRACK PERFORMANCE, THE FORTE5 FALLS WAY SHORT OF THE REST OF THE GROUP HERE; BUT FOR AN EVERYDAY, PRACTICAL, COMFORTABLE CAR, IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST HERE.

Jim Healey: IT'S REALLY A GOOD CHOICE FOR DAILY DRIVING BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMPOSED, VERY COMPLIANT; HAS ENOUGH SPORTY EDGE TO IT THAT YOU WON'T FEEL LIKE YOU'RE DRIVING SOMEBODY ELSE'S LEFTOVER SOMETHING.

John: THE FORD FIESTA ST IS ANOTHER ONE OF OUR FAVORITE POCKET ROCKETS AT MOTORWEEK , AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT HERE ONE BEAT, AT LEAST ON THE TRACK, WHERE ITS STIFF SUSPENSION MADE FOR SOME FUN AND FLAT HANDLING.

HOWEVER, IT'S ALSO THAT HARSHNESS THAT HELD IT BACK HERE IN THIS COMPETITION, AS MOST FOUND THE RIDE TOO UNFORGIVING FOR DAILY DRIVING.

STILL, IT'S A LOT OF FUN FOR A LITTLE PRICE.

Joe Wiesenfelder: THERE ARE MORE REFINED CARS IN THIS TEST, YOU KNOW, MORE BUTTONED DOWN AND POISED, THIS ONE IS JUST FUN.

WHETHER IT'S ON THE STREET OR ON THE TRACK, I JUST HAD A BLAST IN IT.

Joe Weiss: I HAD THE MOST FUN IN THE FIESTA ALL DAY LONG.

IT JUST -- YOU KNOW, THE CAR DROVE SO WELL.

IT KEPT LIKE -- IT KEPT URGING ME TO DRIVE FASTER AND FASTER.

John: THE SUBARU WRX HAS LONG BEEN A STANDARD IN THE HOT CHEAP CLASS, AND WHILE IT MAY HAVE DROPPED THE IMPREZA NAME FROM ITS TITLE, IT'S LOST NONE OF THE GREAT PERFORMANCE OR GOOD COMMUTING COMFORT ON ITS WAY TO A RUNNER UP SPOT HERE.

IT WAS BY FAR THE FASTEST OF THE GROUP AT THE DRAG STRIP, AND THE TRUE SEDAN DESIGN MAKES FOR A GREAT EVERY DAY CAR.

PLUS IT HAS STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

BUT THAT ALL CAME AT A PRICE AS THE WRX WAS ALSO THE PRICIEST CONTESTANT HERE.

Joe Bruzek: THE WRX IS WITHOUT A DOUBT THE HOT ROD OF THE GROUP.

ITS ACCELERATION IS UNPARALLELED AT THE DRAG STRIP.

Brian Robinson: FOR ME, I THINK THE WRX IS ONE OF THE BEST CARS HERE IN OVERALL EVERY SINGLE CATEGORY, AND ITS PROOF THAT YOU DON'T NEED AN ULTRA-STIFF RIDE TO GET GREAT HANDLING PERFORMANCE.

John: MOST CONSIDER THE VOLKSWAGEN GTI AS THE ORIGINAL SPORT COMPACT, SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT IT CAME OUT ON TOP AGAIN AS IT CONTINUES TO BRING HOME THE GOODS.

IT WAS IN THE TOP 2 IN EVERY PERFORMANCE CATEGORY, INCLUDING FUEL MILEAGE.

THROW IN A MID-PACK PRICE, A COMFORTABLE RIDE, HATCHBACK PRACTICALITY, AND IT MAKES FOR ONE PERFECT ALL AROUND PACKAGE.

Dave Thomas: NOT ONLY WAS THE GTI FAST, BUT IT WAS COMFORTABLE, AND IT'S PRETTY PRACTICAL, TOO.

AND IT WASN'T EVEN THE MOST EXPENSIVE OF THE BUNCH WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

DEFINITELY THE BEST ALL-AROUND PERFORMER HERE.

Joe Wiesenfelder: WHEN IT COMES TO VERSATILITY, PERFORMANCE, POWER, EXCELLENT BRAKING, THE GTI REALLY SEEMS TO HAVE IT ALL.

John: IN THIS COMPARISON OF CHEAP SPEED, SOME CARS HIGHLIGHTED THE CHEAP, WHILE OTHERS PRIORITIZED THE SPEED.

STILL, ALL ARE GOOD BUYS FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE DOLLAR.

NONE, HOWEVER, CAN MATCH THE VOLKSWAGEN GTI'S OVERALL MIX OF PERFORMANCE AND PRACTICALITY.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE ORIGINAL SPORT COMPACT IS STILL THE BEST.

WITH AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY EVOLVING SO RAPIDLY, TRAINING THE NEXT GENERATION OF VEHICLE ENGINEERS CAN NO LONGER BE LIMITED TO TRADITIONAL CLASSROOMS AND BOOKS.

REAL-WORLD, HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IS CRUCIAL, AND THAT'S WHY COLLEGIATE AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING COMPETITIONS, LIKE ECOCAR 2, ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.

WELL, THE 2014 EDITION IS NOW COMPLETE, SO LET'S TALLY UP THE RESULTS.

ECOCAR 2 IS A THREE YEAR COMPETITION IN WHICH 15 NORTH AMERICAN COLLEGE TEAMS WERE CHALLENGED TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF A CHEVROLET MALIBU SEDAN WHILE RETAINING OR ENHANCING ITS UTILITY, SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, ALL TEAMS CHOSE SOME FORM OF PLUG-IN HYBRID ARCHITECTURE, BUT AN IMPRESSIVE VARIETY OF CONFIGURATIONS EMERGED, INCLUDING MACHINES POWERED BY E85, BIODIESEL, AND EVEN HYDROGEN.

Kristen De La Rosa: IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT, WE CAN PRESENT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ENGINEERING CHALLENGES, AND SO WE CAN TEACH TEAMS HOW TO BUILD THE "NO COMPROMISE" VEHICLE THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO BUY.

SO NOT JUST ENERGY EFFICIENT, BUT ALSO PERFORMANCE, CONSUMER ACCEPTABILITY, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT INFLUENCE PEOPLE'S CHOICES ABOUT THE KIND OF VEHICLES THAT THEY WANT TO BUY.

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU REALLY SEE THE PETROLEUM PRODUCTION NUMBERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AS A COUNTRY.

John: AFTER A YEAR OF MODELING AND SIMULATION, TEAMS WERE GIVEN THEIR VEHICLES FOR YEAR TWO, AND HAVE WORKED EVER SINCE ON IMPLEMENTING THEIR DESIGNS.

BUT THE STUDENTS ALSO HAD TO THINK "REAL-WORLD" IN TERMS OF PACKAGING THEIR COMPONENTS FOR FIT AND FINISH, DRIVEABILITY, AND CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE.

HEADLINE SPONSOR GENERAL MOTORS PROVIDED THE VEHICLES AS WELL AS MENTORS FOR EACH TEAM, AND ENCOURAGED THE COMPETITORS TO MIMIC ITS GLOBAL VEHICLE DESIGN PROCESS, BY WHICH GM DEVELOPS ITS OWN PROTOTYPE VEHICLES.

THEY ALSO HOSTED ALL 15 TEAMS FOR THIS YEAR'S FINALS AT THEIR PROVING GROUNDS IN MILFORD, MICHIGAN.

THE US DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PITCHED IN THEIR OWN EXPERTISE AND ORGANIZATIONAL MUSCLE WITH ENGINEERS FROM THEIR ARGONNE NATIONAL LAB MANAGING THE COMPETITION, PROVIDING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, AND UTILIZING THEIR WELL-TO-WHEELS ANALYSIS MODEL TO ASSESS EACH TEAM'S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

JUDGING IS CONDUCTED AFTER EACH YEAR OF THE COMPETITION, MEASURING PROGRESS IN TERMS OF EMISSIONS, ECONOMY AND COMPONENT INTEGRATION, AS WELL AS PURE PERFORMANCE.

AND NO MATTER WHAT THEIR RESULTS, THE PRIZE FOR THE STUDENTS, IN TERMS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE, HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.

Jim Kolhoff: WHAT WE SEE MOST COMING FROM THE COMPETITION IS THE FACT THAT THE STUDENTS WHO COME OUT OF ECOCAR ARE WELL TRAINED IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY, THEY KNOW THE TECHNIQUES, THEY KNOW THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGES, THEY COME TO OUR COMPANY, GENERAL MOTORS, HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING, THEY'RE DELIVERING INNOVATION VERY EARLY IN THEIR CAREER, SOME OF WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN DERIVED FROM WHAT THEY LEARNED AT ECOCAR.

John: AFTER A GRUELING WEEK OF TESTING, THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY CLAIMED TOP TEAM HONORS FOR 2014.

THEIR E85 SERIES-PARALLEL PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE ACHIEVED 50 MILES PER GALLON GAS EQUIVALENT WHILE USING 315 WATT-HOURS PER MILE OF ELECTRICITY.

CONGRATULATIONS ALSO GO TO THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOR 2ND PLACE, AND PENN STATE IN 3RD POSITION.

MANY INNOVATIVE IDEAS HAVE EMERGED FROM THE COMPETITION AND NO TWO CARS TURNED OUT ALIKE.

BUT AMAZINGLY, ALL 15 TEAMS PRODUCED A DRIVABLE, NEARLY-PRODUCTION-READY VEHICLE IMAGINED, ENGINEERED, AND BUILT SOLELY BY COLLEGE STUDENTS.

BEST OF ALL, LESSONS LEARNED IN THIS CLASSROOM WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US AS WE LOOK TOWARDS A CLEAN DRIVING FUTURE!

NO DOUBT YOU'VE BEEN TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SUMMER WEATHER FOR SOME LEISURELY CRUISING.

WELL, LET'S TAKE A QUICK STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S IN WORKING ORDER!

Pat Goss: WITH SPRING COMES POTHOLES, AND POTHOLES CAN DO A LOT OF DAMAGE TO A CAR.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO, IS YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET YOUR CAR UP IN THE AIR AND YOU HAVE A LOOK UNDERNEATH IT TO MAKE SURE THAT LAST "MOTHER OF ALL POTHOLES" THAT YOU HIT, DIDN'T DO SOME SERIOUS DAMAGE THAT MAY BE CONCEALED.

NOW, THE MOST TYPICAL THING THAT GETS DAMAGED BY HITTING POTHOLES IS GOING TO BE THE ALLOY WHEELS.

SO YOU WANT TO INSPECT EACH WHEEL VERY CAREFULLY; ALL THE WAY AROUND, ESPECIALLY ON THE INSIDE OF THEM.

AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR DENTS OR CRACKS FROM THE EDGE GOING UP INTO THE CENTER, OR A CRACK ALONG THIS LITTLE RIDGE THAT'S IN HERE THAT REINFORCES THE WHEEL.

NOW, WHAT HAPPENS WITH THIS IS, YOU GET A TINY CRACK, IT DOESN'T LEAK AIR OR ANYTHING, BUT LATER ON, YOU'RE OUT ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED AND THE WHEEL JUST OPENS UP LIKE THIS.

THAT CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

SO CHECK THE WHEELS VERY CAREFULLY.

ALSO, LOOK AT THE CONTROL ARMS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE SLID AND TAPPED A CURB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT DURING BAD WEATHER.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ANY SIGNS OF TINY LITTLE BENDS OR CRACKS IN THE PAINTED PARTS.

THAT USUALLY SIGNIFIES THAT SOMETHING IS BENT.

LOOK AT THE STEERING; ALL OF THE LINKAGE COMPONENTS.

LOOK AT THE DRIVE AXLES AND BOOTS ON THEM.

THE RUBBER BOOTS ARE SOMETIMES DAMAGED BY ICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALSO, LOOK AT THE SPLASH PANS UNDERNEATH.

THESE ARE ACTUALLY THERE TO CHANNEL AIR WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING, AND SOMETIMES EVEN IN TRAFFIC.

THEY'RE ATTACHED BY PLASTIC PUSH PINS.

HERE WE HAVE A COUPLE EXAMPLES OF THEM.

THEY'RE VERY SIMPLE DEVICES, BUT THEY BREAK QUITE EASILY SOMETIMES.

SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THIS PLASTIC IS IN PLACE.

ALRIGHT, NOW THE NEXT THING IS A GENERAL LOOK SEE AT EVERYTHING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.

SEE IF ANYTHING IS DAMAGED, IF ANYTHING IS FALLING APART OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND ALSO LOOK FOR SALT RESIDUE.

AND IF YOU HAVE SALT RESIDUE, WELL, ONE WAY TO GET RID OF IT IS WITH A SPRINKLER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.

YOU USE THAT WITH A GARDEN HOSE.

NOW, IT'S GOING TO TAKE ALL DAY BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT OVER HERE IN THIS QUADRANT FIRST.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO LEAVE IT THERE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT OVER HERE.

THEN YOU'RE GOING TO MOVE IT TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CAR, ONE SIDE AND THEN THE OTHER.

AND FINALLY TO THE BACK OF THE CAR.

NOW, ABOUT AN HOUR IN EACH POSITION AND THIS WILL GET RID OF MOST OF THE SALT AND THE NASTY STUFF THAT CAN EAT AWAY AT THE UNDERNEATH OF YOUR CAR.

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

IT IS AMAZING HOW, IN JUST A FEW SHORT YEARS, CHRYSLER HAS TRANSFORMED ITS RAM FULL-SIZE 1500 PICKUP FROM AN ALSO-RAN TO AN INDUSTRY INNOVATOR.

FROM AN ALL-COIL SPRING SUSPENSION, TO A PAIR ON MODERN V6s; ONE GAS AND ONE TURBO DIESEL, BOTH WITH 8-SPEED AUTOMATICS, TO A POWER TAILGATE LOCK, TO SIDE-SADDLES RAM BOX STORAGE.

AND A RECORD PACE OF SALES HAVE FOLLOWED.

LIKE OUR 2013 RAM 1500 SLT QUAD CAB 4X4, MOST BUYERS OPT FOR FOUR DOOR MODELS.

ALTHOUGH, IF YOU REALLY WANT A LONG DISTANCE FAMILY VEHICLE THIS CREW CAB'S EXTRA REAR LEGROOM WILL BE A CROWD PLEASER.

AFTER 11 MONTHS AND NEARLY 21,000 VARIED MILES, FUEL ECONOMY SITS AT 18.9 MILES PER REGULAR GALLON.

STILL PRETTY THIRSTY, BUT ITS RIGHT WERE THE GOVERNMENT SAYS IT SHOULD BE.

UTILITIES LIKE OUR 2014 SUBARU FORESTER 2.0XT TOURING GET A REAL SUMMER WORKOUT WITH US.

HAULING BOTH CREWS TO LOCATIONS, AND OUR HOUSEHOLDS TO VACATIONS.

THE MID-ATLANTIC'S HOT AND HUMID WEATHER IS A GOOD TEST FOR ANY VEHICLE'S AIR CONDITIONING, AND SO FAR, THE FORESTER HAS KEPT US COOL.

AFTER 13 MONTHS AND NEARLY 23,000 MILES WE HAVE NOTICED RIDE QUALITY IS SUFFERING DUE TO TIRE WEAR.

OUR FORESTER'S OPTIONAL 2.0-LITER TURBO PROVIDES GOOD PASSING POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY OF 23.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR, JUST SHORT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED RATING OF 25.

ADD IN NO MECHANICAL ISSUES, AND THE FORESTER'S AMAZING APPETITE FOR CARRYING PEOPLE AND CARGO, AND IT'S NO WONDER SUBARU CAN'T BUILD THEM FAST ENOUGH.

WE'LL DO A FAST CHECK OF OUR ACURA RLX AND THIS TOYOTA RAV4 ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

WE'RE ALWAYS DRIVING THE CAR WORLD'S LATEST.

SO LET'S GO FOR A QUICK SPIN!

OUR LATEST QUICK SPIN CAME IN ANOTHER SUBARU VEHICLE, THE REDESIGNED 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK SPORT UTILITY WAGON, AND ALLOWED US TO STEP INTO THE LIFE OF THE WEEKEND WARRIOR, HITTING SOME BACKROAD BENDS IN CENTRAL OREGON.

AS THE ICONIC WAGON'S LOOKS HAVEN'T CHANGED MUCH; PERHAPS GROWING EVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE; THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHANGES ELSEWHERE.

STARTING WITH THE DRIVETRAIN, WHERE SUBARU'S LINEARTRONIC CVT IS NOW STANDARD, AND THE ONLY TRANSMISSION AVAILABLE.

THE STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM NOW ADDS ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING FROM THE GET-GO, PLUS THE X-MODE LOW SPEED, LOW TRACTION SYSTEM WITH HILL DESCENT AND HOLD ASSIST.

ENGINES ARE CARRYOVER, BOTH 4 AND 6-CYLINDER BOXERS, THOUGH WEIGHT IS TRIMMED AND HYDRAULIC MOUNTS ADDED.

DIMENSIONS HAVE GROWN SLIGHTLY, AND THE CHASSIS IS MUCH STIFFER.

BUT IT'S STILL AN OUTBACK.

Patrick Lucas: MORE SO THAN EVER, THE OUTBACK IS A CAR TO DRIVE IN RATHER THAN TAKE FOR A DRIVE.

COMFORT IS WAY UP, INTERIOR MATERIALS ARE NICELY IMPROVED, IT'S A LITTLE ROOMIER, AND THE NEW INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

John: SINCE ITS OFF-PAVEMENT MANNERS WERE NEVER IN QUESTION, SUBARU FOCUSED ON THE ON-ROAD DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH NEW AVAILS LIKE BLIND SPOT MONITORING, A REFINED ELECTRIC POWER STEERING SYSTEM, AND AN UPDATED EYESIGHT CAMERA AND RADAR-BASED COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM.

ON SALE NOW, THE 5TH GENERATION 2015 SUBARU OUTBACK STARTS AROUND $26,000.

AND WE'LL HEAD BACK ON PAVEMENT FOR MORE QUICK SPINS, SOON!

THERE'S LUXURY, AND THEN THERE'S ULTRA-LUXURY.

AND WHILE EVERYONE CERTAINLY THINKS LUXURY WHEN THEY HEAR MERCEDES-BENZ, EVEN THE COMPANY THOUGHT THAT TO GO THE ULTRA-LUXURY ROUTE, IT WOULD TAKE A DIFFERENT BRAND.

AND THAT'S WHERE MAYBACH CAME IN TO PLAY.

BUT IT'S TOUGH FOR A LITTLE KNOW CAR MARQUE TO GET A FOOTHOLD THESE DAYS, EVEN WHEN IT'S BACKED BY MERCEDES.

SO, MAYBACH IS AGAIN HISTORY.

BUT DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT BENZ HAS ABANDONED THEIR ULTRA-LUXURY GOALS.

FROM OUR FIRST MOMENTS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE ALL NEW S550, IT WAS CLEAR MERCEDES-BENZ IS ATTEMPTING TO ELEVATE S-CLASS STATUS ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY REPLACE THE ULTRA-EXCLUSIVE MAYBACH.

SO, FORGET ABOUT COMPETING WITH THE 7-SERIES AND A8, THE NEW S-CLASS NOW HAS BENTLEY AND ROLLS-ROYCE IN ITS SIGHTS.

AND JUST LIKE THOSE HIGH ROLLER RIDES, THERE'S REALLY NO END TO THE LIST OF OPTIONS YOU CAN ADD IN ORDER TO MAKE YOUR "S" A ONE OF A KIND PIECE.

BUT BENZ IS ALSO ATTEMPTING TO MATCH UNBRIDLED OPULENCE AT A MORE ATTAINABLE PRICE.

FOR STARTERS, THE LOOK IS PURE SOPHISTICATED ELEGANCE, NOT SHOWY IN ANY WAY; MORE CHISELED THAN BEFORE, BUT WITH THE SAME UPSWEEPING BODY LINES FLOWING TO MORE SUBSTANTIAL REAR SHOULDERS.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IN A NEW FLAGSHIP MERCEDES-BENZ, NEW STANDARDS FOR SAFETY ARE ACHIEVED.

THE TECHNOLOGY IS KNOWN, BUT NOW THERE IS SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF DRIVER AIDES LIKE STEERING ASSIST, ACTIVE LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AND EVEN A NIGHT VISION SYSTEM THAT WORKS SO WELL, YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR LOOKING AT IT INSTEAD OF THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD.

THOUGH IRONICALLY ENOUGH, WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST, THE BUTTON TO TURN IT ON IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IN THE DARK.

THE NEW S-CLASS ALSO TAKES THE ILLUMINATION CROWN, AS THERE ARE ALMOST 500 LEDs BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR; NO INCANDESCENT BULBS WHATSOEVER.

JUST ONE WORD COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU FIRST EXPERIENCE THE INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT WORD IS CRAFTSMANSHIP.

BUILD QUALITY IS EXQUISITE, AND THE EXCELLENCE OF MATERIALS AND UPHOLSTERY IS VERY REMINDFUL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED ESTEEMED BRITISH MARQUES.

THOUGH ALL OF THE ELECTRONICS AND CLARITY OF THE NAVIGATION SCREEN AND VIRTUAL GAUGE PANEL ARE FAR SUPERIOR AND JUST SCREAM HIGH-END, MUCH MORE SO THAN IN THE PREVIOUS GENERATION S-CLASS.

THE COMAND CENTRAL CONTROL SYSTEM IS WELL IMPROVED, MAKING A GOOD CASE FOR ELIMINATING TOUCHSCREENS ALTOGETHER; AND THERE ARE ALSO ENOUGH TRADITIONAL MANUAL CONTROLS FOR MOST FUNDAMENTAL OPERATIONS.

OUR 4MATIC-EQUIPPED TESTER PERFORMED JUST GREAT OVER OUR WORN DOWN WINTERY BYWAYS, THOUGH THE ADDITIONAL HEAVES AND HOLES IN OUR ROADS HAD US WISHING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL MAGIC BODY CONTROL THAT DOES JUST WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE; NEARLY LEVITATING OVER EVERY BUMP AND ROAD IMPERFECTION WITH THE TRUE SENSE OF A MAGIC CARPET RIDE, WITH APOLOGIES TO STEPPENWOLF.

THE UNIQUE PART OF THE "MAGIC" SYSTEM IS THAT INSTEAD OF REACTING TO WHEEL MOVEMENTS, IT USES CAMERAS TO SCAN THE ROAD SURFACE AHEAD AND PREDICT WHAT THE SUSPENSION IS ABOUT TO DEAL WITH AND ADJUSTS DAMPING ACCORDINGLY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE SYSTEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE MODELS.

DRIVING A FULL-SIZE, HIGH-DOLLAR SEDAN CAN BE A LITTLE INTIMIDATING, AS NOT ONLY ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CAR'S GIRTH, BUT YOU'RE ALSO VERY AWARE OF THE CAR'S PRICE TAG.

BUT BENZ DOES ITS BEST TO ALLEVIATE THAT ANXIETY WITH AN INSANE AMOUNT OF COMFORT FEATURES, LIKE MASSAGING SEATS WITH PILLOW-LIKE HEADRESTS, PERFUME ATOMIZER, AND BURMESTER SURROUND SOUND AUDIO.

ALSO HELPING IS THE FACT THAT IT DOESN'T FEEL AS HEAVY AS THE PREVIOUS S, THOUGH IT STILL HAS THAT SUBSTANTIAL FEEL THAT ONLY A GERMAN MADE LUXURY SEDAN MANAGES.

EVEN WITHOUT "MAGIC," OUR 4MATIC NEVER BOUNCED OR FLOATED LIKE A BENTLEY OR ROLLS, MAKING US WANT TO PUSH IT FASTER AND FASTER.

AND IT HAS THE POWER TO DO IT.

WHICH WE CONFIRMED AT THE TRACK WHERE WE BOLTED TO 60 IN JUST 5.0-SECONDS, FINDING THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 13.5-SECONDS AT 108 MILES-PER-HOUR.

MAKING THAT POSSIBLE IS A 4.7-LITER V8, COMPLETE WITH A PAIR OF TURBOCHARGERS, CRANKING OUT 449-HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION IS A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR 4MATIC ARE 16-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.3 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE COMES IN FAIRLY HIGH AT 17.3-BARRELS OF OIL USED WITH 7.6-TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

EVEN WITH ITS DECIDEDLY MORE UPSCALE NATURE, BASE PRICING STARTS UNDER SIX FIGURES AT $93,825.

OUR EXTREMELY WELL-EQUIPPED TEST CAR WAS $122,895.

THAT'S NOT INEXPENSIVE, BUT THE NEW S REALLY DOES FEEL LIKE A CAR THAT COSTS TWICE AS MUCH, AND A BARGAIN FOR THIS LEVEL OF CRAFTSMANSHIP.

IN FACT, MERCEDES-BENZ CLAIMS THE 2014 S550 IS THE BEST AUTOMOBILE IN THE WORLD.

WE'RE NOT READY GO ANYWHERE NEAR THAT FAR, BUT IT IS A PRETTY SPECTACULAR PIECE OF AUTOMOTIVE CONVEYANCE.

IT CLEARLY HAS REPLACED MAYBACH, AND WITHOUT QUESTION, HAS BECOME THE NEW BENCHMARK FOR THE "MASS PRODUCED" PREMIUM LUXURY SEDAN CLASS.

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 THINGS IN 3-D, FOR DIESEL, WITH THE BMW 328D.

THEN WE'LL GET SERIOUS WITH THE SUBARU WRX STI.

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.

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

BUT KENNY'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

KENNY'S THINKING, "OH MAN.

OH MAN.

OH MAN, OH MAN, OH MAN!

THIS IS AWESOME!"

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.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR, AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.