>> HI, I'M JOHN DAVIS AND THIS IS MOTORWEEK !
JOIN US AS WE GO "GODZILLA" ALL OVER OUR FAVORITE ROAD COURSE WITH THE NISSAN GT-R... PAT GOSS GIVES US A JUMP DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... ROGER MECCA IS MAKING HIS TIRE TRACKS IN A BRITISH CLASSIC... AND WE'LL CHECK OUT WHAT THE MODERN FAMILY HAS IN STORE, WITH A MID-SIZE FOUR DOOR SHOWDOWN!
SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!
CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.
>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.
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>> JOHN: WHEN THE NISSAN GT-R ARRIVED STATESIDE FOR 2009, IT QUICKLY LIVED UP TO ALL OF ITS HYPE BY DELIVERING HIGH PERFORMANCE WORTHY OF CARS TWICE ITS PRICE.
IT WAS A BEAST AND WE LOVED IT!
BUT AS THEY SAY, IF YOU'RE NOT MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE STANDING STILL.
SO, WITH UPDATES FOR '15, WE JUST HAD TO SEE IF THE GT-R LEGEND IS STILL GROWING.
EVEN WITH ALL OF THE HYPE THAT HAS SURROUNDED THE NISSAN GT-R OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS, EVERY TIME WE'VE GOTTEN BEHIND THE WHEEL, WE'VE NEVER COME AWAY DISAPPOINTED.
HOWEVER, THIS 2015 CAR IS THE FIRST WE'VE HAD AT OUR ROAD COURSE OF CHOICE, ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH.
TO RECHARGE THE GT-R'S IMAGE, NISSAN HAS LAUNCHED AN ALL OUT ASSAULT ON GLOBAL SUPERCARS WITH 3 GT-R'S FOR THE CHOOSING, FROM A BASE PREMIUM GT-R, TO BLACK, AND EVEN NISMO VARIANTS.
WE CHOSE THE GT-R PREMIUM FOR OUR TEST AND WASTED LITTLE TIME GETTING OUT ON THE TRACK.
FROM INCEPTION, NISSAN HAS CONTINUOUSLY IMPROVED THE GT-R.
SO, THIS 2015 EDITION IS FAR FROM NEW.
ALL VERSIONS STILL RELY ON THE SAME 3.8 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6 UNDER HOOD.
BUT THAT'S OKAY BY US AS IT IS A TRUE WORK OF MECHANICAL ART WITH COOL COLORS, LOTS OF PLUMBING, A BUILDER'S PLAQUE, ALL UNDER PLENTY OF STRUCTURAL BODY BRACING.
OUTPUT HERE IS 545 HORSEPOWER AND 463 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.
TRANSMISSION IS A PADDLE SHIFTED 6 SPEED SEQUENTIAL DCT, AND OF COURSE POWER IS SENT TO ALL 4 WHEELS.
BUT THERE ARE BIG CHANGES THAT ARE NOT SO VISIBLE, LIKE A TOTAL REWORK OF THE SUSPENSION, AND IT IS A DEPARTURE FROM THE "STIFFER IS BETTER" APPROACH OF MOST ROAD GOING SUPER HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS OF TODAY.
NEW SHOCK VALVING ALLOWS FOR BOTH A MORE COMPLIANT, IF HARDLY SOFT, RIDE AND FOR A LARGER TIRE CONTACT PATCH ON THE TRACK.
COMBINE THAT WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE GRIP, AND A BIG HELPING OF TURBO CHARGED TORQUE, AND THE GT-R SHOOTS OFF TURNS LIKE AN NFL QUARTERBACK.
THE GT-R'S ALUMINUM AND CARBON FIBER CHASSIS, WITH ITS TRANSAXLE, AND INDEPENDENT REAR SETUP, IS A UNIQUE ONE, AND IT FEELS TRULY AT HOME ON A RACE TRACK, AS LONG AS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR BUTT FROM SLIDING AROUND THE COCKPIT.
A SEAT BOLSTER UPGRADE IS DEFINITELY IN ORDER FOR TRACK DAYS.
BUT THOSE FLAT SEATS, AND A SURPRISINGLY VAGUE STEERING FEEL, PRETTY MUCH WRAP UP OUR COMPLAINTS.
SO, WHILE WE CAN CONFIDENTLY PREDICT THAT NO ONE WILL BE DISAPPOINTED WITH A GT-R THAT IS BOTH MORE CAPABLE AND MORE COMFORTABLE; THE FEW PEOPLE THAT LIVE WITH ONE EVERY DAY, WILL SURELY APPRECIATE THE MORE REFINED NATURE OF THE INTERIOR BEST OF ALL.
THOUGH THERE'S STILL A BUSINESS LIKE APPROACH, WITH A LARGE TACH IN THE CENTER OF THE COCKPIT STYLE I.P.
AND PLENTY OF PERFORMANCE SETTING SWITCHES FOR FLIPPIN'.
AND IT SERIOUSLY GETS DOWN TO BUSINESS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING ACCELERATION RUNS, AS THE GT-R'S LAUNCH MODE IS ABOUT AS RUTHLESS AS THEY COME.
BUT YOU ONLY GET A COUPLE RUNS UNTIL YOU HAVE TO TAKE A TIME OUT FOR THE ELECTRO/MECHANICAL GOVERNESS TO HAVE A BREATHER.
BUT TIMES UP AND THE ONSLAUGHT OF POWER BECOMES RELENTLESS; JUST HOLD ONTO THE WHEEL AND LET THE CAR DO ITS THING, RIPPING OUT A 3.1 SECOND EXPLOSION TO 60.
AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE MERELY A BLIP, NOT DELAYING PROGRESS AT ALL; AND AFTER 11.4 SECONDS OF AUTOMOTIVE INSANITY WE REACHED THE END OF THE QUARTER AT 123 MILES-PER-HOUR.
WHILE WE'VE NEVER BEEN CATAPULTED OFF AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER IN A FIGHTER JET, WE IMAGINE THE EXPERIENCE IS SIMILAR.
EVEN SITTING STILL, THE GT-R DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S READY FOR FLIGHT.
THERE ARE AERO BLADES ON THE FENDERS AND A BIG INTAKE UP FRONT FOR SUCKING IN AIR.
FROM THE REAR ITS MORE CHUNKY LOOKING THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE SIGNATURE FOUR RING TAIL LIGHTS, LARGE WING UP TOP, DIFFUSER DOWN BELOW, AND OF COURSE FOUR BIG EXHAUST TIPS.
EXTERIOR UPDATES FOR '15 ARE LIMITED TO NEW LED HEADLIGHTS AND THIS REGAL RED PAINT JOB.
FOR THE RECORD, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 16-CITY, 23-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.
ON THE RECORD, GT-R PRICING STARTS AT $103,365.
SO, EVEN AT SIX FIGURES, IT REMAINS THE AWESOME CAR BARGAIN IT WAS IN '09.
COSTING HALF WHAT THE MAJORITY OF THE CARS IT IS COMPARED TO DO, THE 2015 NISSAN GT-R FULLY EARNS ITS PLACE AMONG THE SUPERCAR ELITE.
WHILE IT MAY HAVE BEEN GAMERS MORE SO THAN ACTUAL RACERS THAT HAVE PERPETUATED THE GT-R'S FAME, ONE THING'S FOR SURE: THIS BRUT OF A LEGEND IS NOT SEEING AN END ANY TIME SOON.
OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO WEST SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA WHERE TRUCKERS ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A NEW, CLEAN ENERGY, LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FUELING STATION.
IT'S ONE OF ONLY TWO REGIONAL LNG STATIONS DESIGNED FOR HEAVY DUTY, CLASS 7 & 8 TRACTOR TRAILERS.
STATIONS HAVE WIDER ACCESS, A LARGER TURNAROUND PAD, WITH TWO FUELING LANES THAT CAN BE INCREASED TO FOUR.
THE STATION CAN ALSO BE UPGRADED TO ADD CNG AND IF DEMAND WARRANTS, A SECOND LNG HOLDING TANK.
AREA HAULERS ARE SLOWLY BUT SURELY MAKING THE SWITCH TO THE CLEANER BURNING FUEL SUPPORTING THE NEED FOR MORE LNG STATIONS.
>> JEFF WITTENBERGER: SACRAMENTO HAS BEEN, REALLY, AN EARLY ADOPTER FOR NATURAL GAS TRUCKS.
A LOT OF THE COUNTY AND CITY OF SACRAMENTO'S VEHICLES ARE RUNNING ON NATURAL GAS.
SO, IT'S REALLY NOTHING NEW HERE.
WHAT IS NEW IS THE INTRODUCTION TO THE HEAVY DUTY, OVER-THE-ROAD, AND REGIONAL HAUL TRUCKING MARKET.
>> JOHN: WITH NATURAL GAS BEING AN ABUNDANT, DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED FUEL, CLEAN ENERGY BELIEVES THEIR INVESTMENT IN AMERICA'S NATURAL GAS HIGHWAY WILL PAY BIG DIVIDENDS FOR NORTHERN CALIFORNIA TRUCKERS.
BEAUTY IS INDEED IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE OF HOW A CAR IS STYLED.
FEW CARS EVER GET UNANIMOUS PRAISE FOR THEIR LOOKS.
BUT ONE THAT DOES IS THE E-TYPE JAGUAR.
PENNED OVER A HALF CENTURY AGO, THE E-TYPE STILL LOOKS SMASHING.
BUT BEYOND STYLING, DOES THE E-TYPE DESERVE ITS LEGENDARY STATUS?
WELL, OUR ROGER MECCA WONDERED THAT TOO, SO HE SET OUT TO SEE IF E-TYPE LORE IS MORE THAN SKIN DEEP.
>> ROGER MECCA: WHEN THE JAGUAR E-TYPE DEBUTED AT THE GENEVA AUTO SHOW IN 1961, IT TOOK THE CAR WORLD BY STORM.
ITS MIX OF JAW DROPPING STYLE, COMBINED WITH RACECAR LIKE PERFORMANCE, AND DAILY EASE OF USE, SET IT APART FROM EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE ROAD.
THE STYLING WAS SO DRAMATIC IN FACT, THAT ENZO FERRARI HIMSELF DECLARED THIS TO BE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR EVER MADE.
AND 53 YEARS LATER, I STILL THINK ENZO'S RIGHT.
>> HENRY PITTS: I NEVER TIRE OF DRIVING THE CAR AND I THINK THAT'S THE AMAZING THING.
>> ROGER: HENRY PITTS IS THE PROUD OWNER OF THIS 1971 JAGUAR E-TYPE SERIES TWO CONVERTIBLE.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE SECOND ONE HE'S OWNED.
IN THE LATE '60s, HE WAS TAKING HIS MGB ROADSTER IN FOR SERVICE WHEN HE SAW AN E-TYPE FOR SALE IN FRONT OF THE MECHANIC'S SHOP.
IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
>> HENRY: I IMMEDIATELY SAID "WHAT ARE YOU GONNA GIVE ME FOR THE MGB" AND BOUGHT IT.
AGAIN, BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CAR THAT I HAD EVER SEEN.
AND THEN AS I DROVE IT AND OWNED IT, I JUST REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH HOW THE CAR WAS PUT TOGETHER, AH, YOU KNOW HOW IT HANDLED, AND HOW IT DROVE.
>> ROGER: WITHOUT QUESTION, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, THE E-TYPE IS A BEAUTIFUL CAR, BUT PRAISE HAS BEEN PILED ON IT SINCE 1961 AND I THINK WE ALL WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S AS ENJOYABLE TO DRIVE AS IT IS TO LOOK AT.
SO, LET'S START WITH SOME BASIC NUMBERS.
WHEN IT CAME OUT IN 1961 IT WAS FASTER THAN ITS FERRARI OR ASTON MARTIN COUNTERPARTS BUT IT WAS ABOUT HALF THE PRICE.
0-60 TOOK YOU ABOUT 7 SECONDS AND YOU GET UP TO A TOP SPEED OF ABOUT 140 TO 150 MILES PER HOUR.
THOSE FIGURES ARE NOT EXACTLY SPINE TINGLING BY TODAY'S STANDARDS.
IN FACT, THE HONDA ACCORD SPORT WOULD PROBABLY LEAVE IT IN ITS DUST.
BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT QUICK.
THE 4 LITER STRAIGHT SIX STILL GIVES YOU ENOUGH PUNCH TO MAKE THINGS INTERESTING.
AND IT'S WHEN THE TURNS TIGHTEN UP THAT THE FUN REALLY BEGINS.
I'VE GOT A LOT OF STEERING FEEL COMING BACK FROM THE FRONT WHEELS.
THIS TINY SKINNY LITTLE STEERING WHEEL STILL FEELS WEIRD IN MY HANDS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE CAR IS GOING AND IT RESPONDS VERY QUICKLY TO WHATEVER I WANT IT TO DO.
IT'S A GREAT CAR TO TAKE ON A WINDING, TWISTY ROAD.
LIKE I SAID, IT'S NOT PARTICULARLY FAST, WHEN YOU TAKE IT ON A NICE DRIVE LIKE THIS, IT RESPONDS VERY WELL AND IT FEELS QUICK.
IT FEELS LIKE A SPORTS CAR, LIKE IT SHOULD.
TO COMPLEMENT THE HANDLING, THE CAR'S CLUTCH IS SMOOTH, THE SERIES-2 TRANSMISSION THAT JAGUAR STARTED USING IN 1969 IS EFFORTLESS AND THE SHIFTER IS IN THE PERFECT SPOT.
THE SEATS ARE BOTH SUPPORTIVE AND VERY COMFORTABLE.
ALL MAKING FOR A DELIGHTFUL PLACE TO SPEND YOUR TIME.
AND BY NOW YOU PROBABLY WANT TO OWN ONE AND I DON'T BLAME YOU SO DO I.
A NICE ONE WILL COST YOU AT LEAST $50,000.
A REALLY BEAUTIFUL ONE THAT'S IN GREAT SHAPE LIKE THIS?
80,000 OR MORE.
BUT WHERE THIS DIFFERS FROM A COMPARABLE FERRARI OR ASTON MARTIN OF THE TIME, ARE THE MAINTENANCE COSTS.
IN FACT, HENRY SAYS HE SPENDS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS TO CHANGE THE OIL.
SO, AFTER SPENDING THE DAY WITH THIS LEGEND, WHAT'S MY VERDICT?
WELL, LET ME PUT IT THIS WAY: THIS SMILE HAS NOT LEFT MY FACE SINCE I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT'S NOT JUST BECAUSE I'M EXCITED ABOUT BEING IN AN E-TYPE.
IT'S BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS COMING TOGETHER AND WHEN A CAR DOES THAT IT FEELS SPECIAL, IT FEELS LIKE IT'S WORTH ALL THE PRAISE IT'S GOTTEN SINCE IT DEBUTED IN GENEVA IN 1961.
AND I CAN DEFINITELY SAY THAT IT'S WORTHY OF THE PRAISE IT'S GOING TO GET, FOR THE NEXT 53 YEARS >> JOHN: PAT GOSS HAS SOME HELPFUL HINTS, FREE OF CHARGE, OF COURSE!
SO, LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.
>> PAT GOSS: SOONER OR LATER, MOST OF US WILL BE FACED WITH A DEAD BATTERY.
NOW, IF THAT DEAD BATTERY HAPPENS TO BE THE RESULT OF A CAR THAT SITS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, WELL THERE'S AN EASY SOLUTION.
IT'S A BATTERY MAINTAINER, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE.
NOW, MAINTAINERS CHARGE THE BATTERY AND THEN SHUT OFF WHEN IT'S FULLY CHARGED.
THIS IS NOT LIKE A TRICKLE CHARGER, WHICH YOU DON'T WANT TO USE, BECAUSE IT NEVER SHUTS OFF.
SO, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A MAINTAINER.
BUT SUPPOSE THAT'S NOT THE CAUSE.
YOU'VE GOT A DEAD BATTERY.
AND THE TECHNICIAN COMES OUT WITH A TOOL LIKE THIS, AND HOOKS IT UP TO YOUR BATTERY AND PUSHES THE BUTTON AND SAYS, "OOPS.
YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY!"
WELL, YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT IS, "OOPS.
I NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!"
REASON IS, THIS IS A GOOD TESTER TO DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT STEP IN TESTING THE CAR MIGHT BE, BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD TESTER TO DETERMINE IF YOU NEED A NEW BATTERY.
NO MATTER WHAT THEY HAVE PRINTED ON THAT DIAL.
ALRIGHT.
SO, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR, WHEN YOU HAVE A BATTERY PROBLEM?
YOU LOOK FOR A MODERN TESTER.
NOW, MODERN TESTERS USE ELECTRONICS TO TEST THE BATTERY.
THEY MEASURE THE INTERNAL WORKINGS OF THE BATTERY, USING SOPHISTICATED CIRCUITS AND SO ON.
THEY MAY BE HAND HELD LIKE THIS, OR HERE WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THAT IS MORE TYPICAL THESE DAYS.
THIS ONE USES A UNIT THAT CONNECTS TO THE BATTERY, AND THEN THIS HANDHELD WIRELESS UNIT RECEIVES SIGNALS FROM THAT, AND IT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO TEST THE BATTERY, THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR, THE BATTERY AND THE STARTER, OR THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.
THIS IS THE SORT OF THING THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.
BECAUSE THIS WILL TELL YOU WHETHER OR NOT YOUR BATTERY IS SIMPLY DISCHARGED, OR WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
BUT SUPPOSE IT DOES NEED TO BE REPLACED?
WHAT THEN?
HOW DO YOU WISELY SHOP FOR A BATTERY?
WELL, IN THE PAST, YOU ALWAYS LOOKED FOR THE MOST IN COLD CRANKING AMPS THAT WOULD PHYSICALLY FIT IN THE CAR.
WELL, THAT'S STILL TRUE, BUT WE HAVE TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE TO IT: WE HAVE TO ADD RESERVE CAPACITY, OR RC.
RESERVE CAPACITY IS THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES FOR A SPECIFIC LOAD TO DROP THE BATTERY WHERE IT WON'T START THE CAR.
SO, BECAUSE MODERN CARS HAVE ALL KINDS OF COMPUTERS THAT DRAW POWER OUT OF THE BATTERY ALL THE TIME, YOU WANT HIGH COLD CRANKING AMPS, AND YOU WANT THE BIGGEST RESERVE CAPACITY THAT YOU CAN BUY.
AND YOU DO THAT, AND CHANCES ARE THE BATTERY WILL LAST LONGER; THE ALTERNATOR, THE STARTER, ALL SORTS OF THINGS WILL LAST LONGER ON THE CAR, AND YOU WON'T BE STRANDED.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .
>> JOHN: SO FAR, OUR LONG TERM ROAD TEST WITH THIS KIA K900 FULL-SIZE SEDAN IS GOING GREAT.
AND LIKE MANY LUXURY CARS STUCK IN OUR MID-ATLANTIC WINTER, THE K900 RECENTLY TOOK A TRIP SOUTH.
ON THAT 2,800 MILE ROAD TRIP, OUR STAFFER CAME AWAY VERY IMPRESSED WITH KIA'S FIRST TRUE FORAY INTO THE LUXURY MARKET.
THE K900'S RIDE WAS SMOOTH AND RELAXED THROUGHOUT; AND THE AMOUNT OF SPACE AND COMFORT IN THE BACK SEAT WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE FRONT SEATERS JEALOUS.
THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WORKED WELL, AND THERE WAS ROOM ENOUGH FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR'S LUGGAGE BEHIND THE POWER OPERATED TRUNK LID.
FUEL ECONOMY HAS STAYED FAIRLY STEADY OVER THE LAST 7-MONTHS AND 18,000-MILES, NOW AT 19.7 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM; NOT TERRIBLE FOR A POWERFUL FEELING 5.0 LITER V8.
THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CERTAINLY HELPS TOO.
BUT COME ON!
A 6 SPEED MANUAL IS REALLY WHERE IT'S AT, RIGHT?
AND WE'VE FOUND OUR FIRST 4000 MILES IN THE 2015 VOLKSWAGEN GTI TO BE A PERFECT CURE FOR THE WINTER BLUES.
CALL IT "EASY RIDER," AS THIS BASE MODEL 4-DOOR HATCHBACK PROVIDES AN EFFORTLESS DRIVING EXPERIENCE FROM THE 210 HORSEPOWER TURBO 4 AND SLICK SHIFTING MANUAL COMBO.
GREAT BOLSTERED SEATS AND A SOLID CHASSIS UP THE FUN FACTOR ON OTHERWISE BORING COMMUTES.
DURING A 1,300 MILE ROUND TRIP DOWN TO SAVANNAH, THE GTI WAS A COMPLIANT HIGHWAY CRUISER.
THINGS CAN GET UNCOMFORTABLE ON BUMPY STREETS, HOWEVER, AS IT IS A TIGHTLY SPRUNG LITTLE CAR.
BUT BEING SMALL HAS ITS BENEFITS.
NAMELY, FOR FUEL ECONOMY.
WE'RE SEEING 28.3 COMBIN MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM; JUST ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT RATING.
WE'LL CHECK UP ON THE MAZDA CX-9 AND ACURA TLX ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.
YOLANDA VAZQUEZ HAS A MOTORNEWS UPDATE, SO LET'S GET THE LATEST!
>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: "A GROWING NUMBER OF CONSUMERS WANT THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES NOT ONLY ON THEIR PHONES, BUT ALSO IN THEIR VEHICLES.
AND WITH SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION AND AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEMS BECOMING MORE COMMONPLACE IT'S STARTING TO AFFECT HOW THEY VIEW THEIR PURCHASES."
RATHER THAN MAKING A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT TO BUY A NEW CAR AND ALL THE TECHNOLOGY IN IT MORE AND MORE CONSUMERS ARE CONSIDERING LEASING AS AN OPTION.
AVERAGE LEASE PERIODS HAVE DROPPED TO AROUND 36 MONTHS, AND EVEN LESS.
WITH THE AVERAGE AGE OF VEHICLES ON THE ROAD TODAY ALSO TRENDING DOWN, THERE'S EVIDENCE THAT MANY DRIVERS ARE WILLING TO TRADE IN MORE FREQUENTLY AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES BECOME AVAILABLE.
ADVANCES, YEAR-TO-YEAR, HAVE GONE FROM MERE ENTERTAINMENT TO ACCIDENT PREVENTION, DRIVER CONVENIENCE PACKAGES AS WELL AS INCREASED FUEL EFFICIENCY.
AND PROSPECTIVE LESSEES ARE GOOD FOR BUSINESS, AS CAR COMPANIES CAN EXPECT A MORE "PREDICTABLE SALES VOLUME" FROM ONE MODEL YEAR TO THE NEXT.
"SO EVEN THOUGH THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A CAR TODAY IS MUCH LONGER THAN IT USED TO BE, SOME CONSUMERS SEEM TO CRAVE THE "LATEST AND GREATEST" IN AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY.
AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS."
>> JOHN: TO TELL YOU JUST HOW COMPETITIVE THE MIDSIZE SEDAN SEGMENT IS, IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN 2 YEARS SINCE WE LAST DID A COMPARISON TEST.
YET, ALMOST EVERY CAR IN THIS SEGMENT HAS HAD MAJOR UPDATES SINCE THEN.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, TIME TO ROUND 'EM UP AND FIGURE 'EM OUT!
LOOK UP A LIST OF THE TOP TEN SELLING CARS AND TRUCKS OF 2013, AND YOU'LL MORE MIDSIZE SEDANS ON THAT LIST THAN FROM ANY OTHER SEGMENT.
WELL, WE'VE GATHERED TEN OF THE NEWEST AT OUR MARYLAND HQ, AND ALONG WITH EDITORIAL TEAMS FROM CARS.COM AND USA TODAY, WE'RE READY TO WEED THROUGH THIS PACK AND FIND OUT WHICH ONE OFFERS THE BEST FIT FOR THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY.
VYING FOR THE TOP HONOR ARE...
THE HIGHLY CONNECTED CHEVROLET MALIBU...
THE SUPER STYLISH CHRYSLER 200...
THE DYNAMIC FORD FUSION...
THE SOLID HONDA ACCORD...
THE ALL NEW HYUNDAI SONATA...
THE SPORTY MAZDA6...
THE SPACIOUS NISSAN ALTIMA...
THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND ALSO ALL-NEW SUBARU LEGACY... AMERICA'S BESTSELLING CAR, THE TOYOTA CAMRY, WITH SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES FOR THE 2015 MODEL YEAR... AND FINALLY THE ONLY EUROPEAN ENTRY, THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.
ALL OF OUR 2015 CONTENDERS HAVE 4-CYLINDER POWER WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, AND COST NO MORE THAN $27,000.
JOINING US IN OUR QUEST IS THE KAPOOR FAMILY FROM NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO ADD A FAMILY SEDAN TO THEIR HOUSEHOLD.
WHILE RAIN FORCED US INTO GOSS' GARAGE FOR THEIR EVALUATIONS, IT DIDN'T DAMPEN THEIR ENTHUSIASM.
BUT ONCE THE RAIN CLEARED, IT WAS TIME FOR US TO HIT THE ROAD.
AND WHILE EARLY ON IT WAS HARD TO PREDICT HOW THESE CARS WOULD STACK UP, WE WERE SURE THAT WHEN ALL WAS SAID AND DONE, WE'D HAVE A WINNER WHERE STYLE, FUNCTION, AND VALUE WOULD PROVE TO BE THE KEYS TO VICTORY.
NOW, FOR A FULL SCORING BREAKDOWN, HEAD OVER TO THE CARS.COM WEBSITE.
BUT BRIEFLY, 10TH SPOT, MOST SURPRISINGLY, WENT TO THE REWORKED TOYOTA CAMRY.
THE INTERIOR LOOK AND QUALITY OF OUR SE TRIMMED CAR REALLY DISAPPOINTED.
IN 9TH THROUGH 5TH PLACE ARE NISSAN ALTIMA, HONDA ACCORD, CHRYSLER 200, FORD FUSION, AND CHEVROLET MALIBU.
A LIST WITH THE TOP FOUR SELLERS IN THE SEGMENT.
NOW, FOR OUR TOP FOUR, WE'LL START WITH A PERENNIAL FAVORITE HERE AT MOTORWEEK , THE MAZDA6.
SPORTING A 184 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4 AND A TRUE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC, IT YIELDS A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 30.
BUT WHAT SOLIDIFIED A TOP TIER RATING HAD EVERYTHING TO DO WITH HOW WELL IT DRIVES.
>> JOE WIESENFELDER: NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE MAZDA6 IS THE SPORTIEST CAR IN THIS CONTEST, ARGUABLY.
IT HAS EVERYTHING, IT HAS THE BRAKING, IT HAS THE STEERING, THE HANDLING; THE POWER.
IT MAY NOT BE THE BEST CHOICE FOR A FAMILY BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT NOISY INSIDE AND THE RIDE IS FIRM, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A FUN CAR IN THIS CLASS, YOU COULD DO A LOT WORSE.
>> FRED MEIER: THE MAZDA6 WAS THE SPORTIEST IN THIS GROUP, BOTH IN ITS LOOKS, THE INTERIOR DESIGN, AND ITS HANDLING, AND POWER.
ITS COMPACT SIZE THOUGH, MAY MAKE IT NOT THE BEST CHOICE FOR SOME FAMILIES.
>> JOHN: A MUCH BIGGER SURPRISE WAS OUR 3RD PLACE FINISHER, THE VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.
ITS 170 HORSEPOWER 1.8 LITER TURBO I4, MATED TO A 6 SPEED AUTO, IS THE 2ND SMALLEST POWER PLANT HERE.
BUT THAT'S WHERE THE PASSAT'S SMALLNESS ENDS.
>> BRIAN ROBINSON: THE PASSAT, THE NUMBERS MAY NOT BEAR IT OUT, BUT IT FEELS HUGE INSIDE, ALMOST LIKE A FULL-SIZE CAR; AH, VERY COMFORTABLE, STILL HAS A GOOD RIDE AND HANDLING PACKAGE, ALL AROUND, ONE OF MY FAVORITES HERE.
>> JOHN: THAT BRINGS US TO OUR RUNNER UP, THE ONLY ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CAR HERE, A VERY IMPRESSIVE NEW SUBARU LEGACY.
WITH ITS RECENT REDESIGN, THE LEGACY PROVED IT HAS ALL IT NEEDS TO PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS IN THIS SEGMENT.
THE INTERIOR IS BOTH STYLISH AND COMFORTABLE, BUT THE POWERFUL FEELING 175 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER FLAT 4 AND MINIMALLY ANNOYING CVT REALLY HELPS SEAL THE DEAL.
>> AMIT KAPOOR: THE LEGACY, LOVED THE RIDE AND HANDLING OF IT, IT WAS PHENOMENAL.
AND THE FIELD OF VIEW, WHEN YOU LOOK OUT THE CAR FRONT... AND THE POWER BEHIND THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, IT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
>> JOHN: AND SO, OUR WINNER WITH A RUNAWAY VICTORY, IS THE HYUNDAI SONATA.
FEELINGS WERE MIXED ON THE NEW SONATA'S TAMER STYLING.
BUT NO ONE COULD FIND FAULT WITH ITS WELL EQUIPPED HIGH VALUE, EASE OF USE, 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 6 SPEED AUTO POWERTRAIN, RIDE AND HANDLING MIX, AND ALL-AROUND LIVABILITY.
>> AARON BRAGMAN: THE SONATA MIGHT BE THE FRESHEST OFFERING HERE, THEY'VE REALLY UPPED THEIR GAME INSIDE AND OUT.
IT DRIVES LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAR, IT'S REALLY SMOOTH, IT'S FUN TO DRIVE, IT'S QUICK, AND IT'S COMFORTABLE.
>> JOHN: WITH SUCH STRONG COMPETITION IN THIS SEGMENT, WE REALLY CANNOT CALL ANY OF THESE TEN A LOSER.
BUT IT WAS AMAZINGLY EASY FOR US TO PICK A WINNER IN THIS MID-SIZE SEDAN CHALLENGE.
SOME CARS MAY BE HIGHER STYLED, BE MORE FUN TO DRIVE, AND HAVE MORE WOW FACTORS.
BUT DOING SOME OF THAT, WHILE ALSO DELIVERING THE UTMOST IN PRACTICALITY FOR YOUR DOLLAR, IS WHAT TRULY IMPRESSED OUR TESTERS THE MOST.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE MID-SIZE AMERICAN FAMILY SEDAN, IT'S CLEAR THAT HYUNDAI KNOWS HOW TO DO THAT BETTER THAN ALL THE REST.
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, AND SEE IF LEXUS HAS ANOTHER PERFORMANCE ACE UP THEIR SLEEVE WITH THE RC F COUPE.
THEN PILOT BACK HOME IN THE LINCOLN NAVIGATOR.
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... JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.
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