2015 Compact SUV Challenge & 2016 Bentley Mulsanne Speed

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

JOIN US FOR A COMPACT UTILITY SHOWDOWN, WHERE THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE WINNER... PAT GOSS HAS SOME TIPS, FREE OF CHARGE!

ZACH MASKELL TAKES AN OVER THE EDGE LOOK AT WHERE OUR MODERN CARS GOT THEIR START... AND WE'LL OVER INDULGE OUR NEED FOR SPEED IN THE BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY 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 EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> JOHN DAVIS: WHEN THE CAR BASED TOYOTA RAV4 DEBUTED FOR 1996, WOULD BE LOOKED AT FOREVER.

THE UNITIZED HONDA CR-V QUICKLY FOLLOWED, AND TODAY THE MARKET IS FLOODED WITH COMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITIES FROM JUST ABOUT EVERY BRAND.

WELL, WE RECENTLY PITTED SEVEN MAINSTREAM COMPACT UTE'S UP AGAINST EACH OTHER, AND HERE'S HOW THESE 5-SEATER'S MATCHED UP.

WE'RE AT IT ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR FRIENDS FROM CARS.COM AND USA TODAY, SHUFFLING THROUGH THIS 7-PACK OF COMPACT CROSSOVER UTILITIES TO SEE WHICH ONE OFFERS THE BEST MIX OF FEATURES AND FINERY FOR TODAY'S SMALLER ON THE GO FAMILIES.

$28,000 WITH DESTINATION WAS OUR PRICE CAP AND ALL CONTESTANTS ARE WITHIN $850 OF THAT LIMIT, SO NO LOW BALLERS THIS TIME AROUND.

ALL ARE 2015 MODELS AND 4-CYLINDER AUTOMATICS, BUT ONLY TWO ARE EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

LEADING OFF OUR LINEUP IS THE CHEVROLET EQUINOX...

...FOLLOWED BY CORPORATE COUSIN GMC TERRAIN... ...AND ONE OF THE ORIGINAL COMPACT CROSSOVERS, THE HONDA CR-V... ...BATTING CLEAN-UP IS THE MAZDA CX-5... ...NEXT UP, THE RECENTLY REDESIGNED NISSAN ROGUE, OUR LEAST EXPENSIVE ENTRY... ...COMING WITH STANDARD ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS THE SUBARU FORESTER... ...AND FINALLY THE ONE THAT STARTED THIS TREND, THE TOYOTA RAV4... AS USUAL, WE'VE BEEN JOINED BY A LOCAL FAMILY FROM OUR MARYLAND TEST VENUE TO HELP SORT THROUGH THE GEARBOXES AND GADGETS OF THESE MODERN DAY STATION WAGONS.

WITH THE VERY CLOSE PRICING AND MOSTLY SIMILAR DESIGNS, IT BECAME CLEAR EARLY ON THAT SCORING WOULD BE TIGHT.

AND THERE WERE CERTAINLY SOME SURPRISES AS IN THE BOTTOM THREE SLOTS ARE THE MAZDA CX-5, TOYOTA RAV4, AND SUBARU FORESTER.

ALL FINE CHOICES AND MAJOR SELLERS IN THE SEGMENT, BUT THEY FELL BEHIND HERE FOR REASONS SUCH AS ROUGH RIDE QUALITY, SUB PAR INTERIOR MATERIALS, OR EXCESSIVE ROAD AND ENGINE NOISE.

A FULL SCORING RUNDOWN IS AVAILABLE ON THE CARS.COM WEBSITE.

BUT FOR NOW WE'LL DIVE A LITTLE DEEPER INTO OUR TOP-4 FINISHERS.

STARTING WITH FOURTH PLACE AND THE NISSAN ROGUE.

AT FIRST GLANCE ITS FLASHY EXTERIOR, AND PLEASANT INTERIOR PRODUCED RAVES, AND VALUE.

IT NOT ONLY HAD THE MOST TECH FOR THE DOLLAR, BUT TOTAL DOLLARS AT $27,150 WERE THE GROUP'S LOWEST.

PLUS, COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY OF 28 WAS THE HIGHEST.

BUT IT LOST ALL THAT GROUND IN DRIVING.

TESTERS COMPLAINED ABOUT EXCESSIVE NOISE, ESPECIALLY FROM THE CVT POWERTRAIN, WHICH WAS SLOW TO MOVE OUT FOR PASSING.

HANDLING WAS UNINSPIRED TOO.

>> KRISTIN VARELA: NISSAN MANAGES TO PACK A LOT OF EXTRAS INTO THE ROGUE AT THE SAME PRICE POINT AS ALL OF THE OTHER CARS MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS THE AROUND VIEW CAMERA THAT GIVES ME A FULL 360-DEGREE VIEW AROUND THE CAR.

>> KELSEY MAYS: NISSAN ROGUE HAS A HANDSOME INTERIOR, PROBABLY THE BEST MATERIALS IN THE ENTIRE CLASS, AND THE SEATS ARE REASONABLY COMFORTABLE TOO.

TO REALLY SPECIALIZE IN, IS KIND OF ITS ACHILLES' HEEL; IT JUST DRONES AROUND A LOT; ISN'T A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE.

>> JOHN: EARNING THIRD PLACE IS THE RUGGED LOOKING GMC TERRAIN.

IT MAY BE THE MOST TRUCKISH LOOKING OF THE GROUP; STILL THERE IS PLENTY OF CAR LIKE COMFORT, AS WELL AS LOTS OF SPACE.

BUT THE TERRAIN ALSO WORE THE HIGHEST STICKER PRICE HERE, AT $27,905, AND SHARED THE LOWEST COMBINED MPG RATING OF 26.

>> MAYS: THE TERRAIN, LIKE THE EQUINOX, HAS A VERY LARGE BACK SEAT WITH A NICE SEATING POSITION THAT'S HIGH ENOUGH OFF THE GROUND; IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY VEHICLE, ALONG WITH THE CHEVY, THAT ADULTS WILL ACTUALLY BE REALLY COMFORTABLE IN, IN THE BACK SEAT.

THE GM'S REALLY EXCEL AT THAT.

>> VARELA: I LOVE THE SLIDING BACK SEAT IN THE GMC TERRAIN, IT CREATES A TON OF LEGROOM FOR THE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS.

>> JOHN: AND LOGICALLY THEN, OUR SECOND PLACE FINISHER IS THE CHEVROLET EQUINOX FOR MOSTLY THE SAME REASONS, BUT IT BARELY ECLIPSED ITS PLATFORM MATE THANKS TO SOME PREFERRED FEATURES AND PRICING THAT CAME IN $100 LESS, AT $27,805.

WITH THE SAME 2.4 LITER I4, IT SHARES THE TERRAIN'S 26 COMBINED MPG RATING.

>> ANDY DAVENPORT: THE EQUINOX WAS PROBABLY OUR FAVORITE BECAUSE THE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE; THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE OUR BLUE TOOTH WHICH IS ON OUR PHONES.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO LISTEN TO MUSIC WE WOULD LIKE TO LISTEN TO.

>> BRIAN ROBINSON: FOR AN OLDER DESIGN, THE EQUINOX HELD UP REALLY WELL HERE.

AND MOSTLY BECAUSE OF ALL FOR THE GOOD RIDE QUALITY.

>> JOHN: SO, THAT LEAVES THE HONDA CR-V, FRESH OFF A REFRESH FOR 2015, AS OUR WINNER.

AND IT'S A REPEAT WIN, HAVING TAKEN THE PRIZE IN OUR LAST COMPACT UTILITY COMPARISON THREE YEARS AGO.

IT DID SO WITH THE TYPICAL HONDA FORMULA OF DOING JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WELL ENOUGH, WITHOUT NECESSARILY DOMINATING IN ANY ONE CATEGORY; THOUGH SPACE AND COMFORT WERE OBVIOUS HIGHLIGHTS.

NOT TO MENTION A VERY LOW LOAD FLOOR FOR EASY CARGO ACCESS AND FEATURES LIKE HONDA'S LANEWATCH BLIND SPOT CAMERA.

>> BILL JACKSON: THE CR-V PROVIDED A GOOD BLEND OF INTERIOR ROOM AND A SURPRISINGLY VERY REWARDING DRIVING AH, PARTICULARLY THE STEERING, ENGINE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE VERY RESPONSIVE.

>> JAMES R. HEALEY: HONDA HAS A REAL NICE FEEL TO IT.

THEY'VE REALLY WORKED HARD TO GET IT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD NICE.

IT'S A GOOD SUSPENSION, IT DOESN'T FEEL SLOPPY, OR IMPRECISE, AND IT HAD ALL WHEEL DRIVE FOR THE PRICE.

>> JOHN: IF NOTHING ELSE, THIS COMPARISON PROVES THAT THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT CROSSOVER OPTIONS FOR A GROWING FAMILY.

AND EVEN WITH THE EVEN SMALLER SUBCOMPACT OFFERINGS GETTING MOST OF THE HEADLINES LATELY, MANUFACTURERS ARE STILL THROWING LOTS OF EFFORT INTO BRINGING THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK AS POSSIBLE TO THE HIGHER VOLUME COMPACTS.

BUT HERE IN THIS COMPETITION, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE ALL STILL FOLLOWING HONDA'S LEAD.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO LOS ANGELES, "CLEAN-FUEL POLICY" PROMPTED THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO CONVERT ITS FLEET OF DIESEL POWERED SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES TO ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

OF THEIR 700 REFUSE TRUCKS, NEARLY 80 PERCENT RUN ON COMPRESSED OR LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, WITH A GOAL OF 100 PERCENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

THE CITY IS SAVING OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON FUEL.

WITH ITS SIXTH REFUELING STATION JUST OPENED, L.A. HAS ONE OF THE LARGEST MUNICIPAL FLEETS OF NATURAL GAS SOLID WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLES IN THE NATION.

THESE FOUR 15,000 GALLON LNG TANKS SERVE ONE YARD ALONE.

>> ALEXANDER HELOU: WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ENOUGH STORAGE CAPACITY ON SITE SO IF THERE'S AN EARTHQUAKE, CLEANING THE DEBRIS BEFORE THE FIRST RESPONDERS GO OUT.

>> JOHN: SERVING 4 MILLION RESIDENTS IS NOT EASY.

NOR IS CONVERTING A BIG FLEET TO ALT-FUELS.

BUT IN L.A., ADOPTING CLEAN FUELS FOR CLEANER AIR IS A "NO-BRAINER."

WHILE WE'VE COME A VERY LONG WAY FROM WHAT CARS ONCE WERE, THE FOUNDATION OF TODAY'S MOST SOPHISTICATED RIDES ARE DIRECT DESCENDANTS.

INDEED, OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, ZACH MASKELL, TAKES US TIME TRAVELING FOR A REMINDER THAT NOT ALL NEW TECHNOLOGY IS AS GROUND BREAKING AS WE MIGHT THINK.

>> ZACH MASKELL: THEY CALL IT THE SWEETEST PLACE ON EARTH.

I'D SAY THE NAME SURELY FITS WHERE WE FOUND OURSELVES.

IT IS THE HOME OF THAT MARVELOUS CHOCOLATE THAT YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OVER 100 YEARS OLD AND TODAY WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AUTOMOBILES THE SAME AGE BUT THEY'VE GOT STUFF INSIDE OF THEM, THAT WE SEE EVEN IN TODAY'S CARS.

I TEND TO BE A VISUAL LEARNER, SO THE FOLKS AT THE ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA AGREED TO LET US SEE THE ENGINEERING IN PERSON.

>> MARK LIZEWSKI: BY COMING HERE YOU CAN CERTAINLY SEE HOW MUCH CARS HAVE EVOLVED.

I MEAN THE OLDER CARS WERE "AH PEOPLE DON'T BUILD THEM LIKE THEY USED TO."

AND THERE'S A REASON FOR THAT.

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RUN LIKE THEY DO NOW.

THEY DIDN'T OPERATE THE WAY THEY DO NOW AND THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T AS SAFE AS THEY ARE NOW.

>> ZACH: I LOOK AT THIS... AND I THINK 101 DALMATIANS, AND GREAT GATSBY.

NOW, I'LL THINK HOW IT PAVED THE WAY FOR MOST CARS ON THE ROAD TODAY.

AVAILABLE IN THE AMERICAN AUTO MARKET...

THIS WAS THE FIRST FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR.

ALRIGHT MARK, A 1929 CORD, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH FORD...

THIS ONE HOWEVER A LITTLE MORE PRICEY, DEFINITELY FOR THE WEALTHY.

>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW WHEN THE L29 CAME OUT IN 1929, IT WAS ABOUT $3000 WHICH WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN YOUR AVERAGE FORD.

THIS WAS OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY HIGH END CAR FOR THE WEALTHY.

>> ZACH: IT WAS ALSO LOWER, AND LONGER, WITH A STRAIGHT 8 CAST IRON ENGINE.

I SURE WOULDN'T MIND THIS SITTING IN MY STABLE.

SPEAKING OF THAT, HERE'S THE FIRST AUTOMOBILE THAT DIDN'T REQUIRE HORSES TO POWER IT.

>> MARK: IT IS AN 1895 BENTON-HARBOR, BUILT IN MICHIGAN.

IT IS PROBABLY THE OLDEST OPERATING AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE AND LIKELY ONE OF THE VERY FIRST AUTOMOBILES THAT WERE BUILT IN THIS COUNTRY THAT STARTED LIFE AS AN AUTOMOBILE AS OPPOSED TO A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE.

>> ZACH: THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE FIRST AUTO RACE EVER HELD IN THE STATES, BUT PRODUCTION DELAYS KEPT IT AWAY.

WITH A TOP SPEED OF 23 MILES PER HOUR, IT WOULD'VE BEEN A CONTENDER FOR SURE.

A PIECE CARRIED OVER TO THIS, STILL LIVES ON TODAY.

>> MARK: WHEN THE OPERATOR TOOK OFF FROM A DASH, THE HORSES WOULD KICK UP STONES AND GRAVEL.

SO, THEY PUT THIS PIECE ON HERE TO PROTECT THE OPERATOR, TO KEEP THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE FRONT SEATS FROM GETTING STONES WHIPPED AT THEM, HENCE THE TERM, "DASH BOARD."

>> ZACH: SOMETHING THIS DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF, SAFETY.

MOVING AHEAD A FEW DECADES WE HAVE A CAR THAT DIDN'T NEED SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THAT WOULD'VE DAMAGED THE REPUTATION.

NORMALLY, WHEN I THINK ABOUT AN AUTOMOBILE AND I THINK SAFETY, I THINK VOLVO.

BUT AFTER WORLD WAR II, IT WAS MR. TUCKER AND HIS CAR.

>> MARK: RIGHT, THE TUCKER 48.

YOU KNOW, TUCKER WAS AN ENTREPRENEUR, AND AN INNOVATOR, AND REALLY A MAN OF VISION.

YOU KNOW HE KNEW THAT THE CARS FROM THE LATE 30s, AND 40s, AND BEFORE WW II; THERE REALLY WASN'T A LOT GOING ON THERE.

>> ZACH: WHILE GM AND FORD HAD TO REFOCUS WERE ON CARS AFTER THE WAR, TUCKER HAD ALREADY BEEN BRAINSTORMING AND SET OUT TO MAKE A SAFE, HIGH PERFORMANCE, LOW RIDING CAR WITH A TOP SPEED OF AROUND 120 MILES PER HOUR.

HE ALSO HAD A CENTER MOUNTED SWIVELING HEADLIGHT THAT TURNED WITH THE STEERING WHEEL.

YES, IT WAS THE FIRST "ADAPTIVE" HEADLIGHT.

HE HAD ALSO TALKED ABOUT 4-WHEEL HYDRAULIC DISC BRAKES, LIKE ALL OF OUR CARS TODAY, WHICH WAS UNHEARD OF AT THAT TIME.

ALRIGHT.

SO, ONE OF THE SAME TRAITS AS THE TUCKER, BUT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CAR.

THIS IS AN EARLIER LOTUS; LOW AND FAST WAS THE NAME OF THE GAME, YES?

>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY, AND THIS WAS YOU KNOW THE BRAIN CHILD OF COLIN CHAPMAN THE FOUNDER OF LOTUS.

>> ZACH: CHAPMAN'S MANTRA: "TO LIGHTEN EVERYTHING, AND MAKE IT FASTER."

AND WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE WAY EVEN THESE WHEELS ARE DESIGNED.

THAT, THAT IDEA KIND OF CARRIES OVER INTO TODAY'S RACING?

>> MARK: ABSOLUTELY.

I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.

THIS IS A LOTUS MAGNESIUM WOBBLY WEB WHEEL.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE MUCH.

BUT BECAUSE IT'S CAST ALL IN ONE PIECE, YOU HAVE THESE SPOKES BUILT IN, WHERE THERE REALLY ISN'T A SPOKE.

WHICH GIVES IT A VERY LIGHT WEIGHT WHEEL BUT ALSO VERY, VERY STRONG.

>> ZACH: WHILE FEW OF THESE CLASSIC COMPANIES ARE AROUND TODAY.

THEY DEFINITELY LEFT A TIRE PRINT, FOR ALL THAT FOLLOWED.

>> JOHN: PAT GOSS NEVER CHARGES US FOR HIS ADVICE, BUT THIS WEEK HE IS CHARGING SOMETHING.

>> PAT GOSS: WHEN IT COMES TO CARS, ONE THING IS INEVITABLE.

SOONER OR LATER YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEAD BATTERY.

AND THAT MEANS YOU NEED A WAY TO GET THE CAR STARTED.

WELL, WAY BACK WHEN WE USED TO USE BOOSTER CABLES.

BUT THEY'RE NOW OBSOLETE AND VERY DANGEROUS.

WELL, BOOSTER CABLES WERE REPLACED BY BATTERY PACKS LIKE THIS.

THIS DOES A GREAT JOB BUT IT'S BIG, IT'S BULKY, IT'S HEAVY AND NOT PRACTICAL TO CARRY IN THE CAR.

SO NOW, THERE'S SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY.

AND OUR BATTERY EXPERT, GEORGE KURKOWSKI IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT.

GEORGE, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

>> GEORGE KURKOWSKI: WELL, EVERYBODY IS NOW FAMILIAR WITH LITHIUM ION TECHNOLOGY IN CARS, AND CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.

LITHIUM ION HAS NOW ENTERED THE SPACE OF PORTABLE JUMP PACKS.

YOU CAN SEE AND COMPARE THIS TO OLD BLUE OVER THERE.

MUCH LIGHTER, SIMILAR CAPACITY IN TERMS OF AMPS, HAS BATTERY CABLES, HAS YOUR TRADITIONAL CONSUMER ELECTRIC DEVICES.

INPUTS FOR YOUR DIGITAL READOUT IN TERMS OF YOUR USB PORTS, DC CHARGER, A HOUSEHOLD CURRENT CHARGER TO KEEP THIS THING UP TO SPEED.

BUT AS A FIRST GENERATION PIECE YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT FROM AN ERGONOMIC PERSPECTIVE ALSO.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THESE CABLES AND THE LENGTH OF THESE CABLES.

YOU AND I KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS TO ATTACH THESE CABLES IN OUR ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

LOOK AT THE SLICKNESS OF THIS DEVICE.

SOMETIMES IT'S DIFFICULT TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS INTO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND KEEP IT LEVEL WITHOUT SLIDING OFF.

SO, THERE ARE A COUPLE CHALLENGES RIGHT THERE FROM GENERATION ONE.

>> PAT: OKAY.

>> GEORGE: THAT MAY BE GOOD, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS GENERATION TWO, WHICH FIRST OFF THE BAT, LOOK AT THE LARGE OVER MOLD GRIPS.

IT CERTAINLY WILL NOT SLIDE AROUND.

IT'S COMFORTABLE IN THE HAND, HAS THE SAME LIGHT CHECK, SAME USB PORTS.

DC CURRENT, HOUSEHOLD CURRENT TO KEEP THIS THING UP TO SPEED.

BUT NOTICE HOW LONG THESE BOOSTER CABLES ARE.

IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHERE IT'S DIFFICULT TO ATTACH AS I SAID EARLIER, THESE COME IN HANDY IN TERMS OF FLEXIBILITY AND VARIETY AND VERSATILITY.

I'M GOING TO STEP OVER HERE WHERE I'VE INCORRECTLY ATTACHED THE SAME BATTERY JUMP PACK STARTER AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PUT THE CABLES IN AN INCORRECT POSITION.

* IT CHIMES.

AND THERE'S A WARNING LIGHT THAT TELLS ME "WARNING, CLAMPS REVERSED."

IT TELLS ME EXACTLY WHAT TO DO.

>> PAT: SO, YOU CAN'T DO IT WRONG.

>> GEORGE: YOU CAN'T DO IT WRONG.

AFTER I POSITION THE CABLES BACK ONTO THE BATTERY AND THE NEGATIVE GROUND, IT WILL ALSO TELL ME "VOLTAGE" AND GIVE ME A CURRENT STATE OF VOLTAGE FOR THAT BATTERY.

>> PAT: ALRIGHT.

NOW, THAT WOULD BE A GOOD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL BECAUSE IF IT'S LIKE 7.2 OR BELOW THE BATTERY ISN'T GOING TO RESPOND.

>> GEORGE: EXACTLY.

>> PAT: OKAY.

AND ALSO, IF IT'S 13 OR THERE ABOUT'S THEN BATTERY IS NOT YOUR ISSUE.

>> GEORGE: IT'S NOT THE BATTERY.

>> PAT: OKAY, SO GOOD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL.

IS IT AFFORDABLE?

>> GEORGE: IT'S ABOUT THE PRICE RANGE OF $100 OR MORE.

>> PAT: ALRIGHT.

WELL, ONE ROAD SERVICE TRIP IS GOING TO COST THAT MUCH IN MOST AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> GEORGE: DEFINITELY.

>> PAT: SO, I WOULD CERTAINLY LIKE TO HAVE ONE IN MY CAR.

>> GEORGE: YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> PAT: GEORGE, THANK YOU.

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

>> JOHN: SIX MONTHS INTO OUR EXTENDED STAY WITH THE 2014 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT, MILES.

WITH SUMMERTIME AND SOME EASY LIVIN' FINALLY HERE, IT'S TRADING IN SOME OF ITS WORKHORSE DUTIES FOR A LITTLE LONG DRIVE R&R.

SO, WE'VE SEEN FUEL ECONOMY RISE TO 25.4 COMBINED MILES PER ITS OFFICIAL RATING OF 26.

THE 148 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4 AND CVT COMBO CONTINUE TO DO THEIR THING, WITH NO MECHANICAL ISSUES TO REPORT.

IT MAY DRONE ON, SURE.

BUT THE OUTLANDER SPORT HAS PROVEN A RELIABLE AND STEADY TROOPER IN OUR LONG TERM FLEET.

AND WE EXPECT THINGS TO STAY THAT WAY UNTIL IT'S TIME TO GO OUR SEPARATE WAYS.

OUR YEARLONG ODYSSEY THROUGH THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF LINEUP CONTINUES AS WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE GTI S AND HELLO TO THIS ALL ELECTRIC EGOLF.

WE'LL SEE IF IT'S JUST AS MUCH FUN.

BUT FIRST WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR CHRYSLER 200; ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

NOW, LET'S GRAB A MOTORNEWS UPDATE FROM YOLANDA VAZQUEZ.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: WHILE HYBRID AND ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT GIVING OFF LITTLE OR NO HARMFUL EMISSIONS, THE LONG TERM ASPECTS ARE A LITTLE MORE TROUBLING.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH AND HOW DO LARGE BATTERY PACKS AND THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CONTAINED IN THEM?

WELL, LEAVE IT TO THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO FIND A GREEN SOLUTION.

PARTNERING WITH TOYOTA, YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK'S LAMAR BUFFALO RANCH HAS GIVEN A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO USED CAR SHOPPING.

RECYCLING BATTERY PACKS FROM OLDER GENERATION TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRIDS, THE RANCH USES THEM TO STORE SOLAR POWER.

DESPITE BEING PAST THEIR AUTOMOTIVE PRIME, THESE USED NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERIES CAN STILL HOLD A SUBSTANTIAL CHARGE.

THE 208 BATTERY PACKS ARE USED TO STORE ENOUGH SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER THE RANCH'S 5-BUILDING CAMPUS AROUND THE CLOCK.

SO, TO PUT IT THIS WAY: A YEAR'S WORTH OF SUNLIGHT PROVIDES A YEAR'S WORTH OF ELECTRICITY.

AND WITH AUTOMOTIVE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY IMPROVING, USED LITHIUM-ION BATTERY PACKS WILL SOON BECOME AVAILABLE WITH EVEN HIGHER CAPACITY.

IMAGINATIVE POWER SOLUTIONS, LIKE THE ONE AT LAMAR BUFFALO RANCH, SHOW THAT THERE'S A SUSTAINABLE AFTERLIFE FOR THESE BATTERY PACKS LONG AFTER THEIR INITIAL USE.

WELL, IT'S TIME FOR ME TO PLUG IN AND RECHARGE MY BATTERIES, UNTIL I SEE YOU ON THE NEXT MOTORNEWS.

>> JOHN: IF YOU'RE AN AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIAST, I KNOW YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CONCEPT OF SPEED.

IF YOU'RE A FAN OF SPORTING BRITISH CARS, YOU MAY EVEN BE FAMILIAR WITH BENTLEY'S ULTRA LUXURIOUS VERSION OF SPEED.

WELL, THAT CLASH OF POSH AND PERFORMANCE HAPPENS IN A WAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE IN THIS BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED.

YOU MIGHT THINK THAT BEING A STAID BRITISH BRAND WITH OODLES OF HISTORY, BENTLEY WOULD REFUSE TO CHANGE WITH THE TIMES, AND YOU'D BE VERY WRONG.

THIS 2016 BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED THE BRAND FORWARD AT A RAPID PACE, YET WITHOUT LEAVING TRADITIONS BEHIND.

THIS IS OF COURSE, THE BESPOKE BENTLEY CHASSIS FROM CREWE THAT DEBUTED FOR 2011, AND SHARES LITTLE WITH PARENT VOLKSWAGEN UNLIKE THE REST OF THEIR LINEUP.

IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE WHAT THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WITH IT.

SURE IT FEELS BIG, BUT NOT OVERLY HEAVY, CERTAINLY NOT BLOATED, CONSIDERING IT IS PUSHING 6,000 POUNDS.

IT'S A LOT OF MASS, BUT WITH ENOUGH MODERN TWEAKING TO NOT FEEL LIKE A TANK.

FOR THIS SPEED VERSION OF THE MULSANNE, THE CHASSIS' AIR SUSPENSION GETS A STIFFER SETTING, AS WELL AS QUICKER STEERING.

A CUSTOM MODE ALLOWS FOR INDIVIDUAL TAILORING OF ALL SETTINGS, AS MOST BENTLEY CUSTOMERS ARE USED TO, I'M SURE.

AS FOR UNDER THE BONNET, THE 530 HORSEPOWER COMING FROM ITS 6.8 LITER TWIN TURBO V8 IS INDEED IMPRESSIVE, BUT HOW ABOUT A "COMMONER KICKING" 811 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE?

OUTPUT IS BUMPED 22 HORSEPOWER AND 59 POUND-FEET DUE TO REWORKING OF THE HEADS AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH WHEEL MOUNTED SHIFT PADDLES IS STANDARD, BUT UNLIKE CONTINENTAL BASED BENTLEYS THIS ONE IS REAR DRIVE ONLY.

THE NOSTALGIA THEME PLAYS A LITTLE HEAVIER INSIDE, WHERE YOU CAN FEEL BENTLEY HISTORY OOZING OUT OF ITS HECTARES OF WELL TREATED CALF SKIN AND FINE WOODWORK.

THERE REMAINS PLENTY OF TRADITIONAL ELEMENTS LIKE THE ORGAN STOPS FOR THE VENTS AND AN ANALOG CLOCK, BUT THE OVERALL AMBIENCE IS MORE MODERN.

AND THERE'S CERTAINLY ALL OF THE LATEST TECH GADGETS LIKE HIDEAWAY NAV.

SCREEN, NAIM FOR BENTLEY 2,200-WATT AUDIO, AND A SOMEWHAT CUMBERSOME CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

AND IN THE BACK THERE'S EVEN DUAL IPADS WITH KEYBOARDS, TELEVISION SCREENS, AND A REFRIGERATED BOTTLE COOLER WITH FROSTED GLASS POWER DOOR AND YES, EVEN CRYSTAL CHAMPAGNE FLUTES.

THE FRONT CENTER CONSOLE IS A BIT CONTROL HEAVY, AND THE START BUTTON BLENDS IN A LITTLE TOO MUCH.

BUT IT GIVES THINGS A WORKMAN LIKE FEEL FOR THAT CHAUFFEUR SO HE CAN DO HIS BUSINESS.

SOME OF THE CONTROLS AND GAUGES ARE NOT OBVIOUS, BUT IT HELPS IF YOU ENJOY BANGERS AND MASH OR FOLLOW THE GOINGS ON IN PARLIAMENT.

FRONT SEATS HAVE GREAT COMFORT, BUT EXTREME COMFORT IS JUST THE TIP OF THE CRYSTAL PLATED ICEBERG OF WHAT YOU'LL FIND IN THE REAR.

BUT AS NICE AS IT IS BACK THERE, THIS IS STILL A CAR YOU SHOULD WANT TO DRIVE, AND WILL VERY MUCH ENJOY DOING SO, AS IT HAS A SPORTING FEEL THAT YOU WON'T FIND IN A ROLLS-ROYCE.

THERE'S EFFORTLESS STREAMS OF ENGINE POWER, WITH SHIFTS THAT ARE AS SMOOTH AS THE SILK OF A BURBERRY SCARF.

THOUGH THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER CARRIES ON THE BRITISH TRADITION OF DAWDLING BETWEEN SHIFTS AS IT'S IN NO PARTICULAR HURRY TO DELIVER A GEAR WHEN SHUFFLING BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE.

THINGS ARE QUIET INSIDE, BUT NOT WITH BANK VAULT LEVELS OF ISOLATION, AS SOME NICE IF RASPY EXHAUST NOTE SEEPS IN OCCASIONALLY.

AS FOR STANDING OUT FROM THE COMMON MULSANNE'S SEAMLESS METAL WORK AND EXQUISITE TOUCHES OUTSIDE; THE SPORT BRINGS DARK FINISHES TO THE GRILLES, HEADLIGHTS, AND TAIL LIGHTS.

AS WELL AS UNIQUE 21-INCH WHEELS AND RIFLED EXHAUST TIPS SIMILAR TO THE REST OF BENTLEY'S SPEED LINEUP.

HOW THE SPEED TRANSLATES AT THE TRACK, THOSE BIG TURBO'S, HAUL THIS HULK TO 60 IN UNDER THROUGH THE CONES, INITIALLY IT FEELS ALMOST ATHLETIC.

BUT JUST AS QUICKLY AS YOU GET THROUGH THE FIRST FEW GATES, THE WEIGHT AND HEAVY STEERING CATCH UP WITH YOU, REMINDING YOU HOW BIG THIS CAR REALLY IS.

CLEARLY MADE FOR PEOPLE WHO DEMAND THE BEST, AND ARE WILLING TO PAY FOR IT.

THE MULSANNE SPEED STARTS AT $341,325.

PRICEY OPTIONS PUSHED OUR CAR LET'S GIVE BENTLEY A LOT OF CREDIT, THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO INJECT MODERN ELEMENTS INTO THE 2016 MULSANNE SPEED WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THEIR BRAND'S CHARACTER.

IN FACT, WE THINK RECENT BENTLEY'S ARE MORE IN LINE WITH THEIR SPORTING TRADITION THAN EVER.

THE FEW WHO GET TO EXPERIENCE IT DAILY ARE THE LUCKY ONES INDEED.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT!

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, AS WE STRETCH OUR LEGS, AND OUR CRUISING RANGE IN THE BMW 740LD.

THEN WE'LL FLAT OUT FLY IN THE CHEVY CORVETTE Z06.

PAT GOSS SHOWS US TIRES FROM THE GROUND UP.

ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AT EXTREME SPEEDS.

THEN MOTORNEWS, A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE, AND SOME QUICK SPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO, SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY 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 EQUIPMENT IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.

>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

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