2015 Ford Mustang GT Convertible & Compact SUV Challenge

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

JOIN US 'CAUSE WE'RE LOVIN' THE SUN IN THE FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE... PAT GOSS GETS US CHARGED UP DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE!

AUTOWORLD SEES HOW FIRST RESPONDERS ANSWER THE CALL OF DUTY, NO MATTER WHAT!

THEN WE'LL TRIM DOWN THE CROWDED COMPACT SUV SEGMENT AS WE PICK TODAY'S BEST...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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

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BUT JESSICA'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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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: BY NOW THERE'S NOTHING SECRET ABOUT THE 2015 THERE'S A NEW SHELBY GT350 RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

BUT BEFORE WE SADDLE UP THAT HIGH STRUNG STEED, AND BEING THAT THE CURRENT WARM WEATHER IS PERFECT FOR IT, WE THOUGHT WE'D TAKE A MORE RELAXED TROT IN A FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE.

YES FOR 2015, FORD LAUNCHED AN ALL NEW MUSTANG.

PERFORMANCE AND BETTER ROAD MANNERS, AS WELL AS IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH FUEL ECONOMY AND INTERIOR REFINEMENT TO THE ORIGINAL PONY CAR.

OF COURSE AN ALL NEW, MORE PROGRESSIVE LOOK WAS PART OF THE PACKAGE AS WELL, AND WHILE THE SHEET METAL OF THIS CONVERTIBLE MUSTANG MAY APPEAR EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE HARDTOP; FORD HAD TO MASSAGE MOST OF THE BODY PANELS TO MAKE THAT ILLUSION HAPPEN.

TOP UP, WE FOUND T RESULTS SOMEWHAT MIXED.

THE MAJORITY OF THAT TWEAKING IS IN THE REAR NATURALLY, WHERE THE TRUNK LID AND REAR QUARTERS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY RESHAPED.

STILL, THE SHARPER TOP JUST DOESN'T INTEGRATE NEARLY AS WELL AS THE COUPE'S FASTBACK.

TOP DOWN, OUR OBJECTIONS DISAPPEAR.

THING RETURN TO NICELY NORMAL AT THE SLEEKER FRONT END, WITH THE BIG HORSE CORRAL GRILLE IN CENTER; FLANKED BY SLENDER HEADLIGHTS AND SIGNATURE 3-GILL LED'S.

WHEELS ON THIS GT PREMIUM ARE 18-INCH ALLOYS, BUT SOME Of OUR STAFF DIDN'T THINK THE MACHINED FINISH WENT WELL WITH THE RUBY RED METALLIC PAINT.

THE TOP IS INSULATED, MULTI-LAYER FABRIC.

WHILE POWER OPERATED, THERE'S STILL A MANUAL HEADER RELEASE.

THE TOP FORMS ITS OWN TONNEAU COVER WITH DETACHABLE SIDE BOOTS TO COVER HARDWARE.

AS FOR THE 2+2 INTERIOR, NOT MUCH CHANGES FROM THE COUPE; STILL THE SAME WELL THOUGHT OUT BLEND OF A CLASSIC LAYOUT WITH MODERN NECESSITIES.

THE SEATBELTS DO COME OUT FROM THE B-PILLARS MUCH LOWER OF COURSE, AND THE SEATBACK MOUNTED RETENTION LOOPS LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR ADJUSTMENT.

WHILE SOME OF OUR CREW FOUND THEM UNCOMFORTABLE, IT VARIED WIDELY FROM DRIVER TO DRIVER.

AND WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL LIGHT BEING LET IT, OR THE FACT THAT INTERIOR QUALITY FROM ALL BRANDS SEEMS TO BE ESCALATING AT A RAPID PACE, BUT MATERIALS DON'T SEEM QUITE AS IMPRESSIVE AS THEY DID WHEN WE TESTED THE COUPE JUST LAST YEAR.

AND WE STILL LIKE TO SEE THE CENTER STACK TOGGLES MOUNTED HIGHER.

OUR TESTER ALSO CAME SADDLED WITH THE SELECT SHIFT 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IT WORKS WELL, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT AS MUCH EMOTIONAL CONNECTION TO THIS CAR WHEN THE TRANS IS CALLING ITS OWN SHOTS.

NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 5.0 LITER V8 UNDER THE HOOD OR ITS 435 HORSEPOWER.

IN TOWN AT 400 POUND-FEET, BUT IT IS ONE V8 THAT LIKES TO REV.

OFF THE LINE, THROTTLE MODULATION IS THE KEY, AND ONCE YOU GET PAST 3,000 RPM THINGS REALLY START TO GET FUN.

WE HIT 60 IN 5.2 SECONDS, WITH THE QUARTER MILE PASSING IN 13.5 SECONDS AT 107 MILES PER HOUR.

BOTH NUMBERS ABOUT HALF A SECOND OFF OF THE V8 MANUAL COUPE WE TESTED BEFORE.

117 FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 WAS GREAT, BUT FADE DID START CREEPING IN AS FOR HANDLING, ONCE YOU GET USED TO THE MUSTANGS' TENDENCIES, WITH BOTH OVER AND UNDER STEER AVAILABLE, IT FEELS SMALLER THAN ITS SIZE AND DISPLAYS MINIMAL BODY ROLL.

STEERING IS DIRECT, ACCURATE, AND HAS A NICE WEIGHT TO IT.

TOP DOWN CRUISING AT A MORE RELAXED PACE, WE FOUND WIND LEVELS TO BE QUITE ACCEPTABLE.

AND EXCEPT FOR SOME OCCASIONAL CREAKING OVER BUMPS IT PROVED TO BE A VERY PLEASANT DRIVING CAR.

NO DOUBT IT'S THE TIGHTEST FEELING MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE YET.

STILL IT FALLS SHORT OF MOST EUROPEAN CONVERTIBLES, AND THERE WAS A BIT MORE COWL SHAKE THAN EXPECTED.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 5.0 LITER AUTO ARE 15-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 18-COMBINED.

SO, OUR AVERAGE OF 20.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR WAS BETTER THAN EXPECTED.

STILL, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS BELOW AVERAGE AT 18.3 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMPTION AND 8.1 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS YEARLY.

YOU CAN GET INTO A MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE FOR AS LITTLE AS $29,925, WHICH IS NOT BAD PROVIDING YOU WANT THE V6.

BUT STEPPING UP TO THE V8 GT WILL COST YOU $42,425.

CONVERTIBLE PONY CARS ARE ALWAYS A COMPROMISE.

FOR US, THE COUPE FORMULA IS CLEARLY THE BEST.

BUT WE DO ADMIT THEY DO MAKE YOU LOOK AND FEEL COOL.

SO, WHILE THE 2015 FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE HAS LOST A LITTLE PROWESS IN THE TRANSLATION FROM HARD TOP TO SOFT TOP, FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO DO THEIR RELAXED WEEKEND CRUISING IN BIG ENGINE MUSCLE, THIS IS ONE GREAT HORSE TO RIDE IN ON.

2012'S HURRICANE SANDY HAS HAD LONG LASTING EFFECTS ALONG THE EA COAST, AND COMPELLED MANY COMMUNITIES TO RE-EVALUATE THEIR EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANS.

AMID THE COUNTLESS TRAGIC TALES THAT EMERGED FROM THAT STORM, MANY POSITIVE STORIES INVOLVING THE USE OF ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES TO AID IN THE RECOVERY EFFORTS ALSO CAME TO LIGHT.

AND THEY'RE NOW PART OF A COORDINATED PLAN TO HELP CITIES AND CITIZENS NATIONWIDE PREPARE TO WEATHER THE WORST.

PELTING RAIN, HIGH WINDS AND SURGING WATER PUMMELED THE EASTERN SEABOARD IN NOVEMBER 2012 AS HURRICANE SANDY CHEWED UP THE EAST COAST, LEAVING IN ITS WAKE A SWATH OF LOSS AND DESTRUCTION.

AFTER THE STORM PASSED, POWER OUTAGES AND A CRIPPLED DELIVERY INFRASTRUCTURE LED TO GASOLINE SHORTAGES THAT LASTED FOR WEEKS, HINDERING CLEANUP EFFORTS AND PARALYZING ENTIRE CITIES.

ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY TOOK A HEAVY TOLL IN PHYSICAL DAMAGE, BUT THANKS TO A PROGRAM BEGUN IN 2009, THE CITY'S RECOVERY BEGAN MORE QUICKLY THAN MOST.

WITH HELP FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY THROUGH THE RECOVERY ACT, ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY'S JITNEY BUS OPERATORS WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THEIR AGING FLEET OF 190 MINIBUSES WITH NEW MODELS RUNNING ON CLEAN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL.

AS HURRICANE SANDY APPROACHED, THESE VEHICLES WERE PRESSED INTO ACTION FOR THE EVACUATION.

AND BECAUSE OF THEIR DEDICATED CNG FUEL, THE JITNEYS WERE JUST ABOUT THE ONLY VEHICLES MOVING DURING AND AFTER THE STORM.

>> FRANK BECHTEL: SOME BAY FRONT PROPERTIES GOT WHACKED REAL BAD.

DAMAGED IS RIGHT OVER THERE.

THE BOARDWALK ACTUALLY CAME UP THROUGH THE FORCE OF THE STORM AND RELOCATED ITSELF SEVERAL BLOCKS.

WE SAW ON THE NEWS UP IN NEW YORK AND STATEN ISLAND, I MEAN PEOPLE WERE FIGHTING OVER GASOLINE.

WE NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WHERE A BUS COULDN'T PERFORM AN EMERGENCY SERVICE OR A CONVENIENCE SERVICE BECAUSE WE WEREN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET FUEL.

IT WAS A COMPLETE UNINTERRUPTED COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS SUPPLY.

>> JOHN: IN SIMILAR FASHION, HURRICANE SANDY SHOWED OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS OF DIVERSIFYING THEIR FUEL SOURCES.

THE CITY OF NEW RICHMOND, WISCONSIN SENT THIS EATON HYBRID UTILITY TRUCK, AS PART OF A MUTUAL AID MISSION TO HELP WITH THE HURRICANE SANDY CLEANUP.

THE HYBRID POWERTRAIN ALLOWED CREWS TO SHUT DOWN THE TRUCKS DIESEL ENGINE WHILE WORKING TO RESTORE ELECTRICITY TO THE MILLIONS AFFECTED BY THE STORM.

BUT ASIDE FROM THE FUEL SAVINGS, A MORE CRITICAL BENEFIT WAS TO WORKER SAFETY.

>> KEVIN BLADER: YOU GOT TRAFFIC GOING BY, UM, THE LINEMAN MIGHT BE UP HAVING A DIESEL TRUCK, IT'S HARD TO HEAR OVER THE DIESEL NOISE.

WHEREAS, A HYBRID, YOU CAN ACTUALLY YELL TO THE LINEMAN, AND HE CAN HEAR YOU, YOU CAN COMMUNICATE A LOT BETTER...

IT'S A HUGE ADVANTAGE."

>> JOHN: AS A RESULT OF THESE ALT FUEL SUCCESSES, MORE COMMUNITY PLANNERS AND FEDERAL AND STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ARE NOW TAKING A FRESH LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE FUELS AS A KEY PART OF THEIR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS STRATEGIES.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE ENERGY OFFICIALS, WITH HELP FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM, IS REVVING UP IREV, OR THE INITIATIVE FOR RESILIENCY IN ENERGY THROUGH VEHICLES, TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY FLEET MANAGERS WITH INFORMATION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE FUELS, VEHICLES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, ALONG WITH STRATEGIES FOR USING THEM IN EMERGENCY SCENARIOS.

>> DAVID TERRY: WE SAW A NEED IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES, AND OTHER CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE VEHICLES TO HAVE A DIVERSITY OF FUEL MIX.

A DIVERSITY OF FUEL MIX MEANS THAT MORE OPTIONS, MORE OPPORTUNITIES.

IF GASOLINE SUPPLIES ARE DOWN, IF DIESEL SUPPLIES ARE DOWN, ETC.

THEY CAN TURN TO PROPANE, BIOFUELS, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, NATURAL GAS, AND OTHER SOURCES INCLUDING EFFICIENCY, AND HELP STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM, MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT.

>>JOHN: DURING AND AFTER A NATURAL DISASTER, THE NEED FOR EVACUATION, ELECTRIC UTILITY REPAIR AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES IS OBVIOUS, BUT SERVICES LIKE TRASH REMOVAL, AMBULANCE TRANSPORT AND FOOD DELIVERY ARE CRITICAL AS WELL.

THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE IREV, ALTERNATIVE FUELED VEHICLES TO CARRY OUT THESE FUNCTIONS ARE BEING IDENTIFIED NOW SO THAT WHEN DISASTER STRIKES, THEY CAN BE READY TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED.

AND WITH NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH COMING UP, NOW'S A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT YOUR OWN EMERGENCY PLAN, AND PLAN TO BE A SURVIVOR, NOT A STATISTIC.

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

* >> PAT GOSS: WHEN IT COMES TO 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 1ST 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 1.

>> PAT: OKAY.

>> GEORGE: THAT MAY BE GOOD, BUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW IS GENERATION 2, 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: HOW TO WRAP UP 12 MONTHS' WORTH OF LUXURY IN ONE MINUTE?

WELL FOR STARTERS, YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT A PLEASURE IT WAS PUTTING 27,000 MILES OF COMFY CRUISING ON OUR LONG TERM 2015 KIA K900.

THE BRAND'S CAPABILITIES, IT IS WITHOUT QUESTION A BIG SUCCESS.

SALES HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STORY; LUXURY BUYERS ARE A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK, TENDING TO STICK WITH BRANDS THAT CARRY THE HIGHEST CACHE FOR THEIR CASH, RATHER THAN THE MOST BANG FOR THE BUCK.

AND WHILE THE MERITS OF TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS CAN BE THE LUXURY FEEL THAT HAS TRICKLED DOWN FROM THE K900 INTO THIS 2016 SORENTO IS PROOF OF THAT, IN THE CAR WORLD AT LEAST, IT'S A GOOD THING.

WE'LL FIND OUT JUST HOW GOOD OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

BUT FIRST WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE ACURA TLX ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

LET'S CLIMB BEHIND THE WHEEL OF SOMETHING NEW, FOR MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

EVENT PLANNING AT ITS FINEST: OUR QUICKSPIN IN THE 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

MAKES SENSE TO US!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE SMALL TRUCK LEADER TACOMA HAD ANY REAL COMPETITION.

THEN THE CHEVY COLORADO AND GMC CANYON CAME BACK WITH A VENGEANCE.

SUDDENLY THE TACO, AS MANY AFFECTIONATELY KNOW IT, SEEMED STALE.

SALES HAVEN'T SUFFERED MUCH, BUT TOYOTA THOUGHT IT WAS NEVERTHELESS TIME FOR A MAJOR REFRESH.

STYLING, WHILE FAMILIAR IN PROFILE, ADDS THE HEFT OF THE FULL SIZE TUNDRA'S SHARP HEXAGONAL GRILLE, PLUS SOME NIP AND TUCKING TO CLEAN THINGS UP.

THE STAMPED TACOMA NAME IN THE TAILGATE IS ALSO SHARED WITH ITS BIG TRUCK SIBLING.

INTERIOR IS LIKEWISE OVERHAULED WITH THANKFULLY LESS HARD PLASTICS.

IT'S STILL VERY TOYOTA; EQUAL PARTS CAMRY AND TUNDRA, WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF PERSONAL TRUCK APPEAL.

MORE APPEALING IS WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD: A NEW 3.5 LITER V6 WITH 278 HORSEPOWER AND A 6,800 POUND TOW CAPACITY.

THE 2.7 LITER I4 MAKES 159 HORSEPOWER, A CARRYOVER FROM THE PREVIOUS TACOMA.

BEHIND THE WHEEL AND ON THE ROAD, IT'S STILL A TRUE TRUCK, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL FEEL, SLIGHTLY FLOATY RIDE QUALITY, AND SOME JARRING MOVEMENTS OVER BUMPS.

REFINEMENTS HAVE CREPT IN FOR 2016, BUT YOU DEFINITELY KNOW YOU'RE IN A CAPABLE ON OR OFF ROAD PICKUP.

>> GREG CARLOSS: NOT SAYING ITS BAD ON THE ROAD...

YES, IT IS A LITTLE BIT LOUDER THAN I'D LIKE IT TO BE, AND THE RIDE ISN'T QUITE THERE.

TRUCK FOR YOU, IT DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT RIDE.

OFF ROAD THOUGH, THIS THING REALLY SHINES.

WE'VE TAKEN IT THROUGH SOME SERIOUS, SERIOUS TERRAIN, AND IT HANDLES IT EXTREMELY WELL.

>> JOHN: A NEW CRAWL CONTROL FEATURE ALLOWS FOR EFFORTLESS LOW SPEED MANEUVERING, WHILE A MULTI-TERRAIN SELECT SYSTEM AIDES THROTTLE AND BRAKING IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRACTION.

IN TRUE PICKUP TRUCK FASHION, THE 2016 TOYOTA TACOMA CAN BE HAD IN MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS, STARTING AROUND $25,000.

AND IT'S ON SALE THIS FALL.

WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

WHEN THE CAR BASED TOYOTA RAV4 DEBUTED FOR 1996, IT CHANGED THE WAY SUV'S 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 BALLER'S 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, 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 4TH 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 IN OUR SHOOTOUT; MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS THE AROUND VIEW CAMERA THAT GIVES ME A FULL 360 DEGREE VIEW AROUND THE CAR.

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

NOW THE CVT, WHICH NISSAN USED 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 3RD 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.

>> KELSEY 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.

>> KRISTIN 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 2ND 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 OF THE ELECTRONIC PACKAGE; THE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE HAS THE ABILITY TO STREAM OUR BLUETOOTH 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 THE SPACE INSIDE, BUT ALSO 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 3 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 EXPERIENCE; PARTICULARLY THE STEERING, ENGINE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WERE VERY RESPONSIVE.

>> JAMES R. HEALEY: THE 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, GOOD STEERING, 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.

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, FOR AND UPSCALE HYBRID ESCAPADE IN THE LEXUS NX 300H.

THEN WE'LL HEAD WAY OUT OF OUR PRICE RANGE IN THE BENTLEY MULSANNE SPEED.

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

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