2016 BMW 640i/435i Gran Coupe & 2015 & 2016 Hyundai Tucson

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

JOIN US FOR LESSONS IN AUTOMOTIVE EXCESS, AS WE TEST THE BMW 4 AND 6 SERIES GRAN COUPES... PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHAT TO LOOK FOR ONCE YOU'VE FOUND THAT CLASSIC CAR BARGAIN... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ CATCHES UP WITH SOME COLLECTORS WHO LOVE THE HUMBLE LICENSE PLATE... THEN WE'LL GO SMALL UTE ONCE MORE WITH AN ALL-NEW HYUNDAI TUCSON...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

ANNOUNCER: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

John: FROM THE BMW IS ATTEMPTING TO FULLY INFILTRATE EVERY POSSIBLE AUTOMOTIVE SEGMENT, INCLUDING A FEW ONLY THEY INHABIT, DEPARTMENT; COMES A NEW PAIR OF 4-DOOR SEDANS TRYING TO MIMIC SPORTY COUPES.

WHILE IT'S NO LONGER AN ORIGINAL IDEA, BMW WANTS TO MAKE SURE THEY'VE GOT ALL THE STYLISH BASES COVERED.

SO ENTER THE 4 AND 6 SERIES GRAN COUPES.

WHILE THIS PAIR OF 4-DOORS, THE 2015 BMW 435I GRAN COUPE AND THE 2016 BMW 640I GRAN COUPE ARE NOT EXACTLY UNIQUE ANIMALS IN THE MARKET PLACE, THEY DO RUN WITH A PRETTY SMALL PACK.

STARTING WITH THE SMALLER AND NEWER 435I GC, WHERE IT SLIDES IN IS COMPLICATED.

IF YOU NEED MORE PRACTICALITY THAN A 3 SERIES SEDAN, BUT DON'T WANT TO STEP UP TO A 5 SERIES, AND A 3 SERIES WAGON IS A NO-GO, THEN THE 4 GRAN COUPE IS FOR YOU.

OUR REASONING?

THOUGH ITS COUPISH STYLING INCLUDES 4-DOORS, WHAT APPEARS TO BE A TRUNK LID IS REALLY A HATCHBACK?

SO, ONCE YOU GET OVER THE INITIAL CONFUSION, THE 435I GRAN COUPE IS ACTUALLY A VERY VERSATILE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO DELIVER A LOT FOR THE MONEY.

IT'S ALSO MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN SIMILAR SIZED 5-DOOR COUPE/HATCH OFFERINGS, HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHY PREMIUM HATCHBACKS ARE SO POPULAR IN EUROPE.

ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, WE EXPECTED THE LOW ROOF DESIGN TO IMPEDE REAR SEAT ACCESS AND IT DID, BUT IT ALSO SEEMED TO IMPEDE IN THE FRONT AS WELL.

REAR SEAT LEG AND HEADROOM ROOM ARE ALSO NOT EXACTLY PLENTIFUL, BUT NOT AS BAD AS WE EXPECTED EITHER.

OF COURSE, IT'S DRIVING THAT REVEALS THE TRUE STORY ABOUT THIS CAR, AS IT DELIVERS THE SOLID, "ALL YOU COULD EVER WANT IN A CAR" FEEL YOU EXPECT FROM A BMW.

EXCEPT FOR THE STEERING OF COURSE, WHICH WE CONTINUE TO FIND TOO NUMB.

BMW'S M SPORT PACKAGE IS A GREAT ADDITION AS IT GIVES YOU THE LOOK ALONG WITH SOME OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A TRUE M, WITHOUT THE HARSH RIDE PENALTY AND KILLER STICKER PRICE.

POWERTRAIN IS A 300 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO WITH 300 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND A REAR DRIVE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A 240 HORSEPOWER TURBO-4 IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

NOW AS FOR BIG BROTHER 640I, DESPITE SHARING THE GRAN COUPE DESIGNATION, IT'S ACTUALLY A TRADITIONAL 4-DOOR SEDAN WITH A PROPER TRUNK.

AND REGARDLESS OF HAVING 40 IN THE NOMENCLATURE INSTEAD OF 35, IT SHARES THE SAME 3.0 LITER ENGINE, THOUGH THE TURBO WORKS A LITTLE HARDER HERE FOR 315 HORSEPOWER.

A BIGGER 445 HORSEPOWER V8 IS ALSO AVAILABLE, AND AS IN THE 4-SERIES, ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH EITHER ENGINE.

SO, NOW THAT WE'VE FULLY COMPLICATED EVERYTHING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WE'LL SAY THAT THIS RECENTLY REFRESHED 640 IS EVEN BETTER LOOKING THAN THE 435.

AND TO OUR SURPRISE, BMW SAYS "GRAN COUPES NOW MAKE UP ONE HALF OF ALL 6-SERIES SALES."

ONCE INSIDE, THOUGH THE OVERALL THEME IS SIMILAR TO THE 4, ITS EXECUTION IS BOTH FURTHER UPSCALE, AND WITH MORE ROOM, MUCH MORE INVITING.

AS FOR TRACK WORK, IT'S THE LIGHTER 435I THAT DISPATCHES 0-60 THE QUICKEST, TAKING 5.1 SECONDS, COMPARED TO 5.3 FOR THE 640I.

THAT ADVANTAGE COMPOUNDS THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, DELIVERING ALMOST A FULL SECOND DIVIDEND AT THE END, AS THE 435I TRIPS THE LIGHTS IN 12.9 SECONDS AT 105 MILES PER HOUR; WHILE THE 640I FINISHES IN 13.8 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

IT ALSO FOLLOWS THAT THE 4 IS MORE NIMBLE THROUGH THE CONES, WITH COMMENTS OF EXTREMELY AGILE, QUICK, AND DIRECT COMING FROM OUR TEST DRIVERS.

WHILE IN THE 6, BOTH OVER AND UNDERSTEER WERE MORE PRESENT, AND THERE IS AN OVERALL FEEL OF MORE WEIGHTINESS.

STILL, THE BMW SOLIDITY COMES THROUGH LOUD AND CLEAR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS IN THE REAR-DRIVE 435I ARE 21-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE MANAGED 28.6 MILES PER GALLON.

IN THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE 640I, THEY ARE 20-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED, BUT WE ONLY AVERAGED 19.5.

BOTH REQUIRE PREMIUM FUEL.

AS FOR PRICING, A BASE 4 SERIES GRAN COUPE GOES FOR $41,295; THE 6 SERIES GC STARTS AT $79,795.

PRICEY, BUT FOR THE MOST PART, YOU DO GET A LOT MORE THAN YOU'RE EXPECTING.

NOT ENOUGH PERFORMANCE FOR YOU?

WELL, AN M6 GRAN COUPE IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

BUT FOR ONE FINAL PUZZLER, 4 SERIES M CARS ARE, FOR NOW, LIMITED TO COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE.

SO WHILE WE'RE STRUGGLING TO COME TO TERMS WITH WHAT PRECISELY A GRAN COUPE IS AND WHY EXACTLY WE NEED ONE, THE 2015 BMW 435I AND 2016 BMW 640I ARE TOP-NOTCH VEHICLES THAT CAN OFFER A LITTLE MORE PRACTICALITY WITH A LOT MORE STYLE THAN SEDAN COUNTERPARTS.

MAKING THEM A CONFOUNDING CONUNDRUM WE NOT ONLY APPRECIATE, BUT LOVE TO DRIVE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK PROFILES A BIG NAME IN BEVERAGE AND ITS EVER GROWING HYBRID ELECTRIC FLEET.

IN FACT, THIS HYBRID VAN JUST ARRIVED AT COCA-COLA'S NORTH METRO ATLANTA DISTRIBUTION CENTER.

WITH THE LARGEST HEAVY DUTY HYBRID FLEET IN NORTH AMERICA, COCA-COLA NOW OPERATES OVER 1,000 ALT-FUEL AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY VEHICLES, INCLUDING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS, ALL-ELECTRIC AND FUEL CELL VEHICLES.

WHILE ONLY 5% OF THEIR TOTAL FLEET, COCA-COLA FINDS THEY ARE ALREADY HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS AND NOISE POLLUTION.

Stefan Freeman: WHEN YOU GO AROUND AND YOU LOOK AT COCA-COLA AS A WHOLE, WHAT YOU'LL CONSTANTLY SEE IS A GREAT COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND NOT ONLY IN THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE SPACE BUT ALSO IN OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE AROUND SUSTAINABILITY AS A WHOLE.

John: A NATIONAL CLEAN FLEET'S PARTNER WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, COCA-COLA PLANS 50 MORE HYBRID ELECTRIC CUSTOMER CARE VANS FOR ATLANTA ALONE.

A MOVE THAT WILL BUILD ON THE GLOBAL COMPANY'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE ALT-FUEL AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY ARENA.

YOU SEE THEM EVERY DAY, AND DON'T GIVE THEM MUCH THOUGHT!

BUT LICENSE PLATES ARE JUST AS MUCH A PART OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY AS THE VEHICLES THEY'RE ON.

AFTER ALL, THEY HAVE EVOLVED TOGETHER.

AND, EACH YEAR, COLLECTORS GATHER TO CELEBRATE THE LOWLY LICENSE PLATE.

SO WE ASKED OUR FYI REPORTER YOLANDA VAZQUEZ TO LOOK INTO WHY SO MANY ARE SO FASCINATED BY SOMETHING SO SIMPLE.

Yolanda Vazquez: THE WIDE VARIETY OF LICENSE PLATES IN THIS PARKING LOT OUTSIDE SHOULD GIVE YOU A CLUE AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE INSIDE OF THIS CONVENTION CENTER.

Man: TOM, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Yolanda: FROM NORTH KOREA, TO NEW MEXICO TO THE NATION'S CAPITAL... Man: LIKE I SAID, "LITTLE BIT EVERYTHING IN HERE."

Yolanda: LICENSE PLATES ARE THE NAME OF THE GAME AT THE ANNUAL ALPCA CONVENTION IN ROGERS, ARKANSAS.

Johnny: BOUT ANYTHING YOU'D WANT TO FIND FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Yolanda: You'll find here?

Man: I'D SAY SO... Yolanda: FOR THE PAST 61 YEARS, THE AUTOMOBILE LICENSE PLATE COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION HAS GIVEN THESE MOSTLY METAL TAGS A RENEWED PURPOSE FOR THEIR NEARLY 12,000 MEMBERS.

Ned Flynn: WE ARE ALL ASSIGNED NUMBERS, APPROPRIATE FOR A LICENSE PLATE COLLECTORS.

Yolanda: NED FLYNN BEGAN HIS ALPCA CAREER IN THE MID '70s AFTER SEEING AN AD IN A MAGAZINE.

Ned: I SAID, "THERE ARE OTHERS WHO DO THIS SORT OF THING?"

AND I SAID, "WELL SIGN ME UP."

Yolanda: FLYNN'S SPECIALTY ARE 1915 PORCELAIN PLATES FROM PENNSYLVANIA.

HIS DISPLAY HIGHLIGHTS SMALL DESIGN DIFFERENCES, THERE'S A PERIOD AFTER "PENNA" ON THIS PLATE BUT IT'S ABSENT ON ANOTHER.

Ted: I THINK IT'S FASCINATING TO GET INTO THAT MINUTIAE.

Yolanda: MANY OF THE MEMBERS ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SPECIFIC.

A SPORT, A SUPERHERO, MAYBE EVEN A PEARL HARBOR PLATE... AND THEY'LL EVEN TRAVEL FROM DOWN UNDER... Man: WESTERN AUSTRALIA, NORTHERN TERRITORY... VICTORIA... Yolanda: TO TRADE THEIR WARES WITH OTHERS.

Michael: YEAH...

I GOT...

THIS IS ALL DELAWARE HERE.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

Yolanda: MINNESOTA RESIDENT MICHAEL MORGAN FINDS HIS PLATES IN JUNKYARDS AND ANTIQUE SHOPS.

HE SAYS THEY'RE EXTREMELY RELATABLE WITH UNIVERSAL APPEAL.

Michael Morgan: WHETHER IT'S THEIR BIRTH YEAR, OR THE STATE THEY WERE BORN IN... OR THEIR FIRST BOY... OR GIRLFRIEND CAME FROM THAT STATE, OR WHATEVER...

THERE'S A LOT OF CONNECTION TO IT BESIDES JUST A PIECE OF STAMPED METAL.

Yolanda: FROM THE VERY BEGINNING LICENSE PLATES HAVE HAD MULTIPLE USES; THEY'VE PROMOTED PRODUCTS LIKE POTATOES IN IDAHO, TO EXPERIENCES LIKE VACATIONLAND IN MAINE.

BUT WHAT WE'VE COME TO KNOW THEM BEST FOR ARE THOSE SAVVY SLOGANS.

FOR EXAMPLE, FLORIDA IS KNOWN AS SUNSHINE STATE...

BUT NEW MEXICO HAD IT FIRST, BACK IN 1932.

JOHNNY MCKINLEY DROVE TWO HOURS TO BUY THESE RARE LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS PLATES.

THIS IS HIS VERY FIRST ALPCA CONVENTION.

Johnny McKinley: THIS HAS BEEN AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE FOR ME... KIND OF A LIFELONG DREAM...

I'VE WANTED TO COME TO A LICENSE PLATE SHOW LIKE THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

Tom: I WENT TO A...SPRINGFIELD Yolanda: UNLIKE MCKINLEY, TOM LINDENBERG IS A REGULAR WITH AN EXTENSIVE CANADIAN PLATE COLLECTION.

HE SAYS NO ONE IS GETTING RICH OFF THIS HOBBY.

THEY MOSTLY DO IT FOR THE CAMARADERIE.

Tom Lindenberg: HANGING OUT WITH THE GUYS, WHAT'S NEW, WHAT'S GOING ON... WE'VE LOST A FEW MEMBERS THAT HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

Jeff Minard: I'VE KNOWN SOME GUYS IN THIS ROOM FOR 50 YEARS.

I MEAN THAT'S, PRETTY AMAZING.

Yolanda: ALPCA PAST PRESIDENT JEFF MINARD, SAYS "MOST PEOPLE ALREADY UNOFFICIALLY COLLECT LICENSE PLATES."

Jeff: I THINK HALF THE GARAGES IN THE U.S. HAVE A BUNCH OF OLD LICENSE PLATES ON THE WALL... BECAUSE GUYS DO THAT..." Yolanda: AND WHILE WE DON'T THINK OF IT, THEY ARE TIED TO OUR COUNTRY'S AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY... CHANGING IN SIZE AND SHAPE OVER THE YEARS.

Jeff: BUT THEN AFTER 1956, THEY ALL GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, "THIS IS CRAZY FOR THE CAR BUMPERS WE NEED THEM STANDARDIZED, AND ALL THAT STUFF."

Yolanda: SO, NO MATTER THE STATE OR STATEMENT, THESE PLATES HAVE BECOME A PART OF POP CULTURE... LEAVING BEHIND A LEGACY... THAT MIGHT BE WORTH SOMETHING SOMEDAY.

Norman Ratcliffe: I TELL MY WIFE, I SAID, "WELL YOU SEEM TO COLLECT THOSE SHOES BUT I'M DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH YOUR SHOES ARE GOING TO BE WORTH.

IN THE END YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF THIS IF I KICK BUCKET ANY SOONER THAN I NEED TO.

(LAUGHS) * John: BUT IN BOTH CARS IT WAS THE DRIVETRAIN THAT SPARKED THE MOST INTEREST.

THE 3,370 POUND Z/28 IS HOME TO A CHEVY 5.0 LITER 305 CUBIC INCH V8 BREATHING THROUGH A 4-BARREL CARBURETOR.

IT DELIVERS 145 HORSEPOWER, AND 240 POUNDS OF TORQUE THROUGH A 4-SPEED MANUAL GEARBOX.

WE COULD HAVE OPTED FOR THE MORE POWERFUL FUEL INJECTED 5.0 LITER ENGINE, BUT IT'S ONLY AVAILABLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

HARDLY THE BEST THING FOR ROAD RACING.

THE MUSTANG GT WAS OUTFITTED WITH THE HIGH OUTPUT VERSION OF ITS VINTAGE 5.0 LITER 302 CUBIC INCH V8.

157 HORSES AND 240 POUNDS OF TORQUE ARE DELIVERED BY A HUGE TWO BARREL CARB THROUGH A FORD MADE 4-SPEED MANUAL... PAT GOSS IS IN HIS GARAGE, READY WITH A FEW MODERN TIPS ABOUT BUYING CLASSIC CARS.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME WE HAVE SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO A BETTER JOB OF BUYING THAT COLLECTOR CAR.

AND TO GIVE US SOME HELP, WE HAVE TONY FLEMING, WHO HAS BOUGHT THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS OVER THE YEARS.

TONY, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tony Fleming: THANKS, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW HERE WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THIS BRONCO THAT WE'RE STANDING BESIDE.

THAT PICTURE WAS IN AN AD.

IS THAT THE ULTIMATE?

I MEAN IS THAT THE WAY WE BUY THE CAR?

FROM THAT PICTURE?

Tony: WELL, I DON'T THINK THAT THE PICTURE IS GOING TO BE ENOUGH.

FIRST OFF, IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A CAR FROM PICTURES, THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN DO ADDITIONALLY.

FIRST OFF, THE QUESTION I WOULD ASK IS, "WHEN WERE THE PICTURES TAKEN?"

A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE WILL SEND YOU PICTURES OF WHEN THEY PURCHASED THE CAR, MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO.

Pat: OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

NOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE, OR NOT SEE THERE, ARE ITEMS LIKE WE HAVE HERE ON THIS FENDER, WHERE THERE'S A BUFF THROUGH.

THE FENDER LOOKS FINE IN THE PICTURE.

NOW, HOW WOULD YOU DISCOVER THIS SORT OF THING, IF YOU WERE BUYING THE CAR OUT OF STATE?

Tony: WELL, YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF CHOICES AT THIS POINT.

YOU CAN GET ON A PLANE, FLY OUT THERE, LOOK AT THE CAR YOURSELF, CHECK IT OVER; AND IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT, OR YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GOOD ENOUGH, YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PURCHASE DECISION THEN.

OR IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO THAT LAYER, YOU COULD HIRE A THIRD PARTY INSPECTION.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO ASK THE BUYER, I MEAN THE SELLER, BEFORE YOU EVEN GET THERE, DO YOU MIND IF WE ENGAGE A THIRD PARTY TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE; JUST FOR...

CHECK IT OVER FIRST?"

Pat: OKAY.

AND IF THEY SAY, "NO" ABOUT THE THIRD PARTY, JUST WALK AWAY?

Tony: I THINK THAT'S ENOUGH RIGHT THERE.

Pat: ALRIGHT...

OKAY, NOW SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO YOURSELF...

I MEAN YOU CAN LOOK AT VARIOUS THINGS... A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE USED OVER THE YEARS IS A SIMPLE MIRROR, LIKE SO, AND YOU TAKE A LIGHT AND SHINE IT INTO THE MIRROR AND HOLD IT UP UNDER THE FENDER AND SO ON... YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT STILL IN ALL, I DON'T THINK IT'S THE END ALL BE ALL.

NOW THIS IS A STEP UP FROM THAT.

HERE WE HAVE A GOPRO ON THE END OF A SELFIE STICK.

WELL, THAT CAN GET UP UNDER THE CAR, AND YOU'D HAVE A PERMANENT RECORD THAT WAY.

BUT STILL IN ALL, THE ONE THING IS THE THIRD PARTY.

Tony: THE THIRD PARTY IS ALWAYS GREAT, YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

Pat: NOW, TONY WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT TO PAY FOR THIS THIRD PARTY EXAM?

Tony: YOU KNOW, THAT DEPENDS.

PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THAT.

BUT IN BETWEEN $3 AND $500 IS TYPICAL.

WHAT THAT WILL GIVE YOU IS, SAY, 50 DIGITAL PICTURES, IT'LL GIVE YOU A NICE WRITE UP ON THE CAR, OF THINGS THAT WORK.

TURN SIGNALS, HEADLIGHTS, THINGS THAT YOU FORGET TO ASK ABOUT, RIGHT?

BECAUSE THOSE ARE EXPENSIVE ITEMS TO FIX LATER ON.

AND IT SHOULD GIVE YOU A TEST DRIVE.

Pat: OKAY.

SO, THAT'S MONEY WELL SPENT BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO HELP YOU AVOID COMMON PITFALLS... Tony: FOR SURE, AND IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'VE DONE WAY MORE THAN 90 PERCENT OF THE PEOPLE THAT BUY CARS.

Pat: AH, OKAY.

SO, YOU'RE GOING TO BE A PRO AT THAT POINT?

Tony: WELL... Pat: WELL, YOU'RE DOING IT LIKE THE PROS... Tony: FOR SURE.

EXACTLY.

Pat: OKAY TONY, THANK YOU.

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

John: WE'RE ALWAYS UP FOR A QUICKSPIN, SO HERE ARE MORE OF OUR FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS!

FORTY-THREE YEARS YOUNG, THE HONDA CIVIC IS ONE OF THE MOST ENDURING NAMES IN THE INDUSTRY.

AND WHILE THERE'S A LOT NEW TO LOOK FORWARD TO... LIKE A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK AND SUPER TUNED VARIANTS, WE'LL KICK OFF THE REDESIGNED 10TH GENERATION COMPACT WITH THE HIGH VOLUME CIVIC SEDAN.

THE BIGGEST NEWS FOR GEN-10 IS TURBO CHARGING...

YES, FINALLY EVEN HONDA HAS JUMPED ON THE TREND.

HIGHER TRIMS GET A 1.5 LITER TURBO 4 PUTTING OUT 174 HORSEPOWER THROUGH A CVT.

A 158 HORSE NATURALLY BREATHING 2.0 LITER IS STANDARD IN MANUAL OR CVT.

WHILE NEITHER POWERTRAIN HAD US FULFILLING OUR BOY RACER FANTASIES, THAT'S FOR ANY SI AND TYPE R'S TO COME... WE DID MARVEL AT HOW MUCH THE NEW CIVIC IS IMPROVED AS AN ALL AROUND FAMILY VEHICLE.

STYLING TAKES A BIG, AND SOME SAY A RADIAL LEAP FORWARD.

LED LIGHTING IS EVERYWHERE.

INSIDE TECHNOLOGY RULES WITH BOTH APPLE CAR PLAY AND ANDROID AUTO CAPABILITIES.

PLUS, IT'S NOW THE LARGEST CABIN IN THE COMPACT SEDAN CLASS.

Ben Davis: AS FAR AS THE INSIDE GOES, PLENTY OF ROOM UP FRONT FOR THE DRIVER.

EVERYTHING I SEE LOOKS GOOD.

MOST OF WHAT I CAN TOUCH FEELS GOOD.

EVEN IN THE BACK SEAT, PLENTY OF ROOM FOR... WELL, LET ME SHOW YOU... SHAZAM... WELL, FIRST OF ALL I'M 5' 10", KIND OF CHUBBY, BUT STILL CUTE, AND I'VE GOT PLENTY OF HEADROOM BACK HERE...

THIS IS A SUNROOF CAR TOO.

PLENTY OF THIGH ROOM, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CUSH.

I'M READY FOR THE LONG HAUL.

WITH THE HONDA SENSING SAFETY SUITE OPTIONAL, THE 2016 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN STARTS AT JUST UNDER $20,000.

HUEY LEWIS SAID IT BEST: "IT'S HIP TO BE SQUARE."

WELL, MAYBE IN THE MID '80s...

BUT THIS IS 2015, AND THE MINIVAN MARKET JUST AIN 'T WHAT IT USED TO BE.

STILL, IF YOU KNOW US, YOU KNOW WE STILL VALUE THEIR UNMATCHED PRACTICALITY WHICH THIS MILDLY OVERHAULED 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA EMBODIES PERFECTLY.

WHILE STYLING IS FAMILIAR, THE SIENNA IS FRESHENED WITH A NEW GRILLE AND TAILLIGHTS.

INSIDE, IT'S A BIG STEP UP, WITH HIGHER QUALITY MATERIALS, SMARTER CONTROL LAYOUT, AND OF COURSE, LOTS OF FRONT SEATING ROOM.

2ND AND 3RD ROW ROOM IS ALSO GOOD, AND IF YOU REMOVE THE SEATS, IT'S CAVERNOUS.

V6 POWER IS STANDARD; 266 HORSEPOWER THROUGH A 6-SPEED AUTO, AND REMAINS THE ONLY MINIVAN OFFERING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

YOU MAY NOT BE TRAVELLING IN STYLE, BUT IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL FOR A WHILE, THE SIENNA IS GREAT PLACE TO DO IT IN.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA STARTS JUST UNDER $30,000.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!

SO FAR, HYUNDAI HAS RESISTED TAKING A PLUNGE INTO THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING POOL OF PINT SIZE SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVERS.

BUT THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE AS THEIR QUART SIZE TUCSON COMPACT UTE DELIVERS A LOT MORE SPACE FOR ABOUT THE SAME PRICE.

WELL, NOW THERE'S A NEW TUCSON, AND THAT MORE FOR LESS APTITUDE JUST GOT EVEN BIGGER.

THE HYUNDAI TUCSON HAS BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN HYUNDAI'S GROWTH, FROM UPSTART ACT TO BROADWAY BOX OFFICE SMASH.

FOR 2016, WE THINK INTRODUCING A LITTLE MORE RAZZLE-DAZZLE TO THE AUDIENCE IS A GOOD PLAY, AND ONE CONSISTENT WITH MOST RECENT HYUNDAI'S.

THE FRONT LOOKS VERY BIG AND BOLD FOR A COMPACT CROSSOVER UTE, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF LINES FLOWING FROM THERE TO THE REAR.

IT VERY MUCH LOOKS LIKE A SCALED DOWN SANTA FE, AND WHEN IN LIMITED TRIM, WITH 19-INCH WHEELS AND LED HEADLIGHTS, IT SHOULD HELP REEL IN THOSE "ELUSIVE BUT HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER" YOUNGER BUYERS.

DIMENSIONS HAVE BEEN STRETCHED OVER LAST YEAR, IT'S BOTH LONGER AND WIDER; AND OF COURSE THAT TRANSLATES TO MORE ROOM IN THE CABIN FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND PARCELS.

BASE ENGINE IS A 2.0 LITER I4 WITH 164 HORSEPOWER AND 151 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

UP LEVEL TRIMS GET A SMALLER, BUT STRONGER, 1.6 LITER I4 WITH TURBO ASSISTANCE THAT SPINS UP 175 HORSEPOWER AND 195 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT ALSO ADDS A 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, WHILE THE 2.0 LITER MAKES DO WITH A TRADITIONAL 6-SPEED AUTO.

BOTH ENGINES CAN BE HAD IN FRONT AND LOCKABLE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE WITH ACTIVE CORNERING CONTROL.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, OUR TURBO EQUIPPED LIMITED FELT SPIRITED, BUT FAR FROM MUSCULAR OFF THE LINE, WITH TRIPS TO 60 TAKING A MUNDANE 8.4 SECONDS.

TORQUE IS PRETTY GOOD DOWN LOW, RUNNING OUT OF STEAM AT THE HIGH END, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY ADEQUATE FOR A COMPACT UTE.

THE QUARTER MILE PASS TOOK 16.5 SECONDS AT 86 MILES PER HOUR.

AS FOR THE DCT TRANSMISSION, IT PROVED ADEQUATE, WITH SOME OCCASIONAL HESITATIONS TO GET GOING FROM A STOP.

WE ALSO GOT A "HIGH TRANSMISSION TEMP" WARNING DURING OUR TRACK DAY.

BRAKING DISTANCES AVERAGED A SHORT 120 FEET FROM 60, BUT WITH A LONG TRAVEL FROM THE SQUISHY PEDAL.

THE CHASSIS FEELS WILLING AND ABLE, WITH A COMPOSED NON-FLOATY FEEL THAT'S MORE FIRM THAN PLUSH.

BUT DURING HARD CORNERS, THE "TRACTION CONTROL MONSTER" AWAKENS EASILY, KEEPING YOU FROM EXPLOITING THAT FEELING TOO MUCH.

TAKING IN THE SCENERY AT A MORE RELAXED PACE, THE RIDE IS SURPRISING ENJOYABLE.

IT'S NOTICEABLY QUIETER AND MORE COMPLIANT THAN BEFORE.

THE LAST TUCSON WAS IN A WORD ROUGH.

SO HYUNDAI'S, INCREASED ATTENTION TO RIDE AND HANDLING IS REALLY PAYING OFF.

AS FOR THE EVER IMPORTANT DRIVE ENVIRONMENT INSIDE, ERGONOMICS ARE GREAT, AS IS SEAT COMFORT.

THE SMOOTH LOOKING IP IS DOMINATED BY EITHER A 5.0 OR 8.0 INCH CENTER TOUCHSCREEN.

HYUNDAI'S INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WORKS WELL, AMONG THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS, AND INCLUDES A STANDARD BACK-UP CAMERA.

DESPITE NUMBERS THAT INDICATE THERE'S A BIT LESS LEGROOM FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS THAN BEFORE, IT FELT PLENTY ROOMY TO US.

AND IT ENABLED CARGO SPACE TO GO WAY UP; NOW 31.0 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE STANDARD SPLIT-FOLDING REAR SEATS, 61.9 CUBIC-FEET WITH THEM FOLDED.

THAT'S 20% MORE THAN THE AVERAGE SUBCOMPACT UTE.

HYUNDAI'S HANDS FREE SMART LIFT GATE IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

DESPITE THE SMALL STATURE, THERE'S FULL SIZE SAFETY HERE; WITH AN AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM THAT WORKED FLAWLESSLY IN OUR BARRIER TEST.

SUDDEN STOPS WERE ABRUPT ENOUGH TO LEAVE SOME SKID MARKS ON THE PAVEMENT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

SO OUR AVERAGE OF 26.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR WAS RIGHT ON.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS ABOUT AVERAGE FOR ALL VEHICLES AT 12.7 BARRELS OF OIL USE AND 5.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS YEARLY.

AND NOW THE FINE PRINT.

BASE TUCSON STICKERS FOR $23,595.

THAT'S A GRAND MORE THAN LAST YEAR.

THE TOP TUCSON LIMITED AWD STARTS AT $32,195.

THOSE HIGHER ADMISSION PRICES DO PUT A CRIMP IN OUR RAVE REVIEW, AS THEY ARE NOW A GOOD DEAL MORE THAN A COMPARABLY EQUIPPED SUBCOMPACT UTE, WHILE STILL LESS THAN THE BEST SELLING COMPACTS.

STILL, THE TUCSON IS FRESHER AND BETTER EQUIPPED.

STAR QUALITIES THAT SHOULD IMPRESS BOTH THE CRITICS AND THE MASSES; KEEPING HYUNDAI'S MARQUEE SHINING BRIGHT.

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 PLUG INTO THE SECOND GENERATION OF THE CHEVROLET VOLT.

THEN CHECK OUT THE VERY SURPRISING VOLVO XC90.

PAT GOSS HELPS US BRACE FOR IMPACT.

ZACH MASKELL TAKES AN OVER THE EDGE LESSON IN WINTER DRIVING.

PLUS MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, AND A LONG TERM ROADTEST UPDATE.

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...

THIS IS PETE.

PETE'S HELPING HIS AUNT MOVE, SO, HE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES.

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

BUT PETE'S THINKING, "IT WOULD'VE BEEN NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE MYNAH BIRD."

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

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

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