2017 Lamborghini Huracan RWD & 2017 Chevrolet Cruze Hatch

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

JOIN US FOR A NEW STORM BREWING IN THE HOUSE OF THE RAGING BULL... PAT GOSS TELLS US WHAT TO SAY AND DO AFTER METAL MEETS METAL... WE'LL GO TWO WHEELIN' ON A MODERN BIKE WITH A RETRO VIBE... AND THE COMPACT CHEVY CRUZE HATCHBACK FINALLY ARRIVES STATESIDE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

Announcer: 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: NO MATTER WHERE YOU RANK LAMBORGHINI AMONG SUPERCAR MARQUES, WE CAN ALL ADMIT THERE'S A CERTAIN MYSTIQUE THAT HAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED THEM.

WHETHER, IT'S THAT UNIQUE SOUND, THEIR FLYING WEDGE SHAPE, OR JUST THEIR UNDENIABLE SEX APPEAL.

AND NONE OF THAT HAS CHANGED WITH THE LATEST HURACAN TO COME OUR WAY, THOUGH THERE'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT IT.

* John: YOU SURE CAN'T TELL BY LOOKING AT IT, BUT THERE IS INDEED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS 2017 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN COUPE.

THERE'S STILL THE SAME FANTASTIC SOUNDING V10 MOUNTED MID-SHIP.

BUT, THE POWER THAT IT PRODUCES IS NOW STRICTLY FUNNELED TO THE REAR WHEELS INSTEAD OF ALL FOUR.

YOU MIGHT THINK ALL-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD BE BETTER FOR HANDLING, BUT IN MANY WAYS THIS REAR-DRIVE SETUP IS BETTER STILL; THANKS TO A LIGHTER FRONT END THAT IS MORE WILLING TO TURN IN, ALONG WITH INHERENT AWD UNDERSTEER THAT'S NOW DRASTICALLY DECREASED.

NOT TO MENTION THAT OVERSTEER IS MUCH EASIER TO COME BY TOO.

REMOVAL OF THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFTS AND OTHER BITS, AND THUS WEIGHT, ALSO FORCE A RECALIBRATION OF THE SUSPENSION.

THE COUPE'S HORSEPOWER RATING IS DOWN A BIT FROM 602 WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, TO 571 IN REAR-WHEEL DRIVE.

BUT, WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE NATURALLY-ASPIRATED V10s 398 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AVAILABLE RIGHT FROM THE GET GO, YOU CERTAINLY WON'T NOTICE.

AFTER, A FEW LAPS AROUND SAVANNAH, GEORGIA'S ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, WE CAN REPORT THAT THIS HURACAN STILL GOES ABOUT ITS BUSINESS WITH EFFORTLESS EFFICIENCY.

IT'S TRULY IMPRESSIVE HOW EASY IT IS TO GET COMFORTABLE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THIS EXOTIC, AND THERE IS STILL IMMENSE GRIP FOR CLINGING THROUGH CORNERS.

WE'VE READ SOME REVIEWERS THAT COMPLAIN ABOUT THE 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION NOT BEING AS GOOD AS SOME OTHER UNITS, BUT WE FOUND NO FAULT WITH IT; AS AT FULL THROTTLE, SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND SUPER FIRM, YET SMOOTH ENOUGH NOT TO UPSET THINGS SHOULD YOU TRIGGER ONE MID-CORNER.

LAMBORGHINI'S ANIMA DRIVE MODES MEANS THERE'S BOTH SPORT AND CORSA FOR TRACK WORK; WE FOUND CORSA TO GIVE A NEAR PERFECT EXPERIENCE.

THIS HURACAN WILL DO CLOSE TO 200 IF YOU HAVE A STRAIGHT LONG ENOUGH, AND WHILE ROEBLING'S ISN'T QUITE THAT LONG, THERE IS ENOUGH STRAIGHT TO NUDGE 170.

HITTING THE BRAKES AT THAT SPEED GOT IMMEDIATE RESULTS WITH PARACHUTE-LIKE DECELERATION, THOUGH THEY DID START TO FADE A BIT TOWARDS THE END OF EACH SESSION.

THIS MID-ENGINE EXOTIC STILL FEELS WELL-BALANCED AND LIGHT ON ITS FEET.

SO IT'S NOT A HUGE DEPARTURE FROM ITS ALL-WHEEL DRIVE COUNTERPART, BUT THE STEERING SURE IS MORE RESPONSIVE.

WHERE THE 610 STEERING SEEMED HEAVY AND A LITTLE HESITANT, HERE IN THE 580, THINGS FEEL SUPER QUICK AND ALMOST IMMEDIATE.

THE FLYING WEDGE SHAPE PRODUCES PLENTY OF DOWNFORCE, MAKING THE WHOLE VEHICLE VERY AERO DEPENDENT; AND CLEARLY, THE HURACAN IS NOT MADE TO BE DRIVEN WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN, AS YOU GET SOME SERIOUS WIND BUFFETING IN THE CABIN WHEN SPEEDS APPROACH TRIPLE DIGITS.

AND THAT'S KIND OF A BUMMER, SINCE THIS THING SOUNDS AMAZING AS ALWAYS, AND WE LIKE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY THERE IS TO HEAR IT SING.

WE NEVER PASS UP OPPORTUNITIES TO DO ACCELERATION RUNS EITHER, AND WITHOUT THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE GRIP, THIS HURACAN IS A LITTLE TRICKIER TO LAUNCH, BUT LAUNCH MODE HELPS YOU MAKE THE BEST OF IT, SPRINTING TO 60 IN 3.2 SECONDS.

NO SHENANIGANS THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER MILE, JUST HEAPS OF POWER POURING ON, BARELY INTERRUPTED BY CRAZY-FAST SHIFTS, AS WE WORKED OUR WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.2 SECONDS AT 130 MILES PER HOUR.

OF COURSE, LAMBORGHINI'S TEND TO LOOK FAST EVEN SITTING STILL, AND THIS HURACAN IS NO DIFFERENT.

OUR TESTER'S "VERDE MANTIS" GREEN COLOR, SOMEHOW SEEMS BEAUTIFUL, YET BLINDING AT THE SAME TIME, BUT ULTIMATELY VERY BEFITTING OF AN ITALIAN SUPERCAR.

THAT SEXY BODY, GORGEOUSLY COVERS THE HURACAN'S HYBRID ALUMINUM AND CARBON FIBER CHASSIS.

THOUGH ITS COCKPIT STILL SEEMS MADE FOR COMPACT ITALIANS MORE THAN FULL-SIZE AMERICANS, IT'S A SPACE WE'LL FOLD OURSELVES INTO ANY TIME.

THE SEATS ARE VERY FIRM AND HUGGING, REALLY GIVING IT A COMPETITION FEEL.

THE AVENTADOR MAY STILL BE THE BIG BULL IN THE LAMBORGHINI STABLE, BUT YOU'LL NOT BE MISSING MUCH IF YOU HAVE TO SETTLE FOR AN HURACAN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS REMIND YOU YOU'RE DEALING WITH A V10; 14-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

DO YOU GET A SIGNIFICANT BREAK IN PRICING THANKS TO ONLY 2-WHEELS POWERING YOU DOWN THE ROAD?

WHY YES, YOU DO, THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE COUPE STARTS AT $204,595, ALMOST 40-GRAND LESS THAN THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VERSION.

SO, THERE'S NO DENYING THAT THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN IS FULLY A MEMBER OF THE SUPERCAR ELITE.

AND AS IS USUALLY THE CASE, LAMBORGHINI WILL KEEP ADDING VARIATIONS ON THE THEME UNTIL EVENTUALLY THERE'S A HURACAN FOR EVERYONE; AT LEAST ONE CAN HOPE.

FOR NOW, THIS 2017 REAR WHEEL DRIVE COUPE IS AT THE TOP OF OUR WISH LIST.

* THE LETTER "R" IS IMPORTANT WHEN IT COMES TO BMW MOTORCYCLES, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL MODEL, THE R32.

THE R NINET, WAS BMW'S WAY OF CARRYING ON THE R NAME, WHILE ALSO ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR 90 YEARS OF PRODUCING WORLD-CLASS MOTORCYCLES.

AND FOR THIS YEAR, BMW ADDS SOMETHING A LITTLE SPECIAL TO THE R NINET LINEUP.

* Brian Robinson: THE R NINET WAS DEVELOPED AS A BIT OF A BLANK CANVAS FOR BUYERS TO CUSTOMIZE AS THEY SAW FIT, BUT NEVER ONE TO PASS UP ON A TREND, BMW WISELY NOTED THAT SCRAMBLER STYLE MOTORCYCLES ARE HAVING A BIT OF A RESURGENCE, SO THEY CUSTOMIZED THIS ONE FOR YOU, IT'S THE R NINET SCRAMBLER.

SO, WHAT GOES INTO MAKING A SCRAMBLER?

WELL, THE HIGH-MOUNTED EXHAUST PIPES, FLAT SEAT, AND KNOBBY TIRES ARE THE EASY INDICATORS.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO, TALLER HANDLEBARS AND RUBBER GAITERS ON THE FORK TO COMPLETE THE LOOK.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER WITH A CLASSIC ALUMINUM AND SADDLE-BROWN THEME THAT IS RETRO IN FLAVOR, BUT VERY MODERN IN EXECUTION.

IT'S VERY MECHANICAL LOOKING, WITH A PRECISE AND FUNCTIONAL APPEARANCE.

AND IF YOU'VE WATCHED ANY OF MY OTHER REVIEWS, YOU'LL KNOW AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, SIMPLER IS BETTER.

[ENGINE STARTS] THUMB THE STARTER, AND IT SURE SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD THUMPER WHEN IT FIRES UP; BUT THERE'S NO DENYING THIS IS ACTUALLY 1,170CCS WORTH OF BOXER TWIN OUTPUTTING AROUND 110 HORSEPOWER, WITH ITS AIR-COOLED HEADS PROUDLY PROTRUDING OUT OF THE FRAME AS ALWAYS.

THAT WEALTH OF POWER TRICKLES TO THE REAR WHEEL THROUGH A 6-SPEED GEARBOX AND SINGLE-SIDED PARALEVER SWING-ARM SHAFT DRIVE.

AS HIGH-TECH AS THINGS CAN GET OVER AT BMW, THE R NINET SCRAMBLER IS REFRESHINGLY LOW-TECH.

THERE'S JUST A BASIC SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WITH MINIMAL INFORMATION; AND A SINGLE HEADLIGHT OUT FRONT WITH NO FAIRING OR WIND PROTECTION.

NO ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION HERE EITHER, JUST GOOD BASIC MECHANICAL STUFF; THOUGH THERE IS STANDARD ABS.

AND OF COURSE, THIS BEING BMW, YOU CAN ADD HEATED GRIPS AND GPS AS WELL, IF YOU MUST.

NOW, I WOULDN'T GO SO FAR AS TO CALL IT A FORM OVER FUNCTION PIECE, AS THE RIDE IS QUITE FUN, BUT THERE'S AN AWKWARD FEEL TO IT THAT COMES FROM THE OPTIONAL METZLER DUAL-SPORT TIRES, AS WELL AS A DISTINCT HUMMING NOISE THAT MAKES IT SOUND LIKE YOU'RE ROLLIN' ON SUPER SWAMPER 35s.

IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE AS WELL, NOT A BIKE THAT MAKES YOU WANT TO PUT YOUR KNEE DOWN AT EVERY APEX, RATHER JUST RELAX AND ENJOY THE RIDE.

A LENGTHENED WHEELBASE AND NARROW FORKS NECESSITATED SOME OBVIOUS FIXES LIKE A STANDARD STEERING DAMPER TO HELP KEEP THINGS STABLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS.

SUSPENSION TRAVEL HAS INCREASED, BUT WE'RE STILL TALKING LESS THAN 6-INCHES FRONT AND REAR.

SO, A DIRT TRAIL OR FIRE ROAD, SURE.

BUT I WOULDN'T WANDER TOO FAR OFF INTO THE ROUGH STUFF.

NOW GET THIS, THE R NINET SCRAMBLER IS ACTUALLY TWO GRAND LOWER IN PRICE THAN THE STOCK R NINET ROADSTER THAT IT'S BASED ON, STARTING AT $13,000.

AND IF YOUR EXPERIENCE IS LIKE MINE, MOST PEOPLE THAT CHAT YOU UP AT THE GAS STATION WILL BE SURPRISED THIS BMW STICKERS THAT LOW.

AND THIS 2017 BMW R NINET SCRAMBLER IS JUST THE BEGINNING REALLY, AS BMW HAS A WHOLE LOT MORE R NINET VARIANTS IN THE PIPELINE.

PLUS, YOU CAN ALWAYS PICK UP THE ORIGINAL ROADSTER AND CUSTOMIZE IT YOURSELF.

EITHER WAY, YOU'LL GET SOME RETRO-INSPIRED BACK TO BASICS MOTORCYCLE FUN FROM A BRAND KNOWN MORE FOR LOOKING FORWARD THAN TO THE PAST FOR INSPIRATION.

John: WHEN IT COMES TO CARS, COMMON SENSE AND GOOD ADVICE WILL TAKE YOU A LONG WAY.

AND WE FOUND BOTH, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: THAT FENDER BENDER THAT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S ANY DAMAGE, WELL THAT MAY NOT ACTUALLY BE THE CASE.

SEE, MODERN CARS, WELL THEY MAY HAVE ALL KINDS OF SENSORS AND DIFFERENT THINGS BUILT INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR.

AND EVEN IN THE BACK FOR THAT MATTER.

THINGS LIKE RADAR FOR CRUISE CONTROL, AND PARKING SENSORS, HEADLIGHT WASHERS, EVEN THE LIGHTS THEMSELVES MAY BE LED.

THEY MAY BE VERY, VERY EXPENSIVE.

SO, WHAT LOOKS LIKE NO DAMAGE, MAY BE SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE.

AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANY OF THESE EXOTIC OPTIONS ON YOUR CAR THERE ARE BRACKETS, AND ALL KINDS OF PLASTIC BITS IN BEHIND ALL OF THIS THAT GET BENT OR BROKEN, AND YOU CAN'T SEE THEM.

SO, EVEN THOUGH THERE DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THERE'S DAMAGE.

MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THE RULES.

NOW, THE FIRST THING IN AN ACCIDENT IS TO STOP, MAKE SURE THERE'S NO INJURIES, AND THEN, PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.

NOW, I MADE MYSELF A CHECK LIST, SO THAT IF I'M INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, I JUST FOLLOW THE CHECKLIST.

THINGS LIKE MAKING SURE THAT YOU NEVER ADMIT ANY KIND OF RESPONSIBILITY.

DON'T SAY, "I'M SORRY" OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THAT LATER COULD BE CONSTRUED TO MEAN THAT YOU HAVE ADMITTED THAT YOU CAUSED THE ACCIDENT WHEN IN REALITY YOU MAY NOT HAVE.

ALRIGHT NOW, OTHER THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO BE AWARE OF.

OF COURSE, YOU WANT TO CALL THE POLICE.

THE POLICE WILL PUT THAT ON RECORD, BECAUSE YOU WANT A RECORD OF WHAT GOES ON.

AND THEN, GET YOUR CELL PHONE OUT OR SOME KIND OF A CAMERA AND TAKE PICTURES OF EVERYTHING.

THE POSITION OF THE CARS.

THE DAMAGE THAT IS EVIDENT ON EITHER CAR, SKID MARKS.

ANYTHING AT ALL, AND MAKE NOTE OF THE TIME OF DAY, AND WHAT THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE, AND ANY SIGNS OR ANYTHING THAT MAY BE POSTED, OR OBSCURED BY FOLIAGE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THIS WILL HELP IF YOU WIND UP IN COURT.

AND REMEMBER THAT ACCIDENTS, THAT DON'T SEEM LIKE ANYTHING AT ALL CAN BE BLOWN UP INTO SOMETHING THAT IS REALLY MAJOR.

ALRIGHT, AND IF YOU WANT THE BEST PROTECTION, WELL, HERE'S SOMETHING...

THIS IS FROM SWANN, THIS IS A DASH CAM.

DASH CAMS WILL RECORD ALL OF THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS RUNNING WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING.

SO, ONE THING ABOUT DASH CAMS, THOUGH.

DO NOT SHUT THEM DOWN RIGHT AFTER AN ACCIDENT.

BECAUSE THAT MAY LOOK LIKE YOU SHUT IT DOWN TO EDIT, OR DO SOMETHING SCREWY WITH THE VIDEO.

SO LET IT RUN CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL EVERYTHING IS OVER AND DONE WITH.

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

John: SUBARU SALES HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE FOR A LONG TIME NOW, AND THE MORE MILES WE SPEND WITH OUR 2017 CROSSTREK LONG-TERM, THE MORE WE CAN SEE WHY.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING FLASHY ABOUT THIS JACKED-UP IMPREZA HATCHBACK, NOTHING THAT MAKES YOU GO, "WOW," BUT IT DOES EVERYTHING YOU ASK OF IT VERY WELL.

IT'S COMFORTABLE, WELL-EQUIPPED, SOLID-FEELING, AND GETS YOU THROUGH JUST ABOUT ANY ROAD CONDITION OR TYPE.

ITS 2.0 LITER BOXER-4 ENGINE MAY NOT PRODUCE BIG POWER NUMBERS, BUT IT HAS A VERY RESPONSIVE THROTTLE, AND 29.8 MILES PER GALLON IS A NUMBER WE CAN MORE THAN LIVE WITH IN A SMALL CROSSOVER.

JUST TWO MONTHS AND 4,500 MILES IN; SO FAR, SO GOOD, WITH THE SUBARU CROSSTREK.

AS FOR OUR 2016 KIA OPTIMA MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN, WELL, WE REALLY DO LOVE DRIVING IT, AND LOOKING AROUND THE INTERIOR ANY CHANCE WE GET.

BUT THERE CONTINUES TO BE LITTLE THINGS THAT KEEP US FROM LOVING IT AS MUCH AS WE COULD.

THE LATEST IS THE LOCKING UP OF THE UVO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

IT'S INTERMITTENT AND THUS, HARD TO DIAGNOSE.

STILL, IT IS POPULAR FOR COMFORTABLE COMMUTES AND COUPLE'S WEEKENDS.

WE'VE ADDED 1,500 MILES TO OUR TALLY THIS SEGMENT, WHICH STANDS AT 16,000 MILES AFTER ONLY 7-MONTHS.

MILEAGE FROM THE 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 TOOK A SLIGHT HIT FROM SO MANY SHORT TRIPS, BUT STILL STANDS AT A GOOD FOR ITS SIZE 28.4 MILES PER GALLON.

WE ALSO WELCOME ANOTHER TURBO-POWERED MIDDLE WEIGHT SEDAN TO OUR FLEET, THE TENNESSEE-BUILT VOLKSWAGEN'S PASSAT.

SO, STAY TUNED AS WE SPEND A FEW MONTHS WITH THIS EURO-ESQUE FAMILY 4-DOOR.

BUT FIRST WE'LL CHECK IN WITH OUR BIGGEST PEOPLE MOVERS, THE CHRYSLER PACIFICA AND MAZDA CX-9, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THERE'S A LOT OF HYPE IN MOST HEADLINES.

SO, LET'S CHECK OUT THE FACTS WITH YOLANDA VASQUEZ IN THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda Vasquez: THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS FEELING THE POLITICAL SHIFT IN WASHINGTON, AS FUTURE FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS ARE GETTING A SECOND LOOK.

IN JANUARY, THE OUTGOING OBAMA ADMINISTRATION CONFIRMED THAT THE CAFÉ STANDARDS, WHICH IS THE FLEETWIDE CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY REQUIREMENT, WILL REMAIN AT 54.5 MILE PER GALLON FOR NEW VEHICLES IN THE 2025 MODEL YEAR.

THE ALLIANCE OF AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS OBJECTED, SAYING, "THE EPA RUSHED THE PROCESS BY NOT GIVING ENOUGH TIME FOR A PROMISED MID-TERM RE-EVALUATION."

THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS NOW RE-OPENED THAT PROCESS AND WILL ALLOW TILL APRIL 2018, A REVIEW OF 2022-2025 CAFÉ STANDARDS.

HOWEVER, THE STANDARDS THROUGH THE 2021 MODEL YEAR REMAIN INTACT.

AND CALIFORNIA, ALONG WITH 13 STATES THAT FOLLOW THEIR LEAD, IS STICKING TO THE FIRST EPA ORDER.

SO WHILE, CARMAKERS MAY GET A BREAK, THEY NOW WILL HAVE TO MARKET A FLEET FOR TWO DIFFERENT SETS OF BUYERS.

MEANWHILE, FOUR WEST COAST CITIES ARE JOINING FORCES TO REDUCE TAILPIPE EMISSIONS EVEN FURTHER.

THE MAYORS OF LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, AND SEATTLE WANT TO BUY OR LEASE 24,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR CITY FLEETS.

BESIDES REDUCING POLLUTION, THEIR WANT TO ALSO CUT DEPENDENCY ON OFTEN IMPORTED FOSSIL FUELS.

THE HOPE IS THAT BY WORKING TOGETHER IT WILL ALSO REDUCE THE COST FOR A WIDER VARIETY OF EVs.

ACCORDING TO J.D.POWER, THE QUALITY OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE TO KEEP THE CAR YOU ALREADY OWN IN GOOD SHAPE IS IMPROVING.

THEIR 2017 U.S.

CUSTOMER SERVICE INDEX STUDY FINDS THAT THE QUALITY OF DEALERSHIP CAR CARE CONTINUES TO IMPROVE.

LEXUS RANKED HIGHEST AMONG LUXURY BRANDS.

WHILE, BUICK SCORED THE BEST AMONG MASS-MARKET NAMEPLATES.

BUT THE BIGGEST DRIVER IN THIS IMPROVEMENT IS NOT THE ACTUAL REPAIRS, BUT RATHER THE SERVICE ADVISORS, WITH FREQUENT PROGRESS REPORT TEXTS AND TWEETS DELIVERING A REAL SWEET SPOT.

AND THAT'S THE LATEST AUTOMOTIVE HEADLINES, FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: HERE AT MOTORWEEK , WE DON'T NEED SOME SMUG ADVERTISEMENT TO TELL US THE BENEFITS OF A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

AND MOST AMERICANS DON'T EITHER, AS THEY'VE BEEN SNATCHING THEM UP IN RECORD NUMBERS FOR YEARS, ONLY THOSE HATCHBACKS HAVE BEEN CLEVERLY DISGUISED AS SUVs AND CROSSOVERS.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHEVROLET GIVES UP THE CHARADE AND ATTEMPTS TO SELL AN HONEST TO GOODNESS HATCHBACK?

WELL, LET'S TAKE A "CRUZE" AND FIND OUT.

* THE DAYS OF CHEVROLET SELLING 450,000 CAVALIER SEDANS EVERY YEAR HERE IN THE U.S. ARE LONG GONE.

AND DESPITE THEIR LATEST COMPACT, THE CRUZE, BEING WAY BETTER THAN ANY SMALL CAR FAN EVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE, IT STILL LAGS WELL BEHIND LEADERS CIVIC AND COROLLA.

CHEVROLET HOPES THAT BROADENING THE PORTFOLIO WILL HELP, THUS, A BRAND NEW 2017 CHEVROLET CRUZE HATCH ARRIVES ON THE SCENE.

RIDING ON THE NEW PLATFORM THAT DEBUTED WITH THE SEDAN LAST YEAR; THE FRONT-DRIVE CRUZE HATCH SHARES THE 106.3 INCH WHEELBASE, YET LOSES OVER 8.0 INCHES OF OVERALL LENGTH, MAKING IT A MUCH TIDIER AND STYLISH PACKAGE.

IT ALSO, MAKES OUR MEXICAN ASSEMBLED CRUZE MORE APPEALING TO ITS PRIMARILY OVERSEAS MARKETS.

THINGS LOOK THE SAME AS HERE UP FRONT, BUT VASTLY DIFFERENT OUT BACK.

THE AVAILABLE RS PACKAGE UPS THE SPORT-FACTOR WITH AERO ADD-ONS, FOG LAMPS, AND 18-INCH WHEELS.

OF COURSE, INSIDE IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE TRUE BENEFIT, AS CARGO CAPACITY CLIMBS FROM THE SEDAN'S 13.9 CUBIC-FOOT OF TRUNK SPACE, TO 24.7 BEHIND THE HATCH; THAT'S MORE THAN THE TRAX CROSSOVER.

47.2 IS THE MAX, WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

THAT'S WHY SMALL HATCHBACKS ARE SO POPULAR IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.

MOST EVERYTHING IN THE FRONT OF THE CABIN IS THE SAME AS THE SEDAN.

WHICH MEANS BETTER MATERIAL QUALITY THAN SOME LUXURY BRANDS; AS WELL AS ARTFUL DASH AND DOOR SCULPTING.

IT'S PROOF THAT YOU DON'T NEED TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO MAKE A GOOD LOOKING MOBILE SPACE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TECH AS WELL, NICELY INTEGRATED WITHOUT ELIMINATING BASIC MANUAL CONTROLS.

BETWEEN ALL OF THE LOGICALLY PLACED SWITCHGEAR, MYLINK TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE, STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS, AND VOICE COMMAND; OPTIONS FOR GETTING YOUR CRUZE TO DO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO, BORDER ON OVERKILL.

THE I.P.

IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER IS VERY ATTRACTIVE, WITH GAUGES THAT ARE BOTH CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE.

SEATS ARE IMPRESSIVELY COMFORTABLE FOR A COMPACT, DESPITE AN OVERALL SPORTY FEEL IN THE COCKPIT.

NOT MUCH PARTYING GOING ON IN THE BACK SEAT, AS BOTH LEG AND HEADROOM ARE AT A PREMIUM; AND THE SEATS ARE RELATIVELY HARD.

THAT ASIDE, THE CRUZE OFFERS ONE OF THE BEST SMALL CAR INTERIORS OUT THERE.

AS FOR DRIVING, RIDE QUALITY IS ALSO VERY GOOD, AND THE CRUZE IS EASILY ONE OF THE QUIETEST RIDES IN ITS CLASS; UNLESS YOU FIND SOME REALLY ROUGH PAVEMENT.

HOWEVER, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH OF THE PERFORMANCE BENT THAT YOU'D FIND IN A VOLKSWAGEN GOLF OR MAZDA3.

IT FELT MOSTLY NUMB THROUGH OUR HANDLING COURSE, STEERING THAT WAS QUICK AND VERY LIGHT, BUT GRIP WAS ACTUALLY FAIRLY DECENT THROUGHOUT, AND BODY ROLL KEPT WELL IN CHECK.

AS FOR ACCELERATION; WELL, THE CRUZE HATCH IS SADDLED WITH SAME 1.4 LITER TURBO FOUND IN THE TRAX CROSSOVER.

SO, THINGS ARE LESS THAN SPIRITED, EVEN GUTLESS OFF THE LINE.

BUT AT LEAST WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT TORQUE STEER OR WHEEL SPIN ON OUR WAY TO 60 IN 8.0 SECONDS FLAT.

OF COURSE, NOT MUCH IS TO BE EXPECTED, WORKING WITH ONLY 153 HORSEPOWER AND 177 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL MAY HAVE HELPED IT AT LEAST FEEL A LITTLE QUICKER, BUT OUR CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH THE OPTIONAL 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IT RAN THROUGH THE GEARS VERY SMOOTHLY AS WE WORKED OUR WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.2 SECONDS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

NOTHING AT ALL TO COMPLAIN ABOUT FROM OUR BRAKING TEST.

WE AVERAGED STOPS OF JUST 102 FEET FROM 60.

THE PEDAL HAD A NICE FIRM FEEL, AND THERE WAS MINIMAL FADING.

A PAIR OF DRIVER CONFIDENCE PACKAGES ADD SAFETY SYSTEMS LIKE SIDE BLIND ZONE ALERT, LANE KEEP ASSIST, AND FORWARD COLLISION ALERT; BUT NOT EMERGENCY BRAKING.

THE AUTOMATIC ACHIEVES GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 29-CITY, 38-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED; THOUGH WE AVERAGED JUST 31.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR IN MIXED DRIVING.

STILL, THAT MAKES FOR A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 10.3 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH C02 EMISSIONS OF 4.6 TONS.

THE CRUZE HATCH IS AVAILABLE IN MID-LEVEL LT AND UP-LEVEL PREMIER TRIMS ONLY, STARTING AT $22,115.

THAT PUTS IT ABOUT A GRAND OVER ITS LT SEDAN COUNTERPART.

PREMIER STARTS AT $24,820, AND ADDING JUST ABOUT EVERY PACKAGE AVAILABLE PUSHES IT CLOSE TO $30,000.

LIKE A FEW OTHER MANUFACTURERS RECENTLY, CHEVROLET THINKS THAT AMERICANS ARE FINALLY READY TO EMBRACE HATCHBACKS, EVEN IF THEY DON'T COME WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THIS 2017 CRUZE HATCH MAKES A GOOD CASE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF PRACTICALITY TO BE HAD HERE, AS WELL AS UNIQUE STYLE.

SO NOW, THAT CHEVROLET HAS "HATCHED" A NEW CRUZE, WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT; TO SEE WHAT IT GROWS INTO FROM HERE.

WELL THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY NEWS UPDATES, PODSCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, HEAD ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE SLIP INTO REVIVAL LUXURY WITH THE NEW LINCOLN CONTINENTAL.

AND THEN, IT'S A STYLISH NEW MEMBER OF THE CUTE-UTE CROWD, THE INFINITI QX30.

PAT GOSS HAS TIMELY ADVICE ABOUT YOUR TREADS.

PLUS, A NEW AFTERLIFE FOR OLD E-V BATTERIES.

THEN, WE'LL GRAB THE KEY FOBS FOR A PAIR OF QUICK SPINS.

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... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST.

Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

Man: OOPS!

Announcer: 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

*