MotorWeek

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

JOIN US AS BENTLEY DELIVERS A MORE POTENT AND POSH CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS... PAT GOSS WITH HELP SPOTTING A DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE AND OFF THE GRID ON A GROOVY JOURNEY... AND WE PUT MID-SIZE SUV'S HEAD-TO-HEAD TO SEE WHO'S ON TOP...

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

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

Man: OOOPS.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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 .

AUTOTEMPEST.COM WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: BENTLEY AFICIONADOS KNOW THAT SUPERSPORTS MODELS ARE THE BEST OF THE BEST, WITH CRANKED UP PERFORMANCE, DATING ALL THE WAY BACK TO THEIR 1920s MOTORSPORTS HEYDAYS.

WELL, BENTLEY DELIVERS YET AGAIN.

THIS CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS IS THE FASTEST BENTLEY EVER.

SO IT'S TIME TO GET SOME POSH PERFORMANCE ON!

[ENGINE REVS] * IT'S A GIVEN THAT WHEN MOST BENTLEY OWNERS HOP BEHIND THE WHEEL, IT'S OFF TO THEIR COUNTRY ESTATE, OR PERHAPS TO THE OFFICE OF WHATEVER FORTUNE 500 COMPANY THEY WORK FOR.

FORTUNATELY, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY THIS 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS TO TRY IT OUT.

RATHER, BENTLEY WAS KIND ENOUGH TO "DROP IT OFF" FOR A FEW DAYS SO WE COULD, YOU KNOW, KICK THE TIRES.

AND, WE DID JUST THAT, AROUND THE TWO MILES AND NINE TURNS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

AND, WHY NOT?

WITH A TOP SPEED OF 209 MILES PER HOUR, IT'S THE FASTEST 4-SEAT LUXURY CAR YOU CAN BUY.

BUT, THAT'S ONLY PART OF WHY THE SUPERSPORTS IS SO...WELL...SUPER!

IT ALL STARTS WITH THE SECOND GENERATION OF VOLKSWAGEN'S D1 CHASSIS, AROUND SINCE 2012.

THEN, THE FRONT END ADDS A NEW BUMPER WITH CARBON-FIBER SPLITTER, WHILE THE BODY WORK IN THE REAR GETS MASSAGED WITH A NEW DIFFUSER.

SIDE SILL EXTENSIONS, AS WELL AS HOOD VENTS, ARE CARBON FIBER, AND FINALLY, THE REAR SPOILER HAS BEEN AERODYNAMICALLY OPTIMIZED.

THE LAST CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS WE TESTED BACK IN 2011 BOASTED A MEASLY 621 HORSEPOWER.

THAT WON'T DO THESE DAYS, SO BENTLEY CONTINUES TO CRANK UP THE AGING 6.0-LITER TWIN-TURBO W12 ENGINE, WHICH NOW PUSHES OUT 700 HORSEPOWER AND 750 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YES, THAT'S AN INSANE AMOUNT OF POWER FOR ANY CAR, BUT IT'S DELIVERED SO SMOOTHLY, THAT SURELY SOME TYPE OF ALIEN TECHNOLOGY IS ALSO INVOLVED.

TRANSMISSION?

THE SAME ZF 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, WITH A NICE MECHANICAL FEELING SHIFTER, NO FLIMSY E-SHIFTER HERE, PLUS...LARGE PADDLES MOUNTED ON THE STEERING COLUMN.

AIMING THIS MUCH OPULENCE AROUND A ROAD COURSE, STILL DOES NOT FEEL NATURAL.

BUT HUGE STANDARD 16-INCH FRONT CARBON-CERAMIC BRAKE ROTORS HELP YOU TO GET WOAHED DOWN ENOUGH TO MAKE CORNERS, AND AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE GT3-R'S TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HELPS YOU POWER OUT OF THEM.

SIMILAR TO A WELL-SEASONED VETERAN ON THE SPORT'S FIELD; IT MAY NOT BE AS NIMBLE AS SOME OF ITS COMPETITION, BUT IT KNOWS WHAT IT HAS AND HOW TO USE IT FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT.

AND LIKE GUIDING A BATTLESHIP THROUGH A MINEFIELD, YOU HAVE TO PLAN AHEAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, KEEP INPUTS SMOOTH, AND KEEP YOUR WITS, AND ABILITIES, ABOUT YOU TO EMERGE ON THE OTHER SIDE UNSCATHED.

FIND A SWEEPING BACK ROAD THAT LEADS TO A COUNTRY CLUB, OR AN OCEAN SIDE RESORT, AND BOTH YOU, AND THE CAR WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER TIME.

WHILE, IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, YOU'LL BE MOSTLY SHELTERED FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD, SAVE FOR MODERATE AMOUNTS OF ENGINE NOISE AND EXHAUST NOTES FROM A NEW TITANIUM EXHAUST, BUT ONLY WHEN YOU WANT THEM.

IF YOU CRAVE EVEN MORE EXPOSURE, A CONVERTIBLE VERSION IS AVAILABLE AS WELL.

THE SUPERSPORTS RACY LOOKING INTERIOR COMES COURTESY OF A NEW TRI-COLOR THEME, DIAMOND STITCHING THROUGHOUT, AND OF COURSE, SEEMINGLY LIMITLESS CHOICES WHEN IT COMES TO VENEERS.

SHOULD YOU FIND YOURSELF IN THE NEED TO GET OUT OF TOWN IN A HURRY, LAUNCHING THIS ROCKET FROM A STANDSTILL IS TRULY A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE.

HIT THE GAS, AND THERE'S A SLIGHT HESITATION AS YOU FEEL ALL OF THE BRUTE'S WEIGHT TRANSFER TO THE REAR; UPON WHICH TIME IT SQUATS AND SHOOTS YOU OFF THE LINE AT FULL POWER.

SIXTY MILES PER HOUR COMES IN JUST 3.2 SECONDS.

THE SUPERSPORTS NEVER STOPS PILING ON THE POWER UNTIL YOU TELL IT TO, AND IT FEELS LIKE IT'S JUST GETTING GOING WHEN THE QUARTER MILE ENDS IN 11.5 SECONDS AT 122 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE FITTING FOR A 700 HORSEPOWER CAR, AT 11-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 14-COMBINED.

NEITHER, POSHNESS NOR PERFORMANCE COME CHEAP.

SO YOU CAN IMAGINE COMBINING THE TWO MAKES FOR A HEFTY PRICE TAG; $299,025 TO BE EXACT.

ONLY ABOUT 250 OR SO OF THE 710 THAT WILL BE MADE, ARE AVAILABLE TO US HERE IN THE COLONIES.

SO, I WOULDN'T DAWDLE, IF I WERE YOU.

A 700 HORSEPOWER LEATHER-CLAD, LUXURY MISSILE WOULD CERTAINLY NOT QUALIFY AS A NECESSITY BY ANYONE'S DEFINITION.

THAT JUST MAKES US WANT A 2018 BENTLEY CONTINENTAL SUPERSPORTS EVEN MORE.

THERE MAY BE AN ALL-NEW CONTINENTAL NOT TOO FAR IN THE HORIZON, BUT THIS BEAST IS AGING BEAUTIFULLY.

* RECENTLY, OUR ZACK MASKELL LITERALLY...STUMBLED ACROSS A FAMILY TRAVELING THE COUNTRY IN A VERY ARTISTIC MOBILE HOME.

CALL IT A TINY HOUSE, AN RV, OR A BUS, THAT'S ON TOP OF A BUS, IT TRULY IS A HORSE... MAKE THAT A HOUSE, OF A DIFFERENT COLOR.

SO LET'S GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH, AND ENJOY THE SIMPLE LIFE, LIVING AS A HIGHWAY NOMAD.

* Zach Maskell: IF A CHEVROLET AND A VOLKSWAGEN HAD A BABY, WOULD IT GROW UP TO LOOK LIKE THIS?

IT'S A 1953 CHEVY SCHOOL BUS, WITH A 1969 VW BUS ON TOP OF IT, WHICH ALLOWS FOR MORE HEAD ROOM, AND A BED.

"CREATIVE TALENT IS ONLY ACHIEVED WHEN PASSION IS COUPLED WITH HARD WORK" THAT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS ONCE TOLD ME, I HAPPEN TO BE WEARING HIS SHIRT RIGHT NOW, KEEGAN SWEENY.

I THINK, HE WOULD DEFINITELY AGREE THAT THIS FAMILY IS LIVING UP TO THAT MOTTO.

Jeannette Applauso: THE KIDS GO "MOMMY, MOMMY, LOOK, AND LOOK... LOOK AT THIS BIG BUS, LET'S GO TALK TO THESE PEOPLE."

Leroy Herr: IT'S HERE FOR YOU TO JUST SMILE AT AND ENJOY.

IT'S ACTUALLY HERE FOR YOU.

Zach Maskell: DUBBED THE "DRAGONFLY BUS" BY A TRUCKER IN NEBRASKA.

HE SAYS, "IT DRAGS UP HILLS, BUT FLIES DOWN THEM."

ARTIST, HEATHER PLATON AND HUSBAND, LEROY HERR, WHO'S A MECHANIC BY TRADE, TRAVEL WITH THEIR TWO KIDS AND DOG, MOONSHINE.

THEY USE IT TO SPREAD RESPECT, FREEDOM, AND OF COURSE, LOVE.

Heather Platen: WE LIVE FULL TIME IN THE BUS.

IT'S A TINY HOME AND MOBILE POP UP ART GALLERY.

WE INVITE PEOPLE INSIDE TO CHECK OUT THE BUS WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT SUSTAINABLE LIVING WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ON THE ROAD, HOW IT IS TO LIVE IN A TINY HOUSE.

WE TRY TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER... LIGHTEN THE MOOD AND THE COUNTRY MAKE PEOPLE SMILE.

Zach: STAYING OFF THE GRID FOR SIX YEARS, BUILDING AND LIVING IN THIS BUS THE LAST TWO, THEY STAY AT NATIONAL PARKS SOMETIMES TWO WEEKS AT A TIME.

Leroy Herr / Heather Platen: FORTY HOURS A WEEK MAKING SOMEBODY ELSE'S MONEY DOESN'T REALLY MAKE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.

Zach: THE COUPLE STRESSES TO STUDENTS IN ART CLASSES ACROSS THE U.S. THAT A 30 YEAR HOME MORTGAGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.

FOR THEM, SPENDING MORE TIME WITH THEIR KIDS AND BEING FORCED TO GO OUTSIDE IS FAR MORE REWARDING.

Leroy: A HUNDRED DOLLARS TO ME, IN THE POSITION THAT I'VE PUT MYSELF IN, IS A LOT.

Zach: THEY DON'T JUST BUY SOMETHING NEW WHEN IT BREAKS.

IF IT CAN BE FIXED, THEY FIX IT.

Leroy: SO THIS IS A 40 GALLON WATER CISTERN.

AND THEN, I USE THIS PUMP HERE TO PUMP THE TANK, TO PUMP PRESSURE UP IN THE TANK TO GET ME WATER.

Zach: USING SOLAR PANELS TO POWER THE REFRIGERATOR AND LIGHTS, ALONG WITH RESOURCES FROM THE WOODS...

THEY REMAIN MOSTLY SELF-SUFFICIENT.

Leroy: THIS IS WHERE I PUT MY WOOD IN HERE.

THE WOOD FIRE COOK STOVE, IS AWESOME.

Zach: SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL THAT A VEHICLE THIS UNIQUE VENTURED TO OUR LOCAL CARS AND COFFEE IN MARYLAND, TO SEE AND FEEL THE VIBES THIS BUS SPREADS AT HUNT VALLEY HORSEPOWER.

Eric Lee: I THINK, IT'S VERY COOL.

IT REMINDS ME OF WOODSTOCK.

Tara Whitlow: JUST YOU LOOKING AT THIS AND YOU ASKING YOURSELF LIKE, WHAT'S IN THERE, YOU BEING CURIOUS YOURSELF, YOU'RE KIND OF OPENING YOUR MINDSET TOWARDS ART.

Zach: ACTIVATING THE HIGHER CONSCIOUSNESS.

YOUR IMAGINATION AND EMOTIONS, EVERYTHING IS TIED TOGETHER.

SO, ART COULD BE THE ACCELERANT.

TO GET THE WHEELS TURNING UPSTAIRS...

THEY ALLOW ANYONE, TO DRAW ANYTHING, ANYWHERE ON THE BUS.

WHY?

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T CONFINE CREATIVITY.

Heather: JANIS JOPLIN, SOMEBODY IN ALEXANDRIA, HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID, "PLEASE PUT JANIS JOPLIN ON YOUR BUS."

AND SO, I STARTED ON HER RIGHT AWAY.

AND THEN, BRUCE LEE, ANOTHER SUGGESTION.

I COULD NOT GO TO ONE TOWN WITHOUT PEOPLE DEMANDING, ANGRILY, THAT I PUT JERRY ON THE BUS.

Heather: THIS IS THE FIRST PIECE THAT EVER WENT ON THE BUS.

AND THIS WAS DONE BY SOMEBODY ELSE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS.

Zach: SHOULD YOU MEET THE DRAGONFLY BUS, GET MORE ARTISTIC THAN ME, AND WHO KNOWS, HOW MANY STATES OR PEOPLE IT WILL SPREAD TO, AND POSITIVELY IMPACT.

John: WHILE, PAT GOSS ISN'T A JEWELER BY TRADE, THIS WEEK HE SHOWS US HOW TO FIND THAT DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH, DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: SO, YOU'VE DECIDED YOU WANT TO BUY A COLLECTABLE OR CLASSIC CAR AND YOU WANT TO CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF.

NUMBER ONE, I WOULD RECOMMEND AGAINST THAT.

I'D RECOMMEND YOU HAVE A PROFESSIONAL DO IT, BUT IF YOU INSIST, HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR.

FIRST, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND THE INTERIOR, AND THAT'S JUST SELF-EXPLANATORY.

BUT YOU WANT TO GO UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ARE TO SEE WHAT IS ORIGINAL AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPLACED.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE AS MANY ORIGINAL PARTS AS POSSIBLE.

AND YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE WHENEVER POSSIBLE THAT IT HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE BECAUSE THAT WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TRANSMISSION IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE VEHICLE AND SO ON.

ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE A BIG EFFECT ON THE VALUE OF THE CAR.

BUT, HERE'S THE THING THAT A LOT OF YOU MISS, AND THAT IS THAT YOU DON'T PUT THE CAR UP IN THE AIR.

NOW, YOU'RE CERTAINLY GOING TO LOOK FOR THINGS LIKE, WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE A GIANT PUDDLE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.

WELL, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT THAT TO SEE IS IT'S SOMETHING MAJOR.

WELL IN THIS CASE, IT HAPPENS TO BE A BAD TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN GASKET.

SO IT'S ABOUT AN HOUR'S REPAIR, NOT A BIG DEAL.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE FRAME AND ALL OF THE COMPONENTS LIKE THAT TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY STRUCTURAL RUST.

SURFACE RUST IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT STRUCTURAL RUST, THAT CAN COST A FORTUNE TO FIX.

THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE CAR UP IN THE AIR.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE SOME KIND OF A LIGHT AND YOU'RE GOING TO ILLUMINATE THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO ALONG LIKE THIS.

AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS, YOU'RE GOING TO SIGHT THE SIDE OF THE CAR, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK DOWN IT AS YOU BRING THE LIGHT TOWARDS YOU AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF BODY WORK.

AND THE OTHER REASON THAT YOU WANT THIS UP IN THE AIR IS THAT BODY WORK AND PAINTING IS DONE WITH THE CAR ON THE GROUND, SO THE PERSPECTIVE IS LOOKING DOWN AT IT.

NOW, YOU CHANGE THE PERSPECTIVE, AND YOU LOOK UP AT IT, AND YOU CAN SEE MOST OF THE MISTAKES.

YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE ROCKER PANELS AND SO ON.

YOU CAN ALSO USUALLY TELL DOWN HERE IF THERE'S BEEN BODY WORK BECAUSE THE FINISH DOWN THERE IS NOT AS GOOD.

LOOK AT THE BOTTOMS OF DOORS THAT WILL TELL YOU ABOUT BODY WORK ON THE DOORS, AND ALWAYS LOOK FOR RUST IN ALL OF THESE AREAS.

DO IT RIGHT, SPEND SOME TIME DOING IT AND MAYBE YOU'LL WIND UP WITH A GREAT CAR.

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

* John: BETTER FUEL ECONOMY IS ALWAYS A WORTHY PROPOSITION; THUS...THE EMERGENCE OF MORE AND MORE STANDARD HYBRID-ELECTRIC VEHICLES, INCLUDING, OUR LONG-TERM KIA NIRO.

STILL, TRUE TO ITS TYPE, WINTER WEATHER DOES TAKE A TOLL ON EFFICIENCY.

WITH THE GAS ENGINE RUNNING MORE DURING WARM UPS, OUR AVERAGE SLIPPED TO 42.0 MILES PER GALLON FROM THIS FRONT-DRIVE 5-DOOR CROSSOVER.

THAT'S AFTER 5-MONTHS AND 10,500 MILES.

STILL, THAT'S QUITE ADMIRABLE AND WE OFTEN DO SEE 50 ON THE HIGHWAY.

BUT, THE NIRO IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A GAS MISER.

IT'S COMFORTABLE, VERY ROOMY FOR ITS COMPACT SIZE, AND WE'RE LOVING ALL OF THE FEATURES PACKED INTO OUR STILL, REASONABLY PRICED NIRO TOURING.

WE HAVE HAD ONE SNAG.

A FAULTY REAR DOOR LATCH CAUSED A WHOLE LOT OF UNNECESSARY WARNINGS, AND REQUIRED A DAY'S STAY AT THE DEALER.

WE'LL DROP IN ON THE SUBARU CROSSTREK AND HONDA ODYSSEY ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

TIME NOW, TO HIT THE START BUTTON ON SOME FIRST DRIVES.

SO HERE'S OUR LATEST QUICKSPIN.

* DESTINATION CORSICA, FRANCE!

WHERE JAGUAR'S SECOND SUV, THE NEW, COMPACT SIZED, 2018 E-PACE, PROWLS THE CURVES OF THIS MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND.

IT'S 2.0 LITER INLINE-4 TURBO PETROL ENGINE PUMPS OUT 296 HORSES.

ENOUGH TO EASILY, SPRINT UP THE MOUNTAIN WITH A CONFIDENT SHIFTING ZF 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

WE FOUND THE STEERING VERY DIRECT AND WELL WEIGHTED FOR THE SPORTY NATURE OF JAGUAR'S LATEST CUB.

Garick Zikan: IN COMFORT MODE THIS REALLY IS A SPORTY AND COMFORTABLE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

BUT THERE'S ALSO, A DYNAMIC MODE, AND YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO TRY THAT.

SO ONCE YOU PUT IT IN DYNAMIC MODE, THE STEERING IS A LITTLE STIFFER, THE SHIFTS ARE QUICKER AND THE THROTTLE IS MORE RESPONSIVE.

BUT EITHER WAY, THE E-PACE CREATES A DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAT REALLY IS PROBABLY, A LITTLE MORE SPIRITED THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT FROM A UTILITY.

John: A PASSENGER GRAB HANDLE CLEARLY DEFINES THE DRIVER ORIENTED, BUT VERY QUIET CABIN.

THE E-PACE SHARES ITS D8 ARCHITECTURE WITH THE RANGE ROVER EVOQUE AND THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT.

BUT, LIKE F-PACE, JAGUAR AGAIN CREATED SOMETHING VERY DIFFERENT.

THE SLEEK SKIN, COUPISH ROOFLINE, AND ATHLETIC TUNING DEFINITELY SAY, NEW JAGUAR.

THE 2018 JAGUAR E-PACE IS AT DEALERS NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $39,000.

John: HONDA'S TRIPLE CHARGE FOR CLEAN AIR IS COMPLETE WITH THE 2018 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID SEDAN.

IT JOINS THE CLARITY ELECTRIC AND CLARITY FUEL CELL WE TESTED EARLIER.

THE PLUG-IN HYBRID'S ELECTRIC DRIVE HAS A 47-MILE EV RANGE.

ONLY 5-MILES LESS THAN THE SMALLER CHEVROLET VOLT.

WE FOUND A NEAR SEAMLESS TRANSITION TO THE 1.5 LITER I-4 GAS ENGINE.

TOTAL SYSTEM OUTPUT IS 212 HORSEPOWER.

A PEAK CHARGE AND FULL TANK CAN TAKE YOU 340 MILES.

STEERING IS LIGHT AND RESPONSIVE, AS THE CLARITY REMAINS COMPOSED THROUGH THE CURVES AROUND NAPA, CALIFORNIA.

THERE ARE THREE DRIVING MODES, NORMAL, ECON, AND YES...SPORT.

IN SPORT MODE, STEERING WHEEL PADDLES ADJUST THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

Ben Davis: RIGHT NOW, I HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF REGEN DIALED IN, SO WHEN I'M COMING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN LIKE THIS AND LET OFF THE GAS, THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING WILL ACTUALLY SLOW ME DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE I RARELY NEED TO USE THE BRAKES.

AND WHEN I WANT TO ZIP UP AND OVER A HILL AND AROUND A CORNER IN THIS PARTICULAR SCENARIO, ALL THAT ELECTRIC MOTOR TORQUE MAKES IT A LOT OF FUN.

John: HONDA IS SMART TO MAKE MULTIPLE ELECTRIFIED MODELS ON ONE CHASSIS.

PLUS, THE 2018 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HAS A LONGER ELECTRIC-ONLY RANGE THAN MOST EUROPEAN PLUG-INS COSTING FAR MORE.

ON SALE NOW NATIONWIDE, THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST OVER $33,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

John: ONE OF THE HARDEST PARTS ABOUT BUYING A NEW VEHICLE IS NARROWING IT DOWN TO JUST THE RIGHT MAKE AND MODEL.

MOST BUYERS DON'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO DO A SIDE-BY-SIDE DRIVING COMPARISON, BUT WE DO.

THIS WEEK WE DO JUST THAT WITH FAMILY-SIZE 3-ROW UTILITIES.

AND, ONCE AGAIN TEAM UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM, TO SEE WHICH ONE STANDS ABOVE THE PACK.

* THREE ROW CROSSOVER-STYLE SUV'S ARE FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN THE AMERICAN CULTURE, BEING MORE OR LESS THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE FULL-SIZE STATION WAGON OF GENERATIONS PAST.

FAMILIES DEPEND ON THEM TO HAUL THEIR BROOD AND POSSESSIONS, AND MANUFACTURERS RELY ON THEM FOR THE BOTTOM LINE.

WITH SO MUCH AT STAKE, THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE.

WE JOINED OUR COLLEAGUES AT CARS.COM, NEAR CHICAGO, WHERE FOUR OF THESE HEFTY HAULERS WERE READY FOR OUR CHALLENGE.

WE ALSO HAD THE HELP OF A LOCAL BUYER, WHO'S LOOKING FOR THE BEST OPTION FOR HIS FAMILY.

AS IN OUR PREVIOUS CHALLENGES, THERE WAS A PRICE CAP; $46,000.

ALL ARE V6 POWERED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS; ALL BUT ONE INCLUDES ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND HAVE A COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 19 OR BETTER.

WHILE, THERE ARE QUITE A FEW CHOICES IN THIS CLASS, MOST HAVE REMAINED MUCH THE SAME SINCE THE LAST TEST, SO THIS CHALLENGE TARGETED FOUR WITH RECENT REDESIGNS AND UPDATES.

LAST YEAR'S WINNER, THE HONDA PILOT... AN ALL-NEW ENTRANT, THE VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS...

THE FULLY REDESIGNED CHEVROLET TRAVERSE... AND THE UPDATED, TOYOTA HIGHLANDER... EACH ONE WENT THROUGH CAREFUL SCRUTINY, AND AT THE END THIS IS HOW THEY RANKED.

THE FOURTH SPOT WENT TO THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER.

THIS ALL-WHEEL DRIVER WAS EQUIPPED WITH A NEW 3.5 LITER V-6 ENGINE AND AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE $44,514 STICKER PUT IT AT THE TOP OF PRICING.

IT HAD THE SHORTEST WHEEL BASE AND OVERALL LENGTH, SO IT LOST POINTS FOR SPACE IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROWS.

Fred Meier: THE HIGHLANDER WAS THE SMALLEST SUV HERE, BUT IT HAD SOME OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE FRONT SEATS.

THEY WERE PLENTY WIDE, NOT TOO NARROW, NICELY BOLSTERED, AND THEY HAD POWER ADJUSTMENTS FOR YOUR LUMBAR AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE FOR YOUR THIGHS EXTENDING THE SEAT FORWARD AND RAISING IT UP.

Garick: ONE OF THE THINGS YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE TOYOTA HIGHLANDER ON THE ROAD IS HOW COMFORTABLE IT IS BUT ALSO HOW POLISHED IT FEELS.

IT REALLY IS A QUIET AND SMOOTH RIDE, AND THAT SHELF ALONG THE DASH REALLY IS A NICE FEATURE.

John: WHILE, THE 2017 HONDA PILOT CAME OUT ON TOP LAST TIME AROUND, IT GARNERED A 3RD PLACE FINISH HERE.

THE PILOT IS WELL DESIGNED, AND AS SOLID AS THEY COME.

ITS PRICE IS JUST UNDER THE HIGHLANDER AT $44,370.

IT ALSO SHARES THE HIGHLANDER'S COMBINED MPG RATING OF 22 FROM ITS 3.5 LITER V6 AND 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

Brian Wong: THE PILOT'S 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION WHICH IS ONE OF ITS TWO TRANSMISSIONS HAS ALWAYS KIND OF BAFFLED ME.

THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DELAY IN ACCELERATION.

SO YOU HIT THE GAS AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR A SECOND FOR THE ENGINE TO CATCH UP WITH YOU.

John: SECOND PLACE GOES TO THE 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE, THE ONLY FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE UTE IN THIS TEST.

BUT IT HAS THE MOST HORSEPOWER AT 310 FROM A 3.6 LITER V6 MATED TO A SMOOTH 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE TRAVERSE IS RATED AT 21 MILES PER GALLON.

AT $44,185 IT COMES IN A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS LESS THAN THE PILOT...

WHILE, PROVIDING THE LONGEST WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH AMONG THIS GROUP.

Brian: IT USES THAT SPACE VERY WELL.

IT HAS THE MOST CARGO ROOM AND ALSO HAS VERY SPACIOUS SECOND AND THIRD ROWS.

Garick: THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE CAN CERTAINLY HAUL PEOPLE AND THEIR POSSESSIONS IN A COMFORTABLE CABIN, BUT IT REALLY BRINGS MORE TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THAN JUST THAT.

ON THE ROAD IT'S EASY TO MANEUVER AND REALLY HAS A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE.

James Gorman: I WAS IMPRESSED BY THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE INTERIOR, THE SPACIOUSNESS OF IT.

AGAIN, NOT WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER LUXURIOUS, BUT A DECENT VEHICLE AND SOMETHING I COULD CERTAINLY SEE MYSELF DRIVING FROM DAY TO DAY.

John: THAT LEAVES FIRST PLACE TO THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS WITH 4MOTION.

THE 3.6 LITER V6 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC PRODUCED THE LEAST HORSEPOWER AND LOWEST COMBINED MPG AMONG THESE COMPETITORS.

BUT, WITH A STICKER AT $43,615, IT BOASTS THE BEST PRICE.

AND WITH MEASUREMENTS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THE TRAVERSE...

THE ATLAS EARNS POINTS FOR REAR ROOM FOR PEOPLE AND CARGO, AS WELL, AS TECHNOLOGY.

Mike Hanley: THE ATLAS'S MULTIMEDIA SCREEN LOOKS GREAT.

IT'S GOT VIBRANT COLORS AND A VERY HIGH RESOLUTION.

James: THE MULTIMEDIA WAS PHENOMENAL IN THIS VEHICLE.

THE OTHER REALLY NOTEWORTHY ASPECT OF THIS CAR WAS THE SPACIOUSNESS.

I WAS ABLE TO SIT IN THE SECOND ROW AND GET IT IN A COMFORTABLE SEATING POSITION AND THEN IMMEDIATELY CLIMB INTO THE THIRD ROW AND ALSO SIT COMFORTABLY.

SO I'M THINKING THIS IS THE ONE VEHICLE OUT OF THE FOUR, WHERE YOU COULD EASILY FILL IT UP WITH 6-FOOTERS AND HAVE A COMFORTABLE RIDE.

John: ALL OF THE BIG UTILITIES CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

BUT IT'S NO LONGER JUST ABOUT ROOMINESS AND PRACTICALITY.

TECHNOLOGY AND REFINEMENT RAISE THE BAR, AND FOR NOW, THE VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CAN SHOULDER THE DEMANDS TO MEET THAT CHALLENGE.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME... WE TEST THE TRACK CHOPS OF THE IMPRESSIVE KIA STINGER.

THEN, TOYOTA RAISES THE STANDARD FOR THE HIGHLANDER AGAIN.

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.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *