MotorWeek

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

JOINS US AS THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE BRINGS MORE STYLE TO AN ALREADY ROOMY RIDE... PAT GOSS ON CARE FOR CARS THAT STAND STILL FOR A VERY LONG TIME... LAUREN MORRISON ON HOW ONE FAMILY TOOK ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING... AND MAZDA MIXES PRACTICALITY WITH A LITTLE FUN IN THE CX-5...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] Announcer: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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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.

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: GENERAL MOTORS PRETTY MUCH KICKED OFF THE LARGE 3-ROW CROSSOVER MOVEMENT WITH THEIR 2007 SATURN OUTLOOK.

BUT, IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR RIVALS TO ONE-UP THE GENERAL WITH SLIGHTLY SMALLER AND NIMBLER COMPETITION.

SINCE 2009, THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE HAS BEEN THE LAMBDA PLATFORM VOLUME LEADER.

AND WHILE CLEARLY, A SALES SUCCESS, IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED MUCH OVER THE YEARS.

UNTIL NOW, THAT IS.

FOR 2018, WHAT'S OLD IS NEW AGAIN.

* INDEED, GM HAS PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE BUILDING 3-ROW UTILITIES; BOTH IN THE OLD SCHOOL SUV FASHION, AS WELL AS IN TODAY'S MORE POPULAR CROSSOVER STYLE.

THIS 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE SHARES THE NEW GLOBAL C1XX, OR "CHI" PLATFORM, WITH THE GMC ACADIA AND BUICK ENCLAVE AS BEFORE, BUT THANKFULLY, GM CONTINUES TO INCREASE SEPARATION BETWEEN BRANDS.

ON THAT NOTE, THE TRAVERSE IS ON THE LONG WHEELBASE VERSION, SAME AS ENCLAVE, WHILE ACADIA IS ON THE STANDARD CHI.

AT 204.3 INCHES, THAT GIVES TRAVERSE ABOUT A FOOT MORE OVERALL LENGTH THAN ITS GMC KIN.

ALSO, TRAVERSE IS THE ONLY ONE OF THE TRIO SETUP FOR 8-PASSENGER SEATING.

STYLING IS ALWAYS PERSONAL, BUT SLEEKER IS A WORD WE'LL USE.

WHILE, IT'S SLIGHTLY LONGER, THE NEW TRAVERSE LOOKS LEANER AND LESS BLOATED, ESPECIALLY ON PROFILE, WHICH WE THINK FAVORS THE RIVAL FORD EXPLORER.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] BASE ENGINE IS STILL A 3.6 LITER V6.

NOW WITH AUTOMATIC STOP/START, IT ALSO ADDS A TINY BIT MORE DISPLACEMENT THANKS TO A LARGER CYLINDER BORE, AND EKES OUT A FEW MORE HORSEPOWER, AT 310.

TORQUE STAYS THE SAME AT 266 POUND-FEET.

IT'S ALSO HELPED BY A NEW 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, A 2.0-LITER TURBO-4 IS THE ENGINE UPGRADE.

IT FEATURES LESS HORSEPOWER, AT 255, BUT MORE TORQUE AT 295 POUND-FEET.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, ONLY IN SPORTY RS TRIM, AND ONLY IN FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

ALL OTHER TRIMS EXCEPT FOR THE BASE L, CAN BE EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE; WHILE TOP LEVEL HIGH COUNTRY MODELS GET A MORE ADVANCED TWIN-CLUTCH TRACTION SYSTEM.

OUR TIME WITH A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE 3.6-LITER, REVEALED THAT IT REMAINS TOTALLY ADEQUATE FOR PERFORMING FAMILY HAULING AND COMMUTING DUTIES, BUT NEVER FEELS OVERLY POWERFUL.

MAX.

TOWING IS ACTUALLY, DOWN 200 POUNDS FROM LAST YEAR TO AN EVEN 5,000.

THE 9-SPEED CERTAINLY HELPS FUEL ECONOMY, AS THE GOVERNMENT RATINGS ARE UP ACROSS THE BOARD; NOW AT 18-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.9 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

FOR A REASONABLE, FOR AN SUV, ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE AND 6.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

2.0-LITER FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

BETTER NEWS THAN ALL OF THAT, IS THAT THE NEW TRAVERSE FULLY FEELS NIMBLER BEHIND THE WHEEL; ON THE STREET AT LEAST, WHICH IS CERTAINLY, WHERE THE TRAVERSE BEHAVES BEST.

BUT WITH THAT, COMES A SENSE THAT IT'S NOT QUITE AS SOLID FEELING AS SOME IN THE SEGMENT.

AND ON OUR HANDLING COURSE, WE STILL FOUGHT PLENTY OF UNDERSTEER; STEERING FEEL HAS NOTICEABLY IMPROVED, BUT WE'D STILL CONSIDER IT SLOW TO RESPOND TO INPUTS.

GRUNTY LOW-END TORQUE, MAKES FOR AN EFFICIENT LEAP OFF THE LINE.

THE QUICK-REVVING 6 DELIVERS POWER STOICALLY THROUGHOUT THE RANGE.

WE HIT 60 MORE THAN A SECOND QUICKER THAN IN OUR LAST TRAVERSE TEST AT 6.9 SECONDS, WITH THE FULL QUARTER MILE TAKING 15.3 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

WITH FADE-FREE, CONSISTENT STOPS FROM 60 OF JUST 118 FEET; WE GIVE IT VERY HIGH MARKS FOR BRAKING TOO.

DON'T KNOW IF IT'S AN EARLY SOFTWARE ISSUE OR NOT, BUT AWAY FROM THE TRACK, THE NEW 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION SEEMED A LITTLE CLUMSY AT TIMES; SOMETHING WE DIDN'T NOTICE WITH THE MORE REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF THE NEW BUICK ENCLAVE.

"LARGE AND IN CHARGE" IS THE THEME INSIDE, WITH MORE THAN ADEQUATE ROOM IN ALL SEATING POSITIONS, INCLUDING THE THIRD ROW... AND CARGO CAPACITY THAT'S AMONG CLASS BEST AT 23.0 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, 58.1 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND 98.2 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

OUR TESTER WAS SENSIBLY EQUIPPED IN LT TRIM, WHICH SOME FOUND A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.

BUT, HIGH-DOLLAR, HIGH COUNTRY AND RS TRIMS ARE AVAILABLE IF MAXING OUT THE BLING FACTOR IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TECH TO GO AROUND, INCLUDING GM'S REAR CAMERA MIRROR, 4G LTE WI-FI, APPLE CAR PLAY AND ANDROID AUTO, ALONG WITH LANE KEEP ASSIST AND AUTOMATIC BRAKING.

TRAVERSE PRICING IS ON PAR WITH THE SEGMENT, STARTING AT A REASONABLE $30,925 AND ESCALATING TO THE VERY CUSHY HIGH COUNTRY AT $53,095.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT GM'S BIG 3-ROW CROSSOVERS WERE LONG OVERDUE FOR A COMPLETE UPDATE.

AND THERE'S NO ARGUMENT THAT THE 2018 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE IS NOW FULLY IMPROVED AND MODERNIZED.

HOWEVER, WE DO WONDER IF GM WENT FAR ENOUGH.

JUST BEING BIGGER AND A BIT BETTER DOESN'T REALLY CUT IT IN A CLASS WHERE OPTIONS ARE MANY.

STILL, WE DO THINK CHEVROLET DID ENOUGH TO BE SOLIDLY COMPETITIVE, AND THE NEW TRAVERSE WILL CERTAINLY BE PLENTY APPEALING TO ALL THOSE THAT PREFER THEIR FAMILY RIDE HAVE A DOMESTIC NAME.

* THE NUMBER OF FATALITIES ON AMERICAN ROADS IS ON THE RISE AGAIN, AND A GROWING PERCENTAGE OF THOSE DEATHS ARE BEING BLAMED ON DISTRACTED DRIVING, WITH CELL-PHONE TEXTING A MAJOR CULPRIT.

BUT COULD A SIMPLE DEVICE BE THE "TEXTING DRIVING" DETERRENT THAT'S SO URGENTLY NEEDED?

OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON LOOKS INTO THE TEXTALYZER.

Lauren Morrison: NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT OF PEOPLE SAY, IT'S A PROBLEM...

YET, 7 IN 10 DRIVERS ADMIT TO DOING IT, AND THE CDC ESTIMATES THAT EACH DAY, AROUND 9-PEOPLE ARE KILLED, AND A THOUSAND INJURED IN CRASHES THAT INVOLVE DISTRACTED DRIVING.

NUMBERS LIKE THAT DON'T PHASE YOU?

MAYBE BEN LIEBERMAN'S STORY WILL.

[SOUNDS OF AMBULANCE SIRENS] Ben Lieberman: YEAH, I GOT THAT CALL THAT EVERY PARENT DREADS, YOU KNOW, I GO THAT CALL, THAT THERE WAS A CAR CRASH AND MY SON WAS INVOLVED.

Lauren: IN 2011, BEN'S 19-YEAR-OLD SON, EVAN, WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF A CAR WHEN IT WAS HIT HEAD ON.

EVAN ULTIMATELY DIED FROM HIS INJURIES.

"THE FIRST NIGHT, THE DOCTOR SAID, "HE HAD A 10% CHANCE TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT."

SO HE MADE IT THROUGH THAT NIGHT, AND 30 OTHERS, AND IT WAS A REALLY UP, AND DOWN BATTLE, BUT EVENTUALLY, WE LOST HIM RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR EYES.

Lauren: WHILE, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE EVAN WAS IN SAID, "HE FELL ASLEEP," BEN BEGAN TO QUESTION THAT.

Ben: WE STARTED ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND WHAT THEY DID AT THE INVESTIGATION AND, AND WE REALIZED THERE'S JUST NO PROTOCOL IN PLACE.

Lauren: THROUGH A CIVIL LAWSUIT, BEN WAS ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF THE DRIVER'S CELL PHONE RECORDS, WHICH REVEALED THE DRIVER WAS TEXTING AROUND THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ben: THE CRASH HAPPENED IN JUNE.

I THINK, I GOT THEM IN FEBRUARY.

IT WAS SIX AGONIZING MONTHS FOR ME TO GET THOSE PHONE RECORDS.

Lauren: FORTY-SEVEN STATES HAVE BANNED TEXTING AND DRIVING, BUT WITHOUT A CONFESSION OR EYEWITNESS, IT'S A CRIME THAT'S HARD TO PROVE.

Ben: THERE WAS NO DETERRENTS IN PLACE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN TO MY OTHER CHILDREN, TO MY FRIEND'S CHILDREN.

KNOWING THAT, THERE WAS A DEGREE OF FRUSTRATION.

Lauren: DRIVEN BY HIS GRIEF AND FRUSTRATION, BEN APPROACHED JIM GRADY, THE CEO OF THE DIGITAL INTELLIGENCE COMPANY, CELLEBRITE.

Jim Grady: AND HE TOLD US ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF GETTING THE DATA AFTER AN ACCIDENT FROM A PHONE, AND WHETHER THE OTHER PERSON WAS TEXTING, AND WE THOUGHT WE CAN DO SOMETHING WITH THAT, WE CAN PROBABLY HELP.

Lauren: THE DEVICE THEY CAME UP WITH IS CALLED A "TEXTALYZER."

WHEN CONNECTED TO A PHONE, IT CAN PICK UP WHETHER THERE HAVE BEEN ANY TAPS OR SWIPES.

OPPONENTS OF THE DEVICE HAVE ALREADY CITED PRIVACY CONCERNS, BUT CELLEBRITE SAYS, "NO PERSONAL INFORMATION, LIKE WHO YOU TEXTED, OR WHAT YOU SAID, WOULD BE OBTAINED."

Lauren: IN ORDER TO PROPERLY TEST OUT THE TEXTALYZER, I AM GOING TO BE TEXTING AND DRIVING, SO WE'VE BLOCKED OFF THIS PARKING LOT, SO WE CAN DO IT SAFELY.

I'M GOING TO OPEN UP SOME STUFF LIKE "WHATS APP," AND ALSO, MAYBE CHECK A FACEBOOK MESSAGE ON "FACEBOOK MESSENGER," GETTING A TEXT MESSAGE OVER HERE.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON AND I CAN BARELY CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING.

OKAY, SO I'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

OFFICERS ARRIVE ON THE SCENE.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Jim: THE OFFICER WOULD ASK YOU TO UNLOCK YOUR PHONE.

AND HAND YOU THIS CABLE.

AND YOU CONNECT THIS CABLE TO YOUR PHONE.

Lauren: SO YOU NEVER EVEN HAVE TO HAND YOUR PHONE OVER TO THE OFFICER?

Jim: NO, IT TAKES ABOUT 30 SECONDS AND THEN WE CAN SEE THE RESULTS.

I SEE HERE YOU OPENED WHATS APP, YOU DID A FACEBOOK MESSENGER, AND A REGULAR TEXT MESSAGE.

Lauren: AND SO, YOU CAN SEE ALL THAT ON YOUR PHONE, BUT IT DOESN'T SAY, WHAT I'VE SAID IN FACEBOOK MESSENGER, ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

Jim: NOTHING LIKE THAT EVER COMES INTO THIS DEVICE.

Lauren: THE TEXTALYZER IS STILL JUST A PROTOTYPE AND SOME TIME AWAY FROM ACTUALLY BEING IN A POLICE CRUISER, BUT THE DEVICE IS GAINING TRACTION.

LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED IN NEW YORK, AND THE GOVERNOR THERE HAS ORDERED A STUDY INTO THE TECHNOLOGY.

OTHER STATES LIKE TENNESSEE, NEW JERSEY, AND CALIFORNIA, HAVE ALL EXPRESSED INTEREST AS WELL.

FOR BEN LIEBERMAN, THESE ARE ALL SIGNS OF PROGRESS, AND HOPEFULLY, A CHANGE IN THOUGHT ON THE DANGERS OF DISTRACTED DRIVING.

HE SAYS, HE NEVER SET OUT TO BE AN ADVOCATE, BUT FOR HIS SON EVAN, IT'S A ROLE HE NOW HAS TO PLAY.

Ben: I THINK, HE'D BE HAPPY TO SEE SOMETHING GOOD COME OUT OF IT.

HE'D PROBABLY BE A LITTLE EMBARRASSED ABOUT THE ATTENTION.

BUT, IF YOU WOULD HAVE SAID LIKE, TO ME ABOUT BEING AN ADVOCATE; I WOULD HAVE SAY, I'M NOT THE GUY, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU SEE SOME THINGS THAT ARE SO WRONG, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO TURN YOUR BACK ON IT.

John: IT'S ALMOST WINTER, AND YOU WANT TO BRING YOUR PRIDE AND JOY IN FROM THE COLD.

BUT, AS PAT GOSS IS ABOUT TO TELL US, YOU DON'T JUST PARK IT!

Pat Goss: MOST OF US HAVE SOME SEASONAL EQUIPMENT OR A CUSTOM VEHICLE, SOMETHING THAT SITS FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME, YET HAS AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE.

WELL, IF YOU HAVE THAT YOU HAVE TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE IF YOU WANT TO LET IT SIT FOR ANY EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT DAMAGE.

FIRST, IS FRESH OIL?

OIL PICKS UP ACIDS AS IT'S USED, YOU DON'T WANT THOSE ACIDS INSIDE YOUR ENGINE, SO FRESH OIL IS IMPORTANT.

NEXT THING IS COOLANT.

IF ITS LIQUID COOLED YOU WANT FRESH COOLANT BECAUSE COOLANT DETERIORATES EVEN AS IT SITS.

YOU WANT THE PROPER TYPE AND YOU WANT IT TO BE FRESH.

GASOLINE.

YOU WANT THE GASOLINE IN THE TANK YOU FULL, AND YOU WANT THE GASOLINE TO BE TREATED WITH THE PROPER TYPE OF STABILIZER, SO THAT THE FUEL DOES NOT GO BAD AND GUM UP THE CARBURETOR OR THE FUEL INJECTORS.

VERY IMPORTANT.

ALSO, BRAKE FLUID.

BRAKE FLUID IS HYGROSCOPIC, IT ABSORBS AND ATTRACTS MOISTURE, AND JUST BY SITTING IT CAN ATTRACT ENOUGH MOISTURE THAT IT DAMAGES BRAKE PARTS.

SO FRESH BRAKE FLUID, AND THAT'S ALL CARS, EVERY TWO YEARS NO MATTER WHAT.

TIRES.

WELL, ONE THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS THAT YOU CAN PUMP THE TIRES UP, OVER INFLATE THEM... DON'T GO BEYOND THE MAXIMUM ON THE SIDE WALL OF THE TIRE BUT HIGHER PRESSURE WILL HELP KEEP THEM FROM FLAT SPOTTING.

AND SPEAKING OF FLAT SPOTTING, HOW ABOUT JACK STANDS.

THAT'S THE BETTER WAY TO GO.

JACK THE CAR UP, POSITION THE STANDS UNDER IT, MAKE SURE THE STANDS ARE AS CLOSE TO THE WHEELS AS POSSIBLE, SO WHEN YOU BRING THE CAR DOWN THE SPRINGS WILL BE LOADED.

IF YOU LEAVE THE SPRINGS UNLOADED, NOT GOOD FOR THEM.

AND DON'T FORGET THE TOP PART OF THE ENGINE, THIS IS FOGGING OIL, YOU WANT TO FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS ON THE CAN, TO THE LETTER, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T YOU COULD DAMAGE SOMETHING.

FOGGING OIL WILL LUBRICATE THE TOP PARTS OF THE ENGINE AND KEEP THEM IN GOOD CONDITION, HELPS PREVENT RUST ON THINGS LIKE VALVES AND SO ON.

AND LET'S NOT FORGET THE BATTERY IN OUR CAR THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON'T WANT TO DO WE DON'T WANT TO USE A BATTERY CHARGER WE WANT TO USE A BATTERY MAINTAINER.

THE MAINTAINER WILL KEEP THE BATTERY AT A LEVEL STATE OF CHARGE AND WON'T OVER CHARGE IT LIKE A BATTERY CHARGER WOULD.

AND A BIG SHOUT OUT TO JUSTIN NELSON FOR LOANING US HIS GORGEOUS 1950 CHEVROLET TRUCK HERE.

I SAW IT AT A CAR SHOW THAT I JUDGED.

I FELT THAT IT WAS BEST OF SHOW AND HE'S KIND ENOUGH TO LET US USE IT HERE ON THE SET.

AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE.

RIGHT HERE, AT MOTORWEEK .

John: WE FILLED UP THE TANK, AND CHECKED THE FLUIDS, SO TIME NOW FOR A QUICKSPIN.

AMERICAN'S ORIGINAL PONY CAR HAS MADE HOOF BEATS FOR MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY.

NOW IN ITS 6TH GENERATION, THE 2018 FORD MUSTANG GETS A MID-CYCLE REFRESH THAT'S MORE THAN MILD.

YES, THERE ARE THE USUAL STYLING TWEAKS, LIKE A LOWER HOOD THAT'S CERTAINLY MORE AGGRESSIVE THAN THE 2015 REDESIGN.

BACK THEN, WE PRAISED THE STIFFER CHASSIS AND INDEPENDENT REAR FOR ITS GREAT GRIP.

NOW, STANDARD MONOTUBE SHOCKS AND REAR CROSS-AXIS JOINT FROM THE PERFORMANCE PACKAGE MAKE ALL TRIMS EVEN SPORTIER.

UNDER THE HOOD, NO MORE V6!

BUT, THE NOW STANDARD 2.3-LITER ECO-BOOST 4 IS GOOD FOR 310 HORSEPOWER.

460 IS THE UPPED RATING FOR THE 5.0 LITER V8 GT.

Greg Carloss: IN THE LAST MUSTANG I DROVE, I WAS SHOCKED AT HOW MUCH TORQUE AND HOW MUCH PERFORMANCE, I WAS GETTING OUT OF THIS 4-CYLINDER ENGINE, AND NOT ONLY THAT IT'S LIGHTER UP FRONT, SO ACTUALLY, IT HANDLES ITSELF PRETTY WELL DRIVING AROUND CORNERS, BUT NOW YOU HAVE MORE TORQUE DOWN THERE WHICH IS ALWAYS GREAT.

John: BOTH ENGINES CAN BE SADDLED TO AN UPDATED 6-SPEED MANUAL OR A NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

INSIDE THE TWIN COCKPIT, BETTER MATERIALS, AND AN AVAILABLE 12-INCH DIGITAL GAUGE CLUSTER THAT'S FULL OF THE INFO WE LIKE.

THE MUSTANG, CHEVY CAMARO RIVALRY IS LEGENDARY, AND IT LOOKS LIKE FORD IS READY FOR THE NEXT ROUND.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2018 FORD MUSTANG STARTS AT UNDER $26,000 WITH GT JUST OVER $35,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

THIS 2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT 2.0T R-LINE IS NEW TO OUR LONG TERM FLEET.

EVEN SO, IN ITS FIRST 3-WEEKS, WE STILL COVERED 1200 MILES.

R-LINE TRIM ADDS A SPORTIER LOOK TO THE PASSAT.

OUR TESTER ALSO SPORTS THE PASSAT'S NEW STANDARD 2.0-LITER TURBOCHARGED I4 WITH 174 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S UP 4 FROM THE OLD 1.8.

WHILE NO ROCKET, MATCHED WITH A 6-SPEED TIPTRONIC, IT EASILY COMPLIES WITH OUR EVERYDAY THROTTLE NEEDS.

HANDLING IS IN A WORD, GREAT.

YET, THE RIDE REMAINS VERY COMFORTABLE.

WE DO MISS SOME OF THE AMENITIES WE ENJOYED IN THE PASSAT SEL PREMIUM A FEW MONTHS BACK, LIKE PUSH-BUTTON START.

BUT, OH WELL, THAT JUST SHOWS THERE IS A PASSAT FOR EVERY TASTE.

WE'RE ALREADY GETTING 37.3 MILES PER GALLON ON THE INTERSTATES, THAT'S SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE GOVERNMENT'S HIGHWAY RATING OF 36.

NOW, LET'S SEE HOW IT HANDLES THE REST OF THE WINTER.

THAT WILL ALSO BE THE CASE FOR OUR 2017 BMW X1 XDRIVE28I AS WELL, AS IT ARRIVED ON OUR LOT JUST AS SPRING WAS SPRINGING.

WE'VE PUT 16,300 MILES ON IT SINCE THEN, AS IT NEVER SEEMS TO SIT STILL FOR LONG; DESPITE SOME RECENT NEGATIVE COMMENTS THAT HAVE CREPT INTO OUR LOG BOOK.

ONE DRIVER FOUND THE RIDE OVERLY STIFF, AND HANDLING MORE DARTY THAN GOOD.

THOUGH CLEARLY, HE'S A LONE WOLF ON THAT ONE; AS MOST OF US FIND THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE AS SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL.

WHILE THE RIDE IS FIRM, IT IS COMPLIANT AND SELDOM HARSH.

PERHAPS, MORE PADDING IN THE SEATS WOULD HELP FOR LONG TRIPS.

BUT, THE X1 CERTAINLY MAKES COMMUTING AND LUNCHTIME ERRANDS PURE FUN.

ALL WHILE DELIVERING, A GOOD 29.3 MILES PER GALLON, WITH ITS 2.0-LITER TURBO-4 AND 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC COMBO.

OUR CHRYSLER PACIFICA AND MAZDA CX-9 ARE ON DECK FOR OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: WHILE MAZDA, LIKE EVERY OTHER CAR MAKER THESE DAYS, SELLS MORE UTILITY VEHICLES THAN CARS; THEY SEEM TO EMBRACE THE CAR-LIKE ASPECTS OF THEM MORE THAN MOST, CONTINUING TO DELIVER SOME OF THE MOST FUN TO DRIVE CROSSOVERS OUT THERE.

STILL, COMPETITION IS INTENSE, ESPECIALLY FOR COMPACT-SIZED PEOPLE MOVERS.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS REDESIGNED CX-5 IS NOW PLAYING SO WELL.

SO LET'S SEE WHY IT'S GIVING MAJOR RIVALS A HEADACHE.

* THE 2017 MAZDA CX-5 KICKS OFF THE 2ND GENERATION OF MAZDA'S COMPACT CROSSOVER.

THOUGH TECHNICALLY, STILL RIDING ON THE SAME CHASSIS, IT HAS BEEN HEAVILY REVISED FRONT TO BACK, WITH AIMS TO PROVIDE A SMOOTHER RIDE, AS WELL AS MORE COMFORT AND QUIETNESS IN THE CABIN.

OF COURSE, MAZDA IS ALSO, RELYING ON ELECTRONICS TO DO A LOT OF THE YEOMAN WORK NOW AS WELL, WITH NEW G-VECTORING CONTROL VEHICLE DYNAMICS ENHANCEMENT.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] UNLIKE MOST IN THE SEGMENT, NO TURBO POWER HERE, A STRAIGHT 2.5 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED I4.

BUT THERE ARE THREE MORE HORSEPOWER THAN BEFORE AT 187; TORQUE REMAINS THE SAME AT 185 POUND-FEET, BUT NEW SOFTWARE HELPS IT FEEL A BIT MORE RESPONSIVE THAN BEFORE.

THAT'S EVEN WITH AN ADDITIONAL 60 OR SO POUNDS OF WEIGHT.

NO MORE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, AS THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS NOW STANDARD, BUT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE REMAINS OPTIONAL.

TOWING CAPACITY IS ONLY 2,000 POUNDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS TAKE A SLIGHT DIP, AS THE CITY RATING FALLS FROM 24 TO 23 FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE; THE REST ARE UNCHANGED AT 29-HIGHWAY AND 26-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE WAS RIGHT ON, AT 26.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

BODY WORK IS OBVIOUSLY NEW, NOW WITH A CLEAR RESEMBLANCE TO THE LARGER CX-9.

THAT MEANS A LARGER GRILLE; TALLER, FLATTER NOSE, AND FULL LED HEADLIGHTS STANDARD.

THE ROOF LINE HAS MORE OF AN ARCH TO IT, WHILE THE BACK END IS SMOOTHED OUT AND HIGHLIGHTED WITH DUAL POLISHED EXHAUST TIPS.

LIKEWISE, THE INTERIOR TAKES ON THE CX-9 THEME AS WELL, PERHAPS NOT QUITE AS POSH, BUT CERTAINLY, A BIG STEP UP FROM BEFORE.

THE DASH NOW SPORTS A MORE LINEAR FEEL, WITH BIG AIR VENTS THAT ARE AS ARTISTIC AS THEY ARE FUNCTIONAL.

GAUGES FEATURE THE SAME SMART LOOKING THREE RING THEME, BUT NOW PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION THAN BEFORE.

HOPPING IN THE REAR SEAT, YOU'LL FIND A LITTLE MORE ROOM THAN BEFORE, THOUGH THAT'S AT THE EXPENSE OF CARGO SPACE, WHICH FALLS FROM 34.1 CUBIC-FEET TO 30.9.

THREE-PIECE SPLIT-FOLDING SEATBACKS CAN EXPAND THAT SPACE TO 59.6 CUBIC-FEET.

ALL OF THE CHASSIS WORK PAYS OFF WITH A MUCH QUIETER RIDE; IT'S NOW QUITE PLEASANT, EASILY ONE OF BEST RIDING IN ITS CLASS.

AND DON'T WORRY, IT'S STILL PLENTY OF FUN TO DRIVE; STEERING DYNAMICS ARE GOOD, BUT THERE IS AN UNNATURALLY FAKE HEAVY FEEL TO THE WHEEL.

SUSPENSION FEELS NICE AND TIGHT.

SEAT COMFORT IS OKAY, BUT NOT GREAT; AND THE CENTRAL ARMREST SITS TOO FAR BACK TO BE USEFUL.

THINGS SURE DO LOOK LOOKS GREAT IN HERE, THOUGH.

RESPONSE OFF THE LINE IS ONLY ADEQUATE.

SPORT MODE DOES SEEM TO LET YOU REV THE ENGINE A LITTLE HIGHER, WITH A NICE AGGRESSIVE ENGINE NOTE.

THE TRIP TO 60 TOOK A REASONABLE 8.5 SECONDS, WITH OUR QUARTER MILE TIME COMING IN AT 16.5 SECONDS AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

THE CX-5 IS WELL-BALANCED THROUGH THE CONES AS WELL.

THE AFOREMENTIONED G-VECTORING CONTROL IS QUITE NOVEL.

IT CUTS IGNITION SPARK ON TURN-IN, USING ENGINE BRAKING TO SHIFT WEIGHT TO THE FRONT TIRES FOR MORE GRIP, RATHER THAN MOMENTARILY ENGAGING THE WHEEL BRAKES LIKE SOME COMPETITORS.

TESTS SHOW IT ALSO MAKES OCCUPANTS FEEL MORE SECURE ON TWISTY ROADS.

WHEN IT DOES COME TIME TO ACTUALLY USE THE BRAKES, A SHORT 113 FOOT WAS OUR AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60.

PEDAL FEEL IS SOFT, WITH SOME FADE, BUT OVERALL PERFORMANCE IS ABOVE AVERAGE.

IN ADDITION, SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL MODELS.

BASE PRICING IS PAR FOR THE SEGMENT AT $24,985, WITH TOP TRIM GRAND TOURING GOING FOR $30,335.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CAN BE ADDED FOR $1,300 MORE.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR US IS, THE SECOND GEN 2017 MAZDA CX-5 KEEPS THE FUN FACTOR HIGH, YET, DELIVERS A MUCH MORE PLEASANT AND REFINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR MAZDA?

CX-5 SALES ARE FINALLY HOT!

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...

WHEN WE CHECK OUT EVERYTHING SHINY AND NEW AT DETROIT'S 2018 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW.

'TIL 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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

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

TIRERACK.COM.

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

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