MotorWeek

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

JOIN US IN GMC'S MOST LUXURIOUS FULL-SIZE SUV EVER, THE NEW YUKON DENALI... PAT GOSS FINDS AN UNEXPECTED REASON FOR A DROP IN TIRE PRESSURE... WE'LL PICK THE RIPEST FRUIT WITH ALT FUELS DOWN ON THE FARM... THEN, WE'LL PACE MODERN LUXURY IN THE NEW MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , 40 YEARS, STEERING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS.

AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

FIND, DELIVER, INSTALL.

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.

John: WHILE, THERE ARE SOME WORDS IN OUR AUTOMOTIVE LEXICON THAT ARE UNNECESSARILY AMBIGUOUS, WHEN IT COMES TO GMC, WE ALL KNOW WHAT DENALI MEANS.

IT MEANS YOU'RE GETTING THE BEST THAT GMC HAS TO OFFER.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW THAT APPLIES TO GMC'S ALL NEW YUKON FULL-SIZE UTILITY.

* GM'S TRIO OF BIG SUVs IS ALL-NEW FOR 2021; AND SINCE WE'VE ALREADY TESTED THE EVERYMAN CHEVROLET TAHOE AND THE OVER-THE-TOP CADILLAC ESCALADE, TIME TO NARROW OUR FOCUS EVEN FURTHER ON THE TWEENER OF THE TWO WITH THIS 2021 GMC YUKON DENALI.

LIKE THE REST, IT RIDES ON GM'S RECENTLY UPDATED SILVERADO/SIERRA TRUCK FRAME, AND BENEFITS GREATLY FROM A NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN.

THIS NOT ONLY ALLOWS FOR BETTER PACKAGING INSIDE, BUT COMBINED WITH AIR RIDE ADAPTIVE SUSPENSION AND GM'S MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL, IT MAKES FOR THE SMOOTHEST RUNNING YUKON EVER.

THAT AIR SUSPENSION ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO PUMP IT UP 2.0 INCHES FOR ADDITIONAL OFF-ROAD GROUND CLEARANCE.

AND TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THAT, IS A FIRST EVER OFF-ROAD READY YUKON AT4.

BUT OUR FOCUS HERE IS IN THE SWANK DENALI, AND AS WITH EVERY OTHER MEMBER OF THIS FAMILY, ANY TYPE OF AGGRESSIVE MANEUVER YOU CAN MAKE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TRIGGERS SOME AGGRESSIVE BRAKING FROM THE STABILITY SYSTEM, NO MATTER HOW SLOW AND SMOOTH YOU MAKE YOUR INPUTS.

PROBABLY A WISE MANEUVER ON THEIR PART, AS THIS RIG HAS SOME SERIOUS MUSCLE COMING FROM A 6.2 LITER V8; 420 HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

DENALI BUYERS CAN ALSO OPT FOR A 277 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER I6 DURAMAX DIESEL, WHILE THE STANDARD ENGINE IN LESSER YUKON'S IS A 355 HORSEPOWER 5.3 LITER V8.

AT MASON DIXON DRAGWAY, THE 6.2 LITER PULLED THIS DENALI TO 60 IN JUST 6.1 SECONDS.

THAT'S THE FASTEST OF THE TRIO, COMING IN A TENTH QUICKER THAN THE ESCALADE.

IT FELT GREAT OFF THE LINE, AND EVEN BETTER AS SPEED BUILDS; SEAMLESS SHIFTS FROM THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND GREAT V8 RUMBLE COMPLETED THE QUARTER-MILE EXPERIENCE, WHICH FOR US LASTED 14.7 SECONDS AT 96 MILES PER HOUR.

STRONG BRAKES, MEAN STOPS FROM 60 IN JUST 110 FEET.

THE GMC YUKON DEBUTED FOR 1992, AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE JIMMY.

WE FOUND IT AS BRAWNY AS IT WAS BEAUTIFUL; AND GM'S GMT 400 PLATFORM HAS BECOME LEGENDARY FOR ITS TOUGHNESS AND DURABILITY, WITH MANY EXAMPLES STILL BEING DAILY DRIVEN TO THIS DAY.

AND IMPRACTICAL OR NOT, HOW COOL WAS THIS 2-DOOR?

NOW, PRACTICALITY IS WHERE THE CURRENT YUKON REALLY SHINES.

ROOM IS UP EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE CABIN, BUT MOST NOTABLY IN THE STANDARD THIRD ROW, AND IN THE CARGO AREA BEHIND IT, JUMPING FROM 15.3 TO 25.5 CUBIC-FEET, EXPANDING TO 72.6 AND 122.9, AS SEATS ARE FOLDED.

OF COURSE, A SUBURBAN-SIZED YUKON XL IS ALSO AVAILABLE IF YOU NEED EVEN MORE CARGO SPACE.

DENALI'S COME WITH SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS FOR A 7-PASSENGER CAPACITY.

THE DENALI IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE UNTO ITSELF, MORE THAN EVER BEFORE, ACTUALLY; AS INSTEAD OF JUST SOME ADDED LEATHER AND WOODWORK, DENALI'S NOW GET A UNIQUE INTERIOR FROM OTHER YUKON'S.

THE DASH, WITH INTEGRATED TOUCHSCREEN AND RISING CONTROL CENTER, ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT; THERE'S SPECIAL SEATS, A HUGE 15 INCH MULTI-COLOR HEAD UP DISPLAY, AND OF COURSE, UPSCALE MATERIALS.

PLUS, EXCLUSIVE FEATURES FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN GM'S LINEUP LIKE THIS POWER SLIDING CONSOLE; AND UP TO NINE CAMERAS GIVE YOU NO EXCUSE FOR CURB SCRAPES.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE EXTERIOR, PROFESSIONAL GRADE OR NOT, THERE'S NO DENYING IT HAS A VERY COMMANDING PRESENCE.

DENALI DETAILS INCLUDE AN EVEN LARGER CHROME GRILLE, SIGNATURE LIGHTING, AND UP TO 22 INCH WHEELS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 14-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED; OUR HIGHWAY HEAVY LOOP NETTED AN 18.2 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM.

STILL, IT RATES A WELL BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH USE OF 20.6 BARRELS OF OIL ANNUALLY, AND 9.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

YUKON DENALI PRICING STARTS AT $73,295, WITH 4-WHEEL-DRIVE A $3,000 OPTION; BUT YOU CAN PICK UP A YUKON FOR AS LITTLE $52,695 FOR THE BASE SLE TRIM.

WHETHER, OR NOT YOU BUY INTO GMC'S WHOLE "PROFESSIONAL GRADE" MARKETING MANTRA, THE YUKON OFFERS BUYERS A LOT OF OPTIONS; BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN TAHOE AND ESCALADE, WHILE OFFERING A FEW UNIQUE FEATURES, AND WHAT IS PERHAPS OUR FAVORITE EXTERIOR LOOK OF THE TRIO.

SO, IS THE 2021 GMC YUKON DENALI A BARGAIN ESCALADE OR A BETTER TAHOE?

THE ANSWER TO THAT, IS YES.

* MANY CAR MAKERS ARE PLEDGING TO GO ALL-ELECTRIC IN THE NEAR FUTURE, SO OTHER FORMS OF HARD WORKING MACHINERY ARE STARTING TO FOLLOW SUIT, INCLUDING DOWN ON THE FARM WHERE GREEN ACRES IS TRULY THE PLACE TO BE.

* ALTHOUGH, FARM TRACTORS AND THE JOBS THEY DO HAVE BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED AND HIGH-TECH OVER THE YEARS, THE HEAVY CHASSIS AND ENGINES UNDER THE HOOD HAVEN'T ALWAYS KEPT PACE WITH THAT PROGRESS AND MOST STILL RELY PRIMARILY ON DIESEL FUEL.

HUMMINGBIRD EV IS ONE COMPANY LOOKING TO UPSET THAT STATUS QUO APPLE CART.

THEY'VE TEAMED UP WITH THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY CLEAN CITIES COALITION, PROJECT CLEAN AIR, AND OTHERS TO PLACE FOUR PROTOTYPE ZERO-EMISSION ELECTRIC TRACTORS IN SERVICE AT ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST FRUIT GROWERS.

THESE EV TRACTORS ARE FITTED WITH 120 PEAK KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTORS TIED TO HUMMINGBIRD CONTROLLERS AND SOFTWARE.

WITH 25 KILOWATT-HOUR BATTERY PACKS AND 65 HORSEPOWER, PERFORMANCE IS EQUIVALENT TO A GAS OR DIESEL TRACTOR OF THE SAME SIZE.

MOONLIGHT COMPANIES, IN REEDLEY, CALIFORNIA, IS AN IDEAL TEST BED.

THEY OPERATE YEAR-ROUND, GROWING ALL VARIETIES OF CITRUS AND STONE FRUITS... FROM PEACHES, PLUMS, AND POMEGRANATES... TO GRAPES, LEMONS, ORANGES, AND -- DURING OUR VISIT, LOTS AND LOTS OF MANDARINS -- AND SHIPPING THEM FRESH TO MARKETS ALL OVER THE GLOBE.

THIS THIRD-GENERATION FARM IS COMMITTED TO USING ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND PRACTICES AND INVESTING IN THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY.

THEY EVEN HAVE A TWO-MEGAWATT ON-SITE SOLAR FARM WHICH POWERS MUCH OF THEIR PACKING AND COLD-STORAGE OPERATIONS.

SO TRYING OUT THESE EV TRACTORS FOR THE PAST YEAR WAS AN EASY CALL.

Ty Tavlan: WE USE APPROXIMATELY, 80 SMALL DIESEL-POWERED TRACTORS DURING THE HARVEST SEASON TO PULL OUR FRUIT THROUGH THE FIELD.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR FUNCTION, SINCE IT PULLS FRUIT, AND THEN IT STOPS, AND THEN IT PULLS FRUIT AGAIN, AND THEN IT STOPS, WE CAN GET APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS WORTH OF WORK OUT OF THE TRACTOR.

WHAT WE REALLY LIKE ABOUT IT IS, IT'S BASICALLY MAINTENANCE-FREE, IT STARTS EVERY TIME, AND IT WORKS JUST FINE.

John: THE BATTERY-ELECTRIC TRACTORS IN THIS TEST ARE PAIRED WITH AN ALL-ELECTRIC CLASS 6 VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE CHARGING TRUCK, ALSO DESIGNED BY HUMMINGBIRD.

IT CAN PROVIDE UP TO 40 KILOWATTS OF LEVEL 2 AC CHARGING, ENOUGH TO JUICE UP TWO TRACTORS SIMULTANEOUSLY, ELIMINATING TIME-CONSUMING ROUND-TRIPS BACK TO THE CHARGING STATION; A BIG ADVANTAGE, ESPECIALLY DURING HARVEST.

THE TRUCK ITSELF HAS AN 88 KILOWATT-HOUR BATTERY PACK AND 90 MILES OF RANGE.

HUMMINGBIRD'S EXPERTISE IS DESIGNING AND SCALING ELECTRIC POWERTRAINS FOR MEDIUM DUTY APPLICATIONS LIKE MINING, UTILITIES, AND FOOD DELIVERY.

AND THEY ARE CHALLENGING THE NOTION THAT ONE SIZE FITS ALL DOWN ON THE FARM.

Rakesh Koneru: EVERY TRACTOR HAS A CERTAIN DEMAND IN TERMS OF THE BATTERY PACK SIZE AND THINGS LIKE THAT... HOW LONG THEY USE, HOW LONG THEY DRIVE, SO ON AND SO FORTH, SO WHERE WE'RE UNIQUE IS WE'RE TRYING TO ADAPT WHERE THE COMMONALITY OF PARTS COME IN PLAY.

SO, WHEN YOU TRY TO SCALE IT UP, IT'S EASY TO MIX AND MATCH A PRODUCTION LINE WITH DIFFERENT SCALE OF VEHICLES WITH THE SAME SYSTEM.

John: LIKE ANY FARM IN AMERICA, ECONOMICS COMES INTO PLAY HERE TOO.

DROUGHT CONDITIONS IN CALIFORNIA AND ELSEWHERE HAVE FORCED GROWERS TO CULTIVATE FEWER ACRES TO CONSERVE WATER, MEANING TIGHTER CROP DENSITY IS THE KEY TO MAKING ENDS MEET.

SO TRACTORS OF THE FUTURE MAY NEED TO HUG THE GROUND TO FIT UNDER CLOSELY-PLANTED TREES, OR BE EXTRA SKINNY TO DRIVE BETWEEN THEM.

Rakesh: THE MAIN IDEA FOR US WAS TO SHOWCASE THE CAPABILITY OF WHAT AN ELECTRIFICATION CAN BRING INTO FARMING, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE ALSO EXPLORING THE IDEA OF WHAT IT TAKES FOR THE FARMER TO BE READY FOR FUTURE FARMING.

AND EVERY FARM HAS A DIFFERENT, UNIQUE, REQUIREMENT.

IF YOU GO TO A VINEYARD, THEIR NEEDS ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, SO WHEN WE SEE THE MARKET EXPANSION, WE WANT TO EXPLORE THE IDEA OF, LET'S DESIGN A CHASSIS FROM GROUND LEVEL UP, WHICH IS WELL THOUGHT THROUGH, YOU KNOW, WHICH CAN STICK ON FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS.

John: THIS TYPE OF CUSTOM DESIGN IS WELL-SUITED FOR THE FLEXIBLE PACKAGING AFFORDED BY ELECTRIC BATTERY PACKS.

SO, IT LOOKS THE E-VOLUTION OF MODERN FARMING IN THE NEAR FUTURE MAY WELL BE FUELED BY THE EV REVOLUTION OF TODAY.

THIS TWIN TURBO 1991 NISSAN 300ZX IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

AS HIS SECOND 300ZX, SEAN NYSTUL FROM COLUMBUS, MONTANA ADMITS THAT THIS CAR KEEPS HIS SPIRITS YOUNG, AS HE BOUGHT HIS FIRST 300ZX NEW FROM THE FACTORY IN 1990.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR HIGH-PERFORMANCE RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... LOW TIRE PRESSURE?

YOU'RE REINFLATED AND IT SLOWLY GOES DOWN OVER SEVERAL DAYS.

WELL, YOU PROBABLY THINK YOU HAVE A SMALL HOLE IN THE TIRE.

NOT SO FAST.

PAT GOSS SHOWS US WHY THE MYSTERY OF ESCAPING AIR MAY BE POINTING TO SOMETHING ELSE.

* Pat Goss: THIS TIME LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS SEE ALMOST DAILY IN THE REPAIR SHOPS.

AND THAT IS PROBLEMS WITH THE ALLOY WHEELS, BUT ESPECIALLY CHROME PLATED ALLOY WHEELS.

OVER HERE, WE HAVE WHEN WE'RE LOOKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF IT OF COURSE.

AND WE CAN SEE WHERE THE CHROME HAS PEELED AND IS COMING LOOSE AND IN GENERAL, THIS IS ONE UGLY LOOKING WHEEL.

OVER HERE, WE SEE THE BACK OF IT WHERE IT LOOKS EVEN WORSE.

HERE, WE HAVE ALL TYPES OF CHROME PEELING OFF AND CORROSION SETTING IN AND SO ON.

BUT, THE PROBLEM GOES DEEPER THAN THAT.

SEE, IN A CASE LIKE THIS, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHEELS IF YOU WANT IT TO LOOK DECENT.

BUT ALL WHEELS, ESPECIALLY ALL ALLOY WHEELS, NOT SO MUCH STEEL WHEELS BUT ALLOY WHEELS WILL HAVE A TENDENCY TO CORRODE.

NOW, WHAT WE SEE IS, AND LET'S TURN THIS AROUND.

WHAT WE SEE IN THE SHOP IS THAT THEY COME IN, AND THEY HAVE ALL THESE BLISTERS AND BUBBLES.

NOW, THE REASON THE CAR IS THERE IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE.

MAYBE A WARNING LIGHT OR IT MAY JUST BE THAT THE TIRES LOOK LOW OR DRIVE LOW, OR GO FLAT, OR WHATEVER.

USUALLY, THE CUSTOMER COMES IN, AND SAYS, "I'VE GOT A NAIL IN MY TIRE" OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND WE GO ABOUT CHECKING THE TIRE FOR NAILS, SCREWS, AND OTHER THINGS THAT COULD CAUSE LEAKS.

ULTIMATELY, WE FIND THAT THE BEAD OF THE WHEEL IS ALL CORRODE LIKE THIS ONE.

SOMEBODY'S TRIED TO FIX THIS, THEY'VE USED A WIRE BRUSH SUCH AS WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

IT DIDN'T WORK, IT STILL LEAKED.

SO THE THINGS YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL OF HERE, YOU CAN HELP PREVENT THIS BY MAKING SURE THAT THE SHOP THAT IS WORKING ON YOUR TIRES, USES A LUBRICANT TO MOUNT THE TIRES THAT IS LOW IN WATER CONTENT.

ALSO, MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR THAT YOU PUT INTO THE TIRE COMES FROM A COMPRESSOR THAT HAS A WATER SEPARATOR ON IT, SO YOU DON'T GET ANY WATER INSIDE THE TIRE.

BECAUSE REMEMBER, THIS THING IS AIR TIGHT, SO IF THE AIR CAN'T GET OUT, THE WATER CAN'T GET OUT, AND IT SITS IN HERE AND IT EATS AWAY AT THE CHROME AT THE ALUMINUM ALLOY.

WHATEVER IT IS, IT CREATES A PROBLEM AND YOU HAVE TO BUY NEW WHEELS.

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

John: TIME NOW FOR LAUREN MORRISON AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: NEW CAR FEVER IS HEATING UP AS BOTH CHICAGO AND NEW YORK GET READY FOR SPECIAL SUMMER AUTO SHOWS.

WHILE, WE TYPICALLY SEE THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN APRIL, COVID MADE THAT IMPOSSIBLE.

INSTEAD, THE SHOW WILL NOW HAPPEN IN AUGUST IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED JAVITS CENTER AND WILL FEATURE AN INDOOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE TEST TRACK.

CHICAGO'S AUTO SHOW ALSO MAKING THE MOVE FROM ITS TYPICAL FEBRUARY TIME SLOT.

INSTEAD, THE SHOW WILL RUN FOR HALF OF ITS USUAL NUMBER OF DAYS, FROM JULY 15TH TO THE 19TH AND THEY'LL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE WARMER WEATHER BY EXPANDING DRIVING AND DISPLAYS OUTDOORS.

AND THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE PUBLIC WILL GET TO EXPERIENCE FORD'S NEW ALL-ELECTRIC PICKUP THE 2022 F-150 LIGHTNING.

EVEN THOUGH PRODUCTION DOESN'T START FOR MONTHS FORD ALREADY HAS OVER 70,000 RESERVATIONS FOR THE F-150 LIGHTNING.

BUT, ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF THOSE RESERVATIONS TRANSLATE INTO ACTUAL SALES.

THE CLASS OF 2021 IS READY TO HIT THE ROAD AND THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY HAS SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW GRADS AND NEW CARS.

THE IIHS AND CONSUMER REPORTS HAVE UPDATED THEIR LIST OF AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, AND SAFE VEHICLES FOR TEENS.

RIGHT NOW, SOARING DEMAND AND TIGHT SUPPLY HAVE DRIVEN THE PRICES OF USED VEHICLES WAY UP.

IF YOU CAN FIND THEM, THEY HAVE THE UPDATED LISTS ON THEIR WEBSITES.

IT CONTAINS 61 USED VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE 2019 KIA NIRO, 2017 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, AND THE 2014 FORD TAURUS, TO NAME JUST A FEW.

THEY ALSO PUT TOGETHER A LIST OF NEW VEHICLES, AGAIN IF YOU CAN FIND THEM.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

John: NOW LET'S CHECK OUT A NEW QUICKSPIN FOR SOME AUTOMOTIVE STYLE FUN HEADED OUR WAY.

* Jessica Ray: WE'VE SEEN MANY ATTEMPTS TO MAKE THE MINIVAN COOL OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS 2022 KIA CARNIVAL MAY BE THE FIRST TO ACTUALLY PULL IT OFF.

WHILE, THE BASIC MINIVAN, BIG BOX SHAPE REMAINS, THE TALL BODY SIDES, AND CHOPPED GREENHOUSE, GIVE IT AN ALMOST FORD FLEX-LIKE PSEUDO-SUV VIBE.

OH, AND DON'T CALL IT A MINIVAN, IT'S AN MPV, MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE.

OF COURSE, JUST LIKE A MINIVAN, AN MPV NEEDS TO PAIR THOSE LOOKS WITH THE CONNECTIVITY AND FLEXIBILITY THAT TODAY'S ON THE GO FAMILIES DEMAND.

EIGHT-PASSENGER VERSIONS FEATURE SLIDE-FLEX SEATING, WITH THE ABILITY TO EITHER SLIDE THE SECOND ROW MIDDLE SEAT FORWARD FOR EASY ACCESS TO A CAR SEAT, OR FOLD IT INTO A TABLE.

SEVEN-PASSENGER VERSIONS CAN GET VIP LOUNGE SEATING, ESSENTIALLY ONBOARD LAZY BOYS.

John: REMEMBER THE LATE 1980s MAZDA MPV?

IT WAS THEIR ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT THE MINIVAN STIGMA TOO.

BUT...WHY?

MINIVANS ARE THE MOST USEFUL VEHICLES ON THE PLANET!

AND THE KIA CARNIVAL MPV IS CHOCK FULL OF THE BIG SCREEN ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY, LOUNGING COMFORT, CARGO FLEXIBILITY, AND ADVANCED SAFETY THAT FAMILIES NEED.

SO, DON'T APOLOGIZE FOR IT, CELEBRATE IT!

Jessica: STANDARD ENGINE IS A 3.5 LITER V6, DELIVERING A CLASS BEST 290 HORSEPOWER.

FOR HELP IN KEEPING THE KIDDOS SAFE, 12 ADVANCED DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS ARE STANDARD, AND KIA'S BLIND-SPOT VIEW MONITOR IS AVAILABLE.

Greg Carloss: TO ME, YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT A MINIVAN, IF YOU NEED SPACE, AND VERSATILITY FOR AT LEAST FOUR PEOPLE.

BUT IT'S THE STYLE AND STIGMA THAT COMES WITH MINIVANS, WHICH TURNS MOST PEOPLE OFF.

KIA KNOWS THIS OBVIOUSLY, AND WHILE I THINK MOST PEOPLE WILL SEE RIGHT THROUGH THE MULTI-PURPOSE-VEHICLE MONIKER, I DO THINK, THE SUV-LIKE STYLING WILL ATTRACT SOME FAMILIES TO THE CARNIVAL.

ALTHOUGH, THE LACK OF AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM COULD BE A DEALBREAKER.

Jessica: THIS PARTY ON WHEELS WILL REPLACE THE CURRENT SEDONA WHEN IT ARRIVES IN KIA SHOWROOMS THIS SUMMER.

TELL THE KIDS WE'RE NOT QUITE THERE YET, BUT WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE INFO ON THE 2022 KIA CARNIVAL SOON, HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

John: WITH MERCEDES-BENZ UPPING THEIR ENTRY-LEVEL APPEAL EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU MIGHT THINK THERE'S NO REASON LEFT TO STEP UP TO THE MIDDLE WEIGHT E-CLASS.

WELL, MERCEDES WAS AFRAID YOU MIGHT BE THINKING THAT; SO THEY'VE UPGRADED THE E FOR '21 TO MAKE ITS LOFTIER APPEAL EVER MORE SO.

* BACK IN THE DAY, TO GET THE FULL MERCEDES-BENZ EXPERIENCE - YOU HAD TO GO FOR AT LEAST A MIDSIZE E-CLASS, AS ENTRY LEVEL MODELS WERE MORE THAN A FEW STEPS DOWN.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE E-CLASS SEDAN IS ANY LESS OF A CAR THAN IT WAS BEFORE.

IN FACT, THE 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS OFFERS BUYERS MORE THAN EVER.

STARTING WITH A REVISED INTERIOR THAT FEATURES THE TYPICAL UPGRADE IN MATERIALS; BUT GOES A STEP FURTHER WITH AN ALL-NEW STEERING WHEEL FEATURING TOUCH-SENSITIVE CONTROLS; AS WELL AS SENSORS NEEDED FOR THE OPERATION OF SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING.

THE TWIN-SCREEN DASH DISPLAY IS LARGELY THE SAME, AND THAT'S A GOOD THING, AS IT IS AS EFFICIENT TO USE AS IT IS BEAUTIFUL TO LOOK AT.

THE CENTRAL SCREEN IS OF COURSE...A TOUCHSCREEN, BUT THERE'S ALSO A CENTRAL CONTROLLER, WHICH ALSO GETS AN UPDATE; ELIMINATING THE JOG-WHEEL PORTION, LEAVING JUST THE TOUCHPAD, WHICH NOW BLENDS INTO THE CENTER CONSOLE MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY.

NEW TECH MEANS ENHANCED FUNCTIONS FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ USER EXPERIENCE WITH AUGMENTED NAVIGATION.

AS WELL AS UPDATED DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURES, INCLUDING BETTER FUNCTIONALITY FOR STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC ASSIST, AND A NEW EXIT WARNING ASSIST.

THINGS OUTSIDE GET A RE-WORK AS WELL; THERE ARE UPDATED FASCIAS-- FRONT AND REAR; ALONG WITH A NEW TRUNK LID AND TAIL LIGHTS.

AND THERE'S ALSO, A DIFFERENT HOOD WITH ADDED POWER DOMES THAT HINT OF SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE HOOD, AND INDEED THERE IS.

OUR E450 TEST CAR FEATURES MERCEDES' LATEST 3.0 LITER INLINE 6 TURBO ENGINE, WHICH REPLACES THE PREVIOUS V6.

WITH AN ADDED EQ 48 VOLT ELECTRIC BOOST, THE INLINE RATES 362 HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET; EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE V6.

THE BASE 2.0 LITER GOT A BOOST FROM 241 TO 255 HORSEPOWER LAST YEAR; SO IT REMAINS UNCHANGED.

BOTH WORK THROUGH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WITH 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OPTIONAL WITH THE 4-CYLINDER; STANDARD IN THE 450.

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS BEEN MAKING THINGS MORE EFFICIENT FOR AT LEAST AS LONG AS MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN AROUND.

IN OUR VERY FIRST SEASON, IT WAS ANOTHER INLINE ENGINE PERFORMING THE TASK, ONLY IT WAS A DIESEL IN THE 300SD.

WE CALLED IT, "THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE ECONOMY CAR."

AND, AT 28 MPG IT CERTAINLY GOT THE JOB DONE, BUT AT THE PRICE OF A SMALL HOME.

AT OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME, MOTORWEEK'S TEST TRACK, THIS E450 4MATIC HOOKED RIGHT UP AND GOT TO WORK, WITH THE HEALTHY SOUNDING I6 PROVIDING POWERFUL AND PLEASANT BACKGROUND MUSIC.

IT FEELS REALLY QUICK, AND A 4.3 SECOND TRIP TO 60 IS INDEED INCREDIBLE FOR A MERCEDES-BENZ WITHOUT AN AMG BADGE.

STILL, WITH EVERYTHING FROM POWER DELIVERY, TO THE 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC'S SHIFTS, PLUS, THE 450'S CALM DEMEANOR DOWN THE TRACK BEING SO SMOOTH, IT HAD US DOUBLE AND TRIPLE CHECKING OUR NUMBERS.

GETTING THROUGH A QUARTER MILE IN 12.9 SECONDS AT 107 MILES PER HOUR WITH THIS MUCH SERENITY IS SOMETHING WE'RE ONLY USED TO EXPERIENCING IN A BENTLEY.

THE FEELING WAS SIMILAR THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE AS WELL.

OTHER THAN OPTIONAL 19 INCH AMG TWIN 5-SPOKE ALLOY WHEELS, THERE ARE NO SPORT PACKAGES OR AMG HANDLING ADD-ONS HERE, SO THIS CAR IS SET UP FOR STRAIGHT BENZ LUXURY.

SO, YOU'D THINK IT'D BE A SNOOZER THROUGH THE CONES, BUT THAT WASN'T REALLY THE CASE.

TRUE, MOST OF THE FEEDBACK FROM THE CHASSIS AND STEERING WHEEL IS MUTED; BUT STEERING WAS LIGHT AND ACCURATE, AND THERE WAS ONLY MINOR BODY ROLL.

BRAKES KEPT THE SMOOTH VIBE GOING, BUT NOT THE HIGH-PERFORMANCE-LIKE RESULTS, WITH STOPS OF A STILL GOOD 123 FEET FROM 60.

OF COURSE, THERE'S A LOT MORE TO THE E-CLASS EXPERIENCE, AS MERCEDES-BENZ STILL OFFERS COUPE AND CONVERTIBLE VARIETIES, AND EVEN WAGONS; NOT TO MENTION AMG VERSIONS OF THEM ALL.

E-CLASS SEDAN PRICING STARTS AT $55,300 FOR A REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE 2.0 LITER; OUR E450 4MATIC, AT $63,050; WITH AMG VERSIONS ESCALATING FROM THERE.

A MIDSIZE SEDAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG PART OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP, AND DESPITE DOING A HEALTHY SHARE OF SUV BUSINESS THESE DAYS, THE E-CLASS REMAINS THE NUMBER-ONE SELLING NAMEPLATE IN MERCEDES-BENZ HISTORY.

IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, CHANGES TO THIS 2021 MERCEDES-BENZ E450 4MATIC MAY BE RELATIVELY MINOR.

BUT THE SMOOTH AND REFINED POWER OF ITS NEW INLINE 6 ENGINE HAS CLEARLY ELEVATED THE 10TH GENERATION E TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL; CONTINUING THE E-CLASS TRADITION OF DELIVERING EXCEPTIONAL LUXURY TRANSPORTATION.

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, FOR A ROAD TEST OF GENESIS' LONG AWAITED UTILITY VEHICLE, THE GV80.

THEN, WE'LL PUT THE ALL NEW FORD F-150 TO THE TEST.

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... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE, OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

FIND, DELIVER, INSTALL.

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.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] * YOUR WATCHING PBS.