MotorWeek

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

JOIN US FOR A MERCEDES-AMG SPORT UTILITY THAT CRANKS UP BOTH STYLE AND PERFORMANCE... PAT GOSS SHOWS US THAT EVs NEED ROUTINE CAR CARE TOO... BRIAN ROBINSON TWISTS THE THROTTLE ON AN IMPRESSIVE MIDDLEWEIGHT FROM HONDA... AND WE'LL TURBO DIESEL POWER OUR WAY FORWARD IN THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO DURAMAX...

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... 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: THERE'S NO DOUBT, THAT EUROPEAN LUXURY BRANDS HAVE TAKEN AMERICA'S SUV IDEA ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT DIRECTION WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF COUPE-STYLE UTILITIES.

LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM, YOU HAVE TO ADMIT THEY ARE SOME OF THE BEST LOOKING UTEs ON THE ROAD TODAY.

AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE, THE MERCEDES-AMG GLE 53 COUPE.

MERCEDES-BENZ HAS FULLY EMBRACED THE "COUPE CULTURE" WHEN IT COMES TO SUVs.

AND AS WE'VE ALREADY LEARNED, THEY'RE NOT SHY ABOUT INCORPORATING VARIOUS DEGREES OF AMG PERFORMANCE INTO EVERYTHING THEY BUILD.

THE 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GLE 53 COUPE SEES THOSE TWO IDEAS MEET IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT'S JUST OUR TASTES EXPANDING TO APPRECIATE THESE COUPE SUVs MORE, OR IF THEY'RE JUST MAKING THEM LOOK A LOT MORE APPEALING; AS THE GLE 53 COUPE IS A SPECTACULAR LOOKING MACHINE.

THOUGH IT REALLY DOES RESEMBLE A CAR MORE THAN A UTILITY.

NOT ONLY DOES THE ROOF SLOPE MORE THAN THE STANDARD GLE, BUT THEY'VE CHOPPED 2.4 INCHES OFF THE WHEELBASE AND DECREASED RIDE HEIGHT BY MORE THAN A HALF AN INCH; CREATING A TIDY AND COHESIVE PACKAGE THAT LOOKS TO BE THE PERFECT PLATFORM FOR AN AMG MASSAGE.

IN CASE ONE MISSES THE AMG BADGE ON THE REAR HATCH; AMG TREATMENTS TO THE GRILLE, FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS, ALONG WITH EXTENDED SIDE SKIRTS, DECK-LID SPOILER, 21 INCH WHEELS, OR OPTIONAL 22s, AND AN AMG EXHAUST, LETS EVERYONE KNOW IT'S NOT JUST A MERCEDES UTILITY.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS STANDARD, SO YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF-ROAD AND MUDDY UP ALL OF THAT BEAUTIFUL BODYWORK, THANKS TO NEW TRAIL AND SAND DRIVE MODES, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO RAISE GROUND CLEARANCE BY 2.2 INCHES.

BUT MOST WILL JUST ENJOY ITS ALL-WEATHER BENEFITS AND THE INCREASED ON-ROAD PERFORMANCE THAT AMG'S 4MATIC+ HAS TO OFFER.

BUT WHEN IT COMES TO PERKS, THE 429 HORSEPOWER INLINE-6 TURBO ENGINE UNDER THE HOOD, IS QUITE A GOOD ONE.

IT USES A 48-VOLT EQ BOOST TO ADD POWER UNTIL THE TURBO IS UP TO SPEED; MEANING THE MAX 384 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE IS DELIVERED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD, AS IS AMG RIDE CONTROL AIR SUSPENSION, WHICH PROVIDES CONTINUOUS DAMPING THAT QUICKLY ADAPTS TO YOUR CURRENT ROAD AND DRIVING SITUATION.

SHOULD THAT SITUATION INVOLVE A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS, IT'S QUITE SATISFYING.

IT FEELS LOW TO THE GROUND AND WELL-PLANTED, WITH A LOT OF GRIP TO EXPLOIT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ADD AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL, BUT ITS DUAL INDEPENDENTLY OPERATING ELECTRO-MECHANICAL ACTUATORS VIRTUALLY ELIMINATE BODY ROLL WHEN CORNERING.

STEERING IS VERY DIRECT TOO, WITH THE ABILITY TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR PREFERRED LEVEL OF RESPONSE.

AND SPEAKING OF RESPONSE, YOU'LL GET PLENTY OF IT WHEN YOU HAMMER THE THROTTLE IN THE GLE 53; LEAPING OFF THE LINE AND TO 60 IN JUST 5.1 SECONDS, AND ON THROUGH THE QUARTER-MILE IN 13.5 AT 101 MILES PER HOUR.

UPGRADED AMG BRAKES WERE UP TO THE TASK AS WELL, BRINGING US TO A HALT IN JUST 99 FEET FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR.

DESPITE THE LOSS OF WHEELBASE, MERCEDES HAS KEPT SPACE INSIDE THE 5-PASSENGER CABIN MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

THE ONLY SHORTFALL IS IN BEHIND SEAT CARGO SPACE; JUST 23.1 CUBIC-FEET COMPARED TO THE STANDARD GLE'S 33.3.

MAXIMUM CAPACITY WITH SEAT BACKS FOLDED IS 63.2.

MB-TEX AND MICROFIBER MATERIALS HIGHLIGHTED BY COLOR STITCHING ARE STANDARD, BUT YOU CAN RAISE THE BAR BY UPGRADING TO NAPPA LEATHER WITH DIAMOND STITCHING, AS WELL AS ADDING NATURAL GRAIN GRAY OAK WOOD TRIM.

COUPE-STYLE SUVs ARE A RELATIVELY RECENT PHENOMENON; IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP SINCE JUST 2016 AND LAST GEN'S GLE.

IT'S HARD TO SAY WHO ACTUALLY STARTED THE TREND, BUT IT CERTAINLY GOES BACK TO AT LEAST 2008 AS BMW'S X6; FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY ACURA'S ZDX.

PERHAPS, ONE COULD EVEN SAY, PONTIAC'S 2001 AZTEK HAD A HAND IN STARTING THE TREND.

AHHH...GM, ALWAYS AHEAD OF THEIR TIME.

BASE GLE 53 COUPE PRICING COMES IN AT $77,550; A $4,150 PREMIUM OVER THE STANDARD GLE 53 SUV.

BUT DON'T THINK OF THIS 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GLE 53 COUPE SO MUCH AS A SPORTIER AND MORE STYLISH SUV; THINK OF IT AS A JACKED UP PERFORMANCE FASTBACK THAT'S FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY.

OR BETTER YET, DON'T THINK ABOUT IT AT ALL; JUST DRIVE IT AND ENJOY IT!

Flashback Bear: UH, YEAH.

THIS THING IS PRETTY GOOD FOR A YA KNOW, LIKE LIGHT OFF ROAD.

YOU DON'T WANT TO DO TOO MUCH HARD CORE STUFF, MAYBE FIRE ROADS, YA KNOW SOME NICE DRY TRAILS; STAY OUT OF THE MUD.

THE TIRES ARE PRETTY AGGRESSIVE AND IT DOES PRETTY GOOD.

I USE IT ON LIKE A DAILY BASIS.

John: GETTING A MIDDLEWEIGHT MOTORCYCLE RIGHT IS TOUGH.

IT NEEDS TO APPEAL TO NEWER RIDERS, YET ALSO, OFFER ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO SATISFY EXPERIENCED ONES.

WELL, OUR TWO WHEELING GUY BRIAN ROBINSON FILLS US IN ON HOW HONDA'S CB 650 R WALKS THAT TIGHTROPE.

Brian Robinson: WELL, THE BAD NEWS IS, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A SWEET STRIPPED DOWN MIDDLEWEIGHT PERFORMANCE MACHINE FROM HONDA, THE CB 650 F IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S BEEN REPLACED BY THIS EVEN SWEETER CB 650 R. AND, WE ALL KNOW THAT R STANDS FOR RACE, WHICH IMMEDIATELY MAKES THIS 2020 HONDA CB 650 R THAT MUCH COOLER.

BUT THE TRANSFORMATION HERE IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A LETTER CHANGE; THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN UPGRADED, WITH AN INVERTED 41 MM SHOWA FORK NOW STABILIZING THE FRONT END, JOINING THE SINGLE REAR SHOWA SHOCK.

THE ATTACHED BRAKES ARE NEW AS WELL; FLOATING ROTORS WITH 4-PISTON CALIPERS, ABS IS NOW STANDARD.

THE 17 INCH WHEELS ARE ALSO NEW; 120/70s UP FRONT, 180/55s IN REAR.

THE STEEL FRAME ITSELF HAS ALSO BEEN REVISED, MOSTLY TO SHAVE WEIGHT; PART OF AN OVERALL 11.6 POUNDS WEIGHT LOSS PLAN THE CB 650 R HAS GONE THROUGH.

THERE'S A FULL LCD DIGITAL GAUGE ARRAY; INFO IS FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE AND IT REMAINS EASY TO READ EVEN IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT.

NOW, GETTING TO THE REALLY GOOD STUFF, THE INLINE 649 CC LIQUID-COOLED 4-CYLINDER ENGINE GETS A MAKEOVER AS WELL.

BOTH INTAKE AND EXHAUST HAVE BEEN REVISED, WITH NEW CAM TIMING, AND AN 11.6:1 COMPRESSION RATIO TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

IT ALSO, REVS HIGHER THAN BEFORE, CLOSE TO 13,000 RPM.

HONDA DOESN'T RELEASE HORSEPOWER NUMBERS, BUT IT'S SAFE TO SAY, YOU'RE GETTING MORE THAN 80 AT THE REAR WHEEL.

THERE'S A 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION NATURALLY, WITH AN ASSIST/SLIPPER CLUTCH TO SMOOTH OUT DOWNSHIFTS.

NOW, IF YOU'RE THE KIND OF RIDER THAT LIKES TO SHORT SHIFT YOUR WAY THROUGH LIFE, YOU'LL NEVER GET A GRASP OF WHAT THIS MACHINE IS TRULY CAPABLE OF; AS WHILE THIS INLINE-4 FEELS ADEQUATELY TORQUEY OFF THE LINE, IT DOESN'T REALLY SHOW WHAT'S IT'S GOT UNTIL THE VIRTUAL DIAL PASSES 6,000 RPM OR SO.

THINGS CAN GET A LITTLE BUZZY THROUGH THE BARS ONCE YOU GET UP THERE, BUT YOU'RE HAVING SUCH A BLAST DOING IT, BACKING OFF NEVER REALLY FEELS LIKE A NECESSARY OPTION.

THE BIKE ITSELF FEELS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT, WITH A RIDING POSITION THAT IS SPORTIER THAN MOST STANDARDS, BUT STOPS WELL SHORT OF BEING PAIN INDUCING OR LIMITING RIDE TIME.

SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENTS ARE MINIMAL, BUT IT SEEMED TO SOAK UP ALL BUT THE HARSHEST PAVEMENT IMPERFECTIONS RELATIVELY EASILY.

THE STANDARD ABS, NOT ONLY ELIMINATES WHEEL LOCK-UP ON HARD BRAKING, BUT INCLUDES HONDA'S SELECTABLE TORQUE CONTROL REDUCING REAR-WHEEL SLIP.

AS FOR THE ALL-IMPORTANT LOOKS, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF FINISHES HERE: PAINTED, POLISHED, BLACKENED, BURNISHED BRONZED, CHROMED, YOU NAME IT; ALONG WITH A CHISELED 4.1 GALLON GAS TANK AND AN EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT IS TRULY A WORK OF ART.

ALL WITHOUT THE OVERACHIEVING SCI-FI LOOK OF MANY SPORTY STANDARDS IN THE MARKET TODAY; NOTHING CRAZY HERE, JUST A WELL-DESIGNED MODERN-LOOKING MOTORCYCLE.

ALL LIGHTS ARE LED'S.

SWITCHGEAR IS TYPICAL HONDA, MIRRORS ARE OUT WIDE ENOUGH TO BE VERY USEFUL, AND THERE'S EVEN A LITTLE STORAGE SPACE UNDER THE TWO-PIECE SEAT.

HONDA KEEPS IT SIMPLE, JUST ONE NEO-SPORTS CAF CLASSICALLY-STYLED CB 650 R TO CHOOSE FROM IN CHROMOSPHERE RED FOR $9,199.

FOR THAT, YOU GET JUST ABOUT THE PERFECT MIDDLEWEIGHT MOTORCYCLE.

THE 2020 HONDA CB 650 R IS COOL TO LOOK AT, AND FUN TO RIDE, WITH A SERIOUS PERFORMANCE PUNCH THAT SHOULD KEEP YOU SATISFIED FOR A LONG TIME.

MIDDLEWEIGHT MAGIC; THE R HAS IT!

John: ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF AN EV IS SUPPOSED TO BE LESS MAINTENANCE.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE CAR CARE FREE.

LET'S GET MORE DETAILS FROM PAT DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

Pat Goss: HERE'S SOMETHING WE DON'T SEE NEARLY ENOUGH OF, AND THAT'S AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ON A LIFT, IN A SERVICE SHOP.

NOW, WHY IS IT THAT WE DON'T SEE THEM?

WELL, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE WHO OWN AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE SEEM TO THINK THAT ZERO EMISSIONS MEANS ZERO MAINTENANCE.

WELL, THAT'S TRUE FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CAR, NOT IN ALL PARTS OF THE CAR.

SO, WHAT DO WE HAVE?

WELL, WE DON'T HAVE AN ENGINE, SO WE DON'T HAVE OIL CHANGES AND FILTERS, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

WE DON'T HAVE A FUEL TANK, WE DON'T PUT GASOLINE IN THEM.

AND WE DON'T HAVE A TRANSMISSION IN MOST OF THEM, SO WE DON'T HAVE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SO ON.

BUT WHY DO THEY HAVE TO GO TO A REPAIR SHOP?

WELL, MOST OF THEM HAVE COOLING SYSTEMS FOR THE BATTERIES.

THEY HAVE ALL OF THE SAME MECHANICAL THINGS UNDERNEATH.

THINGS LIKE, CONTROL ARMS FOR THE STEERING, THE STEERING RACK, THE AXLES FOR THE DRIVE WHEELS, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, ALL OF THESE THINGS SHOULD BE CHECKED ON A REGULAR BASIS.

NOW ADDITIONALLY, IT SHOULD GO INTO THE SHOP EVERY 7500 MILES OR SO TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED, SO THAT YOU GET THE BEST WEAR OUT OF THE TIRES.

AND AT THE SAME TIME JUST LIKE ON AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION CAR, WHAT THE TECHNICIAN SHOULD BE DOING IS GOING OVER ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS.

THE SUSPENSION, THE BRAKES, A BATTERY TEST, NOT THE ELECTRIC BATTERY BUT THE BATTERY THAT OPERATES THE RADIO AND ALL OF THESE OTHER COMPONENTS THAT ARE 12 VOLT ON THE CAR.

SO, THESE ARE THINGS THAT SHOULD BE A ROUTINE FOR ANY ELECTRIC VEHICLE JUST LIKE IT IS FOR A GAS POWERED VEHICLE.

SO, THE OTHER THING IS, IF YOU'RE A DO-IT-YOURSELFER, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AGAINST DOING MUCH OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN TIRE ROTATIONS AND MAYBE CHECKING THE BRAKES OR SOMETHING.

DO NOT GET NEAR THE ORANGE WIRES.

THEY CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS.

SO, DO A LITTLE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE ON YOUR EV AND YOU'LL GET A LOT BETTER SERVICE LIFE OUT OF IT.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS THIS BRIGHT YELLOW, 1993 HONDA BEAT ROADSTER.

HOWARD LIEBER FROM SOLON, OHIO LOVES TOOLING AROUND TOWN, TOP DOWN IN THIS PININFARINA STYLED, JAPANESE KEI CAR CLASS MID-ENGINE TWO-SEATER.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR TINY RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO TIME NOW FOR SOMETHING NEW WITH A FRESH BATCH OF QUICKSPINS!

Jessica Ray: IF YOU'RE A LUXURY BRAND, IT'S HARD TO STAY COMPETITIVE WITHOUT AN SUV IN YOUR LINEUP; AND ASTON MARTIN HAS FINALLY JOINED THE FRAY WITH THE 2021 ASTON MARTIN DBX.

IT MAY BE THE FIRST UTILITY VEHICLE IN THE BRAND'S 106 YEAR HISTORY, BUT IT'S THE KIND OF SUV YOU EXPECT FROM A LUXURY CAR COMPANY THAT'S REALLY A SPORTS CAR COMPANY AT HEART.

SO, AT THE DBX'S CORE IS A 542 HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO 4.0 LITER V8 COURTESY OF AMG, WITH AN ACTIVE EXHAUST SYSTEM ALLOWING IT TO RUN NEAR SILENTLY AROUND TOWN, OR ROAR TO THE FULLEST WHEN STREAKING TO 60 IN 4.5 SECONDS.

A 48-VOLT ELECTRIC ANTI-ROLL CONTROL SYSTEM KEEPS THINGS FLAT IN CORNERS, WHILE THE ADJUSTABLE AIR SUSPENSION GOES FROM FIRM FOR ULTIMATE HANDLING TO TALL AND SOFT WITH 2.0 INCHES OF LIFT FOR OFF-ROAD USE.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT; EXTENSIVE TIME WAS SPENT DURING DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THE DBX CAN GET THE JOB DONE WHEN IT COMES BACK-COUNTRY EXPLORING.

Greg Carloss: IT'S FLAT OUT WRONG TO DISMISS THE DBX AS A TRUE SUV JUST BECAUSE IT'S AN ASTON MARTIN.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED CENTER AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL, IT'll FORD ALMOST 20 INCHES OF WATER AND IT HAS MULTIPLE TERRAIN MODES, AND OFF ROAD ASSIST FEATURES LIKE DOWNHILL DESCENT CONTROL.

SO, IT WILL HANDLE THE ROUGH STUFF.

AND IS IT SO WRONG TO DO SO WITH A LITTLE BIT OF STYLE?

Jessica: THE 5-PASSENGER DBX HAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR FAMILY ADVENTURES, BUT THE LUXURIOUSLY HAND-CRAFTED SPACE IS SO NICE INSIDE, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO LET THE KIDS OR THE PETS ANYWHERE NEAR IT.

AS FOR THE EXTERIOR, WELL IT'S EVERY BIT AN ASTON MARTIN; FROM THE SIGNATURE GRILLE AND HIGHLY SCULPTED BODY LINES, TO THE SLOPING ROOF, AND SLEEK REAR.

2021 ASTON MARTIN DBX'S ARE STARTING TO ROLL OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE NOW, WITH U.S.

DELIVERIES BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR; PRICING STARTS AT AROUND $177,000.

Greg: OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN 2020, THE RETURN OF THE FORD BRONCO HAS TO BE ONE OF THE HIGH POINTS.

AND WHILE, THE ROUGH AND TOUGH, TWO AND FOUR DOOR BRONCOS GET MOST OF THE ATTENTION, CHANCES ARE, THE SMALLER BRONCO SPORT WILL GET MOST OF THE SALES.

THE BRONCO SPORT RIDES ON THE ESCAPE'S PLATFORM, BUT IS ABOUT 8-INCHES SHORTER, PUTTING IT UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF THE JEEP COMPASS, WHICH IS MOST APPARENT IN THE TIGHT SECOND ROW.

BUT ITS TALL, BOXY PROFILE PROVIDES A WEALTH OF HEADROOM.

THERE'S ALSO AMPLE SPACE IN THE REAR CARGO AREA, WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE LIFTING REAR GLASS.

A NICE AND INCREASINGLY RARE FEATURE.

THE INTERIOR IS OF THE UTILITARIAN FAMILY VARIETY WITH A STANDARD 8.0 INCH CENTER TOUCHSCREEN, ROTARY SHIFTER, AND AVAILABLE EASY-CLEAN RUBBERIZED FLOORING.

BASE ENGINE IS A 181 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER ECOBOOST 3-CYLINDER TURBO RATED AT 26 MPG COMBINED.

A 2.0 LITER ECOBOOST TURBO 4 SERVES AS THE UPGRADE, OFFERING BEST-IN-CLASS 250 HORSEPOWER AND 277 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TWO-LITER FUEL ECONOMY COMES IN AT 23 MPG COMBINED.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD AS IS AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ALTHOUGH THE 2.0 LITER ATTACHES TO A MORE ADVANCED GEARBOX WITH AN OIL COOLER AND PADDLE SHIFTERS.

IT WAS THIS SETUP IN WHICH WE TOOK OUR FIRST DRIVE AROUND THE VILLAGE OF HOLLY IN MICHIGAN.

THIS BRONCO SPORT REALLY HITS ITS MARK AS THE EVERYDAY OFF-ROAD SUV BECAUSE IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE ON THE ROAD.

A GREAT COMMANDING VIEW, LOTS OF VISIBILITY UP FRONT, YOU SIT UP HIGH.

BUT, MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THIS BADLANDS TRIM SO FAR IS THE ENGINE.

TWO-LITER TURBOCHARGED FOUR-CYLINDER, 250 HORSEPOWER, BUT FOR ME...IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TORQUE.

IT GETS UP AND GOES IN A HURRY AND IT SOUNDS GOOD WHEN IT'S DOING IT.

OF COURSE, FORD WOULDN'T HAVE GIVEN IT THE BRONCO NAME, IF IT WASN'T PREPARED TO DITCH THE PAVEMENT.

TOP-END BADLANDS AND FIRST EDITION MODELS SPORT A BEEFED UP SUSPENSION, ALMOST 9.0 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE WITH THE OPTIONAL 29 INCH TIRES AS WELL AS THE GO OVER ANY TYPE OF TERRAIN OR GOAT MODES, WHICH WORK WITH THE BADLANDS AND FIRST EDITION-EXCLUSIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM THAT USES A TWIN-CLUTCH REAR DRIVE UNIT WITH LOCKING FEATURE.

ALL THIS TO SAY, THE BRONCO SPORT CONFIDENTLY HANDLES A VARIETY OF DIFFICULT OFF ROAD SCENARIOS FROM STEEP HILL CLIMBS TO ROCK CRAWLS AND EVEN DEEP SAND.

THE 2021 BRONCO SPORT IS SET TO GO ON SALE BY THE END OF 2020 AND LET'S ALL HOPE THAT 2020 DOES, IN FACT END.

PRICES START JUST UNDER $30,000 WHILE A TOP-END BADLANDS FIRST EDITION COMES IN AT AROUND $40,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE COMING UP SOON ON MOTORWEEK !

John: AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT SOME HEALTHY NUMBERS IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BUY A FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK.

LOW GAS PRICES AND FIERCE COMPETITION HAVE PUSHED CAPABILITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND EVEN COMFORT, TO NEVER BEFORE SEEN LEVELS.

WELL NOW, IT'S THE TURN OF THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 TO CRANK THINGS UP A BIT, WITH A NEW DURAMAX DIESEL.

WHILE, THERE HAVE BEEN CHEVROLET TRUCKS ON THE ROAD FOR OVER 100 YEARS, THE SILVERADO AS A NAMEPLATE, IS A RELATIVE NEWCOMER, HAVING ARRIVED ON THE SCENE FOR THE 1999 MODEL YEAR.

ALREADY INTO ITS 4TH GENERATION, WHICH BEGAN LAST YEAR, THE 2020 SILVERADO 1500 IS NOW AVAILABLE WITH A FIRST TIME DURAMAX DIESEL ENGINE.

THE DURAMAX NAME IS WELL KNOWN OF COURSE, HAVING MORE THAN ITS SHARE OF FANS.

BUT, RATHER THAN THE TURBO V8 IN THEIR HEAVY-DUTY TRUCKS, OR THE BOOSTED 4-BANGER IN THE COLORADO, THE SILVERADO'S DURAMAX IS A 3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO, ALL-ALUMINUM, DUAL-OVERHEAD CAM MINI-MONSTER, OUTPUTTING 277 HORSEPOWER AND 460 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT COMES EXCLUSIVELY WITH GM'S 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; AND IS AVAILABLE IN LT, RST, LTZ, AND HIGH COUNTRY SILVERADO'S IN REAR OR 4-WHEEL-DRIVE.

RAM AND FORD ALSO OFFER 3.0 LITER TURBO DIESELS, BUT IN V6 FORMAT.

THE F-150 HAS LESS TORQUE AT 440 POUND-FEET, AND TOWS 11,500 POUNDS.

THE RAM BOASTS THE BEST NUMBERS WITH 480 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND A TOW RATING OF 12,560 POUNDS.

THE SILVERADO DURAMAX TOWS JUST 9,300 POUNDS, WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN BOTH GASOLINE V8s THAT CHEVY OFFERS.

BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS HOW MUCH YOU TOW, BUT HOW YOU TOW IT.

THE DURAMAX'S EXHAUST BRAKE AND TURBO-AIDED POWER DELIVERY PROVIDES A BETTER OVERALL TOWING EXPERIENCE, AND YOU CAN'T BEAT THE FUEL ECONOMY.

UNMATCHED BY RIVALS, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A 4X4 DURAMAX ARE 23-CITY, 29-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GREAT 26.3 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL.

NOW, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME CHEVROLET HAS OFFERED A DIESEL IN THEIR LIGHT DUTY FULL-SIZE PICKUP, AS IT WAS AN OPTION IN C/Ks THROUGHOUT THE 1980s AND '90s, BUT THIS IS A FIRST FOR THE SILVERADO 1500, AND FIRST FOR AN INLINE-6.

AND, IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN A DIESEL-POWERED VEHICLE SINCE THE '80s, YOU'RE IN FOR A REAL TREAT.

NOT SURE IF IT'S THE INLINE-6 CONFIGURATION, GM'S SECRET "NOISE-ATTENUATION ELEMENTS," OR JUST THE OVERALL ATTENTION TO DETAIL, BUT THIS DURAMAX IS ABOUT AS SMOOTH AND QUIET AS IT GETS; BARELY ANY RATTLE AT STARTUP, AND JUST A COMFORTING WHISTLE UNDER FULL ACCELERATION.

AT THE TEST TRACK, OUR LTZ FELT AS TORQUEY AS WE EXPECTED; YET, HOOKED UP EASILY AND GOT OFF THE LINE CLEANLY.

WE HIT 60 IN ONLY 7.6 SECONDS.

WITH EACH SMOOTH AUTOMATIC SHIFT, IT SEEMS TO SETTLE DOWN MORE AND MORE; CALMLY AND CASUALLY COMPLETING THE QUARTER-MILE IN 15.8 SECONDS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S A COMMON COMPLAINT THAT THE SILVERADO'S INTERIOR FALLS SHORT OF THE COMPETITION, BUT WE'D PUSH BACK ON THAT A LITTLE.

IT MAY NOT BE A VISUAL SHOWPIECE, OR EARN "BEST LUXURY CAR" AWARDS, BUT EVERYTHING IS HIGHLY FUNCTIONAL AND DURABLE.

YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF THINGS YOU ACTUALLY NEED IN A PICKUP TRUCK.

YOU CAN MAKE UP YOUR OWN MIND ABOUT THIS SILVERADO'S POLARIZING EXTERIOR DESIGN, BUT YOU CAN'T DENY IT HAS SOME SERIOUS PRESENCE.

LTZ ADDS LOTS OF CHROME FOR THE OUTSIDE, AND LEATHER FOR THE INSIDE.

CHEVROLET STILL OFFERS A REGULAR CAB SILVERADO WITH AN 8-FOOT BED, BUT ONLY IN ITS LOWEST WORK TRUCK TRIM.

THE REST OF THE TRIMS COME WITH EITHER AN EXTENDED DOUBLE CAB WITH 6.5 FOOT BED OR CREW CAB WITH 6.5 OR 5.0 FOOT 8.0 INCH BED LENGTHS.

THE 3.0 LITER DURAMAX IS LISTED AS A $3,890 OPTION; THOUGH DEPENDING ON CONFIGURATION, YOU MAY HAVE TO ADD OTHER OPTIONS ALONG WITH IT.

AT MINIMUM, YOU'RE LOOKING AT $42,385 FOR AN LT DOUBLE CAB.

IT IS INDEED A GREAT TIME TO BE IN THE MARKET FOR A FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCK.

NOT ONLY CAN THEY GET MORE DONE THAN EVER, BUT THEY DO IT IN A WAY YOUR GRANDPA NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED.

THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO DURAMAX IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MODERN PICKUP; REFINED, CAPABLE, EFFICIENT, AND READY TO GET TO WORK.

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, AS WE HIT THE TURBO BOOST BUTTON ON PORSCHE'S CAYENNE TURBO S E-HYBRID COUPE.

THEN, SEE WHAT'S NEW WITH THE MADE IN AMERICA VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT.

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... 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]