MotorWeek

Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Join us for a micro machine with big character, the MINI Cooper S... Then, we'll build boost in a four-way turbo sports car showdown... We're bringing you a play-by-play on the latest Kia Sportage Hybrid... And, we'll solve the mystery of why new tires might disappoint, plus, a dirt-stomping QuickSpin!

So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: While the MINI Cooper has certainly grown in size since it was reborn for 2002, it has still been able to maintain both its cuteness and playfulness.

Well, an all-new 4th gen Cooper arrived for 2025, with upgrades in tech and refinement.

So, let's find out, if it's still up for a playdate or if it's all business now.

Yes, the MINI Cooper has steadily increased most dimensions, but what hasn't changed with this redesigned 2025 model is that it still puts smiles on our faces every time we slipped behind the wheel.

We were super excited to see the rebirth of the MINI Cooper back in 2002, when new owner BMW was looking to latch onto some of the VW Beetle nostalgia that was sweeping the globe.

We liked the rebooted MINI, so much, I actually bought one of the first ones to make it to our shores, and still own it.

This 4th generation Cooper Hardtop 2 Door is almost a foot longer than that 2002, but as it has grown, proportions and silhouette have remained the same, so it looks as charming as always.

And to keep you from noticing the growth spurt, MINI seems to have doubled down on brand hallmarks, exaggerating the octagonal grille and matrix taillights, plus, more customization options than ever.

Hardtop 2 Door is the name, but for practical purposes, it's a three-door hatchback, with a liftgate hiding 8.9 cubic-feet of cargo space; 34.4 with rear seatbacks folded.

For us here in the U.S., no more 3-cylinder engine; now the choice is between a standard 161 horsepower 2.0 liter turbo-4, or this Cooper S's 201 horsepower version with 221 pound-feet of torque.

Inside, it may be more of a minimalist design than before, and perhaps a bit more upscale than cute or playful, but it's still quite an immersive experience with ambient lighting to match your MINI experience mode.

Lots of funky materials remain, and the center infotainment screen goes full circle touchscreen, and now sits in front of the dash rather than being integrated into it.

The new MINI Interaction Unit is not the most intuitive to use, and it also includes all driver info, with no gauges behind the wheel, but a head-up display is available if you want to keep your eyes looking forward.

Up front, it feels even roomier than before, though rear seat space remains very limited.

Below the round screen is a small control pod that houses the start switch, and a toggle for gear selection.

It still feels like you're getting away with something when you're driving this go-kart around on the street, feeling quick and nimble in just about every situation.

No doubt a few enthusiasts will bemoan the fact that a manual transmission is no longer available, and it does take some of the engagement out of the process, but we have no real complaints on the operation of the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic.

And the Cooper S suspension doesn't seem quite as harsh as it once was, providing a much better balance of comfort and performance.

It still felt absolutely planted through our handling course, too; no body roll to speak of, and grip was plentiful as we were absolutely flying through the cones with no understeer or oversteer.

Steering was quick, responding immediately to even the slightest inputs.

Yes, even with some weight gain, MINI has worked its magic once again.

It's a bit less of a thrill ride in straight line runs, as it doesn't particularly enjoy being launched hard.

We battled torque steer, and some hesitation to get going, but it did become more lively as we wound it up, and 6.4 seconds to 60 is quick enough.

Automatic shifts were fast and firm throughout the 14.7 second quarter-mile, finishing at 98 miles per hour.

Engine noise was subdued, but there was some pleasantly aggressive sounding popping and crackling through the exhaust.

Braking runs were extremely consistent, with smooth, controlled stops; only 105 feet from 60 miles per hour.

(car whooshing by) Government Fuel Economy Ratings for a 2 Door S are 28 city, 39 highway and 32 combined.

We averaged a good 33.6 miles per gallon of Premium.

Cooper Hardtop 2-door pricing starts at $29,945, with the S at $35,595.

Max fun, mini footprint, has been the mantra from the beginning; and while that footprint has gotten bigger, the 2025 MINI Cooper has also only gotten better.

JOHN: Replacing worn out tires on your vehicle is always a good idea, but that fresh rubber may also come with an unexpected dip in fuel economy and range.

Well, Greg Carloss is here to demystify the ins and outs of rolling resistance, with a little help from some friends.

GREG CARLOSS: The condition and type of tire you choose to put on your vehicle has a huge impact on fuel economy, safety, performance, and longevity.

Now today, I'm joined by two experts who really know the nitty gritty about where the rubber meets the road.

Eric, you run an independent tire testing group, and Scott, you're a research engineer who actually studied the effects of tire friction on fuel economy.

So, what did you find?

SCOTT SLUDER: Thanks Greg.

Well, yeah, so tire friction, or rolling resistance, describes how much energy it takes for your tire to roll down the road on your car.

As your tire wears, and its tread blocks, uh, decrease in thickness, the tire friction actually goes down, so your EV actually gets a little bit more range, but it happens gradually, so most drivers probably don't notice it.

ERIC VANCE: Yeah, we've found that customers who have replaced the exact same tire on their EV, when it's worn versus brand new, they notice a significant difference in the range of their vehicle.

When we've done testing, it's about 9.0 percent that we noticed the difference between new and used.

GREG: Now, when we're talking about hybrids, plug-in hybrids, EVs, we always hear the term "low rolling resistant tires."

Is there an actual definition for that?

SCOTT: There's actually not an objective test in the United States yet, although it is being worked on.

Uh...so, that designation is really just a manufacturer, uh, differentiating, uh, tires in their tire line that are more efficient compared to others that have, uh, other, uh, focus points, such as performance.

GREG: Now, this Solterra behind us is a battery-electric vehicle, and Eric, you've brought six different types of tires that could go on it.

Can you kind of give me the rundown?

ERIC: Yeah, absolutely.

So, we have the first tire there, the Bridgestone product, that came original on the vehicle when it was new.

And this vehicle was developed specifically for it based on what the manufacturer of the vehicle wanted the attributes to be.

And low rolling resistance definitely is going to be a major priority, so they can get the longest range possible when they're advertising the range of their vehicle.

The second product here from Hankook.

This product is actually designed and engineered specifically for electric vehicles overall, but not specifically the Solterra.

So, this product will give you lower rolling resistance than a normal tire, but it also can actually give you other performance characteristics that maybe the manufacturer wants you to have, which maybe is longer life, maybe a little bit of difference as far as wet capability, those type of things.

GREG: Now, I see there's foam in here.

Is that something that's standard on all EV tires or do we...are we seeing this more uh...for sound deadening?

ERIC: Well, I'm glad you asked about that.

That's actually a feature that most electric vehicle tires have, but not all of them.

Um, basically that's designed to absorb the sound that cavity of the tire may emit back into the cabin of the vehicle.

GREG: So, I recognize this tire tread on these, these are, uh, all-weathers, these are full-on winter tires, and then we have all-terrains up there.

Scott, I mean, what does that mean from your point of view, for friction?

I would imagine that adds a lot, quite a bit more friction.

SCOTT: That's right.

Tire design is a trade-off, and in wet and snowy conditions, when you need more friction, you need to be prepared to give up some efficiency to get it.

GREG: Obviously that's what this person decided to do on this Wrangler 4xe, which is a plug-in hybrid.

But they went with big wheels, oversized tires.

I mean, what do you guys think of this?

ERIC: Well...it looks pretty cool...doesn't it?

But this is not going to help rolling resistance or efficiency of this vehicle.

Between the design of the tire with the big, chunky tread blocks um...a lot of tread depth to the tire; you can actually see this vehicle, the tires protrude away from the vehicle, which isn't going to help aerodynamically.

GREG: So, this Solterra's actually mine.

Uh, when I go to get tires for it, what should I be looking for?

SCOTT: Well, ideally, if you bought the OEM tire, you would get back the same combination of...of attributes that the manufacturer of the car wanted.

But if you need a different driving, uh, situation, as Eric said, you may want to choose one of these other tires.

If you're in a snowy area, perhaps, that's a trade-off you need to be prepared for.

GREG: Great.

Well, I've got a lot of driving to do, but you've definitely given me a lot to think about when I need to get tires for it, so I appreciate you guys joining me today.

ERIC: Thank you.

SCOTT: Thank you.

JOHN: We've read more than our fair share of Porsche books over the years, but none quite like, "Porsche Decades" by Jay Gilotti.

This "Must Read" does a chronological walk-through of Porsche history going all the way back to 1875; highlighting not just the brand's major automotive accomplishments, but mixing in plenty of family history along with many of the projects they've been involved with outside the sports car world.

It would be the perfect textbook for your continuing Porsche education or a great gift for the Porsche fan in your life.

JOHN: From park to drive, we're shifting into this week's QuickSpin!

JESSICA RAY: Two-tone paint jobs seem to be all the rage.

Well, how about this four-tone color scheme found on the 2025 Ford Bronco Stroppe Edition?

It's a mix of Code Orange and Oxford White, an Atlas Blue hardtop, and a glare-resistant matte-black wrap on the hood and rear swing-gate.

These colors pay homage to Bill Stroppe, the man who built Baja-blastin' Broncos back in the '60s and '70s.

This modern Stroppe backs up its legendary namesake with a standard Sasquatch pack, adding 35 inch rugged-terrain tires mounted on 17 inch wheels, HOSS 3.0 suspension with FOX Internal Bypass Dampers, and plenty of bash plating for those high-speed desert sprints.

ALEXANDER KELLUM: With that list of hardware, the Stroppe Edition is no doubt built for the deserts or your nearest trail.

But I'm happy to report, just like every other Sasquatch-ified Bronco we've tested at MotorWeek , the Stroppe Edition remains comfortable for the day-to-day, on-pavement use.

So, whether you're going to rodeo it through town, your favorite backroads, or out on the highway, you should stay pretty comfortable and feel pretty planted.

And in my opinion, you're also going to look good doing it.

JESSICA: This Bronco is spurred by a standard 2.7 liter V6 and a 10-speed automatic, providing this 4X4 with plenty of giddy up: 330 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.

Heated front saddles and reins are joined by a 12 inch screen.

The white dash, red accents and this unique plaque adds a tasteful nod to this steed's pedigree.

If you're looking for a different breed of Bronco, a 2025 Stroppe Edition starts around a pricey $75,000.

Only a two-door model for now, the Stroppe will return for 2026 as a four-door.

And no matter how many doors, hit the road for another QuickSpin, soon!

JOHN: Back in the '90s, enthusiasts had quite the selection of sports cars of all stripes to choose from; but as it turned out, many of these, especially the Asian turbo-tuned imports, were on borrowed time.

So, join us for a look back at fan-favorite Track Test of four intercooled interceptors.

While, the four turbos that we picked are not the only premium Japanese sports cars, they are clearly the most endangered.

The first intercooled animal on our list is also, the most substantial.

The Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 is big, but compensates with a massive blend of power and technology.

Output is 320 horses and 315 pound-feet of torque, and it all feeds through a driveline that includes a limited-slip differential and fulltime all-wheel-drive.

But despite all this heavy lifting, the VR-4 still blasted to 60 in 5.7 seconds and romped through the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 100 miles per hour.

Even though the VR-4's base price of $45,580 isn't cheap, you clearly do get a lot of car for your money.

"A lot" also describes our next brute...the Toyota Supra Turbo.

Coming close behind the Mitsubishi in overall length, the Supra was also the most surprising, but not for engine output.

It's identical to the VR-4 at 320 horses and 315 pound-feet of torque; but here, the 3.0 liter 24-vavle twin-turbo is an inline-6.

Despite nearly 600 fewer pounds, it was edged out in the sprint to 60, posting a 5.8 second time.

The quarter-mile, however, was quicker: 14.1 seconds at 105 miles per hour.

Starting at $49,000.

Slightly lower on the money scale comes the car that most folks know simply as "the Z," Nissan 300ZX Turbo.

'96 is the final year for the Z car in America; and while it carries the requisite 3.0 liter twin-turbo V6, it packs only 300 horsepower and 283 pound-feet of torque, a disadvantage, we found, to be only on paper, as the Z blasted to 60 in 5.4 seconds and through the quarter-mile in 13.8 seconds at 105 miles per hour, the quickest of our set...yet.

Starting at $43,979.

Our final plaything was the shortest, lightest, and most serious machine of the group, the Mazda RX-7.

The RX-7 dispenses with most luxury doodads in favor of a more classic sports car approach... until you look under the hood, that is, at the 1.3 liter twin-turbo twin-rotary engine, pumping out 255 horsepower and 213 pound-feet of torque.

But just because it packs fewer horses doesn't mean it's slow.

The RX rocketed to 60 in 5.4 seconds and down the full quarter-mile in 13.9 seconds at 104 miles per hour.

This street racer will set an enthusiast back $37,800, and to us, it's the bargain of the bunch.

But if you lust for real automotive thrills, you can justify the price of any of our quartet of high-end Japanese turbo sports cars, a breed that is, unfortunately, being stamped out by insurance companies, exchange rates and an aging population.

Now, we hope our predictions of doom are wrong, but until we're sure, we think it's a great excuse to keep on trying to tame these marvelous machines.

GREG: Our 2024 Subaru Solterra has been living the suburban life for 11 months now, and we've just engaged the fifth digit on its virtual odometer, spinning it past the 10,000 mile mark.

The steering wheel's odd shape and high mounted gauge pod did take some getting used to, but it's a thoughtful design; and the jet-fighter vibe has you feeling ready for battle as you holster your coffee, hit the start button, and initiate Operation Morning Commute.

Very quiet operation and a decent sound system provide support for the mission, and Subaru's hyper-vigilant safety systems will make sure you stay on task by warning you if it thinks you're not paying attention for even a second.

With eyes on the road where they're supposed to be, the Solterra offers great forward visibility.

The side view is aided by a blind spot monitoring system, which is a great feature to have as standard; although, like the Solterra's other safety systems, it might be a bit overprotective as it warns us even when a passing car has made it through our blind spot.

But I guess better safe than sorry, right?

Everything inside has a very rugged vibe to it, including the cargo space, though we do wish there was a bit more of it back here, as the 23.8 cubic-feet does fill up rather quickly.

As the weather's getting colder, our season with the Solterra is ending.

But before we have one final update, we'll check in on another workhorse from our fleet, the Kia Carnival, on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: The Kia Sportage was the brand's first SUV, and one of the first Kias to arrive here in the U.S.

Well, much has changed since that mid-1990s debut, with the current Sportage now well into its 5th generation, and it looks like even more changes are instore for 2026.

JESSICA: The Sportage is Kia's best-selling vehicle, both worldwide and here in the U.S., so keeping it fresh is a great way to make sure it stays at the top of people's shopping lists.

For 2026, that means new style, improved tech, and more features.

While, its overall look hasn't changed a whole lot, it's been noticeably updated here in the front with a new bumper and revised LED headlights.

And of course, we also have these amber daytime running lights that you'll find on all new Kias.

Similar new bumper and upgraded LED lighting in back, along with new 17-, 18-, and 19 inch wheel designs.

Screen domination continues inside the Sportage, with standard touchscreen infotainment going from 8.0 inches to 12.3, and it blends in directly with the gauge display, all in the same housing stretching across the dash.

SX-Prestige gets a full TFT gauge panel.

It's pretty interesting what they've done with the console here; hybrids get this dial-like gear selector instead of a shifter, and over here there's a little wing of controls that can include ventilated front seats.

Over here on the steering wheel, we have a Terrain Mode button, click it and you get settings for things like Snow, Mud, and Sand, and all all-wheel- drive Sportages get that.

Space in the rear seats is comparable to many midsize SUVs, and in this top of the line SX-Prestige the outboard seats can bring the heat.

There's also a new 10 inch Head-up display which is just as good as you'll find in cars double the price.

Safety still sells, and not only has Kia provided more driver assistance features as standard, Highway Drive Assist 2 is now available in the Sportage.

Cargo space is also really great, 34.5 cubic-feet, and even more when the floor is lowered like this.

You can fold the rear seats with this manual lever for a max capacity of up to 65.4 cubic-feet.

GREG: Kia continues to give you plenty of options when it comes to powertrain, strictly gas, hybrid and even plug-in hybrid.

We're rolling with the regular 1.6 liter I4 turbo-based hybrid, which is now available in more trims than before with or without all-wheel-drive, and there's also, more juice for '26.

With higher output from the electric motor, it is now rated at a combined 232 horsepower, an increase of five over last year, with an additional 13 pound-feet of torque at 271 pound-feet.

It continues to work with a true 6-speed automatic transmission.

To see how those numbers translates to real-world performance, we hit Mason Dixon Dragway.

(engine revving) The combination of an electric motor and all-wheel-drive means this Sportage gets off the line pretty quickly.

That electric boost does not last long, though, as the engine first up almost immediately.

Still, it keeps things moving pretty fast.

The shifts are smooth, although they're not particularly fast.

Though, I am glad we have an actual geared transmission rather than a CVT.

After hitting 60 in 7.5 seconds and getting a best quarter-mile time of 15.5 seconds at 91 miles per hour, it was off to the handling course.

There are no major updates with the suspension, so it feels familiar through the cones.

There's a bit of understeer, though that's pretty typical for a vehicle like this.

The rear end does bounce around a little bit.

But still, it can be hustled through these gates with relative ease.

The brakes felt solid, though the rear end tended to wander as emergency stops came in at an average of 110 feet.

JESSICA: Despite minimal change from last year, the Government Fuel Economy ratings for the hybrid with all-wheel-drive are not quite as good as before: 35 city, 36 highway and 35 combined, down from 38 across the board.

We averaged a good 36 miles per gallon.

That's a better than average rating for the Energy Impact Score: 8.5 Barrels of Annual Oil Use, with 4.2 Tons of CO2 Emissions.

Sportage pricing starts with LX at, $30,135, just $1,600 more will get you a front-wheel-drive LX Hybrid.

All remaining Hybrid trims include all-wheel-drive, working up to this top SX-Prestige Hybrid which begins at $41,835.

Not all new, but entirely better, and certainly one of the best-looking compact utilities on the market, the 2026 Kia Sportage's new style and upgraded tech, along with its multiple powertrain options, will insure that it remains a top contender in the all-important compact crossover segment.

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'll find out, if the Porsche Macan going EV is a positive move, and then it's top-down deliverance in the Ferrari Roma Spider.

Until then, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

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We stock over one million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

We do this because we believe tires matter.

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