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

JOIN US FOR AN EYE CATCHING CAR WITH PLENTY OF MUSCLE, THE BMW M850I... PAT GOSS WITH SOME "MUST HAVES" FOR YOUR TOOL BOX... WE'LL LOOK AT ONE METRO AREA THAT'S ON THE MOVE AND BREATHING EASIER... AND A COMMUTER CAR WITH A BIG DOSE OF WOW, THE MAZDA 3...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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

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Man 1: OH.

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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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: WHETHER, YOU HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE ORIGINAL 1990 BMW 850 COUPE, OR JUST KNOW IT ONLY FROM WILL SMITH'S "GETTIN JIGGY WITH IT;" BMW'S HIGH-END LUXURY SPORT COUPE HAS BEEN MISSING FROM THE U.S.

LINEUP FOR 20 YEARS.

WELL, IT'S BACK, AND DARE WE SAY, MORE ALLURING THAN EVER!

* YES, THE ICONIC 8 SERIES COUPE HAS RETURNED.

NOW KNOWN AS THE 2019 BMW M850I XDRIVE COUPE, THERE'S NO V12 OR 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION THIS TIME AROUND, AS MOST OF THE HARDWARE IS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE CURRENT BMW LINEUP.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] STARTING WITH THE 4.4 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 ENGINE, THOUGH BMW SAYS, "IT HAS BEEN HEAVILY REVISED FOR DEPLOYMENT IN THE 8."

IT'S RATED AT 523 HORSEPOWER AND 553 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN IN THE M550, BUT LESS THAN THE RAUCOUS M5.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TO GO ALONG WITH IT OF COURSE; THE STEPTRONIC SPORT TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO BEEN REVISED WITH WIDER RATIOS, AND QUICKER SHIFTS BETWEEN THEM.

THE TRANNY ALSO USES GPS DATA TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE IN THE PROPER GEAR FOR HUSTLING THROUGH CORNERS OR APPROACHING STOPS.

STANDARD XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HERE, OPERATING ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY IN REAR-DRIVE NORMALLY; BUT CAN INSTANTLY DIVERT POWER FORWARD IF IT PREDICTS LOSS OF TRACTION, OR IF IT SEES A PERFORMANCE BENEFIT.

HANDLING IS PRECISE, AND THE CAR WELL-POISED FOR 4,500 POUNDS OF LUXURY COUPE.

EVEN WHEN PUSHED HARDER AT OUR TEST TRACK, THE 850 SEEMED TO GET SMALLER AND SMALLER, THE HARDER WE PRESSED IT.

NOTHING EXOTIC PER SE, ABOUT THE DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT AND 5-LINK REAR SUSPENSION, BUT IT'S BEEN WELL-TUNED BY PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE AWFULLY GOOD WITH THIS STUFF.

ADAPTIVE M SUSPENSION WITH INTEGRAL ACTIVE STEERING IS ALSO INCLUDED.

THEY WORK TOGETHER, MOSTLY SEAMLESSLY, TO CONTINUOUSLY MONITOR DAMPING AND STEERING RESPONSE TO GIVE YOU THE DESIRED DRIVING EXPERIENCED BASED ON YOUR SELECTION OF SPORT OR SPORT+.

STILL, THE '8' CAN BE A HANDFUL AT TIMES, AS SUPER SNAPPY TURN-INS MAKE OVERSTEER AN ALL TOO REAL PROPOSITION, BUT IT STAYS REMARKABLY FLAT, NO MATTER HOW AGGRESSIVE YOU ARE WITH IT.

SO, STAY ALERT!

BUT ALL THAT DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO GOING FULL THROTTLE IN THIS LUXO-BEAST.

EVEN WITH SUMMER TEMPS CLOSE TO 100, HEAD-SNAPPING POWER AT LAUNCH MAKES THIS ROCKET CAPABLE OF 0-60 IN A SCANT 3.5 SECONDS.

TOP SPEED?

155!

INDEED FIRM, AGGRESSIVE SHIFTS KEEP THE POWER POURING ON, AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS SURPRISINGLY LIKE PURE AMERICAN BEEF.

IT EVEN FEELS LIKE A CORVETTE STREAKING DOWN THE TRACK; A VERY WELL-PLANTED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ONE, THAT IS.

AND AT THE END OF THE STRAIGHT, IT'S JUST GETTING STARTED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO KNOW A HOFMEISTER KINK FROM A "FLOATING ROOF" TO AGREE THAT THIS 850 IS BEAUTIFUL.

TRULY, A MIX OF BMW HALLMARKS WITH MODERN FEATURES.

THE KIDNEY GRILLES ARE ACTIVE, WITH SLATS THAT OPEN AND CLOSE BASED ON ENGINE COOLING NEEDS; WHILE THE ROOF'S CENTRAL CUTOUT PAYS HOMAGE TO DOUBLE-BUBBLER ROOFS OF YORE.

AND, YOU CAN GO ALL IN WITH AN OPTIONAL UNPAINTED CARBON FIBER TOP.

ONE THING'S FOR SURE, YOU'LL BE IN NO HURRY TO GET OUT OF THIS 8.

THERE'S A SPORTY FEEL THAT YOU EXPECT IN A BMW, BUT THERE ARE UMPTEEN LUXURY TOUCHES TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

THE WIDE CENTER CONSOLE HOUSES THE SHIFTER, A HOST OF CHASSIS CONTROL BUTTONS, AND OF COURSE, THE IDRIVE CONTROLLER.

ABOVE, ON THE CENTER STACK, ARE A GOOD NUMBER OF MANUAL CONTROLS, AS WELL AS A WIDE 10 INCH TOUCHSCREEN; AND WHILE NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE DASH, IT BLENDS IN QUITE WELL, COMPARED TO SOME OF THE GINORMOUS SCREENS WE SEE COMING OUT OF DASHES THESE DAYS.

BMW'S FULLY DIGITAL LIVE COCKPIT PROFESSIONAL, MINIMIZES TRADITIONAL GAUGES IN ORDER TO ACCENT NAVIGATION AND OTHER MULTIMEDIA FEATURES.

AND WHILE, THIS LUXURY GT COUPE IS NOT AS BIG OF A DEAL HERE AS IT IS OVER IN EUROPE; IT CERTAINLY IS A LIFESTYLE MORE PEOPLE WOULD EMBRACE IF THEY HAD THE CHANCE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 20-COMBINED.

BEHAVING OURSELVES, WE ACHIEVED A GOOD 22.6 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

SO JUST SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE FOR THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 16.5 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMPTION ANNUALLY, WITH 7.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART, OR WALLET, THIS LUXURY SPORT COUPE STARTS AT $112,895; A CONVERTIBLE VERSION ADDS ABOUT 10-GRAND.

IN BMW'S BOOK OF PERFORMANCE, SOME CHAPTERS ARE MORE ENGAGING THAN OTHERS, AND SOME DRAW YOU IN WITH THEIR BEAUTY, AND GRACE ONLY TO DROP A PLOT TWIST ON YOU THAT YOU DIDN'T SEE COMING.

THIS 2019 BMW M850I XDRIVE COUPE IS A THING OF POWER AND BEAUTY; AND JUST THE KIND OF PLOT TWIST THAT KEEPS US COMING BACK FOR MORE.

* THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR ACCOUNTS FOR A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUEL, AND ENERGY CONSUMED IN OUR COUNTRY, AND IT'S ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH OF THE POLLUTION THAT CLOUDS OUR SKIES.

SO, FOR MANY CITIES, BOTH ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND AIR QUALITY ARE GROWING CONCERNS.

THE SOLUTION, OF COURSE, IS TO MAKE SMARTER ENERGY CHOICES THAT REDUCE VEHICULAR EMISSIONS, BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN A FEW HYBRIDS AND HYPER-MILERS TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT.

IT TAKES A COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT, AND ONE REGION IN UTAH IS MAKING AN OLYMPIAN EFFORT TO DO JUST THAT.

* THE 2002 WINTER OLYMPICS HOST, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ALREADY ENCOURAGES MASS TRANSIT WITH AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF COMMUTER TRAINS, LIGHT RAIL, AND TRANSIT BUSES, MANY POWERED BY COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, TO MOVE PEOPLE SEAMLESSLY FROM THE SUBURBS TO DOWNTOWN AND OF COURSE TO NEARBY SKI RESORTS.

AND UNDER A NEW PROJECT CALLED "WESTSMART EV," FUNDED BY THE DOE AND LED BY UTAH CLEAN CITIES COALITION PARTNERS, THE REGION IS BUILDING ON THAT SUCCESS BY ADDING PRACTICAL ELECTRIC-DRIVEN TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS INTO THE MIX.

James Campbell: WELL, THE WESTSMART EV PROJECT IS REALLY INTENDED TO INCREASE ELECTRIC VEHICLE ADOPTION IN THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST... ONE WAS TO ADDRESS, TO BUILD ELECTRIC HIGHWAYS BY INSTALLING FAST-CHARGING STATIONS ALL ALONG INTERSTATE 15, INTERSTATE 80 AND INTERSTATE 70, SO THE MAJOR INTERSTATES, TO ADDRESS LONG RANGE, RANGE ANXIETY.

John: THE NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES REGISTERED IN UTAH HAS JUMPED FROM 3400 TO AROUND 9000 SINCE 2017.

EV MARKET SHARE, WHILE STILL BELOW 2% STATEWIDE, HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE PAST YEAR.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES FOR RIDE-SHARE DRIVERS TO BUY EV'S ACCOUNT FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THAT, PLUS THE INCREASING AVAILABILITY OF FAST-CHARGING STATIONS NEAR AIRPORTS AND POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS.

VISITORS TO NEARBY PARK CITY CAN CHARGE UP THEIR ELECTRIC CARS, HOP ON AN ELECTRIC BICYCLE, OR BOARD ONE OF THESE "ELECTRIC EXPRESS" SHUTTLE BUSES FOR A FREE RIDE AROUND TOWN.

IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS, THE EV BUSES HAVE RACKED UP MORE THAN A MILLION ENERGY EFFICIENT EMISSIONS-FREE MILES THAT'S THE LARGEST CUMULATIVE MILES OF ANY ELECTRIC BUS FLEET IN THE U.S... NEAR-FUTURE PLANS CALL FOR ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC TRANSIT BUSES TO CONNECT SALT LAKE CITY WITH THE MAJOR TOURIST AND CONVENTION DESTINATIONS NEARBY.

James: OUR SECOND APPROACH WAS TO REALLY GO AFTER WORKPLACE CHARGING.

WE KNOW THAT, IF THERE'S, IF YOU HAVE CHARGING AT WORK, YOU'RE MORE LIKELY TO BUY AN EV...

SO, THIS REALLY WENT AFTER THE DAILY COMMUTERS... John: ONE ENTHUSIASTIC, EARLY ADOPTER OF WORKPLACE CHARGING WAS PACKSIZE, A MAKER OF JUST-THE-RIGHT-SIZE CARDBOARD BOXES.

PACKSIZE HAS INSTALLED MORE THAN 50 FREE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS AT ITS SALT LAKE CITY HEADQUARTERS, AND MORE THAN HALF OF THE COMPANY'S EMPLOYEES NOW DRIVE ELECTRIC AS A RESULT.

Hanko Keisser: WORKPLACE RECHARGING IS A SOLUTION THAT WE ARE USING TO CREATE A LIVABLE ENVIRONMENT RIGHT HERE IN THE WASATCH FRONT AIRSHED.

AT THE COMPANY PACKSIZE, WE FOUND THAT WE WERE LIMITED TO GROW BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE COULD ATTRACT TO MOVE INTO THE STATE.

AND, AS MILLENNIAL'S ARE GOOGLING "QUALITY OF LIFE," THEY'RE FINDING THAT AIR QUALITY IS ONE OF THE NUMBER ONE CHALLENGES HERE IN THIS AREA, AND AT THAT POINT, WE AT PACKSIZE DECIDED WE HAVE TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION.

John: BUT PACKSIZE DIDN'T STOP THERE.

THEY WENT ALL-IN ON ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO FOLLOW THEIR LEAD.

Hanko: WE THEN, DECIDED THAT WE CAN SCALE THIS PROGRAM TO OTHER BUSINESSES, AND AT THAT POINT, WE FOUNDED LEADERS FOR CLEAN AIR, WHICH IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT HELPS OTHER COMPANIES TO DO EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING AT PACKSIZE, AND WE ARE NOW PLACING ONE NEW CHARGER EVERY DAY.

John: LANCER AUTOMOTIVE SAW THE DRIVE FOR CLEANER AIR AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AS AN ENTREPRENEURIAL OPPORTUNITY, AND HAS REFOCUSED ITS BUSINESS TO GET AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

THIS REPAIR SHOP NOW SPECIALIZES IN THE MAINTENANCE OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLES.

THEY INSTALL EV CHARGING EQUIPMENT, PERFORM NATURAL GAS AND PROPANE CONVERSIONS, AND CONDUCT TRAINING CLASSES TO EDUCATE FLEET MANAGERS AND CONSUMERS ON THE BENEFITS OF ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

SALT LAKE CITY'S MODEL OF PUBLIC INVESTMENT FOSTERING PRIVATE COMMITMENT PROVES THAT THE REGION IS TRULY EMBRACING ITS SMART ENERGY AND CLEAN AIR CHALLENGE.

AND CREATING A TRUE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY THAT JUST MIGHT BE A WINNING TEMPLATE FOR THE REST OF AMERICA TO FOLLOW.

* YOU KNOW, CARS AND TRUCKS ARE MORE COMPLICATED THESE DAYS, BUT THERE'S STILL CAR CARE YOU CAN DO YOURSELF.

HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH A FEW THINGS TO KEEP HANDY.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME, WE HAVE SOME HANDY HELPERS THAT EVERY TOOL BOX SHOULD HAVE AND THE FIRST ONE IS WRENCH ID.

IF YOU'VE EVER MADE A DOZEN TRIPS BACK-AND-FORTH TO THE TOOL BOX TO GET THE RIGHT SIZE WRENCH WELL THIS WILL PREVENT THAT.

FIRST, YOU ZERO IT LIKE THIS THEN YOU PUT IT OVER THE HEAD OF THE BOLT LIKE THIS, AND WHAT YOU HAVE IS THE WRENCH SIZE THAT FITS THIS BOLT, AND IF THERE IS A DIRECT CONVERSION FROM METRIC TO SAE IT GIVES YOU BOTH WRENCH SIZES.

AMAZING TOOL THAT SAVE YOU A LOT OF A LOT OF TRIPS TO THE TOOL BOX.

ALRIGHT, YOU'RE TIGHTENING NUTS AND BOLTS AND SO ON, YOU WANT HIM TO STAY TIGHT, YOU"RE GOING USE A THREAD LOCKER.

WELL HERE, WE HAVE THE TRADITIONAL BLUE WHICH CAN HOLD THINGS TOGETHER BUT YOU CAN REMOVE THEM.

OVER HERE, IS THE RED WHICH HOLDS THINGS TOGETHER AND YOU CAN'T REMOVE THEM, YOU HAVE TO CUT THE BOLTS APART IN ORDER TO GET THEM SEPARATED.

HERE'S SOMETHING BRAND NEW.

THIS IS ORANGE GIVES YOU THE HOLDING POWER OF THE RED BUT YOU CAN REMOVE IT.

ALRIGHT...OVER HERE, WE HAVE SELF FUSING SILICONE TAPE.

MOUTHFUL.

ALRIGHT, WHAT THIS DOES IS THIS IS TAPE THAT YOU CAN USE FOR TEMPORARY REPAIRS ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS LIKE THIS AIRLINE WE HAVE REPAIRED IT RIGHT HERE.

WE START WITH THE TAPE AS YOU GO AROUND, YOU STRETCH IT THAT MAKES IT CONFORM TO ALL OF THE DIFFERENT CURVES AND EVERYTHING OF WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO REPAIR AND IF FUSES TO ITSELF, SO YOU HAVE A GOOD REPAIR THAT CONFORMS TO WHAT YOU WORKING ON.

WORKS ON ALL SORTS OF THINGS INCLUDING TEMPORARY REPAIRS OF WATER PIPES IN THE HOME.

OVER HERE, WE HAVE LIQUID ELECTRICAL TAPE.

NEVER HEARD OF IT?

WELL, NOW YOU HAVE.

THIS IS AMAZING STUFF.

YOU SPREAD IT ON WITH A BRUSH YOU CAN REPAIR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELECTRICAL WITH IT, INCLUDING THINGS LIKE CELLPHONE POWER CORDS LIKE, HERE WE HAVE A BATTERY CABLE THAT HAS EXPOSED METAL YOU COULD COAT THAT AND PROTECT AGAINST SHORTS.

MAYBE YOU'RE DOING WIRING AND YOUR SPLICING WIRES TOGETHER.

NOW, IF YOU EVER TRIED TO WRAP UP A BIG ROLL OF BLACK PLASTIC TAPE THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS REALLY HARD TO DO.

WELL, YOU CAN COAT ALL OF THESE THINGS WITH THE LIQUID ELECTRICAL TAPE.

AND IT GIVES YOU A WATER TIGHT, VIBRATION FREE, GOOD ELECTRICAL CONNECTION.

NOW, SPEAKING OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS, COUPLE THINGS...YOU DON'T DO IS YOU DON'T SPLICE YOUR WIRES LIKE THIS, SIDE BY SIDE, YOU DO THEM END-TO-END LIKE THIS AND ON CARS, AND BOATS, AND JUST ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A HOUSE YOU DO NOT USE WIRE NUTS.

USE THE LIQUID ELECTRICAL TAPE INSTEAD.

IT DOES A GOOD JOB EASY TO DO AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT DROP ME A LINE RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

* Greg Carloss: SUMMER'S HEAT MAY BE FADING, BUT THE APPRECIATION OF OUR LONG-TERM VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IS STILL BURNING BRIGHT.

ONE OF THE HIGH POINTS OF THE TIGUAN IS ITS INFOTAINMENT PRESENTATION AND EXECUTION.

THE CENTER TOUCHSCREEN IS WELL INTEGRATED AND THE CUSTOMIZABLE DIGITAL COCKPIT CLEARLY DISPLAYS ALL THE INFORMATION YOU WANT WITHOUT DISTRACTING YOU FROM THE ROAD.

THIS IS THE SECOND GENERATION TIGUAN, OF COURSE; HAVING GONE FROM SMALL AND EURO-SPORTY TO BIG AND NORTH AMERICAN ROOMY.

PLENTY OF TECHNOLOGY AND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS WERE ADDED AS WELL, AND THE TIGUAN IS ONE OF THE FEW IN THE SEGMENT TO OFFER A THIRD ROW.

OUR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE R-LINE IS NOT SO EQUIPPED, BUT THE FIVE PASSENGERS THAT IT DOES HOLD, CONSISTENTLY WALK AWAY HAPPY.

BACKSEAT ROOM IS OUTSTANDINGLY GENEROUS.

FIVE THOUSAND MILES SO FAR IN JUST TWO-MONTHS, MEANS IT ON THE MOVE MORE THAN NOT, AND ROAD TRIPPERS HAVE FOUND IT VERY COMFORTABLE FOR THE LONG HAUL.

THE 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO HAS A MODEST OUTPUT OF JUST 184 HORSEPOWER, BUT WORKING WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, IT'S HAD US CRUISING EFFORTLESSLY UP AND DOWN HILLS WHILE GETTING CLOSE TO 30 MPGS ON INTERSTATES.

OUR OVERALL AVERAGE SITS AT 26.3 MILES PER GALLON.

WE ALSO HAVE TWO MORE CROSSOVERS JOINING THE TIGUAN IN OUR FLEET, THIS MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV STRETCHES THE MILES PER GALLON WITH BATTERY POWER, WHILE ADDING SMILES PER GALLON, IS WHAT THIS PORSCHE MACAN IS ALL ABOUT.

BUT IT'S TWO VETERAN LONG-TERMS, THE KIA NIRO PHEV AND HONDA INSIGHT, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

[CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: IN THE AUTO INDUSTRY, THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW COMING INTO VIEW.

FOR A LOOK SEE, HERE'S LAUREN MORRISION WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

Lauren Morrison: WITH MORE AND MORE CAMERAS WATCHING HOW WE DRIVE, THERE SOON COULD BE ANOTHER SET OF ELECTRONIC EYES HELPING US DRIVE SMARTER.

THE IDEA HAS POPPED UP ON AUTO SHOW CONCEPTS CARS FOR DECADES.

REPLACING TRADITIONAL OUTSIDE SIDE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS WITH VIDEO CAMERAS.

ALREADY ALLOWED IN SOME COUNTRIES, BUT NOT THE U.S., THE IMAGES WOULD BE DISPLAYED ON MONITORS INSIDE THE CAR.

THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION IS NOW COLLECTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE TECHNOLOGY.

THEY'RE ALSO TRYING TO GAUGE HOW WELL PEOPLE ADAPT TO CAMERAS ON BOTH A CLOSED TRACK, AS WELL AS ON THE OPEN ROAD.

NHTSA COMPARED THE VIDEO IMAGES TO TRADITIONAL MIRRORS LAST YEAR.

THEY FOUND THE INTERIOR MONITORS COMPARABLE TO EXTERIOR REFLECTIONS, WITH THE IMAGES ON THE MONITORS BRIGHTER AT DAWN AND DUSK.

HOWEVER, THEY ALSO DISCOVERED RAIN DROPLETS AND HEADLIGHTS FROM OTHER TRAFFIC COULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE BEHIND.

THE PUBLIC CAN COMMENT THROUGH OCTOBER 28TH.

SAFETY HAS BECOME VERY SOPHISTICATED, AND NOT EVERYONE WHO BUYS THE ELECTRONIC HELP IS HAPPY WITH IT.

J.D.

POWER'S FOURTH ANNUAL U.S. TECH EXPERIENCE INDEX STUDY FOUND THAT ON AVERAGE 23% OF CUSTOMERS WITH LANE-KEEPING AND CENTERING ASSIST SYSTEMS SAY, "THE ALERTS ARE ANNOYING."

SIXTY-ONE PERCENT OF THOSE DRIVERS SAY, "THEY SOMETIMES TURN THEM OFF."

RESEARCHERS SAY, "SOME BRANDS DO BETTER THAN OTHERS WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY TECH THAT'S NOT OVERBEARING."

THE KIA STINGER PERFORMED THE BEST OVERALL, STANDING OUT FOR A SECOND YEAR, IN A ROW ALONG WITH THE FORD EXPEDITION AND HYUNDAI KONA.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD SMALL CARS THESE DAYS.

SO, IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER FOR GREAT ONES LIKE THE MAZDA3 TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD; NOT TO MENTION, COMPETE WITH THE RISING POPULARITY OF CROSSOVER UTES.

NOW ON THE SURFACE, ADDING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SHOULD NOT ONLY GIVE MAZDA3 FANS MORE, BUT PERHAPS KEEP SOME FROM BECOMING UTE DEFECTORS.

LET'S SEE IF WE'RE RIGHT.

* THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT MAZDA'S.

THE BRAND HAS A WAY OF PROVIDING THE SOUL OF THE MIATA IN ALL OF THEIR CARS; SOMETHING YOU EITHER GET OR YOU DON'T.

MOST RECENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON INCREASING REFINEMENT, COMFORT, AND LUXURY.

DESPITE SOME CARRYOVER HARDWARE, MAZDA CONSIDERS THIS 2019 MAZDA3 THE START OF A NEW 4TH GENERATION.

IT'S STILL AVAILABLE AS BOTH A 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

WE PREFER THE STYLE AND PRACTICALITY OF THE HATCH, LIKE OUR TEST CAR, HERE IN PREMIUM TRIM.

MUCH LIKE THE RECENT MAZDA6 AND CX-5 MAKEOVERS, INSIDE IS WHERE YOU IMMEDIATELY NOTICE A TRANSFORMATION.

THE DASH IS QUITE LINEAR AND TO SOME MIGHT LOOK PLAIN.

BUT, PLAIN IN A GOOD WAY; UNCLUTTERED, BUSINESS-LIKE, YET, FRIENDLY.

THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS STILL DASH-TOP, BUT ITS INTEGRATION IS MUCH IMPROVED.

THINGS FEELING TIGHT AND SOLID WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE MAZDA3, BUT BEING RELATIVELY QUIET INSIDE IS.

STILL, NOT QUIETEST IN THE CLASS, BUT AGAIN MUCH IMPROVED, AS IS THE OVERALL MORE POLISHED NATURE OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

THE PREVIOUS GEN'S NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER I4 ENGINE UPGRADE IS NOW STANDARD IN ALL 3s, BUT THAT ALSO HAS BEEN UPDATED SLIGHTLY.

TWO ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER HAVE BEEN SQUEAKED OUT OF THE SKYACTIV-G POWER PLANT, AS WELL AS ONE MORE POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; BRINGING BOTH NUMBERS TO 186.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMES STANDARD ON MOST MODELS; A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE SAME PRICE, BUT ONLY IN A PREMIUM-TRIMMED HATCHBACK.

RIVALS OFTEN OFFER A DO-IT-YOURSELF TRANS ONLY ON ENTRY LEVEL SPECIALS.

BIGGER NEWS; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS OBTAINABLE IN THE MAZDA3 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

WE'RE NOT SURE IT WAS TRULY NECESSARY, BUT HEY; IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO SELL CARS THESE DAYS, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THE HARDWARE IN PLACE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, MORE POWER TO YOU.

YOU MUST GET THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH IT, OF COURSE, AND ITS A $1,400 UPGRADE.

SAFETY FEATURES HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED; NOW STANDARD IN ALL HATCHBACKS, ARE DRIVER ATTENTION ALERT, SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT, AND LANE KEEP ASSIST.

AS BEFORE, AND LIKE OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT, THERE'S A SIMPLER LESS COSTLY TORSION-BEAM SUSPENSION IN THE REAR, BUT WE NEVER SEEM TO HEAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT MAZDA'S SETUP.

IT FEELS FLAT AND NIMBLE AS ALWAYS.

TURN-IN IS A LITTLE MUTED, BUT THE CAR STILL RESPONDS QUICKER THAN MOST OF ITS PEERS.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FEATURES UNIQUE TUNING FROM MAZDA'S CROSSOVER FAMILY.

HERE, IT CAN DETECT SPIRITED DRIVING, AND QUICKLY SHIFT ADDITIONAL POWER TO THE REAR TO AID THE HANDLING PROCESS.

IT'S NOTICEABLE, BUT NOT OVERPOWERING, AND MUCH APPRECIATED; MAKING THE THREE PERFORM BETTER THAN EVER.

* NOW, THINGS ARE NOT SO EXCITING OVER IN THE ACCELERATION DEPARTMENT.

THIS CAR REALLY NEEDS MORE POWER, OR WE SHOULD SAY, THIS CHASSIS CAN CERTAINLY HANDLE A LOT MORE.

THERE'S REALLY NO URGENCY OFF THE LINE; IT JUST KIND OF LUMBERS ITS WAY TO 60 IN MID 7.0 SECONDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T THAT IMPRESSIVE EITHER; 24-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED WITH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HATCHBACK.

BUT THAT'S STILL A BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 12.2 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED YEARLY AND 5.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED.

NOW, AS FOR A MOST PRACTICAL MATTER, AND MOST LIKELY, THE REASON YOU WANT A HATCHBACK IN THE FIRST PLACE; THERE'S 20.1 CUBIC-FEET.

OF CARGO ROOM BEHIND THE SEATS, COMPARED TO THE SEDAN'S 13.2 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNKS SPACE.

NOT TO MENTION, THAT'S WAY MORE THAN THE CX-3 UTILITY'S PALTRY 12.4 CUBIC-FEET.

PRICING STARTS AT $21,920 FOR A MAZDA3 SEDAN; YOU WILL PAY MORE THE HATCHBACK, WHICH STARTS AT $24,520.

ADD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND PREMIUM TRIM, AND YOU CAN BE LOOKING AT OVER $30,000; A LOT OF CAR, YES, BUT WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT A COMPACT HERE.

OUR INITIAL TAKE?

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, NOW THERE REALLY IS NO REASON TO BUY THE CX-3 UTE.

BUT, UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE MAZDA3 HATCHBACK IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

YES, THERE IS MORE UTILITY HERE THAN IN MANY ACTUAL UTILITIES, BUT ALSO AN EVER MORE ENTICING DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WITH A MORE PREMIUM FEEL AND INTERIOR.

SO, TRUTH BE TOLD, THE MAZDA3 NOT ONLY IS A COMPACT STANDOUT; IT'S JUST A GREAT CAR, PERIOD.

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 DOWN TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME...

WHEN WE SEE HOW MIDSIZE TRUCKS STACK UP HEAD-TO-HEAD.

AND LINCOLN REACHES FOR THE SKY WITH AN ALL-NEW AVIATOR.

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... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

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

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: 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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

[CAR ENGINE REVVING] *