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

JOIN US AS THE STYLISH BMW X4 GRABS THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE WHO LOVES TO DRIVE... PAT GOSS WITH A WAY TO BRING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO OLDER CARS... WE'LL HAVE THE LATEST ON RACKING UP LONG MILES ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS... AND TINY HAULERS BATTLE IT OUT FOR BIG BRAGGING RIGHTS...

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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HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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 .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD TODAY MAY SURVIVE WITH STAPLES LIKE COMPACT CARS, SUVS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS, BUT IT'S THE IMPRACTICAL THAT MAKES IT THRIVE.

THE MORE DARING CARMAKERS COUNT ON PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO PAY A LITTLE MORE FOR OFTEN LESS; PROVIDED IT LOOKS SENSATIONAL, OR IS AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMER.

NOW, BOTH EXPLAIN THE BMW X4.

SO, LET'S SEE IF WE CAN CLARIFY THINGS A LITTLE MORE.

* AS BEFORE, THIS 2019 BMW X4 SPORTS ACTIVITY COUPE IS BASED ON THE COMPACT X3 SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLE, WHICH IS IN TURN BASED ON THE 3-SERIES SEDAN.

SO NATURALLY, IT GETS ALL OF THE UPDATES RECENTLY MADE TO THE PLATFORM.

IN THE PROCESS MAKING THE X4 LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER THAN BEFORE.

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT LOOKS HERE HOWEVER, BUT CLOSE TO IT.

THERE'S ONE CONTINUOUS STRAIGHT LINE THAT STRETCHES FROM THE WINDSHIELD HEADER TO REAR, GIVING IT THE DESIRED COUPE-LIKE PROFILE, AS WELL AS IMPROVING AERODYNAMICS, 19-INCH WHEELS ARE STANDARD.

AS FOR VISIBILITY?

WELL, OTHER THAN IMPROVING YOUR OWN, IT REMAINS QUITE DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE BASE XDRIVE30I PUTS A 248 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 IN THE ENGINE BAY, WHILE THE M40I ADDS A 355 HORSEPOWER TURBO INLINE-6, WITH 365 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S PLENTY OF SMOOTH POWER TO TAP INTO.

SLIP THINGS IN SPORT MODE, AND YOU'LL GET EVEN FASTER SHIFTS FROM THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AS WELL AS A MORE AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE.

FOR SOUND RELIEF, TRY COMFORT MODE.

THE X4 IS SPIRITED AND WILLING, ON JUST ABOUT ANY TYPE OF ROAD; THOUGH RIDE QUALITY IS JUST SHORT OF HARSH, GETTING MORE AND MORE LIKE THE BMWs OF YORE.

THERE'S MANUAL GEAR SELECTING WITH BOTH THE SHIFTER, AND STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED PADDLES, AND ALL X4s SPORT STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

THAT XDRIVE SYSTEM IS HIGHLY REAR BIASED FOR BEST HANDLING, SENDING ADDITIONAL POWER FORWARD ONLY WHEN NECESSARY.

SAFETY FEATURES NOW FALL UNDER THE ACTIVE GUARD MONIKER, AND ARE COMPREHENSIVE, WITH THE COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING STANDARD, AND THE FULL-SLATE OF BMWs DRIVING ASSIST SYSTEMS AVAILABLE.

NOW, IF YOU'VE BEEN IN ANY BMW OVER THE LAST DECADE, THE COCKPIT WILL LOOK FAMILIAR.

BEING A MORE PREMIUM VERSION OF THE X3, MANY ITEMS SUCH AS NAVIGATION WITH A 10-INCH TOUCHSCREEN ARE STANDARD.

IT ALSO WORKS WITH IDRIVE OF COURSE, OR YOU CAN JUST KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF, USING BMW'S GESTURE CONTROL.

SEATS ARE SPORTY AND WELL-BOLSTERED, BUT WITH GOOD ALL-DAY COMFORT.

WITH THAT SLICK ROOF, YOU'D EXPECT REAR SEAT ROOM TO BE TIGHT, AT LEAST ON HEADROOM, BUT IT'S BETTER THAN EXPECTED ALL AROUND.

THE ONLY COMPROMISE IS IN CARGO SPACE.

IT DIVES DOWN FROM THE X3s 28.7 CUBIC-FEET TO 18.5, WITH A MAX OF 50.5 CUBIC-FEET.

BUT YOU WON'T BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN OR CAN'T TAKE WITH YOU WHEN YOU PUNCH THE THROTTLE OF THIS BAD BOY; [ENGINE REVS] 4.7 SECONDS LATER YOU'LL BE AT 60 MILES PER HOUR, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR.

SHIFTS ARE FAST AND FIRM, AND THAT SMOOTH RUNNING SIX MAKES ALL OF THE RIGHT NOISES AS YOU WORK YOUR WAY TOWARDS 104 MILES PER HOUR AT THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE, TAKING 13.1 SECONDS.

RIDING ON A WHEELBASE THAT'S STRETCHED ABOUT TWO INCHES OVER THE X3, AS WELL AS WITH A WIDER TRACK, THE X4 FEELS SUPER-SOLID FOR SUCH A SMALL UTILITY.

IT WAS EASY TO PLACE THROUGH THE CONES, AND MORE THAN WILLING TO TURN IN; THOUGH NUMB STEERING FEEL CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE FOR US.

THE SUSPENSION SETUP HAS BEEN TOTALLY REVAMPED, BOTH LOWERED AND LIGHTENED COMPARED TO THE X3, AND THIS M40I TAKES IT EVEN FURTHER WITH M ADAPTIVE DAMPERS.

THERE WAS A LITTLE MORE ROLL THAN WE EXPECTED, BASED ON THE TAUGHT AND STIFF RIDE QUALITY, BUT NOWHERE NEAR APPROACHING UNSETTLED TERRITORY.

AND UNDERSTEER WAS MINIMAL.

M SPORT BRAKES ARE ALSO INCLUDED, WORKING WITH PRECISION THROUGH A FIRM, SHORT-TRAVEL PEDAL; AS THE BLUE-PAINTED CALIPERS BIT DOWN HARD ON THE DISCS, TO BRING US TO A HALT IN JUST 99 FEET FROM 60.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 20-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

SO OUR 23.5 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE ON PREMIUM WAS JUST ABOUT RIGHT ON.

AND THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH USE OF 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL USED YEARLY AND 6.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

IF HAVING A LESS PRACTICAL VERSION OF ANOTHER GERMAN SUV IS YOUR CUP OF SCHNITZEL, GET OUT YOUR $51,445 AND HEAD TO YOUR LOCAL BMW DEALER, BRING $10,000 MORE FOR THE M40I.

POINT MADE, BMW; YOU CAN INDEED MAKE A COUPE VERSION OF EVERYTHING.

NOW, WE'VE SAID IT BEFORE, THAT THESE COUPED-UP CROSSOVERS, ARE ONLY APPEALING IF FORM OVER FUNCTION APPEALS TO YOU.

BUT, THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT'S A BAD THING; AS THE 2019 BMW X4 IS A HEAP OF FUN IN A GREAT LOOKING PACKAGE THAT SURELY MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT IT AND YOU!

AND THIS M40I DOES IT ALL, IN ONE HECK OF A HURRY.

* THE FREEDOM TO HIT THE OPEN ROAD HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF OUR LOVE FOR THE AUTOMOBILE.

BUT FOR SOME DRIVERS, CHOOSING A VEHICLE POWERED BY CLEANER FUELS LIKE, NATURAL GAS OR ELECTRICITY HAS MEANT LIMITING THAT FREEDOM DUE TO GAPS IN THE NATIONWIDE FUELING AND CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE.

WELL, THAT IS RAPIDLY CHANGING AS MANY MAJOR HIGHWAYS AND ROADS ARE BEING DESIGNATED AS ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDORS.

SO, PLANNING CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIPS FOR YOUR ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE OR FLEET IS BECOMING EASIER THAN EVER.

* IN JULY 2016, THE FIXING AMERICA'S SURFACE TRANSPORTATION, OR FAST ACT, CALLED ON STATES TO NOMINATE FUELING CORRIDORS ALONG MAJOR NATIONAL ROADWAYS THAT SUPPORT PLUG-IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING, HYDROGEN, PROPANE, AND NATURAL GAS REFUELING WITH EXISTING OR PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURES.

TO QUALIFY AS ALT FUEL CORRIDORS, THESE ROUTES MUST HAVE STATIONS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, AND SITED WITHIN EASY REACH OF THESE ROADS.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, STATIONS NEED TO BE PLENTIFUL ENOUGH TO ALLOW VEHICLES OPERATING ON THESE CLEAN FUELS TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES WITH NO WORRIES ABOUT FINDING FUEL OR CHARGING STATIONS ALONG THE WAY.

THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDOR NETWORK CURRENTLY INCLUDES SECTIONS OF NEARLY 130 HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSTATES AND HIGHWAYS IN 44 STATES.

THIS COVERS MORE THAN 100,000 MILES OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

THE TYPE OF FUELS AVAILABLE IN EACH CORRIDOR VARIES: EV CHARGING AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS HAVE THE MOST AVAILABILITY NATIONWIDE.

FUEL CELL CARS ARE STILL PRETTY RARE, SO HYDROGEN FUELING SITES EXIST MOSTLY IN CALIFORNIA FOR NOW.

PROPANE IS MOST POPULAR IN REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY WHERE FLEETS, AND SPECIALTY USERS LIKE SCHOOL BUSES, AND FARMERS HAVE ADOPTED THOSE FUELS.

UNIFORM SIGNAGE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED TO IDENTIFY THE START AND END POINTS OF THE DESIGNATED ALT FUEL CORRIDORS, SO TRAVELERS CAN HAVE A CONSISTENT REFERENCE POINT TO LOOK FOR.

SOUTH CAROLINA WAS AMONG THE FIRST STATES TO INSTALL THE ROAD SIGNS, ALONG PARTS OF I-20, I-26, I-77 AND I-85.

OFFICIALS THERE HAVE ALREADY NOTICED AN UPTICK IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL INTEREST AS A RESULT.

Landon Masters: WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN A LOT OF PEOPLE REACHING OUT DIRECTLY TO US: MEDIA, AND JUST CONSUMERS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN WHAT ARE THESE SIGNS, AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

SO, IF NOTHING ELSE, IT'S STARTED A CONVERSATION.

BUT THE FACT THAT THEY WERE ASKING THE QUESTION AND LEARNING MORE ABOUT IT, IS IMPORTANT TO US.

John: A CONSORTIUM OF STATE AGENCIES, UTILITIES, ALTERNATIVE FUEL PROVIDERS, CAR MANUFACTURERS, AND CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE U.S.

DEPARTMENTS OF ENERGY AND TRANSPORTATION, HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE THE ALT FUEL CORRIDORS.

NON-PROFIT INDUSTRY GROUPS CALSTART AND ITS 175 MEMBER COMPANIES ARE FOCUSED ON ADVANCING CLEAN TRANSPORTATION.

CALSTART HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE FOR MAKING CLEAN FUELS READILY AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE, AND ESPECIALLY IN ITS HOME STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

Aleycia Gilde: WELL, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AWARENESS ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT'S AVAILABLE, WHETHER IT'S ELECTRIC, WHETHER IT'S NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, OR HYDROGEN.

IF YOU'RE AN END USER, WHETHER YOU'RE A FLEET OR YOU'RE JUST A PASSENGER, IT'S HELPFUL TO KNOW WHERE EXACTLY CAN YOU GET ACCESS TO THAT FUEL.

SO, SIGNAGE IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF INFORMING THAT DRIVER, AS THEY'RE PASSING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, TO SEE THAT SIGNAGE, TO KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOCATION FOR THEM TO DRIVE OFF AND FUEL UP WHEN NEEDED.

John: IN THE DRIVE TO DIVERSIFY AMERICA'S TRANSPORTATION'S ENERGY SOURCES, SPURRING DEVELOPMENT OF CLEAN VEHICLES AND BUILDING OUT A NATIONAL NETWORK OF CONVENIENT FUELING POINTS FOR NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, HYDROGEN, AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES GOES HAND IN HAND.

AND THE ALTERNATIVE FUEL CORRIDOR PROJECT IS FAST MAKING THESE SO-CALLED ALTERNATIVE FUELS, A FINE FIRST CHOICE INSTEAD!

TIME FOR OUR WEEKLY TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE THIS WEEK, PAT IS HUMMING A NEW TUNE.

Pat Goss: YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE CONNECTED CAR.

AND HOW MANY NEW CARS CAN COMMUNICATE OVER WIRELESS PHONE NETWORKS, PROVIDING EXTRA SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE FOR THEIR DRIVERS?

INCLUDING, ALERTING FIRST-RESPONDERS AFTER A CRASH.

NOW, THESE SUBSCRIPTION COMMUNICATION SERVICES HAVE DIFFERENT NAMES, OFTEN SPECIFIC TO INDIVIDUAL CAR BRANDS.

BUT, WHAT IF YOUR CAR DOESN'T HAVE SUCH A FACTORY SYSTEM?

WELL, IT TURNS OUT; YOU CAN HAVE THAT LEVEL OF SAFETY ON MOST ANY CAR 1996 OR NEWER BY ADDING AN AFTERMARKET ONBOARD COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

NOW, THIS IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THESE ADD-ON COMMUNICATION UNITS.

THIS ONE COMES IN TWO PARTS: A MODULE THAT PLUGS INTO YOUR CAR'S ODB-II PORT AND A HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER UNIT WITH MICROPHONE THAT CLIPS ON A SUN VISOR.

IT CONNECTS TO AN APP ON YOUR SMART PHONE.

INSTALLING ONE OF THESE UNITS IS PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD.

ONCE YOU DOWNLOAD THE APP AND CREATE AN ACCOUNT, LOCATE YOUR CAR'S OBD-II PORT.

THAT'S OFTEN UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE DASH, BUT THE APP WILL HELP YOU LOCATE IT.

THEN, JUST PLUG IN THE MODULE.

NEXT, YOU CLIP THE HANDS-FREE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER TO A SUN-VISOR AND YOU'RE READY TO CONNECT.

NOW, WHY DO YOU NEED A SYSTEM LIKE THIS?

WELL, THE BIGGEST REASON IS TO LET SOMEONE KNOW IF YOU'VE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR HAVE A HEALTH EMERGENCY.

IF IT DOES DETECT A CRASH, IT CAN AUTOMATICALLY NOTIFY EMERGENCY SERVICES AND SEND HELP YOUR WAY, EVEN IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THE CALL.

IF YOU BREAK DOWN, IT CAN SEND ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE RIGHT TO YOU TO YOU EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE YOU ARE.

BUT, IN ADDITION TO THAT, THESE CONNECTED SERVICES CAN PROVIDE PEACE OF MIND TO PARENTS OF NEW DRIVERS BY LETTING THEM KNOW WHERE THEIR CAR IS AND EVEN IF THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN SAFELY.

IT CAN EVEN ASSIST THE POLICE IF YOUR CAR IS STOLEN OR HELP YOU FIND IT IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT.

NOW, THERE IS A CAR CARE ASSIGNED TO IT AS WELL.

SINCE IT IS PLUGGED INTO YOUR CAR'S OBD-II PORT, IT CAN MONITOR YOUR CAR'S BASIC SYSTEMS AND THIS IS A BIG ONE FOR FAMILIES TODAY, IT CAN ALSO PROVIDE YOUR CAR WITH A WI-FI HOTSPOT.

THAT'S A LOT OF FEATURES FOR SUCH A SMALL AND SIMPLE TO USE DEVICE.

NOW, CHANCES ARE YOU MAY NEVER NEED TO CALL FOR HELP IN AND EMERGENCY.

BUT IF YOU DO, AN ADD-ON CONNECTED SYSTEM CAN BE READY TO COME TO YOUR RESCUE.

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

John: LOT'S OF CARS TO DRIVE, WITHOUT MUCH TIME TO DO IT IN.

SO HERE'S OUR LATEST QUICKSPIN.

* FOR 2019, PORSCHE IS WAVING ITS MAKEOVER MAGIC WAND OVER THE POPULAR MACAN COMPACT SUV.

THE ORIGINAL 2003 PORSCHE CAYENNE PROVED TO BE A REAL CROWD PLEASER.

SO, THE SMALLER MACAN, WHICH MEANS TIGER IN INDONESIAN, WAS LONG EXPECTED.

WHEN IT FINALLY ARRIVED FOR 2014, THE MACAN QUICKLY BECAME PORSCHE'S BEST-SELLING MODEL, EXITING SHOWROOMS ABOUT TWICE AS FAST AS 911s.

2019 FRONT END STYLING CHANGES INCLUDE A WIDER GRILLE, REVISED AIR INTAKES, AND LED HEADLAMPS.

OUT BACK, A FULL-WIDTH LED TAILLIGHT STRIP BRINGS MACAN'S LOOKS IN LINE WITH CAYENNE AND PANAMERA.

STANDARD MACAN POWER REMAINS A 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 WITH 248 HORSEPOWER.

UPGRADING TO THE S' TURBO V6 NETS YOU A HUNDRED MORE.

BOTH ENGINES MATE TO A 7-SPEED PDK DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC THAT'S UNEQUALLED FOR QUICK, DECISIVE GEAR CHANGES IN ANY SITUATION.

BUT IT'S DRIVING DYNAMICS THAT ARE THE PROOF OF ANY PORSCHE'S PEDIGREE, AND WE WERE NOT DISAPPOINTED DURING OUR FIRST SPIN AROUND THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND OF MALLORCA.

Dave Scrivener: THE MACAN S GETS A NEW TURBO V6 WITH A MODEST BUMP IN HORSEPOWER, BUT WHAT YOU REALLY FEEL IS THE RESPONSIVENESS DUE TO ITS CENTER-MOUNTED TURBOCHARGER POSITION.

PORSCHE IS AT HEART A SPORTS CAR COMPANY, AND THE MACAN IS NOT JUST AN SUV WITH SPORTING PRETENTIONS...

THINK OF IT AS A SPORTS CAR WITH ENHANCED PRACTICALITY.

John: KEEPING UP WITH EVER, CHANGING ONBOARD TECHNOLOGY, THE LATEST GENERATION PCM INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS ACCESSED BY A LARGE 10.9 INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

ADD IN A GT SPORT STEERING WHEEL, EXPANDED COMFORT, AND ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS, A FINELY TUNED SUSPENSION WITH LIGHTER COMPONENTS AND MORE NEUTRAL HANDLING, AND YOU'VE GOT AN UNBEATABLE COMBO OF SPORT AND UTILITY.

THE 2019 PORSCHE MACAN WILL ARRIVE HERE BEFORE SUMMER, STARTING AROUND $50,000.

ANOTHER LUXURY UTE, THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLE, HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE BRAND'S BREAD AND BUTTER.

ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE M CLASS, THE MID-SIZE 2020 MERCEDES-BENZ GLE SIGNALS AN ALL-NEW FOURTH GENERATION.

AND, IT TAKES A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP IN VIRTUALLY ALL AREAS.

THE NEW GLE CLASS IS ROOMIER INSIDE, HAS A SOPHISTICATED, ALSO NEW, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, AND BOASTS THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY YET, FOR A MERCEDES UTILITY, LIKE THE MBUX PERSONAL ASSISTANT, AND THE PAIR OF WIDE-SCREENS SWEEPING THROUGH THEIR BRAND.

BESIDES, A SUITE OF SEMI-AUTONOMOUS DRIVING FEATURES, THE NEW GLE FEATURES A 48-VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

IT POWERS A NEW ADJUSTABLE SUSPENSION CALLED "E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL," THAT ALLOWS INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS FOR EACH WHEEL.

WE CHECKED IT ALL OUT ON ROADS NEAR SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

Stephanie Hart: THE INTERIOR IS SPACIOUS AND COMFORTABLE WITH A THIRD SEAT ROW AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

John: IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT MERCEDES ADDED THAT OPTION.

THE GLE'S MAIN COMPETITOR, THE BMW X-5, HAS OFFERED A THIRD ROW FOR ABOUT A DECADE.

THE TOP GLE 450 4MATIC IS PROPELLED BY A ROBUST 362 HORSEPOWER 3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO THAT INCLUDES AN INTEGRAL ELECTRIC MOTOR SYSTEM, EQ BOOST.

THE BASE ENGINE IN THE GLE 350 AND 4MATIC MODEL, IS A 2.0 LITER INLINE-4 TURBO WITH A NONE TOO SHABBY 255 HORSEPOWER?

BOTH HOOK UP TO A SMOOTH SHIFTING 9G-TRONIC AUTOMATIC.

THE NEW GLE SHOWS THAT MERCEDES AIMS TO PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS TO MAKE ITS PREMIUM SUVS JUST AS APPEALING AS ITS PREMIUM CARS.

THE ALABAMA MADE 2020 GLE ARRIVES IN THE SPRING STARTING AT UNDER $54,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

AS CAR SALES DROOPED, SUV SALES HAVE ZOOMED.

WHETHER, THEY BE TRADITIONAL TRUCK-STYLE BODY-ON-FRAME, OR CAR-BASED UNITIZED CROSSOVERS, UTEs ARE THE FAMILY RIDE OF TODAY.

AND INCREASINGLY, THEY COME IN WIDE VARIETY OF SIZES FROM MOST BRANDS.

INDEED, AUTO MAKERS SEE BIG POTENTIAL, IN THE SMALLEST SUVS THEIR LINE-UPS.

SO, WE JOINED OUR COLLEAGUES AT CARS.COM, TO PUT THE LATEST CUTE-UTEs TO THE TEST.

* AUTOMAKERS LOVE PINT-SIZE SUVS AS THEY PROMISE BIGGER PROFITS THAN COMPARABLE SUBCOMPACT CARS.

SO, WE HEADED INTO THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO AND TEAMED UP WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM TO FIND OUT WHICH OF THESE MINI-UTEs OFFERS THE MOST FOR THE MONEY.

OUR SUB-COMPACT CONTENDERS ARE...

THE FORD ECOSPORT WITH ITS PLAYFUL PERSONA...

THE BOLD AND SPORTY HYUNDAI KONA...

THE PRACTICAL AND CAPABLE NISSAN ROGUE SPORT... AND RUGGED RUNABOUT SUBARU CROSSTREK... ALL FOUR CROSSOVERS ARE 2018 MODELS WITH STICKERS UNDER OUR $26,000 CAP, INCLUDING DESTINATION.

THERE'S ONE 3-CYLINDER TURBO, THE REST ARE 4 BANGERS.

EACH HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

HALF ARE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE, WHILE THE REST ARE ALL-WHEEL DRIVEN.

THE GROUP'S COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS RANGED FROM 27-29.

FOR ALL THE DETAILS ON SCORING HEAD ON OVER CARS.COM, BUT THIS IS HOW THIS RIVALRY PLAYED OUT.

COMING IN AT 4TH, THE FORD ECOSPORT.

THE BLUE OVAL'S CUTEST UTE IS NEW TO THE U.S., AFTER ROAMING OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD FOR YEARS WHERE ITS STIFF RIDE IS BETTER APPRECIATED.

OURS HAD A FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE 123 HORSEPOWER 1.0 LITER ECOBOOST I3 MATCHED WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IT'S THE SHORTEST OF THE GROUP, BUT CARGO ROOM IS IN LINE WITH OTHERS, AND IT SCORED POINTS FOR ITS SYNC 3 MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM.

THE $25,590 PRICE TAG PLACED IT NEAR OUR UPPER LIMIT.

Garick Zikan: THE ECOSPORT IS THE ONLY 3-CYLINDER IN THIS GROUP, SO NATURALLY IT HAS THE LEAST HORSEPOWER, BUT IT IS A TURBO, SO IT PROBABLY HAS MORE SPIRIT THAN YOU MIGHT THINK WHEN YOUR DRIVING AROUND TOWN.

THE TRANSMISSION ALSO DOES A GOOD JOB OF HANDLING THE SHIFTING DUTIES.

Kelsey Mays: THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN COMES WITH SAFETY FEATURES, WHERE THE ECOSPORT DOESN'T EVEN OFFER ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE FEATURES LIKE, AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING OR LANE DEPARTURE WARNING.

THOSE ARE AT LEAST OFFERED ON ALL THE REST OF THEM IN THIS GROUP.

John: THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE ALL-NEW HYUNDAI KONA.

A 2.0 LITER I4 GENERATES 147 HORSEPOWER, AND THE JUDGES LIKED THE SMOOTH 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IT'S EQUIPPED WITH SOME ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES LIKE, BLIND SPOT AND REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT, BUT IT HAD THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CARGO ROOM.

THE KONA EASILY BEAT RIVALS PRICE WISE THOUGH, EVEN WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, FOR $23,705.

Garick: THE KONA SEEMED TO HAVE THE SPORTIEST NATURE IN TERMS OF STYLING.

NOW, WE'VE DRIVEN BOTH ENGINES THAT ARE OFFERED, AND WHILE THIS WAS NOT THE MOST POWERFUL, IT HAD GOOD THROTTLE RESPONSE, AND HANDLED WELL.

Fred Meier: THE HANDLING OF THE KONA IS PRETTY GOOD... HYUNDAI'S MANAGED TO GET SUBSTANTIAL ROOM FOR FOUR INTO THE CAR AND SOME CLEVER INTERIOR STORAGE.

John: RUNNER UP IS THE NISSAN ROQUE SPORT.

A 2.0 LITER I4 WITH 141 HORSEPOWER WORKS WITH A CVT SENDING POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS.

PASSENGER AND CARGO VOLUME ARE MID-PACK.

BUT, IT DID ADD AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING TO THE MIX, FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE OF THE GROUP, $25,910.

Brian Wong: THE ROGUE SPORT WAS THE MOST WELL-ROUNDED OF OUR COMPETITORS, IT WAS THE MOST LIKE, A TRADITIONAL SUV.

HOWEVER, IT HAD ONE GLARING WEAKNESS AND THAT WAS ITS MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM.

IT'S KIND OF ABSURD THESE DAYS TO PAY ALMOST 26,000 FOR A CAR THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A TOUCH SCREEN.

Garick: THE ROQUE SPORT HAD THE MOST REFINED INTERIOR AND IT REALLY WAS ROOMY INSIDE.

THE ENGINE HAD PLENTY OF POWER AND IT WAS VERY COMFORTABLE ON ALL THE ROADS WE DROVE ON.

John: THAT LEAVES THE SUBARU CROSSTREK AT NUMERO UNO, WHICH IS WHERE IT LANDED DURING OUR LAST SUBCOMPACT SUV CHALLENGE.

THE 2.0 LITER FLAT-4 HAS THE MOST HORSEPOWER, 152, WORKING WITH A CVT.

OUR GROUP'S LARGEST CONTENDER, THE LATEST CROSSTREK OFFERS GENEROUS PEOPLE AND CARGO ROOM, PLUS, A LONG LIST OF SAFETY FEATURES, WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, FOR SLIGHTLY LESS THAN OUR CAP AT $25,905.

Kelsey: A GOOD MIX OF RIDE AND HANDLING, EXCELLENT VISIBILITY, ROOMY SEATS, AND A VERY HIGH QUALITY INTERIOR IN TERMS OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, AND MATERIALS.

Garick: THE CROSSTREK IS THE MOST RUGGED OF THE GROUP.

IT'S VERY SOLID AND HAS THAT GO ANYWHERE CAPABILITY.

THE ENGINE IS STRONG OFF THE LINE, STEERING IS LIGHT, AND QUICK, AND IT HAS GOOD GRIP IN THE CURVES.

John: THE SUBCOMPACT UTILITY MARKET IS ALREADY FIERCELY COMPETITIVE WITH MORE OPTIONS TO COME.

AND WHILE, EACH OF THIS FOURSOME OFFERS PRACTICAL VERSATILITY, THE SUBARU CROSSTREK DOES IT WITH THE DESIGN, SAFETY, AND STANDARD ALL-WEATHER, ALL-ROAD CREED THAT KEEPS IT AT THE HEAD OF THIS PACK.

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 JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE DRIVE THE LONG AWAITED RETURN OF THE FORD RANGER.

AND A SMALL UTE THAT OFFERS MORE THAN YOU THINK, THE NISSAN KICKS.

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...

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *