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

JOIN US AS WE SEARCH FOR SERIOUS PERFORMANCE IN THE LUXURIOUS GENESIS G70... PAT GOSS HAS AN EYE ON KEEPING YOUR TREADS IN TIP TOP SHAPE... WE PLUG-IN AND HIT THE HIGHWAY FOR AN EV ROAD TRIP... AND ROOMINESS WRAPPED IN COMFORT AND STYLE, THE NISSAN MURANO...

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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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.

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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: IT'S NO SECRET WE'RE BIG FANS OF THE GENESIS G70, HAVING JUST NAMED IT OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE FOR BEST LUXURY SEDAN.

BUT, THIS PARTICULAR LUXURY 4-DOOR IS ALSO THE FIRST GENESIS WITH A TRUE PERFORMANCE TILT, AND IS EVEN AVAILABLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

WELL, WORKING A CLUTCH AND SHIFTER WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC IS NOT EXACTLY OUR KIND OF FUN, SO IT'S OFF TO THE TRACK WE GO!

* NO DOUBT, GENESIS CAME OUT SWINGING WITH THE 2019 G70.

AND WHILE, WE'VE ALREADY GOTTEN PLENTY OF SEAT TIME IN THIS KOREAN MISSILE; BEING A SUCKER FOR EUROPEAN-STYLE SPORT SEDANS, WE COULDN'T HELP ANGLING FOR A LITTLE MORE.

FORTUNATELY, THERE ARE ENOUGH VERSIONS OF THE G70 TO MAKE A GOOD CASE FOR THAT, AND FORTUNATELY-ER GENESIS WAS MORE THAN WILLING TO OBLIGE.

TWO G70s THAT WE HAVEN'T SPENT ENOUGH TIME WITH TO THIS POINT, ARE THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE 3.3 LITER V6 DYNAMIC EDITION, AND THE 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 SPORT WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

YES, THAT'S RIGHT, YOU CAN STILL GET A LUXURY-MINDED COMPACT SPORT SEDAN WITH A MANUAL SHIFTER AND THREE PEDALS.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE 2.0 LITER PUTS OUT 255 HORSEPOWER, THREE MORE THAN STANDARD, THANKS TO A PERFORMANCE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ALONG WITH 260 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND THAT'S THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET THE 6-SPEED MANUAL.

YOU'LL HAVE TO STICK WITH REAR-WHEEL DRIVE AS WELL.

[ENGINE REVS] HERE, ON THE FRONT STRETCH OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY, WE SHIFTED OUR WAY TO A 0-60 OF 6.9 SECONDS, AND A QUARTER MILE OF 15.2 SECONDS AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

OVERALL, THAT'S ACTUALLY A LITTLE SLOWER THAN WE RECORDED LAST FALL WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] NOW, THE TWIN-TURBO 3.3 LITER V6 OUTPUTS 365 HORSEPOWER AND 376 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND LEAVES THE LINE WITH MUCH MORE URGENCY; HITTING 60 IN JUST 4.7 SECONDS.

AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TAKES CARE OF GEAR SELECTION HERE, RIFLING THROUGH ABOUT HALF OF THEM FOR THE 13.2 SECONDS THAT IT TOOK US TO COMPLETE THE QUARTER MILE AT 106 MILES PER HOUR.

HITTING THE FULL TRACK, THE G70 FEELS BIG, DESPITE BEING PHYSICALLY SMALLER THAN ITS CHASSIS-MATE KIA STINGER.

YET, IT'S A VERY COMPETENT SPORT SEDAN, WITH QUICK RESPONSE TO INPUTS, AND RESPECTABLE AMOUNTS OF FEEDBACK.

THE V6 DYNAMIC EDITION MEANS YOU GET A MORE AGGRESSIVE SUSPENSION SETUP AND MICHELIN PS4 PERFORMANCE TIRES.

TOGETHER, THEY PROVIDE MORE GRIP IN CORNERS, WHICH IN TURN, MAKES FOR HIGHER STRAIGHTAWAY SPEEDS.

ALSO INCLUDED, ARE PERFORMANCE BRAKE PADS FOR THE BREMBO CALIPERS TO SLOW YOU DOWN, AND UPGRADED COOLING FOR THE ENGINE, TO HELP KEEP IT HAPPY.

THERE'S A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH UNDERSTEER TO DEAL WITH, AS WELL AS AGGRESSIVE TRACTION CONTROL.

SO, IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO HANG IN THERE WITH THE Ms AND AMGs OF THE WORLD, BUT IT DOES COMPARE QUITE FAVORABLY WITH ANY MID-LEVEL SPORT SEDAN FROM GERMANY OR ANYWHERE ELSE, AND PULLS AWAY FROM THEM ALL WHEN IT COMES TO SMILES PER DOLLAR.

THINGS OVER IN THE 2.0 LITER SPORT MAY NOT BE QUITE AS "DYNAMIC," AND THERE ARE TWO FEWER GEARS, BUT IT IS MUCH MORE ENGAGING, THANKS TO THE ABILITY TO ROW THROUGH THOSE GEARS YOURSELF WITH THE MANUAL.

MICHELIN PS4s AND BREMBO BRAKES HERE TOO, BUT SPORT TRIM ALSO ADDS A LIMITED-SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

NATURALLY, IT DOESN'T HAVE AS MUCH GRIP IN THE CORNERS, OR AS MUCH POWER FOR COMING OUT OF THEM, BUT IT DOES FEEL NOTICEABLY LIGHTER UP FRONT, AND HAS A MORE TOSSABLE NATURE.

THE SHIFTER ITSELF, WORKS WELL ENOUGH; NO PROBLEMS FINDING THE RIGHT GEARS AT SPEED, BUT IT'S NOT THE MOST SOLID-FEELING WE'VE HELD.

LIKEWISE, THE CLUTCH IS ON THE VAGUE SIDE.

BUT, ALL OF THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE PRIME LUXURY FIRST MISSION OF THE G70.

INSIDE, THE SPORT COMES WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL FEATURES LIKE AN UPGRADED STEREO, AND A MANUAL EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE REPLACING THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE SWITCH OF ALL OTHER G70S.

NICE!

BOTH CARS SHARE THE SAME CITY GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 18; FROM THERE THE 3.3 LITER RATES 26-HIGHWAY AND 21-COMBINED, WHILE THE 2.0 LITER RATES 28-HIGHWAY AND 22-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 26.4 MILES PER GALLON IN THE TURBO-4 ON OUR TRIP DOWN TO ROEBLING ROAD.

ITS ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS SLIGHTLY WORSE THAN AVERAGE, AT 15.0 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH 6.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

AN ENTRY-LEVEL G70 STICKERS FOR $35,895; IT'S ONLY AN ADDITIONAL THREE GRAND FOR THE MANUAL-EQUIPPED SPORT, AT $38,895.

MORE CYLINDERS AND A LOT MORE CAPABILITY FOR THE 3.3T DYNAMIC, PUTS IT AT $51,245.

SO, WHETHER IT'S A SHIFT FROM THE TRADITIONAL LUXURY SEDAN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, OR A "DYNAMICALLY" DIFFERENT WAY TO GET TO WORK EVERY DAY; GENESIS DELIVERS BOTH EXPERIENCES.

PROOF THAT THE 2019 G70 IS MORE THAN JUST A ME TOO PRETENDER IN THE LUXURY SPORT SEDAN FIELD.

* [CAR DOOR CLOSING] LONG-RANGE ELECTRIC CARS ARE BECOMING A COMMON SIGHT ON AMERICAN ROADS, WITH THE NOW NEARLY-UBIQUITOUS TESLA BEING JOINED BY A GROWING CROWD OF FULL EVs ALL BOASTING A 200 MILE DRIVING RANGE.

AND WITH THE NATIONAL CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE ALSO GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS, WE WONDERED IF THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME FOR ELECTRIC CARS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THE DAILY COMMUTER ROUTINE AND BE FREE TO HIT THE OPEN ROAD.

SO, WE ROUNDED UP SOME OF THE LATEST EVs FOR AN ALL-ELECTRIC ROAD TRIP.

* IN APRIL 2012, COLLEGE PROFESSOR JONATHAN SLADE BOUGHT A NISSAN LEAF TO BE HIS DAILY DRIVER.

THEN, HE TOOK IT ON VACATION BY DRIVING ACROSS THE STATE OF MARYLAND, A DARING ADVENTURE FOR THE TIME, WITH VIRTUALLY NO ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE TO RELY ON OUTSIDE OF THE MAJOR CITIES.

WITH BOTH EVs AND OUTLETS NOW MUCH MORE PREVALENT, WE WONDERED HOW MUCH OF AN ADVENTURE THAT TRIP WOULD BE TODAY.

SO, WE RETRACED JONATHAN'S WEST TO EAST ROUTE, KNOCKING OUT IN 9-HOURS WHAT TOOK HIM 6-DAYS TO DO.

THEN, WE UPPED THE ANTE AND DID IT AGAIN, TAKING THREE EVs ON A LAP OF THE REGION WITH A SIDE TRIP TO GETTYSBURG THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE, WHERE LIKE MANY OTHER NATIONAL PARKS, YOU CAN NOW JUICE UP WHILE YOU'RE DISCOVERING AMERICA'S LANDMARKS.

OUR EV TRIO CONSISTED OF THE CHEVROLET BOLT EV, KIA NIRO EV, AND THE NISSAN LEAF PLUS.

ALL THREE OFFER 60 TO 64 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY PACKS, THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT FAST CHARGING AND AROUND 230 MILES OF STATED DRIVING RANGE.

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN A DOZEN DC FAST-CHARGE STATIONS ALONG MARYLAND'S HIGHWAYS, AND SOME STRETCHES ARE DESIGNATED AS ALT-FUEL CORRIDORS FOR A VARIETY OF FUELS.

BUT WE QUICKLY LEFT OUR FAST-CHARGING OPTIONS BEHIND AS WE ENTERED WILD, WILD WESTERN MARYLAND, WHERE LOCATING EVEN LEVEL 2 PLUGS CAN BE ELUSIVE.

THIS HOLDS TRUE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TOO.

THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ONLINE STATION LOCATOR MAP AND MOBILE APP SHOW MORE THAN 2,700 FAST CHARGE LOCATIONS IN THE U.S., MOSTLY CLUSTERED ALONG THE COAST AND MID WEST.

AROUND 700 OF THOSE LOCATIONS ARE DEDICATED EXCLUSIVELY TO TESLA VEHICLES, THOUGH, AND DON'T PROVIDE STANDARD J1772 CONNECTORS WE WERE SEARCHING FOR.

BUT EVEN IN THE WILDERNESS, A SMART AND WELL PREPARED EV EXPLORER CAN FIND CHARGING OPTIONS.

OVERNIGHT, WE USED A CAMPGROUND'S 50-AMP RV CIRCUIT, WITH OUR OWN PORTABLE LEVEL 2 CHARGING DEVICE.

DOLING OUT 4-HOURS OF LEVEL 2 TIME FOR EACH CAR NETTED US JUST ENOUGH RANGE TO MAKE THE 115 HILLY MILES BACK TO THE NEXT FAST-CHARGER ON OUR ROUTE.

NOW, YOU WON'T FIND MANY RV PARKS LISTED IN THE STATION LOCATOR APPS YET, BUT YOU WILL FIND THEM NEAR EVERY TOURIST DESTINATION IN THE COUNTRY, AND MOST ARE WILLING TO SERVE AS AN EV REST STOP, SO INVESTING IN A PORTABLE 240 VOLT CHARGER, AND A CAMPGROUND DIRECTORY, IS GREAT EV ROAD-TRIP INSURANCE.

Dennis Smith: SO, THERE'S SOME GOOD TOOLS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, WEBSITES AND EVEN APPS FOR YOUR PHONE AND YOU WANNA BE ASKING THE KINDS OF QUESTIONS THAT YOU'D IMAGINE.

NOT ONLY WHERE ARE THE STATIONS LOCATED, BUT WHAT KIND OF PAYMENTS DO THEY ACCEPT, WHAT HOURS ARE THEY OPEN, AND PROBABLY MOST OF ALL IS DO THEY HAVE THE RIGHT CONNECTOR FOR YOUR CAR, BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SOME DIFFERENT CONNECTORS DEPENDING ON WHICH CAR YOU'RE ACTUALLY DRIVING.

John: LIKE THE EARLY ATMS, NOT ALL CHARGING STATIONS ARE LINKED TO THE SAME PAYMENT NETWORK, SO IT HELPS TO HAVE ACCOUNTS WITH SEVERAL OF THE MAJOR CHARGING PROVIDERS LIKE EVGO, BLINK, SEMACONNECT, AND CHARGEPOINT.

OUR MOUNTAIN TO OCEAN EV ADVENTURE WAS MARRED ONLY BY THE DOWNTIME.

ON OUR SOLO TRIP, WE MANAGED 710 MILES IN 13 HOURS OF DRIVING, BUT ALSO SPENT EIGHT AND A HALF HOURS REPEATEDLY WATCHING THE CHARGE LEVEL INCH TOWARDS FULL.

OUR TRAVELING TRIO ENCOUNTERED OCCUPIED AND INOPERATIVE CHARGING STATIONS, AND MORE THAN ONCE HAD TO SPLIT UP AND JUICE UP AT MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, YET, STILL REACHED THE BEACH IN 10 HOURS.

WITH A BIT OF PLANNING, COMMON SENSE, AND PATIENCE, ELECTRIC VEHICLE ROAD TRIPPING IS VIABLE AND CAN BE FUN, BUT IT'S PROBABLY STILL BEST SUITED FOR TYPE-A TRAVELERS WHO LIKE TO PLAN THINGS OUT, RATHER THAN WANDERING FREE SPIRITS OR THOSE WHO LIKE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT THRU FOR LONG DISTANCES.

SO, CHOOSING AN EV AS YOUR ONLY CAR IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE, THOUGH FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH RANGE AND CHARGING ARE CLEARLY NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE GOING ELECTRIC A TRULY GO ANYWHERE, GO ANYTIME OPTION.

HAVING GOOD TIRES IS A KEY TO DRIVING SAFETY.

SO HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH TIPS ON KEEPING IT THAT WAY.

Pat Goss: TPMS OR TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS NOW, THEY'RE MANDATORY ON ALL PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS.

SO, YOU WOULD THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND THEM, BUT APPARENTLY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T.

NUMBER 1, IS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK IF THE LIGHT IS NOT ON THAT MEANS THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS PERFECT.

THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

ALL IT MEANS IS THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS NOT DANGEROUSLY LOW.

YOU MAY HAVE TO ADD AIR PERIODICALLY.

YOU SHOULD BE CHECKING YOUR TIRE PRESSURE AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KEEP IT AT THE PROPER SETTING FOR BEST TIRE WEAR AND FUEL ECONOMY.

NOW, THERE ARE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEMS, MOST OF THEM USE SENSORS THAT ARE IN THE WHEEL.

THE TYPE WITH THE VALVE STEM LIKE THIS ARE THE MOST COMMON, BUT THERE IS ALSO ONE THAT IS DOWN IN THE DROPT CENTER OF THE WHEEL THAT'S HELD IN PLACE BY A BIG CLAMP THAT GOES ALL THE WAY AROUND THE WHEEL.

BUT THE THING HERE IS THAT ALL OF THESE, WELL, THEY ARE NOW SO COMMON THAT YOU CAN GO TO THE LOCAL PARTS STORE, AND BUY REPLACEMENTS, OR BUY REPAIR KITS SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE, WE HAVE ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS TO REPAIR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SENSORS.

NOW, THAT SAID, THESE ALL WORK WITH BATTERIES, AND BATTERIES WEAR OUT.

AND WHEN THEY DO, ON COMES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IN MANY CASES ALWAYS ON IS THE TPMS LIGHT...

THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT.

NOW, WHERE YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, YOU BUY ONE OF THESE SENSORS YOU TAKE THE CAR IN, YOU GET THE SENSOR INSTALLED, AND A WEEK OR TWO LATER, ANOTHER ONE... BECAUSE ALL OF THE BATTERIES ALL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF WEAR ON THEM.

SO, WHAT YOU DO IS, IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THE SENSORS THAT HAS FAILED DUE TO A BAD BATTERY, REPLACE ALL 4 OF THEM AT ONCE... YOU'LL PROBABLY GET A BETTER DEAL FROM THE REPAIR SHOP, AND YOU'LL SAVE A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH.

THE BIG THING TO REMEMBER...

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE MANUALLY ONCE A MONTH, RELY ON THE TPMS AS AN EMERGENCY BACK-UP.

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

* Greg Carloss: ONE YEAR AND AROUND 19,000 MILES HAVE PASSED IN OUR SUBARU CROSSTREK.

IT'S JUST BACK FROM A ROAD TRIP TO MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND ALL THAT SEAT TIME MADE IT OBVIOUS HOW MUCH MORE SOLID AND REFINED THIS REDESIGNED MODEL IS THANKS IN PART TO THE NEW GLOBAL PLATFORM.

"THE SUBARU CROSSTREK IS TURNING OUT TO BE A PRETTY DECENT ROAD TRIP CAR.

THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE FOR A FAIR AMOUNT OF CARGO THE HATCH OPENS UP REALLY WIDE YOU CAN ACCESS THAT CARGO AND IT DOESN'T DRINK A LOT OF GAS.

THERE IS SOME ROAD AND WIND NOISE COMING IN ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT THAT'S REALLY JUST HIGHLIGHTED BY THE FACT THAT NOBODY IN THIS CAR HAS TALK TO ME FOR THE LAST 4-HOURS.

THE 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER AND CVT ARE MORE THAN ADEQUATE.

AND NO COMPLAINTS WHEN WE FILL UP.

WE'RE AVERAGING 29.2 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR, RIGHT IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S NUMBERS, ALL WHILE BEING A VERSATILE MEMBER OF OUR LONG TERM FLEET.

AFTER 4-MONTHS, THE EXTENDED STAY OF OUR 2019 RAM 1500 LIMITED CREW CAB 4X4 HAS COME TO AN END.

BUT IT DIDN'T LEAVE EMPTY HANDED.

FRESH OFF A MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST PICKUP TRUCK, OUR RAM 1500 IS BACK TO BUSINESS AS USUAL.

WE'VE RACKED UP QUITE A FEW HIGHWAY MILES ON IT RECENTLY, AND THE LONG HAUL COMFORT IS PHENOMENAL TO BE QUITE HONEST.

GRANTED, OURS IS VERY WELL EQUIPPED, BUT BETWEEN THE COMFY SEATS, SMOOTH RIDE, AND WEALTH OF TECHNOLOGY, IT'S HARD TO THINK OF A BETTER ROAD TRIP TRUCK.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THOSE ROAD TRIPS, WE WERE ONLY ABLE TO ACHIEVE A 15.9 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE, BUT THAT'S THE PRICE YOU PAY FOR HEMI V8 POWER.

WITHOUT A DOUBT, THE 2019 RAM 1500 IS THE PERFECT TOOL FOR COMFORTABLY TACKLING YOUR TO-DO LIST, WHETHER THAT INVOLVES RUNNING ACROSS TOWN, OR ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE'LL TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THERE ARE MANY GREAT PLACES TO DRIVE.

AND WE FOUND ANOTHER ONE FOR THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

John: KIA'S QUIRKY LITTLE CITY UTE HAS A FRESH NEW DESIGN.

THE ALL-NEW 2020 KIA SOUL ENTERS ITS 3RD GENERATION.

SINCE, ARRIVING HERE FOR 2010, THIS TRENDY, FRONT DRIVER, ADVERTISED BY JOYRIDING HAMSTERS, HAS BRIDGED A WIDE GAP, APPEALING TO BOTH YOUNG AND MATURE DRIVERS.

THE TWO-BOX SHAPE IS NOW MORE MODERN AND STREAMLINED WITH SLIM DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS AND WRAP-AROUND BOOMERANG-SHAPED TAILLIGHTS.

UNDERNEATH IS A STIFFER, STRONGER ALL-NEW PLATFORM...

GIVING THE SOUL A LONGER WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH.

IT STANDS ABOUT THE SAME HEIGHT, WITH MORE GROUND CLEARANCE, AND WIDTH REMAINS THE SAME WHICH HELPS IN TIGHT SPOTS.

WE HEADED TO SAN DIEGO WHERE THE LIGHT STEERING WAS PLENTY QUICK FOR CANYON CARVING.

THERE ARE TWO ENGINE CHOICES: THE STANDARD 2.0 LITER I4 AND AN OPTIONAL 201 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER TURBO.

THE TURBO CONNECTS ONLY THROUGH A 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC.

THE BASE 2.0 LITER LX GETS A STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT AN OPTIONAL CVT WILL HANDLE SHIFTING DUTIES ON MOST MODELS.

KIA CALLS IT AN IVT, SHORT FOR INTELLIGENT VARIABLE TRANSMISSION.

IT'S PROGRAMMED TO SIMULATE TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC SHIFTS AND NOT LET THE ENGINE REV NEEDLESSLY HIGH WITHOUT GOING ANYWHERE LIKE OTHER CVTs.

STILL, THERE'S NO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OPTION.

Ben Davis: THE 2.0 LITER ENGINE ONLY PUTS OUT 147 HORSEPOWER.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT ON PAPER, BUT WHEN YOU GET OUT ON THE OPEN ROAD, IT'S PERFECTLY BALANCED WITH THE IVT TRANSMISSION.

THERE'S POWER WHENEVER YOU NEED IT, IT NEVER FEELS ANEMIC AND THE SHIFTS ARE FAAAAANTASTIC.

John: THE WELL LAID-OUT INTERIOR STILL HAS A YOUTHFUL VIBE.

MOOD LIGHTING PULSATES TO THE BEAT OF THE MUSIC.

THE LIST OF SAFETY FEATURES GROWS, AND BOTH ANDROID AUTO, AND APPLE CAR PLAY ARE COMPATIBLE.

SO, KIA BRINGS A MORE SPIRITED DRIVE AND TECH TO THEIR UNIQUE URBAN RUNABOUT, WHILE MAINTAINING THE RIGHT MIX OF STYLE, COMFORT, AND UTILITY.

THE 2020 KIA SOUL IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT UNDER $18,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

IT'S NO SECRET THAT SUVs HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING AN EVOLUTIONARY PATH FROM RUGGED OFF ROADERS TO ALL-WEATHER FAMILY HAULERS.

BUT THAT STEADY PROGRESSION SPED UP A LITTLE WHEN THE UNEXPECTEDLY REFINED AND STYLISH NISSAN MURANO ARRIVED FOR 2003.

NOW, MIDWAY THROUGH ITS 3RD GENERATION, DOES MURANO STILL HAVE THE POWER TO SHAKE THINGS UP?

* THE NISSAN MURANO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST UTILITIES TO REALLY EMBRACE ITS CROSSOVER STATUS.

INSTEAD OF LOADING IT UP WITH OFF-ROAD HARDWARE, OR TACKING ON RUGGED-LOOKING CLADDING; NISSAN PACKED IT FULL OF COMFORT AND LUXURY, AND WRAPPED IT IN SLEEK, MODERN PACKAGING.

AND THAT THEME CONTINUES FOR 2019.

IT'S NOT ALL-NEW, BUT NISSAN HAS SPREAD A HEALTHY DOSE OF UPDATES BOTH INSIDE AND OUT TO KEEP APPEAL HIGH, AND ATTRACT EYES AWAY FROM ATTENTION GRABBING ENTRIES IN THE SEGMENT LIKE, THE CHEVROLET BLAZER, REVISED FORD EDGE, AND REBORN HONDA PASSPORT.

A NEW FRONT FASCIA INCLUDES, A MORE EXAGGERATED VERSION OF NISSAN'S V-MOTION GRILLE.

ON EITHER SIDE, ARE REDESIGNED LED HEADLIGHTS, AS WELL AS DIFFERENT LED FOG LAMPS.

FRESH LIGHTING IN BACK AS WELL; WHILE NEW WHEEL CHOICES, AND SOME ADDITIONAL PAINT COLORS, ROUND OUT THE UPDATES.

THERE ARE UPDATED MATERIALS INSIDE, BUT IT'S HERE IN TOP PLATINUM WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION, ATTEMPTING TO MAKE IT WORTHY OF THE NAME.

THAT MOSTLY MEANS NEW BENTLEY-FLAVORED QUILTED LEATHER SEATS AND DOOR PANELS.

SO, IT'S UP A NOTCH FROM ALREADY BEING ONE OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE MIDSIZE CROSSOVERS YOU CAN BUY, WITH FRONT AND REAR SEATING THAT WELCOMES YOU BETTER THAN THE MAJORITY OF LUXURY UTILITIES.

THOUGH, IT'S NOT ONE OF THE MOST CARGO CAPABLE.

BEHIND THE MOTION ACTIVATED POWER LIFT GATE, LOAD SPACE IS DECENT.

AT 32.1 CUBIC-FEET, EXPANDING TO 67.0 WITH THE REAR SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

BUT, MURANO TOWING MAXES OUT AT ONLY 1,500 POUNDS.

NISSAN CONNECT INFOTAINMENT, WITH MULTI-TOUCH CONTROL, CONTINUES TO GET BETTER AND BETTER.

FINALLY, THERE ARE NEW STANDARD 2ND ROW SIDE AIRBAGS, AND UPDATES FOR SAFETY SYSTEMS INCLUDE AVAILABLE NISSAN SAFETY SHIELD 360, WHICH FEATURES BOTH FRONT AND REAR AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

NO HARD CHOICES TO MAKE WHEN IT COMES TO POWERTRAINS.

ALL MURANOS ARE FITTED WITH A CARRYOVER 3.5 LITER V6 WITH 260 HORSEPOWER AND 240 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

STANDARD FLOW IS TO THE FRONT WHEELS THROUGH NISSAN'S XTRONIC CVT TRANSMISSION; INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH ALL TRIMS.

HAVING TRACTION AT ALL FOUR TIRES HELPED US GET OFF THE LINE CLEANLY, IF A LITTLE SLOWLY, HITTING 60 IN 7.4 SECONDS.

THE CVT KEEPS IT FROM BEING THE QUIETEST UTE AROUND, BUT IT DOES A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE 3.5 LITER IN THE HEART OF ITS POWER BAND.

AND IT MOVES QUITE WELL THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE; FEELING SOLID, FINISHING THE PASS IN 15.7 SECONDS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

THE COMFORT-FIRST PRIORITY OF THE SUSPENSION WAS READILY APPARENT IN OUR SLALOM.

THE MURANO IS SOFT AND WALLOWY, AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU REALLY GET A SENSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON THROUGH THE OVER-BOOSTED STEERING, THE OVERANXIOUS TRACTION NANNIES STEP IN AND TAKE OVER.

NONE OF THESE ARE COMPLAINTS, REALLY, AND IT DOES MAKE THE MURANO GENUINELY FAMILY FRIENDLY AND SAFE.

THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE SUV FIELD FOR ONE WITH A PLUSH AND LUXURIOUS RIDE.

IT IS A BIT OF A THROWBACK TO A TIME BEFORE EVERY SUV FELT A NEED TO HANDLE LIKE A BMW, OR AT LEAST DELIVER A STIFF ENOUGH RIDE TO FOOL YOU INTO THINKING IT DOES.

MOST IMPRESSIVE OF ALL MURANO PERFORMANCE WAS BRAKING.

STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED JUST 101 FEET, WITH EXCELLENT CONSISTENCY AND MINIMUM FADE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL MODELS ARE 20-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 23-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE; RIGHT ON, AT 23.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH CONSUMPTION OF 14.3 BARRELS OF OIL AND C02 EMISSIONS OF 6.4 TONS ANNUALLY.

MURANO'S BASE S TRIM STARTS AT $32,315, RANGING THROUGH FOUR TRIM LEVELS TO ARRIVE AT OUR PLATINUM TESTER, WHICH STARTS AT $44,575; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS $1,600 MORE.

AFTER YEARS OF CARMAKERS GOING ALL-IN WITH SUVs THAT LOOKED RUGGED, WHILE THEY WERE ACTUALLY BLUFFING; NISSAN PROVED WITH THE MURANO, THAT SUCH TACTICS WEREN'T REALLY NECESSARY.

MOST PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME ALL-WEATHER CAPABILITY, AND A HIGH SEATING POSITION, WITH PLENTY OF COMFORT, AND STYLE.

THE 2019 NISSAN MURANO DELIVERS THAT BETTER THAN EVER, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE A WINNING HAND FOR NISSAN, NO MATTER WHAT THE COMPETITION LAYS ON THE TABLE.

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...

WHEN WE DRIVE THE LONG AWAITED JEEP GLADIATOR MIDSIZE PICKUP.

AND KIA FOLLOWS THROUGH ON ITS ELECTRIC PROMISES WITH THE NIRO EV.

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.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *