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

JOIN US AS WE RIDE HIGH, WIDE, AND HANDSOME IN THE REBORN HONDA PASSPORT... PAT GOSS ON THE SPECIAL CARE THAT COMES WITH PLUGGING IN... STEPHANIE HART WITH HELPFUL HINTS WHEN OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS ARE ALONG FOR THE RIDE... AND IT'S MORE, BUT BETTER FOR THE QUIRKY LITTLE KIA SOUL...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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John: YOU MAY REMEMBER THE HONDA PASSPORT, THE ISUZU-BASED 5-PASSENGER SUV THAT HONDA SOLD IN THE 1990s.

IT WAS ACTUALLY THEIR FIRST SUV, UNTIL THEIR OWN CR-V ARRIVED FOR '97.

BUT WHEN HONDA'S ISUZU PARTNERSHIP WENT AWAY, SO DID THE PASSPORT.

WELL, THE PASSPORT IS BACK, AND HONDA DIDN'T NEED ANY HELP THIS TIME AROUND.

* HONDA KEPT IT WITHIN THEIR OWN RANKS FOR THIS 2019 HONDA PASSPORT.

AS IT IS BASICALLY, A 2-ROW VERSION OF THE HONDA PILOT.

WHY THE PILOT'S CAPABLE CHASSIS WAS NOT USED FOR A SMALLER CROSSOVER BEFORE WAS ALWAYS A BIT OF A MYSTERY.

ALL OF THE HARDWARE IS PRETTY MUCH THE SAME, INCLUDING THE IDENTICAL 111.0 INCH WHEELBASE, ALTHOUGH OVERALL LENGTH IS 6.2 INCHES SHORTER.

NO BASE 18 INCH WHEELS THOUGH, ALL PASSPORTS RIDE ON 20s.

PERHAPS, IN AN EFFORT TO MARKET IT MORE TO THE ADVENTURE TYPES INSTEAD OF SOCCER MOMS, LOTS OF EXTERIOR BLACK TRIM HAS BEEN ADDED, AND GROUND CLEARANCE IS MORE THAN AN INCH HIGHER THAN THE PILOT, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

AND INDEED, MOST OF HONDA'S CURRENT ADVERTISING INVOLVES BACKWOODS EXCURSIONS.

PASSPORT USES HONDA'S I-VTM4 ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, WITH MODES FOR MUD, SAND, AND SNOW; PLENTY CAPABLE FOR WHAT MOST PASSPORT OWNERS WILL GET INTO.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] THE SAME 3.5 LITER V6 FROM THE PILOT, DELIVERS 280 HORSEPOWER AND 262 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT ONLY THE 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION IS AVAILABLE, WHICH MEANS YOU'RE STUCK WITH BUTTONS FOR A SHIFTER.

SIMILAR TO THE PILOT, TOW RATING IS 3,500 POUNDS WITH FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, 5,000 POUNDS WITH AWD.

NO 3RD ROW TO STORE IN THE CARGO AREA, WHICH MEANS YOU NOW HAVE A LARGE UNDERFLOOR BIN INSTEAD; IT ALONE HOLDS 2.5 CUBIC FEET.

CARGO FLOOR, REAR SEATS UP, CAPACITY IS 41.2 CUBIC-FEET; MAXING OUT AT 77.9 WITH THEM FOLDED.

WE'VE SPENT ENOUGH TIME IN 3-ROW PILOTS TO KNOW THAT WHILE NOT THE BIGGEST INSIDE; THE COMFORTABLE INTERIOR HOLDS UP EXTREMELY WELL TO ABOVE AVERAGE ABUSE, AND WE EXPECT THE SAME WITH THE 2-ROW PASSPORT.

IT'S A WELL-EQUIPPED INTERIOR TOO.

THE AVAILABLE 8-INCH DISPLAY AUDIO SYSTEM ALLOWS BOTH APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO INTEGRATION, AND GETS THE ADDED BENEFIT OF A GOOD-OLD VOLUME KNOB.

ALL BUT BASE SPORT TRIM HAS A MOONROOF, HEATED LEATHER-TRIMMED SEATS, AND A POWER LIFTGATE.

NO 360-DEGREE VIDEO MONITORS, BUT THE STANDARD BACKUP CAMERA DOES HAVE THREE PERSPECTIVES.

HERE'S ANOTHER PLUS, REAR SEATERS HAVE OVER AN INCH MORE LEGROOM COMPARED TO THE PILOT.

HONDA SENSING SAFETY IS STANDARD AND INCLUDES COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING AS WELL AS ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION.

BUT WHETHER, YOU'RE KEEPING IT BETWEEN THE LINES YOURSELF, OR LETTING THE PASSPORT DO IT FOR YOU, THE RIDE IS SMOOTH AND STEERING QUICK.

IT HUSTLED THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE QUITE WELL.

THERE IS SOME BODY ROLL TO DEAL WITH, BUT ALSO QUITE A LOT OF GRIP FROM THE 265/45 CONTINENTAL CROSSCONTACT LX SPORT TIRES.

LIKE, ALL OF THE OTHER VEHICLES ON HONDA'S GLOBAL LIGHT TRUCK PLATFORM, SUSPENSION IS BY WAY OF MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT, AND MULTILINK INDEPENDENT REAR.

IT'S ONLY SLIGHTLY LIGHTER THAN THE PILOT, SO WE WEREN'T EXPECTING A BIG DIFFERENCE IN ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE.

BUT, HONDA'S 9-SPEED HAS GOTTEN SOME RECENT UPDATES.

INDEED, WE HIT 60 IN A JUST FINE 6.5 SECONDS.

AFTER A NICE, SPIRITED LEAP OFF THE LINE, POWER CONTINUED TO IMPRESS ALL THE WAY DOWN THE TRACK.

SHIFTS ARE A LITTLE LAZY, BUT ALSO VERY SMOOTH.

OUR BEST QUARTER MILE WAS A 15.0 SECOND RUN, AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT, BUT RESULTS OF JUST 112 FEET FROM 60 ARE VERY GOOD, AND THE PASSPORT WAS ROCK SOLID THROUGHOUT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ARE 19-CITY, 24-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE, A GREAT 24.1 MILES PER GALLON ON REGULAR.

PASSPORT RATES A SLIGHTLY BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.7 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION WITH 7.1 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

DESPITE FEWER SEATS, BUT WITH MORE STANDARD FEATURES, PASSPORT BASE PRICE IS HIGHER THAN THE PILOT BY $500, STARTING AT $33,035.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS A $1,900 OPTION ON ALL TRIMS EXCEPT TOP LEVEL ELITE, WHICH HAS STANDARD AWD FOR $44,725.

IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT A 2-ROW VARIANT OF THE POPULAR PILOT NOW EXISTS.

AND WHILE IT MAKES A LITTLE LESS SENSE THAT IT TOOK THIS LONG, BRINGING BACK THE PASSPORT NAME, AND CHANGES TO ITS STANCE, WILL MAKE IT APPEAL TO A SLIGHTLY MORE ADVENTUROUS BUYER.

WE THINK, THE 2019 HONDA PASSPORT WILL ALSO DO WELL AGAINST A CROWDED FIELD THAT INCLUDES THE FORD EDGE, CHEVROLET BLAZER, NISSAN MURANO, HYUNDAI SANTA FE, AND OTHERS.

YES, WE ARE IMPRESSED WITH THE BETTER-LATE-THAN-NEVER PASSPORT, AND IT EASILY GETS OUR STAMP OF APPROVAL.

* DOGS ARE A MAN'S BEST FRIEND, SO THEY DESERVE TO TRAVEL IN SAFETY AND COMFORT.

AND THAT GOT US THINKING... WHAT MAKES A NEW VEHICLE TRULY "DOG FRIENDLY."

WELL, OUR STEPHANIE HART RIDES ALONG WITH DOG OWNERS AND THEIR PALS TO FIND OUT.

* Anne Stitch: MY DOG'S NAME IS GUS AND HE'S TWO YEARS AND FIVE MONTHS.

Stephanie Hart: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE GUS' PERSONALITY?

Anne: A LOVE.

JUST ADORABLE.

WE CALL HIM WONDER DOG.

Alli Mendez: MY DOG'S NAME IS LILLY AND SHE'S 2.5 YEARS OLD.

SHE'S FUNNY, SHE'S SMART, SHE'S MISCHIEVOUS, [LAUGHS] AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR SURE.

Stephanie: IF YOU'RE A PET OWNER THAN YOU GET IT.

YOU KNOW, PETS ARE LIKE CHILDREN TO US.

THEY'RE PART OF THE FAMILY.

SO, WE WANT THE VERY BEST FOR THEM.

AUTOMAKERS REALIZE THIS.

THAT'S WHY ENGINEERS, NOW MORE THAN EVER, ARE DESIGNING CARS WITH DOGS IN MIND.

A DOG FRIENDLY VEHICLE IS TYPICALLY A VEHICLE WITH A LOW RIDE HEIGHT, SEATS THAT FOLD DOWN AND A ROOMY INTERIOR.

JUST ASK THESE GUYS.

Stephanie: ALL CARS, AND SUVs NOW COME WITH ACTIVE, AND PASSIVE SAFETY FEATURES DESIGNED TO HELP PROTECT EVERYONE ON BOARD, TWO AND FOUR LEGGED.

MOST VEHICLES ARE BUILT WITH HIGH STRENGTH TENSILE STEEL AND MANY BRANDS, LIKE SUBARU, MAKE PRE-COLLISION EMERGENCY BRAKING A PRIORITY FEATURE.

BUT, THAT'S JUST FOR STARTERS.

Matt Ritter: ALSO, IN 2019 WE INTRODUCED "DRIVER FOCUS" WHICH WAS FIRST DEBUTED IN OUR 2019 FORESTER AND "DRIVER FOCUS" IS A SYSTEM THAT ALERTS YOU IF YOU BECOME A DISTRACTED DRIVER UNINTENTIONALLY OR OTHERWISE, IF YOU'RE CHECKING THE BACKSEAT FOR YOUR BELOVED ANIMAL OR LOOKING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW TOO LONG THIS SYSTEM WILL ALERT YOU TO KEEP YOUR EYES BACK ON THE ROAD.

Stephanie: MANY OF THE BEST FEATURES OF FAMILY FRIENDLY CARS ARE ELEMENTS OF THE BEST DOG FRIENDLY VEHICLES... EASY TO CLEAN INTERIORS... MULTI-ZONE AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROLS... AIR SUSPENSION... TINTED REAR WINDOWS...

CONVERSATION MIRRORS, AND CAMERA SYSTEMS... PLUS, AFTER-MARKET ACCESSORIES LIKE...DOG RAMPS... Joe Wajda: OUR CUSTOMERS BRING THEIR DOGS IN TO LOOK AT CARS.

THEY BRING THEIR DOGS IN WHEN THEY SERVICE THEIR CARS.

SO, YOU CAN WALK OUT OF YOUR OFFICE AT ANY POINT, AND SEE A GERMAN SHEPARD, AND A GREYHOUND SITTING AT A SALES CONSULTANT'S DESK JUST DOING THEIR THING WHILE THEY'RE BUYING A CAR.

Stephanie: AUTO MANUFACTURERS REALIZE PETS HELP BUILD MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS, WHICH TRANSLATES TO SALES.

PERHAPS, WHY WE'VE SEEN SO MANY DOG-FOCUSED MARKETING CAMPAIGNS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

BESIDES SUBARU...HONDA, LAND ROVER, NISSAN, TOYOTA, VOLKSWAGEN AND OTHERS HAVE MADE THE DOG FRIENDLY PITCH.

Anne: C'MON GUS IN...BEAUTIFUL... THAT'S MY BOY.

Stephanie: DOES YOUR DOG LOVE OR HATE RIDING IN AUTOMOBILES?

Alli: IT'S A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WHEN SHE'S IN THE CAR.

LIKE I SAID, SHE GETS EXCITED TO GO SOMEWHERE, BUT ONCE SHE'S IN THERE, SHE GETS A LITTLE SCARED.

BUT SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW YOU ARE NEAR HER.

ON THE WEEKENDS, WE LIKE TO TAKE A DRIVE DOWN TO THE WATER, WE'LL WALK ALONG THE BOARDWALK AT THE BEACH.

OR WE WALK ON THE SAND.

SHE LIKES TO DIG IN THE SAND AND RUN ON THE SAND.

Anne: WE GO TO THE PARK.

WE GO TO HIS FRIENDS' HOUSE.

WE GO TO THE BEACH.

WE GO EVERYWHERE REALLY.

Stephanie: WHETHER, YOU'RE TRAVELING NEAR OR FAR... SAFETY AND COMFORT IS #1 WHEN CHOOSING A FIDO FRIENDLY CAR... THAT WAY YOU CAN ENJOY THE JOURNEY... JUST AS MUCH AS THE DESTINATION.

* ...GOOD BOY, GOOD BOY... John: ELECTRIFICATION IS BECOMING A BIG PART OF MANY OF THE NEWEST CARS.

SO, PAT GOSS CLEARS UP SOME OF THE MYTHS ABOUT HIGH VOLTAGE CAR CARE.

Pat Goss: THIS TIME, WE'RE JOINED BY MICHAEL SMITH FROM THE NATIONAL ALTERNATIVE FUELS TRAINING CONSORTIUM FROM WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY.

MICHAEL WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Michael Smyth: THANK YOU, PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT IN THE WORLD DO WE HAVE HERE?

Michael: THIS IS A TRAINING TOOL THAT OUR ORGANIZATION DEVELOPED TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, TECHNICIANS, AND FIRST AND SECOND RESPONDERS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCES ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

THIS IS A TOYOTA PRIUS THAT WE'VE CUT THE BODY AWAY SO THAT ALL OF THOSE COMPONENTS ARE VISIBLE.

Pat: OKAY, WE SEE THE BATTERY, WHAT DO WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT?

Michael: WELL, THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT BATTERY CONFIGURATIONS OUT THERE IN ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

FOR A HYBRID VEHICLE, A SMALLER BATTERY CAPACITY, THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE AND THESE ARE GENERALLY AIR COOLED, WHERE A LARGER BATTERY IN A TESLA OR A CHEVROLET BOLT HAS GREATER CAPACITY, GREATER HEAT THAT IT PRODUCES AND THEREFOR THOSE ARE LIQUID COOLED.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT LIQUID AND SO ON IN A MINUTE.

SPECIALIZED TOOLS?

Michael: YES, IT'S AN INDUSTRY STANDARD THAT TECHNICIANS WHEN THEY'RE WORKING WITH THE HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM, WEAR HIGH VOLTAGE GLOVES, AND THAT'S AGAIN TO PROTECT THEM FROM ANY POSSIBLE SHOCK.

AND A SECOND LEVEL OF PROTECTION CAN ALSO BE WITH HIGH VOLTAGE TOOLS, WHICH ARE TOOLS THAT ARE WRAPPED IN INSULATING MATERIAL TO AGAIN PUT ANOTHER LAYER OF PROTECTION IN.

Pat: ALRIGHT, AND ONE THING OF COURSE IS THE MAIN DISCONNECT.

Michael: YES, ANYTIME A TECHNICIAN IS WORKING ON A VEHICLE, THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND -- THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS.

THE TRADITIONAL 12 VOLT AND THERE'S ALSO THE HIGH VOLTAGE SYSTEM.

EVERYTHING THAT CARRIES HIGH VOLTAGE INSIDE THIS CAR IS LABELED ORANGE.

THAT'S A INDUSTRY STANDARD, AND THE TECHNICIAN CAN ISOLATE THAT VOLTAGE INTO JUST THE BATTERY BY REMOVING WHAT'S CALLED THE "SERVICE DISCONNECT."

ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAVE THOSE.

Pat: OKAY, LET'S GO UP FRONT AND TAKE A LOOK AT THE COOLING SYSTEMS ON THIS CAR.

IT HAS TWO OF THEM, WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE TWO SYSTEMS.

Michael: SURE, ELECTRIC VEHICLES CAN HAVE MULTIPLE COOLING SYSTEMS DEPENDING ON HOW ITS CONFIGURED.

THE PRIUS HAS TWO, ONE FOR THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, AND ONE FOR WHAT'S CALLED THE "INVERTER UNIT."

ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES HAVE THIS BECAUSE THE MOTORS ARE GENERALLY AC THE BATTERIES OF COURSE ARE DC, AND YOU NEED TO INVERT THAT ELECTRICITY AS IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE BATTERY, AND THE ELECTRIC MOTOR GENERATOR.

Pat: AND BOTH OF THESE SYSTEMS NEED PROPER MAINTENANCE.

Michael: THEY DO, THERE'S A MISCONCEPTION OUT THERE THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES DON'T REQUIRE AS MUCH MAINTENANCE AS A CONVENTIONAL VEHICLE AND IT'S PRETTY FAR FROM THE TRUTH.

IN THAT A HYBRID VEHICLE HAS ALL THE SAME SYSTEMS THAT YOUR CONVENTIONAL VEHICLE HAS BECAUSE IT HAS AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, IT HAS A GASOLINE FUEL TANK, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM WHICH ALSO REQUIRES MAINTENANCE.

NOW, A PURE ELECTRIC LIKE A TESLA OR A CHEVROLET BOLT DON'T OF COURSE HAVE THOSE SYSTEMS, BUT OF COURSE YOU NEED TO DO TIRE ROTATIONS, BRAKE MAINTENANCE AND OTHER THINGS OF MAINTENANCE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT ELECTRIC CARS AS FAR AS CONSUMERS ARE CONCERNED.

Michael: EDUCATION.

MOST CONSUMERS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES MEAN TO THEM.

A HYBRID VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN JUST LIKE A REGULAR CAR.

YOU DRIVE LONG DISTANCES, YOU HAVE GASOLINE TO POWER THE VEHICLE AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO REQUIRE LONG-TERM CHARGING.

WHERE AN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE WOULD BE A LOGICAL CHOICE FOR SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN AN URBAN AREA, DOESN'T DRIVE A LOT OF LONG DISTANCES, BUT THEY'RE LOOKING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THOSE LOWER COSTS OF OWNERSHIP THAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES OFFER.

Pat: ALRIGHT, SO DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST.

Michael: ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: MICHAEL, THANK YOU.

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

John: THERE'S COMMUTING, AND THEN THERE'S DRIVING.

BOTH GOOD REASONS BEHIND THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPINS.

* John: WHEN IT COMES TO WRINGING PERFORMANCE OUT OF LUXURY, AMG PRETTY MUCH WROTE THE BOOK.

THEIR LATEST CHAPTERS: THE 2019 MERCEDES-AMG 53-SERIES E-CLASS COUPE, E-CLASS CABRIOLET, AND CLS.

THEY REPLACE THE SHORT-LIVED AMG 43s, WITH MORE POWERFUL, MILD-HYBRID ENGINE LAYOUTS.

EACH SHARES A NEW ELECTRIFIED 3.0 LITER TURBO I6 PRODUCING 429 HORSEPOWER, AN AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9G TRANSMISSION, DYNAMIC SELECT DRIVING MODES, AMG RIDE CONTROL+ AIR SUSPENSION, AND REAR-BIASED AMG PERFORMANCE 4MATIC+ ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WITH ALL OF THAT HARDWARE, AMG PROWESS IS OBVIOUS AS SOON AS YOU POUND THE PEDAL.

A 48-VOLT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND EQ BOOST TECHNOLOGY TRIGGER A STARTER/ALTERNATOR BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IMMEDIATELY RELEASING AN EXTRA 21 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THERE'S ALSO AN AUXILIARY ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR, OR E-CHARGER THAT PROVIDES INSTANT GRATIFICATION, ELIMINATING ANY LAG FROM THE 3.0s EXHAUST DRIVEN TURBO.

SHIFTS ARE ALSO SUPER QUICK, WITH THESE PERFORMANCE MINDED MERCEDES' CLAIMING 0 TO 60 TIMES OF 4.4 SECONDS OR LESS.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE LAYS DOWN TONS OF TRACTION RIGHT FROM THE START AND GREAT GRIP THROUGH THE TURNS.

ANGLING THROUGH THE CURVES, THE AMG TUNED SUSPENSION AND ADAPTIVE DAMPING IS NIMBLE AND BALANCED.

ON SALE NOW THE 2019 MERCEDES-AMG E53 COUPE STARTS AT UNDER $74,000.

STEPPING UP TO THE CABRIOLET OR CLS 53 BEGINS AROUND $80,000.

VOLKSWAGEN IS RAISING THE BAR ON AFFORDABLE EURO SPORT SEDAN ENTERTAINMENT...WITH THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI.

OUR INTRODUCTION TO THE 6TH GENERATION OF THIS RACIER JETTA, WAS ALONG WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA'S "TAIL OF THE DRAGON."

RIDING ON THE MQB ARCHITECTURE, THIS NEW GLI SHARES KEY COMPONENTS WITH OTHER COMPACT VW PERFORMERS.

THE RESPONSIVE 228 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO IS FROM THE GOLF GTI.

IT NOT ONLY OUTPACES THE STANDARD JETTA BY 81 HORSES, IT ALSO UPS THE ANTE BY 18 HORSEPOWER AND 51 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE OVER THE PREVIOUS GLI.

Garick Zikan: WE'VE HAD THE STANDARD JETTA IN OUR LONG-TERM FLEET, SO WE'RE FAMILIAR WITH THIS CAR.

BUT THERE'S A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE IN THE EXTRA POWER THAT COMES FROM THE JETTA GLI... AND THE LOW END TORQUE MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT VERY LONG FOR IT.

THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE A LITTLE MORE HEFT THAN THE STANDARD JETTA... AND IT REALLY COMPLIMENTS THE OVERALL SPORTINESS AND AGILITY THIS CAR HAS WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THE CURVES.

John: THE GLI BORROWS THE ELECTRONIC LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL FROM THE GOLF GTI, AND BRAKES FROM THE GOLF R. THE GLI GOES BEYOND THE DAILY DRIVING JETTA, REPLACING THE TORSION BEAM IN THE REAR FOR A MULTI-LINK SUSPENSION...WHICH WAS ACTUALLY, STANDARD IN THE PREVIOUS GEN JETTA, TO GO ALONG WITH MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT.

THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLI IS ON SALE NOW STARTING AT JUST UNDER $26,000.

WE DON'T OFTEN GET THE CHANCE TO SAY 12TH GENERATION, BUT THAT'S THE CASE WITH THE 2020 TOYOTA COROLLA.

IT LOOKS FAR BETTER, WITH THE ADDED SOPHISTICATION WE FIRST SAW IN THE COROLLA HATCHBACK LAST YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, A HYBRID IS BEING OFFERED IN THE U.S., THE HYBRID'S HEART IS THE 121 HORSEPOWER 1.8 LITER 4-CYLINDER GAS ENGINE WITH TWO MOTOR/GENERATORS SHARED WITH THE TOYOTA PRIUS.

GAS ONLY ENGINES ARE THE CARRYOVER BUT STRONGER 139 HORSEPOWER 1.8 LITER I4, AND NEW 169 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER I4.

TRANSMISSION DUTIES ARE HANDLED BY ONE OF THREE DIFFERENT CVTs DEPENDING ON THE MODEL, OR A 6-SPEED MANUAL AVAILABLE ON THE SE.

RIDING ON A MORE RIGID TNGA PLATFORM, THIS NEW COROLLA SOAKS UP THE BUMPS BETTER THAN BEFORE WITH REVISED MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT... AND SURPRISE, REPLACING THE TORSION BEAM REAR IS A MULTI-LINK SUSPENSION.

THE UNCLUTTERED INTERIOR INCLUDES AN 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN ON MOST GRADES.

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 2.0, APPLE CARPLAY AND AMAZON ALEXA ARE STANDARD.

THE TOYOTA COROLLA BECAME THE WORLD'S BEST-SELLING CAR FOR BEING PRACTICAL, ECONOMICAL AND DEPENDABLE.

FOR 2020 THEY'VE ADDED MORE RESPONSIVENESS AND FINESSE.

DEALERS HAVE THEM NOW STARTING AT UNDER $20,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

YOU'VE GOT TO HAND IT TO KIA.

WHEN THEIR BOXY SOUL ARRIVED HERE FOR 2010, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE SCION XB AND NISSAN CUBE.

WELL, NOT ONLY WAS IT COMPETITIVE, IT DROVE BOTH OF THOSE RIVALS OUT OF THE MARKET.

ADD IN A SOME DANCING HAMPSTERS AND THE SOUL QUICKLY BECAME ONE OF KIA'S BEST SELLERS.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THE 3RD GENERATION STILL HAS SOUL.

* NOT THAT ANY PART OF DEVELOPING A NEW CAR IS EASY.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH RIVALS, BE IT MUSCLE CARS OR PICKUP TRUCKS; THE GOAL IS CLEAR.

YOU'VE GOT TO ONE-UP THE OTHER GUYS.

HOWEVER, THE TASK FOR DESIGNERS OF THE 2020 KIA SOUL WAS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT.

WHAT'S THE TARGET WHEN YOU'RE BASICALLY IN A CLASS OF ONE?

WELL, THE FIRST THING YOU DO, IS NOT SCREW UP THE VIBE; THAT IS NOT DEPART TOO MUCH FROM THE QUIRKY STYLE THAT GOT YOU HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL...SO FAR, SO GOOD.

THIS SOUL IS STILL INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE, AND THE ONLY MEASUREMENTS THAT ARE UP ARE OVERALL LENGTH AND WHEELBASE.

IT APPEARS WIDER, HOWEVER; DUE TO SLIMMED DOWN LIGHTING, AND A LARGER TWO-TONE GRILLE, THAT VISUALLY EXPANDS THE FRONT.

THE TAILLIGHTS ALSO ARE MORE EXPRESSIVE, NOW ALMOST WRAPPING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE REAR GLASS.

THERE ARE SIX TRIM LEVELS, AND RATHER THAN JUST ADDING EQUIPMENT, THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES; FROM FUN TO FASHIONABLE, AND EVEN OFF-ROADY WITH THE NEW X-LINE.

THIS GT-LINE GETS UNIQUE FASCIAS WITH RED ACCENTS, 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, SIDE SILL TRIM, GLOSS BLACK SIDE MIRRORS, AND FOG LIGHTS.

THERE IS AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM THAT LIES BENEATH IT ALL, WITH A NEW STANDARD ENGINE MOUNTED TO IT.

THE NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER I4 PRODUCES 147 HORSEPOWER AND 132 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

STICK WITH BASE LX TRIM, AND YOU'LL GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MOST WILL COME WITH KIA'S OWN CVT, FIRST SEEN OVER IN THE FORTE COMPACT.

OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S 2.0 LITER, BUT THIS 201 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT CRAVE A LITTLE MORE.

TORQUE PRODUCTION IS 195 POUND-FEET, AND IT COMES WITH A 7-SPEED DCT.

STORAGE BAY SPACE REMAINS THE SAME 24.2 CUBIC-FEET.

BUT FOLDING THE SEATBACKS WILL EXPAND THE SPACE A LITTLE MORE THAN BEFORE TO A HEALTHY 62.1 CUBIC-FEET, WELL MORE THAN MOST COMPACT SUVs.

MILLENNIALS NEED THEIR CONNECTIVITY OF COURSE, AND UP TO 10-INCHES FOR THE IN-DASH TOUCHSCREEN WILL MAKE THAT EASY, AND FEATURES SUCH AS HEAD UP DISPLAY ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE FOUND FROM ACTUALLY DRIVING AROUND ON THIS NEW CHASSIS, IS MUCH MORE REFINEMENT.

THE SOUL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE; LAST GEN TOOK A SMALL STEP IN GETTING BETTER, THIS ONE TAKES A MUCH BIGGER STEP.

STEPPING ON THE THROTTLE OF OUR TURBO-POWERED TEST CAR DIDN'T RESULT IN AS MUCH GRUNT AS WE MIGHT HAVE HOPED, BUT THINGS GET MOVING EFFICIENTLY ENOUGH, 7.0 SECONDS TO 60.

THERE'S A BIT OF LAG AT LAUNCH, BUT ONCE BOOST BUILDS THE ENGINE STARTS MAKING GOOD POWER.

THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION DOES HAVE A SPORT SETTING TO QUICKEN IT UP, BUT IT'S STILL NOT MUCH OF A PERFORMANCE ENHANCER.

THE QUARTER MILE TRIP TOOK 15.4 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

IF YOU DO UPGRADE TO THE TURBO ENGINE, ALONG WITH IT, YOU'LL GET A SPORTIER TUNED SUSPENSION AS WELL.

IT WAS SURPRISINGLY CAPABLE THROUGH OUR SLALOM.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE A BOX, BUT IT DARTS IN AND OUT OF CONES LIKE A SPORTY LITTLE HATCHBACK.

PLENTY OF GRIP TOO.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS STANDARD IN ALL SOUL TRIMS EXCEPT FOR LX AND X-LINE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 1.6 LITER ARE 27-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

ALL SOULS RANGE BETWEEN 18 AND $24,000, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GT-LINE TURBO, WHICH IS A HEALTHY STEP UP TO $28,485.

TURNS OUT THAT DESIGNING A NEW GENERATION OF CAR WITHOUT ANY TRUE COMPETITION TO GUIDE YOU, IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT DIFFICULT.

JUST CONTINUE WITH WHAT MADE THE SOUL SO WILDLY POPULAR TO BEGIN WITH, AND KEEP GIVING FANS MORE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE HERE WITH THE 2020 KIA SOUL, A BOX FULL OF PERSONALITY THAT TRULY DELIVERS.

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WHEN ACURA BRINGS A-SPEC PROWESS TO THE ROOMY MDX, AND AN ELECTRIC BOOST FOR THE STYLISH MERCEDES-BENZ CLS.

PAT GOSS ON TACKLING TOUGH RUST.

STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US WHERE THE FUTURE IS UNFOLDING TODAY.

PLUS, THE LATEST MOTORNEWS AND A LONG-TERM TEST UPDATE.

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