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

JOIN US FOR THE CUTE, COOL, AND NOW ALL CHARGED UP HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC... PAT GOSS WITH CONNECTED ADVICE TO KEEP EVS HUMMING... STEPHANIE HART ON WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ROAD TRIPPING WITH YOUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS... AND THE REVIVED, THOROUGHLY MODERN AND NOW MORE ADVENTUROUS HONDA PASSPORT...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT THE HYUNDAI KONA, IT WAS THE NORTH AMERICAN UTILITY OF THE YEAR FOR 2019.

SO, CLEARLY THERE'S MORE TO THIS LITTLE UTILITY THAN JUST CUTE LOOKS AND PRACTICAL SHAPE.

TURNS OUT, A LOT MORE INCLUDING THIS FULL EV KONA ELECTRIC.

* THE HYUNDAI KONA ARRIVED ON THE SCENE FOR 2018, RIDING A BIG WAVE OF MEDIA PRAISE, BUT ALSO SCORING A PERFECT 10 WITH THE BUYING PUBLIC.

THIS 2019 HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC WAS PART OF THE PLAN FROM THE GET GO, AND AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME WITH IT, IT APPEARS THAT PLAN WAS A VERY GOOD ONE.

MOST IMPRESSIVELY, THERE WAS NO LOSS OF INTERIOR SPACE COMPARED TO ITS GASOLINE-FUELED BRETHREN, AS BATTERY STORAGE WAS ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE PLATFORM, WHICH IT SHARES WITH COUSIN KIA NIRO.

BUT THAT ALSO MEANS, LIKE THE NIRO, NO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE.

IN SIMILAR FASHION, THE KONA ELECTRIC IS QUITE PLEASANT TO DRIVE, WITH GOOD ALL-AROUND COMFORT AND NEAR-SILENCE, AND OF COURSE, GOBS OF EV TORQUE ARE AS PRESENT AS EVER.

AS FOR DETAILS, THERE'S A 150 KW MOTOR WITH A RATING OF 201 HORSEPOWER AND 290 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ENERGY IS STORED IN A 64 KWH LITHIUM-ION POLYMER BATTERY, AND TYPICAL LEVEL-2 CHARGING TAKES LESS THAN 10 HOURS; QUICK-CHARGING CAN BRING THAT DOWN TO LESS THAN ONE HOUR.

THE BIGGEST APPEAL HERE IS THE KONA ELECTRIC'S 258 MILE RANGE, THAT'S 134 MILES MORE THAN HYUNDAI'S OTHER EV THE IONIC ELECTRIC.

AND GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY MPGE RATINGS ARE 132-CITY, 108-HIGHWAY, AND 120-COMBINED.

THAT MAKES FOR A NEAR-PERFECT ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING JUST TWO/TENTHS OF A BARREL OF OIL YEARLY WITH NO C02 EMISSIONS.

LIKE MOST EVS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ALL, MAX TORQUE RIGHT FROM THE START MAKES FOR A SPIRITED LAUNCH.

GOING FULL THROTTLE RIGHT AWAY, WILL CAUSE THE FRONTS TO SPIN UP QUITE A BIT.

ANYONE THAT THINKS EVS ARE LAZY IS BADLY MISINFORMED.

GETTING TO 60 TOOK JUST 7.0 SECONDS, WITH THE QUARTER MILE PASS, AT 15.5 AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

THAT'S NOT FAR FROM ITS TOP SPEED OF 104.

AS FOR SUSPENSION, THE KONA ELECTRIC GETS THE MULTI-LINK REAR THAT COMES WITH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VERSION OF THE REGULAR KONA, AS WELL AS UNIQUE TUNING ALL-AROUND, TO COMPENSATE FOR ADDITIONAL BATTERY WEIGHT.

LIKEWISE, STEERING IS RE-CALIBRATED, GIVING IT QUITE A DIFFERENT FEEL; WORKING WITH THE CHASSIS TO PROVIDE REALLY QUICK RESPONSE TO INPUTS.

IT IS ON THE SOFTER SIDE OF CROSSOVERS, BUT THERE'S STILL GOOD FEEDBACK, BODY ROLL IS PREDICTABLE, AND TIRE-FRYING TORQUE GETS YOU OUT OF MOST UNDERSTEER SITUATIONS WITH A PLAYFUL COMPOSURE.

AS FOR EXTERIOR DESIGN OF THE KONA ELECTRIC, THERE'S A DISTINCTIVE FACE WITH A GRILLE-TYPE PATTERN REPLACING AN ACTUAL GRILLE.

THE CHARGE PORT CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE.

IN ADDITION, THE FRONTS OF THE FENDER FLARES HAVE BEEN AERO-TUNED, AND THE SILVER-TRIMMED SIDE CLADDING IS UNIQUE.

THE STANDARD 17-INCH WHEELS ARE A LIGHTWEIGHT ECO-SPOKE DESIGN, AND WEAR LOWER ROLLING RESISTANCE TIRES.

THE INTERIOR LAYOUT IS MOSTLY THE SAME AS THE REGULAR KONA.

THE MOST NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE BEING THE LACK OF A TRADITIONAL SHIFTER.

IN ITS PLACE IS A ROW OF BUTTONS ON THE RISING CENTER CONSOLE.

THE 7.0 INCH FULL TFT GAUGE PANEL GETS UPDATED WITH DISPLAYS FOR PERTINENT EV-TYPE INFO.

AS MUCH AS WE LOVED OUR TIME SPENT IN THE COMFORTABLE FRONT SEAT; IT IS IN THE BACK SEAT THAT YOU ARE REMINDED THIS IS A RATHER SMALL UTILITY.

IT DOESN'T FEEL NEARLY AS ROOMY AS THE KIA NIRO.

CARGO SPACE ALSO CARRIES OVER FROM THE NON-EV KONA AT 19.2 CUBIC-FEET; MAXING OUT AT 45.8 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

THE KONA ELECTRIC IS AVAILABLE IN THE MID-RANGE TRIMS OF THE KONA LINEUP, STARTING AT SEL FOR $37,995, OR ABOUT A $15,000 PREMIUM OVER AN EQUIVALENT GASOLINE VERSION.

BUT YOU CAN STILL RECOVER SOME OF THAT WITH VARIOUS TAX INCENTIVES.

THE 2019 HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC IS MORE THAN JUST A PLUG-IN VERSION OF A GREAT SMALL SUV.

IT'S ALSO, A MORE THAN REASONABLE ENTRY INTO THE EV ARENA, AS WELL AS A TASTE OF WHAT AWAITS OUR DRIVING FUTURES.

AFTER ALL, WE KNOW PEOPLE CAN'T GET ENOUGH SUVS, AND FULL ELECTRIFICATION IS MORE A MATTER OF WHEN NOT IF.

SO, WITH THE KONA EXPERTLY COMBINING THE TWO INTO ONE, IT PUTS HYUNDAI WELL AHEAD OF THE CURVE.

* 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 IS HERE TO CLEAR 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 ALWAYS 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 TEND TO HAVE.

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.

WE'RE OFF TO COSTA RICA DRIVING THE 2020 LEXUS RX.

SINCE BEING INTRODUCED IN 1998, THE RX HAS BECOME THE BRAND'S MOST POPULAR MODEL...

DEVELOPING A STRONG FOLLOWING OVER THE COMPETITION IN THE MIDSIZE LUXURY UTILITY SEGMENT.

FOR 2020, THE RX GETS A SLIGHT REFRESH THAT STILL GOES BEYOND THE USUAL TWEAKS TO THE FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS.

Garick Zikan: THE RX IS POPULAR IN THIS LUXURY SEGMENT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS LIKE A PLUSH ENVIRONMENT AND COMFORTABLE RIDE.

BUT ENGINEERS HAVE GONE EVEN FURTHER, THEY RETURNED THE SHOCK ABSORBERS, MADE THE ROLL BARS STIFFER AND THEY'VE UPDATED THE DAMPERS.

THEY'RE ALSO USING WHAT THEY CALL "LASER SCREW WELDS" IN BETWEEN THE SPOT WELDS, AS WELL AS MORE STRUCTURAL ADHESIVES.

THE IDEA IS TO CREATE A MORE RIGID VEHICLE WITH A FIRMER SUSPENSION...

BUT THE LUXURIOUS RIDE THAT EASILY AND QUIETLY ABSORBS THE IMPERFECTIONS ON THE ROAD IS STILL VERY MUCH HERE.

John: POWERTRAINS DO REMAIN THE SAME.

THE REFINED 3.5 LITER V6 PRODUCES 295 HORSEPOWER, MATCHED WITH AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC SMOOTHLY SENDING POWER TO THE FRONT WHEELS OR ALL FOUR.

HYBRID GASOLINE-ELECTRIC HARDWARE INCREASES OUTPUT TO 308 HORSEPOWER WITH A CVT AND STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

INSIDE, THE RX IS THE FIRST LEXUS EQUIPPED WITH ANDROID AUTO, ALONG WITH APPLE CARPLAY.

THE STILL FUSSY TOUCH CONTROL PAD IS NOW PAIRED WITH A NEW TOUCHSCREEN THAT RESPONDS MORE ACCURATELY.

LEXUS' NEW SAFETY SYSTEM+ 2.0 IS ALSO STANDARD.

WE EXPECT THE PRICE TO START AROUND $44,000 WHEN THE 2020 LEXUS RX GOES ON SALE LATER THIS YEAR.

THE 2020 CADILLAC XT6 IS AN ALL-NEW OPTION FOR AMERICA'S SEEMINGLY INSATIABLE APPETITE FOR LUXURY CROSSOVERS.

THIS 3-ROW HAULER SLOTS BETWEEN THE XT5 AND THE FULL-SIZE ESCALADE, WITH A SIZE THAT'S BETWEEN THE GMC ACADIA AND THE CHEVROLET TRAVERSE... MAKING IT VERY GARAGE FRIENDLY.

A FAMILIAR 3.6 LITER V6 SENDS 310 HORSEPOWER THROUGH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TO THE FRONT WHEELS OR OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE THINK, THE POWERTRAIN IS A VERY SOLID ONE.

THE XT6 SPORT UPGRADES TO ADAPTIVE DAMPERS AND A TORQUE VECTORING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE XT5.

IT PROVIDES IMPROVED HANDLING AND STABILITY BY VARYING POWER AT EACH REAR WHEEL.

Greg Carloss: THIS IS THE SPORT TRIM WHICH EMPHASIZES PERFORMANCE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THE OTHER MODEL, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE.

IT'S ACTUALLY, REALLY COMFORTABLE ON THE HIGHWAY.

IT'S QUIET, ISOLATED FROM THE WIND AND THE ROAD NOISE.

A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION, WHICH IS STANDARD.

SO, THEY'RE PUMPING IN NOISE TO TAKE NOISE OUT, A LOT LIKE YOUR BOSE HEADPHONES.

John: THE INTERIOR CLEARLY ECHOES THEMES FROM OTHER GM PRODUCTS, AS IT'S NOT AS DISTINCTIVE AS THE ALL-NEW LINCOLN NAUTILUS.

BUT THE XT6 WILL FIT UP TO SEVEN PASSENGERS, SIX WITH SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S SEATS WITH EXCEPTIONAL HEAD AND LEG ROOM.

THE POWER FOLDING THIRD ROW IS ROOMY ENOUGH FOR TWO ADULTS.

THE LATEST VERSION OF CADILLAC'S USER EXPERIENCE DEBUTS HERE AND IT'S VASTLY SUPERIOR TO PAST SYSTEMS.

WHILE, IT DOESN'T REALLY STAND OUT IN ANY ONE AREA, THE 2020 CADILLAC XT6 IS A SOLID AND SAFE LUXURY CHOICE.

ON SALE NOW, PRICES START AT UNDER $53,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

* Greg: THIS 2019 VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN HAS BEEN IN OUR FLEET FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH NOW, BUT HAS SEEN A QUICK 1,700 MILES ALREADY.

FUEL ECONOMY IS OFF TO A GREAT START TOO AT 27 MILES PER GALLON, AND EARLY LOGBOOK COMMENTS HAVE BEEN ALMOST ALL POSITIVE.

ONE STAFFER DID COMMENT ON THE WHOOSHY CHARACTER OF THE TURBO ENGINE, BUT THAT'S IT.

OUR LONG HISTORY OF TESTING ALL MANNER OF VOLKSWAGENS, HAS US VERY FAMILIAR WITH HOW THEY DRIVE.

AND THIS TIGUAN FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH ITS LONG HAUL COMFORT, AND ITS BACK-ROAD COMPETENCY.

PLUS, THERE'S THE BRAND-FOCUS ON INTERIOR SPACE AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES THAT WILL NO DOUBT MAKE IT A POPULAR WEEKEND RIDE AROUND HERE.

4MOTION-EQUIPPED, OUR 2.0 LITER TURBO-POWERED "TIG" IS AN SEL R-LINE BLACK EDITION, WITH PLENTY OF SPORTY TOUCHES, BOLSTERING THE IMPRESSIVE USEFULNESS FOUND INSIDE.

NEXT TIME, IT'S THE TURN OF OUR NISSAN ALTIMA AND TOYOTA RAV4; ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

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.

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 SLIP INSIDE THE LATEST OF A LONG LINE OF PORSCHE 911s.

AND THE REDESIGNED FORD EXPLORER RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

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