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

JOIN US AS WE HOP BACK IN TIME WITH THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI, RABBIT EDITION... PAT GOSS ON MAKING SURE YOUR TIRES ARE READY, WILLING AND ABLE... WE LAP OURSELVES IN THE LATEST OF BMWs DIVINE "M" MACHINES... AND ROOMINESS WRAPPED IN HIGH 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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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.

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John: WHILE, THE REST OF THE WORLD KNEW IT AS THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF, WHEN IT ARRIVED IN THE U.S. FOR 1976, IT WAS DUBBED, THE RABBIT.

AND IT QUICKLY BEGAN MULTIPLYING LIKE CRAZY...

SO MUCH SO, THAT VW TOOK OVER A CHRYSLER PLANT IN PENNSYLVANIA JUST TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND.

WELL, THAT RABBIT HUTCH DIDN'T LAST TOO LONG, BUT THE GOLF SURE HAS.

AND, HERE TO CELEBRATE IS A SPECIAL EDITION, THE 2019 GOLF GTI...RABBIT!

* IN ALL HONESTY, THE FACT THAT THIS 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GTI IS A RABBIT EDITION IS NOT REALLY WHAT MAKES IT SPECIAL.

NO...AS WE'LL LEARN, THE RABBIT ADDITIONS ARE NICE BUT ADD LITTLE TO PERFORMANCE.

INDEED, WHAT MAKES THIS CAR SO SPECIAL, IS THAT THE GTI HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE CARS THAT SOMEHOW WINDS UP BEING GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS.

THOSE PARTS START WITH AN UPGRADED FOR '19 2.0 LITER TURBO-4, WHICH NOW RATES 228 HORSEPOWER.

THAT'S 18-MORE THAN WHEN WE LAST TESTED A GTI, BACK IN 2015.

TORQUE OUTPUT IS 258 POUND-FEET.

IT REMAINS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE OF COURSE, BUT THE OPTIONAL DSG AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GAINS A GEAR THIS YEAR, GOING FROM 6 TO 7, AS WELL AS LAUNCH CONTROL.

HOWEVER, WE CHOSE TO STICK WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED MANUAL, WHICH IS A PURE JOY TO OPERATE.

IT'S ALL TETHERED TO VOLKSWAGEN'S MQB ARCHITECTURE, WHICH THE GOLF BROUGHT TO THE U.S.

WHEN THIS MARK-7 ARRIVED HERE FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE RABBIT EDITION EXTRAS START WITH GLOSS BLACK 18-INCH WHEELS, ADAPTIVE LED HEADLIGHTS, AND A BLACK REAR SPOILER.

INSIDE ARE RABBIT SEAT TAGS, RED STITCHING FOR THE FLOOR MATS, PUSH BUTTON START, A HOST OF SAFETY FEATURES, AND ONE OF FOUR COLORS INCLUDING THIS URANO GREY.

ALL OF THIS IS OF COURSE, ADDED TO THE USUAL GTI AGGRESSIVE FRONT FASCIA, SIDE SILL EXTENSIONS, REAR DIFFUSER, BRIGHT EXHAUST TIPS, AND RED ACCENTS.

BUT GTI NEWS IS NOT ALL ABOUT BUNNY RABBITS.

THE PREVIOUSLY OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE PACKAGE THAT INCLUDED THE GOLF Rs LARGER BRAKES AND PERFORMANCE-TUNED LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, IS NOW STANDARD ON ALL GTIs.

AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING IS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE BASE GTI TOO, AND INCLUDED WITH THE REST.

INSIDE, THINGS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THAN YOU MIGHT EXPECT, AND WELL PUT TOGETHER, WITH JUST THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF NOSTALGIA.

RABBIT FEATURES THE STANDARD 6.5 INCH TOUCHSCREEN VERSION OF VWs MIB II INFOTAINMENT, AS WELL AS LOTS OF BIG TRADITIONAL CONTROLS.

SPACE IN ALL SEATING POSITIONS IS MORE PLENTIFUL THAN MOST SMALL SUVs.

AS IS CARGO ROOM; 22.8 CUBIC-FEET IN BACK, EXPANDING TO 52.7 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

NOW, IT MAY NOT HAVE THE GROUND CLEARANCE OR HIGH SEATING POSITION OF MANY OF THOSE UTILITIES, BUT VERY FEW OF THEM CAN MATCH THE DRIVING FUN YOU'LL EXPERIENCE HERE.

EVEN FOR JADED "BEEN THERE, DONE THAT TYPES" SUCH AS OURSELVES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO BE A STOIC WHEN YOU'RE BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ANY GTI, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH THE RABBIT NAME ATTACHED TO IT.

MADE MORE OBVIOUS BY OUR SAMPLE.

IT HAD OVER 13,000 HARD TEST MILES ON IT BY THE TIME IT ARRIVED.

SO, WE ADMIT IT, DIDN'T FEEL AS LIVELY AT OUR TEST TRACK AS WE REMEMBER THE GTI BEING.

THE WELL-WORN CLUTCH HAD US HESITATING TO TRY ANY FULL-ON LAUNCHES, BUT WE DID SLIP OUR WAY TO A DECENT 0-60 OF 7.0 SECONDS FLAT.

THE SHIFTER ITSELF HOWEVER, PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY; IT'S VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MISS A SHIFT WORKING YOUR WAY DOWN THE TRACK.

POWER SEEMED TO REALLY TAPER OFF IN THE UPPER REGISTERS OF THE TACH, AND WE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY BIG BOOSTS OF POWER FROM THE TURBO.

OUR BEST QUARTER MILE TIME WAS 15.4 SECONDS, AT 97 MILES PER HOUR.

WE KNOW FROM PAST EXPERIENCE THAT THE GTI IS CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR A GTI MANUAL ARE 24-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.

WE SHIFTED OUR WAY TO 27.2 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

JUST SLIGHTLY ABOVE AVERAGE FOR THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 12.2 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED, AND 5.4 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED ANNUALLY.

PRICED MORE FOR THE NOSTALGIC THAN THE LUXURY SEEKERS; AT $29,790, THE RABBIT EDITION IS A LOT CLOSER TO BASE S TRIM THAN TOP-LEVEL AUTOBAHN.

AND THAT JUST MAKES US LIKE IT EVEN MORE.

AFTER ALL, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A BARGAIN HOT HATCH, YOU MIGHT AS WELL EMBRACE THE TRUE BARGAIN PART OF THAT EQUATION.

AND, THE 2019 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI RABBIT EDITION, MUCH LIKE EVERY GTI THAT HAS COME BEFORE IT, EVEN AFTER SOME ABUSE, DELIVERS PURE DRIVING FUN BETTER THAN MOST.

BUT REMEMBER, THERE WILL ONLY BE SO MANY OF THESE RABBITS TO GO AROUND, SO YOU'D BETTER HOP ON DOWN TO THE DEALER WHILE YOU CAN.

* [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 DROP 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: THE 2019 TOYOTA RAV4 HYBRID HAS JUST JOINED OUR LONG TERM FLEET.

THE 2.5 LITER INLINE-4 AND TOYOTA UPDATED HYBRID SYSTEM PRODUCE A COMBINED 219 HORSEPOWER.

LIKE, THE HIGHLANDER HYBRID, THE REAR AXLE ELECTRIC MOTOR BRINGS ON QUICK AND SMOOTH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TOYOTA HAS BEEN MAKING HYBRIDS FOR SOME TIME NOW AND IT SHOWS IN THIS RAV4.

THE SYSTEM OPERATION IS SEAMLESS AND IT'S QUICKER THAN YOU MIGHT THINK, WHICH IS NICE ON THE HIGHWAYS.

ALSO, NICE IS THE FACT THAT THE ENGINE DOESN'T SOUND BUZZY AT 70 MPH.

WHEELBASE IS UP MORE THAN AN INCH OVER THE PREVIOUS RAV4, AND THE BATTERY PACK IS UNDER THE REAR SEATS.

SO, IT'S VERY ROOMY INSIDE.

ACTUALLY, NEARLY AS ROOMY AS THE ORIGINAL HIGHLANDER!

WE'VE ONLY PUT 1300 MILES ON IT, BUT ALREADY, WE'RE SEEING 39.7 MILES PER GALLON, AND THAT'S HEAVY ON HIGHWAY MILES.

SO, SUMMER OUTINGS SHOULD PROVE TO BE FRUGAL ONES.

OUR 2019 HONDA INSIGHT IS ALSO PROVING TO BE AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO TRAVEL.

THE 10.5 GALLON GAS TANK EMPTIES QUICKLY, BUT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS ALWAYS ON TAP TO EXTEND THE PULL.

EVEN ON RELATIVELY FLAT ROADS THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING KEEPS THE BATTERY WELL CHARGED.

THE INSIGHT SLIPS INTO THE HONDA LINE-UP BETWEEN THE CIVIC AND ACCORD, BUT INTERIOR MATERIALS OF OUR TOURING TRIM SUGGESTS A HIGHER PLACE IN THE PECKING ORDER.

ONLY THE REAR PASSENGERS MAKE SACRIFICES; NO REAR CONSOLE VENTS OR USB PORTS.

OUR MILES NOW TOTAL 10,000 WITH HYBRID EFFICIENCY OF 47.3 MILES PER GALLON, A SPLIT HAIR'S DISTANCE FROM THE EPA'S COMBINED RATING OF 48.

THERE'S ANOTHER NEW CAR IN THE MOTORWEEK LOT...

THIS 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA.

WE JUST PUT IT THROUGH A FULL ROAD TEST.

NOW, LET'S SEE HOW IT HOLDS UP IN THE REAL WORLD.

BUT FIRST, IT'S THE KIA NIRO PHEV ON OUR 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.

* BMW HAS ALWAYS HAD AN ATHLETIC ATTITUDE ABOUT UTILITIES, ADD AN M TO THE BADGE AND IT GETS EVEN MORE INTERESTING.

THE NEWEST OF THEIR MIGHTY UTEs IS THE 473 HORSEPOWER 2020 BMW X4 M. BUT, IT DOESN'T JUST LOOK THE PART ON PAPER.

WE PROVED ITS METAL WITH LAPS AROUND THE MONTICELLO MOTOR CLUB IN NEW YORK, WHERE WE GREASED THE APEXES IN THE EVEN RARER X4 M COMPETITION.

BMW SAYS, "THIS COUPISH MISSILE IS CAPABLE OF 0-60 IN 4.0 SECONDS FORTIFIED BY THE NEW 503 HORSEPOWER S58 3.0 LITER 6-CYLINDER M TWINPOWER TURBO."

AN 8-SPEED M STEPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH DRIVELOGIC HANDLES THE GEARING, AS THE REAR BIAS M XDRIVE KEEPS THE RUBBER FIRMLY PLANTED TO THE TWISTS BENEATH.

Garick Zikan: THIS SUPPED UP UTE SPRINGS INTO ACTION OUT HERE ON THE TRACK.

POWER SURGES OUT OF THE ENGINE, AND THE TORQUE COMES ON STRONG AND FAST.

THE TRANSMISSION QUICKLY AND FORCEFULLY FIRES THROUGH THE GEARS.

AND WITH ALL THIS POWER GOING TO ALL FOUR WHEELS, THERE IS PLENTY OF GRIP GOING THROUGH THE CORNERS.

John: THE NEED FOR SPEED IS SATISFIED IN MANY FORMS AT BMW, SO, THE SCENERY ALSO SWEPT BY IN THE BOXIER 2020 BMW X3 M COMPETITION.

THE M TREATMENT GOES FAR BEYOND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HERE... LIKE, BIGGER AIR INTAKES AND WIDER REAR TIRES.

THE ADAPTIVE M SUSPENSION IS FIRM ON THE TRACK, WHILE ON THE ROAD IT STILL FEELS TIGHT AND WELL BALANCED, YET, COMFORTABLE.

BMWs WELL-ESTABLISHED DRIVER ORIENTED COCKPIT COMPLEMENTS THE ADDED ADRENALINE RUSH WITH M EDITIONS, M SPORT SEATS, AND CONTROLS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS TO INDIVIDUALLY ADJUST THE THROTTLE RESPONSE, SUSPENSION AND STEERING.

BMW CALLS THEIR UTILITIES, SPORTS ACTIVITY VEHICLES.

THE 2020 BMW X3 M, AND BMW X4 M, AND THEIR COMPETITION COUNTERPARTS CLEARLY EMBRACE THAT MONIKER.

THEY'RE IN DEALERS NOW STARTING AT JUST UNDER $70,000.

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 THE BIG FAMILY FRIENDLY HYUNDAI PALISADE HITS THE ROAD.

AND A RUGGED NEW MEMBER OF THE JEEP CLAN...

THE GLADIATOR PICKUP.

PAT GOSS TACKLES SOME TRICKY FIXES.

STEPHANIE HART SHOWS US WHERE STUDENTS MAKE THE AUTO HISTORY COME ALIVE.

PLUS, THE LATEST MOTOR NEWS AND A LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

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] *