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

JOIN US FOR SOME TRACK TIME IN THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY... PAT GOSS CATCHES SOME RAYS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART HEADS TO THE ISLAND OF EXPENSIVE TOYS... AND A COMMUTER CAR WITH A BIG DOSE OF WOW, THE MAZDA 3...

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.

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.

John: BY NOW, YOU'VE ALL HEARD ALL ABOUT THE ALL-NEW C8 GENERATION OF CHEVROLET CORVETTE.

YEARS IN THE MAKING, THE STINGRAY'S MID-ENGINE DESIGN SEEMINGLY TOOK FOREVER TO ARRIVE.

BUT FROM OUR VERY FIRST STREET DRIVE, IT KNOCKED US OUT.

SO MUCH SO, IT'S OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR.

WELL NOW, IT'S FINALLY TRACK TIME!

* WE'RE GOING TO DISPEL SOME MISCONCEPTIONS YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE ALL-NEW 2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY RIGHT FROM THE GET GO.

DESPITE ALL THE CLAIMS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST RETAIL MID-ENGINE CORVETTE.

MOST RECENT CORVETTES, INCLUDING THE OUTGOING C7, HAVE PLACED THE ENGINE JUST BEHIND THE FRONT AXLE.

THAT...TECHNICALLY, IS A MID-ENGINE CAR.

BUT, THIS IS THE FIRST PRODUCTION CORVETTE TO HAVE THE ENGINE MOUNTED AMID-SHIPS BEHIND THE DRIVER, THE COLLOQUIAL DEFINITION OF MID-ENGINE.

NEXT, THAT ENGINE SHIFT DID NOT MAKE THE CORVETTE ANY SMALLER; EVERY DIMENSION EXCEPT FOR HEIGHT HAS ACTUALLY INCREASED.

WHEELBASE IS UP HALF AN INCH, WITH MORE THAN 5.0 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL OVERALL LENGTH.

IT WEIGHS MORE TOO, AROUND 100 POUNDS MORE, DEPENDING ON EQUIPMENT.

THE SHORT/LONG ARM DOUBLE WISHBONE SUSPENSION IS LARGELY, THE SAME IN FRONT AND REAR, BUT NOW FEATURES GENUINE COIL-OVER SHOCKS IN PLACE OF THE OLD VETTE'S HORSE AND BUGGY TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRINGS, WHICH MAKES EVERYTHING MUCH EASIER TO ADJUST THAN BEFORE; TRULY A PLUS FOR TRACK DAY ENTHUSIASTS.

THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT SUSPENSION OPTIONS.

THE BASIC SLA SETUP, THE Z51 HANDLING PACKAGE, WHICH GETS FIRMER TUNING AND ADDS MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE SPRING SEATS, AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN ADD MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL ON TOP OF THAT.

BUT WHILE, WE'RE GETTING ALL FUTURISTIC HERE; THIS VETTE IS STILL POWERED BY A V8, AND ONE WITH THE CAM IN ITS BLOCK AT THAT.

THE NEW LT2 6.2 LITER SMALL BLOCK OUTPUTS A MAX OF 495 HORSEPOWER AND 470 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE FOR NOW.

NO WORD YET, ON WHETHER FUTURE VERSIONS WILL CRANK UP THIS ENGINE, OR BE BASED ON A DIFFERENT ONE ENTIRELY.

DOWN RIVER FROM THERE IS A NEW 8-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, WITH PADDLES MOUNTED ON THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS TOGGLES AND BUTTONS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE FOR DRIVE, REVERSE, AND PARK.

FOR KEEPING EVERYTHING AT PROPER OPERATING TEMPERATURES, THERE ARE TWIN RADIATORS MOUNTED UP FRONT FOR COOLING THE ENGINE, AND A TRANS COOLER THAT IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF.

IT ALL WORKS TOGETHER TO DELIVER FIERCE ACCELERATION NEVER BEFORE ATTAINED IN A STANDARD CORVETTE.

THANKS TO THAT ENGINE CRANKING AWAY DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU, AND 60 MILES PER HOUR ARRIVING IN JUST UNDER THREE SECONDS.

HANDLING IS WHAT SPURRED THE SHIFT IN ENGINE PLACEMENT OF COURSE, AS ENGINEERS FELT IT WAS TIME TO BE ON THE SAME PLAYING FIELD AS ITS EXOTIC PRICED RIVALS.

AND AFTER JUST A FEW LAPS AROUND THE TRACK AT NEVADA'S SPRING MOUNTAIN MOTOR RESORT, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THE CORVETTE'S ENTIRE DYNAMIC HAS CHANGED.

THE CAR'S CENTER OF GRAVITY, NOW SITS RIGHT AT YOUR HIP, SO YOU CAN FEEL THE CAR PIVOT MORE RESPONSIVELY.

AND WHERE BEFORE, YOU WERE CONSTANTLY ON HIGH ALERT FOR OVERSTEER, NOW THE TENDENCY IS MORE OF AN UNDERSTEER SITUATION.

PLACING THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE FURTHER BACK IN THE CHASSIS, THUS SHIFTING THE WEIGHT BIAS 40/60 FRONT TO REAR, BEFORE ADDING A DRIVER, DOES WONDERS FOR PLANTING THE BACK TIRES INTO THE PAVEMENT FOR ADDED GRIP.

STEERING IS SHARP, BRAKES ARE GREAT, AND IT DANCES FROM APEX TO APEX; IT'S EASILY THE MOST FUN, DYNAMIC STINGRAY YET.

BUT DESPITE THE DRASTIC CHANGE IN ARCHITECTURE, IT RETAINS A STRONG FAMILY RESEMBLANCE TO THE C7 CORVETTE.

THE FACE HAS A VERY FAMILIAR SHAPE, WITH THE HEADLIGHTS MOUNTED UP TOP OF THE FENDERS AS BEFORE.

THERE'S MUCH LESS HOOD UP FRONT OF COURSE, AND MORE OF A CANOPY LOOK TO THE STEEPLY RAKED GLASS.

AT THE REAR, YOU'LL FIND THE CUSTOMARY HIGH-MOUNTED TAIL LIGHTS, BUT THERE IS WAY MORE ANGLES AND OPENINGS THAN BEFORE, AND THE PAIRED-UP EXHAUST TIPS ARE NOW PUSHED OUT TO THE CORNERS.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 19s IN FRONT; 20s IN THE BACK WITH 305-SECTION TIRES.

THE INTERIOR VIBE IS NOT ALL FOREIGN EITHER, BUT THE LOOK AND FEEL OF THINGS HAS IMPROVED GREATLY.

THE BIGGEST DEPARTURE IS A NEW SLENDER RISING CONSOLE THAT SEPARATES DRIVER AND PASSENGER, AND HOUSES A LONG ROW OF ANCILLARY CONTROLS.

THERE ARE A PAIR OF SCREENS FOR DELIVERING INFORMATION, BOTH POINTED AT THE DRIVER.

A 12.0 INCH CONFIGURABLE GAUGE PANEL AND A SMALLER 8.0 INCH SCREEN FOR INFOTAINMENT.

THE NEW STEERING WHEEL HAS A SQUARISH SHAPE NOT LOVED BY EVERYONE; AND IT CAN FEEL AWKWARD WHEN SHUFFLING THROUGH TURNS.

IF YOU'RE STRICTLY THE TEN AND TWO TYPE THOUGH, YOU'LL LOVE IT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

FOR A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 17.3 BARRELS ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 7.7 TONS.

CHANCES ARE, FEW CORVETTES WILL TRANSACT FOR ITS BASE PRICE OF JUST $59,995, BUT YOU COULD; AND IT'S TRULY AN ENGINEERING TRIUMPH FOR GM TO MAKE THIS MUCH CAR AVAILABLE AT THAT PRICE.

SO YES, THE 2020 CHEVROLET CORVETTE STINGRAY IS THE BEST BASE CORVETTE EVER.

BUT, WE EXPECTED THAT.

IT'S ALSO, A LAUNCHPAD THAT WILL ROCKET THE CORVETTE INTO A WHOLE NEW GALAXY OF AMERICAN SPORTS CAR PERFORMANCE.

SO...STRAP IN...HANG ON, AND ENJOY THE RIDE!

* THE PRESTIGIOUS AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

AUTOMOBILE AFICIONADOS FLOCKED TO FLORIDA IN EARLY MARCH TO GET A GLIMPSE OF HUNDREDS OF THE RAREST OF THE CLASSICS.

BUT IN BETWEEN ALL THE GLITZ, GLAMOUR, POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE WERE CARS THAT WERE JUST PLAIN CUTE!

AS OUR FYI'S STEPHANIE HART FOUND, SOME OF THE BIGGEST AUTOMOTIVE DELIGHTS AT THIS YEAR'S CONCOURS' CAME IN SMALL PACKAGES.

* Stephanie Hart: THE RITZ CARLTON AMELIA ISLAND IS HOSTING THIS EVENT, AN AMAZING SETTING, TO HONOR THE AUTOMOBILE AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM FOR THEIR BEAUTY, SPEED, AND THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE US WHERE WE WANT TO GO.

* [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] JUST BEYOND THOSE BEAUTIES, THESE CUTIES.

* [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] John Kristoff/Owner: WE WANT TO BE THE CUTEST COUPLE IN THE CUTE CAR CLASS.

[LAUGHS] Stephanie: WELL, THESE TWO ARE OFF TO A GOOD START.

DAYS BEFORE SHOWING THEIR CAR AT AMELIA ISLAND, JOHN AND JOY TIED THE KNOT.

HOW EXCITING IS THAT?

John & Joy Kristoff: VERY EXCITING.

YEAH...YES!

Stephanie: THE COUPLE'S CAR IS A 1956 FIAT ABARTH 750 GT.

John K.: IT WAS A COMPETITION COUPE, SO ONE OF APPROXIMATELY, 20 OUTFITTED FROM THE FACTORY TO RACE.

AND IT RACED IN ITALY IN 1957 INCLUDING A 3RD PLACE FINISH IN CLASS IN AMELIA, AMELIA.

Stephanie: AND TODAY, A FIRST PLACE WIN IN ITS CLASS AT AMELIA ISLAND.

SOUNDS LIKE A STORYBOOK ENDING TO US.

Joy: IT'S ABSOLUTELY PERFECT AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING.

AND WINNING AN AWARD WAS JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE.

ELEVEN CARS COMPETED IN THIS CLASS.

AUTOMOBILES THAT ARE RARELY HONORED, SEEN, OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED IN A TYPICAL CONCOURS COMPETITION.

MANY PEOPLE SEE THEM AS A NOVELTY BECAUSE OF THEIR STYLE, BUT THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY.

LIKE, THIS MATHIS VL 333, A FLATTENED, EGG-SHAPED, 3-WHEEL CAR!

IT'S THE ONLY CAR OF ITS KIND LEFT TODAY.

I HOPPED IN TO CHECK IT OUT!

IN 1942, THE GOAL WAS TO BUILD A LIGHTWEIGHT, FUEL-EFFICIENT AUTOMOBILE THAT WOULD BE AFFORDABLE TO SELL AFTER THE WAR.

AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED HOW COMFORTABLE THESE SEATS REALLY ARE.

NINE CARS WERE PRODUCED DURING THE WAR.

Oliver Cerf: AFTER THE WAR, THEY WENT TO THE PARIS SHOW IN 1946.

AND THEN, AFTER THAT IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE METAL WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE ALUMINUM AND RONALD CITROEN WERE GONNA GET THE METAL FIRST, SO THEY NEVER WENT INTO PRODUCTION ON THE CAR.

Stephanie: WHICH MAKES IT AN EXTREMELY RARE CAR TO SEE TODAY!

* [CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING] IN THE LATE 1950s, THE FIAT JOLLY WAS PRIMARILY USED AS DOCKSIDE TRANSPORTATION TO TAKE THE RICH AND FAMOUS TO AND FROM THEIR YACHTS, AND THEY DID IT IN STYLE AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THESE WICKER SEATS, AND THIS CANOPY TOP, SO PRECIOUS.

Gregory Johnson: BUT THE TRUTH IS, IS THAT MANY OF THEM WERE ONE OFFS.

THEY WERE MADE BY COACH BUILDERS THE SAME AS FERRARI AND MASERATI'S, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE RESPECTED MARKS.

Stephanie: FROM ELEGANT, TO ECLECTIC, THE 1957 BMW ISETTA.

THIS IS THE CAR THAT SAVED BMW AFTER THE WAR.

Bob Bailey: PEOPLE OBVIOUSLY, DIDN'T HAVE ANY MONEY AFTER THE WAR AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR INEXPENSIVE LOW PRICED CARS THAT GOT GREAT FUEL MILEAGE.

Stephanie: THIS QUALIFIES, WITH A 300 CC BMW MOTORCYCLE ENGINE AND A 4-SPEED GEARBOX.

WHAT KIND OF FEELING DO YOU GET WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS CAR?

Bob: WELL, IT'S A THRILL.

YOU KNOW, YOU GET UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR AND THEY'RE A LITTLE BIT SKITTISH AND WHAT NOT, BUT IT'S A LOT OF FUN TO DRIVE.

AT AMELIA ISLAND, WE PARKED THE CAR IN THE TOWN AND I THINK ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE THERE, ALL THE LITTLE KIDS JUST GRAVITATED TO THIS CAR.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CARS, 10 TIMES MORE EXPENSIVE, BUT I LET ALL THE KIDS SIT IN THE CAR AND THEY HAD A BLAST.

Stephanie: MOSTLY, ABOUT MEMORIES MADE AROUND SO MANY DIFFERENT CARS ON THE SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMELIA ISLAND CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE.

John: DOWN AT GOSS'S GARAGE, PAT MAY BE CATCHING SOME RAYS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN HE'S TAKING A BREAK FROM GIVING YOU GREAT ADVICE.

* Pat Goss: SUNROOFS ARE BECOMING SO POPULAR, THEY'RE ARE ALMOST STANDARD EQUIPMENT THESE DAYS.

BUT, CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU MIGHT THINK, YOU HAVE TO DO SOME MAINTENANCE ON THEM.

NOW, THAT MAINTENANCE CONSISTS OF LUBRICATING ANYTHING THAT MOVES LIKE THIS WIND DEFLECTOR HERE, MOVES UP AND DOWN.

WELL, IT MOVES ON PIVOT POINTS AND EVERY PIVOT POINT IS A POSSIBLE WEAR SPOT.

SO, YOU USE SOMETHING LIKE SILICONE SPRAY OR DRY LUBE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

YOU DON'T USE A HEAVY CHASSIS GREASE BECAUSE THE CHASSIS GREASE WILL KEEP THINGS TOO TIGHT.

SO, USE THE PROPER GREASE, LUBRICATE EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE TROLLEYS THAT THE SUNROOF MOVES BACK AND FORTH ON.

YOU DO THAT, PROBABLY WON'T HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH ANY OF THOSE PARTS.

NEXT THING IS THAT YOU HAVE TROUGHS IN HERE.

THESE TROUGHS ARE IN HERE TO COLLECT WATER.

YOU KNOW, SUN ROOFS ARE TYPICALLY NOT WATER TIGHT.

WATER COMES IN, COLLECTS IN THESE TROUGHS, AND THEN RUNS OUT THROUGH DRAIN TUBES THAT ARE TYPICALLY POSITIONED IN THE CORNERS OF THE SUNROOF.

NOW, THOSE DRAIN TUBES CAN GET CLOGGED UP WITH DEBRIS FROM TREES AND JUST GENERAL DIRT AND SO ON.

SO, YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THEM.

WELL, YOU DON'T DO THAT WITH A COAT HANGER.

NOW, ONE THING THAT YOU COULD DO, I SUPPOSE...IS YOU CAN USE AN AIR HOSE BUT MAKE SURE THAT THE AIR PRESSURE IS TURNED WAY DOWN, WELL UNDER 20PSI.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS, YOU BLOW THE TUBING OFF OF THE FITTING ON THE SUNROOF, THEN YOU'VE GOT A MAJOR REPAIR ON YOUR HANDS.

ANOTHER THING, YOU CAN DO IS EVERY TIME YOU WASH THE CAR, YOU COULD WASH THIS AREA AND PUT SOME SOAPY WATER DOWN THE TUBE TO HELP KEEP IT CLEAN.

THE OTHER THING YOU WANT TO GET ALL THE STUFF THAT MAKES THESE THINGS CLOG UP OUT OF THERE.

SO, YOU TAKE YOUR SHOP VAC AND YOU ALWAYS VACUUM EVERYTHING OUT OF THIS.

AND THAT OF COURSE, KEEPS THEM FROM CLOGGING UP.

NOW, THE OTHER THING THAT YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE IN SOME CASES TO CLEAN THOSE TUBES IS CANNED AIR.

CANNED AIR IS LOW PRESSURE, SO YOU CAN FORCE IT DOWN THE TUBES AND THAT WILL CLEAN THEM OUT.

ALRIGHT, ANOTHER THING IS ALL OF THESE RUBBER PARTS THAT SEAL THINGS UP, HELP TO KEEP DIRT OUT, AND SO ON...

THEY SHOULD BE SPRAYED WITH SILICONE SPRAY TO KEEP THEM SOFT AND PLIABLE, AND WORKING THE WAY THEY SHOULD.

SO, 15 MINUTES OF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR, WELL IT COULD PREVENT A LOT OF FUTURE PROBLEMS WITH THE SUNROOF.

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

John: TIME TO GRAB THE KEYS TO SOMETHING NEW AND HEAD OUT ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN!

INTO THE RAPIDLY GROWING SUBCOMPACT UTILITIES SEGMENT COMES THE 2020 HYUNDAI VENUE.

THE BRAND FAMILY RESEMBLANCE IS CLEAR, BUT WITH SLIGHTLY MORE COMPACT DIMENSIONS THAN THE KONA, AND MORE RUGGED LOOKING THAN RIVALS LIKE THE NISSAN KICKS.

HYUNDAI'S ALL-NEW ENTRY-LEVEL SUV IS CLEARLY A 5-DOOR URBAN RUNABOUT, SO FRONT-DRIVE ONLY.

POWERING THIS TINY HYUNDAI, IS A TINY 1.6 LITER I4, RATED AT ONLY 121 HORSEPOWER.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD ON THE BASE MODEL... HIGHER TRIMS USE A CVT.

THE COMBINATION PROVED UP TO THE TASK DURING OUR DRIVE FROM MIAMI TO KEY WEST.

THE SUSPENSION SET UP IS WHAT YOU'D EXPECT AT THIS PRICE LEVEL... MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT AND A TORSION BEAM IN THE REAR.

THE RIDE NATURALLY ISN'T AS PLUSH AS MORE WELL-EQUIPPED MODELS...

BUT COMFORTABLE FOR A DAILY COMMUTER.

Stephanie: THE VENUE MANEUVERS REALLY WELL AND IT'S EASY TO PARK.

SO, THE VENUE DOESN'T HAVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE BUT DOES HAVE A 3-MODE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH OFFERS NORMAL, SPORT, AND SNOW MODE.

ONCE IN SNOW MODE GETTING THE VENUE TO MOVE FROM A STOP TO A START IS PRETTY EASY.

John: AS WITH MOST DIRECT RIVALS, INTERIOR SPACE SEEMS NARROW, AND VENUE CARGO SPACE IS LESS THAN THE KICKS.

MOST CONTROLS AND 8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN, HOWEVER, ARE EASY TO USE.

APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE STANDARD.

THE VENUE INCLUDES FEATURES GRANDER THAN ITS SIZE SUGGEST, LIKE EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE KEEPING ASSIST, AND BLIND-SPOT COLLISION WARNING.

WITH CAR'S DISAPPEARING AND SUV PRICES CLIMBING, THE 2020 HYUNDAI VENUE IS PROOF AFFORDABLE, EFFICIENT, AND CAPABLE DAILY TRANSPORTATION IS STILL AVAILABLE.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICE STARTS AT JUST OVER $17,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

* Greg Carlos: HALF A YEAR HAS PASSED WITH OUR 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV, AND PLUGGING IN HAS BECOME PART OF THE DAILY ROUTINE.

FOR THOSE FEW EXTRA SECONDS TO CONNECT AT WORK EACH MORNING, WE'RE REWARDED WITH ENOUGH ALL-ELECTRIC RANGE TO TAKE CARE OF MOST, IF NOT ALL OF OUR EVENING COMMUTES.

WHEN THE 2.0 LITER I4 EVENTUALLY JUMPS INTO ACTION, THE TRANSITION IS SMOOTH, WITH ONLY A LITTLE ENGINE NOISE MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE INTERIOR.

WHICH WE ARE FINDING COMFORTABLE AND SPACIOUS.

THIS OUTLANDER GETS A LOT OF USE AS A SUPPORT VEHICLE ON OUR SHOOTS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE INTERIOR VERSATILITY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT'S JUST REALLY NICE TO DRIVE.

THERE'S GREAT VISIBILITY AND THE SUSPENSION IS SOFT IN THE RIGHT WAY.

AFTER A STELLAR START, FUEL ECONOMY IS LEVELING OFF AND NOW SITS AT 33.6 MILES PER GALLON OVER 12,000 MILES.

INCREDIBLY, WE MADE IT THROUGH WINTER WITH ALMOST NO SNOW IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO TRULY TEST THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

IT DOES GRIP, HOWEVER, AS WE'VE ENJOYED THE EXTRA BITE WHEN ACCELERATING HARD FROM A STANDSTILL.

THE FRONT SEATS ARE HOLDING UP WELL TO HEAVY USE AND PROVIDE GOOD COMFORT, BUT SEVERAL STAFFERS HAVE HAD ISSUES FINDING A GOOD DRIVING POSITION CITING THAT THEY SIT TOO HIGH.

BUT NO ONE IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE INFOTAINMENT, PROVING THAT YOU DON'T NEED A MASSIVE SCREEN TO PROVIDE A GOOD USER EXPERIENCE.

WE'LL BE CHECKING IN ON OUR VOLKSWAGEN ARTEON AND NISSAN ALTIMA ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

* John: AUTHOR TOM COTTER IS NO STRANGER TO AUTOMOTIVE PROSPECTING.

THIS MUST READ TITLED "TOM COTTER'S BEST BARN-FIND COLLECTOR CAR-TALES" IS HIS TENTH BOOK ON BARN FINDS.

THIS TIME AROUND, COTTER HAS CURATED A WIDE SELECTION OF STORIES FROM OTHER TREASURE HUNTERS RANGING FROM A PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD FOUND IN A YARD IN ALABAMA TO A DUESENBERG IN MANHATTAN.

WHILE, NOT EVERY STORY FEATURES A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR CAR RUSTING AWAY IN A SHED, EACH STORY IS JUST AS EXCITING.

THIS COLLECTION WILL GIVE READERS A TASTE OF WHAT FORGOTTEN AUTOMOTIVE GEMS ARE JUST WAITING TO BE UNCOVERED.

THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF GOOD SMALL CARS THESE DAYS.

SO, IT'S GETTING HARDER AND HARDER FOR GREAT ONES LIKE THE MAZDA3 TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD; NOT TO MENTION, COMPETE WITH THE RISING POPULARITY OF CROSSOVER UTEs.

NOW ON THE SURFACE, ADDING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SHOULD NOT ONLY GIVE MAZDA3 FANS MORE, BUT PERHAPS KEEP SOME FROM BECOMING UTE DEFECTORS.

LET'S SEE IF WE'RE RIGHT.

* THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT MAZDA'S.

THE BRAND HAS A WAY OF PROVIDING THE SOUL OF THE MIATA IN ALL OF THEIR CARS; SOMETHING YOU EITHER GET OR YOU DON'T.

MOST RECENTLY, THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSING ON INCREASING REFINEMENT, COMFORT, AND LUXURY.

DESPITE SOME CARRYOVER HARDWARE, MAZDA CONSIDERS THIS 2019 MAZDA3 THE START OF A NEW 4TH GENERATION.

IT'S STILL AVAILABLE AS BOTH A 4-DOOR SEDAN AND 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

WE PREFER THE STYLE AND PRACTICALITY OF THE HATCH, LIKE OUR TEST CAR, HERE IN PREMIUM TRIM.

MUCH LIKE THE RECENT MAZDA6 AND CX-5 MAKEOVERS, INSIDE IS WHERE YOU IMMEDIATELY NOTICE A TRANSFORMATION.

IT'S GONE FROM BEING A PLEASANT PLACE TO VISIT TO ONE THAT IS MAGNETIC AND INVITING.

THE DASH IS QUITE LINEAR AND TO SOME MIGHT LOOK PLAIN.

BUT, PLAIN IN A GOOD WAY; UNCLUTTERED, BUSINESS-LIKE, YET, FRIENDLY.

THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN IS STILL DASH-TOP, BUT ITS INTEGRATION IS MUCH IMPROVED.

THINGS FEELING TIGHT AND SOLID WHEN BEHIND THE WHEEL IS NOTHING NEW FOR THE MAZDA3, BUT BEING RELATIVELY QUIET INSIDE IS.

STILL, NOT QUIETEST IN THE CLASS, BUT AGAIN MUCH IMPROVED, AS IS THE OVERALL MORE POLISHED NATURE OF THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

THE PREVIOUS GEN'S NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER I4 ENGINE UPGRADE IS NOW STANDARD IN ALL 3s, BUT THAT ALSO HAS BEEN UPDATED SLIGHTLY.

TWO ADDITIONAL HORSEPOWER HAVE BEEN SQUEAKED OUT OF THE SKYACTIV-G POWER PLANT, AS WELL AS ONE MORE POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; BRINGING BOTH NUMBERS TO 186.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMES STANDARD ON MOST MODELS; A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE SAME PRICE, BUT ONLY IN A PREMIUM-TRIMMED HATCHBACK.

RIVALS OFTEN OFFER A DO-IT-YOURSELF TRANS ONLY ON ENTRY LEVEL SPECIALS.

BIGGER NEWS; ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS OBTAINABLE IN THE MAZDA3 FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER.

WE'RE NOT SURE IT WAS TRULY NECESSARY, BUT HEY; IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO SELL CARS THESE DAYS, AND YOU ALREADY HAVE THE HARDWARE IN PLACE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, MORE POWER TO YOU.

YOU MUST GET THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH IT, OF COURSE, AND ITS A $1,400 UPGRADE.

SAFETY FEATURES HAVE ALSO BEEN ADDRESSED; NOW STANDARD IN ALL HATCHBACKS, ARE DRIVER ATTENTION ALERT, SMART CITY BRAKE SUPPORT, AND LANE KEEP ASSIST.

AS BEFORE, AND LIKE OTHERS IN THE SEGMENT, THERE'S A SIMPLER LESS COSTLY TORSION-BEAM SUSPENSION IN THE REAR, BUT WE NEVER SEEM TO HEAR TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT MAZDA'S SETUP.

IT FEELS FLAT AND NIMBLE AS ALWAYS.

TURN-IN IS A LITTLE MUTED, BUT THE CAR STILL RESPONDS QUICKER THAN MOST OF ITS PEERS.

THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FEATURES UNIQUE TUNING FROM MAZDA'S CROSSOVER FAMILY.

HERE, IT CAN DETECT SPIRITED DRIVING, AND QUICKLY SHIFT ADDITIONAL POWER TO THE REAR TO AID THE HANDLING PROCESS.

[TIRES SCREECH/ENGINE REVS] NOW, THINGS ARE NOT SO EXCITING OVER IN THE ACCELERATION DEPARTMENT.

THIS CAR REALLY NEEDS MORE POWER, OR WE SHOULD SAY, THIS CHASSIS CAN CERTAINLY HANDLE A LOT MORE.

THERE'S REALLY NO URGENCY OFF THE LINE; IT JUST KIND OF LUMBERS ITS WAY TO 60 IN MID 7.0 SECONDS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS AREN'T THAT IMPRESSIVE EITHER; 24-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED WITH THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE HATCHBACK.

NOW, AS FOR A MOST PRACTICAL MATTER, AND MOST LIKELY, THE REASON YOU WANT A HATCHBACK IN THE FIRST PLACE; THERE'S 20.1 CUBIC-FEET.

OF CARGO ROOM BEHIND THE SEATS, COMPARED TO THE SEDAN'S 13.2 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNKS SPACE.

NOT TO MENTION, THAT'S WAY MORE THAN THE CX-3 UTILITY'S PALTRY 12.4 CUBIC-FEET.

PRICING STARTS AT $21,920 FOR A MAZDA3 SEDAN; YOU WILL PAY MORE THE HATCHBACK, WHICH STARTS AT $24,520.

ADD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND PREMIUM TRIM, AND YOU CAN BE LOOKING AT OVER $30,000; A LOT OF CAR, YES, BUT WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT A COMPACT HERE.

OUR INITIAL TAKE?

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, NOW THERE REALLY IS NO REASON TO BUY THE CX-3 UTE.

BUT, UPON FURTHER REVIEW, THE MAZDA3 HATCHBACK IS MUCH MORE THAN THAT.

YES, THERE IS MORE UTILITY HERE THAN IN MANY ACTUAL UTILITIES, BUT ALSO AN EVER MORE ENTICING DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WITH A MORE PREMIUM FEEL AND INTERIOR.

SO, TRUTH BE TOLD, THE MAZDA3 NOT ONLY IS A COMPACT STANDOUT; IT'S JUST A GREAT CAR, PERIOD.

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... WE'LL GET OUR COMPETITIVE JUICES FLOWING IN THE BMW X3 M COMPETITION, AND SEE HOW FAMILY SIZED 3-ROW SUVs STACK UP AGAINST EACH OTHER.

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...

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *