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

JOIN US FOR A TEST OF "R" TYPE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE HONDA CIVIC... WE'LL SEE CLEARLY NOW, AFTER AN ENLIGHTENED STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART LOOKS AT WHAT A GLOBAL PANDEMIC IS DOING TO THE AUTO INDUSTRY... AND WE'LL SAMPLE CADILLAC'S LATEST NOT-SO SMALL, LUXURY SPORT SEDAN, THE C-T-4...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , 40 YEARS, STEERING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

John: IT TOOK UNTIL 2017 FOR THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R TO FINALLY MAKE IT HERE TO THE U.S. AND IT'S THE FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL CIVIC EVER, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT; FEELING LESS LIKE A SOUPED-UP CIVIC, AND MORE LIKE A PURPOSE-BUILT HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE THAT JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A HONDA BADGE ON IT.

WELL, CAN IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

* WHILE, THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R IS EASILY THE FASTEST AND MOST POWERFUL CIVIC EVER, THINGS RARELY SIT STILL IN THE PERFORMANCE CAR FIELD FOR LONG.

SO, HONDA HAS BESTOWED A HOST OF UPDATES FOR 2020 TO KEEP THE TYPE R RELEVANT, ATTRACT MORE ATTENTION, AND PERHAPS EVEN GIVE OWNERS A REASON TO UPGRADE.

AND WE LOVE IT WHEN PERFORMANCE UPDATES ARE LISTED RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE PRESS RELEASE INSTEAD OF THINGS LIKE "BOLD NEW STYLING," AND FOR '20, THE TYPE R'S SUSPENSION, BRAKES, AND ENGINE COOLING HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED.

SUSPENSION CHANGES BEGIN WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE ADAPTIVE DAMPERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS TEN TIMES FASTER.

ON THE HARDWARE SIDE, STIFFER BUSHINGS ARE IN PLACE, BOTH FRONT AND REAR; ALONG WITH LOWER FRICTION BALL JOINTS TO HEIGHTEN STEERING RESPONSE.

IT MAKES FOR A FUN...YET, STILL EASY TO DRIVE DAILY-DRIVER.

BUT OF COURSE, A TRIP TO THE TRACK WAS NECESSARY TO GET A FULL "GRIP" ON THE SITUATION.

AND THERE WAS INDEED PLENTY OF GRIP TO BE FOUND.

THE TYPE R REALLY EXCELS HERE IN A TIGHT SLALOM EXERCISE.

STEERING IS TIGHT AND SUPER RESPONSIVE, WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE CIVIC'S FRONT DRIVE UNDERSTEER DIALED OUT.

EVERYTHING FEELS "JUST RIGHT" AND IT WAS A REAL BLAST TO WORK IN AND OUT OF THE CONES; WITH SOME OF THE FASTEST COURSE SPEEDS...WE'VE EVER SEEN.

AS FOR THE BRAKES, THE PREVIOUS ONE-PIECE FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO A TWO-PIECE DESIGN THAT IS LIGHTER BY 2.5 POUNDS PER WHEEL.

THUS, ALSO HELPING THE HANDLING CAUSE.

THERE'S ALSO NEW BRAKE PAD MATERIAL, TO BOTH PROVIDE MORE INITIAL BITE, AS WELL AS LESS FADE.

THEY DELIVERED CONSISTENTLY STABLE SHORT STOPS FROM 60 OF JUST 101 FEET.

OUR TEST DRIVER'S COMMENTS WERE BRIEF, "BRAKES ARE AWESOME; GOOD FEEL WITH ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE."

THE TYPE R'S 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 ENGINE DOESN'T GET ANY PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS OF ITS OWN; STILL SPINNING UP THE SAME 306 HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT ADDITIONAL COOLING HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO KEEP IT HAPPIER ON TRACK DAYS.

IT'S STILL NOT THE EASIEST CAR TO LAUNCH.

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN BOGGING IT DOWN AND SPINNING UP THE FRONT TIRES TOO MUCH IS CHALLENGING.

THE CLUTCH ITSELF IS GREAT, WITH A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF FEEL, AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP TO 60 IN 5.4 SECONDS.

WE'RE LESS FOND OF THE 6-SPEED MANUAL, WHICH IS OF COURSE, YOUR ONLY TRANSMISSION OPTION HERE IN THE TYPE R, OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE SHIFTER.

WE'RE NOT CRAZY ABOUT ITS FEEL; NOT WANTING TO BE RUSHED, ESPECIALLY IN THE ALL-IMPORTANT 1-2 SHIFT.

THE KNOB ALSO CAN GET VERY HOT LEFT SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY.

ONCE AWAY, POWER REALLY POURS ON WHEN THE TACH PASSES 3,500 RPM.

DOING YOUR BEST TO KEEP IT ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD WILL RESULT IN A VERY QUICK, BUT NOT INSANELY FAST, QUARTER-MILE TIME OF 14.1 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

A HELICAL TYPE LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IS STANDARD, AND BASICALLY ELIMINATES HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANY TORQUE STEER.

ADDITIONAL ENGINE COOLING COMES BY WAY OF INCREASED AIRFLOW; OPENINGS IN THE FRONT FASCIA ARE 13% LARGER THAN BEFORE, RESULTING IN AN EIGHTEEN DEGREE REDUCTION IN ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURES.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE LOUDEST THING ABOUT THIS CIVIC TYPE R; AND THAT IS ITS LOOKS.

IT'S CERTAINLY, THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AND FAST-AND-FURIOUS LOOKING CIVIC EVER.

THE AFOREMENTIONED INCREASED AIRFLOW THROUGH THE FRONT BUMPER RESULTED IN A DECREASE OF DOWNFORCE, WHICH HONDA ADDRESSED WITH A FRONT SPOILER REDESIGN.

THE REAR BUMPER IS ALSO NEW, AND OF COURSE, IT REMAINS STRICTLY A 5-DOOR HATCHBACK.

AND WHILE BOTH LOOKS AND PERFORMANCE HAVE GOTTEN MORE EXTREME; HONDA KEEPS ITS DAILY-DRIVING SENSIBILITIES FULLY INTACT.

AND THAT'S NOTHING NEW FOR HONDA, GOING BACK THIS "HOT-STEPPING" CIVIC SI FROM 1989, WHICH WAS THEN THE SPORTIEST CIVIC AVAILABLE HERE IN THE U.S. WE PRAISED ITS SUPERIOR HANDLING, REMARKABLE BALANCE, AND FUN DEMEANOR; YET...POINTED OUT, IT ALL COMES WITH HONDA'S TYPICAL EFFICIENCY, AND WELL THOUGHT OUT ENGINEERING.

ONE FINAL NOTEWORTHY ADDITION FOR '20, IS THE DEBUT OF HONDA LOG-R PERFORMANCE DATA LOGGING APP.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 27.2 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM FUEL.

THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 13.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH 5.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

TYPE R PRICING COMES IN AT $37,950; ABOUT THREE GRAND MORE THAN WHEN IT ARRIVED THREE YEARS AGO.

WHILE, WE WAITED 20 YEARS TO GET OUR FIRST TYPE R CIVIC HERE IN THE U.S., WE ONLY HAD TO WAIT THOSE THREE YEARS TO GET AN EVEN BETTER ONE.

THANKS HONDA, FOR KEEPING US IN THE LOOP, AND FOR GIVING THE 2020 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R THE "TYPE" OF UPGRADES THAT MAKE IT BOTH A BETTER PERFORMER AND EVEN MORE FUN TO DRIVE.

* LIKE, MOST OTHER THINGS IN OUR LIVES, THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAS TURNED THE CAR BUSINESS ON ITS HEAD.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES] NOW, NEW CAR SALES HAVE BEEN HOT FOR YEARS, RIGHT NOW IT'S THE USED SIDE OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S GOING GANGBUSTERS.

AND THAT MEANS MORE MONEY FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL OR TRADE-IN YOUR USED CAR.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAS SOME ADVICE - HOW YOU CAN CASH IN ON THOSE DEALS.

* Stephanie Hart: AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 USED CARS ARE HOT RIGHT NOW.

FOR ONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL SCARED TO TAKE A TRAIN, A BUS OR EVEN AN UBER FOR FEAR OF CATCHING COVID-19.

SECONDLY, OTHERS WHO WOULD OF BOUGHT A NEW CAR, LIKE THIS ONE, NOW SEEM TO WANT A USED CAR BECAUSE OF OUR UNCERTAIN ECONOMY.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE VIRUS DISRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF NEW VEHICLES, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S A TRUE SELLERS MARKET FOR USED CARS.

USED CAR DEALERSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE, ARE STRUGGLING TO STOCK THEIR LOTS.

JIM ROBERTSON IS THE USED CAR DIRECTOR AT BROWN'S MANASSAS HYUNDAI IN VIRGINIA.

Jim Robertson: ALL BECAUSE OF COVID-19, I'M HOLDING ONTO CARS, I'D NEVER THOUGHT I'D KEEP IN MY LIFE.

WE ARE KEEPING CARS WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES ON THEM AND WE ARE RECONDITIONING, THEM AND MAKING THEM GOOD CARS, AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM.

Stephanie: THE DEMAND FOR USED CARS IS OVERWHELMING RIGHT NOW.

AND THE SUPPLY IS SHORT.

THAT MEANS PRICES ARE UP - ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY VEHICLE SEGMENT.

SO, IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR CAR OR TRUCK, YOU COULD MAKE A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD PRE-PANDEMIC.

USED LUXURY CARS AND TRUCKS MAY SELL FOR EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

USED TRUCK SALES ARE UP ABOUT 28 PERCENT.

TRADE IN VALUES HAVE ALSO INCREASED IN EVERY VEHICLE SEGMENT.

UP ANYWHERE FROM 10-20 PERCENT.

Jim: AS A CONSUMER, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT TRADING YOUR CAR IN.

WE ARE ALSO BUYING CARS OUT OF OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT... PEOPLE THAT COME IN... AND WE ARE BUYING CARS OFF THE STREET INCLUDING CRAIGSLIST AND ALL THE OTHER SITES.

Stephanie: BEFORE BUYING OR SELLING ANY CAR OR TRUCK, IT'S SMART TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY.

CARFAX SAYS, "IT MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MONEY."

Emile Voss: CARFAX HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE WORK WITH THEM IN PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S ALSO, NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND VEHICLE HISTORY BECAUSE THE MARKET CONDITIONS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND VEHICLE HISTORY IS A KEY FACTOR IN PRICING ON VEHICLES.

SO CARFAX HAS A PRICING TOOL CALLED "CARFAX HISTORY-BASED VALUE" THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT A VEHICLE SPECIFIC HISTORY.

SO WHETHER, IT HAS ONE OWNER... OR WHETHER IT HAD DAMAGE... WAS IT WELL MAINTAINED SERVICE WISE... AND THAT IS COMBINED WITH MARKET VALUE IN THE AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT YOU LIVE IN TO GIVE YOU THE CARFAX HISTORY-BASED VALUE.

Stephanie: BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE TO BUY NEW RATHER THAN USED, THAT COULD BE A SMART MOVE TOO.

IF YOU TRADE IT IN OR SELL IT, TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IT COULD COMMAND A HIGHER PRICE THAN NORMAL, ACCORDING TO CARFAX.

THAT'S BECAUSE FEWER 2020 MODEL YEAR CARS AND TRUCKS WILL BE MADE.

COVID-19 FORCED ALL AUTOMAKERS TO STOP PRODUCTION FOR TWO MONTHS OR MORE.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CORONA VIRUS HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE CAR BUYING PROCESS.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME TO DEALERSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE TO TEST DRIVE A NEW CAR, SO DEALERS HAVE HAD TO ADAPT.

Jim: OUR SALESPEOPLE, THEY WILL DO A FACETIME, THEY'LL DO A VIDEO WALK AROUND, WE WILL POST THEM ONLINE.

THE TEST DRIVES WHERE IT USED TO BE A SALESMAN ALWAYS WENT WITH THE CUSTOMER NOW THE CUSTOMER IS PUT IN THE CAR THEMSELVES FOR THE TEST DRIVE.

THEN, FOR THE OFF SITE TEST DRIVES, WE WILL SEND A CAR WITH A CHASE CAR AND WE WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE CUSTOMER SOMETIMES OVERNIGHT, SOMETIMES FOR A FEW HOURS.

AND WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF OFF-SITE DELIVERIES WHERE PEOPLE BUY THE CAR BEFORE WE EVEN GET THERE AND WE JUST BRING THE PAPERWORK.

Stephanie: BUT DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY.

CARFAX REMINDS US THAT AFTER YOU'VE STUDIED THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, AND DONE A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE AND PAY FOR AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION.

THE USED CAR MARKET IS ALL THE RAGE RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG IT WILL STAY THIS WAY.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF YOU CAN, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW IT WON'T LAST FOREVER.

John: THIS 1966 RAMBLER CLASSIC 770 CONVERTIBLE IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

GARY SAUER FROM GRAFTON, OHIO HAS OWNED THIS 287 CUBIC INCH V8 DROP-TOP SINCE 1994.

ASSEMBLED IN KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, THE RAMBLER CLASSIC CONVERTIBLE WAS ONLY MADE FOR TWO YEARS, AND GARY SAYS, "HE'S NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN ANOTHER ONE ON THE ROAD."

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR PRIDE AND JOY FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO MOTORWEEK@PBS.ORG.

John: IT'S A FACT THAT OVER TIME THE PLASTIC LENSES OF MODERN HEADLIGHTS CAN BECOME CLOUDY, REDUCING OUR ABILITY TO SEE WELL DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

WELL, LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE TO FIND OUT.

* Pat Goss: HEADLIGHTS, THEY HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

WAY BACK WHEN THEY WERE MADE OUT OF GLASS WHICH LASTED THE LIFE OF THE CAR AS FAR AS THAT PART OF IT WAS CONCERNED.

BUT THE FILAMENT INSIDE WOULD BURN OUT OR THE LIGHT WASN'T REALLY THAT GOOD.

NOW, WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO LENSES AND SO ON.

IF YOU LOOK AT HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS ONE IS STYLED TO MATCH THE CONTOURS OF THE CAR.

AND WHAT HAS ALSO HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE LAMPS INSIDE THESE, WELL...THEY HAVE EVOLVED.

SEE, WE STARTED OUT WITH INCANDESCENT THEN MOVED UP TO H-I-D. NOW, THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY IS L-E-D. WELL, THAT'S GREAT EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, THE LENS ON ALL OF THESE ARE NO LONGER MADE OUT OF GLASS, IT'S MADE OUT OF PLASTIC.

AND ULTRAVIOLET FROM THE SUN AND THE WEATHERING AND SO ON, CAUSES THIS PLASTIC TO TURN YELLOW, SUCH AS WE SEE OVER HERE.

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE, ONE IS YELLOWED, THE OTHER IS NEW.

ALRIGHT, NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO RESTORE THESE?

WELL, WE'VE TRIED ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT KITS.

NOW, IF YOU WATCH LATE NIGHT TELEVISION, YOU WILL FIND 100 DIFFERENT KITS OUT THERE THAT CLAIM THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BRAND NEW, AND IT'S GOING TO LAST A LIFETIME, AND ALL THAT.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE, GRANTED, IN THE SHOP, WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK JUST LIKE THIS...WHEN IT GOES OUT THE DOOR.

BUT SIX WEEKS TO SIX MONTHS OR SO LATER, IT COMES BACK IN LOOKING ALL DETERIORATED AGAIN.

SO YOU CAN TRY THE KIT, MAY WORK, MAY NOT.

YOU'RE GOING TO INVEST A FEW BUCKS AND SOME TIME.

BUT THE THING THAT WE FIND MOST TIMES IS THAT IT WINDS UP LOOKING LIKE THIS OVER HERE IN A FEW WEEKS.

THIS ONE WAS POLISHED AND NOW IT'S ALL DULL AGAIN.

SO ONE THING THAT WE DO IN THE REPAIR SHOPS, FOR A LOT OF POPULAR CARS, YOU CAN BUY AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT THAT ACTUALLY SOMETIMES, COSTS LESS THAN PAYING SOMEBODY TO POLISH THE HEADLIGHT.

SO, IT'S A WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND GET SOME DURABILITY.

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

John: IF YOU LIKE EARLY LOOKS AT CARS JUST OVER THE HORIZON, THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN'S.

* THIS WEEK, WE'RE OFF ON A DIESEL-POWERED QUICK SPIN IN THE 2021 JEEP GLADIATOR ECODIESEL.

THIS WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME, AFTER FCA'S THIRD-GEN 3.0 LITER ECODIESEL V6 WAS ADDED TO THE WRANGLER LINEUP LAST YEAR.

AND OUTPUT HERE, IS AN IDENTICAL 260 HORSEPOWER AND 442 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AS IN THE WRANGLER; WORKING THROUGH THE SAME TORQUEFLITE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND AVAILABLE IN SPORT, OVERLAND, AND RUBICON TRIMS.

WITH A STANDARD 3.73 REAR AXLE RATIO; IT'S RATED TO TOW A MAX OF 6,500 POUNDS WHICH IS ACTUALLY ABOUT 1,000 POUNDS LESS THAN 3.6 LITER V6 GAS ENGINE.

NOW, THAT SHOULDN'T COME AS A SURPRISE AS IT'S CALLED "THE ECODIESEL," NOT THE TOW DIESEL, THUS IT GETS A COMBINED RATING OF 24, COMPARED TO THE 3.6s 19.

OUR REAL WORLD AVERAGE WAS HIGHER STILL AT 25.4 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL.

BUT, IT'S NOT ALWAYS JUST ABOUT THE NUMBERS... Dave Scrivener: OFFERING THE DIESEL ENGINE OPTION IN THE GLADIATOR ADDRESSES SEVERAL SHORTCOMINGS: IT DOES HAVE 15 LESS HORSEPOWER THAN THE GAS V6, BUT A WHOPPING 182 MORE POUND FEET OF TORQUE AND AT A MUCH LOWER RPM.

SO, ACCELERATION HAPPENS WITH A WHOLE LOT LESS ENGINE DRAMA.

FUEL ECONOMY ALSO INCREASES BY ABOUT 6.0 MILES PER GALLON.

SO, IF I WERE GOING TO BUY A GLADIATOR, THE DIESEL'S THE ONLY WAY TO GO FOR ME.

John: IT FEELS WAY MORE POWERFUL THAN THE GAS V6, WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF TIRE-SPINNING TORQUE EAGERLY ON TAP.

THAT ADDITIONAL GRUNT IS INDEED VERY WELCOMED HERE IN THE GLADIATOR, AND WILL IMMEDIATELY BE THE CHOICE FOR OFF-ROADERS WHO'LL ALSO APPRECIATE THE INCREASED RANGE.

AND, IT'S MORE THAN A FEELING.

AT THE TRACK, OUR DIESEL-EQUIPPED OVERLAND WAS MORE THAN A SECOND QUICKER THAN THE RECENT GLADIATOR MOJAVE WE HAD IN; HITTING 60 IN 7.6 SECONDS, COMPARED TO THE MOJAVE'S 8.8.

THE ECODIESEL IS AVAILABLE NOW, AS A $4,000 OPTION, BUT ALSO REQUIRES THE $2,000 8-HP-75 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; PUTTING YOU AT A MINIMUM $41,040 FOR BASE SPORT TRIM.

Jessica Ray: AS SUVs CONTINUE TO TAKE OVER THE SALES LANDSCAPE, MORE AND MORE OPTIONS ARE BECOMING AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE CRAZY POPULAR COMPACT SEGMENT, LIKE THIS ALL-NEW 2022 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS.

A BIT OVER 9.0 INCHES SHORTER THAN THE TIGUAN, THIS 5-PASSENGER TAOS CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE A SCALED-DOWN VERSION OF THE TIGUAN, BUT ALSO FEATURES L-E-D LIGHTING AND A FRONT-END TREATMENT THAT REMINDS US OF THE RECENTLY RELEASED ATLAS CROSS SPORT MIDSIZE UTILITY.

POWER COMES FROM THE JETTA'S 158 HORSEPOWER 1.5 LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE, AND IS PAIRED TO EITHER AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IF YOU STICK WITH FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE, OR A 7-SPEED D-S-G WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

Greg Carloss: IT IS A BIT UNUSUAL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS SWITCHING UP THE TRANSMISSION OPTIONS BETWEEN THE FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE MODEL AND THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE.

ALTHOUGH, THE 8-SPEED USES A TORQUE CONVERTER, THE FUEL ECONOMY SHOULD BENEFIT FROM THE EXTRA GEAR RATIO.

BUT I EXPECT, THE 7-SPEED D-S-G PAIRED WITH 4-MOTION ALL-WHEEL DRIVE TO BE THE MORE ENGAGING SETUP.

Jessica: IN THIS CASE, SMALL DOESN'T MEAN DE-CONTENTED, AS VOLKSWAGEN'S DIGITAL COCKPIT IS NOT ONLY AVAILABLE, BUT STANDARD.

AS ARE TWO-TONE SEATS, PUSH-BUTTON START, AND A POWER DRIVER'S SEAT.

AND IT'S NOT TINY EITHER, WITH THE TIGUAN BEING QUITE BIG FOR THE COMPACT CLASS, THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR THE TAOS TO SLOT UNDER...YET, STILL PROVIDE ADEQUATE SPACE FOR YOUNG FAMILIES AND THEIR GEAR, WITH OVER 28 CUBIC-FEET OF LUGGAGE SPACE BEHIND THE SEATS.

Brian Robinson: AS MUCH AS I HAVE A TENDENCY TO BRISTLE WHENEVER I HEAR OF YET ANOTHER SMALL CROSSOVER; WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE RESULTS.

AND THE TAOS, LIKE A LOT OF RECENT VOLKSWAGENS SEEMS TO BE DONE VERY RIGHT.

IT'S AMAZING THEY WERE ABLE TO GET SO MUCH SPACE INTO WHAT IS A VERY SMALL FOOTPRINT.

AND I THINK IT'LL REALLY SHAKE THIS SEGMENT UP A BIT.

Jessica: THE TAOS IS SET TO ARRIVE NEXT SUMMER, AND WHILE WE DON'T HAVE PRICING INFO YET, IT WILL BE NOTABLY LESS THAN TIGUAN, AND BASED ON RECENT VOLKSWAGEN UTILITIES, IT'S SURE TO BE VERY COMPETITIVE.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON THE ALL-NEW 2022 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS SOON.

UNTIL THEN, STAY SAFE AND KEEP IT LOCKED ON MOTORWEEK !

* Flashback John: THIS YEAR GM'S PRESS RELEASES REFER TO THEIR LITTLE WONDER AS THE CADILLAC CIMARRON RATHER THAN THE CIMARRON BY CADILLAC.

CIMARRON, CATERA, A-T-S, THE LIST OF SMALL OR ENTRY-LEVEL CADILLAC SEDANS IS NOT EXACTLY - A GREATEST HITS ALBUM.

THOUGH, WITH THE A-T-S' STEADY RISE UP THE CHARTS, IT LOOKED LIKE FINALLY TO BE THE ONE.

HOWEVER, IT TURNS OUT IT WAS YET ANOTHER ONE-HIT WONDER, AS CADILLAC IS ONCE AGAIN, REBOOTING WITH A NEW NAME, THE C-T-4.

WELL, LET'S SEE IF BUYERS WILL BE SINGING ITS PRAISES!

* WHILE, THE 2020 CADILLAC C-T-4 IS AN ALL-NEW NAMEPLATE; IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A NEW IDEA, REPLACING THE A-T-S AS THEIR ENTRY-LEVEL SPORTS-LUXURY SEDAN.

NOR IS IT AN ENTIRELY NEW CAR, DRAWN FROM THE FAMILIAR REAR-DRIVE A-T-S ARCHITECTURE.

BUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ON TOP OF IT IS INDEED NEW.

RETAINING THE A-T-S' FOUNDATION IS GREAT NEWS TO US AS IT WAS CADILLAC'S BEST EVER; PROVIDING A STABLE AND WILLING PLATFORM FOR ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING DRIVING EXPERIENCES IN ITS CLASS REGARDLESS OF COUNTRY OF ORIGIN.

BUT, EVEN HERE IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT CHASSIS CARRYOVER.

TECHNICALLY, A NEW GENERATION OF THE A-T-S' ALPHA PLATFORM.

LIKE, MOST OF ITS EUROPEAN RIVALS, THE C-T-4 FEATURES AN ALL TURBO ENGINE LINEUP.

BASE FITMENT IS A NEW 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO THAT AT 237 HORSEPOWER, IS ACTUALLY DOWN FROM THE A-T-S' 272.

THE A-T-S' V6 UPGRADE HAS BEEN REPLACED BY ANOTHER 4-CYLINDER TURBO, THIS LARGE, DUAL-BALANCE SHAFT 2.7 LITER WILL OUTPUT 310 HORSEPOWER AND 350 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT FEATURES A TRICK "DUAL VOLUTE" TURBOCHARGER WHICH BASICALLY HITS THE TURBINE WITH EXHAUST FROM TWO SIDES.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE WITH EITHER ENGINE, BUT THE 2.7 LITER GETS A NEW 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; WHILE THE 2.0 LITER IS MATED TO AN 8-SPEED AUTO.

THE WHEELBASE STAYS THE SAME AS THE A-T-S, AT 109.3 INCHES; YET, OVERALL LENGTH INCREASES 3.5 INCHES.

IT LOSES A TAD OF WIDTH, BUT STILL LOOKS LOW, WIDE, AND CLASSY, WITH THE SPORTY EDGES AND SHARP LINES OF RECENT CADILLAC'S.

FULL L-E-D LIGHTING IS STANDARD, PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM GETS SOME CHROME TRIM, BLACK-PAINTED REAR DIFFUSER, AND 18 INCH ALLOY WHEELS.

CADILLAC'S SUPER CRUISE, ONE OF THE BEST SEMI-AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS WE'VE TRIED, IS AVAILABLE; ALLOWING FOR HANDS FREE DRIVING ON COMPATIBLE U.S.

HIGHWAYS.

NOW, THIS MAY BE A SIMILAR CHASSIS, BUT IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME DRIVING EXPERIENCE; BOTH THE DOUBLE-PIVOT MACPHERSON-TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION, AND 5-LINK INDEPENDENT REAR HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY TWEAKED.

AND COMPREHENSIVE DRIVE MODES DO A GOOD JOB OF DELIVERING THE EXPERIENCE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

BUT, IT SEEMS MOST OF THOSE UPDATES WERE DIRECTED TOWARDS DELIVERING A SOFTER RIDE, NOT IMPROVING HANDLING.

IT FEELS GOOD AND SOLID INITIALLY, BUT AS YOU PUSH HARDER, IT DOESN'T WANT TO PLAY AS HARD AS THE A-T-S DID.

OF COURSE, THAT IS SOMEWHAT CONSISTENT WITH THE MISSION OF OUR PREMIUM LUXURY TRIM TEST CAR.

IF ULTIMATE HANDLING IS YOUR PRIORITY, CADILLAC ALSO OFFERS A V-SERIES VERSION, WITH A PERFORMANCE-TUNED SUSPENSION.

STANDBY BY FOR THAT ONE.

THIS 2.7 LITER TURBO ENGINE ON THE OTHER HAND, DOESN'T CARE WHICH C-T-4 IT'S IN AND DELIVERS SOME SERIOUS PUNCH.

IT WAS TRULY THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR TEST TRACK EXPERIENCE.

POWER IS ABUNDANT RIGHT FROM THE GET-GO, AND EVEN OUR REAR-DRIVE TESTER HAD NO PROBLEM GETTING OFF THE LINE CLEANLY AND CAN PASS BY 60 IN 5.1 SECONDS.

THERE'S A LOT OF GEARS TO SHIFT THROUGH, BUT THOSE CHANGES HAPPEN BOTH QUICKLY AND AMAZINGLY SMOOTHLY, KEEPING THE POWER FLOWING THROUGH THE QUARTER.

RESULT, A 13.5 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 103 MILES PER HOUR.

THE INTERIOR OF THE C-T-4 IS INDEED VERY LUXURIOUS AND A NICE STEP UP OVER THE A-T-S.

STILL, THE WRAPAROUND DRIVER-CENTRIC COCKPIT MAKES SURE THE SPORTY INTENTIONS ARE KNOWN AS WELL.

THERE'S LOTS OF REAL ALUMINUM TRIM, LEATHER, AND A WELL-INTEGRATED 8.0 INCH CADILLAC USER EXPERIENCE TOUCHSCREEN.

PLUS, THANKFULLY, ADDITIONAL EASY TO USE MANUAL CONTROLS.

THE NAVIGATION AND BOSE PREMIUM AUDIO PACKAGE ADDS, YOU GUESSED IT, NAVIGATION AND A 14 SPEAKER BOSE RADIO; WHILE THE CLIMATE PACKAGE DELIVERS A HEATED STEERING WHEEL, AS WELL AS HEATED AND VENTILATED FRONT SEATS.

THERE'S ENOUGH ROOM IN BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR SEATS TO GET THE JOB DONE, BUT NOT MUCH EXTRA FOR STRETCHING OUT.

WITH C-T-4, CADILLAC IS DELIVERING MORE THAN THE A-T-S FOR ESSENTIALLY THE SAME MONEY.

ITS $33,990 BASE PRICE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHEN THE A-T-S DEBUTED BACK IN 2013.

BUT THE 2020 CADILLAC C-T-4 IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A FORMAL ALIGNMENT TO YET ANOTHER CADILLAC RENAMING STRATEGY.

IT BUILDS UPON AND UPDATES WHAT THE A-T-S STARTED.

WHICH IS, BEING A SERIOUS COMPETITOR IN THE SMALL, GLOBAL SPORT-LUXURY SEDAN SEGMENT.

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 BMW PUTS THE SPORT IN THE 2 SERIES WITH GRAN STYLE.

THEN, WE'LL HIT THE ROAD IN THE ALL-NEW FULL-SIZE CHEVROLET TAHOE.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *