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

JOIN US FOR A MUDDY GOOD TIME IN THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER.

PAT GOSS CRANKS UP MORE SOUND ADVICE DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE PROS ARE CLEANLY CUTTING THROUGH THEIR GROWING CHORES.

AND WE'LL TEST A MORE DYNAMIC YET MORE EFFICIENT HYUNDAI SONATA...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... 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: WE'VE VENTURED OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN ALL SORTS OF VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS, BUT ONE RUGGED VETERAN HAS ALWAYS STOOD OUT, THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER.

NOW THAT DEFENDER SHIPPED OUT OF THE U.S.

IN 1997, UNABLE TO KEEP UP WITH INCREASING REGULATIONS.

WELL, THE GOOD NEWS, THE DEFENDER IS BACK!

NOW YOU MAY THINK IT SHARES LITTLE WITH THE ORIGINAL BESIDES THE NAME, BUT LET'S FIND OUT IF THAT'S A GOOD OR A BAD THING.

* THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER IS QUITE POSSIBLY THE WORLD'S MOST ICONIC 4X4; YES, EVEN BEATING OUT THE JEEP WRANGLER.

THE DEFENDER HAS PROVEN ITSELF JUST AS ADEPT AT DESERT CROSSINGS, AS IT IS AT FORGING RIVERS, AND NAVIGATING MOUNTAIN PASSES.

BUT, 2020 BRINGS AN ALL-NEW DEFENDER, RE-IMAGINED FOR THE 21ST CENTURY.

AS IS TRADITION, THERE WILL BE TWO VERSIONS, THIS 4-DOOR 110, AND A SHORTER WHEELBASE 2-DOOR 90 WHICH WILL ARRIVE FOR '21.

WE'VE LITERALLY BEEN AROUND THE WORLD IN LAND ROVERS OVER OUR LAST 40-YEARS, BUT OF COURSE SINCE THE 1990'S WE'VE MOSTLY BEEN IN A DEFENDER.

AND THE LAST TIME WE WERE IN A 110, IT EASILY SURMOUNTED EVERY OBSTACLE WE THREW AT IT; YET REMAINED EASY TO DRIVE IN EVEN THE TOUGHEST OF CONDITIONS.

AND AFTER OUR RECENT TEST RUN, WE FEEL MUCH THE SAME ABOUT THIS 2020 110; SOAKING UP OFF-ROAD LUMPS LIKE A JAG ON THE FREEWAY.

HELPING THIS DEFENDER WORK ITS BACKWOODS MAGIC IS A 2-SPEED TRANSFER CASE, LOCKING CENTER DIFFERENTIAL, AND AN ACTIVE REAR LOCKING DIFF.

PLUS AN UPDATED TERRAIN RESPONSE 2 TRACTION MANAGEMENT WITH A NEW WADE SENSING FEATURE, ALONG WITH CONFIGURABLE TERRAIN RESPONSE TO DIAL IN THE EXACT KIND OF ASSISTANCE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE SETTINGS TO CHOOSE FROM, BUT WE MOSTLY JUST LEFT IT IN AUTO AND IT SEEMED TO FIGURE THINGS OUT ON ITS OWN JUST FINE.

OUR TESTER'S 20-INCH TIRES STRUGGLED A BIT FOR GRIP IN THE SLOPPIEST MUD; YET THE DEFENDER NEVER GOT US STUCK, OR EVEN LOST MOMENTUM REALLY.

THE DEFENDER'S NEW ALL-ALUMINUM D7X ARCHITECTURE IS THE STIFFEST BODY STRUCTURE LAND ROVER HAS EVER PRODUCED; AND IS APPARENTLY SO ROBUST THAT THEY NEEDED TO COME UP WITH MORE INTENSIVE TESTING PROCEDURES DURING DEVELOPMENT.

LAND ROVER CLAIMS IT'S 3 TIMES MORE RIGID THAN ANY BODY-ON-FRAME UTILITY, WHICH ALLOWS THE FULLY-INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION TO DO ALL OF THE WORK.

SO, DON'T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT THERE'S ANY PENALTY TO PAY FOR ALL OF THAT OFF ROAD PROWESS.

IT'S PLENTY IMPRESSIVE ON THE ROAD AS WELL; WE'D EVEN SAY THE OVERALL RIDE WAS BETTER THAN OTHER LARGE LAND ROVERS AND EVEN RANGE ROVERS THAT WE'VE TESTED RECENTLY, DESPITE THE 20-INCH WHEELS.

STANDARD ENGINE IS A 296-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER I4 TURBO; OPTIONAL IS THIS 3.0-LITER I6 TURBO WITH A 48-VOLT MILD-HYBRID SETUP THAT PRODUCES A TOTAL OF 395-HORSEPOWER AND 406 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

COMBINED WITH THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC, IT GETS THE 110 TO 60 IN UNDER 6-SECONDS, AND ALLOWS FOR TOWING A STOUT 8,200-LBS.

WE'RE NOT SURE IF IT WAS DONE ON PURPOSE OR NOT, TO BEFIT THE RUGGED NATURE OF THE DEFENDER, BUT THE 3.0-LITER FEELS A LITTLE ROUGHER AROUND THE EDGES HERE THAN WHAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED OVER ON THE RANGE ROVER SIDE.

JUST AS MUCH HAS CHANGED INSIDE; WHILE NOT SACRIFICING DURABILITY OR PRACTICALITY.

INDEED, THE FULLY DIGITIZED, DRIVER CHANGEABLE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY, LEATHER SEATING, AND OTHER LUXURY AMENITIES ON OUR SE MODEL WOULD CERTAINLY BE FOREIGN TO 1990'S 110 OWNERS.

IT'S REALLY A UNIQUE SPACE, WHICH WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE; AND WE'RE EVEN MORE THRILLED TO SEE A NEW PIVI PRO INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM.

WEIRD NAME, BUT FAR MORE USER-FRIENDLY THAN ROVER'S PREVIOUS SETUP.

SEATING AREAS UP FRONT AND IN BACK ARE SURPRISINGLY ROOMY; AND THERE IS A 2-PLACE 3RD ROW OPTION IF YOU NEED IT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 3.0-LITER ARE 17-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 19-COMBINED.

OUR AVERAGE, JUST SHORT OF THAT, AT 18.5 MILES-PER-GALLON ON PREMIUM.

FOR A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 17.3-BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE, WITH 7.6-TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

A BASE 4-CYLINDER 110 STARTS AT $51,250; ADD $31,000 TO THAT FOR TOP X TRIM WITH THE I6.

HALFWAY BETWEEN, OUR SE, WITH A GREAT BALANCE OF WHAT YOU BUY A DEFENDER FOR, WITHOUT CROWDING RANGE ROVER, STARTING AT $63,600.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, FANS SHOULD BE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT DESPITE THE MODERN LOOKS, THE 2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER STILL HAULS THE GOODS WHEN IT COMES TO OFF-ROAD PERFORMANCE.

YET, THE REBIRTH OF THIS BRITISH EMPIRE LEGEND HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN JUST GO-ANYWHERE ABILITIES COMBINED WITH BRITISH SENSIBILITIES; IT'S A NEW DEFENDER FOR A NEW AGE, EQUIPPED TO TAKE YOU ON WHATEVER ADVENTURES YOU HAVE IN MIND, WHETHER IT'S AROUND THE BLOCK, OR AROUND THE WORLD.

* John: ADVANCES IN ELECTRIC BATTERIES ARE DRIVING OUR CARS TO A QUIET, CLEAN, ENERGY-EFFICIENT FUTURE, AND INCREASINGLY BATTERIES ARE REPLACING FOSSIL FUELS AND MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT LIKE, LAWNMOWERS.

ON TOP OF THAT, INNOVATIVE CHARGING SOLUTIONS ARE GIVING A SECOND LIFE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PACKS, AND A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO GROWING GREEN.

* THERE ARE 40 TO 50 MILLION ACRES OF LAWN GRASS IN THE U.S., MAKING IT TECHNICALLY THE LARGEST IRRIGATED CROP IN THE COUNTRY.

AND AN ESTIMATED 56 MILLION LAWN MOWERS ARE KEEPING ALL OF THOSE YARDS AND GOLF COURSES TRIMMED.

IF YOU CONSIDER THAT IN ONE HOUR, A SINGLE GASOLINE-POWERED MOWER PRODUCES THE SAME AMOUNT OF EMISSIONS AS DRIVING 11 CARS, AND THAT AN ESTIMATED 17 MILLION GALLONS OF GAS ARE SPILLED EACH YEAR WHILE REFUELING LAWN EQUIPMENT, THEN MAINTAINING OUR GREEN SPACES IN THE CURRENT MANNER ISN'T DOING ANY FAVORS FOR THE REST OF THE PLANET.

WHICH IS WHY ELECTRIC-POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT IS GAINING FAVOR WITH ECO-CONSCIOUS HOMEOWNERS AND FORWARD-THINKING COMMERCIAL LAWN CARE SERVICES.

THE CITY OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT HAS BOUGHT INTO THE ADVANTAGES OF BATTERY POWER, AND IS ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

Darren Springer: WE AT BURLINGTON ELECTRIC ARE PROMOTING ELECTRIFICATION IN MANY TECHNOLOGY AREAS.

WE HAVE ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROGRAMS, ELECTRIC BIKE, ELECTRIC BUS, COLD CLIMATE HEAT PUMPS FOR HEATING AND COOLING, AND AS PART OF THAT WE ALSO ARE PROMOTING ELECTRIC LAWN MOWERS, BOTH COMMERCIAL SCALE, AND RESIDENTIAL.

AND WE HAVE REBATE PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THOSE, AND WE'RE REALLY DOING IT BECAUSE OUR CUSTOMERS CAN SAVE MONEY, UH, WHEN THEY MOW ELECTRIC COMPARED TO MOWING WITH A GAS MOWER.

IT'S BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, AND IT'S ALSO QUIETER, SO IT'S BETTER FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AS WELL.

John: CONSUMER-GRADE ELECTRIC MOWERS, BLOWERS, AND TRIMMERS ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST BIG-BOX HOME IMPROVEMENT STORES, AND ARE COST-COMPETITIVE WITH GAS-POWERED MODELS RIGHT OFF THE SHELF.

LARGER COMMERCIAL UNITS, WITH THEIR HIGHER CAPACITY BATTERIES, MAY COST A BIT MORE UP FRONT, BUT LOWER FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS CAN PAY THAT BACK AND GENERATE BOTTOM-LINE SAVINGS IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

BURLINGTON'S INCENTIVE PROGRAM OFFERS UP TO $100 FOR HOMEOWNERS AND $3500 FOR COMMERCIAL OPERATORS WHO PURCHASE ELECTRIC LAWN MOWERS.

IT HAS BECOME THEIR MOST POPULAR REBATE PROGRAM, AND OTHER CITIES ARE STARTING TO FOLLOW SUIT.

BLUE ROOF FOUNDATION, A DALLAS-BASED NON-PROFIT, EDUCATES CONSUMERS AND PROS ON THE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL OF BATTERY-POWERED LAWN EQUIPMENT, AND CAME UP WITH A UNIQUE BATTERY RECHARGING SOLUTION TO AID IN THE TRANSITION.

BLUE ROOF HAS CREATED THIS PROTOTYPE TRAILER, EQUIPPED WITH LITHIUM-ION MODULES RE-PURPOSED FROM A NISSAN LEAF BATTERY PACK.

IT ALLOWS A TYPICAL LAWN CARE CREW TO SWAP AND RECHARGE EQUIPMENT BATTERIES ON LOCATION, AND POWER THROUGH A FULL DAY OF MOWING WITHOUT BURNING, OR SPILLING, A DROP OF GAS.

Carlos Ojeda: THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE TRAILER IS TO REALLY CARRY, STORE, AND PLUG IN ONE POWER CORD THAT RECHARGES EVERYTHING INSIDE.

SO THE WHOLE IDEA IS THAT, DURING THE WORK DAY, THEY CAN JUST COME BACK, SWAP BATTERIES, JUST LIKE THEY WERE SWITCHING AND REFUELING GASOLINE.

John: THE HIGH-ENERGY BATTERY PACKS THAT PROPEL ELECTRIC VEHICLES MAY LOSE CAPACITY OVER TIME, YET, STILL PRODUCE ENOUGH KILOWATT-HOURS OF POWER FOR LESS-DEMANDING USES.

Carlos: OUR MAIN MISSION IS REALLY TO REDUCE POLLUTION BY REDUCING THE USAGE OF SMALL GAS ENGINES AND SWITCH THAT TO ELECTRIC.

IT JUST HAPPENS THAT, BY US REPURPOSING THE LEAF BATTERIES, WE'RE ACTUALLY AT THE SAME TIME, DELAYING THE TIME THAT THOSE BATTERIES WILL END UP IN A LANDFILL.

SO WE'RE GIVING THEM A SECOND LIFE AS AN EFFECT OF ALL THIS.

SO, IT'S PART OF OUR MISSION, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS REALLY TO REDUCE POLLUTION.

John: REDUCING AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION WHILE SAVING MONEY IS A WIN-WIN-WIN PROPOSITION.

SO, WHEN IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THAT OLD MOWER IN YOUR SHED, REMEMBER THAT MOWING CLEAN CAN PRESERVE THE GREEN ALL AROUND US.

TRACKING DOWN THAT WEIRD ENGINE NOISE YOU JUST STARTED HEARING CAN BE HARDER THAN YOU THINK.

SO HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH SOME SOUND ADVICE.

* Pat Goss: NEW CARS, OLD CARS, OR IN BETWEEN CARS.

SOONER OR LATER ALL OF THEM SEEM TO HAVE SOME KIND OF A NOISE THAT YOU NEED TO DIAGNOSE.

NOW, HOW COULD YOU GO ABOUT DOING THAT?

WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO REPAIR IT YOURSELF, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A COUPLE OF TOOLS.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE IT TO A SHOP, IT WOULD HELP IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO WRITE DOWN WHEN IT HAPPENS.

DOES IT HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD OR HOT, OR WHEN IT'S RAINING, OR WHEN YOU'RE GOING AROUND CORNERS.

IS IT HIGH SPEED, LOW SPEED, AND SO ON.

ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WILL SAVE YOU MONEY BECAUSE IT SAVES DIAGNOSTIC TIME.

NOW, IF YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS YOURSELF AND TRY AND FIX IT, WELL...HERE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR TOOLS YOU CAN HAVE.

THIS IS AN AUTOMOTIVE STETHOSCOPE.

NOW, YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO RENT A LIFT OR SOMETHING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME WAY TO SAFELY GET THE CAR UP INTO THE AIR, IF THE NOISE IS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH.

BUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE CAR, HAVE THE CAR SAFELY SUPPORTED, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO RUN IT IN GEAR.

AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LISTEN TO VARIOUS THINGS LIKE, THE HUB BEARINGS OUT HERE OR YOU MAY LISTEN TO THE ENGINE, OR THE TRANSMISSION OF THE OUTPUT, IF IT'S ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT WILL HELP YOU DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR THE PROBLEM THROUGH THIS, YOU'LL KNOW, YOU'VE GOT IT.

NOW, MAYBE IT'S NOT UNDERNEATH THE CAR, MAYBE IT'S UNDER THE HOOD.

AND HERE, YOU'VE GOT THE ALTERNATOR, YOU'VE GOT THE WATER PUMP, YOU'VE GOT IDLER PULLEYS AND TENSIONERS, AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ROTATE ALL THE TIME.

AGAIN WHAT YOU WOULD DO IS TO START IT, RUN IT, WHILE THE NOISE IS GOING ON.

USE THE STETHOSCOPE TO VERY CAREFULLY AVOID ANYTHING THAT'S MOVING AND TOUCH THE VARIOUS PARTS THAT COULD BE MAKING THE NOISE.

AND WHEN YOU ARRIVE AT THE RIGHT SPOT, YOU'LL KNOW IT.

NOW, LONG PHILLIP SCREWDRIVER.

GREAT TOOL FOR DIAGNOSING THINGS LIKE THIS.

YOU'RE GOING TO PUT IT AGAINST THE DEVICE, WHERE YOU THINK THE NOISE IS COMING FROM AND YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR THUMB OVER THE END OF IT LIKE THAT AND YOU'RE GOING TO HOLD IT AGAINST YOUR EAR.

AND WHEN YOU DO THAT AND YOU COME UP AGAINST THE THING THAT'S MAKING THE NOISE, IT'LL BE LOUD AND CLEAR JUST LIKE IT IS IN THE STETHOSCOPE.

SO, THAT'S A WAY THAT YOU HELP SAVE YOURSELF SOME MONEY.

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

John: OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS THIS OUTSTANDING NIGHTMIST BLUE 1966 FORD MUSTANG COUPE.

CHRIS NORRIS FROM KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE RESTORED HIS DAILY DRIVER WHICH HIS DAD BOUGHT NEW 55 YEARS AGO.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR GALLOPING LEGACY FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO MOTORWEEK@PBS.ORG.

TIME TO CHECK OUT SOME FRESH AUTOMOTIVE HARDWARE, WITH A NEW QUICK SPIN!

Greg Carloss: DODGE IS UPPING THE HIGH PERFORMANCE ANTE THIS YEAR WITH THE 2021 DURANGO SRT HELLCAT, AND THE 2021 CHARGER SRT HELLCAT REDEYE.

WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET INVITED TO NORTH CAROLINA WHERE WE GOT TO TAKE BOTH OF THESE POWERHOUSES ON A LEISURELY CRUISE THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE, AS WELL AS PUT THEM THROUGH THEIR PACES ON THE TRACK.

THE DURANGO SRT HELLCAT IS THE MOST POWERFUL SUV EVER DELIVERING 710 HP AND 646 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT JUST BARELY EDGES OUT JEEP'S GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK.

BUT LIKE THE JEEP, ALL THAT POWER COMES FROM A SUPERCHARGED 6.2 LITER HEMI HELLCAT V8 THAT IS PAIRED WITH A QUICK SHIFTING TORQUEFLITE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

ON THE OPEN ROAD THIS 3 ROW SUV IS EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE, AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE DRIVE MODE SET FOR STREET THE POWER IS VERY WELL MANAGED AND IS JUST FINE AS A DAILY DRIVER.

WHEN EVERYTHING IS SWITCHED TO SPORT OR TRACK MODE, THIS DURANGO BECOMES A DIFFERENT ANIMAL.

WHILE ON THE TRACK THERE WAS A CONSTANT THOUGHT OF, "A SUV SHOULD NOT BE CAPABLE OF HANDLING LIKE THIS!"

BLASTING THROUGH THE CURVES, THE RIDE WAS BOTH EXHILARATING AND IMPRESSIVE.

[ENGINE ROARS] NOW WE SHIFT GEARS TO THE DODGE CHARGER SRT HELLCAT REDEYE, AND A CLAIM OF BEING THE MOST POWERFUL AND FASTEST PRODUCTION SEDAN AVAILABLE TODAY, SENSING A THEME HERE?

THIS POWERHOUSE DELIVERS 797 HP AND 707 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S RIGHT, WITH THE REDEYE TREATMENT A JUMP FROM THE CHARGER HELLCAT'S 717 TO ALMOST 800 HP, THUS KEEPING UP WITH THE CHALLENGER REDEYE COUPE.

TO HELP PUT THAT POWER TO THE PAVEMENT, THE REDEYE BOASTS THE AGGRESSIVE WIDEBODY THAT FIRST MADE ITS WAY TO THE CHARGER HELLCAT FOR THE 2020 MODEL YEAR.

THIS 3.5 INCHES OF ADDED WIDTH ALLOWS MORE RUBBER FOR THE ROAD, AND IT DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED.

LIKE THE DURANGO, THIS CHARGER DOES SURPRISINGLY WELL ON THE STREET AS A DAILY DRIVER, BUT THE REAL FUN COMES ON THE TRACK.

IT JUST STAYS INCREDIBLY FIXED TO THE PAVEMENT.

CLEARLY GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN AMERICAN MUSCLE ONLY WENT FAST IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

THE ENGINEERS AT DODGE HAVE PUT IN A LOT OF WORK TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS TRACK READY CAR CAN TAKE ON ANY TRACK.

COMING TO A SHOWROOM NEAR YOU THE 2021 DURANGO SRT HELLCAT WILL START AT $80,995 AND THE 2021 CHARGER SRT HELLCAT REDEYE WILL START AT $78,595.

THAT'S NOT CHEAP, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.

FOR A MORE DETAILED LOOK AT BOTH OF THESE HELLCATS, KEEP IT LOCKED, HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

* Greg Carloss: IT'S BEEN A TYPICAL, UNPREDICTABLE MID-ATLANTIC WINTER SO FAR.

BITTER COLD ONE DAY, ALMOST BALMY THE NEXT, WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY KIND OF PRECIPITATION.

BUT NONE OF IT A CHALLENGE SO FAR FOR OUR 2021 KIA SELTOS.

WE'VE BEEN ENJOYING THE ANY-WEATHER ABILITIES AND ENHANCED DRY PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE OF OUR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, SX-TRIMMED SELTOS; AS TORQUE VECTORING DELIVERS POWER TO THE WHEELS THAT CAN USE IT MOST, THUS INCREASING ROTATION THROUGH CORNERS.

OVER 3-MONTHS, FUEL ECONOMY CONTINUES SLIGHTLY DOWNWARD; STILL WE RATE 27.5 MILES-PER-GALLON QUITE GOOD FOR A UTILITY.

THIS IS OUR FIRST LONG TERM UPDATE ON THESE GOODYEAR WINTERCOMMAND ULTRA WINTER TIRES, NOW INSTALLED ON A FRONT-DRIVE HYUNDAI ACCENT.

SO, LET'S GO FOR A FIRST IMPRESSION; JUST HOW DO THEY FEEL COMPARED TO THE ALL-SEASON TIRES THEY REPLACE?

Rachel Ederer: I'VE NEVER HAD A DAILY DRIVER WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

I'VE ALWAYS HAD SMALL SEDANS LIKE THIS ACCENT, OR LARGER MINIVANS WITH FRONT DRIVE ONLY.

SO WHEN I GOT PICKED TO TEST GOODYEAR'S NEW WINTER TIRES I WAS REALLY EXCITED.

RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE I COULD FEEL THAT THEY WERE SQUISHIER THAN MY REGULAR TIRES BUT FELT STURDIER AND MORE GROUNDED.

HOWEVER, THEY DON'T ALLOW MY CAR TO ACCELERATE AS FAST, WHICH IS A GOOD THING FOR WINTER DRIVING, BUT THE BRAKING IS A LITTLE BIT MORE AGGRESSIVE.

Greg Carloss: AS FOR WHAT MAKES A WINTER TIRE?

GENERALLY, THEIR CONSTRUCTION STAYS MORE PLIABLE IN COLDER TEMPERATURES.

FOR THIS TIRE, GOODYEAR USES A UNIQUE CRYO-ADAPTIVE RUBBER COMPOUND.

TREAD PATTERNS ARE ALSO DISTINCTIVE, DESIGNED TO CUT THROUGH SLUSH AND SNOW, WITH ADDITIONAL SIPES TO KEEP THOSE ELEMENTS FROM BUILDING UP OR PACKING INTO THE TREAD BLOCKS.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE SMALL AND STYLISH FIAT 500X IS FARING ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: YES, THE MIDSIZE SEDAN SEGMENT IS LOSING SALES TO SUVs.

BUT, THERE ARE STILL, A LOT OF 4-DOOR SALES TO BE HAD.

AND THE MANUFACTURERS WHO VALUE THE SEGMENT ARE FIGHTING HARDER THAN EVER FOR BUYERS.

BY DELIVERING MORE FOR LESS, WHAT MADE MIDSIZE SEDANS POPULAR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

AND THAT'S WHERE THIS ALL-NEW HYUNDAI SONATA ENTERS OUR PICTURE.

* FOR YEARS NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE MIDSIZE SEDANS, IT'S MOSTLY A RACE TO SEE WHO'S GOING TO COME IN A DISTANT THIRD BEHIND TOYOTA CAMRY AND HONDA ACCORD.

BUT, THE HYUNDAI SONATA HAS CERTAINLY BEEN IN THAT MIX.

NOW, WITH THE FORD FUSION DROPPING OUT OF THE RACE, THE TIME HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER FOR THE 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA TO MAKE A MAJOR MOVE UP.

THE MOST RECENT SONATA DESIGNS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO STAND OUT WITH DYNAMIC STYLING, SOME BETTER THAN OTHERS; AND THAT TREND SURELY CONTINUES HERE WITH THE ALL-NEW 8TH GENERATION.

A MORE COUPE-ISH DESIGN AND DEFINITELY - MORE LUXURIOUS LOOKING; HIGHLIGHTED BY THEIR NEW DIGITAL PULSE CASCADING GRILLE, AND CHARACTER LINES PUNCTUATED WITH CHROME TRIM.

MOST DIMENSIONS HAVE INCREASED, INCLUDING WHEELBASE AND OVERALL LENGTH, BUT IT SITS MORE THAN AN INCH LOWER THAN BEFORE.

WHEEL SIZES RANGE FROM 16 TO 18 INCHES.

AND JUST FOR WOW FACTOR, THE LASER-ETCHED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT FRAME THE HEADLIGHTS AND BLEND INTO THE HOOD, LOOK LIKE CHROME TRIM UNTIL ON.

POWERTRAIN CHOICES ARE UPDATED.

THE NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.4 LITER IS REPLACED WITH A 191 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4; WHILE, A 1.6 LITER TURBO-4 RETURNS, BUT IT'S AN ALL-NEW ONE OUTPUTTING 180 HORSEPOWER AND 195 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BOTH GET AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH A PUSH-BUTTON GEAR SELECTOR SIMILAR TO THE PALISADE'S.

AND THE SONATA REMAINS FRONT-DRIVE ONLY.

A HYBRID RETURNS AS WELL, STILL 2.0 LITER I4-BASED BUT WITH SLIGHTLY LESS ENGINE HORSEPOWER.

STILL, THE ADDED ELECTRIC MOTOR ALMOST MAKES UP FOR IT.

SO, COMBINED OUTPUT IS DOWN ONE HORSEPOWER TO 192, BUT FUEL ECONOMY INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS GO FROM 39-CITY, 44-HIGHWAY, AND 41-COMBINED, TO THE HYBRID'S 45-CITY, 51-HIGHWAY, AND 47-COMBINED.

IN WHICH WE AVERAGED A GREAT 48.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE HYBRID ALSO COMES WITH A NEW SOLAR PANEL ROOF THAT ADDS POWER TO THE BATTERY.

IN OPERATION, THE HYBRID HAS NEAR SEAMLESS POWER TRANSITIONS; THOUGH, IF THINGS ARE QUIET IN THE CABIN, YOU WILL HEAR THE ENGINE KICK ON.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE BOTH A HYBRID AND A TURBO-POWERED LIMITED TO OUR TEST TRACK.

THE HYBRID FELT PLENTY POWERFUL OFF THE LINE, GETTING TO 60 IN 8.9 SECONDS.

BUT THEN, IT QUICKLY SETTLES INTO A MORE COMFORTABLE PACE; ACCOMPANIED BY RELAXED SHIFTS FROM ITS 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

ENGINE NOISE IS PRONOUNCED, BUT AT LEAST THERE'S NOT THE CONSTANT DRONING OF MORE TYPICAL CVT-EQUIPPED HYBRIDS.

THE QUARTER-MILE WAS 16.8 SECONDS AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

THE 1.6 LITER WAS A LITTLE BETTER, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS WE EXPECTED; 7.6 SECONDS TO 60 IS ABOUT MID-PACK FOR ITS CLASS.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC HERE WAS A LITTLE BUSIER, BUT EQUALLY SMOOTH; SEEING US THROUGH THE QUARTER-MILE IN 15.8 SECONDS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

THE SONATA WASN'T THE FIRST HYUNDAI TO BE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE U.S., QUICKLY FOLLOWING THE EXCEL; BUT UNTIL SUVs STARTED TO RULE THE WORLD, IT WAS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT MODEL.

WE FIRST MET THE SONATA IN 1989; LOVED ITS HOST OF STANDARD FEATURES AND BIG PRICE ADVANTAGE, BUT DECLARED ITS INTERIOR, WITH UNCOMFORTABLE SEATS, CHEAP MATERIALS, AND A DISAGREEABLE ODOR, REALLY NEEDING IMPROVEMENT.

WELL, HYUNDAI HAS CLEARLY BEEN HARD AT WORK.

AFTER TESTING SOME SPEEDIER BUT COMFORT-CHALLENGED VEHICLES AT THE TRACK ON THE SAME DAY, HOPPING INTO THE SONATA FOR THE DRIVE HOME WAS A DREAM.

COMFORT ABOUNDS, MATERIALS ARE GREAT, THE TECH IS EASY TO USE, AND IT ALL LOOKS FANTASTIC; EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT PRETENTIOUS.

PLENTY OF SCREEN SPACE INSIDE; A LARGE 10 INCH ONE ATOP THE DASH, AND LARGER 12 INCH ONE FOR THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

JUST LIKE 1989, THE SONATA HAS A CLEAR PRICING ADVANTAGE OVER ITS COMPETITION, RANGING FROM A BASE SE AT $24,575, TO TOP LIMITED TRIM FOR $34,825.

THE HYBRID STARTS WITH A UNIQUE BLUE MODEL AT $28,725, AND THEN ON TO THE SAME SEL AND LIMITED TRIMS.

THE 2020 HYUNDAI SONATA'S BEAUTY, COMFORT, AND TECH FEATURES SET IT APART FROM MOST OF THE MIDSIZE FAMILY SEDAN SEGMENT.

THAT MAY NOT BE QUITE ENOUGH TO CHALLENGE HONDA AND TOYOTA FOR THE TOP SPOTS, BUT THOSE BRANDS WOULD BE WISE TO TAKE NOTE OF WHAT THE SONATA HAS TO OFFER.

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, AS WE CHECK OUT AN ALL-NEW TOYOTA SIENNA THAT DELIVERS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.

THEN WE SAY GOODBYE TO THE OPTIMA, AND HELLO TO AN ALL-NEW 4-DOOR KIA K5.

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... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... 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.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *