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

JOIN US, AS WE RIP AROUND THE TRACK IN THE REBORN TOYOTA SUPRA.

PAT GOSS SAYS PAY ME A LITTLE NOW OR A LOT LATER.

STEPHANIE HART RIDES THE RAILS WITH HER CAR BY HER SIDE.

AND KIA ADDS A DOSE OF SIZZLE TO THE QUIRKY SOUL.

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.

John Davis: ONE OF THE BIGGEST AUTOMOTIVE EVENTS OF LAST YEAR, WAS THE RETURN OF THE TOYOTA SUPRA.

AND LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE THESE DAYS, CONTROVERSY ENSUED.

FROM THE BMW KINSHIP, TO ADDING GR TO THE NAME, TO NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYONE TRIED TO STIR UP SOMETHING, BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GOT AROUND TO TALKING ABOUT HOW GREAT A CAR IT IS.

GREAT ENOUGH TO BE OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE WINNER FOR BEST SPORTS COUPE, AND WE THOUGHT A FEW LAPS AROUND ROEBLING ROAD WOULD SHOW YOU WHY.

* WE COMPLETED OUR NORMAL TEST REGIME ON THIS 2020 TOYOTA GR SUPRA LAST FALL.

BUT, AS WE RECENTLY NAMED IT OUR MOTORWEEK 2020 DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SPORT COUPE, AND JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE SOME TRACK TIME ALREADY BOOKED; WELL, WE COULDN'T RESIST TAKING ANOTHER SWING AT TOYOTA'S REBORN SPORTS CAR.

PURELY FOR RESEARCH SAKE, OF COURSE.

AND SINCE OUR PREVIOUS TEST TIME WAS RELATIVELY SHORT, WE FEEL THERE IS STILL PLENTY TO LEARN; A QUARTER MILE AT A TIME, IF WE MUST.

AFTER MODULATING THROUGH SOME MINOR WHEEL SPIN AT TAKEOFF, THE CAR GATHERS ITSELF UP QUICKLY AND STARTS TO LAY DOWN DECENT POWER.

THE SURFACE OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY'S FRONT STRAIGHT IS NOT THE MOST CONDUCIVE FOR GETTING GREAT ACCELERATION TIMES; BUT EVEN WITH THAT, WE GOT TO 60 IN 4.4-SECONDS, AND CLEARED THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.8 AT 111 MILES-PER-HOUR.

AS FOR THE REST OF THE TRACK; WELL, IT DOES PRETTY WELL THERE TOO.

DESPITE ITS RELATIVELY HEAVY 3,400 POUND BMW CHASSIS; IT FEELS LIGHTWEIGHT, TOSSABLE, AND WILDLY ENTERTAINING.

INDEED, OVER OUR WEEK OF ROEBLING ROUNDS, "FUN" WAS THE WORD OUR CREW USED THE MOST.

THIS SUPRA INVITES YOU TO CHARGE HARD INTO CORNERS AND KEEP YOUR MOMENTUM UP, TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF GRIP AVAILABLE.

THE ALUMINUM-INTENSIVE DOUBLE-JOINT SPRING STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION SETUP IS A BMW DESIGN OF COURSE, BUT TUNED SPECIFICALLY BY TOYOTA'S GAZOO RACING, THUS THE GR IN THE NAME.

IT FEELS FLICKABLE THROUGH TIGHT TWISTIES; YET STABLE AND PLANTED THROUGH THE HIGH SPEED PORTIONS OF THE TRACK AS WELL.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT IS VERY RESPONSIVE; WITH A DARN NEUTRAL SETUP, SO MAKE SURE YOU TELL IT TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS, AS IT CAN GET AWAY FROM YOU.

THROUGH ALL OF THIS, IT NEVER FELT HARSH OR SUPER STIFF; AS THERE IS ACTUALLY A NOTICEABLE AMOUNT OF BODY ROLL HERE, BUT IT NEVER HINDERS YOU FROM CHARGING OUT OF CORNERS, AND IMMEDIATELY TRIGGERING A SHIFT FROM THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

IF THERE'S ANY SHORTFALL, IT'S THAT IT FEELS LIKE IT COULD BE EVEN FASTER; MEANING THIS CHASSIS CAN HANDLE A WHOLE LOT MORE HORSEPOWER WITH EASE.

HERE, BMW'S 3.0-LITER INLINE-6 TURBO PUTS OUT JUST 335-HORSEPOWER AND 365 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE TOYOTA AGREES WITH US.

THEY'VE JUST ANNOUNCED MORE POWER WILL BE COMING FOR 2021 WHEN THEIR SIX GETS BUMPED UP TO THE Z4'S 382-HORSEPOWER AND 368 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

GREAT NEWS FOR YOU PROCRASTINATORS OUT THERE, LETTING THE SUPRAMANIA DIE DOWN BEFORE COMMITTING.

AND, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A LESS EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE, TOYOTA HAS YOU COVERED THERE AS WELL; WITH A NEW ENTRY LEVEL GR SUPRA 2.0 MODEL, POWERED BY, YOU GUESSED IT, A 2.0-LITER I4 TURBO.

EXPECT 255-HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; AND LESS WEIGHT TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

TOYOTA CERTAINLY DID A GREAT JOB WITH THE LOOK OF THE NEW SUPRA; KEEPING THE FAMILIAR SNOOPINESS OF SUPRAS PAST INTACT, WHILE BRINGING IN MODERN ELEMENTS LIKE STANDARD 19-INCH WHEELS, L.E.D.

LIGHTING, AND OF COURSE AERODYNAMICS.

THE BMW INFLUENCE SHOWS STRONGEST INSIDE, WHERE THINGS FROM SWITCHGEAR TO THE OVERALL LAYOUT HAVE MUCH MORE IN COMMON WITH A 3-SERIES SEDAN, THAN ANYTHING TOYOTA.

AND WHILE SOME MIGHT LOOK AT THAT AS A NEGATIVE, TO US IT REPRESENTS A CLEAR STEP UP, WITH A PRECISION FEEL NOT FOUND IN ANY OTHER TOYOTA.

YOU DO GET A UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL AND SHIFTER; BUT OTHERWISE, CONTROLS, GAUGES, AND DASH TOP INFOTAINMENT SCREEN ARE ALL BMW.

BUT EVERYTHING WORKS VERY WELL.

AND STARTING NEXT YEAR, THE OPTIONAL 8.8-INCH TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY WILL BE STANDARD ON ALL SUPRAS.

SEATING FOR JUST TWO, MEANS NO BACK SEAT DRIVERS, BUT A DECENT 10.2 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE UNDER THE REAR HATCH FOR PLENTY OF PROVISIONS.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR CURRENT SPEC I-6 ARE 24-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 26-COMBINED.

THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, WITH 12.7-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION, AND 5.5-TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

NO MATTER HOW YOU SPIN IT, THE SUPRA IS A PERFORMANCE BARGAIN, AT $50,945 TO START; $54,945 FOR PREMIUM TRIM.

NOW, WE'RE NOT ONE TO PAT OURSELVES ON THE BACK AROUND HERE, BUT OUR TRACK TIME WITH THIS 2020 TOYOTA GR SUPRA PROVED TO US THAT WE MADE A REALLY GREAT CHOICE AS OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST SPORT COUPE.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE MORE GOOD THINGS ARE STILL TO COME FROM TOYOTA AND THE NEW SUPRA.

* John: AMTRAK'S AUTO TRAIN IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN THE UNITED STATES.

IT TAKES PASSENGERS AND THEIR VEHICLES FROM LORTON, VIRGINIA TO SANFORD, FLORIDA IN ONE 16-HOUR OVERNIGHT TRIP.

NOW THIS TIME OF YEAR, AS THE TEMPERATURES DROP, IT'S AN ESPECIALLY POPULAR WAY FOR SNOWBIRDS TO TRAVEL TO THE SUNSHINE STATE.

SO COME ALONG AS OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART CLIMBS ABOARD TO RIDE THE RAILS WITH THE AUTO TRAIN.

* Stephanie Hart: IT'S NOT THE DESTINATION, IT'S THE JOURNEY.

OR SO THEY SAY.

WELL WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

OUR MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV WAS LOADED ONTO THE AUTO TRAIN BOUND FOR FLORIDA.

FULLY LOADED, AMTRAK'S DAILY AUTO TRAIN CAN CARRY 600 PASSENGERS AND 300 VEHICLES.

Larry Chestler: IF YOU ADD UP ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE USING THE AUTO TRAIN INSTEAD OF DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 95 EACH YEAR WE ARE SAVING OVER 95 MILLION MILES OF ROAD TRIPS UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST SO THAT'S A TREMENDOUS REDUCTION IN CONGESTION AND ALSO ABOUT AN 11-PERCENT REDUCTION IN C02.

Stephanie: HELPING THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE AVOIDING TRAFFIC TIE-UPS.

BUT AT WHAT COST TO YOU?

ABOUT $700.00 FOR ONE ROUND TRIP COACH TICKET, INCLUDING A VEHICLE.

A ROUNDTRIP SLEEPER CAR TICKET, INCLUDING A VEHICLE, STARTS AT ABOUT $1,300.00 Diane Mezzanotte: I'VE JUST ALWAYS LOVED RIDING ON THE TRAIN.

THERE'S A RHYTHM TO IT.

YOU GET TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND YOU SEE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT YOU DON'T SEE WHEN YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAYS.

I ALSO LIKE EATING IN THE DINING CAR AND MEETING OTHER PEOPLE.

Stephanie: WORKING UP AN APPETITE IS PRETTY EASY.

THIS TRIP IS ABOUT 16 HOURS, SO BE SURE TO BRING A LOT OF THINGS TO KEEP YOU BUSY.

Tom Carhuff: HIGHLANDS DWELLER.

WHAT COULD THAT BE?

Stephanie: GNOME Tom: OK... WE WILL TRY IT.

GNOME.

Stephanie: I'M AWFUL AT CROSSWORDS BY THE WAY.

Tom: SO AM I. Stephanie: I AM SO BAD.

Tom: BUT YOU NEED SOMETHING TO DO YOU KNOW?

THANKFULLY, THERE'S FREE WIFI ON THE TRAIN SO YOU CAN EVEN STREAM MOVIES.

ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT THE RIDE FOR MANY PASSENGERS IS THIS DINING CAR.

FOLKS GET A CHOICE OF FOUR ENTREES, A SMALL SIDE SALAD AND A DINNER ROLL, PLUS THERE'S EVEN DESSERT.

WOW, YOU CAN SEE THE CARAMEL OOZING OUT OF IT.

UGH AND IT'S WARM... SWEET, SALTY, WARM YUMMY GOODNESS.

FULL, AN HOUR LATER IN THE COACH CAR, I QUICKLY FOUND OUT, THE COACH SEATS RECLINE SURPRISINGLY WELL AND THERE'S A LOT OF LEGROOM.

ONCE DAY TURNS INTO NIGHT, THESE ROOMS TRANSFORM INTO BEDROOMS.

SO THE TWO LOUNGE CHAIRS YOU SEE HERE, THOSE FOLD DOWN AND COME TOGETHER.

(THUNK) JUST LIKE THIS.

YOU DO NEED A LITTLE MANPOWER BUT YOU GET THE IDEA.

AND THEN YOU GRAB THIS LEVER HERE AND VOILA ANOTHER BED SO ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE A BUNK BED SITUATION GOING ON HERE.

YOU CAN FIT TWO ADULTS IN THIS ROOM.

GRANTED, IT IS PRETTY CRAMPED, BUT IT'S PRACTICAL.

SO YOU SET UP THE BED JUST LIKE THIS.

THERE'S A MATTRESS HERE THAT MAKES IT A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE WHEN YOU'RE SLEEPING.

THEY HAVE BLANKETS HERE.

THEY HAVE PILLOWS.

THEY HAVE SHEETS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A COMFORTABLE NIGHT'S SLEEP.

AND IT'S REALLY NOT TOO HARD TO SET UP, BUT TRAIN ATTENDANTS WILL SET THIS UP FOR YOU IF YOU CAN'T DO IT YOURSELF.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE: YOU MUST BUY THE PREMIUM SUPERLINER BEDROOM IN ORDER TO HAVE YOUR OWN BATHROOM AND SHOWER.

OTHERWISE, THERE ARE RESTROOMS AND SHOWERS THROUGHOUT THE TRAIN.

OVERNIGHT EXPECT IT TO BE BUMPY AND NOISY.

BRING EAR PLUGS.

AND DON'T OVER PACK.

LEAVE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN YOUR CAR.

IN THE MORNING, WE WOKE UP IN THE SUNSHINE STATE, TO NATURE AT ITS FINEST.

THE WATER SCENES WERE ESPECIALLY FANTASTIC!

AFTER ONLY A SHORT WAIT FOR OUR CAR TO BE UNLOADED IN SANFORD, WE WERE BACK IN OUR OUTLANDER AND HEADED FOR THE BEACH!

WITH OUR MANY THANKS TO ALL ON BOARD THE AMTRAK AUTO TRAIN.

* John: IT'S EASY TO PUT THINGS OFF, BUT THERE'S USUALLY A PRICE TO PAY.

LET'S FIND OUT HOW MUCH DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

* Pat Goss: EVERY TIME YOU PUT OFF PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE OR A REPAIR YOU MAY BE SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR UNWANTED CIRCUMSTANCES FARTHER DOWN THE ROAD.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU MAY CREATE A MORE EXPENSIVE PROBLEM BY NOT TAKING CARE OF AN INEXPENSIVE PROBLEM NOW.

CASE AND POINT ABS BRAKES.

HERE, WE HAVE AN ABS CONTROLLER, THESE THINGS HAVE FLUID IN THEM LIKE DOWN IN HERE, THIS IS ALL FULL OF FLUID ALL THE TIME AND UNLESS THE BRAKES ARE BLED PROPERLY OR FLUSHED PROPERLY YOU WILL WIND UP WITH THIS BRAKE FLUID IN HERE GOING BAD.

TURNS INTO SOMETHING THAT LOOKS LIKE GRAY JELLO, AND THE END RESULT OF THAT IS USUALLY EITHER A REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT OF THE ABS PUMP, SO AT LEAST EVERY TWO YEARS FLUSH THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND MAKE SURE THE SHOP FLUSHES THE ABS PUMP WHEN THEY'RE FLUSHING THE REST OF THE BRAKES.

THAT'LL PREVENT THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS.

HERE, WE HAVE WHAT'S CALLED A "DUAL LENGTH INTAKE RUNNER."

NOW, THE WAY THIS THING WORKS IS THERE ARE BUTTERFLY VALVES IN HERE...THERE'S AN ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT IS CONTROLLED BY THE CAR'S COMPUTER, AND AT CERTAIN POINTS THROUGH THE PERFORMANCE RANGE BY CHANGING THESE BUTTERFLY VALVES, YOU'LL SMOOTH OUT THE PERFORMANCE GIVE MUCH BETTER POWER AND MAKE THE CAR JUST IN GENERAL RUN BETTER.

WELL, WITHOUT INTAKE SERVICE WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT THE RODS THAT THESE BUTTERFLIES ARE MOUNTED ON CEASES INTO THE ALUMINUM HOUSING AND THE SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK.

THE CAR LACKS PERFORMANCE.

POWERS WAY DOWN, MAY IDLE ROUGH DO ALL KINDS OF CRAZY THINGS.

PROBLEM IS THAT IF THIS HAS NEVER BEEN SERVICED IT MAY NOT BE CLEANABLE, YOU MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE UNIT LIKE WE DID ON THIS CAR.

VERY EXPENSIVE, SO ROUTINE INTAKE SERVICE IS A RECOMMENDED THING TO DO.

OVER HERE, WE HAVE A HARMONIC BALANCER.

THIS SMOOTHS OUT THE ENGINE.

IT BALANCES THE ENGINE IN OTHER WORDS.

NOW, MANY OF THESE AND SOME OF THEM ARE GOING AWAY NOW, BUT MANY OF THEM, THEY'RE MADE OUT OF THREE PIECES... AN OUTER RING, AND INNER HUB, AND A RUBBER PIECE THAT HOLDS THE TWO OF THEM TOGETHER.

SAY, YOU HAVE AN OIL LEAK AND THE OIL GETS DOWN HERE ON THIS RUBBER, IT CAUSES THE RUBBER TO DETERIORATE.

THE TWO PIECES COME APART.

THE ENGINE VIBRATES BADLY AND YOU'RE LOOKING AT A RELATIVELY EXPENSIVE REPAIR THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY HAD YOU TAKEN CARE OF THE OIL LEAK.

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

* John: WHEN IT COMES TO "HANDS ON" "DO IT YOURSELF" WORK IN THE GARAGE, IT DOESN'T GET MUCH MORE REWARDING THAN REBUILDING YOUR OWN ENGINE.

WHILE IT'S NOT A DIFFICULT PROCESS PER SE; YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS CRITICAL!

WELL, IF YOU BLEED FORD BLUE, AND HAPPEN TO HAVE A 385-SERIES BIG BLOCK IN NEED OF A REBUILD; SAVE YOURSELF A LOT OF HEARTACHE AND PICK UP THIS MUST READ, FORD 429/460 ENGINES: HOW TO REBUILD.

IT'S ANOTHER PICTURE FILLED WORKBENCH HOW-TO FROM CARTECH.

IT TAKES YOU STEP BY STEP THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS, AND WILL HELP YOU GET YOUR POWER PLANT RUNNING STRONGER THAN EVER.

THINGS MOVE FAST THESE DAYS.

AND TO HELP US KEEP UP, HERE'S LAUREN MORRISION WITH THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

* Lauren Morrison: THE 2020 GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW WAS CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.

BUT, SHOW ORGANIZERS AND MANUFACTURERS QUICKLY MOVED THE DEBUT PARTY ONLINE, AND IT WAS A VIRTUAL HIT PARADE!

LIKE THE BUGATTI CHIRON PUR SPORT.

IT FOCUSES MORE ON BALANCE AND AGILITY THAN JUST MAX SPEED.

MEANWHILE THIS ASTON MARTIN V12 SPEEDSTER IS ALL ABOUT NO TOP EXTRAVAGANCE.

THE MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS DONS SMOOTHER UPDATES FRONT AND REAR, WITH DUAL 12.3 INCH COCKPIT DISPLAYS AND NEXT-GEN DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS.

PORSCHE DEBUTED THE NEW-GEN 911 TURBO S COUPE AND CABRIOLET.

BOTH GET A 60 HORSEPOWER BUMP UP TO 640 FROM A NEW 3.8 LITER TWIN TURBO.

VOLKSWAGEN CONTINUES THEIR EV ONSLAUGHT.

SET TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR IS THE ID.4, A LONG-RANGE ELECTRIC COMPACT SUV.

THE 8TH-GENERATION GOLF GTI GETS A SVELTE NEW LOOK AND 245 HORSEPOWER.

TWO NEW HOT-HATCH MODELS ARE THE GTD HYBRID AND A GTD DIESEL.

THE 2021 AUDI A3 SPORTBACK SHOWS NEW BRAND STYLING EMPHASIZING THE WHEEL ARCHES WITH A SCOOPED OUT SIDE PROFILE.

THE AUDI E-TRON ADDS AN S MODEL WITH MORE POWER AND MORE DYNAMIC HANDLING.

BMW'S CONCEPT I4 FORESHADOWS THEIR FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC MIDSIZE SEDAN, SET TO ARRIVE NEXT YEAR.

ALSO ON THE CONCEPT FRONT, HYUNDAI SHOWED THIS FULL EV PROPHECY, WITH A NEW MINIMALISM DESIGN LANGUAGE.

GENEVA WAS TO BE THE FIRST AUTO SHOW OUTING FOR KIA'S MORE TECH SAVY 4TH GEN SORENTO MID-SIZE SUV.

ALFA ROMEO'S NEW GIULIA GTA SHEDS 220 POUNDS AND PACKS 540 HORSEPOWER, INSPIRED BY THE SUCCESSFUL LIGHTWEIGHT 1960'S RACER OF THE SAME NAME.

BENTLEY MULLINER REVEALED THEIR BACALAR OPEN-AIR TWO-SEATER.

JUST 12 WILL BE MADE-TO-ORDER.

AND THIS MCLAREN 765LT IS THE LATEST IN THE TRACK-FOCUSED LONGTAIL LINE, BOASTING 755 HORSEPOWER AND A CARBON FIBER BODY.

AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR COVERAGE OF THE GENEVA AUTO SHOW THAT WASN'T.

AND THIS WEEK'S MOTOR NEWS.

Greg Carlos: BACK TO BACK ROAD TRIPS TO OUR WINTER TESTING GROUNDS IN SAVANNAH, GEORGIA AND TO REAL WINTER IN CHICAGO FOR THE AUTO SHOW, ADDED SOME MAJOR MILES TO OUR 2019 PORSCHE MACAN S. 5,600 TO BE EXACT, BRINGING THE CURRENT TALLY TO 12,000-MILES IN SIX MONTHS.

WHAT NEW POINTS HAVE ALL OF THOSE HIGHWAY MILES REVEALED?

WELL, THE MACAN IS AN EXCELLENT LONG HAULER.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND CARGO, AS WELL AS SEATS WITH ENOUGH COMFORT TO GO THE DISTANCE, EVEN IF YOU'RE STUCK IN THE BACK.

LOTS OF POWER AT A MOMENT'S NOTICE FOR SHOOTING GAPS IN TRAFFIC WITH EASE, JUST REAFFIRMED WHAT WE ALREADY KNEW ABOUT OUR MACAN S' 348-HORSEPOWER TURBO V6.

IT'S ADEQUATELY EFFICIENT AS WELL, WITH OUR AVERAGE AT 21.7 MILES-PER-GALLON SO FAR.

BUT, ALL OF THAT SEAT TIME ALSO REVEALED THAT SOME MINOR THINGS IN THE CABIN, LIKE THE SUN VISORS FOR EXAMPLE, DON'T QUITE MEASURE UP TO THIS CAR'S $60,000-PLUS PRICE TAG.

NOW, OUR 2019 NISSAN ALTIMA PUNCHES WELL ABOVE ITS WEIGHT CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO DELIVERING A NEAR LUXURY CAR EXPERIENCE IN A MID-SIZE FAMILY SEDAN.

THIS ALTIMA IS ONE OF THOSE CARS THAT DOESN'T REALLY STAND OUT ON PAPER, BUT WHEN YOU ACTUALLY GET IN AND DRIVE IT, IT'S LIKE, WOW, THIS IS A REALLY NICE CAR.

IT'S COMFORTABLE, EASY TO DRIVE, AND SPEAKING AS A PROUD CAR SEAT SCHLEPPING DAD, EASY TO LIVE WITH.

WHILE SEAT COMFORT CONTINUES TO EARN PRAISE, RECENT LOGBOOK ENTRIES NOTED THE EASY-TO-USE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, BUT ALSO A SHIFTER THAT GOES INTO LOW RANGE A LITTLE TOO EASILY.

WE'RE 12,500-MILES IN, AND AT 29.6 MILES-PER-GALLON, OUR AVERAGE IS HANGING RIGHT AROUND THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED RATING OF 30.

AND WE STILL HAVE 5-MONTHS OF SMOOTH SAILING LEFT WITH OUR ALTIMA.

CHECKING IN ON BOTH ENDS OF THE SUV SPECTRUM, IT'S THE FIAT 500x AND HYUNDAI PALISADE; ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: YOU'VE GOT TO HAND IT TO KIA.

WHEN THEIR BOXY SOUL ARRIVED HERE FOR 2010, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE SCION XB AND NISSAN CUBE.

WELL, NOT ONLY WAS IT COMPETITIVE, IT DROVE BOTH OF THOSE RIVALS OUT OF THE MARKET.

ADD IN SOME DANCING HAMSTERS AND THE SOUL QUICKLY BECAME ONE OF KIA'S BEST SELLERS.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE 3RD GENERATION STILL HAS SOUL.

* NOT THAT ANY PART OF DEVELOPING A NEW CAR IS EASY.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN A CONSTANT BATTLE WITH RIVALS, BE IT MUSCLE CARS OR PICKUP TRUCKS; THE GOAL IS CLEAR.

YOU'VE GOT TO ONE-UP THE OTHER GUYS.

HOWEVER, THE TASK FOR DESIGNERS OF THE 2020 KIA SOUL WAS UNIQUELY DIFFERENT.

WHAT'S THE TARGET WHEN YOU'RE BASICALLY IN A CLASS OF ONE?

WELL, THE FIRST THING YOU DO, IS NOT SCREW UP THE VIBE; THAT IS NOT DEPART TOO MUCH FROM THE QUIRKY STYLE THAT GOT YOU HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WELL...SO FAR, SO GOOD.

THIS SOUL IS STILL INSTANTLY RECOGNIZABLE, AND THE ONLY MEASUREMENTS THAT ARE UP ARE OVERALL LENGTH AND WHEELBASE.

IT APPEARS WIDER, HOWEVER; DUE TO SLIMMED DOWN LIGHTING, AND A LARGER TWO-TONE GRILLE, THAT VISUALLY EXPANDS THE FRONT.

THE TAILLIGHTS ALSO ARE MORE EXPRESSIVE, NOW ALMOST WRAPPING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE REAR GLASS.

THERE ARE SIX TRIM LEVELS, AND RATHER THAN JUST ADDING EQUIPMENT, THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONALITIES; FROM FUN TO FASHIONABLE, AND EVEN OFF-ROADY WITH THE NEW X-LINE.

THIS GT-LINE GETS UNIQUE FASCIAS WITH RED ACCENTS, 18-INCH ALLOY WHEELS, SIDE SILL TRIM, GLOSS BLACK SIDE MIRRORS, AND FOG LIGHTS.

THERE IS AN ALL-NEW PLATFORM THAT LIES BENEATH IT ALL, WITH A NEW STANDARD ENGINE MOUNTED TO IT.

THE NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER I4 PRODUCES 147 HORSEPOWER AND 132 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

STICK WITH BASE LX TRIM, AND YOU'LL GET A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT MOST WILL COME WITH KIA'S OWN CVT, FIRST SEEN OVER IN THE FORTE COMPACT.

OUTPUT IS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR'S 2.0 LITER, BUT THIS 201 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO IS STILL AVAILABLE FOR THOSE THAT CRAVE A LITTLE MORE.

TORQUE PRODUCTION IS 195 POUND-FEET, AND IT COMES WITH A 7-SPEED DCT.

STORAGE BAY SPACE REMAINS THE SAME 24.2 CUBIC-FEET.

BUT FOLDING THE SEATBACKS WILL EXPAND THE SPACE A LITTLE MORE THAN BEFORE TO A HEALTHY 62.1 CUBIC-FEET, WELL MORE THAN MOST COMPACT SUVs.

MILLENNIALS NEED THEIR CONNECTIVITY OF COURSE, AND UP TO 10-INCHES FOR THE IN-DASH TOUCHSCREEN WILL MAKE THAT EASY, AND FEATURES SUCH AS HEAD UP DISPLAY ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD.

THE BIGGEST CHANGE WE FOUND FROM ACTUALLY DRIVING AROUND ON THIS NEW CHASSIS, IS MUCH MORE REFINEMENT.

THE SOUL HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIT OF A ROUGH RIDE; LAST GEN TOOK A SMALL STEP IN GETTING BETTER, THIS ONE TAKES A MUCH BIGGER STEP.

STEPPING ON THE THROTTLE OF OUR TURBO-POWERED TEST CAR DIDN'T RESULT IN AS MUCH GRUNT AS WE MIGHT HAVE HOPED, BUT THINGS GET MOVING EFFICIENTLY ENOUGH, 7.0 SECONDS TO 60.

THERE'S A BIT OF LAG AT LAUNCH, BUT ONCE BOOST BUILDS THE ENGINE STARTS MAKING GOOD POWER.

THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION DOES HAVE A SPORT SETTING TO QUICKEN IT UP, BUT IT'S STILL NOT MUCH OF A PERFORMANCE ENHANCER.

THE QUARTER MILE TRIP TOOK 15.4 SECONDS AT 93 MILES PER HOUR.

IF YOU DO UPGRADE TO THE TURBO ENGINE, ALONG WITH IT, YOU'LL GET A SPORTIER TUNED SUSPENSION AS WELL.

IT WAS SURPRISINGLY CAPABLE THROUGH OUR SLALOM.

IT MAY LOOK LIKE A BOX, BUT IT DARTS IN AND OUT OF CONES LIKE A SPORTY LITTLE HATCHBACK.

PLENTY OF GRIP TOO.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE AUTOMATIC BRAKING IS STANDARD IN ALL SOUL TRIMS EXCEPT FOR LX AND X-LINE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE 1.6 LITER ARE 27-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED.

ALL SOULS RANGE BETWEEN 18 AND $24,000, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE GT-LINE TURBO, WHICH IS A HEALTHY STEP UP TO $28,485.

TURNS OUT THAT DESIGNING A NEW GENERATION OF CAR WITHOUT ANY TRUE COMPETITION TO GUIDE YOU, IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT DIFFICULT.

JUST CONTINUE WITH WHAT MADE THE SOUL SO WILDLY POPULAR TO BEGIN WITH, AND KEEP GIVING FANS MORE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE HERE WITH THE 2020 KIA SOUL, A BOX FULL OF PERSONALITY THAT TRULY DELIVERS.

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... FOR TRACK TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO.

AND THEN SPEED AND PRECISION IN THE OPEN AIR...

THE PORSCHE 718 SPYDER.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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.

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

[CAR ENGINE REVVING] *