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

JOIN US FOR A BIG AUDI SEDAN WITH EVEN BIGGER PERFORMANCE, THE RS7... PAT GOSS HAS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT RATCHET STRAPS AND HOW TO USE THEM... WE'LL HEAD TO OKLAHOMA WHERE THE ALT FUELS COME SWEEPING DOWN THE PLAIN... AND IT'S A ROAD TEST FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY WITH AN UPDATED HONDA ODYSSEY...

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 Y.. YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS.

AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

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: AUDI HAS A WAY OF BEING A LITTLE STINGY WITH THEIR RS HIGH PERFORMANCE MODELS FROM AUDI SPORT, EVEN MORE SO HERE IN THE STATES; OFFERING ONLY CERTAIN MODELS FOR LIMITED AMOUNTS OF TIME.

THIS RS 7, 5-DOOR COUPE FOR INSTANCE, HASN'T BEEN AVAILABLE TO US SINCE 2018, BUT IT'S BACK!

AND BRINGING WITH IT A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF AUDI PERFORMANCE.

* FOR 2021, AUDI HAS UNLEASHED A TRIO OF FORBIDDEN HIGH-PERFORMANCE FRUIT TO US HERE IN THE U.S. AN RS 6 AVANT WAGON, OUR FIRST-EVER AUDI SPORT SUV THE RS Q8, AND THIS BEAUTIFUL RS 7 SPORTBACK.

THIS IS THE SECOND GEN OF THE RS 7, AND WHEN THE FIRST ONE ARRIVED FOR 2014, IT WAS THE MOST POWERFUL AUDI YOU COULD BUY, ECLIPSING EVEN THE R8 SUPERCAR.

AUDI HAS A LONG HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE OF COURSE, FIRST EXPERIENCED BY US AT MOTORWEEK WITH THE 1983 AUDI QUATTRO.

THIS NOW-LEGENDARY AUDI 80-DERIVED "PERFORMANCE CAR WITH A DIFFERENCE" SET THE STANDARD FOR THE MANY ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE HIGH STRUNG CARS THAT WOULD SOON FOLLOW.

ITS FULLY-INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION, AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE GRIP, EVEN ENABLED A SPEED RECORD THROUGH OUR EMERGENCY LANE CHANGE MANEUVER.

OH, AND IT DID ALL THAT WITH ONLY 156 HORSEPOWER.

THAT WOULD NEVER DO THESE DAYS, SO THE RS 7 OVER-DELIVERS WITH 591 HORSEPOWER AND 590 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; COMING FROM A NEW 4.0 LITER IN-TURBO V8.

BOTH NUMBERS ALMOST 150 MORE THAN YOU GET IN AN S7.

IT WORKS WITH AN 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; AND IS STILL HONORING THAT ORIGINAL QUATTRO, WITH A QUATTRO BADGE THAT OF COURSE, SIGNALS AWD ON ANY AUDI TODAY.

WE COULD SPEND ALL DAY TALKING ABOUT TURBOs AND QUATTROs, BUT MASON DIXON DRAGWAY AWAITS...

HERE, THE RS 7 IS BOTH SIMPLE AND BRUTAL.

INITIATE LAUNCH CONTROL, AND THERE'S AN EXPLOSION OF POWER TO ALL 4 WHEELS, MAKING IT LEAP OFF THE LINE IN A SLIGHTLY UNPREDICTABLE MANNER, HITTING 60 IN JUST 3.3 SECONDS.

BUT, IT QUICKLY SETTLES DOWN, RIFLING THROUGH GEARS, HEADED TO AN 11.5 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 123 MILES PER HOUR.

EVEN ON AN EXTREMELY WINDY DAY THAT WOULD UNSETTLE SOME CARS; NOT THE RS 7, IT JUST HUNKERS DOWN AND STEAMROLLS THE TRACK, FEELING BETTER AND BETTER THE FASTER YOU GO.

IT'S MADE FOR HIGH SPEED AUTOBAHN RUNS FOR SURE.

BUT WILL CERTAINLY HOLD ITS OWN THROUGH THE ALPINE PASSES AS WELL.

IT IS A BIG CAR; OVER 16 FEET OF LENGTH AND 4,800 POUNDS, YET, IT IS SO QUICK TO RESPOND TO STEERING INPUTS, THAT IT CAN AGAIN CATCH YOU A LITTLE OFF GUARD.

IT DOES PROVIDE LOADS OF FEEDBACK, ENABLING YOU TO STEER WITH THE THROTTLE AS MUCH AS THE WHEEL, ALLOWING FOR A BIT OF OVERSTEER, INSTEAD OF THE TYPAL QUATTRO PUSH.

ALL OF THIS ON OUR TEST CAR'S WINTER TIRES; WE EXPECT EVEN BETTER RESULTS WITH THE SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES THAT ARE STANDARD ON THE RS 7.

IT'S ALSO EQUIPPED WITH RS-TUNED ADAPTIVE AIR SUSPENSION AND ALL-WHEEL-STEERING.

UPGRADED BRAKES TOO OF COURSE, RS-SPEC CERAMIC DISCS; PAINTED CALIPERS BITE DOWN HARD, BRINGING THIS WEIGHTY BEAST TO A HALT FROM 60 IN JUST 111 FEET.

OUTSIDE, THE HOOD, ROOF, HATCHBACK, AND FRONT DOORS ARE ALL SHARED WITH THE S7, BUT FRONT FENDERS, AND REAR QUARTERS GET A WIDE-BODY DESIGN.

AUDI'S SINGLEFRAME GRILLE HAS A GLOSS BLACK HONEYCOMB TREATMENT; WHILE THE REAR TRANSFORMS WITH AN ACTIVE LIP SPOILER, GLOSS BLACK DIFFUSER, AND BIG OVAL EXHAUST TIPS.

INSIDE, HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE VALCONA LEATHER SPORT SEATS, RS STEERING WHEEL WITH BIGGER ALUMINUM SHIFT PADDLES, AND UNIQUE PERFORMANCE DISPLAYS IN AUDI'S VIRTUAL COCKPIT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE A THIRSTY 15-CITY, 22-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED 17.8 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

THAT'S A WELL BELOW AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING 19.4 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH 8.4 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

BEING A SPECIAL VERSION OF A VERY SPECIAL GERMAN LUXURY CAR, A HIGH PRICE OF ENTRY IS TO BE EXPECTED; HERE THAT MEANS $115,045.

WITH ALL OF ITS HIGH PERFORMANCE ABILITIES, THE BEST THING ABOUT THE 2021 AUDI RS 7 IS THAT IT STILL BEHAVES LIKE A TRUE HIGH-TECH LUXURY CAR THAT YOU WANT TO SPEND LOADS OF TIME IN; NOT A COMFORT-CHALLENGED TRACK DAY STAR THAT JUST PUTS UP BETTER 0-60 NUMBERS.

YOUR HIGH PERFORMANCE DOLLARS THESE DAYS, BUT FEW THAT WILL GIVE YOU THE TOTAL POSH PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE THAT IS THE AUDI RS 7.

* WE HEAR THE PHRASE, "WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER" A LOT THESE DAYS.

AND THAT CERTAINLY APPLIES TO PRESERVING OUR PRECIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES.

WELL...THIS WEEK, WE SEE HOW THOSE WITH THE LONGEST TIES TO OUR NATURAL HISTORY ARE TAKING BOLD STEPS TO ENSURE A CLEAN FUTURE.

* THE CHEROKEE NATION IS LOCATED IN A 9,000 SQUARE MILE AREA OF NORTHEASTERN OKLAHOMA.

UNLIKE OTHER RESERVATIONS, CHEROKEE TRIBAL LAND IS CHECKERBOARDED IN AND AROUND STATE JURISDICTIONS, AND CHEROKEE CITIZENS ARE VERY MUCH A PART OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

SO, MAINTAINING THEIR OWN CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND PRESERVING CHEROKEE CULTURE WHILE KEEPING PACE WITH MODERN SOCIETY IS A VITAL TASK.

Chuck Hoskin JR: WELL, OUR BELIEF, AND IT'S ONE THAT'S HELD OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR GENERATIONS, IS THAT WE LOOK SEVEN GENERATIONS INTO THE FUTURE.

WE LOOK AT WHAT OUR ACTIONS TODAY ARE DOING FOR GENERATIONS FROM NOW.

AND I THINK IN THE WORLD, WE LIVE IN TODAY, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REDUCE OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT, TO LOOK FOR AVENUES TO EXPLORE GREEN ENERGY, AND I'M STANDING NEXT TO OUR SOLAR CANOPY, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR KEY INITIATIVES TO MEET THAT OBJECTIVE, REDUCE THAT CARBON FOOTPRINT -- THINK AHEAD TO FUTURE GENERATIONS, MAKE SURE THAT THIS RESERVATION THAT WE'RE ON RIGHT NOW, IS GOING TO BE CLEAN AND PRISTINE.

HOPEFULLY, CLEANER AS WE GO BY, THANKS TO THESE KINDS OF INITIATIVES FOR GENERATIONS INTO THE FUTURE.

John: THE INDIAN NATIONS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS IS ALSO HOME TO THE TULSA AREA CLEAN CITIES COALITION, EASING THE WAY FOR THE CHEROKEE NATION AND OTHER TRIBAL PARTNERS TO TEAM UP THROUGH CLEAN CITIES ON A NUMBER OF CLEAN VEHICLE PROJECTS.

THIS SOLAR CANOPY, COMPLETED IN 2017, CURRENTLY HOUSES EIGHT, FREE, PUBLIC LEVEL 2 ELECTRIC CAR CHARGING OUTLETS AT THE CHEROKEE NATION'S MAIN ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEX.

IT GENERATES UP TO 58,000 KILOWATT-HOURS PER YEAR AND AUGMENTS GRID POWER SUPPLIED TO THE BUILDINGS WHEN NOT USED FOR CHARGING VEHICLES.

WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED, THERE WERE ACTUALLY VERY FEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE AREA, BUT IN A CLASSIC CASE OF "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME," THE LOCAL EV POPULATION, AND DEMAND FOR CHARGING, HAS GROWN RAPIDLY.

Chad Harsha: YOU KNOW...SINCE, WE'VE INSTALLED THIS CANOPY, WE'VE SEEN BOTH THE NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES UTILIZING THIS INCREASE.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STALLS AVAILABLE.

AND WE HAVE ALSO, SINCE THAT TIME PURCHASED A NUMBER OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO SUPPLEMENT OUR TRIBAL FLEET OPERATIONS.

John: ONCE COMPLETE, THE SOLAR SITE'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING CAPACITY WILL BE DOUBLED TO 16.

THE CHEROKEE NATION'S EV INITIATIVE ALSO INCLUDES FOUR DC FAST CHARGERS AND ADDITIONAL LEVEL TWOs, INSTALLED OR PLANNED FOR TRIBAL LANDS THROUGHOUT THE AREA, AS WELL AS A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

Chuck: SO, WE HAVE AN ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS HERE IN THE CHEROKEE NATION, I THINK, IT'S THE FIRST IN THE REGION, AND WE HAVE SOME ELECTRIC TRANSIT BUSES, WHICH WE THINK ARE THE FIRST FOR A RURAL-BASED TRANSIT SYSTEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

John: WITH JUST 2000 FLUENT SPEAKERS REMAINING, ATTRITION OF TRIBAL ELDERS THROUGH NATURAL CAUSES AND FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS THREATENED THE VERY VIABILITY OF THE CHEROKEE LANGUAGE FOR THE FUTURE.

THIS ELECTRIC SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTS STUDENTS IN THE CHEROKEE NATION'S GROUNDBREAKING LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM, WHERE NEW GENERATIONS OF NATIVE SPEAKERS ARE BEING TRAINED TO TEACH OTHERS AND KEEP THIS VITAL LINK TO THE PAST ALIVE.

THESE NEWLY-ARRIVED PROTERRA ELECTRIC TRANSIT BUSES CARRY BILINGUAL SIGNAGE THROUGHOUT THE INTERIOR TO ACT AS TEACHING TOOLS, AND AS A REMINDER TO ALL OF THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT JUST PRESERVING, BUT CONTINUING CHEROKEE TRADITIONS.

Chuck: IF YOU GO ELSEWHERE IN THE RESERVATION, YOU'LL SEE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE REALLY THE HUB AND THE LIFEBLOOD OF THESE LITTLE COMMUNITIES THAT AGAIN HAVE EXISTED SINCE BEFORE THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA WAS HERE.

WE HAVE TO CONNECT PEOPLE, FROM HOME TO WORK AND HOME TO HEALTH CENTERS.

DOING THAT IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE WAY IS IMPORTANT, AND THOSE TRANSIT BUSES ARE A BIG PART OF THAT.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A TEACHING MOMENT ABOUT WHERE DOES ENERGY COME FROM, HOW DO WE HAMETHING LIKE THE SUNLIGHT TO POWER THIS LITTLE COMMUNITY.

SO, THESE SORTS OF THINGS, I THINK ARE SPARKING SOME INTEREST AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, WHICH IS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO ME, BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE ON LEADING THIS NATION IN THE FUTURE.

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS VERY RARE, MAXI-BLUE 1973 AMC JAVELIN AMX IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

AMC AFICIONADO BOB LUCAS FROM FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN HAS ADDED A FEW UPGRADES AND A LITTLE TLC TO HIS JAVELIN, KNOWN FOR BOTH ITS UNIQUE STYLING AND DOMINANCE IN TRANS AM ROAD RACING.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR WINNER FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO...

WHETHER, IT'S IN YOUR CAR'S CARGO HOLD IN A PICKUP BED OR ON A TRAILER, SAFELY SECURING YOUR LOAD IS VITAL FOR EVERYONE.

WELL, HERE'S PAT GOSS WITH SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

* Pat Goss: TOWING HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR OVER THE YEARS AND NO MATTER WHAT IT IS THAT YOU TOW, WHETHER IT IS RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, OR VEHICLES SUCH AS WE SEE HERE, OR JUST PLAIN BOXES, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED A WAY TO TIE DOWN THE LOAD.

AND THAT MEANS, YOU NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT STRAPS.

NOW HERE WE HAVE A STRAP THAT'S SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR A TOW DOLLY.

THAT'S WHERE YOU PUT TWO WHEELS OF THE TOWED VEHICLE ON THIS DOLLY, STRAP IT DOWN TO IT, AND TOW IT BEHIND YOUR MOTORHOME OR WHATEVER.

ALRIGHT, NOW DOWN HERE, WE HAVE ONE THAT FITS THROUGH THE WHEEL.

SO YOU TAKE TWO OF THESE, TIE THE WHEELS DOWN, AND THAT HOLDS THE VEHICLE IN PLACE.

NOW, ANOTHER ONE, THIS IS MORE COMMON.

THIS IS AN AXLE STRAP.

NOW, WE'VE USED A PAIR OF THESE ON THIS JEEP TO TIE IT IN PLACE.

NOW, THE BIG THING WITH ANY OF THESE STRAPS IS THAT THEY ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO HAVE LABELS.

AND THAT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE THE WORKING LOAD LIMIT AND YOU'LL SOMETIMES FIND ON THEM, THE BREAKING STRENGTH.

NOW, DON'T CONFUSE THE TWO.

THE BREAKING STRENGTH IS USUALLY ABOUT THREE TIMES WHAT THE ALLOWABLE WORKING LOAD LIMIT IS.

SO CONCENTRATE ON THE WORKING LOAD LIMIT.

ALRIGHT, AND THAT EVEN APPLIES TO THESE SMALLER STRAPS AS WE SEE HERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THESE, YOU GOTTA READ THE LABEL BECAUSE ONE OF THEM IS A 500 POUND STRAP AND THE OTHER'S A 300 POUND STRAP.

AND OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO USE THEM TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

AND EVERY TIME THAT YOU'RE GOING TO USE THEM, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHECK THEM CAREFULLY.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SIGNS OF WEAR AND WHERE THEY ARE STARTING TO BREAK DOWN, SUCH AS THESE.

THESE ARE NOT SAFE TO USE.

WHEN YOU START TO SEE YOUR STRAPS BREAK DOWN, THEY GET FRAYED, OR TORN, OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THEM.

AND DON'T FORGET THE WHEEL CHOCKS.

AND ONE THING YOU DON'T DO IS USE AN OLD PIECE OF WOOD.

NOT A GOOD IDEA IN MOST CASES.

USE A PROPER WHEEL CHOCK, WE HAVE ONE HERE, WE HAVE THESE OVER HERE THAT ARE MADE OF A SYNTHETIC MATERIAL THAT HOLDS IN PLACE, AND IT HAS A ROPE BETWEEN THEM TO HOLD THEM WHERE YOU POSITION THEM.

IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, YOU WILL HAVE A SAFE TRIP.

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

* Greg Carloss: OUR 2021 KIA SELTOS HAS PROVED TO BE QUITE POPULAR AMONG THE STAFF HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

IT'S ONE SMALL SUV THAT DOESN'T FEEL SMALL.

COMBINE THAT WITH A SPORTY BUT NOT TOO STIFF SUSPENSION SETUP, AND IT MAKES COMMUTING QUITE ENTERTAINING.

AND IT'S NOT JUST US, AS ALONG WITH THE SPORTAGE, KIA NOW HAS A POTENT 1-2 PUNCH IN THE SMALL SUV SEGMENT; AND BIG SALES OF BOTH HAVE PUSHED KIA TO ANOTHER SALES RECORD.

UNLESS, YOU MOSTLY DRIVE AROUND WITH A FULL LOAD OF PEOPLE OR CARGO, UPGRADING TO THE OPTIONAL 175 HORSEPOWER 1.6 LITER TURBO-4 IS NOT REALLY A NECESSITY, BUT YOU WON'T REGRET IT; IT'S A BIG PART OF WHAT MAKES THIS SUB-COMPACT UTILITY SO FUN.

AND AVERAGING 28.2 MILES PER GALLON OVER NINE-MONTHS AND 8,500 MILES; IT'S PROVED TO BE QUITE FRUGAL AS WELL.

THE SELTOS IS GREAT FOR GETTING AROUND TOWN FOR QUICK ERRANDS.

IT'S SMALL, MANEUVERABLE, AND IN OUR CASE WITH THIS STARBRIGHT YELLOW PAINT, EASY FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SPOT.

THE DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY GETS CONFUSED IN QUICK STOP AND GO SITUATIONS, BUT THIS LIVELY TURBO-4 IS DEFINITELY, A HIGH POINT.

NOW, TO WRAP UP OUR THREE-MONTH SPRING FLING WITH THIS 2021 VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT.

WE PUT 2,293 MILES ON THIS MIDSIZE UTILITY DURING THAT BRIEF TIME, AND ITS SMOOTH RIDE AND EXCELLENT REAR SEAT ROOM MADE IT A GREAT DAY TRIP VEHICLE FOR FIVE PASSENGERS AND ALL OF THEIR GEAR.

THE 235 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO PROVIDED ADEQUATE, IF NOT THRILLING ACCELERATION, AND A GOOD 22.1 MILES PER GALLON.

THE CROSS SPORT IS THE RIGHT SIZE VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

WE'LL CHECK IN OUR ACURA TLX SEDAN, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: TIME NOW TO LOOK AT SOME NEW AUTOMOTIVE HARDWARE HEADED YOUR WAY WITH A FRESH ROUND OF QUICK SPINS.

* Greg: WHEN GENERAL MOTORS RELAUNCHED HUMMER LAST FALL AS AN ALL-ELECTRIC BRAND, WE KNEW THAT A PICKUP TRUCK WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.

AND NOW, THE HUMMER AS WE USED TO KNOW IT, HAS RETURNED, OR WILL RETURN, AS THE 2024 HUMMER EV SUV.

NO BIG SURPRISES HERE, AS THE SUV USES THE SAME ULTIUM PLATFORM AS THE PICKUP, BUT WITH A SHORTER WHEELBASE THAT PROVIDES A NIMBLER FEEL AS WELL AS IMPROVED MANEUVERABILITY IN OFF-ROAD SITUATIONS.

PLUS, IT ADDS AN AVAILABLE ONBOARD GENERATOR, AND HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF GETTING ANY OTHER UPDATES THAT HAPPEN AS THE PICKUP GETS UNDER WAY.

EDITION 1 MODELS WON'T ARRIVE FOR ANOTHER TWO-YEARS, BUT WHEN THEY DO, THEY'LL HAVE A RANGE OF 300 MILES; AND WITH 830 HORSEPOWER COMING FROM THREE ELECTRIC MOTORS, THEY'LL HIT 60 IN 3.5 SECONDS.

John: I LIKE THE FACT THE HUMMER EV SUV IS NOT JUST THE PICKUP WITH A COVERED CARGO HOLD.

IT'S QUITE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE BEING SHORTER, AND THUS MORE MANEUVERABLE BOTH ON AND OFF ROAD, ESPECIALLY WITH THE OPTIONAL FOUR-WHEEL STEERING THAT YIELDS A TURNING DIAMETER SMALLER THAN MOST COMPACT CARS.

MY ONLY REAL ISSUE, BESIDES PRICE, IS RANGE, WHICH IS LOWER THAN THE PICKUP.

THREE-HUNDRED MILES JUST ISN'T ENOUGH FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAVEL, WHICH LARGER SUVs GENERALLY EXCEL AT.

Greg: ADDING THE $5,000 EXTREME OFF-ROAD PACKAGE IS A NO-BRAINER.

IT GETS YOU 35 INCH TIRES, ADDITIONAL BODY PROTECTION, FRONT AND REAR LOCKERS, BEEFIER HALF-SHAFTS, ULTRA VISION CAMERAS, AND MORE; SACRIFICING ONLY ABOUT 20 MILES OF RANGE.

THE INTERIOR IS MUCH THE SAME AS THE PICKUP, WITH A WIDE CENTER CONSOLE REMINISCENT OF THE ORIGINAL HUMMER.

PLENTY OF CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS, ALONG WITH A STANDARD INFINITY ROOF WITH REMOVABLE SKY PANELS, AND DROP DOWN REAR GLASS IN THE SIDE-OPENING REAR DOOR.

EDITION 1s WILL GO FOR ABOUT $105,000, WITH MORE ACCESSIBLE VERSIONS TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING YEARS; ULTIMATELY ARRIVING AT $80,000 FOR THE 250 MILE RANGE BASE MODEL.

WE'LL HAVE LOTS MORE ON THE 2024 GMC HUMMER EV SUV SOON, HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

John: HONDA CONTINUES THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE MINIVAN SEGMENT, AND HAS BEEN REWARDED BY LEGIONS OF FAITHFUL FANS FOR THEIR ODYSSEY.

SO, '21 SEES A HOST OF UPDATES TO KEEP THOSE FANS HAPPY, AS WELL AS PERHAPS ENTICE SOME NEW HOUSEHOLDS TO THINK TWICE BEFORE BUYING THAT "LESS PRACTICAL" CROSSOVER.

* WHILE, SEEING A MINIVAN ROLL INTO THE MOTORWEEK LOT FOR TESTING, CERTAINLY WON'T DRAW THE CROWDS OF SAY... A HIGH END SPORTS CAR; DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE STAGES, OR WHAT VACATION PLANS YOU MAY BE CONTEMPLATING, A MINIVAN COULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE.

AND, THIS 2021 HONDA ODYSSEY HAS PLENTY TO OFFER FAMILIES, AS WELL AS MAYBE EVEN A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE SPORTS CAR FANS AS WELL.

THAT'S PRIMARILY BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO BE A MINIVAN THAT WE ACTUALLY ENJOY DRIVING.

IT'S NOT A CANYON CARVER PER SE, JUST A SOLID AND CAPABLE PLATFORM THAT DOESN'T SEEM CHORE-LIKE TO WHEEL AROUND, DESPITE ITS VERY BIG SIZE.

AND INDEED, GETTING RIGHT TO THE TRACK; OUR TEST DRIVER FOUND IT QUITE FUN TO RUN THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE, AND NOT JUST QUOTE FOR A MINIVAN UNQUOTE.

THE LACK OF BODY ROLL WAS COMFORTING, AND THE ODYSSEY CHANGED DIRECTIONS REALLY WELL.

WE COULD FEEL SOME STABILITY CONTROL WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT IT NEVER STEPPED IN FULLY TO SHUT THINGS DOWN LIKE WE'VE SEEN IN MANY FAMILY HAULERS.

NOTHING NEW IN THE POWERTRAIN DEPARTMENT, STILL FRONT-DRIVE ONLY, NO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE.

BUT THE 280 HORSEPOWER 3.5 LITER V6s 262 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO GET A FAMILY VAN LOAD UP TO SPEED QUICKLY, AND TOW THE MINIVAN TYPICAL 3,500 POUNDS.

ORIGINALLY, JUST AVAILABLE IN TOURING AND ELITE TRIMS, A 10 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOW STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD.

THE COMBO PROPELLED OUR ODYSSEY TO 60 IN JUST 6.8 SECONDS; A BIT QUICKER THAN IN '18 WHEN THIS GEN DEBUTED.

FULL-THROTTLE LAUNCHES WILL SPIN THE WHEELS A BIT, BUT AGAIN HERE, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM SEEMS TO JUST AID IN FINDING GRIP, GETTING YOU AWAY WITH CONFIDENCE INSTEAD OF JUST HALTING PROGRESS.

AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE QUITE GENTLE, AND THERE'S NO REAL DROP OFF IN POWER AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY TO THE HIGHER GEARS.

QUARTER-MILE COMPLETED IN 15.2 SECONDS AT 95 MILES PER HOUR.

AS MUCH AS WE APPRECIATE THE ODYSSEY'S ABOVE AVERAGE ABILITY, NONE OF THAT IS REALLY NECESSARY FOR A MINIVAN.

IT IS OF COURSE, WHAT'S INSIDE WHERE MINIVANS TEND TO REALLY MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

THERE'S NOT ONLY COMFORTABLE SEATING FOR SEVEN OR EIGHT, BUT A MASSIVE CARGO VAN'S WORTH OF SPACE WHEN YOU NEED IT.

PLUS, THINGS THAT TODAY'S FAMILY DEPEND ON.

LIKE, LOTS OF SMALL ITEM STORAGE, MULTIPLE CUP HOLDERS AT EVERY CONCEIVABLE LOCATION, AND OF COURSE CHARGING PORTS, ARE ALL WELL-REPRESENTED HERE.

TECH UPGRADES FOR '21 INCLUDE A NEW REAR SEAT REMINDER SYSTEM INTEGRATED INTO CABINWATCH; SO NOT ONLY DO YOU GET A PROMPT TO CHECK THE REAR SEATS, BUT CAN ACTUALLY SEE THEM, RIGHT IN THE CENTRAL SCREEN.

AT 8.0 INCHES, THAT SCREEN IS MAYBE A LITTLE SMALL BY CURRENT STANDARDS, BUT STILL QUITE FUNCTIONAL; AND ITS LOCATION, HIGH, FRONT AND CENTER OF THE DASH, NOT RECESSED INTO IT, MAKES IT EASY TO REACH.

EASE OF USE HAS ALSO BEEN ENHANCED WITH THE MAGIC SLIDE SECOND ROW OUTBOARD SEATS THAT FOLD FLATTER THAN BEFORE, THOUGH STILL NOT INTO THE FLOOR.

REGARDLESS, THIS SHOULD MAKE BIG ITEM LOADING LESS OF A PAIN, WHILE ALSO MAKING THE SEATS EASIER TO REMOVE FOR MAX CARGO, AS THEY ARE STILL HEAVY.

THAT SPACE REMAINS A CAVERNOUS 32.8 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, 86.6 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND 140.7 WITH THIRD ROW FOLDED AND SECOND ROW REMOVED.

ALL BUT THE BASE LX GET MATERIAL AND TRIM UPGRADES; ELITE GETTING EVEN MORE PIANO BLACK TRIM THAN BEFORE, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL LUXURY-MINDED TOUCHES.

SAFETY SUITE, WHICH IS NOW STANDARD WITH ALL TRIMS.

THE ODYSSEY IS CERTAINLY NOT THE PRETTIEST OF MACHINES, EVEN STANDING OUT IN THE MINIVAN CLASS, BUT THEY'VE TRIED TO ADD A LITTLE MORE FORM TO THE FUNCTION FOR '21.

THERE'S THE EXPECTED NEW GRILLE AND FRONT FASCIA, UPDATED LIGHTING, AND BLACK TRIM CONNECTING THE LIFT-GATE TAIL LIGHTS INSTEAD OF CHROME.

BUT REALLY, IT'S STILL A BIG BOX ON WHEELS THAT SCREAMS PRACTICALITY, AND THERE'S CERTAINLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

CHANGES FOR '21 DO COME WITH A PRICE INCREASE, AS THE BASE LX IS UP $1,100 TO $32,965; HIGHER TRIM LEVELS SEE LESS OF AN INCREASE, WITH TOP ELITE TRIM UP JUST $500 TO $48,995.

THE ODYSSEY HAS BEEN THE BEST-SELLING MINIVAN IN AMERICA FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW, SO CLEARLY HONDA HAS BEEN DOING THEIR HOMEWORK TO PROVIDE THE BEST OVERALL MINIVAN EXPERIENCE GOING RIGHT NOW.

THE 2021 VERSION OFFERS SOMETHING NEW AND BETTER FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY TO ENJOY.

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 A HIGH ROLLIN ROAD TEST OF GMC'S DENALI UTILITY.

THEN, WE'LL FIND OUT JUST HOW LUXURIOUS AND SPORTY THE NEW MERCEDES BENZ E-CLASS CAN BE.

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... YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

"I DO."

WE'RE TIRERACK.COM AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND, TOOLS TO HELP.

"LIKE, OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

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.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] * YOUR WATCHING PBS.