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

JOIN US AS KIA PUMPS SOME SERIOUS PERFORMANCE INTO THEIR K5 SEDAN... PAT GOSS TAKES CONTROL OF PESKY CAR PROBLEMS DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... GREG CARLOSS SEEKS OUT EXPERT HELP WITH CITY DWELLING TWO-WHEELERS IN MIND... THEN, WE'LL HEAD TO MACH SPEED IN THE AWESOME NEW FORD MUSTANG MACH E...

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... 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: WE WEREN'T EXACTLY SURE WHAT KIA WAS UP TO WHEN THEY SET ASIDE YEARS OF OPTIMA MOMENTUM TO RENAME THEIR MIDSIZE SEDAN THE K5.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT KIA MAKES A PRETTY GOOD FAMILY 4-DOOR NO MATTER WHAT NAME IS ON IT.

BUT, IT WAS ALSO JUST THE START OF UNEXPECTED THINGS TO COME FROM KIA AND THE K5.

* ONCE IN A WHILE, CARMAKERS DO THINGS NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE IT'S THE SMART THING TO DO, BUT BECAUSE IT'S THE FUN THING TO DO.

AND THOSE ARE GENERALLY THE CARS THAT EXCITE US ENTHUSIASTS THE MOST.

2021 SEES KIA GO A LITTLE "DODGE" ON THEIR NEW MIDSIZE SEDAN BY MAKING IT MORE POWERFUL, AND NOT JUST BY A LITTLE BIT.

IT'S THE KIA K5 GT.

THE K5 MIDSIZE SEDAN LAUNCHED JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO, REPLACING THE OPTIMA.

AND ALONG WITH THE NAME CHANGE, CAME A LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER CHASSIS; AS WELL AS OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THAT ORIGINAL OPTIMA SERVED KIA WELL FOR 20 YEARS.

ARRIVING FOR THE 2001 MODEL YEAR, WE DECLARED THAT THE GOOD MECHANICALS AND NO NONSENSE DESIGN OF THIS ACCORD AND CAMRY FIGHTER FULLY DISPLAYED THE CAN-DO SPIRIT OF ITS KOREAN CREATORS, AND COULD SOON MAKE KIA, A THREE-LETTER STAPLE IN SUBURBAN AMERICAN GARAGES.

THAT CAN-DO SPIRIT REMAINS, AND HAS CHANNELED ITS ENERGY TOWARDS CREATING KIA'S MOST POWERFUL FRONT-DRIVE MIDSIZE SEDAN EVER.

AND IT FEELS LIKE IT; IN A, "THIS IS WAY TOO MUCH POWER FOR THIS CAR" SENSE.

IT HAS NO PROBLEM DOING A BURNOUT; AND WHEN ITS NEW SPORT PLUS MODE IS ENGAGED, RESPONSE IS INSTANT.

SO, WHETHER YOU'RE SITTING STILL OR ROLLING ALONG, PUNCH IT, AND IT TAKES OFF; OR JUST SPINS THE TIRES A WHOLE LOT, AS THERE'S NO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE HERE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL GRIP; STICKIER TIRES WOULD HELP AS WELL.

BUT KIA DID PROVIDE A SWEET 8-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION.

IT'S THEIR OWN WET CLUTCH DESIGN SIMILAR TO A MOTORCYCLE OR VOLKSWAGEN'S ORIGINAL DSG; BATHING THE CLUTCH PACKS IN OIL TO KEEP THEM COOL AND ENABLE A MORE COMPACT PACKAGING.

SO, WHAT'S CAUSING ALL OF THIS CHAOS IN THE FIRST PLACE?

IT'S A 2.5 LITER TURBO INLINE 4-CYLINDER ENGINE CRANKING OUT 290 HORSEPOWER AND 311 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THAT'S 110 MORE HORSEPOWER THAN THE STANDARD K5.

IN OUR ORIGINAL K5 TEST, WE DID LONG FOR A LITTLE MORE POWER, AND KIA HAS CERTAINLY OBLIGED.

TOO BAD A SNOW-COVERED TRACK KEPT US FROM SEEING JUST HOW MUCH FASTER IT IS.

BUT, BASED ON FEEL ALONE, WE'D PUT 0-60 IN THE LOW 5.0 SECOND RANGE.

THE K5 IS OF COURSE MECHANICALLY SIMILAR TO HYUNDAI'S SONATA, AND THIS GT RELATING VERY CLOSELY TO THE SONATA N LINE.

ACCORDING TO KIA, THE MACPHERSON STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION HAS BEEN "SPORT-TUNED," BUT DIDN'T GIVE A WHOLE LOT OF DETAILS.

WE WILL SAY, THE STEERING DID FEEL A LITTLE QUICKER TO RESPOND, BUT ULTIMATELY, IT DOESN'T FEEL AS MUCH LIKE A SPORT SEDAN AS IT DOES A '90s FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE TUNER CAR, WITH A CRANKED UP TURBO ENGINE.

ALL OF THAT ASIDE, THE CABIN OF THE K5 REALLY IS A FABULOUS PLACE TO BE; SIMPLE, FLOWING LINES LOOK AUDI-ESQUE IN THEIR EXECUTION.

A PANORAMIC MOONROOF IS STANDARD, THE UPGRADED SPORT SEATS ARE MORE COMFORTABLE THAN SPORTY, AND THE FLAT-BOTTOM GT STEERING WHEEL FEELS GREAT IN YOUR HANDS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GT LOGOS SCATTERED ABOUT, MAKING SURE ALL OCCUPANTS ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

AN 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN FOR UVO INFOTAINMENT IS STANDARD, WITH AN OPTION TO UPGRADE TO A 10 INCHER.

BOTH ARE EQUALLY EASY TO OPERATE.

OUTSIDE, KIA UPS THE AGGRESSION LEVEL WITH 19 INCH MACHINED FINISH ALLOY WHEELS; BEHIND THEM, ARE BIGGER BRAKES WITH GT-LABELED CALIPERS.

BLACK ACCENTS ARE LIBERALLY APPLIED, EVEN ON THE SIDE MIRRORS AND REAR SPOILER.

FINISHING IT OFF WITH QUAD EXHAUST TIPS, REPRESENTING AN OUTLET FOR EACH CYLINDER.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 27-COMBINED.

K5 GT PRICING IS MORE THAN REASONABLE AT $31,585, JUST $2,500 MORE THAN AN EX-TRIMMED K5.

SO, AS IMPRESSIVE AS THE 2021 KIA K5 GT IS, AND THAT ENGINE IS THE REAL DEAL, IT FEELS LIKE IT NEEDS MORE CHASSIS TUNING TO GO ALONG WITH IT.

NOW, SOME MAY CALL THAT A MISTAKE, BUT THE SAME EXACT FORMULA WAS USED FOR SO MANY CARS IN THE 1960s THAT WE LOOK BACK SO FONDLY ON NOW.

MUSCLE CAR FAMILY SEDAN...CHECK.

INDEED, IT LOOKS LIKE KIA IS CONTINUING TO CHECK ALL OF THE BOXES, EVEN ONES WE HADN'T THOUGHT OF.

* SOMETIMES, OUR PASSIONS DON'T QUITE FIT INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIFESTYLES.

AND NOW, IF YOU'RE A MOTORCYCLE GEAR HEAD LIVING IN A CITY APARTMENT, YOU KNOW THE FEELING.

WELL, THIS WEEK OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY, GREG CARLOSS HEADS TO A GARAGE THAT CAN HELP KEEP THAT PASSION BURNING.

* Greg Carloss: THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT LIVING IN THE CITY THAT MAKES THE IDEA OF OWNING A MOTORCYCLE ALL THE MORE APPEALING.

OF COURSE, IF YOU NEED THE SPACE TO TINKER ON YOUR BIKE OR STORE IT FOR THE WINTER, YOU MAY JUST BE SPINNING YOUR WHEELS.

BUT HERE IN EAST BALTIMORE, THERE'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LAY YOUR KICKSTAND.

LET'S CHECK IT OUT.

THIS 2,500 SQUARE FOOT GARAGE HOUSED IN A 100-YEAR-OLD INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IS WHERE ETHAN PRITCHARD SPENDS MOST OF HIS TIME THESE DAYS AS THE FOUNDER AND OWNER OF THE BALTIMORE MOTORCYCLE COLLECTIVE.

Ethan Pritchard: WE STARTED OUT AS A D-I-Y GARAGE AND WERE FORCED VERY EARLY ON TO EXPAND TO DOING REPAIRS AND FROM THAT WE'VE GROWN TO STORING BIKES TO TAKING ON BIKES THAT HAD NO FUTURE ANYMORE.

Greg: BEFORE ETHAN OPENED "THE COLLECTIVE" IN 2018, HE THOUGHT, HE HAD INVENTED THE IDEA OF A DO-IT-YOURSELF GARAGE.

BUT HIS RESEARCH PROVED IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE, IN BALTIMORE CITY EVEN.

STILL, RIDERS LIKE TONY AYIGAH WERE IN NEED OF HIS HELP.

Tony Ayigah: MY BIKE IS A 1979 XLCH 1000.

IT'S A HARLEY DAVIDSON SPORTSTER IRON HEAD.

WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, ETHAN WAS JUST SO SUPPORTIVE ON YOU KNOW, SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO ME, AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THE FACT THAT I CAN WORK ON IT ON MY OWN, AND HE'D BASICALLY, BE HERE LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER.

Ethan: WHAT YOU SEE AROUND YOU, IS JUST A RESULT OF ME BEING HERE FOR 70 HOURS A WEEK AND GETTING IN OVER MY HEAD, AND NEEDING TO BRING ON SOME OF THE AWESOME PEOPLE, THAT I'VE MET THROUGH OPENING THE GARAGE.

I'M MATTHEW MAHLSTEDT AND I'M ONE OF THE MECHANICS HERE AT THE BALTIMORE MOTORCYCLE COLLECTIVE.

I DID DO A LOT OF WORK ON MY SUZUKI IN LIKE, A BALTIMORE ALLEY WITH HAND TOOLS BUT THERE'S KIND OF ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO THERE AND ONCE I DISCOVERED THE COLLECTIVE, A PLACE WHERE I COULD YOU KNOW, RIDE MY BIKE IN, AND THEN HAVE ALL THE TOOLS, AND THE SPACE...THE COLLECTIVE IS JUST INVALUABLE FOR THAT.

MY NAME IS TRAVIS BOZEMAN AND I GOT TO THE BALTIMORE MOTORCYCLE COLLECTIVE OUT OF PURE NECESSITY.

I HAD A 2005 SUZUKI SV650 S, I NEEDED TO DO SOME TRANSMISSION WORK ON.

I CALLED DOWN HERE AND I ASKED TO TALK TO ETHAN, TOLD HIM WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO.

I WANTED TO GET IT DONE MYSELF AND HE TALKED ME THROUGH IT AND WE SET UP A DATE, PICKED UP MY BIKE AND THE REST IS HISTORY.

Greg: LIKE A LOCAL BARBERSHOP OR COFFEE BAR, THIS GARAGE IS MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS SERVICES.

IT'S A PLACE TO WORK, IT'S A PLACE TO LEARN, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANT, IT'S A PLACE TO BUILD COMMUNITY.

Tony: THE REASON WHY I BRING MY BIKE HERE TO WORK ON IT, IS NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE CAMARADERIE OF YOU KNOW, THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE THAT WORK HERE AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY'VE BUILT.

BUT THE ACCESS TO THE TOOLS, IT'S AN ENDLESS AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO EQUIPMENT, KNOWLEDGE, AND MOST OF ALL FRIENDSHIP AND COMMUNITY.

Greg: WHETHER IT'S MOTORCYCLES OR MARKETING, VINTAGE IS THE COLLECTIVE'S PREFERRED STYLE, SO IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT THEY USE A GOOD OL' FASHIONED BIKE SHOW TO PROMOTE THE BUSINESS.

Ethan: THE OTHER KEY FACET TO THE SHOW IS BRINGING TOGETHER LOCAL RIDER OWNED BUSINESSES.

SO, PRIMARILY BUSINESSES IN BALTIMORE CITY WHERE THE OWNER IS THERE SHOWCASING THEIR PRODUCT BUT THEY ALSO HAVE THEIR BIKE AND YOU GET TO MEET THEM.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE GOING INTO A COFFEE SHOP AND YOU KNOW THE OWNER.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR BIKE, YOU CAN TALK TO THEM ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT, HOW THEY GOT STARTED, WHATEVER.

Greg: ETHAN, MATTHEW, AND TRAVIS ARE STILL RIDING THE BALTIMORE MOTORCYCLE COLLECTIVE'S START-UP STORY AND MAKING SURE TO ENJOY THE RIDE ALONG THE WAY.

John: TIME NOW FOR A TRIP TO GOSS' GARAGE WHERE WE WILL FIND OUT WHY HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS THESE DAYS ARE NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST CHANGING A BULB.

* Pat Goss: YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME WITH AUTOMOBILES WHEN THERE WAS A SIMPLE WIRE THAT WENT TO IT, AND IT CONTROLLED IT.

AND THAT WAS THE END OF IT.

WELL, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT.

NOW, WHAT DO I MEAN ABOUT THOSE DAYS ARE GONE?

WELL, IT USED TO BE THAT THINGS WERE REALLY SIMPLE ON AUTOMOBILES.

TAKE A HEADLIGHT FOR EXAMPLE.

IT HAD THREE PRONGS ON THE BACK OF IT, HAD THREE WIRES GOING TO IT.

ONE OF IT WAS FOR HIGH BEAM, ONE WAS FOR LOW BEAM, AND THE THIRD WAS FOR GROUND.

THEN, A SWITCH INSIDE TO CONTROL IT...THAT WAS IT.

NOT ANYMORE.

NOW, WHY THEY DO THIS, I DON'T KNOW, BUT EVEN BASIC HEADLIGHTS THESE DAYS ARE DRIVEN THROUGH CONTROL MODULES SUCH AS WE SEE HERE.

NOW, EACH MANUFACTURER HAS A DIFFERENT NAME FOR THESE THINGS.

THEY'RE POWER DISTRIBUTION CENTERS AND ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CRAZY NAMES BUT THEY ALL DO PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING.

SOME OF THEM ARE RELATIVELY BASIC AND THEY JUST DISTRIBUTE POWER, OTHERS HAVE A MODULE IN HERE LIKE A LITTLE COMPUTER IN THE BACK OF IT, THAT DECIDES HOW THE POWER IS DISTRIBUTED.

ALRIGHT...SO, WHAT HAPPENS HERE?

WELL...OVER TIME, MOISTURE GETS INSIDE THESE THINGS AND CONTACTS GET CORRODED, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

CORROSION MEANS HIGH RESISTANCE.

HIGH RESISTANCE MEANS SOMETHING DOESN'T WORK.

AND YOU HAVE A HEADLIGHT THAT'S OUT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL...FIRST, YOU NEED A SCANNER IN ORDER TO EVEN TEST THESE THINGS.

ONCE, YOU'VE DONE THAT AND YOU FIND OUT THIS IS BAD, WELL, YOU COULD GO TO A SALVAGE YARD AND BUY A USED ONE, BUT THEN THINK ABOUT THAT.

IF LIKE ON THIS ONE, THE COMMON PROBLEM IS THE HEADLIGHTS DON'T WORK, THEN CHANCES ARE THE REPLACEMENT IS GONNA HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

ALRIGHT...SO, YOU CAN GO TO THE DEALER AND BUY A NEW ONE, OR YOU CAN GO ONLINE, THERE ARE PLACES THAT REBUILD OR REMANUFACTURE THESE.

SAVES YOU A LITTLE BIT OF MONEY, BUT REMEMBER, THAT IN MOST CASES, IF ANYTHING IS REBUILT OR REMANUFACTURED, THERE IS A CORE CHARGE ON THE OLD PART.

THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE UNITS TO REBUILD.

ALRIGHT...SO, BIG THING HERE, READ THE WARRANTY.

READ THE FINE PRINT AND ESPECIALLY READ THE EXCLUSIONS.

WHAT'S COVERED ISN'T SOMETIMES AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT THEY EXCLUDE BECAUSE IT'S WHAT THEY EXCLUDE THAT CAN BITE YOU.

SO, IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, YOU CAN SAVE YOURSELF SOME BUCKS, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS PRISTINE 1963 FORD FALCON FUTURA IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

HERBIE HALE JR. FROM LEVITTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HIS WIFE KATHLEEN LISA'S HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER WAS HOME OF THE FALCONS, KEEPING THIS CAR EVER CLOSE TO THEIR HEARTS.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR CHERISHED RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... FIRST DRIVES AND SNEAK PEAKS ARE WHAT OUR QUICK SPINS ARE ALL ABOUT.

SO, COME ALONG FOR AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT OUR LATEST.

* Greg: THE JEEP WAGONEER AND GRAND WAGONEER ARE RETURNING FOR 2022, AND ELEVATING THE BRAND TO NEVER BEFORE SEEN LEVELS OF CLASS.

YET, DOING IT WITHOUT SACRIFICING ANY OF THE LEGENDARY JEEP PERFORMANCE THAT DRAWS PEOPLE TO THE BRAND.

JUST A SAMPLING OF WHAT YOU CAN GET WITH THIS SEVEN OR EIGHT PASSENGER UTILITY: YOUR CHOICE FROM THREE DIFFERENT 4-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEMS WITH AVAILABLE ACTIVE LOW RANGE AND A POSSIBLE CRAWL RATIO OF 48:1, SELEC-TERRAIN TRACTION MANAGEMENT, UP TO 10 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, PLUS, THE ABILITY TO FORD TWO-FEET OF WATER, AND TOW 10,000 POUNDS.

Jessica Ray: YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED A LACK OF JEEP BADGING ON THE WAGONEER AND GRAND WAGONEER.

WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE "WAGONEER" IS NOW A PREMIUM SUB-BRAND OF JEEP.

WITH THAT COMES PREMIUM PERKS LIKE 24/7 CONCIERGE SUPPORT AND FIVE YEARS OF WORRY-FREE DEALER MAINTENANCE.

AND WHILE THESE SUVS MIGHT NOT HAVE JEEP BADGING, THE TRADEMARK GRILLE AND ICONIC WAGONEER NAMEPLATE SAY IT ALL.

Greg: WHILE, YOU'RE DOING ALL OF THAT CLIMBING AND WATER-FORDING, YOU'LL BE DOING IT IN THE AUTOMOTIVE EQUIVALENT OF A TOM FORD SUITE; TIMELESS AND HIGHLY FASHIONABLE, YET, FULLY-FUNCTIONAL, WITH LOTS OF EYE-CATCHING DETAILS.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE BASE WAGONEER INCLUDES 20 INCH WHEELS, 10 INCH UCONNECT TOUCHSCREEN, NAPPA LEATHER SEATS, AND A 392 HORSEPOWER 5.7 LITER V8.

JUMPING UP TO THE GRAND WAGONEER IS WHEN THINGS GET CRAZY, IN A GOOD WAY WITH AVAILABLE 22 INCH WHEELS, 1,375 WATT MCINTOSH STEREO WITH 23 SPEAKERS, FRONT CONSOLE COOLER, AND PLENTY MORE; PLUS, IT ALL GETS MOVED AROUND WITH A 471 HORSEPOWER 6.4 LITER V8.

LOTS OF TECH OF COURSE; UP TO 75 INCHES OF SCREEN SPACE, 45 IN THE I.P.

ALONE, PLUS, A 10 INCH SCREEN FOR THE PASSENGER, WHICH WILL BE UNVIEWABLE TO THE DRIVER THANKS TO A SPECIAL FILM.

UCONNECT 5, AMAZON FIRE TV, NIGHT VISION, AND HANDS-FREE ACTIVE DRIVING ASSIST SHOULD KEEP EVERYONE ENTERTAINED AND ALERT.

Greg: BUILT TO TAKE ON THE BEST IN BOTH THE LARGE SUV AND PREMIUM LARGE SUV SEGMENTS, THEY'LL GO ON SALE THIS SUMMER, WITH WAGONEER PRICES STARTING AROUND $58,000 AND GRAND WAGONEER AT AROUND $87,000.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THIS PAIR OF BIG JEEPS SOON, RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

TIME TO GET TO KNOW ONE OF OUR MOST RECENT LONG-TERMS, THIS 2021 SUBARU CROSSTREK SPORT, A LITTLE BETTER.

THREE-YEARS INTO ITS 2ND GENERATION, '21 USHERED IN FRESH STYLING AND A NEW ENGINE OPTION.

NEW TO CROSSTREK ANYWAY; IT'S THE FORESTER'S 182 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER BOXER-4, AND COMES STANDARD WITH SPORT AND LIMITED TRIMS, WORKING WITH A CVT, NATURALLY.

WE'VE AVERAGED 28.1 MILES PER GALLON DURING OUR INITIAL 1,000 MILES.

OURS IS THE SPORT VARIETY, MEANING SLIGHTLY MORE RUGGED-LOOKING TRIM FOR THE OUTSIDE, AND ADVENTURE-READY WATER-REPELLANT STARTEX UPHOLSTERY INSIDE.

WE'RE NO STRANGERS TO THE CROSSTREK, AS WE'VE HAD SEVERAL OF THEM ON OUR LONG TERM LOT OVER THE YEARS AND THIS NEWLY REFRESHED CROSSTREK FEELS FAMILIAR.

WE APPRECIATE THE EXTRA POWER THIS NEW-TO-THE-MODEL ENGINE PROVIDES, AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL NOT THE QUICKEST THING, THERE'S A NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT OVER THE 2.0 LITER.

SOME OF US WERE NEVER SURE THIS DAY WOULD ACTUALLY ARRIVE, BUT OUR 2019 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV HAS FINALLY DEPARTED OUR CARE.

TOUGH TO SUM UP 21 MONTHS IN JUST A MINUTE'S TIME, BUT OVER 29,556 MILES, WE AVERAGED 31.4 MILES PER GALLON AND HAD ZERO MECHANICAL HICCUPS.

CLEARLY, THE OUTLANDER'S HYBRID POWERTRAIN WAS A REAL HIGHLIGHT; DELIVERING FAST ACCELERATION WHEN YOU NEED IT, AND UP TO 22 MILES OF EV DRIVING, FOR MAKING SHORT ERRANDS A FUEL-FREE AFFAIR.

NOT THE MOST EXCITING TO LOOK AT OUTSIDE OR IN, BUT THE INTERIOR PROVED HIGHLY DURABLE, NOT LOOKING MUCH DIFFERENT AFTER ALMOST TWO-YEARS THAN ON THE DAY IT ARRIVED.

THE OUTLANDER IS ABOUT TO BEGIN A WHOLE NEW NISSAN-AIDED ERA; BUT THIS SOMETIMES OVERLOOKED AND SURELY UNDERRATED OUTLANDER PHEV WILL BE REMEMBERED FONDLY BY US FOR A LONG TIME.

TWO MORE UTILITIES TO CHECK IN ON, WITH UPDATES ON OUR KIA SELTOS AND VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS CROSS SPORT, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: USING BOTH THE MUSTANG AND MACH NAMES TO LAUNCH THEIR ALL NEW HIGH PERFORMANCE ALL-ELECTRIC SUV, FORD CERTAINLY STIRRED UP CONTROVERSY.

WHAT'S NEVER BEEN IN DEBATE, HOWEVER, IS HOW AWESOME THIS EV UTILITY TURNED OUT; EASILY WALKING AWAY WITH OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR AWARD.

SO, WE THOUGHT, WE'D SPEND A LITTLE MORE TIME EXPLORING WHAT MAKES THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E SUCH A WINNER!

* THE 2021 FORD MUSTANG MACH-E IS NOT FORD'S FIRST EV, BUT IT IS THEIR FIRST REAL EFFORT TO TAKE THE TECHNOLOGY MAINSTREAM.

WHILE ALSO, BRINGING ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AND AN SUV BODY-SHAPE INTO THE MUSTANG FAMILY.

IN ADDITION TO REAR OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CHOICES, BATTERY OPTIONS INCLUDE THE STANDARD 66 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY WITH A 230 MILE RANGE, 211 WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND THE EXTENDED RANGE 88 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY FOR 300 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE; 270 WITH AWD.

BATTERIES ARE LIQUID-COOLED AND PLACED BENEATH THE FLOOR BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR AXLES.

CURRENT OUTPUTS VARY FROM THE STANDARD BATTERY'S 266 HORSEPOWER, TO THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE EXTENDED RANGE IS 346.

WHEN THE GT ARRIVES THIS SUMMER, IT WILL BOOST THAT A BUNCH TO 480 HORSEPOWER.

OUR PREMIUM-TRIMMED TESTER FEATURED THE EXTENDED RANGE BATTERY AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, WITH 428 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE TO GO ALONG WITH ITS 346 HORSEPOWER.

NO GAS ENGINE UP FRONT MEANS SPACE FOR OTHER THINGS, WITH A SUBSTANTIAL DIVIDER TO KEEP THEM IN PLACE.

THE AREA IS ALSO WATER-RESISTANT, WITH A DRAIN AT THE BOTTOM, FOR EASY CLEAN-UP.

TRADITIONAL AFT STORAGE CAN BE ACCESSED WITH JUST A WIGGLE OF THE FOOT; REVEALING A GOOD 29.7 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE; EXPANDING TO 59.7 WITH REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

LIKE, MANY CARS THESE DAYS, NO SPARE TIRE, JUST AN INFLATOR KIT.

GETTING INTO THE 5-PASSENGER INTERIOR REQUIRES JUST A PUSH OF A BUTTON; WHERE YOU'LL FIND A MODERN AND AIRY CABIN.

THE ENTIRE ROOF IS MOSTLY A GLASS PANEL, AND WHILE WE LOVE THE OPEN SKY FEEL, THERE'S NO SHADE FOR WHEN YOU DON'T.

THE CENTER CONSOLE'S ROTARY GEAR SHIFT DIAL PUTS THINGS IN MOTION, AND LENDS A FAMILIAR FORD FEEL TO THE PROCESS.

AS WITH MOST CARS THESE DAYS, PARTICULARLY EVs, VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING REVOLVES AROUND A HUGE CENTRAL TABLET-STYLE TOUCH PANEL THAT IS HIGHLY CONFIGURABLE.

THOUGH, THIS ONE HAS A FEW TRICKS UP ITS SLEEVE; OUR FAVORITE OF WHICH IS A BIG VOLUME KNOB FOR THE RADIO.

LIKEWISE, CLIMATE CONTROLS TAKE UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN; NO NEED TO GO SEARCHING FOR THEM WHEN YOU NEED 'EM.

ONE OTHER HINT OF FAMILIARITY WE APPRECIATE, IS FORD'S "COMBINATION LOCK" ACCESS ON THE DOOR PILLAR.

EV POWERTRAINS AND PROPORTIONS ALLOW FOR MAXIMIZATION OF INTERIOR SPACE, AND FORD TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF IT WITH ADULT-SIZE ROOM IN THE REAR SEAT AND THEN SOME.

GIMMICKY OR NOT, THOSE DRIVE MODES PLAY A BIG PART IN DETERMINING YOUR MACH-E EXPERIENCE.

ENGAGE IS THE "NORMAL" SETTING IF YOU WILL, WITH SOFT BLUE AMBIENT LIGHTING, MILD POWERTRAIN NOISES, AND GOOD BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE.

WHISPER TURNS OFF THE SIMULATED SOUNDS, AND SOFTENS OVERALL CAR RESPONSE.

UNBRIDLED IS OF COURSE, YOUR "SPORT" MODE, WITH THROTTLE RESPONSE, STEERING FEEL, AND SOUNDS ALL DIALED UP TO THE MAX; WITH CORRESPONDING ORANGE LIGHTING AND DIGITAL GAUGE DISPLAY.

UNLEASHING IT AT THE TRACK DIDN'T REALLY LEAVE US WITH THAT RAUCOUS V8 MUSTANG FEEL THAT WE MAY HAVE CRAVED, FEELING MORE LIKE A V6 OR THE MUSTANG' COUPE ECOBOOST I4, WHICH ENTIRELY MAKES SENSE, AS THIS IS NOT THE GT.

STILL, WE HIT 60 IN 5.3 SECONDS, DESPITE VERY COLD WINTER TEMPERATURES, AND ON TO A QUARTER-MILE TIME OF 14.3 SECONDS AT 99 MILES PER HOUR.

INSTANTANEOUS RESPONSE, AND "GLUED TO THE ROAD" GRIP; GIVES THE MACH-E SIMILAR COMPETENCY TO JUST ABOUT ANY SIX-FIGURE SPORTS CAR, YOU CAN THINK OF.

SURPRISINGLY, THE MUSTANG'S TRADEMARK DESIGN CUES TRANSLATE QUITE WELL TO THE SUV FORM.

LONG HOOD, EXAGGERATED REAR HAUNCHES, AND OF COURSE, TRI-BAR TAIL LAMPS.

IF THERE'S ANY CONTROVERSY, IT REVOLVES AROUND THE FRONT END.

THERE IS AN OUTLINE OF THE MUSTANG GRILLE SHAPE, AND HEADLIGHTS ARE SIMILAR, BUT THE SMOOTH FACE WON'T WORK FOR EVERYONE.

PRICING STARTS AT $43,995 AND RANGES TO $61,600; AND THAT'S BEFORE ANY AVAILABLE TAX CREDITS, OF COURSE.

WHEN THE ORIGINAL FORD MUSTANG ARRIVED SOME 55 YEARS AGO, IT WAS A WINNER AND EXACTLY WHAT AMERICA NEEDED.

THAT CLEARLY LOOKS TO ALSO BE THE CASE WITH THE VERY IMPRESSIVE 2021 FORD MUSTANG MACH-E. 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 ROAD TEST OF A BIG AUDI SEDAN WITH MUSCLES AND MANNERS.

AND WE'LL GATHER THE CREW FOR A TEST OF THE LATEST HONDA ODYSSEY MINIVAN.

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... 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.