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

JOIN US AS WE TEST THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY SUVs FROM MERCEDES MAYBACH... PAT GOSS THROTTLES UP MORE GREAT CAR CARE ADVICE AT GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART JOINS LAND ROVER FOR A UNIQUE OFFROAD ADVENTURE... THEN, WE'LL SEE WHAT'S NEW IN ENTRY-LEVEL CROSSOVER FUN FROM NISSAN...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

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FIND, DELIVER, INSTALL.

John: IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE MERCEDES MAYBACH SUB-BRAND, YOU KNOW IT DELIVERS THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY SEDAN OPULENCE TO THE SELECT FEW BUYERS FOR WHOM MONEY IS NO OBJECT.

WELL NOW, THEY'RE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO THE ALL-IMPORTANT UTILITY VEHICLE SEGMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THEIR HIGH-DOLLAR HIGH-ROLLER IS ALL ABOUT.

* THERE ARE LUXURY BRANDS LIKE MERCEDES-BENZ AND LEXUS, AND THEN THERE ARE ULTRA-LUXURY BRANDS ALONG THE LIKES OF BENTLEY AND ROLLS-ROYCE.

MAYBACH IS MERCEDES' STRATEGY FOR GOING AFTER THE LATTER, AND THIS 2021 MERCEDES-MAYBACH GLS 600 IS THEIR FIRST SUV EFFORT.

BASED UPON THE ALREADY QUITE LUXURIOUS 3-ROW GLS, THE BRAND'S LARGEST UTILITY, THE MAYBACH GETS A NEW VERTICAL SLAT GRILLE SIMILAR TO THE MAYBACH S-CLASS SEDAN, WITH HOOD-MOUNTED MERCEDES LOGO LEADING THE WAY JUST LIKE THE OLD DAYS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ADDED CHROME TRIM, AND UNIQUE WHEEL CHOICES IN EITHER 22 OR UBER 23 INCH SIZES.

LOTS OF SUBTLE CHANGES TO THE BACK END TOO, INCLUDING THE MAYBACH LOGO ADDED TO THE D-PILLAR.

GLS 600 POWER COMES FROM A 550 HORSEPOWER VERSION OF MERCEDES' TWIN-TURBO V8.

THE 4.0 LITER PUTS OUT 538 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND RECEIVES ANOTHER POTENTIAL 184 POUND-FEET FROM A 48-VOLT EQ BOOST.

4MATIC ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS STANDARD, WORKING WITH A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

SO, THERE WAS MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER FOR ANY SITUATION WE ENCOUNTERED; AND THE MAYBACH DELIVERS A DIFFERENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE COMPARED TO THE STANDARD BENZ GLS THANKS TO AIRMATIC AIR SUSPENSION, ADAPTIVE DAMPING SYSTEM PLUS, E-ACTIVE BODY CONTROL, AND A UNIQUE DRIVING MODE THAT PRIORITIZES RIDE COMFORT FOR THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS.

OTHER MODES RANGE FROM 80'S BUICK FLOATY, TO THE MORE TRADITIONAL NAILED-DOWN EURO VIBE, WITH GOOD STEERING FEEL THROUGH IT ALL.

OFF TO MASON DIXON DRAGWAY FOR FURTHER RESEARCH.

AT THE LINE, IT WAS PRIMED AND READY FOR TAKE-OFF, REQUIRING A STRONG PRESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP FROM CREEPING FORWARD.

UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE AND GOING FULL ON THE ACCELERATOR, A TON OF TORQUE RUSHES ON AS THE GLS 600 DIGS IN AND TAKES OFF, HITTING 60 IN JUST 4.5 SECONDS.

YOU ONLY GET A HINT OF THE NICE V8 GROWL, DUE TO LOTS OF ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS, BUT SHIFTS ARE QUICK WITH A NICE LITTLE JOLT OF PERFORMANCE WITH EACH ONE.

THE QUARTER-MILE PASSED BY IN 13.0 SECONDS AT 107 MILES PER HOUR; AND IT FEELS SUPER STABLE AND SMOOTH AT TRIPLE DIGITS.

IT MAINTAINED QUITE A PACE THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE TOO; BODY ROLL WAS KEPT TO A MINIMUM, AND THE QUICK STEERING WAS VERY ACCURATE.

STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEMS STAYED MOSTLY IN THE BACKGROUND, ONLY SURFACING WHEN WE BEGAN PUSHING EXTREMELY HARD.

ALL IN ALL, A VERY ENTERTAINING VEHICLE, DESPITE ITS SIZE, AND WITHOUT FEELING LIKE A SUPER-STIFF PERFORMANCE UTILITY.

BRAKES WERE VERY CONSISTENT, BRINGING US TO A HALT FROM 60 IN JUST 110 FEET.

PERHAPS THE MOST SURREAL EXPERIENCE OF ALL, AS YOU'RE TOTALLY ISOLATED FROM THE HARSH REALITY OF HOW HARD THE BINDERS ARE WORKING TO STOP THIS HEAVY MACHINE, SO QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY.

MOST EVERYTHING INSIDE HAS A HINT OF FAMILIARITY, YET IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT STEP UP FROM ANY CURRENT MERCEDES-BENZ.

THE DASH IS LINED IN NAPPA LEATHER AND THERE ARE MANY WOOD FINISHES AND METALLIC TRIMS TO CHOOSE.

FRONT SEATS ARE SUPREMELY COMFORTABLE, BUT IT'S THE REAR SEATING AREA THAT SEES THE BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION, TURNING INTO A FIRST CLASS LUXURY SUITE COMPLETE WITH TWIN RECLINING SEATS AND A TABLET FOR CONTROLLING MOST OF THE CAR'S FEATURES, INCLUDING THE STANDARD PANORAMIC ROOF WITH OPAQUE BLIND.

AND FOR GETTING IN AND OUT, WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENED, NOT ONLY ARE ILLUMINATED RUNNING BOARDS DEPLOYED AUTOMATICALLY, BUT THE SUSPENSION LOWERS ITSELF.

WITH PAMPERING THE ULTIMATE PRIORITY, THE MAYBACH DITCHES THE 3RD ROW AND FOLDING 2ND ROW SEATS; SO YOU'RE LIMITED TO JUST 18.4 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO SPACE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 16-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE AN APPROPRIATE 15.4 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THERE'S NOT REALLY ANY SUCH THING AS STICKER SHOCK IN THIS SEGMENT, AS BUYERS ARE WILLING TO PAY A PREMIUM FOR THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE MAYBACH DELIVERS.

BUT, FOR THE RECORD, STARTING PRICE IS $161,550.

WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE, APPEALING TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IS NOT THE GOAL.

THE OBJECT IS TO SUPPLY THE KIND OF ULTRA-LUXURY EXPERIENCE THAT BUYERS WITH THE "MONEY IS NO OBJECT" MEANS ARE LOOKING FOR.

THE 2021 MERCEDES-MAYBACH GLS 600 DELIVERS THAT AND MORE.

* LAND ROVER IS WELL-KNOWN FOR PUTTING THEIR SUVs TO THE TEST IN THE WORLD'S MOST RUGGED SURROUNDINGS.

BUT, IN A FIRST OF ITS KIND EXPERIENCE, LAND ROVER PUT OWNERS, ALONG WITH GUEST PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES AND YES, EVEN MEMBERS OF THE PRESS, TO THE TEST RIGHT ALONGSIDE THEIR NEW DEFENDER TROPHY EDITION.

THE CHALLENGE?

TO COMPETE IN EXTREME OFFROADING WHILE ALSO FACING A VARIETY OF TECHNICAL, PHYSICAL, AND COMMUNICATION OBSTACLES!

AMONG THE COMPETITORS: OUR OWN STEPHANIE HART.

SO, FROM THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, HERE'S HOW IT ALL TURNED OUT.

* Stephanie Hart: I'M HERE AT THE BEAUTIFUL BILTMORE ESTATE.

FOURTEEN TEAMS OF TWO ARE GOING TO BE COMPETING ON 4000 ACRES HERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

WE DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT ABOUT THIS COMPETITION, BUT ORGANIZERS HANDED ME THIS BAG.

IT HAS A GPS IN IT, A GARMIN, AND THERE'S FOOD, I HAVE BUG SPRAY HERE AND WORK GLOVES.

SO NO PRESSURE; NOT REALLY SURE WHAT I'VE GOTTEN MYSELF INTO, BUT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE COMPETITION.

PLEASE, WISH ME LUCK!

FIRST TASK: FIND A LAND ROVER TROPHY EDITION DEFENDER.

NOT AS EASY AS YOU WOULD THINK... AND TRUTH BE TOLD, I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN ANY DEFENDER-CLASSIC OR NEW, BEFORE.

AND NEVER PARTICIPATED IN A COMPETITION LIKE THIS.

PLUS, WITH ONLY A WEEK'S NOTICE...

THERE WAS NO TIME TO TRAIN.

THE DEEP MUD AND WET LEAVES DIDN'T HELP.

IT WAS CHILLY, BUT HUMID.

REFRESHING, YET EXHAUSTING... AND THE BUGS WERE OUT!

THE NIGHT BEFORE, MY PARTNER, FREELANCE JOURNALIST ANDREW GANZ AND I, MADE THIS FLAG.

WE DECIDED TO CALL OUR TEAM, #11, "JOURNALOST."

AFTERALL, ONE OF OUR WORST FEARS WAS GETTING LOST!

AND DID SOMEONE SAY, BEAR... AFTER GETTING A LITTLE TURNED AROUND, WE FOUND OUR WAY AND OUR DEFENDER.

GETTING INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND CRANKING THE AC FELT LIKE HEAVEN.

TURNS OUT, I'LL BE SPENDING ABOUT SIX HOURS BEHIND THE WHEEL OUT IN THE WILDERNESS COMPETING IN THIS NAVIGATIONAL AND ENDURANCE COMPETITION.

AKA GETTING WAY OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE!

WE'RE AWARDED POINTS FOR OUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE SPECIAL TASKS-ACCURATELY AND QUICKLY, RACING THE CLOCK.

THE HIGHEST SCORE WINS.

AS I FOUND OUT, THERE WERE A LOT OF OFF-ROAD CHALLENGES...

WHICH I REALLY LIKED!

PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE TASKS, PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, AND MORE.

"OKAY, I JUST PULLED UP AT OUR 4TH CHALLENGE AND THIS ONE ISN'T GOING TO BE EASY AT ALL.

IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A LOT OF MUSCLE AND A LOT OF STRATEGIC THINKING, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO IT.

WE CAN DO IT.

GOT TO THINK GOOD THOUGHTS.

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL, IF PAT GOSS WAS HERE; WE HAVE TO CHANNEL OUR INNER PAT GOSS FOR THOSE TIPS TO GET US THROUGH THIS ONE."

I'VE NEVER USED A HI-JACK BEFORE... NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE.

THANKFULLY, AN INSTRUCTOR WAS THERE TO GIVE US POINTERS.

WE USED MUSCLES, WE DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD.

AND MY PARTNER WAS A HUGE HELP.

IN THE END, WE LEARNED SOMETHING... AND DIDN'T LOSE A LIMB.

SOME TASKS WERE DEFINITELY MORE DIFFICULT THAN OTHERS.

AND WE WERE COMPETING AGAINST TWO TIME OLYMPIC GOLD SKIER, TED LIGETY AND FORMER PRO VOLLEYBALL PLAYER, GABBY REECE.

NO PRESSURE!

I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE... MY PARTNER IS GUIDING ME.

I'M STEERING, I'M IN NEUTRAL...

IT'S GENTLY PULLING US UP THE HILL.

Ted Ligety: IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE DEFENDER IN A WAY YOU WOULD NEVER DRIVE YOUR OWN CAR, YOU KNOW; GETTING UP ON TWO WHEELS AT TIMES AND GOING DOWN SOME STEEP, REALLY BUMPY, GNARLY STUFF.

STUFF YOU WOULD NEVER REALLY DO ON YOUR NORMAL DAY-TO-DAY SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN AND SURPRISINGLY CHALLENGING.

Stephanie: WE GOT OURSELVES INTO SOME TOUGH DRIVING SITUATIONS, BUT AS THE HOURS PASSED MY CONFIDENCE GREW.

OWNERS TOLD ME, THEY FELT THE SAME WAY.

Avi Gurowitz: IT WAS JUST VERY REWARDING BEING ABLE TO USE THE TECHNOLOGY WITHIN THE VEHICLES AND SEE EVERYTHING BEING UTILIZED AS IT SHOULD BE INSTEAD OF JUST SOMETHING TO LOOK AT.

Stephanie: ONCE THE CLOCK STOPPED, IT FELT FANTASTIC TO UNLACE MY BOOTS...

ALREADY SENSING MY MUSCLES WERE MAD AT ME.

HOW WAS I AS A PARTNER?

Andrew Ganz: YOU...NO... [LAUGHS] AS A PARTNER, YOU WERE AWESOME.

YOU HAD A REALLY POSITIVE SPIRIT, YOU WERE EAGER TO DO EVERYTHING, YOU WERE ADVENTUROUS, YOU WERE OUT THERE PUSHING YOURSELF BEYOND YOUR COMFORT LEVEL, WHICH I THINK THIS EVENT IS KIND OF DESIGNED TO DO.

Stephanie: AT THE END OF THE DAY, POINTS WERE TALLIED... MY PARTNER AND I DIDN'T DO HALF BAD.

WE WON SECOND PLACE IN THE QUALIFIER ROUND FOR OUR WAVE.

BUT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE, IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO WINS OR LOSES, BUT ABOUT THE ADVENTURE... AND ALL THE GREAT LAND ROVER MEMORIES THAT WILL LAST ME FOREVER.

John: NOW, WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS PEDAL YOUR CAR GOES-- OR AT LEAST, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

THIS WEEK PAT HAS INFO ON AN OFTEN NEGLECTED, BUT VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THAT PROCESS.

* Pat Goss: HERE'S A PART THAT, WELL, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE BECAUSE, FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S OUTTA SIGHT, OUTTA MIND.

THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY, AND ITS WHAT CONTROLS THE SPEED OF YOUR VEHICLE.

YOU SEE, IF YOU DEPRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, EITHER A MOTOR OR A CABLE IS GOING TO OPERATE THIS LEVER, AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS OPEN THESE THROTTLE PLATES IN HERE.

THOSE THROTTLE PLATES ALLOW MORE AIR INTO THE ENGINE, WELL THE COMPUTER SENSES THAT INCREASED AMOUNT OF AIR, MIXES THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF FUEL WITH IT AND YOU GO FASTER.

ALRIGHT, WELL ALSO IN THROTTLE BODIES SOMETIMES THERE IS WHAT IS CALLED A "VENTURI EFFECT."

THE VENTURI EFFECT IS WHERE WE TAKE AIR AND WE GO FROM A LARGER CHAMBER INTO SOMETHING THAT KINDA SQUEEZES IT DOWN AND THEN LETS IT EXPAND AGAIN.

THAT ACCELERATES THE SPEED OF THE AIR, BUT IT ALSO COOLS IT, VERY COLD.

SO, WHEN WE HAVE A VENTURI EFFECT, WE CAN HAVE A SITUATION WHERE WE WIND UP WITH FROST THAT FORMS INSIDE THE THROTTLE BODY.

ALRIGHT...NOW, HOW DO WE CORRECT THAT?

WELL, ON SOME VEHICLES, THE WAY THEY DO IT IS BY PUTTING COOLANT THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY.

HERE, WE HAVE A THROTTLE BODY THAT WOULD HAVE A COVER ON IT, THIS WOULD BE A COOLANT PASSAGE IN HERE, POORLY MAINTAINED COOLANT, IT ACTUALLY ATE A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE THROTTLE BODY.

WE CAN SEE IT RIGHT THERE.

NOW, WHAT THAT DID IS...IT ALLOWED COOLANT TO GET INTO THE ENGINE.

THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO HYDROLOCK AND IT WAS CONDEMNED AS HAVING A BAD ENGINE.

WE DIAGNOSED IT.

WE FOUND THIS LEAK IN THE COOLING SYSTEM AND WE WERE ABLE TO SALVAGE THE ENGINE.

ALRIGHT...NOW, IF YOU HAVE A MYSTERIOUS LOSS OF COOLANT, OR YOU HAVE AN ENGINE THAT MYSTERIOUSLY LOCKED UP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BE SURE TO CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR CAR HAS A COOLANT-HEATED THROTTLE BODY, AND LOOK FOR PERFORATIONS THROUGH THE METAL IN THAT THROTTLE BODY.

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

John: TIME TO CROSS MORE FIRST DRIVES OFF OUR TO-DO LIST WITH ANOTHER ROUND OF QUICKSPINS!

* Brian Robinson: BEFORE WE EVEN KNEW THE NAME OF THIS PORSCHE, IT WAS RIPPING AROUND THE NURBURGRING, SETTING THE RECORD FOR FASTEST LAP BY AN SUV.

NOW, WE KNOW IT'S THE 2022 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO GT, AND AFTER DOING SOME RIPPING AROUND OF OUR OWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RECENTLY, WE ALSO KNOW IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

DESPITE NOT BEING CALLED A COUPE, THE TURBO GT IS AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE CAYENNE COUPE BODY STYLE.

RIDE HEIGHT IS 17MM LOWER THAN THE TURBO; WITH SUSPENSION, CHASSIS CONTROL, STEERING, AND JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE BEING RETUNED.

THE TURBO'S 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 GETS CRANKED UP AS WELL; NOW OUTPUTTING 631 HORSEPOWER AND 626 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

ENOUGH TO HIT 60 IN 3.1 SECONDS; ALL IN A VEHICLE, YOU CAN PERFORM CARPOOL DUTY WITH, THOUGH NO TOWING, DUE TO THE CENTRAL-MOUNTED TITANIUM EXHAUST.

PERFORMANCE SUVs HAVEN'T REALLY EVEN BEEN A THING FOR ALL THAT LONG AND LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE AT ALREADY: UTILITY VEHICLES THAT COULD OUTPERFORM ALL OF THOSE SUPERCARS YOU HAD ON YOUR WALL WHEN YOU WERE A KID.

I'M NOT SURE THAT'S EVEN A THING ANYMORE, BUT I AM SURE THIS TURBO GT IS AN ABSOLUTE BEAST AND WILL OUTRUN AND OUT HANDLE JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ON THE STREET RIGHT NOW.

AND IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT PERFORMANCE HERE EITHER; IT MAY NOT BE THE MOST PRACTICAL OF ALL SUVs, BUT THERE'S ENOUGH CARGO SPACE HERE FOR MOST PEOPLE.

AND IT COMES WITH AN UPGRADED MULTIMEDIA INTERFACE FOR ALL OF YOUR SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION NEEDS, AS WELL AS FOUR GT SPORT SEATS, LOTS OF CARBON FIBER AND ALCANTARA MATERIAL.

THE 2022 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO GT IS THE FASTEST CAYENNE PORSCHE HAS EVER OFFERED, STARTS AT AROUND $190,000, AND WILL REACH DEALERSHIPS EARLY NEXT YEAR.

Kyle Scanlon: MOTORWEEK WAS INVITED DOWN TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, TO GET OURSELVES INTO THE ALL-NEW 3RD GENERATION TOYOTA TUNDRA.

DURING OUR TIME DOWN IN TEXAS, WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE ALMOST EVERY TRIM LEVEL OF THE NEW TUNDRA AVAILABLE FOR US TO TEST.

EVERYTHING FROM THE SR5, ALL THE WAY UP TO THE TRD PRO.

WITH LIMITED TIME AVAILABLE IN EACH TRIM, WE SPENT THE MAJORITY OF OUR TIME IN THE LIMITED MODEL 4X4 DOUBLE CAB WITH A 6.5' BED.

ALL THE TUNDRA'S BOAST A 3.5 LITER TWIN TURBO V6 THAT PUMPS OUT 389 HORSEPOWER AND 479 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THERE IS ALSO AN AVAILABLE HYBRID SYSTEM CALLED THE "I-FORCE MAX," WHICH UPS THE POWER TO 437 HORSEPOWER WITH 583 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THIS POWER IS DELIVERED TO THE WHEELS BY A 10-SPEED ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH OFFERS SEQUENTIAL SHIFT MODE, UPHILL/DOWNHILL SHIFT LOGIC, AND TOW/HAUL DRIVING MODES.

WE SPENT MOST OF OUR TIME DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS AND SURFACE STREETS ABOUT AN HOUR OUTSIDE OF SAN ANTONIO.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THIS TRUCK IS ABOUT THE MOST COMFORTABLE I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR DRIVING SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

THE STEERING IS LIGHT, BUT YET--IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE TO DRIVER INPUTS.

THE SUSPENSION, WHICH OFFERS AN INDEPENDENT DOUBLE-WISHBONE FRONT SUSPENSION WITH STABILIZER BAR AND TWIN-TUBE SHOCK ABSORBERS; AND MULIT LINK REAR SUSPENSION WITH OUTBOARD-MOUNTED COIL SPRINGS, SOAK UP EVERY BUMP AND POTHOLE ON THE ROAD WITH EASE AND JUST GIVES THE TRUCK A MUCH LESS "TRUCK-LIKE" FEEL.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE FEATURES THEY'VE ADDED TO THIS ALL-NEW TOYOTA TUNDRA IS ALSO PROBABLY ONE THING YOU'RE MOST LIKELY TO NOTICE WHEN YOU GET INSIDE THE TRUCK AND THAT IS AN AVAILABLE 14 INCH INFOTAINMENT TOUCHSCREEN SYSTEM.

AND THIS THING IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

NOT ONLY IS IT INSANELY USER FRIENDLY BUT YOU CAN USE VOICE COMMANDS, EVERYTHING IS RIGHT THERE AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEARCH THE SCREEN TOO MUCH TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THAT REALLY HELPS WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE YOUR ATTENTION OFF THE ROAD ALL TOO MUCH.

TO ADD TO THE COMFORT, THE TUNDRA OFFERS DUAL ZONE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL, HEATED AND VENTILATED FRONT SEATS, AND SOFTEX-TRIMMED 8-WAY POWER ADJUSTABLE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS WITH 2-WAY POWER-ADJUSTABLE LUMBAR SUPPORT, WHICH IS KEY FOR THOSE LONG DAYS ON THE ROAD.

THE TUNDRA IS NOT ONLY EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE; IT IS EQUALLY AS RUGGED, WHICH WAS PROVEN ON THE OFF-ROAD DRIVING COURSE.

THE COURSE HAD EVERYTHING FROM SAND AND GRAVEL SECTIONS, TO A ROCK CRAWLING SECTION, TO A MUD PIT, AND EVEN MORE.

AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PIECES OF TECH IN THE TUNDRA WAS THE CRAWL FEATURE.

IT OPERATES IN THE SAME WAY AS THE DOWNHILL ASSIST CONTROL, BUT INSTEAD OF GOING DOWNHILL SLOWLY, THIS TIME, YOU CLIMB.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, WHAT AN EXPERIENCE BRINGING THIS FULL-SIZE TRUCK UP TO A STEEP SECTION OF ROCKS, TURNING ON THE CRAWL CONTROL, LIFTING OFF THE BRAKE, AND THE TRUCK STARTS TO SAFELY AND STEADILY CLIMB UP THE STEEP GRADE ALL ON IT'S OWN.

NEVER LOSING TRACTION, OR GETTING OUT OF SORTS.

THE NEW 3RD GENERATION TUNDRA HAS A TON TO OFFER VIRTUALLY EVERY TRUCK BUYER ON THE MARKET!

PRICING INFORMATION HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED YET, BUT STAY TUNED HERE ON MOTORWEEK FOR A MORE IN DEPTH REVIEW!

John: THE NISSAN KICKS ARRIVED FOR 2018, AS A MORE MAINSTREAM REPLACEMENT OF NISSAN'S FUNKY JUKE.

IT MAY HAVE HAD A LOT LESS PERSONALITY THAN THE JUKE, BUT IT DELIVERED BIG TIME AS A FEATURE PACKED, EFFICIENT, AND GOOD-LOOKING ENTRY-LEVEL CROSSOVER.

SO LET'S FIND OUT WHERE AN UPDATED KICKS HEADS NEXT!

* THE NISSAN KICKS IS PART OF THE NEWER BREED OF STREET-SAVVY UTILITY VEHICLES; CAR-BASED YES, BUT WITH NO ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE EVEN AVAILABLE.

INSTEAD, IT PRIORITIZES THE URBAN LIFE; BEING NIMBLE, STYLISH, AND ECONOMICAL TO BUY AND LIVE WITH.

A MID-CYCLE REFRESH FOR 2021 SEES THE KICKS GET BOTH NEW STYLE AND NEW FEATURES.

WITH SO MANY VEHICLES IN THIS ENTRY-LEVEL CROSSOVER SEGMENT ALREADY, BEING A LITTLE QUIRKY TO ATTRACT ATTENTION IS GENERALLY A GOOD THING; AND MOST WOULD AGREE THE KICKS LOOKS PRETTY COOL.

UP FRONT, THE BUMPER, GRILLE, AND HEADLIGHTS ARE ALL UPDATED.

THERE ARE FIVE DIFFERENT TWO-TONE PAINT COMBINATIONS AVAILABLE; THE TOP SR MODEL GETS DARK SATIN CHROME TRIM, REAR SPOILER, BLACK ROOF RAILS, AND 17 INCH BLACK ALLOYS, ONE OF NEW WHEEL DESIGNS AVAILABLE FOR '21.

AN OPTIONAL EXTERIOR PACKAGE ADDS EXHAUST FINISHER AND CROSSBARS FOR THE ROOF RAILS.

THINGS DEFINITELY APPEAR BUILT TO A PRICE INSIDE, BUT IT'S FAR FROM THE MOST EGREGIOUS IN THE SEGMENT, AND UPGRADES MAKE SURE THE ALL-IMPORTANT TECH AND CONNECTIVITY FEATURES ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

IN FACT, APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO ARE NOW STANDARD.

UPGRADED INFOTAINMENT FEATURES AN 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY ON ALL BUT THE BASE MODEL, WHICH GETS A 7.0 INCH SCREEN.

THERE'S COOL AMBIENT LIGHTING, MORE USB PORTS, NICER SEAT MATERIALS, AND A NEW FULL-LENGTH CENTER CONSOLE.

REAR SEAT LEGROOM IS A LITTLE TIGHT AS IS TYPICAL IN THE SEGMENT.

BUT, SEATS-UP CARGO SPACE OF 25.3 CUBIC FEET IS ABUNDANT, AND NICELY FINISHED.

IT EXPANDS TO 53.1 WITH SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

WITH NOT A LOT OF HORSEPOWER COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, MANY OF US WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SEEN SOME IMPROVEMENTS HERE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK.

THE KICKS SOLDIERS ON WITH ITS NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 1.6 LITER I4; AND OUTPUT IS ACTUALLY DOWN 3.0 HORSEPOWER FROM '18 TO 122, WITH JUST 114 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

SOME MIGHT CALL IT UNDERPOWERED, WE'LL JUST SAY THAT'S ONE LESS THING TO WORRY ABOUT WHEN ONE OF YOUR KIDS IS BEHIND THE WHEEL.

AND REALLY, IT'S THE SLOW RESPONSIVENESS OF THE STANDARD CVT TRANSMISSION THAT IS MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OVERALL SLUGGISH FEEL.

THERE WAS DEFINITELY NO REAL SENSE OF URGENCY LEAVING THE LINE AT OUR TEST TRACK.

THE LAUNCH IS A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE IN SPORT MODE, BUT MOSTLY CONSISTENT WITH A SLIGHT CHIRP OF THE FRONT TIRES AND THEN A SLOW BUILD OF POWER.

IT TOOK US A FULL 10.0 SECONDS TO HIT 60, A FEW TENTHS LONGER THAN THE ORIGINAL KICKS; SLOW, BUT AGAIN NOT TERRIBLE FOR THE SEGMENT.

BEST QUARTER-MILE TIME WAS 17.9 AT 78 MILES PER HOUR.

THE BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT WE NOTICED CAME AT THE OTHER END OF THE TRACK; AS BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE WERE DRUM BRAKES ON THE REAR AXLE OF THE KICKS ORIGINALLY.

NOW, SV AND SR TRIMS GET DISCS, WHICH RESULTED IN A 10-FOOT IMPROVEMENT IN STOPPING DISTANCE; 105 FEET FROM 60.

OVER IN OUR CONE COURSE, THE KICKS FEELS LIGHT ON ITS FEET AND TOSSABLE.

THE SUSPENSION IS VERY SOFT THOUGH, SO IF YOU PUSH TOO HARD, IT TENDS TO ROLL AND PLOW UNTIL STABILITY CONTROL INTERVENES.

BUT, BACK OFF JUST A LITTLE AND IT FEELS QUITE NIMBLE AND LANE-CHANGE WILLING WITH DECENT GRIP FROM THE TIRES.

GOOD NUMBERS WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING AS WELL; $20,775 TO START, AND JUST A FEW GRAND MORE FOR SV AND SR TRIMS.

SO, THE NISSAN KICKS MAY NOT BE THE FASTEST VEHICLE OUT THERE, BUT IT IS ONE OF THE FASTEST SELLING AMONG THE NEW CROP OF SMALL URBAN CROSSOVERS.

PROOF THAT NISSAN HAS DONE THEIR HOMEWORK, AND IS DELIVERING WHAT MATTERS MOST AT A PRICE-POINT THAT WORKS FOR A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND FOR 2021, THIS PUMPED UP KICKS SHOULD FIND EVEN MORE TRACTION.

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 SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR WAGON BUYERS FROM VOLVO.

THEN CHARGE WHEELS-FIRST INTO A TEST OF THE JEEP WRANGLER 4XE.

UNTIL THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS.

WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK!

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