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

JOIN US AS WE FIND ROOM A-PLENTY IN THE ALL-NEW TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN... PAT GOSS FINDS A HIGHER VIEW OF THE ROAD AND TRAIL... GREG CARLOSS TAKES US OVER THE EDGE AT THE TRACK AND IS IN IT TO WIN IT... THEN, WE'LL TEST KIA'S ALL-NEW MIDSIZE SEDAN ENTRY, THE K5...

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: WHEN LOOKING FOR A DAILY DRIVER TO HAUL YOUR BROOD AND THEIR FRIENDS AROUND, IT'S HARD TO BEAT A MINIVAN.

AND WHILE THEY CONTINUE TO GET A BAD RAP, THEY ALSO SOLDIER ON, BEING THE MOST PRACTICAL VEHICLE ON THE ROAD.

WHILE, INNOVATING AND CHANGING THE SEGMENT ALONG THE WAY.

AND HERE'S THE LATEST GAME CHANGER.

THE NEW TOYOTA SIENNA.

ALL ABOARD!

* AS AMERICAN'S TASTES HAVE CHANGED, SO TOO HAS THE MOST AMERICAN OF ALL VEHICLES, THE MINIVAN.

NO LONGER JUST BOXY, BORING PEOPLE MOVERS; IN ORDER TO COMPETE WITH SUVs, MINIVANS HAVE BECOME MORE STYLISH, MORE EFFICIENT, AND INCREASINGLY MORE ALL-WEATHER CAPABLE.

ALL WITHOUT LOSING THE PRACTICALITY, SPACE, AND FLEXIBILITY THE GENRE IS KNOWN FOR.

THE 2021 TOYOTA SIENNA IS THE LATEST NEXT-GEN MINIVAN TO ARRIVE, AND A BIG PART OF TOYOTA'S PLAN FOR THIS 4TH GENERATION PEOPLE MOVER IS ENABLING A MINIVAN TO FIT INTO A WIDER VARIETY OF LIFESTYLES.

THAT MEANS YOU CAN STICK WITH BASIC BUT WELL-OUTFITTED FAMILY TRANSPORTATION WITH SEATING FOR EITHER SEVEN OR EIGHT PASSENGERS.

OR, YOU CAN HEAD TOWARDS A SPORTY DIRECTION WITH XSE TRIM, OR OPT FOR THE ULTIMATE IN LUXURY WITH NEW PLATINUM FITMENT; PLUS, PLENTY OF OPTIONS IN BETWEEN.

BEING SPORT-MINDED TYPES, THE MOTORWEEK FAMILY OPTED FOR A TEST OF THIS SEVEN-PASSENGER SIENNA XSE.

FEATURING SOFTEX SPORT-TRIMMED FRONT SEATS WITH COLOR STITCHING, POWER ADJUST, AND HEAT.

THE SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS INCLUDE A SUPER LONG SLIDE FEATURE FOR LOTS OF INTERIOR FLEXIBILITY AND EASY ACCESS TO THE ADULT-SIZED THIRD ROW.

IT'S SPLIT 60/40 AND FOLDS QUICKLY INTO THE FLOOR FOR CARGO.

AH, MINIVAN CARGO SPACE, THAT'S WHAT MANY BUYERS CRAVE MOST; 33.5 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, 75.2 BEHIND THE SECOND ROW, AND A MAX OF 101.0 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE FRONT SEATS.

NOW THAT'S DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM LAST YEAR.

ONE REASON IS THE SECOND ROW SEATS ARE NO-LONGER REMOVABLE.

STILL, THE SIENNA HAS ALMOST 20% MORE CARGO SPACE THAN A HIGHLANDER SUV.

AND, LOTS OF EXTRA STORAGE NOOKS THROUGHOUT THE AIRY CABIN GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS MAKING UP FOR IT.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS WIDE, CLEAN, MODERN, AND LESS DRIVER CENTRIC THAN BEFORE.

THERE'S A LARGE FIXED CENTER SHIFT CONSOLE WITH LOWER TRAY, TWIN GLOVE BOXES, AND OF COURSE, 16-CUP HOLDERS.

AN XSE PLUS PACKAGE ADDS WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING AND UPGRADED JBL AUDIO WITH NAVIGATION ON THE DASH TOP 9-INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE NEW SIENNA'S MASTER PLAN WAS INCREASED EFFICIENCY.

AND FOR THAT, NOT ONLY HAS TOYOTA ADDED A HYBRID POWERTRAIN TO THE SIENNA LINEUP, BUT THEY'VE MADE IT STANDARD ACROSS THE BOARD, WHICH TECHNICALLY NOW MAKES IT THE WORLD'S LARGEST PRIUS.

AND REST ASSURED YOU CAN STILL TOW THE TYPICAL MINIVAN MAX OF 3,500 POUNDS.

IT'S AN UPGRADED VERSION OF THE CAMRY'S HYBRID SYSTEM II, WITH MORE POWER ALL AROUND.

THE 2.5 LITER I4 ENGINE INCREASES ITS OUTPUT TO 189 HORSEPOWER AND 176 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TWIN ELECTRIC MOTORS ADD 174 KILOWATTS OF ASSIST, FOR A TOTAL OUTPUT OF 245 HORSEPOWER, 37 MORE THAN THE CAMRY.

OF COURSE, IT ALSO MEANS THERE'S A CVT ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

BUT THAT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR GREAT GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS OF 36-CITY, 36-HIGHWAY, AND 36-COMBINED.

ALL FOR A MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; USING JUST 9.2 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH ANNUAL CO2 EMISSIONS OF 4.1 TONS.

THE SIENNA RIDES ON A MINIVAN VERSION OF TOYOTA'S NEW GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE PLATFORM.

AND, WHILE AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OPTION IS NOT NEW TO SIENNA, THE FORMER MECHANICAL SYSTEM IS NOW REPLACED WITH REAR ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE LIKE THE HYBRID HIGHLANDER AND RAV4.

SO, LESS COMPLEXITY AND OF COURSE, MORE EFFICIENCY.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE XSE ALSO GETS A SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION; BASICALLY, A SLIGHT TIGHTENING UP OF THE REAR MULTI-LINK SETUP WITH STABILIZER BARS; THOUGH RESPONSE OF THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING IS ALSO HEIGHTENED; IT ALL RESULTED IN MUCH LESS BODY ROLL THAN THE TYPICAL MINIVAN.

ANOTHER SURPRISE WAS THE AMOUNT OF WHEEL-SPIN, WE HAD TO DEAL WITH COMING OFF THE LINE WITH OUR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE TESTER.

THAT CERTAINLY SAYS, THERE'S MORE THAN AMPLE HYBRID POWER.

A 0-60 TIME OF 7.9 SECONDS IS NEITHER ROCKET-LIKE OR A SLUG, YET, CLEARLY POINTS TO EFFICIENCY BEING A MUCH BIGGER PRIORITY HERE.

THE CVT KEEPS POWER DELIVERY CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT THE QUARTER-MILE, WITH THE SIENNA FINISHING IN 16.1 SECONDS AT 87 MILES PER HOUR.

NOW, IT WASN'T LONG AFTER CHRYSLER INTRODUCED THEIR MINIVAN TO THE WORLD, THAT TOYOTA HAD A QUICK RESPONSE, WITH THE EXPERTLY-NAMED TOYOTA VAN...NEED TO CHANGE THE OIL?

JUST FLIP UP THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TOYOTA GOT MORE SERIOUS WITH 1991s PREVIA, AND ULTIMATELY ON TO THE SIENNA IN 1998 WHEN MINIVANS OFFICIALLY BECAME NOT SO MINI.

IT'S BEEN ALL FAMILY FRIENDLY SINCE.

2021 SIENNA PRICING STARTS AT $35,635; OUR MID LEVEL XSE TESTER GOES FOR $43,175, WITH TOP PLATINUM TRIM AT $51,075.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE PRICING VARIES BY TRIM LEVEL, FROM 560 TO $2,000.

SAY WHAT YOU WANT, FOR THE ULTIMATE IN FAMILY VERSATILITY, IT'S HARD TO BEAT THE MINIVAN.

AND WHILE SUVs HAVE CERTAINLY TAKEN OVER FAMILY HAULING DUTIES FOR THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS, MODERN MINIVANS, LIKE THIS 2021 TOYOTA SIENNA, CONTINUE TO PROVE THAT FOR MOST FAMILIES, THEY'RE THE BETTER AND SMARTER CHOICE.

* * Flashback Henry Kopacz: EVER WONDER WHAT IT WOULD FEEL LIKE EXPERIENCING STOCK CAR RACING FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WELL, I KNOW, I HAVE AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE HERE AT DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY WHERE YOU CAN JUMP INTO ONE OF THESE BADBOYS AND BE YOUR OWN RACING LEGEND FOR ONE DAY.

[ENGINE REVVING] John: FOR MANY RACE FANS HERE IN AMERICA, NASCAR REIGNS SUPREME WITH ITS NEARLY CONSTANT HIGH-SPEED, PEDAL TO THE METAL OVAL TRACK ACTION.

WELL, OUR GREG CARLOSS WANTED TO GET IN ON THAT ACTION AND HE FOUND HIS CHANCE TO TRY OUT AT VIRGINIA'S DOMINION RACEWAY.

* Greg Carloss: SINCE, JOINING MOTORWEEK , I'VE DRIVEN RACE TRACKS ALL OVER THE WORLD, MOSTLY ROAD COURSES WITH NO COMPETITION.

SO, I THOUGHT...IT WAS TIME TO GET OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND INTO AN ACTUAL RACE ON AN OVAL TRACK.

SO, DOWN I WENT, JUST SOUTH OF FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA, TO ONE OF OUR FAVORITE VENUES, DOMINION RACEWAY.

Chris Stefi: WELL, WE'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, WE'VE GOT A TON OF DIFFERENT DIVISIONS, TON OF CARS HERE...RUNNING IN THE NASCAR ADVANCED AUTO PARTS WEEKLY SERIES...AS PART OF THE NASCAR HOMETOWN TRACKS.

IT'S LIKE THE MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SERIES, AND IT'S YOUR HOME GROUND.

THEY RUN EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT, TYPICALLY.

THAT'S WHERE YOUR LOCAL STARS COME FROM.

MY NAME IS SERGIO PEÑA, AND I'M DRIVING THE NUMBER 01 LATE MODEL STOCK CAR TODAY IN THE LATE MODEL CLASS, RACING IS MY LIFE.

SO FOR ME, IT'S DEFINITELY A CAREER.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO TRY TO BE A PROFESSIONAL RACE CAR DRIVER IN WHATEVER SERIES IT MIGHT BE.

Greg: NOW, I'VE GOT SOME DRIVING CHOPS, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HANG WITH THE LIKES OF SERGIO, WHICH IS WHY I'M COMPETING IN A LOWER CLASS KNOWN AS "ANY CAR."

THE ANY CAR SERIES, AS YOU MIGHT GUESS, IS OPEN TO JUST ABOUT ANY CAR.

AS LONG AS IT'S NOT TOO HEAVILY MODIFIED AND IT HAS THE PROPER SAFETY GEAR.

AND OF COURSE, YOU JUST GOTTA STICKER IT UP.

THIS IS PETE SULLIVAN.

A DECORATED DRIVER IN THE ANY CAR SERIES, HE WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO LEND ME ONE OF HIS RACE CARS.

PETE, THIS IS MY FIRST TIME OUT RACING AND YOU'RE GOING TO PROVIDE THE CAR.

CAN YOU TELL ME, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT?

Pete Sullivan: IT'S A '98 CAMARO Z28.

WE HAD TO DO A MOTOR SWAP FOR IT.

WE TOWED IT IN, IT HAD A BLOWN MOTOR IN IT.

THEY DROPPED IT OFF TO US, NEVER PICKED IT UP.

SO, I DECIDED TO TURN IT INTO A RACE CAR.

Greg: AND WITH THAT, IT WAS TIME TO STRAP IN FOR A LITTLE PRACTICE.

THIS CAR DEFINITELY IS AS ADVERTISED.

IT IS FAST...IT'S RESPONSIVE, WOO THIS THING FIRES OFF CORNERS, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SETUP, NICE AND EASY, AND PATIENT THROUGH HERE.

STAY DOWN ON THE LINE, GET ON IT.

OH, THAT WAS PRETTY.

WITH PETE'S CAR, SO DIALED IN MY CONFIDENCE GREW WITH EACH LAP, THAT IS UNTIL THE FINAL MOMENTS OF QUALIFYING.

AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARED, A BLOWN POWER STEERING PUMP PROVED TO BE THE CULPRIT, MEANING THAT DESPITE QUALIFYING SECOND, I'D BE DRIVING THE ENTIRE 20 LAP RACE WITH NO POWER STEERING.

ALRIGHT, AND HERE WE GO... DEFINITELY SKETCHY WITHOUT MY POWER STEERING... UH-OH, SOMEBODY GETTING LOOSE IN FRONT OF ME... [A CAR HITS GREG'S CAR] ALRIGHT!

RUBBING'S RACING AS THEY SAY AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST CAUTION.

NOT THE START, I WAS LOOKING FOR AS I QUICKLY FELL BACK IN THE FIELD.

BUT AS THE RACE WENT ON I HAD MY MOMENTS.

PASSING ON THE OUTSIDE, THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD OVERTAKE...I THINK.

FOLLOWED BY MORE OF THESE MOMENTS.

MAN, I AM JUST STRAIGHT GETTING PASSED NOW...

THE LACK OF POWER STEERING PROVED TO BE A BIGGER ISSUE THAN I EXPECTED AND IF IT WEREN'T FOR A LATE RED FLAG OFFERING SOME REPRIEVE, MY GUMBY ARMS MAY HAVE GIVEN OUT AND CHECKERED FLAG...WE MADE IT!

WE MADE IT THROUGH THE RACE.

I DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING.

MY ARMS ARE DOG TIRED, THERE WERE A COUPLE OF WRECKS.

I DID NOT FINISH FIRST, BUT I FINISHED AND I'M HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

WHAT A GREAT TIME.

AS IT TURNS OUT, I'M NOT ON THE FAST TRACK THROUGH THE NASCAR RANKS, BUT HEY, AT LEAST I STILL HAVE MY DAY JOB.

John: PAT GOSS IS GETTING HIGH DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE AND IT'S ALL PERFECTLY LEGAL.

* Pat Goss: SO, YOU FINALLY GOT YOUR 4X4 AND WELL...IN IT'S STOCK FORM, IT'LL DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THE AVERAGE OFF-ROADING, MAYBE YOU WANNA GET TO THE MOUNTAIN CABIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT - BUT YOU'RE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN THAT AND YOU WANNA DO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS.

WELL, IN ORDER TO DO THAT, THAT MEANS YOU'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOU MORE ARTICULATION IN THE SUSPENSION OF YOUR VEHICLE.

SO, YOU GO ON THE INTERNET AND FIND ALL KINDS OF KITS ON THERE FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME AND HOW DO YOU MAKE A DECISION.

WELL, ONE THING THAT I'D SUGGEST IS TO GO BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER OF YOUR PARTICULAR MAKE AND MODEL CAUSE LOTS OF TIMES YOU'LL FIND THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY MADE UP KITS THAT WILL GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.

THEY COME COMPLETE WITH CONTROL ARMS AND EXTENDERS FOR THE SWAY BAR LINKS AND EXTENDED SHOCK ABSORBERS.

THINGS LIKE THAT...THAT YOU MIGHT NOT GET IN ONE OF THESE ECONOMY KITS WHICH ALSO GIVES YOU WELL...ECONOMY.

LOTS OF TIMES, THEY DON'T GIVE YOU DRIVEABILITY WHERE THE FACTORY KIT WILL.

SO, DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE BUYING THE RIGHT THING.

NOW, IF YOU WANNA GO FARTHER THAN THAT AND WANT TO GET INTO SOME SERIOUS ROCK CRAWLING AND THINGS LIKE THAT WELL THAT MEANS, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE WE SEE OVER HERE.

AND THAT'S HUGE TIRES, AND LOTS OF ARTICULATION IN THE SUSPENSION.

YOU MAY HAVE TO CHANGE HUBS, BEARINGS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS BUT AGAIN DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND MAKE SURE YOU DO QUALITY WORK OTHERWISE YOU'LL HAVE SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T FUNCTION AS IT SHOULD.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER, WELL, IF YOU PUT BIGGER TIRES ON YOUR VEHICLE YOU'LL PROBABLY NEED A KIT LIKE THIS WHICH REINFORCES THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER BECAUSE BIGGER TIRES ARE HEAVIER.

YOU WILL NEED A REPOSITIONING KIT THAT REPOSITIONS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT.

AND YOU WILL ALSO, IN MANY CASES, NEED SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

THIS GIVES YOU AN EXTENDED JACKING HEIGHT FOR YOUR JACK BUT, DO IT ALL RIGHT AND YOU'LL HAVE A VEHICLE THAT DOES WHAT YOU WANT AND IS STILL SERVICEABLE, STILL DRIVES DECENT AND IS A LOT OF FUN.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS FULLY RESTORED 1988 DODGE DAKOTA LE IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

KEVIN HEADLEY FROM ALBERTA, CANADA KEEPS HIS 2-DOOR STRICTLY AS A SUMMER RIDE, WITH ITS STOCK 3.9 LITER V6 AND REBUILT 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR REBUILT RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... TIME NOW TO HEAD INSIDE TO THE MOTORNEWS DESK FOR ALL THE LATEST WITH LAUREN MORRISON.

Lauren Morrison: DRIVERS WANT ELECTRIC VEHICLES, BUT MAJOR CONCERNS STILL HAVE THEM PUMPING THE BRAKES.

A CONSUMER REPORTS SURVEY FOUND THAT SEVEN IN TEN PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN GETTING AN EV IN THE FUTURE, BUT CHARGING AND UPFRONT PRICES REMAIN TOP ISSUES.

ALTHOUGH CONSUMER REPORTS FOUND THAT THE AVERAGE DRIVER WOULD ONLY STOP AS LITTLE AS SIX TIMES PER YEAR AT A PUBLIC CHARGING STATION, NEARLY FIVE IN TEN PEOPLE SAID, "THE LACK OF PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS IS WHAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK.

AND PRICING IS ALSO A DEAL BREAKER."

SIXTY PERCENT OF U.S.

DRIVERS AGREE THAT FEDERAL, AND STATE INCENTIVES, AND TAX REBATES FOR EVs SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL BUYERS.

MORE THAN SEVEN IN TEN BUYERS ALSO AGREE THAT AUTOMAKERS SHOULD MAKE A WIDER VARIETY OF VEHICLE TYPES AVAILABLE AS EV, AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE SOLVED SOON WITH THE EV LINEUPS, WE'VE SEEN THAT ARE SET TO DEBUT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

SELF-DRIVING STARTUP NURO CAN NOW OPERATE AND CHARGE FOR DELIVERIES IN CALIFORNIA.

NURO IS THE FIRST COMPANY TO BE AWARDED A COMMERCIAL PERMIT IN THE STATE.

THE SERVICE WILL START WITH THEIR FLEET OF PRIUS VEHICLES IN FULLY AUTONOMOUS MODE, FOLLOWED BY THEIR CUSTOM-DESIGNED ELECTRIC R2 VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE.

AND IF ANYONE HAD DOUBTS ABOUT THE COMING ALL-ELECTRIC FORD F-150, THIS VIDEO SHOWS ITS JUST AS MUCH FUN AS ANY OTHER F-150.

FORD PUT OUT THIS VIDEO OF A PROTOTYPE F-150 EV DOING SOME WINTER TESTING IN THE SNOW.

BETWEEN DRIFTING AND DOING DOUGHNUTS, YOU'D NEVER KNOW THIS WASN'T A GAS-POWERED TRUCK EXCEPT FOR THAT DECAL ON THE SIDE.

JUST A TASTE OF WHAT WE'RE IN FOR, AS THE F-150 EV IS STILL A YEAR AND A HALF AWAY, DUE BY MID-2022.

AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS!

Greg: MANY TIMES, LIVING WITH A SMALL VEHICLE ENTAILS A LOT OF SACRIFICES.

WELL, AS WE'VE LEARNED THESE LAST 10-MONTHS, OUR 2020 FIAT 500X REQUIRES VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF SMALL CAR COMPROMISE.

A CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT GETS UP OR DOWN TO TEMPERATURE VERY QUICKLY, THE RESPONSIVE AND INTUITIVE UCONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, AND PLENTY OF ROOM TO STRETCH OUT, ARE ALL SMALL THINGS THAT MAKE LIVING WITH A SMALL CAR MUCH EASIER.

THE 500X'S CONVENIENCE FEATURES ARE GREAT, BUT ITS AGILITY IS WHAT MOST OF THE COMMENTS IN THE LOGBOOK REVOLVE AROUND.

IT'S A BASIC FORMULA; QUICK STEERING PLUS, A RESPONSIVE POWERTRAIN MINUS AN EXTENDED WHEELBASE EQUALS DRIVER ENGAGEMENT.

IN THIS STRANGE YEAR, IT HAS TAKEN US LONGER THAN TYPICAL TO PASS THE 10,000 MILE MARK, BUT WE'VE FINALLY DONE IT, AVERAGING 26.2 MILES PER GALLON ALONG THE WAY, AND HAVE HAD NO MECHANICAL ISSUES TO DEAL WITH SO FAR.

AS FOR HANDLING WINTER'S WORST?

THE FIAT 500X HAS SLICED RIGHT THROUGH EVERYTHING MOTHER NATURE HAS THROWN AT THE MID-ATLANTIC WITH EASE.

KEEP IN MIND, THE VEHICLE DOES SHARE A CHASSIS WITH BOTH THE JEEP RENEGADE AND THE JEEP COMPASS, AND WHILE FIAT MAKES NO CLAIMS OF BEING "TRAIL RATED" THE 500X'S STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM FEATURES MUCH OF THE SAME HARDWARE AND CAPABILITIES AS ITS JEEP COUSINS.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON OUR MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: TIMES ARE CERTAINLY TOUGH IN THE MIDSIZE FAMILY SEDAN SEGMENT, BUT RATHER THAN ABANDON IT, KIA IS DEPLOYING A RATHER INTERESTING STRATEGY.

THEY'RE TURNING AWAY FROM THE OPTIMA, AND ALL OF THE MOMENTUM IT BUILT IN RECENT YEARS, AND LAUNCHING AN ALL-NEW K5 MIDSIZE SEDAN.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT, IF THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

* KIA'S OPTIMA IS NO MORE, BEING REPLACED BY THIS 2021 KIA K5.

THAT'S HOW THE OPTIMA WAS KNOWN IN MOST OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

SO, THE K5 IS STILL A MIDSIZE 4-DOOR, STILL SHARING A PLATFORM WITH THE HYUNDAI SONATA, BUT NOW REBRANDED, HOPING TO CAPITALIZE ON THE ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT CREATED BY KIA'S STINGER PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED FASTBACK SPORT SEDAN.

THE K5 IS LONGER, LOWER, AND WIDER THAN THE OPTIMA, AND WILL BE THE FIRST FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE BASED KIA SEDAN TO BE AVAILABLE WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

A FEATURE THE SONATA DOES NOT OFFER.

THE KIA STINGER'S INFLUENCE CAN BE SEEN IN THE K5'S AGGRESSIVE WIDE-GRILLE FACE, AND THICK HATCHBACK-LIKE C-PILLARS.

THE ZIGZAG DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS ARE MEANT TO RESEMBLE THE EKG TRACES OF A HEART MONITOR; 16, 18, OR 19 INCH WHEELS ARE AVAILABLE.

IT'S CERTAINLY A SPORTY TAKE, COMPARED TO THE SONATA'S GRACEFUL ELEGANCE.

INSIDE, THINGS ARE NOT A TOTAL DEPARTURE FROM THE PREVIOUS OPTIMA, BUT THERE IS A LITTLE MORE OPENNESS TO IT, AND AN INCREASINGLY POLISHED PRESENCE; ALONG WITH SLEEKER FINISHES, AND A MORE 3-DIMENSIONAL LINEAR DASH.

DEPENDING ON TRIM, YOU'LL GET EITHER AN 8 OR 10 INCH TOUCHSCREEN MOUNTED HIGH IN FRONT OF THE DASH, WHILE IN BETWEEN THE SEATS, IS A TALL CONSOLE WITH A TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC SHIFTER.

OUR EX TESTER FEATURED WIRELESS CONNECTION FOR APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO; PLUS, WIRELESS CHARGING FOR YOUR PHONE; NORMAL, SPORT, CUSTOM, AND SMART DRIVE MODES, AND A PANORAMIC SUNROOF.

AN OPTIONAL PREMIUM PACKAGE ADDS A 12 SPEAKER BOSE STEREO WITH ACTIVE SOUND DESIGN, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND DRIVER ASSIST FEATURES.

STANDARD SAFETY INCLUDES FORWARD COLLISION-AVOIDANCE ASSIST, BLIND-SPOT COLLISION-AVOIDANCE, AND LANE KEEP ASSIST.

THE SEATING POSITION IS FAIRLY HIGH FOR A FAMILY SEDAN, BUT THERE'S GOOD COMFORT TO BE HAD, AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO CLIMB OUT OF IT.

THE K5 HAS ALMOST 2.0 INCHES OF ADDITIONAL WHEELBASE COMPARED TO THE OPTIMA; PRIMARILY TO THE BENEFIT OF REAR SEAT PASSENGERS, THERE'S MORE THAN ENOUGH ROOM BACK HERE FOR SIX-FOOT ADULTS.

AND THE SEATBACKS FOLD EASILY AFTER YANKING THE TRUNK-MOUNTED PULL-TABS, TO EXPAND ON THE 16.0 CUBIC-FEET OF TRUNK SPACE.

AT LAUNCH, ALL TRIMS COME WITH THE SONATA'S 1.6 LITER I4 TURBO ENGINE, PRODUCING 180 HORSEPOWER AND 195 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S ATTACHED TO AN 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

AS MENTIONED EARLIER; ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CAN BE ADDED, FOR $2,100.

AND YOU GET A SENSE OF ITS PURPOSE, AS KIA ACTUALLY CALLS IT, "ALL-WEATHER-DRIVE," AND IT ADDS A SNOW SETTING TO THE DRIVE MODES.

ARRIVING LATER WILL BE A 290 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER TURBO-4 IN THE K5 GT, WHICH WILL COME WITH AN 8-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION, AND A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER UPGRADES AS WELL, IN ORDER TO SHUTTLE IT TO 60 IN UNDER 6.0 SECONDS.

OUR EX TESTER STUCK WITH STANDARD FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND AT THE TEST TRACK, THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF WHEEL-SPIN AT THE LINE, BUT IT QUICKLY GATHERED ITSELF UP AND STARTED LAYING SOME POWER DOWN.

WE HIT 60 IN 7.9 SECONDS; A FEW TENTHS SLOWER THAN WE GOT IN THE HYUNDAI SONATA WITH THIS SAME ENGINE.

POWER DELIVERY STAYED CONSISTENT DOWN THE TRACK, BUT IT NEVER FEELS OVERLY EAGER OR IN A PARTICULAR HURRY.

THE QUARTER-MILE PASSED IN A LEISURELY 16.1 SECONDS AT 88 MILES PER HOUR.

NEEDLESS TO SAY, IT'LL CERTAINLY GET YOU WHERE YOU NEED TO GO, BUT WE'RE SURE LOOKING FORWARD TO TESTING THAT GT.

AND IT WILL HAVE A GREAT PLATFORM TO BUILD UPON, AS EVEN HERE IN BASE FORM, THE K5 RESPONDED QUICKLY AND ACCURATELY THROUGH OUR CONE COURSE.

THERE WAS A DECENT AMOUNT OF BODY ROLL, BUT SURPRISINGLY GOOD BALANCE; AS DEPENDING ON HOW AGGRESSIVELY YOU MAKE YOUR INPUTS, YOU CAN FIND EITHER UNDERSTEER OR SOME OVERSTEER.

LIKE SONATA, GREAT BRAKES; CONSISTENT FADE-FREE STOPS FROM 60 OF JUST 97 FEET; TRACKING STRAIGHT AND TRUE EVERY TIME.

ADDITIONAL SOUND DEADENING MATERIALS, AND A STANDARD ACOUSTIC LAMINATED WINDSHIELD HAS MADE THE K5 NOTICEABLY QUIETER INSIDE.

BASE PRICING RANGES FROM LX TRIM AT $24,455, TO JUST $4,500 MORE FOR THE EX, AT $28,955.

GT, WHEN IT ARRIVES, WILL START AT $31,455.

OUR RESERVATIONS ON THE NAME CHANGE ASIDE, KIA BUILDS A PRETTY DECENT MIDSIZE SEDAN.

AND WHILE, WE DO MOURN THE LOSS OF THE OPTIMA NAME, ULTIMATELY, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PLASTIC NAMEPLATE IS ON THE DECK-LID.

THE 2021 KIA K5 IS WELL-EQUIPPED TO TAKE THE KIA BRAND INTO THE FUTURE.

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, WHEN WE'LL TRY SPORT SEDAN LUXURY THE WAY ONLY PORSCHE CAN DO IT.

THEN, IT'S A TEST OF THE MOST MACHO TRUCK OF THE YEAR, THE RAM 1500 TRX.

PAT GOSS GOES MR. FIX-IT ON CAR INTERIORS.

BRIAN ROBINSON TWISTS THE THROTTLE ON A HARLEY-DAVIDSON THAT'S TRULY AN OUTSIDER.

PLUS, WE'LL JUMPSTART A NEW ROUND OF QUICKSPINS.

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] *