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

JOIN US AS WE RECHARGE WITH A PAIR OF PLUG-IN PERFORMERS FROM VOLVO... WE'LL SEE CLEARLY NOW AFTER AN ENLIGHTENING STOP BY GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART HAS ADVICE HOW TO BEST BUY AND SELL A CAR DURING THE COVID CRISIS... THEN, IT'S A TEST OF R TYPE OF HIGH PERFORMANCE HONDA CIVIC...

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: FEW EUROPEAN BRANDS HAVE EMBRACED ELECTRIFICATION MORE THAN VOLVO.

THEY ARE COMMITTED TO PHASING OUT DIESEL ENGINES ENTIRELY.

WHILE, REFOCUSING THEIR EFFORTS TO DELIVER PLUG-IN VERSIONS OF EVERY VEHICLE IN THEIR LINEUP, WITH THE GOAL OF BEING FULLY ELECTRIFIED BY 2025.

BUT, DON'T THINK LATEST XC90 AND S90 RECHARGE MODELS ARE MERELY PLACEHOLDERS.

♪ ♪ IN ORDER TO BETTER MARKET THEIR GOAL OF ELECTRIFICATION, VOLVO NOW USES THE RECHARGE NAME TO IDENTIFY ALL OF THEIR PLUG-INS.

BUT, DON'T GET CONFUSED, AS SOME RECHARGES ARE FULLY-ELECTRIC, LIKE THE XC40 RECHARGE; WHILE OTHERS ARE PLUG-IN HYBRIDS, LIKE THE VOLVO S90 RECHARGE SEDAN AND XC90 RECHARGE 3-ROW UTILITY, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE BEEN UPDATED FOR 2021.

SHARING THE SPA PLATFORM, THIS PHEV PAIR ALSO WORK WITH THE SAME T8 4-CYLINDER BASED POWERTRAIN.

THE 2.0 LITER TURBO AND SUPERCHARGED GAS ENGINE IS ASSISTED BY A 34 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR, CRANKING OUT 313 HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE ON ITS OWN.

COMBINED WITH AN ADDITIONAL REAR-MOUNTED 65 KILOWATT ELECTRIC MOTOR THAT PROVIDES STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, TOTAL OUTPUT IS 400 HORSEPOWER AND 472 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AN 11.6 KILOWATT HOUR BATTERY SITS WHERE A DRIVE SHAFT WOULD BE, PROVIDING ENERGY FOR UP TO 21 MILES OF FULLY-ELECTRIC DRIVING IN THE S90, 18 IN THE XC90.

UPDATES FOR THE S90 START WITH THE USUAL MID-CYCLE REFRESH STUFF UP FRONT, NEW FASCIA AND GRILLE; BUT A LITTLE MORE COMPREHENSIVE IN BACK, WITH NOT ONLY A FRESH BUMPER, BUT TRUNK LID, AND TAIL LIGHTS AS WELL.

INSIDE THE LAYOUT AND FEATURES ARE FAMILIAR, BUT SURFACES AND MATERIALS LOOK AND FEEL BETTER.

THE S90 HAS A WAY OF FEELING VERY LUXURIOUS WHILE ALSO BEING INVITING AND COMFORTING, NOT COLD OR STODGY.

TWO THEMES ARE AVAILABLE, THE INSCRIPTION'S LUXURY, OR THE R-DESIGN'S SPORTY; BOTH FOR THE SAME PRICE.

STRADDLING THE MIDSIZE/FULL-SIZE BORDER MEANS THERE'S A WEALTH OF SPACE FOR REAR SEAT PASSENGERS, WITH PLENTY OF AMENITIES FOR THEM TO ENJOY, AS WELL AS AN AIRY FEEL THANKS TO THE PANORAMIC MOONROOF.

AT THE TRACK, WE COULD REALLY FEEL THE ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE; AND THE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SETUP MAKES SURE ALL POWER TRANSLATES THROUGH THE WHEELS TO THE PAVEMENT FOR QUICK 0-60 SPRINTS OF JUST 4.9 SECONDS.

THE STANDARD 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY, WITH THE WHOLE QUARTER-MILE FEELING VERY MUCH LIKE A TYPICAL VOLVO EXPERIENCE, MEANING SMOOTH AND STEADY, ON ITS WAY TO A TIME OF 13.5 SECONDS AND 105 MILES PER HOUR.

SUSPENSION DESIGN IS A CAPABLE DOUBLE WISHBONE FRONT AND INTEGRAL LINK REAR, WITH AIR SUSPENSION UPGRADE OPTIONAL.

IN THE S90, THAT EQUATES TO A STIFF FEEL AND VERY LITTLE BODY ROLL THROUGH THE CORNERS.

THERE'S DEFINITELY SOME UNDERSTEER TO ACCOUNT FOR, BUT IT'S QUITE ATHLETIC FOR A LUXURY CAR THIS SIZE.

THINGS IN THE XC90 WERE NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NOTICEABLY MORE BODY ROLL, ATTRIBUTED TO THE HIGHER GROUND CLEARANCE.

BUT THAT HAD US BACKING OFF THE SPEEDS A LITTLE BIT, SO UNDERSTEER SEEMED TO BE LESS OF AN ISSUE.

AS FOR ACCELERATION, SAME POWERTRAIN IN A LESS AERO EFFICIENT PACKAGE THAT IS ABOUT 400 POUNDS HEAVIER, MEANS A SLOWER 5.8 SECOND TRIP TO 60 AND A 14.3 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 98 MILES PER HOUR.

IT WAS OF COURSE, THE XC90 THAT BROUGHT PLUG-IN PERFORMANCE TO VOLVO WHEN THIS GEN DEBUTED FOR 2015.

BUT, YOU COULD CERTAINLY SAY, THE ORIGINAL 2003 XC90 WAS A MUCH BIGGER GAME CHANGER AS THE BRAND'S FIRST SUV.

WE DECLARED ITS COMMON SENSE DRIVETRAIN CHOICES, SMART EXTERIOR DESIGN, AND MULTIFACETED INTERIOR; BACKED UP WITH VOLVO'S REPUTATION FOR SAFETY, MADE IT A FRESH AND SMART CHOICE IN THE EXPANDING PREMIUM MIDSIZE SUV SEGMENT.

AS FOR THE 2021 XC90, MOSTLY THE SAME UPDATES FOR THE EXTERIOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ADDITIONAL CHROME DETAILING, AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS ADDED TO THE XC90'S SLEEK AND SMOOTH SHAPE; STILL LOOKING MODERN AFTER 6-YEARS.

BUT INSIDE THE XC90'S SIX OR 7-PASSENGER INTERIOR, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED AT ALL, EXCEPT FOR ADDED STANDARD EQUIPMENT.

BATTERY PLACEMENT RESULTS IN NO COMPROMISE TO INTERIOR PASSENGER, OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, LUGGAGE SPACE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE XC90 RECHARGE ARE 27-COMBINED, 55-COMBINED FOR THE MPGE.

THE S90 RECHARGE DOES EVEN BETTER AT 30-COMBINED AND 60-COMBINED MPGE.

RATING A MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING 6.0 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WITH 2.7 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

S90 RECHARGE PRICING STARTS AT $61,095, $8,500 OVER THE STANDARD T6 4-CYLINDER S90; WHILE THE XC90 RECHARGE STARTS AT $64,545.

VOLVO IS CERTAINLY NOT ALONE WITH THEIR PLANS TO GO ALL ELECTRIC IN THE FUTURE, BUT THEIR TIME FRAME IS DEFINITELY MORE AMBITIOUS THAN MOST.

PLACEHOLDERS OR NOT, THE 2021 XC90 RECHARGE UTILITY AND S90 RECHARGE SEDAN ARE PROOF THAT VOLVO HAS A FIRM GRIP ON BATTERY TECHNOLOGY AND CAN PUT IT IN PLACE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE VOLVO EXPERIENCE IN ANY WAY.

SO, ENJOY THEM WHILE YOU CAN.

♪ ♪ LIKE, MOST OTHER THINGS IN OUR LIVES, THE COVID-19 VIRUS HAS TURNED THE CAR BUSINESS ON ITS HEAD.

[CAR DOOR CLOSES] NOW, NEW CAR SALES HAVE BEEN HOT FOR YEARS, AND RIGHT NOW IT'S THE USED SIDE OF THE BUSINESS THAT'S GOING GANGBUSTERS.

AND THAT MEANS MORE MONEY FOR YOU, IF YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL OR TRADE-IN YOUR USED CAR.

OUR STEPHANIE HART HAS SOME ADVICE - HOW YOU CAN CASH IN ON THOSE DEALS.

♪ ♪ Stephanie Hart: AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 USED CARS ARE HOT RIGHT NOW.

FOR ONE, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STILL SCARED TO TAKE A TRAIN, A BUS OR EVEN AN UBER FOR FEAR OF CATCHING COVID-19.

SECONDLY, OTHERS WHO WOULD OF BOUGHT A NEW CAR, LIKE THIS ONE, NOW SEEM TO WANT A USED CAR BECAUSE OF OUR UNCERTAIN ECONOMY.

COMBINE THAT WITH THE VIRUS DISRUPTING THE SUPPLY OF NEW VEHICLES, AND THERE'S NO DOUBT IT'S A TRUE SELLERS MARKET FOR USED CARS.

USED CAR DEALERSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE, ARE STRUGGLING TO STOCK THEIR LOTS.

JIM ROBERTSON IS THE USED CAR DIRECTOR AT BROWN'S MANASSAS HYUNDAI IN VIRGINIA.

Jim Robertson: ALL BECAUSE OF COVID-19, I'M HOLDING ONTO CARS, I'D NEVER THOUGHT I'D KEEP IN MY LIFE.

WE ARE KEEPING CARS WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES ON THEM AND WE'RE RECONDITIONING THEM AND MAKING THEM GOOD CARS, AND PEOPLE ARE BUYING THEM.

Stephanie: THE DEMAND FOR USED CARS IS OVERWHELMING RIGHT NOW.

AND THE SUPPLY IS SHORT.

THAT MEANS PRICES ARE UP - ACROSS THE BOARD IN EVERY VEHICLE SEGMENT.

SO, IF YOU'RE CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR CAR OR TRUCK, YOU COULD MAKE A COUPLE THOUSAND DOLLARS MORE THAN YOU NORMALLY WOULD PRE-PANDEMIC.

USED LUXURY CARS AND TRUCKS MAY SELL FOR EVEN MORE THAN THAT.

USED TRUCK SALES ARE UP ABOUT 28 PERCENT.

TRADE IN VALUES HAVE ALSO INCREASED IN EVERY VEHICLE SEGMENT.

UP ANYWHERE FROM 10-20 PERCENT.

Jim: AS A CONSUMER, IT'S A GOOD TIME TO LOOK AT TRADING YOUR CAR IN.

WE ARE ALSO BUYING CARS OUT OF OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT... PEOPLE THAT COME IN... AND WE ARE BUYING CARS OFF THE STREET INCLUDING CRAIGSLIST AND ALL THE OTHER SITES.

Stephanie: BEFORE BUYING OR SELLING ANY CAR OR TRUCK, IT'S SMART TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE'S HISTORY.

CARFAX SAYS, "IT MATTERS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MONEY."

Emile Voss: CARFAX HAS A RELATIONSHIP WITH DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND WE WORK WITH THEM IN PARTNERSHIP.

IT'S ALSO, NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND VEHICLE HISTORY BECAUSE THE MARKET CONDITIONS ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND VEHICLE HISTORY IS A KEY FACTOR IN PRICING ON VEHICLES.

SO CARFAX HAS A PRICING TOOL CALLED "CARFAX HISTORY-BASED VALUE" THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT A VEHICLE SPECIFIC HISTORY.

SO WHETHER, IT HAS ONE OWNER... OR WHETHER IT HAD DAMAGE... WAS IT WELL MAINTAINED SERVICE WISE... AND THAT IS COMBINED WITH MARKET VALUE IN THE AREA OF THE COUNTRY THAT YOU LIVE IN TO GIVE YOU THE CARFAX HISTORY-BASED VALUE.

Stephanie: BUT IF YOU DO DECIDE TO BUY NEW RATHER THAN USED, THAT COULD BE A SMART MOVE TOO.

IF YOU TRADE IT IN OR SELL IT, TWO TO THREE YEARS FROM NOW, IT COULD COMMAND A HIGHER PRICE THAN NORMAL, ACCORDING TO CARFAX.

THAT'S BECAUSE FEWER 2020 MODEL YEAR CARS AND TRUCKS WILL BE MADE.

COVID-19 FORCED ALL AUTOMAKERS TO STOP PRODUCTION FOR TWO MONTHS OR MORE.

AS YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CORONA VIRUS HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE CAR BUYING PROCESS.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO COME TO DEALERSHIPS LIKE THIS ONE TO TEST DRIVE A NEW CAR, SO DEALERS HAVE HAD TO ADAPT.

Jim: OUR SALESPEOPLE, THEY WILL DO A FACETIME, THEY'LL DO A VIDEO WALK AROUND, WE'LL POST THEM ONLINE.

THE TEST DRIVES WHERE IT USED TO BE A SALESMAN ALWAYS WENT WITH THE CUSTOMER, NOW THE CUSTOMER IS PUT IN THE CAR THEMSELVES FOR THE TEST DRIVE.

THEN, FOR THE OFF SITE TEST DRIVES, WE'LL SEND A CAR WITH A CHASE CAR AND WE WILL ACTUALLY LEAVE THE CAR WITH THE CUSTOMER SOMETIMES OVERNIGHT, SOMETIMES FOR A FEW HOURS.

AND WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF OFF-SITE DELIVERIES WHERE PEOPLE BUY THE CAR BEFORE WE EVEN GET THERE AND WE JUST BRING THE PAPERWORK.

Stephanie: BUT DON'T GET CARRIED AWAY.

CARFAX REMINDS US THAT AFTER YOU'VE STUDIED THE VEHICLE HISTORY REPORT, AND DONE A THOROUGH TEST DRIVE, YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO THE EXTRA MILE AND PAY FOR AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTION.

THE USED CAR MARKET IS ALL THE RAGE RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG IT WILL STAY THIS WAY.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT IF YOU CAN, BECAUSE WE DO KNOW IT WON'T LAST FOREVER.

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: THIS TIMELESS 1981 CHECKER MARATHON IS OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK.

FRED SMITH FROM CONYERS, GEORGIA, LOVES TAKING THIS FORMER TAXI CAB TO CAR SHOWS AND LISTENING TO STORIES FROM ONLOOKERS' ABOUT THEIR MOST MEMORABLE RIDES IN A CHECKER.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR ICONIC RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... John: IT'S A FACT THAT OVER TIME THE PLASTIC LENSES OF MODERN HEADLIGHTS CAN BECOME CLOUDY, REDUCING OUR ABILITY TO SEE WELL DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?

WELL, LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE TO FIND OUT.

♪ ♪ Pat Goss: HEADLIGHTS, THEY HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

WAY BACK WHEN THEY WERE MADE OUT OF GLASS WHICH LASTED THE LIFE OF THE CAR AS FAR AS THAT PART OF IT WAS CONCERNED.

BUT THE FILAMENT INSIDE WOULD BURN OUT OR THE LIGHT WASN'T REALLY THAT GOOD.

NOW, WE HAVE EVOLVED INTO LENSES AND SO ON.

IF YOU LOOK AT HERE YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS ONE IS STYLED TO MATCH THE CONTOURS OF THE CAR.

AND WHAT HAS ALSO HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THE LAMPS INSIDE THESE, WELL...THEY HAVE EVOLVED.

SEE, WE STARTED OUT WITH INCANDESCENT THEN MOVED UP TO H-I-D. NOW, THE CURRENT TECHNOLOGY IS L-E-D. WELL, THAT'S GREAT EXCEPT FOR ONE THING, THE LENS ON ALL OF THESE ARE NO LONGER MADE OUT OF GLASS, IT'S MADE OUT OF PLASTIC.

AND ULTRAVIOLET FROM THE SUN AND THE WEATHERING AND SO ON, CAUSES THIS PLASTIC TO TURN YELLOW, SUCH AS WE SEE OVER HERE.

YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE, ONE IS YELLOWED, THE OTHER IS NEW.

ALRIGHT...NOW, WHAT CAN YOU DO TO RESTORE THESE?

WELL, WE'VE TRIED ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT KITS.

NOW, IF YOU WATCH LATE NIGHT TELEVISION, YOU WILL FIND 100 DIFFERENT KITS OUT THERE THAT CLAIM THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT LOOK LIKE BRAND NEW, AND IT'S GOING TO LAST A LIFETIME, AND ALL THAT.

WE HAVEN'T FOUND THAT TO BE TRUE, GRANTED, IN THE SHOP, WE CAN MAKE IT LOOK JUST LIKE THIS...WHEN IT GOES OUT THE DOOR.

BUT SIX WEEKS TO SIX MONTHS OR SO LATER, IT COMES BACK IN LOOKING ALL DETERIORATED AGAIN.

SO YOU CAN TRY THE KIT, MAY WORK, MAY NOT.

YOU'RE GOING TO INVEST A FEW BUCKS AND SOME TIME.

BUT THE THING THAT WE FIND MOST TIMES IS THAT IT WINDS UP LOOKING LIKE THIS OVER HERE IN A FEW WEEKS.

THIS ONE WAS POLISHED AND NOW IT'S ALL DULL AGAIN.

SO ONE THING THAT WE DO IN THE REPAIR SHOPS, FOR A LOT OF POPULAR CARS, YOU CAN BUY AN AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT HEADLIGHT THAT ACTUALLY SOMETIMES, COSTS LESS THAN PAYING SOMEBODY TO POLISH THE HEADLIGHT.

SO, IT'S A WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND GET SOME DURABILITY.

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

John: IF YOU LIKE EARLY LOOKS AT CARS, JUST OVER THE HORIZON, THEN YOU'LL LOVE THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPINS.

Jessica Ray: BIG NEWS FOR THE NEW YEAR: AN ALL-NEW JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE IS HEADED OUR WAY.

EVEN BIGGER NEWS: IT DEBUTS WITH A FIRST-EVER 3-ROW VERSION, THE 2021 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L. THE 7-PASSENGER GRAND CHEROKEE'S ALSO NEW UNIBODY ARCHITECTURE FEATURES INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION FRONT AND REAR, AS WELL AS A NEW QUADRA-LIFT AIR SUSPENSION.

SO RIDES SHOULD BE COMPLIANT BOTH ON AND OFF ROAD.

AT LAUNCH, STANDARD POWER WILL COME FROM FCA'S FAMILIAR 290 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER PENTASTAR V6, WITH A 357 HORSEPOWER 5.7 LITER V8 OPTIONAL; ALONG WITH THREE DIFFERENT 4X4 SYSTEMS TO CHOOSE FROM.

THIS IS STILL, A "TRAIL RATED" JEEP AFTER ALL.

Greg Carloss: EACH OF THE GRAND CHEROKEE L'S THREE 4X4 SYSTEMS HAVE AN ACTIVE TRANSFER CASE WHICH DISTRIBUTES TORQUE ON THE FLY, BUT IT'S THE TOP-END QUADRA-DRIVE II THAT COMBINES A TWO-SPEED TRANSFER CASE WITH AN ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

SO, REALLY YOUR IDEA OF WHAT "OFF-ROAD" IS SHOULD GUIDE YOUR DECISION IN WHICH SYSTEM TO CHOOSE.

IS IT A GRAVEL ROAD OR IS IT A MOUNTAIN TRAIL?

Jessica: THE NEW DESIGN ALSO BRINGS INCREASED INTERIOR REFINEMENT WITH AVAILABLE FEATURES SUCH AS QUILTED PALERMO LEATHER, OPEN-PORE WAXED WALNUT WOOD TRIM, A 10-INCH TOUCH SCREEN, AND 19-SPEAKER MCINTOSH STEREO.

John: IT'S AMAZING THAT THE GRAND CHEROKEE HAS CONTINUED TO SELL SO WELL WITHOUT A THIRD ROW.

NOW WITH THE L THEIR FORTUNES SHOULD BE EVEN BETTER.

PLUS, JEEP CLAIMS THAT THE THIRD ROW IS MUCH MORE SUITABLE FOR ADULTS.

WELL, WE'LL SEE.

BUT WHAT GIVES ME HOPE IS THAT THEY ALSO SAY, "THEY LEARNED A LOT FROM THE GRAND CHEROKEE BASED 3-ROW COMMANDER WHICH WAS ANYTHING BUT HOSPITABLE TO ADULTS WAY IN BACK."

Jessica: A NICE STEP UP IN REFINEMENT CERTAINLY SPEAKS TO THE EXTERIOR DESIGN AS WELL; NOT IN THE AMPLIFIED LUXURY SENSE NECESSARILY, BUT IN THE CONTINUED EVOLUTION OF THIS CLASSIC DESIGN, WITH ALL THE TRADITIONAL HALLMARKS IN PLACE.

THE 2021 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE L WILL ARRIVE THIS SPRING, WITH THE TRADITIONAL 5-PASSENGER VERSION, AS WELL AS A 4XE PLUG-IN, TO FOLLOW LATER IN THE YEAR.

WHILE, WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR OUR TURN TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL OF MERCEDES-BENZ'S EQC ALL-ELECTRIC SUV; THEY'RE ALREADY SHOWING US WHAT'S COMING NEXT, THIS 2022 EQA; ONE OF SIX ALL-NEW EVs THE BRAND HAS PLANNED FOR THE COMING YEAR.

YES, THE A PUTS IT IN CLOSE RELATION TO THE GLA UTILITY, AND WILL THUS BE THE BRAND'S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC SUBCOMPACT, AIMED SQUARELY AT ENTRY-LEVEL BUYERS.

Greg: TWO OF THE MOST POPULAR THINGS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW ARE SUBCOMPACT CROSSOVERS AND ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAINS, SO MERCEDES IS, IN THEORY AT LEAST, SETTING ITSELF UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THE EQA.

AND IF YOU'RE A FAN OF THE FINER THINGS, I WOULDN'T FRET OVER ITS "ENTRY LEVEL STATUS" BECAUSE AS WE SAW WITH THE NEW GLA, MERCEDES DOESN'T HOLD MUCH BACK IN THE WAY OF LUXURY AND TECHNOLOGY.

Jessica: FIRST ON SALE WILL BE THE 5-PASSENGER FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE EQA 250 WITH A 140 KILOWATT MOTOR PRODUCING THE EQUIVALENT OF 187 HORSEPOWER.

RANGE IS THE PRIORITY, AS IT SHOULD GET CLOSE TO 300 MILES ON A FULL-CHARGE; YET, TAKE A LEISURELY 9.0 SECONDS TO GET TO 60.

EXPECT ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE AND MORE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED MODELS TO ARRIVE LATER.

THE SUV SHAPE IS FAMILIAR TO THE REST OF THE BRAND'S UTILITY LINEUP, BUT WITH UPDATES TO MAXIMIZE AERO EFFICIENCY.

UNIQUE INTERIOR ELEMENTS INCLUDE ROSÉ GOLD ACCENTS, BLUE STITCHING, EV-SPECIFIC DISPLAYS FOR THE WIDE SCREEN INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND BACK-LIT TRIM.

COMFORT AND MATERIAL QUALITY APPEAR ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP.

Kyle Scanlon: YOU WILL FIND THE EQA SLOTTED BELOW THE EQC WHICH IS A LARGER ELECTRIC CROSSOVER THAT IS OFFERED IN THE MERCEDES LINEUP.

AND WHILE, WE DON'T HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THE TRIM LEVELS JUST YET, WE CAN IMAGINE THEY WILL BE VERY SIMILAR, IF NOT THE SAME IN THE EQA AS THEY ARE IN THE EQC.

Jessica: NO EXACT PRICING INFORMATION JUST YET, AS MERCEDES-BENZ HAS NOT ANNOUNCED OFFICIAL PLANS FOR THE EQA HERE IN THE U.S. STAY TUNED, AS WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ EQA, AS WELL AS ALL THINGS MERCEDES-BENZ ELECTRIC, HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

John: IT TOOK UNTIL 2017 FOR THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R TO FINALLY MAKE IT HERE TO THE U.S. AND IT'S THE FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL CIVIC EVER, IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT; FEELING LESS LIKE A SOUPED-UP CIVIC, AND MORE LIKE A PURPOSE-BUILT HIGH PERFORMANCE MACHINE THAT JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A HONDA BADGE ON IT.

WELL, CAN IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT?

WELL, LET'S FIND OUT.

♪ ♪ WHILE, THE HONDA CIVIC TYPE R IS EASILY THE FASTEST AND MOST POWERFUL CIVIC EVER, THINGS RARELY SIT STILL IN THE PERFORMANCE CAR FIELD FOR LONG.

SO, HONDA HAS BESTOWED A HOST OF UPDATES FOR 2020 TO KEEP THE TYPE R RELEVANT, ATTRACT MORE ATTENTION, AND PERHAPS EVEN GIVE OWNERS A REASON TO UPGRADE.

AND WE LOVE IT WHEN PERFORMANCE UPDATES ARE LISTED RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE PRESS RELEASE INSTEAD OF THINGS LIKE "BOLD NEW STYLING," AND FOR '20, THE TYPE R'S SUSPENSION, BRAKES, AND ENGINE COOLING HAVE ALL BEEN ADDRESSED.

SUSPENSION CHANGES BEGIN WITH A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR THE ADAPTIVE DAMPERS THAT ALLOW THEM TO MAKE DECISIONS TEN TIMES FASTER.

ON THE HARDWARE SIDE, STIFFER BUSHINGS ARE IN PLACE, BOTH FRONT AND REAR; ALONG WITH LOWER FRICTION BALL JOINTS TO HEIGHTEN STEERING RESPONSE.

IT MAKES FOR A FUN...YET, STILL EASY TO DRIVE DAILY-DRIVER.

BUT OF COURSE, A TRIP TO THE TRACK WAS NECESSARY TO GET A FULL "GRIP" ON THE SITUATION.

AND THERE WAS INDEED PLENTY OF GRIP TO BE FOUND.

THE TYPE R REALLY EXCELS HERE IN A TIGHT SLALOM EXERCISE.

STEERING IS TIGHT AND SUPER RESPONSIVE, WITH ALMOST ALL OF THE CIVIC'S FRONT DRIVE UNDERSTEER DIALED OUT.

EVERYTHING FEELS "JUST RIGHT" AND IT WAS A REAL BLAST TO WORK IN AND OUT OF THE CONES; WITH SOME OF THE FASTEST COURSE SPEEDS...WE'VE EVER SEEN.

AS FOR THE BRAKES, THE PREVIOUS ONE-PIECE FRONT ROTORS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED TO A TWO-PIECE DESIGN THAT IS LIGHTER BY 2.5 POUNDS PER WHEEL.

THUS, ALSO HELPING THE HANDLING CAUSE.

THERE'S ALSO NEW BRAKE PAD MATERIAL, TO BOTH PROVIDE MORE INITIAL BITE, AS WELL AS LESS FADE.

THEY DELIVERED CONSISTENTLY STABLE SHORT STOPS FROM 60 OF JUST 101 FEET.

OUR TEST DRIVER'S COMMENTS WERE BRIEF, "BRAKES ARE AWESOME; GOOD FEEL WITH ALMOST IMMEDIATE RESPONSE."

THE TYPE R'S 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 ENGINE DOESN'T GET ANY PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENTS OF ITS OWN; STILL SPINNING UP THE SAME 306 HORSEPOWER AND 295 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT ADDITIONAL COOLING HAS BEEN PROVIDED TO KEEP IT HAPPIER ON TRACK DAYS.

IT'S STILL NOT THE EASIEST CAR TO LAUNCH.

FINDING THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN BOGGING IT DOWN AND SPINNING UP THE FRONT TIRES TOO MUCH IS CHALLENGING.

THE CLUTCH ITSELF IS GREAT, WITH A SURPRISING AMOUNT OF FEEL, AND WE WERE ABLE TO JUMP TO 60 IN 5.4 SECONDS.

WE'RE LESS FOND OF THE 6-SPEED MANUAL, WHICH IS OF COURSE, YOUR ONLY TRANSMISSION OPTION HERE IN THE TYPE R, OR MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE SHIFTER.

WE'RE NOT CRAZY ABOUT ITS FEEL; NOT WANTING TO BE RUSHED, ESPECIALLY IN THE ALL-IMPORTANT 1-2 SHIFT.

THE KNOB ALSO CAN GET VERY HOT LEFT SITTING IN THE SUN ALL DAY.

ONCE AWAY, POWER REALLY POURS ON WHEN THE TACH PASSES 3,500 RPM.

DOING YOUR BEST TO KEEP IT ABOVE THAT THRESHOLD WILL RESULT IN A VERY QUICK, BUT NOT INSANELY FAST, QUARTER-MILE TIME OF 14.1 SECONDS AT 102 MILES PER HOUR.

A HELICAL TYPE LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL IS STANDARD, AND BASICALLY ELIMINATES HAVING TO DEAL WITH ANY TORQUE STEER.

ADDITIONAL ENGINE COOLING COMES BY WAY OF INCREASED AIRFLOW; OPENINGS IN THE FRONT FASCIA ARE 13% LARGER THAN BEFORE, RESULTING IN AN EIGHTEEN DEGREE REDUCTION IN ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURES.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE LOUDEST THING ABOUT THIS CIVIC TYPE R, AND THAT IS ITS LOOKS.

IT'S CERTAINLY, THE MOST AGGRESSIVE AND FAST-AND-FURIOUS LOOKING CIVIC EVER.

THE AFOREMENTIONED INCREASED AIRFLOW THROUGH THE FRONT BUMPER RESULTED IN A DECREASE OF DOWNFORCE, WHICH HONDA ADDRESSED WITH A FRONT SPOILER REDESIGN.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 22-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 27.2 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM FUEL.

THAT MAKES FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; 13.2 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL CONSUMPTION, WITH 5.9 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

TYPE R PRICING COMES IN AT $37,950; ABOUT THREE GRAND MORE THAN WHEN IT ARRIVED THREE YEARS AGO.

WHILE, WE WAITED 20 YEARS TO GET OUR FIRST TYPE R CIVIC HERE IN THE U.S., WE ONLY HAD TO WAIT THOSE THREE YEARS TO GET AN EVEN BETTER ONE.

THANKS HONDA, FOR KEEPING US IN THE LOOP, AND FOR GIVING THE 2020 HONDA CIVIC TYPE R THE "TYPE" OF UPGRADES THAT MAKE IT BOTH A BETTER PERFORMER AND EVEN MORE FUN TO DRIVE.

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 PLUG-IN BMW SPORT ACTIVITY VEHICLE THAT OFFERS A LOT MORE THAN JUST RANGE.

AND WE'LL GATHER THE WHOLE 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... Announcer: ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS, OFFERING A VARIETY OF BRANDS, PRICES, AND SPECIFICATIONS.

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