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

JOIN US FOR AN ALL-NATURAL, LOW-HANGING JOY RIDE IN TOYOTA'S NEW GR86 COUPE... WE GET THE HOOK UP ON TOW HITCH RATINGS FROM GOSS' GARAGE... STEPHANIE HART TAKES A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR A BUS RIDE THROUGH HISTORY... AND WE CLICK OUR SPURS FOR AN ON-AND OFF-ROAD TEST OF FORD'S ALL-NEW BRONCO...

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.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.

FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.

THEN, THE TIRE.

"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."

FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.

TIRERACK.COM.

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: TALK ABOUT AN IDENTITY CRISIS!

THIS CAR HAS ONLY BEEN AROUND FOR 10 YEARS.

YET, AFTER STARTING OUT AS THE SCION FR-S, IT HAD A NAME CHANGE TO TOYOTA 86 AND NOW IT'S THE GR86!

STILL, THROUGH ALL THE NAME GAMES, ITS MISSION HAS REMAINED THE SAME: PROVIDING BIG THRILLS FOR SMALL BUCKS.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THE NEW TOYOTA GR86 KEEPS THE GOOD TIMES COMING.

* WHEN IT COMES TO SMALL, LIGHTWEIGHT, FUN-TO-DRIVE, AFFORDABLE SPORT COUPES; YOUR CHOICES TODAY ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED.

AND WHEN THE SCION FR-S ARRIVED FOR 2013, IT WAS CLEARLY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR INTO THE AUTOMOTIVE SPACE.

NOW KNOWN AS THE 2022 TOYOTA GR 86, THIS COLLABORATION WITH SUBARU AND THEIR BRZ, BEGINS A SECOND GENERATION.

THIS TIDY LITTLE COUPE TOOK ON THE 86 BADGE HERE WHEN TOYOTA DISSOLVED THE SCION BRAND IN 2016.

GR IS NEW, AND TOYOTA FANS WILL RECOGNIZE IT FROM THE SUPRA, WHICH GAZOO RACING WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN DEVELOPING.

WHAT CHANGES FROM LAST GENERATION?

WELL, JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING: BETTER LOOKS, IMPROVED HANDLING, UPGRADED TECH, AND OUR FAVORITE, MORE POWER.

BUT, IS IT MORE FUN?

TO FIND OUT, WE HIT THE HIGH-SPEED TURNS OF ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY.

WE LOVE A STRIPPED-DOWN MINIMALIST RIDE AS MUCH AS THE NEXT TRACK-DAY ENTHUSIAST, BUT THIS TRACK CAN CHEW UP AND SPIT OUT LOW HORSEPOWER CARS.

SO, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO PUT SOME SERIOUS POWER DOWN, MAINTAINING MOMENTUM THROUGH THE CORNERS, IS THE BEST WAY TO SHORTEN UP ROEBLING'S LONG STRAIGHT.

THIS CHASSIS ALREADY BOASTED A LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY AND NEAR PERFECT WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION, BUT THE GR TEAM PUT NEW CROSS MEMBERS UP FRONT, MADE THINGS STURDIER IN THE REAR, AND ADDED MORE HIGH-STRENGTH STEEL TO THE MIX.

WE'VE ALL BEEN WANTING MORE HORSEPOWER SINCE THE FIRST FR-S ARRIVED, AND A BIGGER ENGINE IS THE EASIEST WAY TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

SO, THE SUBARU-BASED 4-CYLINDER PANCAKE GOES FROM 2.0 TO 2.4 LITERS FOR THE GR86.

NUMBER GAINS ARE RELATIVELY SMALL; FROM THE MANUAL'S MAX OF 205 TO 228 HORSEPOWER, AND 156 TO 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

BUT, FAR MORE IMPORTANT IS THAT PEAK TORQUE ARRIVES MUCH SOONER, WHICH MAKES A NOTABLE DIFFERENCE WHEN COMING OUT OF CORNERS.

THE LOOK IS NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT THAN BEFORE, BUT ADDITIONAL AERO ADD-ONS AND THE TALLER BLACK MATRIX GRILLE GIVE IT A MORE PURPOSEFUL LOOK.

SEVENTEEN INCH ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD; PREMIUM GETS 18s.

IN BACK THERE'S CHROME-TIPPED DUAL EXHAUST; AND THE LICENSE PLATE MOVES DOWN TO THE BUMPER, GIVING IT A MORE POLISHED LOOK.

KEEPING WEIGHT DOWN WAS A PRIORITY, SO FRONT FENDERS AND ROOF ARE NOW ALUMINUM AND FOR BETTER OR WORSE, THINGS LIKE THE FUEL DOOR ARE MADE OF PLASTIC.

WITH THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN OUR TEST CAR, WEIGHT IS 2,851 POUNDS; JUST 34 POUNDS OVER LAST YEAR.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS STANDARD.

THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH STIFFER SPRINGS; WHILE THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING GETS BOTH A MORE RIGID MOUNT AND FIRMER BUSHINGS.

EVEN WITH THE AUTOMATIC, IT ALL TRANSLATES INTO A LOT OF TRACK FUN.

WOULD MORE POWER AND STICKIER TIRES LOWER LAP TIMES?

PROBABLY.

WOULD THAT MAKE IT ANY MORE FUN?

WE DOUBT IT.

THIS GR86 IS A REAL HOOT TO DRIVE AT IT LIMITS.

TOYOTA CLAIMS THE EXTRA POWER AND MEATIER MIDRANGE IS ENOUGH TO SHAVE MORE THAN A SECOND OFF THE 0-60 TIME, AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE THE CASE.

OUR SPRINT TO 60 TOOK JUST 6.3 SECONDS, WHICH IS ALMOST A SECOND AND A HALF QUICKER THAN WE GOT IN AN AUTOMATIC-EQUIPPED BRZ A FEW YEARS AGO.

POWER DOES NOT DROP OFF NEARLY AS MUCH AS BEFORE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC IS FINDING THE NEXT GEAR, AND THE WHOLE QUARTER-MILE EXPERIENCE IS MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE.

THERE'S EVEN A NICE LITTLE POP FROM THE EXHAUST THAT WE DON'T REMEMBER HEARING.

OUR QUARTER-MILE TIME OF 14.6 SECONDS AT 97 MILES PER HOUR IS MORE THAN ACCEPTABLE; AND YOU NO LONGER NEED TO HAVE THE "YEAH BUT YOU SHOULD SEE HOW IT HANDLES" RESPONSE AT THE READY WHEN PEOPLE ASK HOW FAST IT IS.

INSIDE, THERE'S THE SAME DRIVER-CENTRIC SPORT COUPE FEEL OF BEFORE, ALONG WITH A SIMILAR 3-SPOKE STEERING WHEEL; BUT THE CONSOLE BLENDS INTO THE DASH MUCH MORE SMOOTHLY NOW.

THE NOW-STANDARD 8.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN MUCH BETTER INTEGRATED, AND THE ENTIRE SPACE FEELS A LITTLE MORE POLISHED.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 21-CITY, 31-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

PRICING REMAINS THE BEST THING THE GR86 HAS GOING FOR IT: $28,725 TO START AND $31,325 IF YOU ADD THE PREMIUM PACKAGE.

IT'S GREAT TO SEE THAT RIDES LIKE THE 2022 TOYOTA GR86, AND THE SUBARU BRZ, STILL EXIST.

CARS DESIGNED WITH PURISTS IN MIND TO CELEBRATE THE JOY OF DRIVING, YET ARE ALSO ATTAINABLE BY A WIDE FAN BASE.

SO, NO MATTER WHAT NAME IT GOES BY, THIS CO-OP COUPE IS A SPOT-ON AUTOMOTIVE DELIGHT!

* [CAR DOOR CLOSES] John: WE TALK A LOT ABOUT CARS, SUVS, AND TRUCKS HERE ON MOTORWEEK , BUT BUSES ARE A BIG PART OF THE HISTORY OF TRANSPORTATION, TOO.

WELL, THE LARGEST AND MOST TELLING COLLECTION OF BUSES IN THE COUNTRY CAN BE FOUND AT A MUSEUM IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART WAS ON BOARD AS THESE GIANT PEOPLE-MOVERS TOOK TO THE OPEN ROADS TO TELL THEIR STORIES.

* Stephanie Hart: I'M RIDING AROUND IN THIS 1954 SCENIC CRUISER.

WE TOOK THIS BUS AND OTHERS OUT OF THE AACA MUSEUM FOR THE DAY TO CELEBRATE THEM.

THESE BUSES DON'T HIT THE ROAD OFTEN AND WHEN THEY DO, THEY'RE NOISY AND HARDER TO DRIVE THAN BUSES TODAY.

FAGEOL MOTORS BECAME THE FIRST COMPANY TO BUILD A BUS FROM THE GROUND UP IN 1921.

THIS "24" FAGEOL IS ONE OF ONLY FIVE LEFT IN THE COUNTRY.

THE AACA MUSEUM, IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA, HAS TWO ON DISPLAY.

John Oakman: IT WAS BASICALLY, A COMMUTER BUS IN CALIFORNIA.

IT WOULD GO FROM SANTA MONICA TO MAYBE TO LA.

Stephanie: ONE HUNDRED YEARS LATER, PEOPLE ARE STILL ATTRACTED TO THESE BUSES AND INTRIGUED BY THEIR HISTORY.

Wendy Martin: I AM A BIG FAN OF THE VINTAGE BUSES.

JUST REALLY EXCITING TO SEE AND LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE BUSES.

Stephanie: AND PRESERVING THAT HISTORY IS WHAT AACA IS COMMITTED TO DOING.

J. Oakman: THERE'S NO ONE ELSE PRESERVING THE BUS INDUSTRY.

TODAY, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE WHAT THE BUS INDUSTRY HAS DONE AND HOW THEY GOT THERE.

Stephanie: THAT'S WHY HAND ON LEARNING IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT-FOR YOUNGER AND OLDER GENERATIONS.

J. Oakman: ONE OF THE BUSES NEEDED A CARBURETOR REBUILT.

THE KIDS THAT WERE HELPING US, THEY ALL LOOKED AND SAID "WHAT'S A CARBURETOR?"

AND THEN, SOME OF THE GUYS WHO ARE OLDER SAID, "WELL, I'VE NEVER REBUILT A CARBURETOR."

SO, I SHOWED THEM HOW TO REBUILD A CARBURETOR YESTERDAY GET IT BACK ON THE BUS AND GET IT RUNNING.

AS ELECTRIC CARS BECOME THE THING EVERYONE WANTS THERE'S NO LONGER GOING TO BE COMBUSTION ENGINES IN SOME VEHICLES INCLUDING BUSES, SO WE'RE TRYING TO PRESERVE THAT.

Stephanie: PRESERVING THAT, BY CELEBRATING THAT, ONCE A YEAR DURING THE MUSEUM OF BUS TRANSPORTATION'S SPRING FLING.

SOME PEOPLE TRAVELED AS FAR AS CALIFORNIA HERE TO HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA TO CHECK OUT ALL THESE UNIQUE BUSES.

GARY HATT OWNS THIS 40 FOOT BUS THAT HE CONVERTED INTO A MOTORHOME.

Gary Hatt: IT'S OUTSTANDING.

I MET A LOT OF PEOPLE, I'VE HAVE BEEN CHATTING WITH ON FACEBOOK AND TALKING TO ON THE PHONE FOR A LONG TIME, SO NOW I GET TO MEET THEM IN-PERSON AND SEE THE BUSES, SO IT'S WORKED OUT GREAT.

Stephanie: THESE BUSES FROM THE '50s AND '60s WERE EXTREMELY POPULAR.

PEOPLE REMEMBER RIDING THESE BUSES BACK AND FORTH TO WORK OR TO GO ON VACATION.

J. Oakman: THE PUBLIC WHO RODE ON BUSES BETWEEN CITIES WOULD HAVE RODE ON THE 4104, THE 4106 AND THIS SCENIC CRUISER.

THEY ARE PREDOMINATE GM AND THEY CONTROLLED THE MARKET-- AND EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THEM.

Stephanie: PEOPLE ALSO RECOGNIZE THIS ONE!

THIS WAS THE BACKUP BUS USED IN THE 1994 MOVIE "SPEED," STARRING KEANU REEVES AND SANDRA BULLOCK.

J. Oakman: IT WAS BACKUP BUS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO RIP THE FLOORS UP OF THE VEHICLES AND HAVE THEM STAGED THERE, SO IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THE PRIMARY BUS, THEY COULD CONTINUE TO SHOOT BECAUSE THE SHOOTING WAS WITHOUT A FLOOR BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE THE BOMBS WERE.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT BUS STOOD IN THE SEQUENCE- BUT WE DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS USED OR NOT, BUT IT WAS THERE.

Stephanie: COOL, REGARDLESS.

FUELING THE TIMELESS FASCINATION WITH BUSES, NO DOUBT!

Rafiq Nelson: I'M A MOTOR COACH OPERATOR.

I'VE BEEN DRIVING BUSES FOR 27 YEARS.

STARTED WORKING OVER AT GREYHOUND DRIVING THE MC-9 WITH A STICK SHIFT.

HAD A LOVE AND APPRECIATION FOR BUSES EVER SINCE, I WAS A LITTLE KID.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS A BUS DRIVER, SO WHEN I GOT OFF OF SCHOOL, I PLAYED HOOKY, SO I WOULD ALWAYS GET ON HIS BUS AND RIDE AROUND-- MY GRANDFATHER NEVER SAID ANYTHING, BUT I FOUND OUT THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE ENGINES, THE WAY THE SUSPENSION WAS- AND I BECAME A BUS NUT.

Stephanie: AND HE MADE US ONE, TOO.

John: WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT TRUCK AND SUV TOW RATINGS, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY MEAN?

WELL, PAT GOSS IS HERE TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW THE DETAILS BEFORE HITCHING-UP AND HITTING THE ROAD.

* Pat Goss: HERE'S ANOTHER GREAT IDEA GONE WRONG.

SEE...THESE CARRIERS...WELL, THEY WORK REALLY WELL TO CARRY THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE.

YOU CAN ADD A LOT OF CARRYING CAPACITY TO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING.

BUT, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS ONE, IT'S ALMOST DRAGGING THE GROUND NOW, WHY?

WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE THE PERSON WITH THE VEHICLE DIDN'T DO PROPER PLANNING.

YOU SEE, THE HITCH THAT'S ON THE VEHICLE-- THEY ADDED THAT SO THAT THEY COULD USE ONE OF THESE CARRIERS, IT IS A CLASS ONE.

THE CARRIER HAS A LARGER CLASS THREE FITMENT ON THE FRONT OF IT, SO IN ORDER TO PUT THE TWO THINGS TOGETHER, YOU HAVE TO HAVE AN ADAPTER.

THAT MEANS THAT THERE'S SPACE IN THERE, AND THAT SPACE ALLOWS THE, UH, CARRIER TO DROOP LIKE WE SEE HERE.

PLUS, BECAUSE IT'S EXTENDED OUT, IT PUTS MORE WEIGHT ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE, AGAIN CHANGING THE WAY IT SITS, AND IT DROPS DOWN LIKE THIS.

PROPER PLANNING: KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO TOW, THEN MATCH THE TOWING EQUIPMENT TO IT.

NOW, THE MOST POPULAR IS GOING TO BE A CLASS THREE, THAT'S THIS ONE RIGHT HER...UH, THEY GO ALL THE WAY UP TO A CLASS FIVE.

THIS IS FOR 21,000 POUNDS, RIGHT HERE.

SO, YOU HAVE TO MATCH THAT.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO MATCH THE HEIGHT OF YOUR VEHICLE BECAUSE THESE COME IN DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS AS FAR AS THE AMOUNT OF DROP DOWN TO THE TRAILER.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE TONGUE WEIGHT OF THE TRAILER, SO YOU GET THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT THERE.

AND, IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE TRAILERS WITH DIFFERENT SIZED BALLS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HERE IS ONE THAT HAS ALL OF THOSE MOUNTED RIGHT TO IT.

PLUS, IT HAS A HOOK THAT YOU CAN USE FOR RECOVERY WORK OR MAYBE YOU HAVE TO HAUL SOME BRUSH OR WOOD AROUND THE HOUSE, IT WORKS WELL FOR THAT-- PUT A CHAIN ON IT AND AWAY YOU GO.

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

John: TIME TO PICK SOME TASTY FIRST DRIVE FIRST FRUITS WITH ANOTHER QUICKSPIN!

* IT WASN'T SURPRISING TO SEE THIS 2022 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK JOIN THE SEDAN FOR ITS 11TH GENERATION.

IT'S A COMMUTER WITH SPORTY EUROPEAN FLAIR, AND AN EXCELLENT VALUE.

THIS SPORT TOURING, ALONG WITH THE EX-L, COMES WITH A 180 HORSEPOWER TURBOCHARGED 1.8 LITER INLINE-4.

LX AND SPORT MODELS GET A 158 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 2.0 LITER I4; BOTH ENGINES PROVIDE A QUIET AND EFFICIENT DAY-TO-DAY EXPERIENCE.

ALL MODELS ARE PAIRED WITH A CVT AUTOMATIC AS STANDARD, BUT SPORT AND SPORT TOURING OFFER A 6-SPEED MANUAL FOR NO COST.

OUR THREE-PEDAL TESTER WAS LOTS OF FUN, LETTING US SHIFT WITH LITTLE FUSS-- FEW BEAT HONDA IN THIS DEPARTMENT-- AND THE CLUTCH WAS LIGHT, TOO, MEANING EVEN IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, A MANUAL CIVIC IS STILL...CIVIL.

Alexander Kellum: THE HONDA CIVIC, TO ME AND I THINK TO A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE, HAS ALWAYS SORTA BEEN A KNOWN QUANTITY OF SORTS.

WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S A VEHICLE THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN RELATIVELY PRACTICAL, AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, AND USUALLY PRETTY FUN TO DRIVE.

AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SAY THAT THE 11TH GEN CIVIC THAT I HAVE HERE...IT RETAINS ALL OF THAT.

John: AS TO PRACTICALITY, THE HATCHBACK OFFERS AN IMPRESSIVE 24 AND A HALF CUBIC FEET OF STORAGE WITH THE SEATS UP; 10 MORE THAN THE SEDAN'S.

AND STANDARD 60/40 FOLDING REAR SEATS ALLOW FOR EVEN BIGGER HAULS.

IN OUR CASE, TOP TRIM MEANT A BOSE PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM, WIRELESS CHARGING AND A 9.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN.

ALL GREAT FOR DAILY DRIVERS.

Alexander: SORTA GOING BACK TO MY WHOLE "KNOWN-QUANTITY" THING, I HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY HONEST WITH YOU: WHEN I FIRST SAT IN THIS CAR AND STARTED IT I SAID, "YEAH, THAT'S A HONDA CIVIC."

AND NOW, AFTER A DAY OF DRIVING IT I CAN OFFICIALLY SAY, "YEAH, THIS IS A HONDA CIVIC."

BUT THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

IF ANYTHING, REALLY, IT'S A ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO HONDA FOR FINDING A WINNING FORMULA ALL THOSE YEARS AGO AND JUST STICKING WITH IT.

KIND OF LIKE THE RELIABILITY THE CIVIC IS KNOWN FOR: IF IT'S NOT BROKEN, DON'T FIX IT.

John: A WINNING FORMULA FOR A BASE PRICE OF AROUND $24,000; NEAR $31,000 FOR SPORT TOURING.

A STRAIGHTFORWARD, SPORTY, AND PRACTICAL DRIVE FOR JUST ABOUT ANYONE.

NO WONDER, THE 4-DOOR HONDA CIVIC IS OUR MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE PICK FOR BEST FAMILY SEDAN.

AND WITH THIS HATCHBACK SPAWNING A NEW TYPE-R JUST AROUND THE CORNER, WE THINK THE GOOD CHEMISTRY WILL JUST KEEP ON COMING.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

* Greg Carloss: THIS WEEK WE HAVE THE FIRST UPDATE ON OUR NEWEST LONG-TERM, THE 2022 MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER.

'22 BEGINS THE 4TH GENERATION OF THIS COMPACT CROSSOVER; NOW BUILT UPON RENAULT-NISSAN'S CMF-CD PLATFORM THAT IT SHARES WITH THE NISSAN ROGUE.

IT'S BIGGER IN EVERY DIMENSION FROM THE PREVIOUS GENERATION, AND MITSUBISHI HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO ACCENTUATE THAT WITH BOLD TRUCK-LIKE SUV PROPORTIONS, INCLUDING A TALL FRONT END AND LONG FLAT ROOFLINE.

THAT MORE SUBSTANTIAL SIZE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A MORE SOLID FEEL ON THE ROAD, BUT THE TRANSFORMATION INSIDE IS EVEN MORE DRASTIC.

WE SPENT A LONG TIME IN A 2019 OUTLANDER PHEV, SO TRUST US WHEN WE SAY THIS 2022 OUTLANDER'S INTERIOR IS A MASSIVE UPGRADE.

FOR THE DRIVER IT ALL STARTS WITH THE DIGITAL GAUGE SCREEN.

IT'S CRYSTAL CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT BEING CLUTTERED.

BUT TO BE HONEST, WE'RE NOT LOOKING DOWN AT IT SO MUCH BECAUSE THE HEAD UP DISPLAY EQUALLY USEFUL AND IT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE LINE OF SIGHT.

A 181 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED I4 DELIVERS POWER THROUGH A CVT TO THE FRONT OR, IN OUR CASE, ALL FOUR WHEELS WITH MITSUBISHI'S OPTIONAL SUPER ALL WHEEL CONTROL.

IT'S ONLY BEEN WITH US FOR A MONTH, BUT WE'VE ALREADY ADDED 1,500 MILES ONTO THE ODOMETER; AVERAGING AN ACCEPTABLE 24.9 MILES PER GALLON.

WE HOPE THE EXCITEMENT FROM A NEW LONG-TERM WILL CUSHION THE BLOW WHEN WE SAY GOODBYE TO OUR ACURA TLX ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

John: THE ORIGINAL, 1960s FORD BRONCO IS A TRUE AUTOMOTIVE ICON.

TIDY, SIMPLE, AND IMMENSELY RUGGED.

AND WHILE, FORD CLAIMS THAT THE ALL-NEW BRONCO IS ITS DIRECT DESCENDENT, TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

YET, LIKE THE ORIGINAL, ITS MISSION IS CLEAR: GIVE JEEP'S WRANGLER SOME SERIOUS COMPETITION.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT HOW WELL THIS 2021 BRONCO INFUSES ITS HERITAGE WITH THE DEMANDS OF TODAY.

* IT'S HARD TO TAKE A DRIVE ANYWHERE WITHOUT SEEING A JACKED-UP JEEP WRANGLER DRIVER WAVE TO ANOTHER JACKED-UP WRANGLER DRIVER GOING DOWN THE ROAD.

AND ADMITTEDLY, ON THE ROAD IS WHERE MOST OF THEM STAY.

WE SAY THAT TO POINT OUT THAT NEITHER THE TWO OR FOUR-DOOR 2021 FORD BRONCO NECESSARILY NEEDS TO "OUT-JEEP" A WRANGLER.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE SUV WORLD FOR SMALL, CAPABLE, RUGGED UTILITIES THAT LOOK LIKE THEY'D BE UNSTOPPABLE IN ANY SITUATION.

OUR BRONCO 2-DOOR CERTAINLY DOES.

BUT, FOR THOSE THAT ACTUALLY DO VENTURE DEEP INTO THE BUSH, YOU'D BETTER BE ABLE TO BACK UP THOSE LOOKS WITH SOME SERIOUS OFF-PAVEMENT PERFORMANCE.

FOR BRONCO THAT STARTS WITH TWO 4X4 SYSTEMS; ONE WITH A BASIC 2-SPEED HI-LO SHIFT ON THE FLY TRANSFER CASE, AND A MORE ADVANCED ELECTROMECHANICAL UNIT.

THE BRONCO, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE CROSSOVER-BASED BRONCO SPORT, IS BUILT ON A FULLY-BOXED STEEL FRAME WITH SEVEN-CROSSMEMBERS; PLENTY OF ADD-ON UNDERBODY PROTECTION IS AVAILABLE, AND THERE'S A MAXIMUM OF 11.6 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE.

UP FRONT, AN INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION WITH ALLOY A-ARMS AND LONG-TRAVEL COIL SPRINGS; WHILE IN BACK, IS A SOLID AXLE 5-LINK REAR, WITH UP TO 35 INCH TIRES AVAILABLE.

OUR 2-DOOR BLACK DIAMOND SERIES STUCK WITH STANDARD 32s ON ITS 17 INCH STEEL WHEELS.

BLACK DIAMOND TRIM INCLUDES UPGRADED FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS, A BLACK GRILLE, ROCK RAILS, AND A "RIDE HARD AND PUT AWAY WET" VINYL UPHOLSTERY WITH RUBBER FLOORING.

OF COURSE, LIKE MOST THESE DAYS, FORD RELIES ON ELECTRONICS TO DO MUCH OF THE HEAVY LIFTING; WITH MULTIPLE G.O.A.T.

MODES FOR THEIR TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, AVAILABLE TRAIL CONTROL, TRAIL TURN ASSIST, AND EVEN ONE-PEDAL DRIVE.

IT'S NOT A CHORE AT ALL TO DRIVE BRONCO ON PAVEMENT FOR DAILY USE, WITH PLENTY OF MODERN CREATURE COMFORTS AND UNIQUE TOUCHES INSIDE TO MAKE IT INTERESTING.

ANOTHER BIG PART OF THE WRANGLER'S APPEAL IS THE ABILITY TO REMOVE ITS ROOF AND DOORS.

BRONCO NOT ONLY ACCOMPLISHES THIS; THE TWO FRONT ROOF PANELS REQUIRE NO TOOLS TO REMOVE; BUT DOES WAY BETTER WHEN IT COMES TO TAKE-ALONG STORAGE.

MORE POWER THE BETTER, AS FAR AS MOST BUYERS ARE CONCERNED, AND FORD OFFERS A PAIR OF TURBO ENGINES TO CHOOSE FROM.

STANDARD IS THIS 2.3 LITER ECOBOOST I4 WITH 300 HORSEPOWER AND 325 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

OPTIONAL, IS A 2.7 LITER V6 TURBO THAT AT 330 ONLY HAS 30 MORE HORSEPOWER, BUT CRANKS OUT 90 ADDITIONAL POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A 7-SPEED MANUAL TRANS WITH EXTRA-LOW CRAWLER GEAR IS STANDARD WITH THE 2.3 LITER; THE OPTIONAL 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC COMES STANDARD WITH THE V6.

SO, IT'S OFF TO MASON DIXON DRAGWAY TO SEE WHAT OUR 2.3 MANUAL IS CAPABLE OF.

WELL, ALL OF THAT TORQUE IS CLEARLY DESIGNED TO GET YOU OVER ROCKS, NOT DOWN A DRAGSTRIP.

SO, IT'S A LITTLE SLOW OFF THE LINE, TAKING A FULL 8.0 SECONDS TO 60.

NOT MUCH FRICTION ZONE IN THE CLUTCH, AND A GOOFY VERTICAL BAR TACHOMETER HAMPER THE PROCESS.

SELECTING SPORT MODE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGES 4HI, EVEN THOUGH WE WERE GETTING MUCH BETTER RESULTS IN 2HI.

ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, DESPITE VERY LONG TRUCK-LIKE SHIFTER THROWS, IT ENGAGED WITH EASE AND ENABLED SMOOTH, AND SPEEDY SHIFTS THROUGHOUT THE 16.1 SECOND QUARTER-MILE, ENDING AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

BOTH OVERSTEER AND UNDERSTEER ARE EASILY FOUND, AND THE COMPUTER IS QUICK TO STEP IN DESPITE IT NEVER FEELING CLOSE TO BEING OUT OF CONTROL.

ULTIMATELY, LIKE THE WRANGLER, IT'S CAPABLE, BUT NOT EXACTLY FUN TO THROW AROUND.

TWO-DOOR PRICING STARTS AT $29,995, $4,700 MORE FOR THE 4-DOOR.

LOTS OF UNIQUE VERSIONS OF THE BRONCO FROM THERE.

OUR BLACK DIAMOND TESTER STARTS AT $37,545, AND LIMITED FIRST EDITIONS GOING FOR $58,410.

LET'S FACE IT, WHEN IT COMES TO RUGGED NO-FRILLS OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY, THE JEEP WRANGLER AND ITS CJ PREDECESSOR HAVE HAD QUITE A RUN.

IT'S DOUBTFUL THAT THE 2021 FORD BRONCO WILL PUT AN END TO ITS REIGN, BUT IT'S A FANTASTIC ALTERNATIVE THAT DOES A LOT OF THINGS WELL, AND HAS ALREADY EARNED NECESSARY TRAIL-CRED OF BOTH TRUE OFF-ROADERS, AND THOSE THAT JUST LIKE TO LOOK LIKE ONE.

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 WORK ON OUR DRIVING SWING WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S NEW GOLF R. THEN, WE "KICK" BACK WITH A SUBCOMPACT SPORT UTE FROM NISSAN.

UNTIL 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... FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS LUCAS OIL PRODUCTS HAS HELPED PEOPLE TACKLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS IN THE AUTOMOTIVE, MARINE, AND INDUSTRIAL FIELDS.

FROM OUR ORIGINAL FOUR CORE PRODUCTS... LUCAS OIL HAS DEVELOPED OVER 400 CUSTOM PRODUCTS TO HELP BOTH PROFESSIONALS AND DO IT YOURSELFERS.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT LUCASOIL.COM.

LUCAS OIL, KEEP THAT ENGINE ALIVE.

TIRERACK.COM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

AND NOW, A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF TIRERACK.COM.

FIRST, THERE WAS THE WHEEL.

THEN, THE TIRE.

"WE'LL CALL IT TIRE RACK."

FORTY YEARS LATER, WE'RE NOT SLOWING DOWN.

TIRERACK.COM.

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.