Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We'll start off with hybrid luxury courtesy of the Lexus ES300h... Then, get to the bottom of the barrel for a "Your Drive" filter on engine oil... We'll see how car crushers turn old rides into new ones... Then, we'll share all the details on the first update of the Kia Telluride...

So, come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: The Lexus ES has been around since Toyota launched their luxury division in 1989.

Now to some, the ES is just an over-polished Camry, but to many it has been the gateway to all that Lexus has to offer, helping create lifelong fans of the brand.

Now in its 7th generation, the ES gets updated for 2023, so let's see the latest it has to offer to luxury minded buyers on a budget.

♪ ♪ For well over 30 years now, the Lexus ES has done an excellent job making a true no compromise luxury experience highly attainable.

Then, when this 7th generation debuted for 2019, it added F Sport performance to the lineup for the first time, and this Elegant Sedan became a whole lot more enjoyable to drive.

For 2023, the changes may be more focused, but they also make the ES a lot easier to live with.

That's primarily a result of Lexus addressing the one thing we found most frustrating about the ES, the fussy console-mounted Remote Touch Interface.

Well, fussy no more as the entire center console has been reworked with a big pad for wireless phone charging and larger cupholder space.

You see, whether you stick with the standard 8.0 inch or go for the optional 12 inch infotainment screen, it's now a touchscreen.

It also has higher resolution, works with typical smartphone like interaction, and allows for wireless integration of both Apple and Android devices.

While, nothing really changes outside, another important update for '23 is that instead of one specific F Sport model, new multi-tiered packaging allows you to have the look, without going all in.

New F Sport Design gets you the gloss black 19 inch alloys, plus, the F Sport front bumper, grille, and rear spoiler.

Then, F Sport Handling adds Sport+ and Custom drive modes, F Sport suspension tuning for the Adaptive Variable Suspension, F Sport steering wheel, and aluminum interior trim.

Sunroof remains standard for all ES trims, as is full LED lighting, though Lexus' triple beam headlights are an upgrade.

Despite being a mid-level Lexus sedan, and taking on a racier vibe with the F Sport additions, the interior remains very plush and right in line with what we've come to expect from the brand.

Front seats are quite comfortable, with nice wide cushions; room in the back is more than plentiful for adults.

While, the available 302 horsepower V6 is fantastic, unless you're always in a hurry, we feel this ES hybrid is the way to go, as it delivers adequate power with exceptional fuel economy.

The 2.5 liter I4 based system is familiar Toyota and Lexus fare at this point, outputting a combined 215 horsepower and achieving Government Fuel Economy Ratings of 43-City, 44-Highway, and 44-Combined; thus, our 43.8 miles per gallon average of Regular was right on.

That's a much better than average Energy Impact Score of 6.8 barrels of yearly oil use, with 3.3 tons of CO2 emissions.

Not only does the hybrid feel plenty quick for everyday, but it allows you to get almost 700 miles per tankful.

All-wheel-drive is still available too, using the 2.5's non-hybrid version with a 203 horsepower rating.

The phrase "smooth as a Lexus" exists for a reason, as even with F Sport tuning, the ride is quite luxury car like, which is to say very soft, but not quite floaty.

That keeps it out of true sport sedan territory, but it still equated itself well enough at our Mason Dixon handling course.

Adding both F-Sport packages paid off with very little body roll, almost instantaneous steering response, and a surprisingly good amount of feedback.

It felt very neutral through the cones, and getting the car to its limits and keeping it there was quite easy without developing significant amounts of understeer or oversteer.

Less of a thrill ride off the line, with a leisurely 7.8 second stroll to 60, and quarter-mile time of 16.0 seconds flat at 89 miles per hour.

The hybrid works with a CVT, which is rarely our favorite choice, and probably won't be yours either unless you enjoy spending extended periods of time hanging out at 5,500 rpm.

As for pricing, the all-wheel-drive 250 and front-wheel drive 350 share base pricing of $43,090; with the 300h hybrid a bargain, only $1,400 more at $44,490.

Since 1989, this Elegant Sedan has always offered a variety of powertrains to both appeal to and satisfy a wide range of buyers, and it has also been quite successful at introducing Americans to the finer things in the automotive life without breaking the bank.

Now, with its revamped interior, we think the 2023 Lexus ES is finer than ever.

♪ ♪ Each year in the US, about 12 to 14 million vehicles reach the end of their useful rolling lives, and about 99 percent of those end up in a scrapyard.

But usually, that's not the end of their story.

Stephanie Hart visits a local salvage yard to show us how automobiles are recycled, and the crushing first step to a new ride tomorrow.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: I'm here at ConservIt in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Forty to 45,000 vehicles are shredded each year.

Their materials are then used to make entirely new products, which is a win for the environment.

Alright, I'm going to put on my safety gear and head out to check out the shredding plant.

Just look at this place!

Very cool!

Vehicles are actually the most recycled objects in the United States.

Globally, 27 million vehicles are recycled each year.

Twelve million of those vehicles come from the United States.

Once, plastics are removed, what's left of the modern automobile are most metals such as iron, aluminum, and steel.

All can be efficiently recycled!

HOLDEN METZNER: The individual metals are separated using magnets and other technology.

So, a car goes in-- mixed metals and waste-- and it comes out as furnished-ready steel, aluminum, copper, brass.

The benefits of recycling automobiles is you're taking something that has very little value and breaking it down into items that can be reused or recycled.

STEPHANIE: Recycled vehicles in the U.S. and Canada provide enough steel to build about 13-million new vehicles.

Plus, recycling end of life cars eliminates the need for 85 million barrels of oil that would otherwise be used to make new and replacement car parts.

HOLDEN: Being able to make new metal from recycled metal saves a ton of energy.

It's much more environmentally friendly from emissions to the energy that's used to-- melt the aluminum or steel, to the mining that takes place to get the-- raw materials that would be necessary to make new cooper or new aluminum or new-- iron.

STEPHANIE: It's no wonder the car recycling industry is the 16th largest in the United States, contributing about $25 billion to the national gross domestic product.

HOLDEN: The steel from automobiles goes to steel mills that make items from rebar, to I-beams, to plate, to coil.

They can be used to make new cars, appliances... they're used in buildings, bridges...

They can be used for making new equipment.

STEPHANIE: Recycling cars is nothing new, it's been underway since the first vehicles rolled off the production line well over 100 years ago.

Its success is built on an entrepreneurial spirit, a love of cars, and a desire to satisfy the needs of an evolving automotive ecosystem.

Cars are more complex these days, so it's only gotten more challenging for recyclers as far as effectively recovering all of the metals.

HOLDEN: The technology and the auto-recycling industry has also been improving.

It's allowing us to identify and- and capture, uh, scrap metals that otherwise we weren't able to, such as insulated copper wire, circuit boards.

And also, the sizing of what we're able to capture.

Now, we're able to capture much, much smaller part sizes versus what we were previously able to do.

NICK REED: So, all the cars that come in-- they're all different, every make and model.

Um...

So, it kind of gives you a challenge to figure out how to process them the best way.

Um... that's probably why I like my job.

STEPHANIE: ConservIt employees also feel good, knowing with each car they crush our planet is being preserved for future generations.

SAM METZNER: It's nice to know that these, uh, items aren't going to be landfilled or, or disposed of in a way that's not beneficial for the environment.

JOHN: All engines need oil; but, not all oils are created equal, and figuring out which one is right for your car can be hard to decipher.

Audra Fordin translates for us in this week's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ AUDRA FORDIN: The work motor oil does in your engine is second to none.

If the oil level decreases or become contaminated there is much more heat that builds up and is produced inside of the engine because of lack of lubrication; which causes parts in your engine to wear, parts to warp, gets pitted, and even melts.

So, why is an oil change important?

To answer that question, first, you need to understand that motor oil and motor oil filter go together like shoes and socks.

The oil filter filters out and removed any debris that's flowing through the engine and it is designed to last the lifecycle of an oil change at a minimum.

So, you should always change your oil filter when you're due for a motor oil change.

The motor oil has many jobs; and, yes, it is very busy.

Motor oil cleans and protects the engine and all of the moving parts, it keeps your engine cool, and keeps all of the valvetrain components well lubricated.

There are different kinds of motor oil as well.

You have conventional motor oil, which is crude oil from the ground where all the molecules are different sizes; you have a synthetic blend of motor oil, which is a blend of oil, so it's important to read the ingredients of the bottle.

And this is, of course, better than conventional motor oil; but, it's still a blend.

You have high mileage motor oil, which is for cars that have, like, 100,000 miles-plus and/or tow heavy loads.

And synthetic motor oil, which is now man-made in a laboratory.

And the beauty of this is that the molecules are all the same size so the oil burns more clean.

Note: You do not need to be brand specific.

What you do need to be is using the specific grade of oil that the manufacturer demands for your car.

No, this is not a ploy to make money on you.

This is actually the best way to keep your engine in great condition and to live a long life.

You can find the specific viscosity for your type of oil by looking underneath your hood at your oil cap, in your owner's manual or you could find it online.

Now, if you do your own oil changes, please be sure to recycle your oil in the proper container.

It is mandated by law, and all service centers accept used motor oil.

And please, don't mix your fluids.

It's the right thing to do for the environment.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here at MotorWeek !

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: You can tell its summer vacation time; as we've been seeing a lot less of our 2022 Kia Carnival and its added more than 6,000 miles to its odometer since we last checked in.

Here are a few observations noted in our logbook from those family getaways.

The 290 horsepower V6 really does pack a punch, ride is comfortable without being soft, controls are all well-placed and exactly where you expect them to be... adult 2nd row passengers really dig the novelty of the optional lounge seating, but the benefits are mostly lost for the majority of kids strapped in the car seats, and they're not easily removed to go max cargo when you need your minivan to substitute for a pickup truck.

We've taken quite a few long road trips in this Carnival and the results are usually the same for everyone involved.

The driver enjoys a comfortable ride and the wealth of driver assistance features, while the passengers reap the benefits of all the amenities that come with the SX Prestige trim.

So, while the destinations may be different, the journey is delightfully consistent.

Those recent highway miles have triggered an uptick in our fuel economy; now sitting at a 23.0 miles per gallon average over 28,000 miles.

The wide stance and tiger nose grille do draw comparisons to SUVs more than other minivans which of course, helps make the Carnival more appealing to many.

Equally appealing is our Acura Integra.

It's up on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: Lets, get rolling, it's time for another QuickSpin!

♪ ♪ GREG: As it turns out, building a car is kinda hard, but that's not stopping electric vehicle startups like Rivian from getting boots on the assembly line.

Earlier this season we tested the R1T pickup, and now we're back in their first SUV, this R1S Launch Edition.

Truth be told, the R1T and this R1S are quite similar.

They use the same platform and powertrain configurations, including our model's Quad-Motor All-Wheel-Drive layout.

It provides 835 horsepower and an impressive 908 pound-feet of torque, running 0-60 sprints in 3.3 seconds according to our tests.

And according to the EPA, expect up to 321 miles of range from the Quad Motor's large battery pack.

Sitting in the driver's seat of the R1S, with these nice, big screens, the spaciousness around me and the view out over the sculpted hood, I feel like, I'm in a modern, premium, large SUV.

When it comes to ride it's a little more like an old school truck-based ride.

And riding like a truck isn't inherently bad.

Yeah, it gets a little bouncy over uneven surfaces.

It'll pitch forward quite a bit with the robust regenerative braking system; but keep in mind, the R1S is an SUV that can legitimately go off-roading and it has multiple ride height settings, which do have a noticeable effect on how it rides.

And of course, it is insanely fast.

The Rivian R1S starts near $80,000 with delivery; Launch Editions start over $90,000.

We don't want to spoil too much, as we'll be featuring this R1S in a full Road Test in the very near future.

And we'll have more QuickSpins, soon!

JOHN: 2020 saw the arrival of the biggest Kia yet, the Telluride 3-row SUV.

Both it and its platform-mate Hyundai Palisade have been very successful and raised the bar for large crossover Utes.

And while, the Telluride was already the tougher looking of the two, for '23, it takes an even more rugged turn through the power of X.

♪ ♪ This is an X-Pro outfitted 2023 Kia Telluride, one of two rugged X-themed upgrade trims now available throughout the Kia utility lineup.

X-Line is the other one, and where the bulk of the off-road specific upgrades are applied; X-Pro just adds a little more capability on top, you know, for the pros.

Naturally, the transformation starts with higher ground clearance, though it's only about a half an inch here; more noticeable is the new beefier roof rack.

On top of that, X-Pro adds a tow mode, better cooling, and a self-leveling rear suspension that boosts towing capacity from 5,000 to 5,500 pounds, and the Pro gets tough looking 18 inch wheels with actual all-terrain tires.

Choosing either X upgrade trims will include active on-demand all-wheel-drive with a locking center differential, along with added downhill brake control to manage descents in steep or slippery terrain.

Much of the technical aspects were already available on the Telluride, just now gathered into a more comprehensive and marketable package.

Both share a toughened-up face with simulated skid plate up front and more substantial looking bumper in rear.

But all '23 Telluride's get updated lighting in front and back, as well as a new grille and specific wheel designs for each trim level.

You don't have to be the rugged type to enjoy the tech enhancements available in all Telluride's which include standard navigation, enhanced smart phone integration, and a new panoramic curved display with dual 12.3 inch screens that blend into one another seamlessly on top of the dash.

The dash itself gets reshaped to accommodate this, getting slimmer vents along with upgraded materials, and even a redesigned steering wheel.

Three rows of seating remains standard in all Telluride's, and whether you go with captain's or bench seating for the 2nd row, it is very spacious feeling; the 3rd row is not bad either.

Cargo space remains quite good for a crossover too, 21.0 cubic-feet of space behind the 3rd row, 46.0 behind the 2nd, and a max of 87.0 cubic-feet with all seats folded.

The SX-Prestige trim level of our X-Pro Telluride tester means nicely stitched Nappa Leather seating, Harmon Kardon premium audio, surround view monitor, and even a Head-Up display which has grown from 8.5 to 10 inches.

And there's even a real shifter for the 8-speed automatic transmission, instead of platform-mate Palisade's array of buttons.

Attached to that 8-speed is the same 3.8 liter V6 as before, and output remains at 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

This is a lot of vehicle for that humble V6 to deal with, but at our Mason Dixon test track, it leapt off the line with a decent amount of punch, and hit 60 in 6.9 seconds, actually a few tenths quicker than our original Telluride test in '20.

Power delivery remains very linear throughout the quarter-mile, with smooth and steady shifts from the automatic helping to maintain good momentum throughout the 15.2 second quarter-mile which we completed at 93 miles per hour.

All-terrain tires are never the best choice for on-pavement slalom work, and at times our Telluride did struggle for grip; but, body roll is by no means excessive and both steering feel and weight were quite good.

Plus, the 4-wheel independent suspension and unibody construction certainly give it a leg up on full-framed competitors.

Kia's all-wheel-drive system comes with handling benefits as well, constantly adjusting the distribution of power sent fore and aft to best match road conditions and driver input.

Brakes were strong with just moderate nosedive during the consistently straight and smooth stops which averaged just 109 feet.

Great pedal feel too, along with very little ABS pulsing.

X offerings expand the already very broad lineup of Telluride's which start at just $37,255.

X-Line is available on EX and above, starting at $47,050; you'll have to step up to SX trim to go pro, starting at $51,040.

Now, we're not saying you should run out and trade your current Telluride in to go to the X-side, but if you are already thinking about buying a 2023 Kia Telluride, why not choose the one with the most capability, and just happens to be the best looking one too?

For us, it would be X-Pro all the way.

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 our final ride in the current-gen Toyota Tacoma, followed by our take on the redesigned Honda Accord.

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... To order a DVD of this program, call... MotorWeek has been brought to you by... ANNOUNCER: 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!

MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper To Bumper, featuring major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast.

Learn more at AutoValue.com and BumperToBumper.com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek .

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it Tire Rack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(car engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.