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

JOIN US AS WE PIT COMPACT UTE'S DOOR HANDLE TO DOOR HANDLE... PAT GOSS SAYS A TINY SPARK CAN SHED A BIG LIGHT... STEPHANIE HART HEADS TO DAYTONA FOR A TOUR OF LEGENDS... AND WE SHOOT THROUGH THE CORNERS IN TRACK LOVING LUXURY WITH THE MERCEDES AMG C63 S...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED, THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH MADE IN AMERICA.

John: PEOPLE JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH COMPACT CROSSOVERS, AND NEITHER CAN WE, AS SMALL UTE'S HAVE QUICKLY BECOME THE FAMILY RUNABOUT OF CHOICE.

SO, WE'RE BACK AT IT ONCE AGAIN WITH OUR FRIENDS AT CARS.COM, RIFLING THROUGH SEVEN POPULAR COMPACTS TO FIND THE BEST UTILITY VALUE.

HERE'S HOW THINGS SHOOK OUT!

* THE SUBURBS OF CHICAGO ARE CERTAINLY NOT THE WARMEST OF PLACES TO BE IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH.

BUT, IT IS THE REAL WORLD AFTER ALL!

SO, IF THERE ARE CARS TO BE TESTED, WE'LL BUNDLE UP AND BE THERE.

AND THAT'S WHERE OUR SEVEN COMPACT UTILITIES WERE AWAITING US, PREPARING FOR BATTLE.

THE USUAL SUSPECTS HERE...

THE ALWAYS COMPETENT HONDA CR-V...

THE HIGH-VALUE HYUNDAI TUCSON...

THE TRAIL RATED JEEP CHEROKEE...

THE SPACIOUS AND STYLISH NISSAN ROGUE...

THE MORE CAPABLE THAN EVER SUBARU FORESTER...

THE TOYOTA RAV4, FRESH OFF A RUGGED MAKEOVER... AND THE WINNER OF OUR LAST COMPACT SUV CHALLENGE, THE VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN... NO PRICE CAP THIS TIME AROUND, WHICH MEANS A WIDE RANGE FROM MID-30s TO LOW 40s.

ALL CONTESTANTS ARE 2019 MODELS, FEATURING ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

WHERE THINGS DIFFER, IS IN THE ENGINE BAYS, WITH A MIX OF TURBO AND NON-TURBO 4-CYLINDERS, AND EVEN A V6.

THE ROGUE, CHEROKEE, AND RAV4 ALL HAVE PLENTY TO OFFER, BUT IN THIS CHALLENGE, WHERE SCORES WERE TIGHTER THAN EVER, THEY JUST MISSED THE CUT.

SO, OUR TOP QUARTET STARTS WITH THE HONDA CR-V IN 4TH SPOT.

THE CR-V MAKES DO WITH A TINY 1.5 LITER TURBO-4, WORKING HARD TO PUT OUT A MORE THAN ADEQUATE 190 HORSEPOWER, AS IT SHARES THE GROUP'S BEST COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 29 MILES PER GALLON.

AND SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, THE CR-V'S PRICE OF $35,145 WAS ACTUALLY SECOND LOWEST IN OUR TEST.

Brian Robinson: THE CR-V HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THIS SEGMENT FOR A LONG TIME.

AND THAT CONTINUES TO BE THE CASE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO ROOM INSIDE AND OVERALL RIDE QUALITY, BUT EVERYONE ELSE IN THE SEGMENT HAS CERTAINLY CAUGHT UP TO IT.

Joe Wiesenfelder: THE CR-V HAS A REALLY BIG, ROOMY BACK SEAT, AND THE SEAT DOESN'T SLIDE FORWARD AND BACK, AND THAT USUALLY MEANS, IF YOU HAVE A BIG BACK SEAT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE MUCH CARGO ROOM, BUT SOMEHOW THE CR-V MANAGES TO HAVE BOTH, WHICH IS JUST REALLY IMPRESSIVE.

John: THE HYUNDAI TUCSON WAS THIRD, WITH A 181 HORSEPOWER NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.4 LITER I4.

IT WAS NOT THE PEPPIEST, NOR DID ITS INTERIOR MATERIALS WIN OVER MANY JUDGE'S HEARTS.

BUT IT WAS FEATURE PACKED, HAS ONE OF THE BEST MULTIMEDIA SYSTEMS OUT THERE, AND AS EXPECTED, CAME IN WITH THE LOWEST PRICE HERE AT $34,130.

Brian: THE TUCSON SUFFERS FROM A LOT OF HARD PLASTICS INSIDE AND A GENERAL UNINVITING NATURE TO THE INTERIOR, BUT HAVING SAID THAT, YOU JUST CAN'T BEAT IT WHEN IT COMES TO FEATURES FOR THE MONEY.

Fred Meier: THE TUCSON WAS THE BEST VALUE HERE FOR A LOADED SUV; IT HAD COMPETITIVE FEATURES, COMPETITIVE CAPABILITIES, AND IT CAME IN A THOUSAND TO $7,000 LESS THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE FIELD.

John: WITH A RECENT RE-DESIGN, THE SUBARU FORESTER WAS PRIMED TO DO WELL, AND INDEED IT DID, FINISHING IN SECOND SPOT.

POWERED BY A 182 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER BOXER-4, THE FORESTER CONTINUES TO DELIVER A LOT OF SPACE, A HIGH QUALITY INTERIOR, AND OF COURSE, HI-DEF LEVELS OF VISIBILITY ALL AROUND.

ALL FOR JUST A COUPLE BUCKS MORE THAN THE CR-V, AT $35,270.

Brian: THE FORESTER CONTINUES TO DELIVER EXACTLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN THIS SEGMENT, WHICH IS GREAT COMFORT, LOTS OF SPACE AND THE FEELING THAT YOU CAN EASILY DRIVE THROUGH WHATEVER WEATHER COMES YOUR WAY.

Joe: YOU CAN'T MENTION SUBARU, OR THE FORESTER, WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT VISIBILITY; YOU CAN SEE OUT OF IT SO WELL...

I LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE'S SO MUCH SEAT TRAVEL, IT'S NOT THE BIGGEST SUV, BUT I WAS ABLE TO GET REAL FAR AWAY FROM THE PEDALS; MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE THAN SOME OF THESE VEHICLES.

John: NOW OUR WINNER, AGAIN THE VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN, IT CAME WITH THE TOP PRICE TAG TOO, AT $40,485.

THAT DOES INCLUDE ITS UNMATCHED 6-YEAR/72,000 MILE WHOLE VEHICLE WARRANTY.

IT ALSO BROUGHT, A TORQUEY 184 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 WITH OPTIONAL R-LINE TRIM, WHICH MEANS LOTS OF SPORTY ACCENTS YOU DON'T NECESSARILY NEED.

BUT THEY DID MAKE IT THE COOLEST LOOKING RIDE OF THE BUNCH, WHILE DELIVERING SPORT-SEDAN LEVELS OF DRIVING ENJOYMENT.

ALSO, THE TIGUAN IS YOUR ONLY OPTION IF YOU NEED IN A 3RD ROW.

Brian: THE TIGUAN HAS BEEN A BIG SUCCESS MOSTLY BY GIVING PEOPLE MORE SPACE FOR LESS MONEY.

THAT CONTINUES HERE, ALTHOUGH IT ALSO HAS A VERY SUBSTANTIAL RIDE TO IT AND A GREAT TECH INTERFACE.

Mike Hanley: I REALLY LIKED DRIVING THE VW TIGUAN; IT'S SPORTY, IT HANDLES WELL, IT WAS REALLY OPERATING AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THE OTHER MODELS IN THIS TEST...

THE TIGUAN'S 2ND ROW SEAT IS REALLY COMFORTABLE, IT HAS GOOD LEG ROOM, GOOD HEADROOM, AND A NICE SEATING POSITION.

John: ULTIMATELY, ALL SEVEN OF OUR COMPACT UTILITIES ARE ALL A LOT MORE ALIKE THAN THEY ARE DIFFERENT, AND EQUALLY PROFICIENT AT GETTING FAMILY CHORES DONE.

BUT, IN A SEGMENT THAT CONTINUES TO GROW, IT'S STILL THE VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN THAT RIDES TO THE TOP FOR NOW.

* ON THE BUCKET LIST FOR MANY CAR ENTHUSIASTS IS TO DRIVE THEIR FAVORITE MUSCLE CAR ON HALLOWED SANDS OF DAYTONA BEACH.

AFTER ALL, IT'S WHERE STOCK CAR RACING GOT ITS START OVER A CENTURY AGO.

TODAY, THAT LOVE OF SPEED CONTINUES, JUST OFF THE BEACH, AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY'S MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA.

OUR STEPHANIE HART TAKES US INSIDE THIS FAST PACED MUSEUM THAT HONORS THE GREATS IN MOTORSPORTS OF ALL TYPES.

* Stephanie Hart: WE'RE HERE IN DAYTONA BEACH CRUISING THE STRIP IN OUR CANDY APPLE RED FORD MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE.

I MEAN, WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THIS?

* BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, YOU GOT TO DO IT RIGHT, THAT MEANS TURNING OFF A1A AND HEADING TOWARDS THE BEACH WITH OUR CONVERTIBLE.

* TWENTY-THREE MILES OF WHITE SAND BEACH TO EXPLORE.

YOU CAN SMELL THE OCEAN BREEZE, THE WIND IN YOUR HAIR, THIS IS JUST AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE.

* TODAY, YOU CAN'T GO OVER 10 MPH ON THE BEACH OR LIFEGUARDS WILL ACTUALLY PULL YOU OVER, BUT BACK IN THE 1920s THERE WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY PEOPLE RACED ON THIS BEACH, THEY RACED STOCK CARS.

IT WAS REALLY POPULAR, IT WAS THE IN THING TO DO BACK THEN.

HISTORICAL MARKERS TELL THE STORY...

WHEN THERE WERE FEW PAVED ROADS AND DAYTONA'S HARD SAND WAS USED AS A RACECOURSE.

SPEED AND SUNSHINE COLLIDED HERE.

AND LEGENDS WERE BORN.

THOSE HEROES OF HORSEPOWER ARE HONORED TODAY AT THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.

THIS 1935 VINTAGE BLUE BIRD LAND SPEED RECORD CAR IS A MAIN ATTRACTION.

BUILT BY BRITISH RACER, JOURNALIST, AND HALL OF FAME MEMBER SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL, IT TOOK TO DAYTONA BEACH WITH AN AIRCRAFT ENGINE UNDER ITS HOOD.

Ron Watson: IT'S A ROLLS ROYCE MERLIN ENGINE FROM A SPITFIRE AIRPLANE.

Stephanie: IT LITERALLY FLEW NEARLY 277 MILES PER HOUR.

AND LATER THAT SAME YEAR AT THE BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS IT WAS THE FIRST CAR TO GO OVER 300 MILES PER HOUR.

WHEN DAYTONA-BREED STOCK CAR RACING AND NASCAR WERE STILL IN THEIR INFANCY, MOST OF THE BRAGGING RIGHTS WENT TO THE HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY.

THEIR HORNETS DOMINATED THE SPORT, THANKS IN PART TO ITS LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY.

Ron: SOMEBODY ALWAYS HAS AN ADVANTAGE BY HAVING ONE LITTLE THING BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE, BUT THEIR TIME LASTED ABOUT THREE YEARS IN THE EARLY '50s, BUT THEY WERE TOTALLY DOMINANT.

AND REINCARNATED LATER IN THE MOVIE "CARS" IN THE CHARACTER "DOC HUDSON" THAT WAS VOICED BY PAUL NEWMAN.

Stephanie: THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA WAS FOUNDED IN 1989.

IT MOVED FROM MICHIGAN TO ITS NOW PERMANENT FLORIDA HOME AT THE DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY IN 2017.

UPWARDS OF 110,000 FANS OF SPEED VISIT EACH YEAR.

THE HALL OF FAME HAS MORE THAN 200 INDUCTEES, COVERING ALL STYLES OF MOTORSPORTS.

Ron: I THINK RACING IS IN THE BLOOD, ESPECIALLY OF AMERICANS.

AND SO, THIS HALL OF FAME WAS FOUNDED TO CELEBRATE THAT SPIRIT OF COMPETITION IN ALL OF US.

Stephanie: THERE ARE ALSO, TWO DALE EARNHARDT STOCK CARS HERE, ONE FROM EARLY IN HIS CAREER THE WRANGLER #2 AND THEN THE FAMOUS GOODWRENCH #3 CHEVROLET.

BUT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FAST CARS, ANYTHING WITH A MOTOR IN IT THAT COMPETES IS WELCOME.

THAT INCLUDES MOTORCYCLES, POWERBOATING AND AVIATION.

Ron: GENERAL JIMMY DOLITTLE WHO LATER BECAME A WAR HERO WAS AN AIR RACER, ROSCOE TURNER, AND AMELIA EARHART.

THESE PEOPLE WERE OBVIOUSLY HOUSEHOLD NAMES.

YOU WOULD SEE ROSCOE TURNER'S NAME ON THE SPORTS PAGE NEXT TO BABE RUTH WHEN AVIATION WAS IN ITS HEY-DAY, AND SO, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S PART OF HISTORY THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALLY REMEMBER.

THERE'S SOME KIND OF AIR RACING GOING ON NOW BUT NOT LIKE IT WAS IN THE GOLDEN AGE OF AVIATION, SO I THINK THAT'S VERY, VERY UNIQUE.

Stephanie: THIS IS A ONE OF A KIND EXPERIENCE, CAPTURING THAT TIMELESS SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

THE CAR CULTURE IS RICH HERE, WHETHER YOU THE VISIT THE MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME OF AMERICA OR CRUISE DOWN THE BEACH WITH THE TOP DOWN.

THERE'S NO DENYING THE AUTOMOBILE PUT DAYTONA BEACH ON THE MAP.

John: TIME NOW TO HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

PAT TELLS US ABOUT A WARNING SIGN TO LOOK OUT FOR.

Pat Goss: YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY, CARS HAD A LOT OF IGNITION PARTS THAT TODAY, DON'T EVEN EXIST.

LIKE, SPARK PLUG WIRES.

BUT NO MATTER HOW EXOTIC OR HOW MUNDANE, ALL CARS STILL USE SPARK PLUGS.

AND SPARK PLUGS WEAR OUT, NOW...IF YOU NO HOW TO READ THE SPARK PLUGS THAT YOU TAKE OUT OF YOUR ENGINE, WELL, YOU CAN DETERMINE THE GENERAL CONDITION OF YOUR ENGINE.

NOW, LOOK AT THIS SPARK PLUG: WE'RE LOOKING RIGHT AT THE CENTER, AND WE SEE THE CENTER ELECTRODE IS NOTICEABLY WORN AWAY.

WELL, THAT'S NORMAL WEAR; NOTHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE THERE, THAT'S JUST TOO MANY MILES ON A SET OF SPARK PLUGS.

NOW THE NEXT ONE, THE END OF THE SPARK PLUG IS BLACK, DRY...AND DRY IS THE KEY, BLACK, DRY, AND SOOTY LOOKING.

NOW, THAT WOULD INDICATE A RICH MIXTURE.

IF IT'S ONLY ONE CYLINDER, YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LEAKY FUEL INJECTOR.

IF IT'S ON MORE THAN ONE CYLINDER, THEN YOU PROBABLY HAVE AN OVERALL FUEL CONTROL PROBLEM.

NOW, THIS NEXT ONE... REALLY, REALLY CLEAN, SPOTLESSLY CLEAN, CLEANER THAN ANY OF THE OTHER PLUGS IN THE ENGINE.

THAT USUALLY SIGNIFIES THAT COOLANT IS GETTING INTO THAT CYLINDER AND IT IS CLEANING, STEAM CLEANING THE END OF THE SPARK PLUG.

ALRIGHT NEXT, THIS IS WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF DISCOLORATION; THE ELECTRODES ARE WORN EVENLY AND EVERYTHING IS CLEAN, THERE ARE NO DEPOSITS.

THAT IS NORMAL.

NOW, HERE'S ONE WE DON'T WANT SEE.

THIS IS WHERE THE END OF THE SPARK PLUG HAS DRY SANDY, NOW IN TEXTURE, NOT IN COLOR...DRY, SANDY LOOKING DEPOSITS THAT HAVE BUILT UP PRIMARILY ON THE OUTER ELECTRODE.

LOOK AT THAT, SAY...UH-OH, GOT SOME BAD VALVE SEAL, MEANS OIL IS BEING SUCKED INTO THE ENGINE IN AN ATOMIZED STATE, AND IT'S USUALLY COMING AROUND THE VALVE SEALS OR THE VALVE GUIDES.

THE LAST ONE, THIS IS REALLY A BAD ONE.

THE END OF THE PLUG IS ALL GUNKED UP AND FILLED UP WITH DEPOSITS AND SO ON...IT'S WET, IT'S OILY, IT'S GREASY LOOKING, THAT MEANS THAT LIQUID OIL IS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE EITHER AROUND OR THROUGH THE PISTON AND YOU PROBABLY NEED MAJOR INTERNAL ENGINE REPAIRS.

SO, LEARN TO READ THE SPARK PLUGS AND YOU'LL KNOW A LOT MORE ABOUT THE GENERAL CONDITION OF YOUR ENGINE, AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE, RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

John: A FULL TANK AND A WIDE OPEN ROAD, SOUNDS LIKE THE MAKINGS OF A QUICKSPIN.

* OUR FIRST DRIVE OF THE 2020 PORSCHE 911 CARRERA S AND 4S WAS ON THE CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO IN VALENCIA, SPAIN.

STAGGERED TIRES... WIDER TRACKS... AND PORSCHE'S ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT TACKLE EACH TURN WITH GREAT GRIP AND PORSCHE FLAT FINESSE.

WITH 23 EXTRA HORSES...

THE TWIN-TURBO 3.0 LITER FLAT-SIX SURGES TO 443, RACING 0-TO-60 IN JUST OVER 3.0 SECONDS.

Garick Zikan: WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE SPECIFICATIONS ALL DAY, BUT ALL THE WORK THE ENGINEERS HAVE DONE TRULY MATTERS WHEN YOU'RE SITTING HERE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND YOU STOMP ON THE THROTTLE.

THAT'S WHEN THE POWER, POISE, AND PRECISION ALL COME TOGETHER IN TRUE PORSCHE STYLE.

John: THIS ICONIC REAR ENGINE SPORTS CAR EFFORTLESSLY ADAPTS TO THE REAL WORLD WITH RE-TUNED DAMPERS SOAKING UP THE SCARS ON THE SURFACE.

THE NEW PDK SWIFTLY DECIDES WHICH OF THE EIGHT GEARS BEST SERVES POWERING THE REAR WHEELS, OR ALL 4.

DON'T WORRY PURISTS, A MANUAL IS COMING.

DESPITE ITS VERY FAMILIAR APPEARANCE, THERE'S PLENTY THAT'S NEW IN THIS 911, DESIGNATED AS THE MODEL 992.

MOST OF WHAT YOU SEE ON THE SURFACE IS ALUMINUM...

EXCEPT FOR THE FRONT AND REAR FACIAS.

NEW LED'S UP FRONT, SHARPER DESIGN LINES, A LARGER REAR SPOILER AND LIGHT BAR IMMEDIATELY GRAB YOUR ATTENTION.

BELOW THE SKIN, BOTH THE CARRERA S AND 4S ARE WIDER IN THE FRONT AND REAR, WITH THE REAR DRIVE CARRERA S NOW SHARING THE SAME WIDER BODY ONCE RESERVED FOR 911 TURBO'S AND THE LIKE.

TWENTY INCH WHEELS ROLL UNDER THE FRONT FENDERS, 21s IN THE REAR WITH 4-WHEEL STEERING ONCE AGAIN AN OPTION.

INSIDE, THE DRIVER-ORIENTED COCKPIT, A CLASSIC WING DESIGN IP AND TOGGLE SWITCHGEAR EVOKE PORSCHE'S HERITAGE.

WHILE, THE LARGER 10.9 INCH PORSCHE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT SCREEN QUICKLY PUTS THE LATEST INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.

SAFETY FEATURES EXPAND AS WELL... NOW INCLUDING, STANDARD WET MODE, TO HELP PREVENT HYDROPLANING, AND OPTIONAL NIGHT VISION.

SO, THE 2020 PORSCHE 911 SEEKS SPEED WITH MORE SOPHISTICATED DESIGN, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WILL SURELY SECURE ITS ICONIC REPUTATION WELL INTO THE FUTURE.

CARRERA S MODELS GO ON SALE THIS SUMMER STARTING AT JUST OVER $113,000.

ADD ANOTHER 7400 FOR THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE CARRERA 4S.

WHEN IT COMES TO CROSSOVERS, ROOMINESS IS KEY, BUT DRIVING STILL MATTERS TO US, AND THE REFRESHED 2019 MAZDA CX-5 CAPTURES THAT SPIRIT EVEN BETTER THAN BEFORE.

SINCE, DEBUTING IN 2012, IT'S EARNED OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD, AND RECEIVED A FRESH NEW DESIGN FOR ITS SECOND GENERATION IN 2017.

A NATURALLY-ASPIRATED 4-CYLINDER IS STILL STANDARD, BUT WE CHOSE THE NEW 250 HORSEPOWER TURBO CHARGED SKYACTIV-G 2.5T ENGINE.

JUST AS WE'VE SEEN WITH THE LARGER CX-9 AND MAZDA6 SEDAN, IT BOOSTS RESPONSIVENESS IN A WAY WE'VE ALWAYS WANTED FROM THIS SLEEK AND SPIRITED COMPACT CROSSOVER.

BOTH ENGINES ARE MATCHED WITH A QUICK THINKING SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC THAT CAN CHANNEL THE POWER TO THE FRONT OR ALL FOUR WHEELS.

THE NEW G-VECTORING CONTROL PLUS KEEPS THE CX-5 WELL-BALANCED THROUGH THE TURNS.

THE STEERING IS EVEN MORE ENGAGING.

THE REVISED SUSPENSION FEELS VERY STURDY...

WHILE EASILY COMPLYING TO ROAD IMPERFECTIONS.

THE NEW SIGNATURE TRIM LEVEL TAKES THE QUIET AND STYLISH INTERIOR EVEN MORE UPSCALE.

LEATHER SEATS, WOOD TRIM, AND SATIN CHROME ACCENTS ADD A PREMIUM FEEL.

TECHNOLOGY RISES TO THE OCCASION TOO WITH APPLE CARPLAY, ANDROID AUTO, AND A 360 DEGREE VIEW MONITOR WITH FRONT AND REAR PARKING SENSORS.

THE 2019 MAZDA CX-5 STILL HAS THE SPORTY CAR-LIKE DRIVING DYNAMICS WE LIKE, BUT NOW WITH A NEW LEVEL OF REFINEMENT THAT MAKES THIS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A USEFUL UTE.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICES START AT UNDER $25,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A MERCEDES-AMG.

AND YES, CARS LIKE THE GTR ARE TRULY SPECTACULAR.

BUT FOR US, THINGS GET EVEN MORE INTERESTING, WHEN YOU START CRAMMING ALL OF THAT PERFORMANCE INTO A SMALLER PACKAGE LIKE THIS C63 S SEDAN.

SO, LET'S CRANK THIS LITTLE POWERHOUSE UP, AND WRING IT OUT.

* IT REALLY DOESN'T TAKE A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT TO TALK US INTO SPENDING A FEW DAYS WITH ANY MERCEDES-AMG.

AND SPECIFICALLY, THIS RACEY 2019 C63 S SEDAN.

IT SHARES AN UPDATED EXTERIOR WITH THE REST OF THE C-CLASS FAMILY.

THAT MEANS CHANGES TO THE FRONT END'S GRILLE AND AIR INTAKES, AS WELL TO THE REAR, WITH A NEW DIFFUSER WRAPPED AROUND NICELY INTEGRATED EXHAUST TIPS.

BUT LEST YOU THINK THIS IS JUST THE RUN-OF-THE-MILL FRONT AND REAR FASCIA, NIP AND TUCK, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT EXTERIOR LIGHTING, A FEW INTERIOR DETAILS, AND EVEN THE TRANSMISSION, ARE ALSO NEW.

REPLACING THE PREVIOUS 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS A NEW AMG SPEEDSHIFT MCT 9-SPEED.

IN MANUAL MODE, SHIFTERS ON THE WHEEL GIVE YOU TOTAL CONTROL; INSTANTLY TRIGGERING SHIFTS WHEN CALLED FOR, AND NOT UNTIL YOU DO.

HELL, HATH NO FURY LIKE A BOOSTED V8, AND WHILE THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN THAT REGARD, WE NEVER GET TIRED OF TALKING ABOUT HAND-ASSEMBLED AMG POWER-PROVIDERS.

HERE, IT'S THE 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 WITH 503 HORSEPOWER AND 516 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT'S ONE GREAT LOOKING MOTOR, AND AMG IS NOT AFRAID OF ACTUALLY LETTING YOU SEE THEIR HANDIWORK.

BUT OF COURSE, DRIVING AN AMG IS WHAT REALLY TELLS THE TALE.

[ENGINE REVS/TIRE NOISE] WE CAN ALL APPRECIATE UPDATES AND BIG HORSEPOWER NUMBERS, BUT WHAT TRULY STIRS THE AUTOMOTIVE SOUL, IS GETTING GREAT FEEDBACK FROM A CAR, HELPING YOU CARRY ON A MAN-MACHINE CONVERSATION OVER THE PERFECT WINDING ROAD, OR EVEN BETTER, A PLACE LIKE ROEBLING ROAD RACEWAY NEAR SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

NO HARDWARE UPDATES TO THE SUSPENSION WITH THE C63 S, BUT YOU DON'T REALLY NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THAT TOO MUCH THESE DAYS ANYWAY, AS YOU CAN JUST DIAL UP WHATEVER EXPERIENCE YOU'RE LOOKING FOR WITH AMG RIDE CONTROL AND DYNAMICS, WHICH HAVE BEEN UPDATED.

FOR US, IT WAS RACE MODE, DIAL BACK THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND OFF WE WENT.

THIS IS ONE BIG-POWER CAR THAT DOESN'T NEED HIGH SPEED SWEEPERS TO FEEL SETTLED, IT BEHAVES JUST ABOUT PERFECTLY NO MATTER HOW TIGHT OR WIDE THE TURNS ARE.

ALL OF THE MASTERFULLY-INTEGRATED AMG SYSTEMS WILL DO THE HARD WORK FOR YOU, WITH TRACTION CONTROL REIGNING YOU IN WITHOUT TAKING OVER.

IF YOUR NAME IS HANZ OR RUDOLF, IT MAY COME NATURAL TO YOU, BUT FOR US, IT TOOK A WHILE TO GET USED TO, FEELING ALMOST CLUMSY AT TIMES.

BUT ONCE YOU CONVINCE YOURSELF TO JUST HAMMER THE HECK OUT OF IT, THINGS START TO MAKE SENSE.

THIS CAR JUST WANTS TO BE DRIVEN HARD, AND SIDEWAYS.

IT'S EASY TO DO IT WITH CONFIDENCE TOO, THANKS TO ALL OF ITS TECHNO FEEDBACK.

IT REALLY IS ONE INCREDIBLY SOLID CAR.

KUDOS TO AMG FOR KEEPING IT REAR-WHEEL DRIVE AND NOT INSISTING ON 4MATIC; TIRE COMPANIES EVERYWHERE THANK THEM ALSO, THOUGH BELIEVE IT OR NOT, OVER THREE DAYS THE MICHELIN PILOT SPORTS HELD UP INCREDIBLY WELL.

STRAIGHT-LINE HEROICS ARE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE TOO.

HERE, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS, ENGAGE LAUNCH CONTROL AND GET OFF THE LINE WITH LITTLE TO NO WHEEL SPIN.

OR JUST POWER BRAKE IT, GET OFF THE BRAKE AND LAUNCH EVEN HARDER, MODULATING WHEEL SLIP ON YOUR OWN.

EITHER WAY ON THIS COLD DAY, WE SAW 4.0 SECONDS FLAT TO 60.

ONCE IT GETS ROLLING, AND YOU CAN FEED IN MAX POWER, THIS THING REALLY TAKES OFF; WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BANGING THROUGH GEARS WITH SPEEDY BRUTALITY.

WE FINISHED OUT THE QUARTER MILE IN 11.9 SECONDS AT 122 MILES PER HOUR.

NOT MUCH TIME LEFT TO TALK ABOUT THE INTERIOR, BUT UPDATES ARE MINOR.

COMFORTABLE, CLASSY, YOU'LL LOVE IT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 27-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

STARTING AT $75,595, PRICEY?

YES, BUT IF YOU CAN MANAGE WITH SLIGHTLY LESS HORSEPOWER AND A FEW LESS GO-FAST GOODIES, YOU CAN STICK WITH A BASE C 63 FOR "ONLY" $67,995.

GRANTED, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF PERFORMANCE MACHINES AVAILABLE AT THIS LEVEL, BUT NONE DELIVERS QUITE LIKE THE 2019 MERCEDES-AMG C63 S. AND, IT'S SEDAN PRACTICAL TO BOOT.

AMG HAS INDEED MANAGED TO CRAM MORE PERFORMANCE THAN EVER INTO THIS C-CLASS SHAPE, YET SOMEHOW MAKE IT EVEN EASIER TO DRIVE.

EXTREME LUXURY HAS NEVER FELT SO GOOD.

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 HYUNDAI BRINGS BIG CHANGES TO THEIR POPULAR SANTE FE LINE-UP.

AND SUBLIME SPEED IN A SUPERCAR, THE MCLAREN 720S.

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... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

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[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *