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

JOIN US AS FULL-SIZE UTEs BATTLE IT OUT FOR THE BIGGEST BRAGGING RIGHTS... PAT GOSS SHOWS MEASURING MATTERS WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS... ZACH MASKELL FINDS AN ARTIST WHO PUTS HIS PASSION IN MOTION... AND MINI AMPS UP THE FORCE AND THE FUN IN A SURE FOOTED COUNTRYMAN...

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: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMY, LOW GAS PRICES, OR JUST THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, FULL-SIZE, BODY-ON-FRAME SUVs ARE BACK EN VOGUE.

PLUS, THEY ARE NOW BEING COMPLETELY MODERNIZED FOR EVEN BIGGER SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

SO, ALONG WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT CARS.COM, WE'VE PUT THE LATEST BIG UTEs TO THE TEST, TO SEE WHICH ONE STANDS OUT.

* BIG FAMILY-SIZE RIGS HAVE A PURPOSE OF COURSE, AND IT'S NOT JUST TOWERING OVER PEOPLE ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE.

WHEN IT COMES TO HAULING AND TOWING MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE, GEAR, OR TOYS; THEY REALLY ARE THE MOST COMFORTABLE CHOICE.

THIS LANDSCAPE OF BIG TRUCK SUVs, WHERE THIRD ROWS ARE STANDARD AND V8-STYLE POWER ARE THE NORM, IS REPRESENTED HERE BY...

THE CHEVROLET TAHOE; SEGMENT VOLUME LEADER AND LAST REVISED FOR 2015... AN ALL-NEW FORD EXPEDITION, THE ONLY COMPETITOR HERE NOT ACTUALLY SPORTING A V8...

THE NISSAN ARMADA, RELAUNCHED FOR 2017, AND NOW BASED ON NISSAN'S GLOBAL PATROL SUV, NOT THE TITAN PICKUP AS BEFORE... AND FINALLY, OUR OLDEST COMPETITOR HERE, THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA, LAST REDESIGNED FOR 2008...

THIS TIME WE SET UP CAMP IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, RACKING UP AS MANY MILES AS POSSIBLE IN A WEEK'S TIME; IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SCENARIO IMAGINABLE, INCLUDING TOWING THROUGH THE NEARBY SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS.

AND IF THERE'S ONE CONSTANT WITH FULL-SIZE UTEs, IT'S THAT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY TO PLAY, SO NO PRICE CAP HERE, WHICH MEANS A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE OF MSRPS, FROM THE 70-G'S OF THE DOMESTICS, TO THE RELATIVE BARGAINS OF OUR TWO ASIAN COMPETITORS.

BE SURE TO HEAD TO CARS.COM FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ON OUR TEST.

IF WE'RE HERE TO PICK A WINNER; THAT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE ALSO RANS AS WELL, AND COMING IN 4TH PLACE IS THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA.

IT WAS TRULY FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST THESE NEWER DESIGNS, BUT IT WASN'T ALL BAD NEWS, IT DID COME WITH THE LOWEST PRICE HERE BY QUITE A MARGIN AT $59,873, WITH RELIABILITY THAT'S SECOND TO NONE.

Brian Robinson: GETTING IN THE SEQUOIA, IT FEELS LIKE A DINOSAUR COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLES HERE; THE NAV.

SCREEN IS TINY AND NOT WELL-INTEGRATED, THERE ARE LOTS OF HARD PLASTICS EVERYWHERE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME NICE, BIG CONTROL KNOBS AND THE RIDE IS QUITE GOOD...

IT'S JUST THAT ITS OLDER DESIGN KEEPS IT WELL BEHIND THE PACK HERE.

Brian Normile: IF YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS WAS MAYBE A 2013 OR '12...I WOULD HAVE BELIEVED YOU, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S THE NEW TRIM LEVEL...

IT'S GOT SOME BASIC SAFETY FEATURES, BUT IT'S LACKING THE FULL LIST THAT THE OTHER COMPETITORS HERE HAVE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY LACKING IN TERMS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES... John: THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE CHEVROLET TAHOE.

A LONG-TIME BENCHMARK IN THE SEGMENT, IT'S STILL THE MOST TRUCK-LIKE RIG OF THE BUNCH, SPORTING THE BIGGEST ENGINE HERE, AS WELL AS THE HIGHEST PRICE TAG.

YET, IT PUT THAT MONSTER MOTOR TO GOOD USE, GETTING THE BEST FUEL ECONOMY OF THE BUNCH DURING OUR TOWING LOOP.

Brian: THE TAHOE HAS A COMFORTABLE INTERIOR AND A POWERFUL ENGINE THAT TOWS TRAILERS LIKE THEY'RE BARELY EVEN THERE.

IT'S NOT PERFECT THOUGH, THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE BARELY ADEQUATE IN NORMAL USE, MUCH LESS IN TOWING, AND THE REALLY WIDE CENTER CONSOLE GIVES IT A CLAUSTROPHOBIC FEELING COMPARED TO MOST OF THE OTHERS HERE.

Mark Williams: THE CHEVY TAHOE RST IS KIND OF THE ATHLETE OF THIS GROUP; IT'S GOT THE BIGGEST V8 ENGINE, WHICH SOUNDS AMAZING THROUGH THE DUAL PIPE EXHAUST, BUT IS ALSO PERFORMS REALLY WELL EVEN WHEN WE'RE TOWING.

John: A BIT OF A SURPRISE, IT'S THE NISSAN ARMADA THAT CAME IN 2ND, MOSTLY DUE TO THE OVER THE TOP LUXURY OF ITS PLATINUM RESERVE INTERIOR, AT A PRICE WELL BELOW THE DOMESTIC ENTRIES, AT $67,145.

Brian: THE ARMADA FEELS VERY SOLID, SURPRISINGLY SO, YET, IT STILL HAS A GOOD RIDE; THE INTERIOR IS COMFORTABLE; IT JUST CAN'T HANG WITH THE DOMESTICS WHEN IT COMES TO TOWING AND OVERALL CAPABILITY.

Aaron Bragman: IT HAS PLENTY OF FEATURES, AND IT REALLY IS KIND OF THE LUXURY VERSION OF THESE VEHICLES; IT IS SUPER PLUSH INSIDE, ABSOLUTELY QUIET, AND REALLY A PLEASURE TO DRIVE.

John: IT'S NO SECRET, DOMESTIC BRANDS DO FULL-SIZE TRUCKS RIGHT, AND THE SUVs BASED ON THEM ARE QUITE NICE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SHOCKED THAT THE NEW FORD EXPEDITION WON.

BASED ON THE LONG-TIME BEST-SELLING TRUCK IN AMERICA, THE F150, THE TWIN-TURBO V6 EXPEDITION DID EVERYTHING WE ASKED OF IT IN TRUE V8 FASHION, WHILE PACKING IN MORE LUXURY AND FEATURES THAN ANY OTHER ENTRANT HERE.

Aaron: FORD'S NEW EXPEDITION IS THE FIRST BIG UPDATE TO A REALLY POPULAR PRODUCT IN A LONG, LONG TIME, AND THEY REALLY DID KNOCK THIS ONE OUT OF THE PARK.

IT'S BETTER IN EVERY SINGLE CONCEIVABLE WAY; IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE, IT'S MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, IT'S MORE STYLISH, IT OPERATES REALLY WELL IN TERMS OF ITS CARGO FLEXIBILITY INSIDE, IT DRIVES REALLY WELL, IT'S SUPER QUIET, AND THEN YOU GET SOME OF THAT TURBO SPOOL-UP FROM THE TURBO V6.

Brian: AS THE NEWEST DESIGN HERE, THE EXPEDITION HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT, INCLUDING A GORGEOUS INTERIOR, SMOOTH 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, GREAT TECH INTERFACE, AND JUST WAY MORE FEATURES THAN ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES HERE... John: SO, A DOMESTIC BRAND'S EFFORT WAS THE STANDOUT HERE, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT OTHERS ARE CATCHING UP.

AND WHEREVER YOUR ALLEGIANCES LIE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD OPTIONS FOR YOUR FULL-SIZE SUV WANTS AND NEEDS.

* FOR THOSE WHO FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW A CROWD, MEDIOCRITY IS A KILLER.

A COOKIE CUTTER LIFE-STYLE JUST ISN'T FOR THEM, OR FOR THE CARS THEY DRIVE.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW ONE ARTIST KEEPS HIS CREATIVE JUICES MOVING, AS WE GO OVER THE EDGE, AND DRIVE MOBILE ART, WITH ZACH MASKELL.

Zach Maskell: SO THERE YOU ARE JUST CRUISING ALONG AND YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING INTERESTING.

INSTEAD OF JUST CRUISING BY AND TAKING A PICTURE, WHY DON'T YOU STOP, AND TAKE A LOOK.

THIS FEAST FOR THE EYES SITS IN HYATTSVILLE, JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S COLLEGE PARK.

WE'RE BENDING, MENDING, AND BUILDING INSIDE THE WORLD OF RETIRED ART CONSERVATOR CLARKE BEDFORD.

Clarke Bedford: OH, I STARTED MAKING ASSEMBLAGE SCULPTURE AND WHATEVER MANY YEARS AGO.

I'VE ALWAYS MADE IT.

IT'S MY FAVORITE.

YOU KNOW, FOUND OBJECT THINGS IS TRADITIONAL CUBIST ART FORM.

IT'S 100 YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW.

BUT IN TERMS OF DOING AN ENVIRONMENT, THE HOUSE, THE CARS AND ALL THAT IT STARTED MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO.

Zach: DEMISE, A 1984 VOLVO 240 WAGON, KNOWN AS AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION MACHINE OR STEAMPUNK.

DEBOCLE, A 1946 CHEVY SCHOOL BUS, IMAGINE PULLING UP TO LATE FOR CLASS IN THIS BAD BOY.

AND THE FLAGSHIP OF BEDFORD'S 6 CAR FLEET... AN '88 FORD ECONOLINE... VANADU.

MANY OF THE OBJECTS SPRAYED WITH CARBURETOR CLEANER TO GIVE IT A WEATHERED LOOK.

Clarke: YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING FALLING OFF.

EVEN A LITTLE THING SO THEY'RE BOLTED TO THE BODY.

OR BOLTED TO SOMETHING THAT'S BOLTED TO THE BODY."

Zach: SPRINGS, LAMP POSTS, AND THE OCCASIONAL SKULL.

MADE UP OF THINGS OTHERWISE NOT VALUABLE, THE END RESULT IS MEANT TO HAVE SUSTENANCE... THAT'S WHAT ASSEMBLAGE IS ALL ABOUT.

Clarke: MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT.

Zach: CHECKING MY MEDICAL RECORDS...

YES, I'M UP TO DATE ON MY TETANUS SHOT.

HIS CAPE COD STYLE HOME, ALSO KNOWN AS "VANADU ART HOUSE" IS DECKED OUT MAINLY IN RECYCLED METALS.

HE FINDS RUSTY BITS FROM THE STREET, VISITS JUNK YARDS, THRIFT SHOPS, AND ANTIQUE STORES ALL ACROSS THE EAST COAST.

Clarke: EVERYTHING YOU MAKE, EVERYTHING YOU PUT SOMEWHERE, YOU'VE CHOSEN.

AND IT'S ECCENTRIC, AND IT'S EXTREME, BUT WHEN I WALK INTO IT...IT'S KIND OF ENVELOPING, AND I LIKE THAT.

Clarke: I LIKE TO BE IN A PLACE THAT I FIND COMFORTABLE.

Zach: STEP INSIDE AND FEEL CLARKE'S PASSION FOR OBJECTS FROM THE LATE 18 AND EARLY 1900s.

A PERIOD IN ART HE'S FOND OF... LATE VICTORIAN AND THE START OF MODERNISM.

Clarke: MY WIFE AND I BOTH LOVE IT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, A BIG SELLING POINT FOR OUR HOUSE.

SORT OF A LACK OF THAT SORT OF EXPRESSION IN THE AREA.

Zach: CLARKE SAYS, OUR CULTURE DICTATES THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR CARS LOOK IDENTICAL.

THESE MOBILE ART GALLERIES SEPARATE THAT... AND SUGGESTS THAT NOT CONFORMING IS OKAY.

Clarke: I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A CAR PERSON, MY FATHER CERTAINLY WASN'T.

Zach: WHILE, ADMITTEDLY NOT A MECHANIC EITHER, HE CONFESSED HIS RESPECT FOR RAT RODS AND THEIR A-TYPICAL EXPRESSION.

OFF FOR A SPIN WE GO.

Clarke: YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

Zach: A 1995 CAPRICE WAGON, AND HIS DAILY DRIVER.

Clarke: IT FEELS REALLY NICE.

IT'S GOT THAT CLASSIC "DRIVES LIKE A BOAT ON AIR FEEL."

VERY NICE.

Clarke: THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.

IT DOES HAVE THESE CYLINDERS IN THE REAR SPRINGS, TO LIFT OF THE BACK BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXTRA STUFF ON IT.

Zach: AND GOOD THING TOO.

IT FELT HEAVY...HEAVY METAL.

Clarke: A LOT OF TIME YOU'LL GET PEOPLE WHO SAY, "OH YOU REALLY MADE MY DAY."

AND I SORT OF THINK, "OH GEE, YOU KNOW THAT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S SORT OF TOO BAD ALSO.

[LAUGHS] BECAUSE YOUR DAY SHOULDN'T BE QUITE THAT LIMITED.

John: HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKES REPAIRS A LOT EASIER.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR GARAGE.

Pat Goss: NO MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE BIG CAR OR TWO MINIS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ON IT YOURSELF, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO MEASURE PARTS AND SO ON WITH.

WELL, THE OLD TRIED AND TRUE IS A MICROMETER SUCH AS WE SEE HERE JUST MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR STANDARDS TO KEEP IT PERFECTLY CALIBRATED.

BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD, WELL, IT'S DIGITAL LET'S FACE IT.

AND HERE WE HAVE THE MOST COMMON TOOL THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND AROUND THE REPAIR SHOP.

AND THAT IS A DIGITAL MICROMETER CALIPER, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.

AND THIS CAN MEASURE INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND DEPTH.

SEE HERE, WE CAN MEASURE THE INSIDE OF SOMETHING.

HERE, WE MEASURE THE OUTSIDE, OVER HERE, WE MEASURE THE DEPTH.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE WANTED TO SEE THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THIS LIFTER BORE HERE, WE WOULD SIMPLY PUT IT IN THERE, TAKE THE READING AND THERE WE HAVE IT.

ALRIGHT...NOW, BRAKE ROTORS BIG PROBLEMS ON CARS.

HOW DO WE MEASURE THEM?

WE USE ONE OF THESE DIAL INDICATORS, IT HAS A FLEXIBLE ARM THAT WE CLAMP TO THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE, THEN WE ALIGN THIS TO THE ROTOR AND SPIN THE ROTOR, AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE TWO THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH OR LESS THAT IS ALLOWED TO KEEP THE BRAKE FROM PULSATING.

ALRIGHT...NOW, OTHER THINGS YOU MAY WANNA KNOW THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF A PIPE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HERE...WE CAN CHECK THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THIS CYLINDER BY PUTTING THIS TOOL DOWN IN HERE.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING IS WHEN WE PUT THE TOOL IN HERE, WE PUT IT IN COMPRESSED THEN WE TURN THIS, THESE COME OUT AGAINST THE SIDES THEN WE LOCK IT DOWN AGAIN AND THEN USE ONE OF THESE OTHER TOOLS TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE FROM END TO END.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK BUT GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO IN THE BALLPARK.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE SEE LOTS OF TIMES IS YOU HAVE TO TORQUE VARIOUS BOLTS, INTAKE MANIFOLDS, HEADS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING DOWN IN THE HOLE THAT IS GOING TO PREVENT THE BOLT FROM TIGHTENING PROPERLY OR TORQUING PROPERLY.

SO, THIS DEPTH INDICATOR BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GENTLE, WE CAN PUT THIS DOWN IN THERE, AND WE CAN MEASURE THE DEPTH, AND COMPARE IT THROUGH ALL OF THE HOLES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DEBRIS, OLD GASKET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOWN IN THERE BECAUSE THAT WILL RUIN YOUR DAY.

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

* John: A COLD SPRING IN MARYLAND HAS KEPT US FROM ENJOYING THE TOP DOWN DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF THIS 2018 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2.0T COAST.

SO, WITH THE TOP UP, 1450 MILES HAVE PASSED BY.

THE 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 CAN SURELY TUG THIS BUG.

YOU HEAR IT, BUT IT NEVER SOUNDS LIKE IT'S STRUGGLING.

THE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRIGGERS SMOOTH SHIFTS UP AND DOWN.

STEERING IS DIRECT AND PRETTY HEAVY FOR A VW.

SIMPLE GAUGES GIVE JUST THE INFO WE NEED, NO MORE...NO LESS.

THREE KNOBS MAKE IT EASY TO ADJUST CLIMATE WHILE DRIVING.

VISIBILITY OUT THE REAR WINDOW IS TIGHT, REMOVING THE REAR HEADRESTS HELPS A LOT.

SO FAR WE'VE AVERAGED 31.4 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

AND, WE DO PLAN ON DROPPING THE TOP IF IT EVER GETS WARM!

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE BMW X1 ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK US TWICE TO TAKE A DRIVE, NO MATTER WHERE THE ROAD LEADS.

SO LET'S HEAD OUT FOR MORE QUICK SPINS.

MALAGA, SPAIN IS OUR PLAYGROUND THIS GO AROUND.

WE STEERED THE 2018 PORSCHE 718 BOXSTER & CAYMAN GTS ALONG MOUNTAIN ROADS AND THROUGH THE 26 TURNS OF THE FAMOUS CIRCUITO ASCARI TRACK.

IT TOOK US BACK TO THE CLASSIC 718s RACING DAYS IN THE LATE 1950s AND EARLY '60s.

OF COURSE, NOW WE HAVE THE BENEFITS OF MODERN ENGINEERING.

365 HORSES RUSH FROM THE TURBOCHARGED 2.5 LITER FLAT-FOUR.

AND YES, WE REMEMBER WHEN 6-CYLINDERS DID ALL THE WORK, BUT DROPPING TWO IMPROVES EFFICIENCY AND ACTUALLY ADDS FORCE.

Zach: THE 2.5 LITER 4-CYLINDERS DO ABSOLUTELY FILL THE SHOES OF THE 6-CYLINDERS JUST FINE.

NOW, THE SOUND YOU WANT MIGHT NOT BE THERE BUT THE TORQUE CERTAINLY IS.

THE DAMPENING IS ALMOST PERFECT.

THE SPRINGS ARE STIFFER.

AND IT IS A MID-ENGINE CAR, SO THE FUN FACTOR WILL ABSOLUTELY BE THERE.

John: THE GTS BUMPS UP HORSEPOWER BY 15 OVER THE 718 S. WE MANEUVERED THE 6-SPEED MANUAL AND THE OPTIONAL 7-SPEED PDK.

AS MUCH AS WE LIKE DOING OUR OWN ROWING, THE AUTOMATIC IS SMOOTH AND ULTRA-FAST.

STEERING IS PRECISE AND WE WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING.

THE GTS IS PORSCHE FLAT IN THE CURVES.

PORSCHE ACTIVE SUSPENSION MANAGEMENT CAN LOWER THE CAR 4/10THS OF AN INCH.

IT'S SOLID AND FIRM, BUT NOT OVERBEARING ON BUMPY ROADS.

PORSCHE PURISTS MAY NOT LIKE THE EXHAUST NOTE, BUT THE 2018 PORSCHE 718 GTS STAYS TRUE TO THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE THESE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR.

ON SALE NOW, THE PORSCHE 718 CAYMAN GTS STARTS AT JUST UNDER $80,000.

ADD TWO GRAND MORE PUTS THE TOP DOWN ON A BOXSTER.

WHILE, MANY PEOPLE KNOW SUBARU FOR THEIR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SECURITY, FOR CAR ENTHUSIASTS LIKE US, THEY'VE ALSO BEEN A SOURCE OF AFFORDABLE SPORTY CARS.

NOW, THEY'RE ADDING A BIGGER DOSE OF TRACK DAY FINESSE TO THE 2018 SUBARU BRZ TS AND 2018 SUBARU WRX STI TYPE RA.

THAT'S "RA," FOR RECORD ATTEMPT.

ENGINEERS ADDED FIVE MORE HORSES AND BEEFIER PISTONS TO THE 2.5 LITER TURBOCHARGED FLAT-FOUR, SO IT NOW RATES 310 HORSEPOWER.

THE STEERING IS STILL PRETTY LIGHT AND FEELS SIMILAR TO US.

WE DID LIKE THE FACT THAT WE COULD PUSH IT HARDER THOUGH AROUND THE TRACK.

AS FOR THE BRZ TS, TS STANDS FOR TUNED BY STI.

THAT INCLUDES, THE FRONT AND REAR DAMPERS ALONG WITH THE COIL SPRINGS.

Zach: THE TS WEARS 18 INCH TSI WHEELS AND NOW IT HAS MICHELIN PILOT SPORTS WHICH I THINK WAS A MUCH NEEDED ADDITION TO THIS CAR.

YOU CAN REALLY FEEL THE DIFFERENCE WHEN WE WERE CARVING ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS AND WE'VE GOT BREMBO BRAKES WHICH REALLY, REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

John: OUTPUT REMAINS THE SAME AT 205 FROM THE 2.0 LITER 4-CYLINDER, BUT THIS LIGHTWEIGHT REAR DRIVER IS STILL A BLAST.

THE 2018 SUBARU BRZ TS AND 2018 SUBARU WRX STI TYPE RA ARE IN DEALERS NOW, BUT ONLY 500 OF EACH ARE COMING TO NORTH AMERICA.

THE BRZ TS STARTS AT A BIT OVER $33,000, AND THE WRX STI TYPE RA STARTS UNDER $49,000.

WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON.

USUALLY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MINI COOPERS, YOU HEAR THINGS LIKE FUN, CUTE, AND SURPRISINGLY ROOMY, BUT THERE'S A NEW MINI THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

PAY ATTENTION AND YOU MIGHT HEAR THINGS LIKE KILOWATT-HOURS, EV RANGE, AND CHARGE TIMES.

IT'S THE NEW MINI E COUNTRYMAN.

SO LET'S TAKE A SPIN IN THIS ELECTRIFYINGLY NEW MINI.

* THIS 2018 MINI COOPER S E COUNTRYMAN ALL4 IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE PLUGGED INTO A MINI OF COURSE, HAVING SPENT TIME WITH THE 3-DOOR MINI E BACK IN 2010.

THAT FULL-EV HAD LIMITED LEASE-ONLY AVAILABILITY AND WAS ONLY AROUND FOR A FEW YEARS.

THE 5-DOOR COUNTRYMAN CROSSOVER UTILITY IS A MUCH BIGGER MINI OF COURSE, AND MINI HAS MUCH BIGGER PLANS FOR THEIR PLUG-IN HYBRID VERSION OF IT.

DESPITE HAVING COOPER S IN THE NAME, THERE'S NO 2.0 LITER BENEATH THIS BULL NOSE BONNET; RATHER, THE BASE COOPER'S 1.5 LITER 3-CYLINDER TURBO.

BUT THE E IN THE NAME, REFERS TO THE FACT THAT IT'S ASSISTED BY A 65KW ELECTRIC MOTOR.

COMBINED OUTPUT IS 221 HORSEPOWER, 32 MORE THAN A GAS-ONLY "S," WITH 284 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE TRICK HERE, IS THAT THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND A 7.6 KWH BATTERY PACK ARE MOUNTED IN THE BACK, AND PROVIDE POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS ONLY; THINK OF IT AS A BMW I8 IN REVERSE.

A 6-SPEED STEPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD; MODIFIED TO DEAL WITH THE UNIQUE POWERTRAIN SETUP.

STILL, YOU'LL GET JUST 12 MILES OF PURE EV-ONLY DRIVING.

AND, SINCE ITS HARDWARE TAKES UP SOME FUEL TANK SPACE, OVERALL RANGE IS ONLY AROUND 270 MILES.

CHARGING TAKES JUST OVER 3-HOURS WITH 240-VOLTS, WHILE DRIVE MODES ALLOW FOR FULL-GAS OR FULL-EV DRIVING, AS WELL AS BLENDING OF THE TWO.

THE GOVERNMENT'S COMBINED FUEL ECONOMY RATING IS 65-MPGE, BUT WITH ONLY 12-MILES OF BATTERY, OUR AVERAGE CAME TO 32.2 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM; THAT'S ONLY ABOUT A 15% INCREASE OVER OUR AVERAGE WITH A REGULAR COOPER S COUNTRYMAN.

STILL, IT GETS A VERY GOOD ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING 8.2 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WHILE EMITTING 3.7 TONS OF CO2.

ECO-MINDED OR NOT, YOU EXPECT A CERTAIN DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN ALL MINIS.

AND WHILE THE BRANDS INHERENT SENSE OF BALANCE REMAINS, THERE IS MUCH MORE WEIGHT TRANSFER HAPPENING THROUGH THE CONES; AMPLIFIED BY VERY QUICK, ALMOST EFFORTLESS STEERING.

IT WAS HARD TO TELL HOW MUCH, IF ANY, HELP THE REAR WHEELS WERE WITH POWER DELIVERY, BUT THIS PLUG-IN JUST DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO HUG THE CONES LIKE WE'RE USED TO IN A MINI.

THE ADDED ELECTRICAL PUNCH OFF THE LINE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS AGGRESSIVE AS WE WERE HOPING FOR EITHER, BUT THERE'S DECENT GRUNT AT TAKEOFF, AND WE GOT TO 60 IN 6.8 SECONDS, 3/10THS QUICKER THAN WE DID IN THE COOPER S COUNTRYMAN.

THE QUARTER MILE WAS COMPLETED IN 15.4 SECONDS AT 86 MILES PER HOUR.

AS FOR THE UTILITY SIDE OF THE E COUNTRYMAN, DUE TO PACKAGING ALL OF THE ADDITIONAL HARDWARE, MOSTLY UNDER THE REAR SEATS, CARGO SPACE ONLY FALLS A TINY BIT, FROM 17.6 TO 17.2 CUBIC-FEET.

WITH THIS GENERATION OF COUNTRYMAN, THE INTERIOR HAS GOTTEN MUCH NICER.

TO THAT, THE PLUG-IN ADDS SOME UNIQUE DISPLAYS AND YELLOW TRIM, WITH THE 6.5 INCH MINI CONNECTED INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM STANDARD.

THE 8.8 INCH SYSTEM WITH NAVIGATION IS OPTIONAL.

THE YELLOW TRIM FINDS ITS WAY OUTSIDE AS WELL; THE ONLY OTHER DIFFERENCE BEING THE FENDER-MOUNTED CHARGE PORT.

AT $37,650, THE E COUNTRYMAN IS ABOUT 8-GRAND MORE THAN A BASE ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE VERSION.

SO, IN THIS COUNTRY AT LEAST, UNLESS YOU PLAN ON PLUGGING IN A LOT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY.

OFF COURSE, IT WILL BE MORE ATTRACTIVE GLOBALLY, AND EVEN HERE, THERE ARE STILL SOME TAX CREDITS TO CONSIDER.

WITH CROSSOVER SALES BEING WHAT THEY ARE THESE DAYS, IT IS A BIT SURPRISING THAT THERE ARE RELATIVELY FEW PLUG-IN HYBRID SUVs OUT THERE.

SO WE'RE GLAD TO SEE THIS EFFORT FROM MINI.

EVEN IF THE 2018 COOPER S E COUNTRYMAN ALL4 DOESN'T USHER IN A WHOLE NEW ERA OF FUEL-STINGY UTILITIES, IT'S A SMALL STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, TOWARDS A FUTURE WHERE WE'LL FILL-UP NOT AT A PUMP, BUT ON THE GRID.

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 CHECK OUT THE LIGHTER AND SMARTER RAM 1500, AND THE JAGUAR XF SPORTBRAKE ADDS UTILITY TO A CLASSICAL CAT.

'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: TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

Woman: OH, COME ON.

HOT, HOT, HOT.

Announcer: THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR KIND OF VEHICLE.

Woman: JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

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

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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.

AUTOTEMPEST.COM, WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE USED CAR LISTINGS FROM SITES ACROSS THE WEB.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *