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

JOIN US FOR THE 2018 MOTORWEEK DRIVER'S CHOICE AWARDS...

THE CARS, TRUCKS, AND SUV'S THAT TRULY MOVED US, INCLUDING ONE WE JUST COULDN'T GET ENOUGH OF... PAT GOSS WITH ADVICE ON KEEPING IT STRAIGHT AND SAVING SOME CASH... AND WE GET A CHANCE TO REVISIT THE MIGHTY CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER CORVETTE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.

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.

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: THESE DAYS IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WINS A TROPHY.

BUT, WE'RE NOT QUITE SO GENEROUS WITH OUR ANNUAL DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

NO, CAR MAKERS REALLY DO HAVE TO EARN THOSE, BY FIELDING VEHICLES THAT DRIVE BEST IN CLASS.

SO LET'S FIND OUT WHICH CARS NEED EXTRA ROOM IN THEIR TROPHY CASE FOR 2018!

* JUMPING RIGHT IN WITH OUR BEST SMALL CAR, WE'VE ALREADY GOT OUR FIRST CONTROVERSY.

TRADITIONALLY, WE DON'T BESTOW AN AWARD TO ANY CAR MORE THAN TWO YEARS IN A ROW, BUT THE LATEST CIVIC HAS BEEN SUCH A GAME CHANGER, WE HAD TO EVOLVE TO KEEP UP WITH IT AND THINK THRICE.

TRUTHFULLY, IT WAS THE FACT THAT HONDA UNLEASHED NOT ONE, BUT TWO HIGH-PERFORMANCE VARIANTS THAT REALLY SEALED THE DEAL.

YOU CAN GET A MILD UPGRADE IN COUPE AND SEDAN FROM THE CIVIC SI, OR GO EXTREME WITH THE "HOT-N'-HYPER" TYPE R HATCHBACK.

WHICH BRINGS US TO THE BEST FAMILY SEDAN CATEGORY.

WHILE, CIVICS HAVE BEEN KEY IN RAISING THE BAR FOR COMPACTS, THE ACCORD FULLY EMBRACES THE TREND OF MIDSIZE SEDANS ENCROACHING ON LUXURY CAR TERRITORY.

LOSING 4-DOOR SALES TO SUVS FOR YEARS NOW, CARMAKERS ARE THROWING EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT WHAT USED TO ONE OF THE MOST BORING SEGMENTS IN AUTOMOTIVEDOM.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE, AND THE HONDA ACCORD IS A BIG PART OF THE REASON WHY.

CONVERTIBLES ARE ALL ABOUT FUN, AND IT'S HARD TO FIND A CAR THAT'S MORE FUN THAN MAZDA'S MX-5 MIATA.

OF COURSE, THE BIG NEWS FOR THIS YEAR'S BEST CONVERTIBLE WINNER IS THE NEW MIATA RF, OR RETRACTABLE FASTBACK.

NOT ONLY DOES IT MAKE THE MIATA MORE PRACTICAL IN ALL-WEATHER, BUT IT'S A MUCH BETTER SOLUTION THAN THE LAST GEN'S RETRACTABLE HARDTOP.

OUR BEST LUXURY SEDAN WINNER MAY SURPRISE A FEW, BUT IT'S A STATEMENT ON BMW THESE DAYS.

IT'S NOT THAT THEY'VE ELIMINATED ALL PERFORMANCE FROM THE VENERABLE 5-SERIES, BUT IT'S CLEAR TO US THAT LUXURY IS NOW JUST AS HIGH OF A PRIORITY, AND WE'RE OKAY WITH THAT.

NO MORE HARSH RIDES TO DEAL WITH OR "PLAIN JANE" INTERIORS.

AND WE'RE TRULY GRATEFUL THAT IN THIS SUV-CRAZED SOCIETY, BMW REMAINS COMMITTED TO SEDANS.

THERE'S BEEN A SHIFT IN SPORT SEDANS AS WELL, AND OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN KIA STINGER IS PERHAPS, YET, ANOTHER SURPRISE WINNER.

UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DRIVE A STINGER GT WITH ITS 365 HORSEPOWER TWIN-TURBO V6.

NOT ONLY DOES IT STAND OUT IN A CROWDED FIELD OF CONTENDERS AND PRETENDERS, BUT 5-DOOR HATCHBACKS TAKING THE PLACE OF TRADITIONAL SEDANS, LOOKS TO BE THE WAY FORWARD.

LEXUS HAS A GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE, AND OUR BEST SPORT COUPE WINNER THE LEXUS LC 500 IS THE RIDE WE'D CHOSE TO GET US THERE.

LEXUS ONCE AGAIN PROVES THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A EUROPEAN BRAND TO CREATE A HIGH PERFORMANCE COUPE DRIPPING WITH SEX APPEAL.

AND IT CAN BE COMFORTABLE, ULTRA-LUXURIOUS, AND REASONABLY PRACTICAL AT THE SAME TIME.

FOR EXTREME PERFORMANCE HOWEVER, WE HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE FOLKS AT FIAT CHRYSLER AMERICA.

AFTER FOREVER CHANGING THE MUSCLE CAR LANDSCAPE 3-YEARS AGO WITH THE HELLCAT, HOW DO THEY FOLLOW THAT UP?

WELL, BY CRANKING THAT ENGINE UP TO 840 HORSEPOWER AND PUTTING IT INTO A CHALLENGER, PURPOSE-BUILT FOR DOING 9.0 SECOND QUARTER MILES.

BUT, THEY DIDN'T STOP WITH THE DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON EITHER.

THEY MANAGED TO CRAM A HELLCAT ENGINE INTO ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SUVS OF ALL TIME, CREATING THE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK.

THIS 707 HORSEPOWER 4X4 BEATS ALL COMERS FROM EUROPE OR ANYWHERE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER, HITS 60 IN 3.5 SECONDS, AND MANAGES TO RETAIN MOST OF THE PRACTICALITY YOU BUY A UTILITY FOR.

THAT'S ONE HECK OF A BEST PERFORMANCE CAR DUO.

WITH ALL OF THE EMPHASIS ON ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND EVS OF LATE, WE'D LOVE TO GIVE OUR BEST ECO-FRIENDLY AWARD TO SOMETHING NEW THIS YEAR, BUT NOTHING HAS HAD ANYWHERE CLOSE TO THE IMPACT THAT LAST YEAR'S WINNER THE CHEVROLET BOLT EV DID.

SO, IT'S A REPEAT WIN FOR THE BOWTIE BOLT.

IT WAS THE FIRST EV TO DELIVER A 200 MILE RANGE FOR UNDER $30,000 AND NO ONE ELSE HAS MATCHED IT SINCE.

ENOUGH SAID!

WE ALWAYS LIKE TO WRAP UP OUR LOOK AT CARS WITH SOMETHING TRULY IMPRACTICAL, THE CARS WE'D BUY IF OUR NUMBERS EVER CAME UP ON SOME MEGA JACKPOT DRAWING.

NOW, WE DO HAVE, A POSSIBLY UNHEALTHY OBSESSION WITH ASTON MARTIN, SO OUR FIRST PURCHASE WOULD BE A DB11 JUST SO WE COULD SIT AND LOOK AT IT.

ALSO, FOR HITTING THE TRACK, WE'D OPT FOR THE PORSCHE 911 GT2 RS.

AND NO ULTIMATE GARAGE IS COMPLETE WITHOUT A MONSTROUS OFF ROAD BEAST, AND THAT WOULD COME COURTESY OF MERCEDES-BENZ, WITH THE G550 4X4 SQUARED.

SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT.

ALL OF THE CARS THAT EARNED OUR DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS FOR 2018.

WE'LL BE BACK IN A FEW WITH OUR TRUCK AND UTILITY AWARD WINNERS, PLUS, OUR BEST OF THE YEAR!

* FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY NEW SUPERCAR TO COME ALONG, LEAPFROGS ITS HYPER-HORSEPOWER RIVALS, TRYING TO LAY CLAIM TO THE FASTEST TOP SPEED.

BUT WAY BACK IN 1988, ONE CAR SET A MARK OF 254 MILES PER HOUR THAT STOOD FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

THAT CAR HAS BEEN OUT OF THE PUBLIC EYE EVER SINCE, BUT WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY RECENTLY AROSE, WE COULDN'T RESIST TAKING A SWING... WITH THE ONE AND ONLY, CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER.

* Reeves Callaway: EVERY CAR COMPANY WANTS A SUPERLATIVE, RIGHT?

FASTEST, COSTLIEST, QUICKEST, WHATEVER...

THE SUPERLATIVE IN HIGH PERFORMANCE SPORTS CARS IS TOP SPEED.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TALKING TO SOMEBODY ABOUT A CAR, AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS "WHAT'LL SHE DO?"

RIGHT?

AND THAT'S WHAT THE SLEDGEHAMMER IS.

John: THE SLEDGEHAMMER PROJECT WAS CONCEIVED AS A ROLLING LABORATORY FOR CALLAWAY TO PUSH THE UPPER LIMITS OF MAKING POWER THAT WAS BOTH STREETABLE AND RELIABLE.

[ENGINE REVS] GIVING THIS HAMMER ITS MIGHTY SWING IS CHEVY'S TRIED AND TRUE 350 SMALL-BLOCK V8, CUSTOM ASSEMBLED BY CALLAWAY FROM HAND-PICKED COMPONENTS, AND GIVEN AN ADRENALINE SHOT OF TWIN TURBO'S SPOOLING UP TO 22 POUNDS OF BOOST.

THE POWER NUMBERS ARE STAGGERING EVEN BY TODAY'S STANDARDS: 898 HORSEPOWER AT 6200 RPM, AND 772 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A CUSTOM ROLL CAGE WAS INSTALLED FOR SAFETY, BUT REEVES CALLAWAY INSISTED THE CAR RETAIN ITS OTHERWISE STOCK INTERIOR, WITH AIR CONDITIONING, STEREO, AND POWER SEATS.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER WAS DRIVEN 700 MILES FROM CONNECTICUT TO OHIO FOR ITS FAMOUS RECORD RUN, AND THEN DRIVEN BACK HOME, IN THE RAIN, JUST TO PROVE IT WAS NO ONE-TRICK PONY.

THE SLEDGEHAMMER'S WIND-CHEATING BODYWORK WAS PENNED BY CANADIAN DESIGNER PAUL DEUTSCHMAN, AND BECAME THE BASIS FOR THE AERO-BODY USED ON FUTURE CALLAWAY MODELS.

Reeves: THE CALCULATION WAS SO AND SO MUCH FRONTAL AREA, SO AND SO MUCH DRAG, SO AND SO MUCH HORSEPOWER NECESSARY TO PUSH IT THROUGH THE AIR AT THAT SPEED, AND WE DID THAT.

AND WE WENT AND TESTED IT, AND WE SCREWED UP...

IT WENT 254.76 INSTEAD OF 250.

John: OUR BRIEF TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL WAS AN ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME THRILL, THOUGH NOT A HIGH-SPEED ONE.

THE CAR NOW RESIDES IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND IS RARELY DRIVEN.

WE WERE SPEED-LIMITED NOT BY THE OWNER, BUT BY THE AGE OF THE SLEDGEHAMMER'S MUSEUM-READY TIRES!

IN FACT, CALLAWAY FACED A TIRE ISSUE IN THEIR 1988 SPEED QUEST AS WELL.

Reeves: AND THE REQUEST CAME FROM GM TO GOODYEAR, SAYING, "CAN YOU MAKE A SET OF TIRES THAT LOOK EXACTLY LIKE THE ROAD CAR TIRE, THE GOODYEAR EAGLES...

BUT WILL BE SAFE AT 300 MILES AN HOUR," AND GOODYEAR SAID, "OKAY."

THEY DID IT, AND WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE TEST TRACK, THEY PULL OFF THE STREET TIRES, PUT ON THE SPECIAL TIRES, THEY LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME.

GO OUT AND RUN UP TO TOP SPEED, AND THE MINUTE THAT WE WERE DONE, PULL THE TIRES OFF, PUT THEM IN THE BACK OF THE TRUCK, COVER THEM UP AND GO AWAY.

John: THOSE TIRES REPORTEDLY, COST GOODYEAR A MILLION BUCKS TO MAKE.

BUT THE REAL-WORLD R&D, COUPLED WITH BRAGGING RIGHTS OF HELPING TO CREATE AN ICONIC PERFORMANCE LEGEND, WAS MORE THAN WORTH IT.

YES, IT'S A PITY THIS OLD WARHORSE WAS PUT OUT TO PASTURE, BUT EVEN 30 YEARS AFTER ITS INCREDIBLE RUN TO TOP SPEED GLORY, THE SLEDGE STILL HAS THE ABILITY TO OUTRUN MOST MODERN MACHINES, AND WILL NEVER LOSE THE RACE TO BRING A SMILE TO OUR FACES!

KEEPING YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD CAN GET EXPENSIVE.

BUT PAT GOSS SAYS, "KNOWING WHAT YOU NEED CAN SAVE YOU SOME REAL CASH."

Pat Goss: A PHRASE THAT I HEAR FROM LOTS OF DRIVERS ALL THE TIME, "I THINK, MY CAR NEEDS A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT."

ALRIGHT...WELL, DOES IT REALLY?

SEE THERE'S MORE TO A MODERN CAR THAN JUST A FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE THIS LITTLE IMITATION CAR WE'VE GOT THE WHEELS PROPERLY ALIGNED ON IT, WE PUSH IT DOWN THE ROAD AND IT GOES STRAIGHT.

BUT LET'S MISALIGN, THE REAR WHEELS.

LET'S GET THIS HERE, SO NOW, WE CAN SEE THAT THE REAR WHEELS ARE OFF ON AN ANGLE LIKE THAT, THE FRONT WHEELS THEY'RE STILL STRAIGHT AHEAD.

SO WE PUSH IT DOWN THE ROAD NOW AND WHAT HAPPENS?

WELL, THE REAR WHEELS STEER THE CAR RIGHT OFF OF THE ROAD.

OR IT MIGHT STEER IT INTO THE CENTER OF THE ROAD DEPENDING ON HOW THE CAR IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THAT MEANS THAT AS WE GO DOWN THE ROAD TO COMPENSATE FOR THIS, WE HAVE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, SO WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL IS NO LONGER PROPERLY CENTERED.

SO THAT'S SOMETIMES AN INDICATION OF THE REAR WHEELS BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

WELL, WE TAKE THE CAR INTO THE SHOP AND THE SHOP HAS TO PUT IT ON AN ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND CHECK THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE REAR WHEELS IN ORDER TO KNOW IF THEY ARE IN ALIGNMENT OR OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

IF THEY ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, WE ALIGN THE REAR WHEELS FIRST.

THEN, WE USE THOSE AS A REFERENCE TO ALIGN THE FRONT WHEELS.

NOW, WE HAVE ALIGNED ALL FOUR WHEELS AND IT IS A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

AND WHEN WE GET DONE THE STEERING WHEEL, WELL, IT SHOULD BE JUST NICE AND CENTERED NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE DOING OTHER THAN STEERING THE WHEEL.

THE BIG THING, REMEMBER, YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT NEEDS A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT TIL AFTER IT HAS BEEN CHECKED.

AND KEEP IN MIND THAT VIRTUALLY ALL MODERN CARS HAVE ARMS AND ADJUSTERS AND STUFF HERE IN THE BACK THAT CAN BE TURNED TO ADJUST THE REAR WHEEL SO ALL OF THIS WORKS PROPERLY.

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

John: TRUCKS AND SUV'S CONTINUE TO GOBBLE UP A BIGGER AND BIGGER SHARE IN AMERICA'S NEW VEHICLE MARKETPLACE.

BUT IT'S NO LONGER A PHENOMENON, IT'S JUST BUSINESS AS USUAL.

SO LET'S SEE WHICH NEW PICKUPS AND UTILITIES ARE OUR FAVORITES AS WE CONTINUE MOTORWEEK'S 2018 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

* IT'S HARD TO FIND A HOTTER MARKET THAN SMALL UTILITY VEHICLES, SO OUR BEST SMALL UTILITY WINNER MUST SURELY BE SOMETHING SPECIAL, AND THE MAZDA CX-5 IS.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST ENTERTAINING TO DRIVE IN THE SEGMENT, AND NOW...FOR THE 2ND GEN REDO, IT GETS THE "OVER-THE-TOP" LUXURY TREATMENT THAT WORKED SO WELL IN BIG BROTHER CX-9, WHICH FITTINGLY, WAS OUR PICK FOR BEST LARGE UTILITY LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR, THAT BEST LARGE UTILITY AWARD GOES TO THE VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS.

AMID LEADERSHIP CHANGES AND "DIESELGATE", VOLKSWAGEN HAS MANAGED TO KEEP ROLLING WITH THEIR "BIGGER AND CHEAPER IS BETTER" STRATEGY, FINALLY, BURSTING INTO THE 3-ROW UTILITY SEGMENT WITH A REAL WINNER.

NOT ONLY IS IT ROOMIER THAN JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE LARGE CROSSOVER SPHERE; IT'S COMFORTABLE, QUIET, AND PACKED FULL OF TECHNOLOGY THAT'S EASY USE.

SOUNDS LIKE JUST WHAT MOST GROWING FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR.

OUR BEST LUXURY UTILITY WINNER FOR 2018 IS THE RANGE ROVER VELAR.

NOW LAST YEAR, THE SAME AWARD WENT TO THE JAGUAR F-PACE.

AND WE GAVE JAG MAJOR CREDIT FOR NOT TAKING THE EASY ROUTE FOR THEIR FIRST SUV BY SIMPLY REBADGING SOMETHING FROM COUSIN LAND ROVER.

WELL, IN AN IRONIC TWIST, IT'S ACTUALLY LAND ROVER NOW DOING THE REVERSE ENGINEERING, AS THE VELAR IS THEIR VERSION OF THE F-PACE.

AND IT WINS FOR ALL OF THE SAME REASONS AS THE F-PACE; LUXURIOUS INTERIOR, SUITABLY RUGGED DESIGN, AND LAND ROVER CAPABILITY IN A HIGHLY ENTERTAINING TO DRIVE PACKAGE.

OUR BEST MINIVAN AWARD GOES TO THE HONDA ODYSSEY.

WHILE, THE MINIVAN SEGMENT IS NO LONGER THE SALES JUGGERNAUT THAT IT ONCE WAS; A BIG REASON THAT IT EVEN STILL EXISTS TODAY IS THE HONDA ODYSSEY.

A RELIABLE FAMILY FAVORITE FOR OVER TWO DECADES, THE ODYSSEY IS ALL NEW FOR '18, BRINGING A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY AND NEAR-LUXURY REFINEMENT TO ITS CLASS.

ODYSSEY BOASTS MORE COMFORT, MORE SAFETY, AND MORE FAMILY-FRIENDLY FEATURES, ALONG WITH MORE DYNAMIC STYLING COVERING STORAGE SPACE GALORE.

TIMES ARE CERTAINLY FLUID IN THE TRUCK WORLD THESE DAYS, WITH MANUFACTURERS SEEMINGLY UPPING ONE ANOTHER ON A MONTHLY BASIS; BOMBARDING US WITH PRESS RELEASES ABOUT NEW SPECS AND FEATURES.

THIS YEAR, OUR BEST PICKUP TRUCK AWARD GOES TO THE BEST SELLER IN THE SEGMENT, THE FORD F-150.

AFTER CHANGING THE TRUCK GAME BY SHIFTING TO AN ALUMINUM BODY 3-YEARS AGO, AND CREATING TURBO ENGINE POPULARITY BEFORE THAT; FOR '18, THE F-150 GETS A HOST OF UPDATES THAT IMPROVE CAPABILITY, STYLE, AND EASE OF USE.

AND WHO CAN FORGET THE RAPTOR, THE MOST OFF-ROAD CAPABLE TRUCK YOU CAN BUY RIGHT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR.

FORD'S 40+ YEAR REIGN AS BESTSELLING TRUCK WON'T END ANY TIME SOON.

NOR WILL OUR AWARDS, AS WE'VE GOT ONE LEFT.

AND IT'S THE BIG ONE, OUR BEST OF THE YEAR, SO STAY TUNED!

FOR US, DRIVING IS MORE THAN A NECESSITY, IT'S REALLY OUR PASSION.

SO LET'S DO IT, IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

* THE SWEDES HAVE DEALT THEIR THIRD HAND, AND IT'S A STRONG ONE, THE 2019 VOLVO XC40.

FOLLOWING THE MIDSIZE XC60 AND FULL-ON XC90, VOLVO HAS COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THEIR SUV LINEUP IN AN AMAZINGLY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, JUST FOUR MODEL YEARS.

AS THE NEWCOMER, THE XC40 STRIVES TO KEEP THE SAME DESIGN CUES AS ITS LARGER SIBLINGS, INCLUDING THE THOR'S HAMMER DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS AND SIDE BODY SCULPTING.

BUT BEING SHORTER, IT'S ALSO LESS SLEEK, AND A SHARP KICKUP AT THE REAR GLASS ALLOWS A PROFILE THAT'S MORE TALL HATCHBACK.

YET, YOU STILL INSTANTLY KNOW IT'S A VOLVO.

POWER UNDER ITS CLAMSHELL HOOD, COMES FROM VOLVO'S FAMILIAR T5 IN-LINE 4-CYLINDER TURBOCHARGED ENGINE, SENDING 248 HORSEPOWER, INITIALLY, TO ALL FOUR WHEELS.

BUT VOLVO SAYS, "MORE POWERTRAIN OPTIONS ARE COMING, INCLUDING A PLUG-IN HYBRID."

OUR INITIAL FEELING IS THAT VOLVO GOT BOTH THE HANDLING AND BRAKES JUST RIGHT FOR A SMALL SUV.

STEERING IS NICELY WEIGHTED.

THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS IMPRESSIVELY SMOOTH, ALTHOUGH VOLVO'S SHIFTER STILL TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO.

WE HAD THE CHANCE TO DO JUST THAT IN BARCELONA, SPAIN.

Zach Maskell: DO MILLENNIAL'S EVEN CARE ABOUT HOW A VEHICLE DRIVES?

WELL, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH I DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT DRIVING IS SOMETHING I REALLY CARE ABOUT.

SO, I WILL SAY, JUST ALL AROUND THIS IS A VERY, VERY NICE PACKAGE AND I DO LOVE THE PART THAT IT IS A FUN DRIVE.

John: THE INTERIOR IS SMART, LOADED, AND COMFORTABLE.

IT DOES FEELS SMALLISH UP FRONT, SO THERE'S A DEFINITE DIFFERENCE FROM THE XC60.

THE BACKSEAT PROVIDES A LOT OF LEGROOM, WITH ENOUGH SPACE IN THE CARGO AREA FOR PLENTY OF STUFF DESPITE A SLANTED HATCH.

THE CELL-PHONE ORIENTED TOUCH SCREEN DESIGN IS AKIN TO THE 60 & 90, AS IS THE TOTAL TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE, INCLUDING APPLE CARPLAY AND ANDROID AUTO, AND CITY SAFETY AUTOMATIC BRAKING.

GOING BACK TO 1998 WITH THE V70 CROSS COUNTRY, VOLVO WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO TURN THE FAMILY SIZE WAGON INTO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

NOW, WITH THEIR FIRST SMALL UTILITY, THEY'VE PUT TOGETHER WHAT IS ARGUABLY THE MOST MODERN SUV LINE-UP OF ANY PREMIUM BRAND.

THE 2019 VOLVO XC40 ROLLS INTO DEALERS IN MARCH STARTING AT ABOUT $35,000.

John: IN THE SPIRIT OF MAKING INCREMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS TO EXCEPTIONAL CARS, COMES THE 2018 PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID SPORT TURISMO.

WE'VE ALREADY DRIVEN THE SECOND GEN HYBRIDIZED TURBO PANAMERA, AND THE "SHOOTING BRAKE STYLED" SPORT TURISMO.

THIS PANAMERA COMBINES THE BEST OF BOTH.

A THUNDEROUS 680 HORSE'S GALLOP OUT OF A 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 TEAMED WITH AN ELECTRIC MOTOR.

THAT'S 130 MORE THAN THE TURBO SPORT TURISMO... WITH UP TO 31 MILES OF ELECTRIC RANGE, BASED ON EUROPEAN TEST STANDARDS, AND STILL ROOM FOR 5.

BEHIND THE WHEEL, THE LUXURIOUS RIDE COMES FROM THE STANDARD AIR SUSPENSION.

THE 8-SPEED PDK SELECTS GEARS QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY.

AND OF COURSE, IT'S PORSCHE FLAT IN THE CORNERS.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE AND TORQUE VECTORING HELP THIS BEAST AROUND TURNS AND THE OPTIONAL REAR-WHEEL STEERING IS NOTICEABLE.

PORSCHE WAS AMONG THE FIRST PERFORMANCE BRANDS TO JUMP INTO THE SUV CRAZE, AND THEY CONTINUE TO BE A LEADER IN THE MARKET, WITHOUT GOING CRAZY THEMSELVES, WITH INNOVATIVE DESIGNS LIKE, THE 2018 PORSCHE PANAMERA TURBO S E-HYBRID SPORT TURISMO.

IT'S ON SALE THIS SPRING AND PRICES START AT ABOUT $188,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

WELL, WE'RE JUST ABOUT TO WRAP UP OUR 2018 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

BUT AS USUAL, WE'VE SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST.

YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF OUR WINNERS SO FAR, NOW LET'S FIND OUT WHICH ONE STANDS ABOVE THE REST!

OUR BEST OF THE YEAR AWARD IS OUR MOST IMPORTANT; SO NATURALLY, IT IS OFTEN THE MOST DIFFICULT FOR US TO DECIDE.

THAT WAS CERTAINLY THE CASE THIS YEAR, WITH MANY GREAT VEHICLES MAKING THE LIST.

BUT NOTHING HAS HAD AS BIG AN IMPACT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE LANDSCAPE THIS YEAR, AS...THE KIA STINGER.

JUST ABOUT EVERY SERIOUS AUTOMAKER HAS TRIED AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER TO TAKE ON THE EUROPEANS WITH THEIR TAKE ON THE TRADITIONAL REAR-DRIVE SPORT SEDAN.

WELL, THIS LATEST SALVO FROM KIA, HAS CERTAINLY SHOCKED AND AWED THE SEGMENT.

THE STINGER GT PACKS A 3.3 LITER TWIN-TURBO V6, A QUICK AND PRECISE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND EVEN AN AVAILABLE PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM.

POWER DELIVERY IS SMOOTH AS SILK, EVEN WHEN MAKING 4.5 SECOND 0-60 RUNS.

AND IT FEELS EXTREMELY STABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS.

ON A ROAD COURSE, THE WELL BALANCED CHASSIS PROVED VERY RESPONSIVE, WITH TENACIOUS GRIP IN CORNERS.

EVEN THE BRAKES FEEL OUTSTANDING.

A FEW OVERDONE TRIM BITS ASIDE, STRINGER'S WELL-DISGUISED 5-DOOR HATCHBACK DESIGN, NOT ONLY LOOKS FANTASTIC, BUT KEEPS A HEALTHY DOSE OF PRACTICALITY; AS DOES IT'S NOT QUITE COMPACT, NOT QUITE MIDSIZE, "JUST RIGHT" SIZE.

INSIDE, THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH COMFORT FOR LONG STINTS BEHIND THE WHEEL, AND THE STINGER REACTS CALM, AND SERENE IN DAILY DRIVING, ONLY BETRAYING ITS PERFORMANCE POTENTIAL WHEN YOU ASK FOR IT.

ALL OF THIS COMES WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY BUYERS EXPECT AT THIS PRICE POINT AND MORE.

THAT PRICE POINT?

WELL, THE STINGER GT STARTS AT JUST UNDER $40,000.

AND WHILE THAT GT IS TRULY THE ONE GRABBING ALL OF THE HEADLINES AND AWARDS; AS IN EUROPEAN-BRANDED SPORT SEDANS, THERE'S AN ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL THAT WILL SUIT MANY BUYERS.

AND EVEN THE UNDER $33,000 BASE PRICE STINGER WON'T DISAPPOINT, WITH A 255 HORSEPOWER 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 AND THE SAME 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

REGARDLESS OF THE STICKER, THE STINGER HAS DETONATED A WHOLE NEW ADRENALINE-PACKED ERA FOR KIA.

SO, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING STRIDES TOWARDS MORE DYNAMIC CARS FOR YEARS NOW, WE WERE STILL HIGHLY SKEPTICAL THAT KIA COULD PULL THIS LEAP OUT OF THEIR HAT.

WELL, WE ARE NOW TRUE BELIEVERS.

IT'S A NO-COMPROMISE EURO-STYLE SPORT SEDAN FROM KOREA THAT ALSO COMES WITH NO "YEAH BUTS" EXCUSES.

THAT IS THE KIA STINGER, OUR 2018 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

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 HIT THE TRACK IN A SUPER-FAST BENZ, THE MERCEDES-AMG GT R. THEN, A LUXURY RIDE IN A SPORTY UTE, THE RANGE ROVER VELAR.

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... [SOUND OF TIRES SLIDING IN SNOW] TIRE RACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE FOR EVERY SEASON.

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.

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] *