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

JOIN US FOR BIG LUXURY WITH BIG CAPABILITY FROM INFINITI'S QX80 UTILITY... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO ATTACK THAT OLD NEMESIS, RUST... FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART HAS TIPS ON TEST DRIVING A NEW CAR BEFORE YOU BUY IT... THEN, IT'S A ROAD TEST OF KIA'S BIGGER AND BETTER SORENTO MID-SIZE UTILITY...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

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* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , 40 YEARS, STEERING YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

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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: IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, THAT IF YOU WANTED A BIG CAPABLE UTILITY VEHICLE, YOU HAD TO SETTLE FOR A BARE BONES UTILITY VIBE.

BUT THAT ALL CHANGED IN THE 1990s WITH THE EXPLOSION OF LUXURY-BRANDED SUVs.

NOW, THE INFINITI QX80 WAS LATE ARRIVING ON THAT SCENE, BUT IT HAS EVOLVED INTO ONE OF THE BEST EXAMPLES OF THE CONCEPT.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT CHANGES FOR 2021.

* THE INFINITI QX80 RIDES INTO 2021, AN ANCIENT 11 YEARS INTO ITS SECOND GENERATION; GETTING MULTIPLE UPDATES TO TRY AND STAY RELEVANT IN A CONSTANTLY CHANGING AND STILL GROWING LUXURY SUV SCENE.

THE INFINITI QX80 FIRST ARRIVED IN 2004 AS THE QX56, AND WAS ALL TOO OBVIOUSLY, A GUSSIED-UP NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA.

STILL, WE LOVED ITS MASSIVE SIZE, BEST IN CLASS TORQUE, AND COMPETENT HANDLING.

AS IT AGED, IT ACTUALLY ADDED SOPHISTICATION, INCLUDING DITCHING NISSAN'S TITAN TRUCK PLATFORM IN FAVOR OF THE NISSAN PATROL'S; A RUGGED VEHICLE THAT BEGAN LIFE IN THE 1950s AS A JEEP CLONE, AND MORPHED INTO SOMETHING MORE AKIN TO LAND ROVER AND LAND CRUISER, YET NEVER AVAILABLE HERE IN THE U.S.

THE QX REALLY CAME INTO ITS OWN WHEN THAT HAPPENED, DELIVERING BOTH SERIOUS CAPABILITY AND ABOVE AVERAGE AMOUNTS OF LUXURY.

NOW ONTO 2021, AND KNOWN AS THE QX80 SINCE 2014, THERE'S A TOTAL REVAMP OF GRADE STRATEGY.

BASE LUXE REMAINS, BUT ABOVE THAT IS NOW PREMIUM SELECT AND SENSORY.

AND IT IS SENSORY THAT TRULY SHOWCASES WHAT THIS LUXURY SUV IS ALL ABOUT.

AS, THERE IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING FOR EVERY SENSE TO ENJOY.

THERE'S UPGRADED LEATHER TO SIT IN, CHARCOAL BURL WOOD TRIM TO LOOK AT, A 17-SPEAKER BOSE PERFORMANCE AUDIO SYSTEM TO LISTEN TO, AND A NEW GRAPHITE TRICOT HEADLINER OVERHEAD.

PLUS, A HYDRAULIC BODY MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM THAT ATTEMPTS TO BOTH TAME BODY ROLL AND DELIVER A SMOOTHER RIDE.

ALL TRIMS GET TECH UPGRADES LIKE AN ENHANCED SMART REARVIEW MIRROR; AND STANDARD SAFETY ITEMS NOW INCLUDE LANE DEPARTURE PREVENTION AND INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL.

FOR THE MOST PART, BIG SUVs STILL RELY ON BIG V8 POWER TO GET AROUND, AND NISSAN MAKES A GREAT ONE.

THIS TRIED AND TRUE 5.6 LITER THAT'S BEEN IN PLACE SINCE THE BEGINNING, NOW OUTPUTTING 400 HORSEPOWER AND 413 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, ENOUGH TO PULL 8,500 POUNDS.

IT WORKS WITH A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITH REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE STANDARD, AND ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OPTIONAL ON ALL TRIMS FOR $3,100.

WE TOOK OUR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE TESTER TO MASON DIXON DRAGWAY; AND WHILE THERE'S A TON OF TORQUE HERE IN THE QX80, IN THE INTEREST OF ULTIMATE SMOOTHNESS, IT SEEMS HESITANT TO UNLEASH ALL OF IT ON YOU AT ONCE.

BUT, IT SOUNDS POWERFUL AS YOU GET ROLLING AND IT SLOWLY DEALS OUT THE GOODS, HITTING 60 IN A STILL QUICK 6.3 SECONDS.

THE SAME THEME APPLIES TO THE TRANSMISSION.

PRIORITIZING SILKY SMOOTHNESS OVER QUICKNESS.

STILL, A 14.8 SECOND QUARTER AT 96 MILES PER HOUR IS PLENTY FAST FOR A BIG LUXURY UTILITY.

DESPITE THE HYDRAULIC BODY MOTION CONTROL SYSTEM, WE STILL FELT QUITE A BIT OF BODY ROLL THROUGHOUT OUR HANDLING COURSE.

SMOOTHNESS REMAINS THE MOTIF IN THIS EXERCISE AS WELL; BOTH IN THE OVERALL FEEL OF THE VEHICLE, AND HOW YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR INPUTS TO AVOID HARSH BRAKING FROM THE STABILITY SYSTEM.

OVERALL, SOFT AND SLOW, BUT ALSO, CAPABLE AND SOLID.

AS FOR THE ALL-IMPORTANT CARGO HAULING ASPECTS; A GOOD 16.6 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, 49.6 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND 95.1 CUBIC-FEET WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 13-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED; OUR AVERAGE ON PREMIUM FUEL CAME IN AT 15.5 MILES PER GALLON.

THAT'S MAKES FOR A MUCH WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, CONSUMING 22.0 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WITH 9.8 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

SEVEN-PASSENGER 3-ROW SEATING IS STANDARD, WITH A SECOND ROW BENCH AN OPTION TO PROVIDE SEATING FOR EIGHT.

PRICING STARTS AT LUXE TRIM FOR $70,545; TOP SENSORY BEGINS AT $82,180.

WE'RE NOT SURE HOW MUCH LONGER THIS 2021 INFINITI QX80 WILL SOLDIER ON IN ITS CURRENT FORM, BUT THERE'S NO SIGN OF IT SLOWING DOWN ANY TIME SOON.

IT'S NOT EXACTLY A SENSORY OVERLOAD, BUT THERE IS A BIG LOAD OF REFINEMENT AND EXTRAVAGANCE HERE, TO GO ALONG WITH A HEAPING HELPING OF CAPABILITY.

MODERN LUXURY, WITH AN OLD-SCHOOL VIBE THAT'S HARD NOT TO LIKE.

* WE TEST DRIVE NEW VEHICLES 24/7 HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

[CLOSES CAR DOOR] BUT BEFORE YOU TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT, AND BEFORE YOU SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE, BE SURE TO TEST DRIVE THAT PROSPECTIVE NEW CAR OR TRUCK YOURSELF.

SO HERE'S OUR STEPHANIE HART WITH SOME ADVICE ON WHAT YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR DURING YOUR FIRST TIME BEHIND THE WHEEL.

* Stephanie Hart: THESE DAYS WE'RE BOMBARDED WITH SO MUCH INFORMATION ABOUT A VEHICLE-- VIDEOS, PHOTOS, AND REVIEWS CAN MAKE A CAR SEEM IRRESISTIBLE.

BUT ONCE YOU TAKE IT FOR A SPIN YOU MIGHT CHANGE YOUR MIND.

THAT'S WHY THE TEST DRIVE IS SO CRUCIAL.

ESPECIALLY NOW, SINCE THE TEST DRIVE AS WE KNEW IT IS GONE AS A RESULT OF COVID-19.

AT CAR DEALERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING BROWN'S MANASSAS KIA, PROSPECTIVE BUYERS ARE GOING FOR TEST DRIVES SOLO.

THAT MEANS, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO KNOW WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR DURING A TEST DRIVE...

SINCE, A SALESPERSON WILL NOT BE IN THE VEHICLE TO POINT OUT IMPORTANT FEATURES.

Wais Safi: THE TEST DRIVE IS A BIG PART IT, 50% OF PART OF THE PURCHASE IS TEST DRIVE, YOU WANT TO TEST DRIVE A CAR AND MAKE SURE THIS IS THE CAR YOU'RE ACTUALLY FITS YOUR NEEDS.

Stephanie: THE BEST WAY OF DOING THAT IS BY DRIVING IT ON A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT ROADS, JUST LIKE YOU WOULD IN DAILY LIFE.

CARFAX RECOMMENDS DRIVING IT MORE THAN 10 MILES; INCLUDING TAKING IT ON A HIGH SPEED ROADWAY.

Emilie Voss: YOU WANT THAT VEHICLE TO GO OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR, YOU WANT TO SEE HOW IT HANDLES, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNS TO CENTER AFTER YOU TURN, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT, IF YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY ON THE HIGHWAY, POSSIBLY FOR PASSING, THAT THE CAR HANDLE WELL?

ALSO, LISTEN FOR THE BRAKES, CHECK FOR THE BRAKES, YOU WANT TO USE ALL YOUR SENSES WHEN YOU'RE DOING A TEST DRIVE.

Stephanie: WHILE, YOU'RE AT IT, PARK IT IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT PARKING SPOTS; ESPECIALLY IF IT'S A LARGER VEHICLE AND YOU'RE NOT USED TO PARKING AN SUV OR PICKUP.

Emilie: IT IS A BIG PURCHASE AND YOU'RE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY, SO YOU DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU'RE CONFIDENT THAT YOU DIDN'T MISS OUT ON SOMETHING AND IT DOES HANDLE THE WAY, YOU EXPECT IT.

Stephanie: HORSEPOWER IS A PRIORITY FOR SOME, BUT IT MAY TAKE A BACKSEAT FOR OTHERS.

STUDIES SHOW WOMEN AND MILLENIALS HAVE DIFFERENT WANTS AND NEEDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TEST DRIVE EXPERIENCE.

Wais: SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE FOR EVERY WOMAN COMING IN AND ALSO THEY'RE LEANING TO MORE BESIDES SAFETY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SPACE FOR A FAMILY THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SPACE FOR THE GADGETS THAT THEY HAVE HANDS FREE GADGETS.

Stephanie: THE LATEST TECH PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE FOR MANY BUYERS.

FEATURES LIKE AUTOMATIC BRAKING, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, WIRELESS CHARGING, AND HEAD UP DISPLAYS.

DURING YOUR TEST DRIVE, YOU'LL WANT TO LEARN EVERYTHING YOU CAN ABOUT THE VEHICLE'S INFOTAINMENT CENTER AND MAKE SURE TO TEST IT WITH YOUR CELL PHONE.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY AND IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

IT'S ALSO SMART TO TEST THE VEHICLE FOR COMFORT.

TRY DRIVING IN YOUR HEAVIEST WINTER APPAREL.

THEN, BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF.

DOES IT MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS?

Emilie: MAYBE TRY SITTING IN THE BACKSEAT AS WELL AND MAKE SURE IT'S COMFORTABLE TOO BECAUSE YOU WANT YOUR LOVED ONES AND THE PEOPLE YOU WILL HAVE IN YOUR VEHICLE THEY WILL BE SITTING IN THOSE OTHER SEATS MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR.

Stephanie: AND GO THE EXTRA MILE AND TRY OUT A VEHICLE'S CARGO SPACE.

THAT'S RIGHT, PUT THINGS YOU WOULD NORMALLY USE BACK THERE AND SEE IF EVERYTHING FITS.

Emilie: ARE YOU GOING TO BE TRANSPORTING LARGE ITEMS?

OR DO YOU HAVE A DOG?

ARE THERE DIFFERENT THINGS... DO YOU HAVE A STROLLER, YOU HAVE TO FIT IN THE BACK?

SO, THOSE ARE THINGS YOU WANT TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

Stephanie: IN TODAY'S UNCERTAIN WORLD, CAR BUYERS ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM BUYERS THAN A YEAR AGO.

Wais: TODAY'S BUYER IS MORE TIME EFFICIENT.

PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN AND SPEND THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME IN A DEALERSHIP.

Stephanie: UNDERSTANDABLY SO, WITH COVID 19 STILL CIRCULATING.

HOWEVER, A CAR IS A MAJOR PURCHASE.

SO, TAKE YOUR TIME ON A TEST DRIVE.

SPEND ABOUT A HALF HOUR TO FORTY-FIVE MINUTES SIZING UP THE VEHICLE.

AND IDEALLY, SCHEDULE A FEW TEST DRIVES BACK TO BACK, SO YOU CAN COMPARE DIFFERENT VEHICLES WHILE EVERYTHING IS STILL FRESH IN YOUR MIND.

John: WHEN IT COMES TO RUST IN YOUR CAR, WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE IS USUALLY A LOT WORSE THAN WHAT YOU CAN.

SO, LET'S HEAD OVER TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

* Pat Goss: AND HERE'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH BUT IT COULD BE YOUR CAR'S BEST FRIEND.

IT IS THE WAND TO A POWER WASHER.

NOW, WHAT ARE WE DEALING WITH HERE?

WELL, WE ARE DEALING WITH A WAY TO HELP PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE CAR LIKE THIS.

THIS IS RUST.

AND OF COURSE, YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT ON YOUR CAR BUT EVERYBODY HAS THE MISTAKEN IDEA THAT COATS OF WAX AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR THAT IT'S GOING TO PREVENT RUST.

AND IT DOESN'T.

RUST DOESN'T OCCUR FROM THE OUTSIDE IN, IT OCCURS FROM THE INSIDE OUT.

NOW, BEHIND HERE YOU'LL FIND THAT THERE IS ANOTHER PANEL.

THOSE TWO PANELS; THE OUTER ONE AND THE INNER ONE ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER.

AND THAT MEANS THAT DIRT AND GRIME FROM THE ROAD, AND SO ON COLLECTS OVER YEARS, AND MILES, AND BUILDS UP IN THERE, AND FILLS THAT LITTLE CHANNEL.

WELL, THAT MEANS THAT, THAT DIRT CAN HOLD MOISTURE.

MOISTURE GETS IN THERE AND IT'S HELD AGAINST THE METAL, AND EATS AWAY ON THE INSIDE OF THE METAL.

EVENTUALLY, YOU'LL START TO SEE BUBBLES, THEN YOU'LL SEE RUST LIKE THIS.

THEN, YOU'LL SEE AS THE RUST PROGRESSES IT'LL GO UP UNDER THE PAINT AND YOU WILL HAVE A MASSIVE HOLE IN YOUR BODY PANEL, YOUR FENDER, YOUR QUARTER PANEL, WHATEVER IT IS.

EVEN THE DOORS.

SO, BY USING A PRESSURE WASHER, YOU CAN SOMETIMES GET UP INTO THOSE AREAS AND FLUSH THAT DIRT AWAY.

AND BY DOING THAT, YOU HELP PREVENT THE MOISTURE THAT CAUSES THE RUST.

NOW, SUPPOSE YOU'VE ALREADY MISSED THAT BOAT.

ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU DO?

WELL, YOU CAN GO ON THE INTERNET, YOU CAN FIND ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT TELL YOU HOW TO REPAIR RUST.

WITH BONDO AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU MIGHT DO, BUT THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT'S EVEN SEMI PERMANENT AND THAT'S REPLACING THE SHEET METAL.

SO, IF YOU WANT IT TO BE PERMANENT, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO CUT AND WELD SHEET METAL AND THEN HOW TO FINISH IT OFF.

BUT EVEN THEN, YOU NEED TO GET RID OF THE DIRT THAT CAUSED THE RUST IN THE FIRST PLACE.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T, IN SHORT ORDER, IT'LL RUST THROUGH YOUR NEW METAL AS WELL.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS THIS NEARLY ORIGINAL, GARAGED KEPT 1941 CHEVROLET MASTER DELUXE SEDAN.

FIRST PURCHASED BY THE GRANDPARENTS OF CURRENT OWNER PAUL DODGE OF DENVER, COLORADO, ONLY THE ROOF AND A FRONT FENDER HAVE BEEN REPAINTED.

THE INTERIOR IS PRISTINE.

ONE REASON, PAUL AND THE FAMILY WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO SIT IN THE CAR WITHOUT FITTED SEAT COVERS IN PLACE.

TIME NOW TO HIT THE START BUTTON AND FIRE UP A NEW ROUND OF QUICKSPINS.

* Greg Carloss: MAN DOES IT FEEL GOOD TO GET BACK OUT ON THE ROAD AND DRIVE SOME CARS.

I'M DOING IT THIS WEEK IN RURAL NORTHERN VIRGINIA.

IN THE ALL-NEW 2022 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS.

I SWORE, I WOULD NEVER DO IT, BUT I HAD TO THINK BACK TO 2020 TO REFRESH MY MEMORY ON VOLKSWAGEN'S ALL NEW ENTRY LEVEL SUV AS IT WAS REVEALED WAY BACK IN OCTOBER.

IF YOU RECALL FROM OUR ORIGINAL FIRST LOOK THE TAOS SITS JUST BELOW THE TIGUAN, WHICH ITSELF JUST GOT A REFRESH, 9.0 INCHES SHORTER THAN THE TIGUAN, THE TAOS, IS STILL BIG AS COMPARED TO COMPETITORS WHICH VW INDICATES AS THE SUBARU CROSSTREK, JEEP COMPASS, AND KIA SELTOS.

INSIDE, THERE'S A VAST AMOUNT OF HEADROOM AND REAR SEAT LEG ROOM IS EXCELLENT FOR THIS CLASS.

THE TAOS DEFINITELY FEELS BIGGER THAN ITS RAISED HATCHBACK COMPETITORS, BUT IT'S STILL LIGHT ON ITS FEET.

I THINK, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE REALLY LIGHT-WEIGHT AND EFFORTLESS STEERING.

I TEND TO LIKE A LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT TO MY STEERING THAT'S WHY I WOULD SPEND MOST OF MY TIME IN SPORT MODE.

IF YOU WANT MULTIPLE DRIVE MODES AT YOUR DISPOSAL, YOU'LL HAVE TO OPT FOR 4MOTION ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE OVER THE BASE FRONT DRIVE SETUP.

AND, IN ADDITION TO THE ADDED DRIVE MODE SELECTOR, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MODELS SWAP THE BASE TORSION BEAM REAR SUSPENSION FOR A MULTI-LINK.

THEY ALSO GET THE 7-SPEED DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX, WHICH IS VOLKSWAGEN'S VENERABLE DUAL-CLUTCH UNIT AS OPPOSED TO THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE'S 8-SPEED TORQUE CONVERTER AUTOMATIC.

COMPARING THE TWO DURING MY DRIVE TIME, THE BASE TORSION BEAM OFFERED AN ALTOGETHER COMFIER RIDE, BUT THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE'S MULTILINK SETUP RESPONDED BETTER TO SPIRITED DRIVING.

STILL, EVERY TAOS IS POWERED BY A 1.5 LITER TURBOCHARGED I4 WITH 158 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

COMING IN AT ABOUT 150 HORSEPOWER THIS TAOS IS NOT EXACTLY A BURNER BUT AS I'M DRIVING THROUGH HILLY, RURAL NORTHERN VIRGINIA, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT LACKS POWER.

THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH TORQUE ON TAP.

NOW BECAUSE THE TAOS ISN'T A PERFORMANCE SUV OR GROUNDBREAKING EV I GET TO TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE SIDE VIEW MIRROR SIZE.

THEY FEEL HUGE AND OFFER A GREAT VIEW AT A QUICK GLANCE.

AND THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING LIGHT, TO ME, IS IN THE PERFECT LOCATION; RIGHT THERE IN THE CORNER OF THE MIRROR.

IN FACT, VISIBILITY SEEMS TO BE A THEME WITH THE TAOS BECAUSE THE FORWARD VIEW IS EQUALLY AWESOME.

LOOKING THROUGH THE VERY UPRIGHT WINDSHIELD KIND OF MAKES ME FEEL LIKE, I'M DRIVING A MINI ATLAS.

LOOKING AND FEELING AROUND THE INSIDE OF THIS TAOS IS A NICE MIX OF ENTRY-LEVEL AND ABOVE-ENTRY-LEVEL FEATURES.

MATERIAL QUALITY IS PRETTY GOOD, SAVE FOR THIS REALLY HARD PLASTIC DASH UP FRONT.

THERE IS A NICE LITTLE STORAGE AREA FOR CELL PHONES AND ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA THROW UP ON YOUR DASH QUICKLY, BUT WHAT REALLY SETS THE TAOS APART FROM OTHERS IN THIS SEGMENT IS THAT DIGITAL COCKPIT, IT'S MODERN LOOKING.

IT'S CUSTOMIZABLE AND IT'S COMPREHENSIVE.

S TRIMMED FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE TAOS PRICING STARTS AT $24,000 WHILE AN SEL WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE TAKES OFF AT OVER 34-GRAND.

BUILT IN PUEBLA MEXICO, THE 2022 VOLKSWAGEN TAOS IS ON ITS WAY TO DEALERS NOW.

John: SINCE MERCEDES-AMG BECAME AN ANOINTED OFFSHOOT OF MERCEDES-BENZ, THEY'VE BEEN BUSY PRODUCING SOME INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE CARS.

NOW, THEIR UNIQUE OFFERINGS ARE ALSO GETTING MORE ATTAINABLE.

THAT'S WHAT THIS 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GT 43 4-DOOR COUPE QUICKSPIN IS ALL ABOUT.

SO, FOR AROUND $90,000... NOW, WE DIDN'T SAY CHEAP MIND YOU...ONE CAN GET A REAL-DEAL MERCEDES-AMG WITH A NEW 3.0 LITER INLINE-6 TURBO ENGINE.

IT WHIPS UP 362 HORSEPOWER AND 369 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; PLUS, GETS AN ADDITIONAL BATTERY EQ BOOST OF 21 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET.

NOW, IF YOU'VE NEVER DRIVEN THE 630 HORSEPOWER AMG GT 63 S, YOU'D NEVER KNOW YOU WERE MISSING A THING; AS UNRELENTING POWER RIGHT FROM THE GET GO, HAS THE 43'S SPEEDOMETER SWEEPING PAST 60 IN JUST 4.3 SECONDS.

THE SAME AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-SPEED TRANSMISSION DEALS OUT BRUTALLY FAST SHIFTS AS YOU RUN THE QUARTER-MILE IN 13.0 SECONDS AT 105 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S NO V8, BUT IT HAS A DISTINCT CHARACTER THAT QUICKLY BECOMES ADDICTING.

SAME GREAT AMG TASTE, LESS FILLING UP AT THE GAS PUMP; ALONG WITH A LESS WALLET BUSTING BOTTOM LINE, THE 2021 MERCEDES-AMG GT 43 4-DOOR COUPE IS ON SALE NOW.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE REALLY QUICKSPINS, SOON!

AS KIA'S LONGTIME STANDARD BEARER IN THE MIDSIZE SUV FIELD, THE SORENTO HAS SEEN A LOT OF CHANGES IN ITS THREE GENERATIONS.

BUT NOW WITH ITS LARGER TELLURIDE IN THE MIX, THERE'S TIME FOR EVEN MORE, AS THE SORENTO TAKES ON A NEW ROLE.

SO, LET'S FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS.

* WHILE, NOT THE FIRST SUV IN THEIR LINEUP, THE KIA SORENTO IS TRULY ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR KIA'S SUCCESS TODAY.

AN ALL-NEW ONE ARRIVES FOR 2021, LOOKING TO BUILD UPON THAT FOUNDATION WITH MORE CAPABILITY, TECHNOLOGY, AND REFINEMENT THAN EVER; YET, DOES SO WITH AN EYE ON THE PAST.

WHEN KIA ADDED THE SORENTO TO THEIR LINEUP FOR 2003; THEY WANTED A RUGGED, CAPABLE UTILITY.

SO, EVEN WITHOUT A PICKUP TRUCK IN THEIR LINEUP TO BASE IT ON, THEY BUILT THE SORENTO ON A FULL TRUCK-STYLE FRAME; DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A LEXUS, BUT PERFORM LIKE A 4RUNNER.

THOSE FIRST GEN. SORENTO'S STILL HAVE QUITE A FOLLOWING IN THE OFF-ROAD COMMUNITY.

BUT, FOLLOWING TRENDS, KIA QUICKLY MADE THE SHIFT TO A UNI-BODY PLATFORM FOR 2011, AND HAS NEVER LOOKED BACK.

UNTIL NOW, AS KIA WOULD CLEARLY LIKE TO GET BACK TO THAT FORMER IMAGE; ALTHOUGH JUST PARTIALLY, AS WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE 4TH GEN. SORENTO THERE'S NO FULL FRAME, BUT IT DOES HAVE AN AVAILABLE X-LINE PACKAGE WITH AN UPGRADED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES A LOCKING CENTER DIFF AND DOWNHILL DESCENT CONTROL.

PLUS, 1.0 INCH OF ADDITIONAL GROUND CLEARANCE, UNIQUE BUMPERS FRONT AND REAR, ROOF RACK, AND 20 INCH MATTE FINISH ALLOY WHEELS.

AND INDEED THE OVERALL DESIGN FOR ALL '21 SORENTO'S IS MORE REMINISCENT OF THE ORIGINAL SORENTO THAN CURRENT KIA STATUS SYMBOL TELLURIDE; WHEELBASE IS STRETCHED 1.4 INCHES OVER LAST YEAR.

THE BIGGEST DOWNSIDE HERE, IS THAT YOU'RE NOT NECESSARILY GETTING A KNOCKABOUT OFF-ROAD SPEC RIG, AS YOU MUST ADD THE X-LINE ON TOP OF THE LAVISHLY OUTFITTED AND PRICY TOP SX PRESTIGE TRIM.

SO, WHILE THE RUGGED STYLING ELEMENTS ARE IN PLAY OUTSIDE; INSIDE, IT'S VERY FEATURE INTENSIVE, AND QUITE LUXURIOUS, THINK MORE LAND ROVER THAN 4RUNNER SPORT.

THAT MEANS, A 12 INCH FULLY DIGITAL GAUGE DISPLAY, PACKED WITH SO MUCH INFO, THERE'S NOT MUCH REASON TO LOOK OVER AT THE CENTRAL 10 INCH TOUCHSCREEN WHEN DRIVING.

THOUGH, GAZING AT THE SURROUND VIEW MONITOR WILL CERTAINLY HELP IN PARKING AND OFF-ROAD SITUATIONS.

IF YOU NEED 3-ROW FLEXIBILITY, DON'T WORRY, THEY HAVEN'T GIVEN THAT OVER FULLY TO THE TELLURIDE, YOU STILL GET THREE ROWS STANDARD HERE; WITH EITHER BENCH OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS IN SECOND ROW, GIVING SEVEN OR SIX PASSENGER CAPABILITY.

THE STRETCHED WHEELBASE PROVIDES A LITTLE MORE ROOM INSIDE FOR BOTH PEOPLE AND CARGO; 12.6 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE THIRD ROW, 38.5 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND A MAX OF 75.5 WITH ALL SEATS FOLDED.

YOU WILL HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE TELLURIDE, IF YOU WANT A V6 ENGINE, OR TO TOW MORE THAN THE SORENTO'S MAX OF 3,500 POUNDS, AS THERE'S NOW AN ALL 4-CYLINDER LINEUP HERE, BUT A COMPREHENSIVE ONE.

A NATURALLY ASPIRATED 2.5 LITER I4 WITH 191 HORSEPOWER IS STANDARD, BUT MOST SORENTO'S WILL LIKELY COME EQUIPPED WITH THE TURBO VERSION OF THAT ENGINE PACKING ALMOST 100 MORE PONIES AT 281 HORSEPOWER AND 311 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A 1.6 LITER BASED HYBRID IS ALSO AVAILABLE, WITH A PHEV COMING SOON, BRINGING 30 MILES OF EV-ONLY RANGE WITH IT.

THE TURBO ALSO COMES WITH AN UPGRADED 8-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; SAME SETUP FOUND IN THE K5 GT SEDAN, ALBEIT WITH A FEW LESS HORSEPOWER.

SO EQUIPPED, WE TOOK OUR X-LINE TEST RIG TO THE TRACK.

ATTEMPTING TO FIT RUNS IN BETWEEN SPRINGTIME POP-UP SHOWERS MEANT A DAMP SURFACE AND A SLOW 8.9 SECOND LAUNCH TO 60.

IN THE DRY WE KNOW IT'S AT LEAST A SECOND FASTER.

ONCE, WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF ALL THAT TORQUE, THINGS IMPROVED A BIT, WORKING OUR WAY TO A 16.7 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 83 MILES PER HOUR.

DESPITE THE ADDITIONAL INCH OF GROUND CLEARANCE, THERE WASN'T AS MUCH BODY ROLL AS WE ANTICIPATED IN OUR SLALOM COURSE.

THE SORENTO STAYED WELL-COMPOSED WITH ONLY MILD UNDERSTEER AND REFRESHINGLY LITTLE COMPUTER INTERVENTION.

PRICING STARTS AT $30,565; CERTAINLY COMPETITIVE FOR THE SEGMENT.

ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE IS A $1,800 OPTION FOR ALL TRIMS EXCEPT FOR SX PRESTIGE; WHERE IT'S INCLUDED IN THE $2,000 X-LINE PACKAGE.

WITH THE TELLURIDE NOW GIVING LARGER FAMILIES A BETTER OPTION, THERE'S ROOM IN THE KIA LINEUP FOR THE SORENTO TO BECOME A LITTLE MORE DARING, AND KIA HAS EMBRACED THAT.

THE 2021 SORENTO STILL OFFERS THE TECHNOLOGY, COMFORT, AND FEATURES THAT FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR THESE DAYS, BUT WITH AN ADVENTURE-READY X-FACTOR THAT MAKES IT MORE DESIRABLE THAN EVER.

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 LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE COME TOGETHER IN THE LEXUS I-S F SPORT.

THEN, WE WILL GET DOWN AND DIRTY WITH THE RUGGED NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER.

TIL' THEN, I'M JOHN DAVIS, WE'LL SEE YOU RIGHT HERE ON MOTORWEEK !

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