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

JOIN US FOR OUR 2021 MOTORWEEK DRIVER'S CHOICE AWARDS FOR THE BEST TRUCKS AND UTILITIES THAT MADE A GLOOMY YEAR A LOT BRIGHTER... PAT GOSS LOOSENS THINGS UP DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE... THEN, WE'LL FIND OUT JUST HOW MUCH PERFORMANCE JOHN COOPER WORKS CAN CRAM INTO A MINI HARDTOP...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

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

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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: OUT OF THE 52 SHOWS THAT WE PRODUCE EVERY YEAR, THERE'S ONE THAT'S TRULY UNIQUE FROM THE REST.

IT'S WHEN WE TAKE A PAUSE FROM ALL THE TESTING AND REPORTING, AND LOOK BACK AT THE CARS, TRUCKS, AND UTILITIES THAT STOOD OUT THE MOST TO US OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

IT'S OUR ANNUAL MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS!

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CARS THAT EARNED OUR FAVOR FOR 2021!

* LET'S START OFF THE AWARDS WITH OUR WINNER FOR BEST SMALL CAR, THE MAZDA3.

NOW, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR AWARDS, WE ACTUALLY CALLED THIS HONOR "BEST ECONOBOX."

BUT THAT'S NOT AN ACCURATE NAME FOR THIS SEGMENT THESE DAYS, AND CERTAINLY NOT FOR THE MAZDA3.

IT'S A REPEAT WIN FOR THE 3, AS LAST YEAR MAZDA GOT SERIOUS ABOUT IMPROVING THE INTERIOR AND EVEN ADDED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE TO INCREASE APPEAL.

THIS YEAR SEES A NEW 2.5 TURBO MODEL WITH GREATER PERFORMANCE, AND YES, EVEN MORE REFINEMENT AS WELL.

OUR BEST FAMILY SEDAN AWARD GOES TO A BRAND YOU KNOW, BUT FOR A MODEL YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF; THE KIA K5.

THE MIDSIZE FAMILY SEDAN MARKET IS NOT WHAT IT ONCE WAS.

BUT, RATHER THAN ABANDONING THE SEGMENT AS SOME RIVALS HAVE, KIA DOUBLED DOWN BY MOVING ON FROM THE OPTIMA AND LAUNCHING THE K5, WITH THE COMFORT, CONNECTIVITY, PERFORMANCE, AND EVEN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE THAT MAKES IT NOT ONLY A WINNER, BUT KEEPS THEIR MIDSIZE SEDAN RELEVANT.

ITS PLATFORM MATE HYUNDAI SONATA EARNED THIS AWARD LAST YEAR, SO THE KOREAN CONTINGENT CLEARLY KNOWS HOW TO BUILD IMPRESSIVE FAMILY SEDANS.

BEST LUXURY SEDAN IS ALWAYS A HARD ONE TO PICK, AS LUXURY HAS MANY MEANINGS.

BUT, THE ALL-NEW ACURA TLX FITS OUR DEFINITION WITH TECHNOLOGY, COMFORT, SPACE, PLUS, AN AMPLE HELPING OF PERFORMANCE, THAT MADE IT OUR HANDS DOWN FAVORITE.

NOW, THE TLX DOESN'T ALWAYS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD IN THE WAYS OF TRADITIONAL LUXURY CARS; IT NEVER FEELS OVERLY POSH OR PRETENTIOUS.

YET, IT OFFERS A GREAT MIX OF WELL-DONE AMENITIES, COMPLIANT RIDE, AND PRECISE HANDLING; PLUS, GREAT TECHIE STUFF, THAT MAKES IT SEEM A LITTLE SMARTER THAN THE REST, AND YOU A LITTLE WISER FOR CHOOSING IT.

IT'S CERTAINLY NOT A STRETCH TO HAVE A MERCEDES-AMG TAKE HOME OUR BEST SPORT SEDAN AWARD, BUT THE FACT THAT THE CLA 35 IS THEIR MOST ENTRY-LEVEL CAR, MAY BE A SHOCK TO SOME.

ITS HIGH-OUTPUT 2.0 LITER TURBO-4 CRANKS OUT 302 HORSEPOWER AND GETS THIS TINY TERROR TO 60 IN LESS THAN 5.0 SECONDS.

BUT ABOVE THAT, IT WAS THE CLA 35'S OVERALL RESPONSE AND FUN TO DRIVE, YET...ACCESSIBLE NATURE THAT SEALED THE DEAL FOR US.

IT'S NOT THAT THERE WEREN'T MANY FANTASTIC SPORT COUPES TO CHOOSE FROM THIS YEAR; IT'S JUST THAT LAST YEAR'S BEST SPORT COUPE WINNER, THE TOYOTA GR SUPRA, IS THE ONE WE STILL LOVE TO DRIVE THE MOST.

AND, AS IF THEY JUST WANTED TO BE SURE THEY STAYED ON TOP, THIS YEAR TOYOTA ADDED MORE POWER, AS WELL AS IMPROVED BOTH HANDLING AND BRAKE COOLING TO PERFORM EVEN BETTER AT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF TRACK DAYS THAT SUPRA'S SEEM TO BE SHOWING UP AT.

IT'S A GREAT PERFORMANCE PACKAGE, AT A STILL GREAT PRICE.

FOR PURE DRIVING DELIGHT, OUR BEST PERFORMANCE CAR AWARD GOES NOT TO A NAME, BUT TO A NUMBER...718.

IT DONS BOTH PORSCHE'S 718 BOXSTER ROADSTER, AS WELL AS THE 718 CAYMAN COUPE.

AND IF WE HAVE TO GET SPECIFIC, WE'D CHOOSE THE 718 CAYMAN GT4.

IT'S THIS STRIPPED DOWN PIECE OF NOSTALGIC THROWBACK PERFORMANCE CAR THAT EASILY WON OUR HEARTS THIS YEAR.

OUR BEST ECO-FRIENDLY NOD GOES TO THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E. SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT SOILING THE MUSTANG NAME, IF WE HAVE TO DRIVE AN EV, WE WANT IT TO BE THE MUSTANG MACH-E. NOW, IF YOU WANT TO GET TO 60 IN 3.5 SECONDS, RIDE UNBRIDLED IN THE GT PERFORMANCE EDITION.

MORE CONCERNED ABOUT RANGE?

OTHER MODELS CAN WHISPER YOUR WAY THROUGH SOME 300 MILES BEFORE PLUGGING IN.

THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E EASILY DOMINATED THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FIELD THIS YEAR; AND THAT'S WHY IT'S A BIG WINNER WITH US.

AND, TIME NOW FOR BEST DREAM MACHINES; THE "MONEY IS NO OBJECT" STANDOUTS FROM 2020.

FIRST UP, A CAR THAT FULLY LIVES UP TO YOUR LOFTY DESIRES WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURY, AND THEN FAR EXCEEDS THEM WHEN IT COMES TO PERFORMANCE, THE BENTLEY FLYING SPUR.

THIS 5,500 POUNDS LUXURY LINER DELIVERS ONE TO 60 IN WELL UNDER 4.0 SECONDS, WHICH IS TRULY NOT ENOUGH TIME TO ENJOY THE HAND-CRAFTED OPULENCE THAT IS THE FLYING SPUR'S CABIN.

WHILE, IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ASTON MARTIN THREW THEIR HAT INTO THE SUV RING, THE DBX DELIVERS ABOVE AND BEYOND EXPECTATIONS.

SUV CAPABILITY WITH SUPER SPORT SEDAN PERFORMANCE, AIDED BY THE MASTER ENGINE-BUILDERS OVER AT AMG.

IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS GREAT TO BE COMPETITIVE, BUT THANKFULLY IT IS.

JUST ABOUT ANYONE WHO'S EVER DREAMED OF OWNING A HIGH-PERFORMANCE CAR HAS AT ONE POINT DREAMED OF A PORSCHE 911 TURBO.

YOU MIGHT ALSO THINK THAT EVENTUALLY PORSCHE WOULD REACH THE PINNACLE OF WHAT IS POSSIBLE WITH A REAR-ENGINE 911, AND HAVE TO RETHINK THE WHOLE THING.

BUT THAT DAY IS NOT TODAY; THE TURBO REMAINS A MODERN TECHNOLOGICAL MARVEL.

LET'S TAKE A PAUSE IN OUR 2021 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

BUT STAY TUNED FOR THE TRUCKS AND UTILITIES THAT WE LOVED THE BEST THIS YEAR.

* WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTY CARS, ABBREVIATIONS TACKED ONTO THE END OF NAMES TEND TO MEAN GOOD THINGS.

AND USUALLY THE MORE THE BETTER.

SO, WHEN YOU SEE JCW, FOR JOHN COOPER WORKS, ADDED TO A MINI COOPER HARDTOP ALONG WITH GP, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN FOR A GOOD TIME.

* BIG FUN IN A SMALL PACKAGE IS WHAT THE MINI COOPER HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT.

NOW, OVER THE YEARS, MINIS HAVE CERTAINLY GROWN IN SIZE, BUT THE BRAND HAS ALSO HIGHLY EVOLVED ON THE PERFORMANCE SIDE AS WELL, THANKS TO JOHN COOPER WORKS, THEIR IN-HOUSE TUNING DIVISION, SIMILAR TO PARENT COMPANY BMW'S M. 2021 SEES THEIR MOST POTENT PACKAGE YET, THE MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS GP.

JOHN COOPER WAS OF COURSE, A FORMULA ONE RACING ENGINEER WHO IN HIS SPARE TIME HELPED TURN THE ORIGINAL BRITISH MOTOR CORPORATION MINI INTO A ROAD AND RALLY RACE WINNING CAR IN THE 1960s.

AND IT WAS HIS NAMESAKE THAT ADORNED THE MINI COOPER WHEN BMW RELAUNCHED THE BRAND FOR 2002.

WE LOVED THAT REBORN MINI, SAYING IT WAS THE PERFECT WAY TO ADD A LITTLE SPORTS CAR-LIKE FUN TO YOUR DAILY DRIVE, WHILE GETTING A TASTE OF THE SPIRIT AND CHARACTER OF ONE OF HISTORY'S MOST ENDURING AND ENDEARING LITTLE CARS.

IN FACT, YOURS TRULY BOUGHT ONE OF THE FIRST EXAMPLES TO ARRIVE STATESIDE AND STILL ENJOYS IT TODAY.

GETTING BACK TO THE JCW GP, YOU KNOW IT'S A MINI LIKE, NONE OTHER AS SOON AS YOU SEE IT.

THE HUGE MULTI-LEVEL REAR WING, SLIVER ROOF, FUNCTION OVER FORM CARBON-FIBER FENDER ADD-ONS, AND SPLASHES OF COLOR ADDED TO THIS LITTLE 2-DOOR HARDTOP INDICATE IT MEANS BIG BUSINESS.

EVEN MORE SO INSIDE, WHERE CHASSIS BRACING TAKES PLACE OF THE REAR SEAT.

A JCW STEERING WHEEL, MANUAL SPORT SEATS, AND LOTS OF RED ACCENTS COMPLETE THE PACKAGE.

BUT, IT'S THE ENGINE THAT REALLY GIVES THIS CAR A B12 SHOT.

JCW INJECTS 112 MORE HORSEPOWER INTO THE COOPER S' 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO, FOR A TOTAL OF 301, WITH 331 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TECHNICALLY, IT'S NOT THE SAME 2.0 LITER; THIS ONE ACTUALLY COMING STRAIGHT FROM BMW'S M235I GRAN COUPE, BUT WITH A UNIQUE GP EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION OR DCT EVEN; JUST STRAIGHT SPORT-TUNED 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC; STICKING WITH FRONT-WHEEL-DRIVE AS WELL.

IT'S THE CLOSEST MINI HAS EVER GOTTEN TO SELLING A RACE CAR FOR THE STREET, AND YOU KNOW IT AS SOON AS YOU START DRIVING IT.

RIDE IS ABOUT AS HARSH AS ANYTHING YOU'LL FIND ON THE ROAD TODAY; AND IT'S A HYPER-EAGER HANDFUL, ALWAYS MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE, YOU'RE HOLDING IT BACK FROM DOING WHAT IT WANTS TO DO.

THE FRONT SINGLE-JOINT SPRING STRUT, AND REAR MULTI-LINK SUSPENSION, GETS A TOTAL REWORK WITH NEW SPRINGS, DAMPERS, AND ADDED ANTI ROLL BARS.

AT THE TEST TRACK, THAT TRANSLATES INTO QUICK AND ACCURATE STEERING, WITH ESSENTIALLY ZERO BODY ROLL.

THERE'S A SLIGHT HINT OF UNDERSTEER, BUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GRIP.

IT'S LOADS MORE CAPABLE THAN ANY OTHER MINI, BUT NOT NECESSARILY MORE FUN; AS IT TAKES SOME WORK TO GET THE MOST OUT OF IT.

IF YOU DON'T PLAN ON TAKING IN TRACK DAYS, YOU'D PROBABLY HAVE MORE FUN TOOLING BACK ROADS IN A COOPER S. ONE RUN DOWN MASON DIXON DRAGWAY WAS ALL IT TOOK TO FOR US TO LEARN THIS IS ONE INSANELY FAST FRONT-DRIVE CAR, JUST 4.7 SECONDS TO HIT 60 IS BONKERS FOR A CAR IN THIS PRICE CLASS.

LAUNCH CONTROL IS EASY TO ENGAGE, AND YOU CAN FEEL IT PROPORTIONING POWER TO NOT OVERWHELM THE FRONT TIRES.

BUT WE GOT BETTER RESULTS TURNING EVERYTHING OFF, MODULATING THE POWER OURSELVES.

WHILE, NOT HAVING A MANUAL IS A DOWNER FOR ROAD COURSE WORK, HERE AT THE STRIP, JUST LETTING THE 8-SPEED AUTO HAVE AT IT, IS A THING OF BEAUTY.

FAST, FIRM SHIFTS TIME AFTER TIME, TAKING YOU THROUGH A 13.1 SECOND QUARTER-MILE AT 110 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 24-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, 26-COMBINED; WE AVERAGED A GOOD 28.4 MILES PER GALLON ON PREMIUM.

THAT'S AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE; CONSUMING 12.7 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY WITH 5.5 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

ALL-IN PRICING OF $45,750 MAY BE STEEP FOR A MINI, BUT CERTAINLY NOT FOR A CAR WITH THIS MUCH PERFORMANCE.

AND THE 2021 MINI JOHN COOPER WORKS GP IS A PERFORMANCE CAR FIRST AND FOREMOST.

IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT SUCH SINGLE-MINDED CARS ARE NOT REALLY NECESSARY THESE DAYS, WITH MORE AND MORE CARMAKERS DELIVERING HEAPS OF PERFORMANCE IN COMFORTABLE, EASY TO DRIVE PACKAGES.

BUT, WE'RE SURE GLAD THE FOLKS AT JCW DON'T SEE IT THAT WAY.

* Flashback FIRST CATEGORY, BEST ECONOBOX, AND FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THE WINNER IS THE DODGE PLYMOUTH COLT AND THE COLT RANKS FIRST IN OUR HEARTS BUT PRACTICAL FOR A LOT OF COMMUTER FUN.

PICKUP TRUCKS AND UTILITIES CONTINUE TO GOBBLE UP MORE AND MORE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE MARKET SHARE, AND THEREFORE HAVE BECOME AN EVER MORE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR ANNUAL DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS.

BUT ENOUGH PRELUDE, HERE ARE OUR BEST TRUCKS AND UTILITIES FOR 2021!

* THIS YEAR WE SAW SUVs GET BIGGER AND SMALLER, AS WELL AS GO ALL-ELECTRIC; BUT THERE WAS ONE NAME, WE HEARD MORE THAN ANY OTHER...BRONCO.

AND WHILE, WE STILL HAVE TO WAIT A FEW MONTHS MORE FOR THE TRUE WRANGLER-FIGHTING TRUCK-BASED BRONCO; THE BRONCO SPORT CROSSOVER, OUR BEST SMALL UTILITY WINNER, IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACEHOLDER.

THE WORLD IS FULL OF ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE HATCHBACKS WITH LESS GROUND CLEARANCE THAN BODY CLADDING.

BUT FORD, EVEN THOUGH THEY STARTED WITH THE ESCAPE CHASSIS, BUILT THE BRONCO SPORT WILD WITH STANDARD 4-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND ENOUGH CAPABILITY THAT IT GOES OVER ANY TYPE OF TERRAIN.

KEEPING BOTH THE RUGGED, AS WELL AS THE REIMAGINING OF HISTORIC NAMEPLATES THEMES GOING, OUR BEST MIDSIZE UTILITY AWARD GOES TO THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER.

THE BRITISH EMPIRE LEGEND RETURNS; NOT AS A BARE BONES TRACTOR-LIKE RUNABOUT, BUT WITH A FULLY MODERN AND STYLISH REBOOT.

YET, DESPITE THE RANGE ROVER - LIKE AMENITIES, CAPABILITY IS FAR AND ABOVE ITS PREDECESSOR; THANKS TO AN ALL-NEW ALUMINUM ARCHITECTURE, AND THE STIFFEST BODY STRUCTURE THE BRAND HAS EVER PRODUCED.

WHERE THE FUN ENDS IN MOST UTILITIES, IS RIGHT WHERE THE DEFENDER HITS ITS STRIDE.

WHEN YOU THINK OF FULL-SIZE, TRUCK-BASED, INCREDIBLY CAPABLE SUVs, CHANCES ARE THE CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SUBURBAN COME TO MIND, THIS YEAR'S BEST LARGE UTILITY WINNERS.

TAHOE AND SUBURBAN HAVE LONG DEFINED THE SEGMENT WITH COPIOUS ROOM FOR TAKING EXTENDED FAMILIES ON JUST ABOUT ANY LAND-BASED ADVENTURE YOU CAN THINK OF, WITH THE ABILITY TO TOW ALL SORTS OF FUN STUFF BEHIND.

THIS YEAR'S REDESIGN SWITCHED TO AN ALL-NEW INDEPENDENT REAR SUSPENSION THAT GREATLY IMPROVES RIDE, YET, KEEPS ALL OF THEIR CAPABILITIES INTACT, OPENING UP A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF FLEXIBILITY AND COMFORT INSIDE.

AS FOR OUR BEST LUXURY UTILITY, WE CERTAINLY HAD PLENTY OF OPTIONS.

LAST YEAR, WE PICKED THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLE BECAUSE OF ITS UNBEATABLE MIX OF QUALITY MATERIALS, PLUSH RIDE, AND USER-FRIENDLY TECH.

WELL, THIS YEAR THE ONLY THING THAT COMES CLOSE TO MATCHING IT WAS ANOTHER GLE...THE GLE COUPE.

IT'S A SPECTACULAR LOOKING MACHINE THAT BECOMES EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL TO DRIVE WHEN YOU TAP INTO THE AVAILABLE AMG ENGINES.

STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE PLACES A PREMIUM ON HANDLING, BUT ALSO COMES WITH NEW OFF-ROAD MODES TO KEEP THE SPIRIT GOING WHEN THE PAVEMENT ENDS.

SO, IT'S A REPEAT WIN FOR THE GLE IN WHICHEVER SHAPE YOU CHOOSE.

WELL, YOU ASKED FOR IT.

LAST YEAR THE COMMENTS POURED IN ABOUT OUR LACK OF A MIDSIZE PICKUP AWARD.

WELL, HERE YOU GO; NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

OUR BEST MIDSIZE TRUCK IS THE HONDA RIDGELINE; FOR ALL THE SAME REASONS WE'VE LOVED IT OVER THE YEARS.

IT OFFERS TRUCK-STYLE CAPABILITY FOR THE HOUSEHOLD WHEN YOU NEED IT, CAR-LIKE COMFORT AND UNIQUE FEATURES FOUND NOWHERE ELSE, FOR THE REST OF THE TIME.

THIS YEAR, IT GOT A MORE RUGGED-LOOKING REDESIGN; AND WHILE IT MAY NOT DOMINATE AT THE OFF-ROAD PARK, IT WASN'T DESIGNED TO DO THAT, JUST SATISFY CUSTOMERS AND WIN AWARDS.

PICKING THE NUMBER ONE SELLING VEHICLE IN AMERICA FOR ALMOST 40-YEARS ON THE OTHER HAND, FOR OUR BEST FULL-SIZE TRUCK, THE FORD F-150, IS NOT CONTROVERSIAL AT ALL.

FORD KNOWS WHAT HALF-TON TRUCK BUYERS WANT, AND CONTINUES TO DELIVER IT TO THEM BETTER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

THE NEW 14TH GENERATION F-150 EVEN DELIVERS THINGS, YOU DIDN'T KNOW YOU WANTED.

LIKE, AN ONBOARD GENERATOR, HYBRID POWER, AND ALL SORTS OF DRIVER ASSISTANCE TECHNOLOGY.

MAKING BOTH HARD WORK AND PLAY, EASIER THAN EVER.

EVERY TIME A NEW GENERATION OF F-150 BEGINS, IT'S BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

WITH THAT, WE BRING TO A CLOSE OUR 2021 DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS; WITH ONE EXCEPTION, OUR BIGGEST AWARD OF ALL...

THE MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE BEST OF THE YEAR!

SO STAY TUNED!

IF YOU'VE SPENT ANY TIME AT ALL WORKING ON A CAR, YOU'VE PROBABLY HAD TO DEAL WITH THE DREADED STUCK LUG NUT.

WELL, AS USUAL, PAT GOSS KNOWS THE BEST WAYS TO DEAL WITH ALL THINGS SEIZED.

* Par Goss: THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PARTS ON EVERY VEHICLE.

AND YOU WOULD THINK SOME OF THE MORE BASIC ONES LIKE, LUG NUTS THAT HOLD THE WHEELS ON, THAT THEY WOULD BE INFALLIBLE.

BUT THEY AREN'T.

THERE IS A RELATIVELY NEW TYPE OF LUG NUT THAT WE'RE SEEING IN A LOT OF VEHICLES.

IT'S MADE WITH A STEEL COVER OVER A NON-PLATED MILD STEEL LUG NUT.

YOU CAN SEE THE RIDGE RIGHT HERE, WHERE THEY COME TOGETHER.

WELL, THESE THINGS LOOK GREAT, BUT THEY HAVE A NASTY HABIT.

YOU SEE, OVER TIME, RUST FORMS UNDERNEATH THE CAP.

AND AS IT FORMS, IT SWELLS UP AND IT PUSHES THE CAP OUTWARD.

NOW, WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS A LUG NUT THAT IS NO LONGER THE SAME SIZE AS IT WAS WHEN IT WAS NEW.

SO, THE SOCKET THAT FITS IT, WELL, IT NO LONGER FITS IT.

YOU CAN'T GET THAT IN THERE.

NOW, SOMETIMES IN THE SHOP WHAT WE DO, IS WE ARE ABLE TO TAKE A HAMMER AND AN OLD SOCKET, AND JUST BEAT THE SOCKET ONTO THERE TO GET THE LUG NUT OFF.

BUT MANY TIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK, IT'S SO BADLY SWOLLEN UP.

SO THEN, WE HAVE TO REVERT TO THINGS LIKE AN AIR CHISEL OR A HAND CHISEL AND CHISEL THEM OFF, WINDING UP WITH A BUNCH OF PIECES LIKE THIS.

AND IF WE AREN'T ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY CAREFUL, WE DAMAGE AN ALLOY WHEEL, AND THEN WE'VE GOT A REAL PROBLEM.

THEN, YOU GOT PEOPLE WHO THINK, WELL, OKAY, I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT OFF RIGHT NOW, SO THEY TAKE THE CAP OFF, AND THEY FIND OUT THAT WHAT'S UNDERNEATH IT, THERE ISN'T ANY SOCKET THAT FITS UNDERNEATH IT, IT'S IN BETWEEN SIZES.

SO, THE SOLUTION TO THIS IS IF YOU BUY A VEHICLE AND IT HAS THESE CAPPED TYPE LUG NUTS ON IT, AND YOU HAVE TO GO OUT, AND CHECK IT WHEN IT'S RELATIVELY NEW, AND YOU CAN STILL GET A SOCKET THAT FITS IT.

IF IT HAS IT, THEN GO OUT AND BUY SOLID LUG NUTS.

THERE'S NO CAPS ON THEM, THEY'RE CHROME PLATED, IT'LL COST YOU A FEW BUCKS, BUT YOU WON'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM.

AND BELIEVE ME, IT IS A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE A FLAT BESIDE THE INTERSTATE, TOW TRUCK DRIVER, YOU, NOBODY, CAN GET THOSE LUG NUTS OFF.

SO, THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE IS A TOW.

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

[CAR HORN BEEPS] John: OUR MOTORWEEK 40TH ANNIVERSARY CAR OF THE WEEK IS A 1989 TOYOTA MR2 SUPERCHARGED.

SPORTING ITS ORIGINAL PAINT AND INTERIOR, JIM CUTTER FROM WASHOUGAL, WASHINGTON HAS OWNED THIS 5-SPEED MANUAL FOR 19 YEARS AND SMILES THROUGH EVERY DRIVE.

SUBMIT PHOTOS OF YOUR FAIR WEATHER RIDE FOR CAR OF THE WEEK CONSIDERATION TO... * Greg Carloss: IN OUR FLEET FOR JUST 2-MONTHS, WE'VE ALREADY MANAGED TO PUT 7,000 MILES ON THIS 2021 ACURA TLX'S ODOMETER.

ALL OF THAT HIGHWAY TIME HAS SHOWN US A FEW THINGS.

THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS WELL; BOTH FOLLOWING DISTANCE AND SPEED ARE EASY TO ADJUST AND THE TLX MAINTAINS BOTH CONSISTENTLY.

WHILE NOT ADVERTISED AS A TRUE "HANDS-FREE" DRIVING ASSISTANT, IT IS DESIGNED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ITS LANE WHEN ENGAGED.

IT WILL DO THAT, BUT IN SORT OF A PING-PONG FASHION.

AS NICE AS THE DRIVING AIDS ARE ON THE HIGHWAY, WE LIKE THE TLX'S CHASSIS ON TWISTY BACK ROADS EVEN MORE.

IT'S CONSTANTLY BALANCING SPORTINESS AND REFINEMENT WITHOUT EVER TIPPING TOO FAR IN ONE DIRECTION.

AND WITH ALMOST 300 HORSEPOWER, THIS TURBO 4 PACKS A PRETTY DECENT PUNCH.

FUEL MILEAGE IS OFF TO A GOOD START, WITH A 24.9 MILES PER GALLON AVERAGE; BUT WE DID HAVE AN APPEARANCE BY THE DREADED "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT, NECESSITATING A TRIP TO THE DEALER.

NO HARM, NO FOUL; APPARENTLY IT WAS TRIGGERED BY A LOOSE CONNECTION.

IT'S SOMETHING OLD AND SOMETHING NEW, WITH UPDATES ON OUR MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV AND SUBARU CROSSTREK, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

WELL, WE'VE RUN THE GAMUT FROM BEST SMALL CARS TO DREAM MACHINES.

BUT NOW, IT'S TIME NOW FOR THE AWARD OF ALL AWARDS.

OUR 2021 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE, BEST OF THE YEAR!

* THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E IS THE 2021 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARDS BEST OF THE YEAR.

WITH THE MACH-E - FORD DECIDED THAT, RATHER THAN HAVE THEIR HALLOWED MUSTANG NAMEPLATE SIMPLY EASE INTO THE FUTURE; IT WOULD INSTEAD REINVENT ITSELF, SHATTERING EXPECTATIONS, CHANGING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A PERFORMANCE VEHICLE; AND YES, PROBABLY EVEN UPSETTING A FEW FANS ALONG THE WAY.

THE MACH-E BRINGS A HOST OF FIRSTS TO THE MUSTANG; FIRST BATTERY-ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN, FIRST WITH ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND OF COURSE, THE FIRST SUV TO EVER WEAR THE MUSTANG BADGE.

THINGS THAT HAVEN'T CHANGED INCLUDE A WEALTH OF CHOICES IN BOTH POWER AND PACKAGING, AS WELL AS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF PERFORMANCE FOR THE PRICE.

STARTING AT JUST UNDER $43,000 BEFORE FEDERAL TAX CREDITS, THE MACH-E SELECT OFFERS 230 MILES OF RANGE, AND A 0-60 TIME OF 5.2 SECONDS WITH OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

THE CALIFORNIA ROUTE 1 MODEL STICKS WITH REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND TAKES A LONGER 6.1 SECONDS TO REACH 60, BUT ITS EXTENDED RANGE BATTERY IS GOOD FOR OVER 300 MILES.

PREMIUM TRIM COMBINES THE TWO, WITH 300 MILES OF RANGE AND 4.8 SECOND 0-60s WITH OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE.

AND FINALLY, AT JUST OVER $60,000, THE GT WITH STANDARD ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE RACES TO 60 IN JUST 3.8 SECONDS WITH A TARGETED RANGE OF 250 MILES.

FOR THE ULTIMATE IN PERFORMANCE, THE GT PERFORMANCE EDITION KNOCKS THAT 0-60 DOWN TO 3.5 SECONDS.

INSIDE, THE TOTALLY MODERN AND VERY UPSCALE 5-PLACE CABIN, YOU'LL FIND NEW SYNC 4A CONNECTIVITY WITH A LARGE CENTRAL TABLET DISPLAY FOR CONTROLLING MOST EVERYTHING, THOUGH IT DOES INCORPORATE AN ACTUAL VOLUME KNOB.

HURRAY!

GAUGES, MEANWHILE, ARE REDUCED TO A SLIM, EASY TO READ DASH-TOP SCREEN.

WHILE OUTSIDE, THERE IS MUCH MORE RESEMBLANCE TO THE MUSTANG COUPE, WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE FROM ALL ANGLES.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, IT BEHAVES LIKE A SPORTS CAR; WHEN YOU WANT IT TO, OF COURSE.

CLEVERLY NAMED WHISPER, ENGAGE, AND UNBRIDLED DRIVE MODES LET YOU MAKE THE CALL.

ALL-IN-ALL, IT'S WHAT WE'VE COME TO EXPECT FROM FORD LATELY, AND WHAT WE CAN NOW EXPECT FROM THE MUSTANG GOING FORWARD!

ALL REASONS WHY THE FORD MUSTANG MACH-E IS OUR 2021 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, FOR A ROAD TEST OF KIA'S POWERFUL NEW K5 GT SEDAN.

THEN, WE'LL TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO FORD'S AWARD WINNING MUSTANG MACH-E SUV.

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

"I DO."

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

"LIKE, OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S, UH, TAKE A LOOK."

"OH!"

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.

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] * YOUR WATCHING PBS.