Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

Join us as we put the next-gen Toyota Tacoma to work and play!

On "Your Drive," we fill in the facts on pothole damage... Our "Over the Edge" guy cracks open a car collector's vault... And we'll test the delightfully sporty Acura TLX Type S. So come drive with us, next!

Closed Captioning provided by Maryland Public Television.

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JOHN: Many small trucks have come and gone over the years.

But one that has stayed the course is the Toyota Tacoma.

Dominating segment sales for nearly two decades, an all-new fourth-generation Tacoma arrives for 2024 with some of the biggest changes in its history.

So, let's see what this new taco truck has to offer.

♪♪ In the truck world, the all-new mid-size 2024 Toyota Tacoma is a really big deal.

Completely redesigned, it's now built on Tundra's full-size high-strength steel frame.

There's also an available coil spring multi-link rear suspension, all turbocharged engine lineup, new XtraCab two-seater that does away with the Access Cab's rear doors, improved comfort, and of course, new tech.

Now, we agree with many of you on how ridiculous the truck and SUV market has become with all the off-road packages, so for this test we ordered up an SR5, just one step up from base.

It came equipped with Toyota's 2.4-liter I4 turbo, which outputs 278 horsepower and a stout 317 pound-feet of torque when equipped with the eight-speed automatic.

You can still get a six-speed manual, though the engine is slightly detuned to 270 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.

And just to muddy things up further, the base SR gets an even more de-tuned version with 228 horsepower and 243 pound-feet.

If you need more power than all of that, reinforcements are on the way with Toyota's i-FORCE MAX hybrid with an electric motor integrated into the transmission for a combined output of 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, 200 more than the old V6.

Most Tacomas will be four-door DoubleCabs which get either a 5 or 6-foot bed; two-door XtraCabs come with just the six-footer.

Bed walls are slightly taller than before, and a power tailgate is now available.

Max towing is 6,500 pounds.

At our Mason Dixon test track, our automatic SR5 didn't feel overly powerful, but with a slight chirp of the tires, it was off to 60 miles-per-hour in a quick 6.2-seconds.

Shifts were very smooth, and though working hard, this turbo-four is much quieter than the V6.

It felt plenty stable as speeds increased, but with the standard leaf spring suspension, that "big truck" feel was evident in our slalom course as well.

There was quite a bit of body roll, and the very soft feel of a lifted truck, that had us backing off early and the truck just slowly lumbering its way through the exercise.

There was good steering feel, and the truck did whatever we asked, it just wasn't in a hurry to do it.

If you're looking for a sportier car-like experience, you might want to look elsewhere in the segment, as the Tacoma feels more like a Tundra than a Rav4, which of course is what many truck buyers want.

In panic braking runs, the ABS was working overtime and there was a lot of nosedive.

But, with short stops from 60 of just 108 feet, we were not surprised or alarmed.

Even with fresh styling, it remains easily recognizable as a Tacoma.

Just a little more chiseled in some places, smoother in others.

Ground clearance is up a tiny bit, with a max of 9.5 inches allowing for 33-inch tires.

The biggest visual changes are inside, where the Tacoma has finally joined the 21st Century.

Standard infotainment touchscreen is 8 inches, paired with a 7-inch gauge cluster.

Higher trims get a 14-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge display.

Seats feel great up front, although it doesn't feel any roomier than before.

Rear seat legroom is still tight for adults, but there is more storage underneath the seats.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings for an SR5 4X4 automatic are 20-City, 23-Highway, and 21-Combined; we averaged 21.3 miles-per-gallon of Regular.

For a slightly worse than average Energy Impact Score; 14.2-barrels of annual oil consumption, with 6.9-tons of CO2 emissions.

Pricing starts with SR at $32,995 and our SR5 coming in at $37,695; from there it works through several TRD levels to arrive at top Limited at $53,595.

Four-wheel drive is standard on Limited and most TRD trims, available in all other trims except for the TRD PreRunner, which is rear-wheel drive only.

Pickup trucks of all sizes continue to be incredibly popular here in the U.S., and we've certainly seen a resurgence of compact and midsize trucks recently.

Tacoma fans will be happy to know that their midsize 2024 Tacoma hasn't gone soft.

It's more rugged than ever.

Designed here, with American buyers in mind, the new Tacoma is the modernized version of their beloved pickup that Toyota fans have been waiting for.

So, Happy Taco trucking!

♪♪ When dreaming of your perfect car collection, you probably aren't considering the logistics of storing and maintaining it.

Otherwise, that dream might turn into a nightmare.

Well, this week our "Over the Edge" guy Greg Carloss shows us one solution that's tailor-made for car enthusiasts' dreams!

♪♪ GREG CARLOSS: Collector cars are just like baseball cards or stamps.

Maintaining mint condition is imperative to their value.

But unlike cards or stamps, cars take up a lot of space.

Luckily, there are places like this.

♪♪ Car storage is not a new industry, but it has boomed recently in step with the collector car market.

And while sales are cooling, the cars still need somewhere to stay.

CHUCK HEINLE: The car storage industry itself is growing, because people want more and more cars.

You back up 15, you know, 25 years ago, a normal household had two cars, right.

Now a normal household has three or four cars.

GREG: Chuck Heinle owns Collectors Car Corral, just down the road from our MotorWeek headquarters in Owings Mills, Maryland.

CHUCK: Collectors Car Corral is a world-class, state-of-the-art, climate-controlled, highly-secure storage facility.

We store roughly right under 200 cars.

Our clientele is someone that has three or four cars and has a two-car garage.

We do have some car collectors as well here, so we have multiple guys that have maybe, five or 10 cars, but a large amount of our clientele is someone who has a handful of cars and just not enough space at their house.

CHARLES VISCONAGE: I have two here and I kind of rotate.

I usually have one at home.

Right now, I have my '57 Thunderbird.

I typically bring whatever car I have at home.

Leave it here.

I drive one of the other cars, enjoy it for a while.

What I really like about the Collectors Car Corral is it's clean.

It's extremely clean.

GREG: Clients can opt for the annual membership or go month-to-month with car space prices ranging from $350 to just under $500.

CHUCK: We are open from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week and the clients can also get their cars 24 hours a day if they want to.

We're just, we're car people; we live and breathe cars.

When a car person comes in, another car enthusiast comes in, they look at us, they know that we know what we're doing, and they trust us with their cars.

So, they feel good about leaving their vehicle with us.

GREG: The circle of trust starts at check-in where General Manager, Jonathan Lake meticulously documents each car.

Then, there's the actual storage.

CHUCK: We never park the car with just one person; it's always a two-person parking.

We call it the parking team.

And we have, uh, hand signals that we'll actually park the car safe and sound.

GREG: Inside, it's a museum.

But outside, Collectors Car Corral is purposefully inconspicuous and closed to the public.

Once the client hands their keys over, they go directly into a key vault that only select staffers can access with their fingerprint.

And it's all monitored 24/7.

CHUCK: Well, we have over, as you can see, 50 interior and exterior cameras all with motion sensors, as well as they're tied into our security system and live monitor.

GREG: Most car storage facilities offer complimentary snacks and beverages while you wait for your car.

But Collectors Car Corral takes that perk to the next level CHUCK: We wanted to bring the car community, not just to pick up their cars and stuff, so we want to have events like F1 viewing parties, Super Bowl parties.

So, it's not just about storing your car.

We consider it a social car enthusiast event lounge as well.

Gentlemen, how are you?

How you doing?

PATRON: Good, good.

Doing well.

CHUCK: Good seeing ya'.

CHARLES: I really like the lounge.

Sometimes I just like to come here and, you know, have a soda.

And invariably there'll be a couple other guys uh car guys here and we'll just chat.

GREG: Despite the pristine facilities and all the six-figure cars, Collectors Car Corral reminds me of a Main Street barbershop.

Clients don't want to get in and get out.

They want to get in and hang out.

And that goes for Chuck too.

CHUCK: Every day I walk in here, I still smile.

It's just, the best office to walk into.

Myself and Johnathan, it's just... every time we walk in here, I mean, this place is incredible.

We love it.

JOHN: We all know there are few guarantees in life, but we're adding one more: potholes!

Sometimes they're just unavoidable.

So, we brought in Audra Fordin to explain how those little bumps in the road can mean big trouble on MotorWeek's "Your Drive!"

♪♪ AUDRA FORDIN: Potholes: Yep, we've all hit one.

Sometimes it is well-hidden on a road you've never traveled, and sometimes it pops up on a familiar road overnight.

Either way, running into a pothole can do serious damage to your car depending on the size of the hole, the speed you're traveling and the health of your suspension setup.

First on your list is first thing that touches the ground, your tire.

Unlike a puncture caused by sharp debris on the road, this kind of damage is often unrepairable and will require a new tire.

It may not be immediately apparent, but still check for damage on the treads and especially the sidewall.

Look for any scrapes, any gashes and bulges that could lead to a flat tire or a dangerous tire blowout.

Which leads to the next component, your wheel.

Hit a pothole bad enough and your wheel could get cracked or damaged, especially around where the lip meets the rubber, where it meets the metal, like you can see right here.

Odds are this will show the same signs as a bad tire leak, and the fix is straight forward.

Either way, have the wheel repaired by a reputable repair shop or buy a replacement wheel if the original is too far gone.

Now, we'll look at your primary suspension components.

A bad enough bump or pothole can throw these parts out of alignment, meaning your car won't track straight and you're going to feel extra vibrations.

And it could be more complicated than that.

It could be the sign of broken or bent parts; and we're talking, like, control arms, and shock absorbers, and your tie rod ends.

The good news is most of these can be replaced with relative ease.

And the same can be said for a scraped exhaust and undercarriage panels.

But, hit a pothole good enough and you could damage your transmission pan or your oil pan, which will cause you a major leak.

After taking the hit, if you hear, smell, or feel something abnormal, pull over safely and first check for leaks.

The best advice is to drive safely and be on the lookout for potholes and debris on the road.

The best fix is to avoid it in the first place!

And if you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here at MotorWeek .

JOHN: Time now to lock in for an all-new Quick Spin!

♪♪ JESSICA RAY: Not too long ago, we found ourselves behind the wheel of the all-new 2024 Hyundai Kona.

The N Line-spec'd model we tested was a great foray into the second-generation lineup, but now we're back for seconds, taking a look at this top-trim Kona Limited.

The Limited ditches the N Line's sportier accents for a more premium vibe.

Outside, that means less aggressive styling, including the omission of the large rear spoiler.

Inside, the darkened accents and red trim have been replaced by polished materials.

But you'll find the same pair of 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and digital instrumentation.

The Limited's "H-Tex" leatherette upholstery is ventilated in the front row, so what you lose in the N Line's Alcantara "cool factor" is replaced by actual cooling functionality.

It also gains a few extra standard driver safety and assistance features, like a blind-spot view monitor.

Under the hood is the same 190-horsepower, 1.6-liter turbo-four, paired up to an eight-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive, a $1,500 option.

It's smooth and quiet, perfect for a commuter like this.

ALEXANDER KELLUM: Now personally, I prefer the styling of the N Line more, but now we're sorta getting to that debate of form versus function.

The simple fact there is, powertrain wise, you're gonna get the same daily satisfaction out of either.

Sure, I feel like it could be maybe a little punchier off the line, but aside from that it's very smooth, it's very quiet; it's a great combination of engine and transmission.

And the Limited just does it all with a little bit more of a premium flavor, so if that's what you prefer, go for it.

The 2024 Hyundai Kona starts just over $25,000, working up to $33,000 for a front-wheel drive Limited or $35K with all-wheel drive equipped.

With a new Kona Electric also roaming the streets, this isn't the last you'll see of Hyundai's compact crossover.

We'll have more on it, and more Quick Spins, soon!

♪♪ GREG: Spring has sprung.

That means longer days, taller grass and happier drives in our Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.

That's not to say winter driving was miserable because the heated seats and steering wheel kept us cozy; even our coldest days had only moderate effects on EV range, and the "Super-All Wheel Control" system always kept us on course.

We'd expect nothing less from an all-wheel drive layout from the same engineer who was behind the legendary S-AWC in the Lancer Evo.

The Outlander design may be different, using electric motors to deliver all-wheel drive, but the ethos remains, much to our delight.

Still, we'll take warm weather cruising any day.

Windows down and music cranked high.

In fact, the only fresh comment logged in this 2,000-mile stint comes from our videographer, who says, "The Dave approved of the sound system."

Rock on, Dave.

Truthfully, this three-row utility has become a real work horse for us, from camera hauling, to people moving and family cruising.

The phrase "family friendly" is typically associated with large SUVs and minivans, but this compact Outlander PHEV qualifies for that moniker in my eyes.

It's not so much the space, but the features that it offers.

Like the second row sunshades in our SEL grade.

They're great not just for little kids, but anyone who's trying to sleep while that early morning sun blasts in during a road trip.

And with all the praise comes some more good news, as we're looking at an overall average of 29.2 miles-per-gallon.

That is better than our last observed 29.1.

See?

Told you MPGs would go up.

Every tenth counts!

And with the warmer weather, we expect that to continue climbing, as will the odometer, now at 27,000 MotorWeek miles.

We'll have more to share soon, but first, a check-up on our Kia EV6 GT on the next MotorWeek Long Term Road Test update!

JOHN: While the recent and highly successful relaunch of the Acura Integra has been hogging most of the brand's headlines, the Integra is not the only sporty car that Acura builds.

In fact, it's the all-wheel-drive TLX Type S that remains Acura's quickest and best handling sport sedan.

Add in numerous updates for 2024 and it clearly demands our attention once again.

♪♪ We are indeed looking closer at this updated 2024 Acura TLX Type S sport sedan and noticing quite a few changes.

For starters, it's one very aggressive looking four-door.

Most of that due to the Type S upgrades which include a front splitter, rear spoiler and diffuser, big quad exhaust tips, Brembo brakes, and 20-inch wheels, though all TLXs get updated front fascias and grillwork for '24.

Inside the tech-heavy interior, things look and feel great with upscale materials and fine stitching.

A new 12-inch Precision Cockpit Digital Instrument cluster, ELS Premium Audio, wireless phone charging, and ambient lighting are now standard on all TLXs.

The upgraded infotainment screen grows from 10 to 12-inches and features faster processing, though after spending a year with an Integra and its touchscreen, having to use the touchpad interface here in the TLX is a clear step back in terms of functionality.

Updates specific to the Type S include a surround view camera and a 10.5-inch Head Up Display.

And there's no taking a back seat to luxury in the back seat of the TLX; plenty of comfort and space for adults, plus some new charging ports.

A 272-horsepower 2.0-liter I4 turbo comes in the standard TLX, but thankfully the Type S's fire-breathing 3.0-liter turbo V6 is still under the hood here, putting out 355 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque.

No changes for either engine, but we'll take that as a great thing these days.

And there may not be any additional power, but there is sharper throttle response in Sport+ mode than before, so it will give you the impression that you're working with a little more.

Transmission remains a 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive is standard with the Type S and A-Spec, only the base TLX remains front-wheel-drive only.

Spring maintenance was still in progress at our test track and things weren't quite fully prepped for the season just yet, so the Type S's all-wheel-drive traction was much appreciated; as it allowed us to pounce off the line and rip to 60 in just 5.0 seconds flat, a tenth quicker than the last Type S we tested in '21.

It ripped through first and second gears quickly, before settling down a bit as it worked its way to the end of the quarter-mile in 13.5 seconds at 104 miles-per-hour.

While far from a noisy car, Acura has installed some thicker carpet to quell what little road noise was apparently seeping in.

Thankfully, they didn't do anything to dampen engine or exhaust noises, as they sound fantastic.

This TLX scooted through our cone course quite efficiently, behaving as if on the proverbial set of rails.

Type S tuning includes additional bracing for the chassis, plus firmer settings for the adaptive dampers that are part of the double-wishbone front and multi-link rear suspension.

Acura's SH-AWD has been torque-vectoring power between all four wheels since long before that was commonplace; and its technical heavy-handedness is evident, as while it was slicing through the exercise with precision, it wasn't always obvious how it was all happening.

The Brembo brakes felt great, and were fade-free, but at 125 feet from 60 miles-per-hour, stops were closer to family sedan territory than the typical sport sedan.

But there's no skimping on active safety here, with full Acura Watch features including Lane Keeping Assist, Collision Mitigation Braking, Road Departure Mitigation, and Advanced Pedestrian Detection standard on all TLXs.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 19-City, 25-Highway, and 21-Combined; we averaged a good 23.6 miles-per-gallon of Premium.

That's a slightly below average Energy Impact Score; using 14.2-barrels of oil yearly, while emitting 6.9-tons of CO2.

A simplified pricing structure now leaves you with three TLX choices, Technology, A-Spec, and Type S; things start at $46,195; this Type S will set you back $58,195.

Is it worth it?

Well, it all depends on what your priorities are.

If you're looking for a super comfy luxury commuter, then probably not.

But, if you're looking for a superior driver's car, with the most performance you can get in an Acura sedan, and plan on putting it to good use, then the 2024 Acura TLX Type S is absolutely worth it.

JOHN: 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!

We're checking out a small utility big on luxury, the Cadillac XT4.

Then we'll keep those vibes going with the Mercedes-AMG GLA 35.

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... To order a DVD of this program... MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper to Bumper, a nationwide network of stores and shops providing major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast, and in your local community.

Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek !

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

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