JOIN US AS WE GLADLY SAMPLE A BEVY OF COMPACT UTE'S LADEN WITH LUXURY... PAT GOSS KEEPS SELF-DRIVING TECH ON TRACK... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE, AND PUTS HIS FOOT DOWN ON AN ELECTRIFIED CURE FOR TURBO LAG... AND SUBARU BRINGS MORE STYLE AND SUBSTANCE TO AN ALL-NEW CROSSTREK...

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

Man 1: I DO.

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

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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 .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

LASER MEASURED, THEY OFFER PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: CROSSOVER UTILITIES DOMINATE THE MARKET THESE DAYS, AND THEY COME IN ALL SIZES AND PRICES.

AND THOSE PRICES ARE GENERALLY CLIMBING AS MORE AND MORE LUXURY IS BEING ADDED TO EVEN SMALLER, COMPACT UTES.

BUT, WITH AROUND 50K ON THE LINE FOR SOMETHING THAT TAKES UP SO LITTLE REAL ESTATE, WE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE WISE TO HELP YOU DO A LITTLE COMPARISON SHOPPING.

* WHEN IT COMES TO LUXURY UTILITIES, THERE ARE PLENTY OF CHOICES.

BUT, THIS TIME AROUND WE'RE FOCUSING ON COMPACT LUXURY SUVS'.

AS USUAL, WE JOINED THE STAFF OF CARS.COM FOR THIS BUMPER-TO-BUMPER COMPARISON OF SEVEN SMALL CROSSOVERS.

THE PRICE CAP: $53,000.

MOST ARE 2018 MODELS, WITH ONE 2019 IN THE MIX.

THERE'S ALSO ONE V6, THE REST HAVE TURBO-4 POWERTRAINS.

EACH HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER OUTSIDE CHICAGO.

STARTING WITH THE ITALIAN BRED ALFA ROMEO STELVIO...

THE SPORTY AUDI Q5...

THE BENCHMARK BMW X3...

THE SHARP-EDGED CADILLAC XT5...

THE DYNAMIC LEXUS NX 300 F SPORT...

THE INNOVATIVE INFINITI QX50... AND THE ALL-NEW VOLVO XC60...

JOINING US WAS A POTENTIAL BUYER TO HELP KEEP OUR TEST...REAL.

TO MAKE IT EVEN MORE CHALLENGING, WE ADDED A TRACK COMPONENT, TAKING THE GROUP TO GREAT LAKES DRAGWAY IN WISCONSIN.

FOR A COMPLETE BREAK-DOWN OF THE TRACK TIMES, SPECS AND OVERALL SCORING HEAD ON OVER TO CARS.COM.

BUT OUR BOTTOM THREE FINISHERS WERE, QUITE SURPRISINGLY, THE ALFA ROMEO STELVIO, BMW X3, AND LEXUS NX 300 F SPORT.

EACH LOST POINTS FOR THINGS OTHER THAN DRIVING PERFORMANCE, SUCH AS INTERIOR STYLE AND MATERIALS, LACK OF ADVANCED SAFETY FEATURES, AND SPACIOUSNESS.

THAT LEAVES A MOST PRACTICAL QUARTET.

IN FOURTH PLACE, IS THE CADILLAC XT5?

IT'S THE ONLY V6 IN THE GROUP, AND IT DELIVERED DECENT POWER.

RIDE AND HANDLING ARE EUROPEAN FIRM, WHILE STILL, AMERICAN COMFORTABLE.

IT WAS THE TEST'S MOST EXPENSIVE AT $52,560.

Garick Zikan: THE CADILLAC IS THE ONLY DOMESTIC BRAND IN THIS GROUP, BUT IT HAS THE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS TO COMPETE WITH THE EUROPEAN AND ASIAN RIVALS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF TECH, AND THERE'S ALSO, A LOT OF LUXURY YOU CAN SEE AND FEEL.

Kelsey Mays: IN TERMS OF DRIVING, IT'S CERTAINLY...THE HEAVIER CAR HERE, SO YOU CAN TELL IT'S HEAVIER JUST IN TERMS OF HANDLING.

I WILL GIVE CADILLAC CREDIT THOUGH, FOR HAVING AN IMMEDIATE ACCELERATOR PEDAL.

I MEAN, YOU GET ON THE GAS AND AT LEAST IT SELLS A LOT OF POWER RIGHT AWAY, THERE'S NOT LAG LIKE THERE IS IN SOME OF THE OTHERS.

John: THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE INFINITI QX50.

THE SOLE 2019 MODEL, IT INCLUDES THE FIRST PRODUCTION VARIABLE COMPRESSION ENGINE.

THE COMBUSTION CHAMBERS CAN EXPAND OR CONTRACT FOR BEST POWER OR EFFICIENCY.

PRICING IS MID-PACK AT $49,685.

Garick: WE'VE DRIVEN THIS 2019 QX50 BEFORE AND THE ENGINEERING REALLY STEALS THE SPOTLIGHT HERE.

THERE'S THE NEW VARIABLE COMPRESSION ENGINE, THE CHASSIS IS STIFFER AND IT'S NOW, FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

SO WHILE ITS ALWAYS BEEN A LUXURIOUS RIDE, IT'S NOW MORE ENGAGING.

Patrick Masterson: IT'S THE ONLY ONE IN THE CHALLENGE THAT HAS TWO SCREENS.

THE NAVIGATION WAS VERY LOW REZ AND IT WAS ALSO SLOW TO RESPOND IF YOU WERE PINCHING AND ZOOMING.

THE MULTIMEDIA SCREEN WAS CRYSTALLINE.

THE PIXEL QUALITY WAS TREMENDOUS AND AS GOOD AS ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE TEST.

John: COMING IN AT NUMBER TWO IS THE AUDI Q5.

THIS SPORTY SUV OFFERS A GREAT BALANCE BETWEEN PAMPERING AND PERFORMANCE.

AT $52,275, IT IS SECOND HIGHEST AMONG THE GROUP.

Brian Wong: THE AUDI IS A GOOD ALL-AROUND VEHICLE.

I FEEL LIKE, IT PERFORMED WELL IN MANY OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF OUR TESTING.

IF I HAD ONE NIT TO PICK WITH IT...

IT WOULD BE THAT THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF LAG FROM THE ENGINE.

Garick: THE AUDI Q5 IS A GREAT BLEND OF LUXURY AND ATHLETIC ABILITY.

THE DESIGN INSIDE AND OUT IS VERY CLEAN, AND MODERN, AND IT'S COMFORTABLE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME, HOLDING ON TO THOSE FIRM AND STABLE DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS WE LIKE SO MUCH IN EUROPEAN SPORT SEDANS.

John: THAT LEAVES THE VOLVO XC60 AS OUR WINNER.

NO SURPRISE TO US.

VOLVO TOOK EVERYTHING WE LIKED ABOUT THE LARGER XC90 AND PRESENTS IT IN A SMALLER PACKAGE.

EVEN WITH COMFORT AND SPACIOUSNESS COMPARABLE TO A MIDSIZE UTE, PRICING WAS A RELATIVE BARGAIN AT $50,540.

Ashish Bodhanwala: WHAT'S INTERESTING IS MY WIFE HAD THE XC60, THE OLD ONE, AND I LIKED THAT CAR, OTHER THAN SOME OF THE RELIABILITY ISSUES.

THIS ONE I LIKE IT.

IT SEEMS A LITTLE BIGGER.

I DEFINITELY LIKE, THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, MUCH...MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD IN THE OLD VOLVO.

Kelsey: REALLY, EASY TO SEE OUT OF.

ROOMY FIRST AND SECOND ROW.

LOTS OF MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGY AND LOTS OF DRIVING TECHNOLOGY.

THIS WAS THE ONLY CAR IN THE TEST TO HAVE LANE CENTERING STEERING THAT WORKED ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A STOP.

THAT'S A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS FEATURE THAT REALLY PUTS THE XC60 AHEAD OF THE OTHER AS TESTED VEHICLES.

Garick: THE VOLVO BRINGS A LOT TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

THERE'S PLENTY OF POWER, THE TRANSMISSION IS SMOOTH...

IT HANDLES WELL AND ITS VERY COMFORTABLE.

John: UTILITY SALES ARE STRONG ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND WHILE THEY HAVE TO BE RANKED, IN THIS PREMIUM SEGMENT, THEY ALL HAVE A LOT TO OFFER.

BUT VOLVO IS CLEARLY ON A ROLL, AND THE VOLVO XC60 STANDS OUT IN THIS CROWDED FIELD OF GREAT DOWN-SIZED LUXURY UTILITIES.

* DOWNSIZING ENGINES IN ORDER TO SAVE FUEL CAN DELIVER A DRIVE WE'RE NOT EXACTLY FOND OF.

SO, MANY SMALLER MILLS ARE ADDING A TURBOCHARGER.

BUT, THAT CAN STILL LEAVE A LACK OF TORQUE AT LOW RPM.

WELL, BORG WARNER TURBO SYSTEMS SET OUT TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, WITH THEIR OWN E-BOOSTER.

SO LET'S GO OVER THE EDGE WITH ZACH MASKELL TO SEE HOW AN ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR MAY FINALLY KILL-OFF DREADED TURBO LAG.

* Zach Maskell: OUTSIDE OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA WE'RE DRIVING A 2015 ECO-BOOST FORD MUSTANG WITH MORE POWER THAN ITS V8 COUNTERPART.

THAT'S THANKS TO A BIGGER TURBO AND THIS SECRET WEAPON FROM BORG WARNER: THE EBOOSTER IS A SEPARATE ALL ELECTRIC COMPRESSOR THAT FORCES THE EXHAUST FED TURBO TO SPOOL FASTER WHICH GIVES YOU NEAR INSTANT POWER.

THINK OF IT AS A MECHANICAL SUPERCHARGER FOR THE LOW RPM'S OR MAYBE A TWIN TURBO SET UP WHERE ONE SMALLER TURBO SPOOLS THE BIGGER ONE.

THIS MUSTANG IS A DEMO CAR TO PROVE WHAT THIS "EBOOSTER" COULD DO IN AN AFTERMARKET APPLICATION.

BUT, DON'T WHIP OUT YOUR CREDIT CARD JUST YET.

THIS IS THE ONLY ONE RUNNING AROUND, FOR NOW.

Fred Huscher: OUR FIRST OEM LAUNCH IS GOING TO BE WITH THE MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS IN THE COMING MODEL YEARS, IT'S SOMETHING WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT'S GOING TO UH, ALLOW US TO GIVE THE CUSTOMERS THE DRIVABILITY OF A MUCH LARGER ENGINE IN A MUCH SMALLER, MORE FUEL EFFICIENT PACKAGE.

Zach: SO AS OPPOSED TO A REGULAR SUPERCHARGER, THIS ONE IS NOT USING THE ENGINE, THEREFORE...WE'RE NOT LOSING ANY POWER?

Austin Hoke: YEAH, EXACTLY.

THIS IS A SMALL ELECTRIC MOTOR.

THIS ONE'S, FIVE KILOWATTS.

IT SPINS TO A PEAK SPEED OF AROUND 70,000 RPM.

AND SINCE ITS ELECTRIC WE CAN MOUNT IT WHEREVER, AND WE CAN ACTIVATE IT ON DEMAND.

SO IT REALLY IS BOOST ON DEMAND.

Zach: THE EBOOSTER PUSHES 7-PSI INTO THE ENGINE.

WITH AIR ADDED INSTANTANEOUSLY, MORE FUEL IS BURNING.

WHICH MEANS MORE ENERGY FOR THE BIG TURBINE TO DO ITS THING.

AND IT'S NO SECRET, YOU CAN PUT A LARGER TURBOCHARGER ON A SMALL ENGINE TO MAKE BIG POWER NUMBERS.

HOT RODDERS HAVE BEEN DOING THAT FOR AGES.

BUT WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU LOSE THE LOW END TORQUE AND THROTTLE RESPONSE THAT MOST DRIVERS DEMAND.

Zach: THE EBOOSTER IS ACTIVE ONLY FOR A FEW SHORT SECONDS UNTIL THE TURBO CATCHES UP.

THIS 48-VOLT SYSTEM USES A BATTERY THE SIZE OF A SHOE BOX AND IT CAN RECHARGE DURING MILD BRAKE REGENERATION.

Fred: THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF GEAR HEADS THAT WORK IN BORG WARNER, DEFINITELY IN THE TURBO SYSTEM BUSINESS UNIT.

WE'D ALL LOVE TO SEE THIS COME TO THE AFTERMARKET BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL HAVE A PROJECT CAR WE'D LIKE TO SEE IT ON.

Zach: F1 CARS USE A SIMILAR SYSTEM.

HOBBYISTS HAVE TRIED FOR YEARS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM OF TURBO LAG.

[ENGINE REVVING UP] SO RIGHT THERE, IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT FOR THE TURBO TO SPOOL UP AND REALLY KICK IN.

Austin: YEAH, YOU GET THE CLASSIC BIG TURBO POWER BAND AS SOON AS IT TAKES OFF, YOU'RE GOING LIKE A SLINGSHOT.

BUT BEFORE THAT YOU'RE KIND OF WAITING.

Zach: TURN IT ON, AND IT PULLS AND PULLS FROM THE GET GO.

SAY, YOU'RE IN A CRUISING GEAR ON THE HIGHWAY.

NORMALLY, YOU'D HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT OR WAIT.

HERE, THE EBOOSTER CUTS THE TIME TO TORQUE IN HALF.

THIS CAR MAKES 410 HORSEPOWER AND 450 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

YET, IT STILL EXCEEDS THE STOCK TORQUE CURVE AT ALL ENGINE SPEEDS.

LIKE THE V8, THE POWER FEELS LINEAR AND DELIVERY IS SMOOTH.

WE'LL WE'VE TAKEN A 2.3 LITER AND MADE IT HAVE THE SAME POWER AS THE V8 NOT ONLY THE SAME POWER REALLY WE'VE MADE IT HAVE 40% MORE TORQUE AND 15% MORE TOP END POWER WHILE MAINTAINING THAT 30% BETTER FUEL ECONOMY OF THE 4-CYLINDER.

LOCATED AFTER THE INTERCOOLER, THE BOOSTER RECEIVES COOLER, DENSER AIR.

AND, ONCE IT'S DONE ITS JOB, A VALVE CLOSES AND ALL THAT AIR IS FILTERED TO THE TURBO.

I'VE GOT TO ADMIT, I WAS A LITTLE BIT SKEPTICAL WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS, BUT IT IS THE REAL DEAL AND WHETHER YOU'RE A CAR PERSON OR NOT, YOU WILL FEEL THE DIFFERENCE.

Austin: BEST OF BOTH WORLDS POWER AND FUEL ECONOMY.

John: NO MATTER HOW SOPHISTICATED CARS BECOME THEY STILL NEED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

SO, LET'S HEAD TO GOSS' GARAGE FOR SOME TIMELESS TIPS.

Pat Goss: UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN LIVING IN A CAVE FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS, YOU'VE CERTAINLY HEARD TERMS LIKE SMART MOBILITY, V TO V, OR VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATION, OR AUTONOMOUS AUTOMOBILES, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WELL, THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE BECOMING REALITY VERY QUICKLY, AND AS THEY BECOME REALITY YOU'RE GOING TO FIND THAT YOUR VEHICLE MAY NEED SOME DIFFERENT SERVICES, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS CLEANING SERVICES.

NOW, HERE'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, A LOT OF MODERN CARS HAVE CAMERAS.

CAMERAS FOR LANE KEEPING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE AUTONOMOUS BRAKING FUNCTIONS AND SO ON.

AND THOSE CAMERAS ARE OFTEN MOUNTED INSIDE THE CAR, UP BEHIND THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, NOW WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT AS THE WINDSHIELD, THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD GETS DIRTY IT MAY BLOCK THE SIGNAL THAT THOSE CAMERAS ARE LOOKING FOR; AND IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE A SMOKER THAT BROWN FILM THAT BUILDS UP WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THESE WHERE IT COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN THESE SYSTEMS BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS TOO CLOUDED WITH THE TOBACCO, AND SMOKE RESIDUE AND THE SYSTEM JUST SHUTS DOWN.

ALRIGHT...NOW, NOT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE INSIDE THE CAR.

A LOT OF THEM ARE OUTSIDE THE CAR LIKE ON THIS MERCEDES WE HAVE SENSORS IN THE FRONT BUMPERS TO READ THINGS AHEAD OF THE CAR.

WE HAVE SENSORS IN THAT STAR IN THE CENTER OF THE GRILL.

NOW THAT MEANS THAT THESE THINGS NEED TO BE KEPT CLEAN TOO.

NOW, IF YOU HAPPEN TO LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU GET SALT, AND SNOW, AND SO ON.

WELL THE SNOW, AND ICE CAN BUILD UP OVER THESE SENSORS, AND YOU GET FALSE READINGS.

AND THE OTHER THING, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT IN AN AREA WHERE YOU HAVE SNOW, THEY STILL HAVE TO BE KEPT CLEAN BECAUSE MUD AND DIRT, AND ROAD DEBRIS AND ALL IT CAN BLOCK THESE SENSORS.

SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP ALL OF THESE THINGS CLEAN IN ORDER FOR THESE SYSTEMS TO WORK.

AND THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER POINT DON'T GIVE UP YOUR GOOD DRIVING SKILLS.

JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BLIND SPOT DOESN'T MEAN YOU STILL SHOULDN'T LOOK OVER YOUR SHOULDER TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NOTHING IN THAT BLIND SPOT.

NONE OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE INFALLIBLE SO YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP THE SAFE PART OF ALL OF THIS.

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

John: FROM SUBCOMPACTS TO SUPERCARS, WE DRIVE THEM ALL, AND HERE'S A LOOK AT OUR LATEST RIDES.

THIS QUICKSPIN ISN'T ALL THAT QUICK, AND THAT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TOYOTA CAMRY OR A HYBRID.

RATHER, IT'S OUR FIRST CHANCE TO SPEND SOME EXTENDED TIME WITH THE 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID, SINCE IT WENT ON SALE LAST FALL.

A HYBRID POWERTRAIN HAS BEEN AN OPTION IN THE CAMRY LINEUP SINCE 2007, AND HAS VERY SUCCESSFULLY GIVEN PEOPLE AN AFFORDABLE, COMPROMISE-FREE WAY TO GET BETTER FUEL ECONOMY FROM THEIR FAMILY CAR.

FOR 2018, THE 8TH GENERATION CAMRY DEBUTS A NEW HYBRID SYSTEM THAT OFFERS BOTH MORE POWER AND BETTER FUEL ECONOMY.

THE GAS ENGINE SIDE IS STILL HELD UP BY A 2.5 LITER I4, BUT IT'S A NEW 176 HORSEPOWER VERSION, UP 20 HORSEPOWER FROM LAST YEAR.

AN UPDATED POWER CONTROL UNIT HELPS KEEP EVERYTHING OPERATING MORE EFFICIENTLY, AND THE BATTERY PACK MOVES TO UNDER THE REAR SEAT, FREEING UP TRUNK SPACE AND LOWERING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, FUEL ECONOMY IS UP 30% ON THE "HYPER-MILER SPECIAL" LE TO 51-CITY, 53-HIGHWAY, AND 52-COMBINED.

OUR SE TEST CAR'S 44-CITY, 47-HIGHWAY, AND 46-COMBINED IS UP 21% OVER LAST YEAR.

DURING ITS TWO WEEK STAY WITH US, WE AVERAGED A FINE 45.5 MILES PER GALLON.

OTHER THAN NOT HEARING AN ENGINE FIRE UP WHEN YOU START THE CAMRY HYBRID, WHICH CAN STILL BE AN ODD EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE NEW TO HYBRIDS, DRIVING ASPECTS ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER CAMRY.

WHICH IS TO SAY SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE, AND UNOBTRUSIVE IN EVERY WAY, AND PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ENTERTAINING THAN IT USED TO BE AS WELL.

PRICING FOR THE 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID STARTS AT AROUND $28,000.

NOW, WE'VE HAD AN ONGOING LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE BMW 5-SERIES SEDAN FOR SOME TIME, AND LIKE ANY RELATIONSHIP, OCCASIONALLY...YOU HAVE TO SPICE THINGS UP A LITTLE.

CONSIDER, THIS 2018 BMW M550I XDRIVE A HEALTHY DOSE OF CAYENNE PEPPER.

OCCUPYING THE MIDDLE GROUND BETWEEN THE I6 540I AND THE HELL-BENT-FOR-LEATHER M5; THE TWIN-TURBO V8-POWERED M550 GETS 456 HORSEPOWER, A NEW REAR-BIASED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, RECALIBRATION OF THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND CHASSIS TUNING FROM THE GUYS WHO PUT TOGETHER THE M5, WITH THE ACCOMPANYING LOWER RIDE HEIGHT.

ALL HELPING IT HIT 60 IN UNDER 4.0 SECONDS.

SOUNDS LIKE OUR KIND OF FUN... Garick: AS SOON AS YOU STEP ON THE THROTTLE, YOU GET THAT NICE PUSH BACK INTO THE SEAT, WHILE...THE DIGITS RAPIDLY RISE ON THE SPEEDOMETER.

THE TRANSMISSION CLICKS THROUGH THE GEARS LIGHTNING FAST.

AND AS ALL THIS POWER IS POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE, IT'S STILL REFINED, AND MAINTAINS ITS COMPOSURE.

John: OF COURSE, BIGGER BRAKES WERE NEEDED AS WELL, AND AN AERO KIT ALWAYS HELPS.

BUT THERE'S MORE HERE THAN JUST A TACKED ON REAR SPOILER; THE GRILLE, FRONT FASCIA, SIDE MIRRORS, AND FRONT FENDERS ARE ALL TWEAKED FOR OPTIMIZED AIRFLOW.

THE BLACK CHROME TAIL PIPES DON'T NECESSARILY ADD ANY INCREASED PERFORMANCE, BUT THE SPORT EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT THEY ARE CONNECTED TO CERTAINLY DOES.

PLENTY OF M PERFORMANCE FLAVORING GETS SPRINKLED AROUND THE INTERIOR TOO; SPORT SEATS WITH BLUE CONTRAST STITCHING, M STEERING WHEEL, AND ALUMINUM PEDALS NATURALLY.

SO, IF YOU REALLY NEED TO GET TO THAT BUSINESS MEETING ACROSS TOWN REALLY FAST, AND CAN'T AFFORD A FULL-FLAVOR M5; THE SLIGHTLY MILDER BMW M550I XDRIVE IS A VERY CLOSE NEXT BEST THING.

ITS AVAILABLE NOW FOR ABOUT $75,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!

John: ADMITTEDLY, IT WAS A BIT OF A STRETCH CALLING THE RUGGEDIZED SUBARU IMPREZA CROSSTREK A CROSSOVER UTILITY, BUT IT HAS SURE BEHAVED AND SOLD LIKE ONE.

AND NOW FOR '18, IT GETS AN ALL-NEW CHASSIS THAT DEBUTED LAST YEAR IN THE REDESIGNED IMPREZA.

SO LET'S FIND OUT IF THERE'S MORE FOR US TO LIKE IN ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LITTLE SUBARU'S.

* John: EVER SINCE WE FIRST DROVE THE ALL-NEW SUBARU IMPREZA LAST YEAR, WE'VE BEEN COUNTING THE DAYS UNTIL THIS ONE ARRIVED, THE ALL-NEW 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK.

IT STILL HAS THE SAME BASIC LOOK OF AN IMPREZA HATCHBACK WITH ADDED GROUND CLEARANCE AND CLADDING, BUT RIDING ON A LONGER 104.9 INCH WHEELBASE, ITS OVERALL LENGTH IS NOW, HALF AN INCH LONGER.

IT IS ALMOST, A FULL INCH WIDER, WHICH GIVES IT MORE PRESENCE AND STABILITY, PLUS...HELPS IT FEEL MUCH ROOMIER INSIDE.

SO WE WERE, A LITTLE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT SOME INTERIOR MEASUREMENTS ARE ACTUALLY DOWN, BUT THE EXTRA WHEELBASE DOES ALLOW FOR MORE REAR SEAT LEGROOM WHICH IS MUCH APPRECIATED.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE COME AT THE EXPENSE HOWEVER, OF CARGO SPACE, AS IT FALLS FROM 22.3 CUBIC-FEET TO 20.8.

MAX VOLUME IS WAY UP HOWEVER, FROM 51.9 TO 55.3 CUBIC-FEET, AND IT'S ALL ACCESSED VIA; A WIDE OPENING HATCH THAT ALLOWS FOR SUPER EASY ACCESS.

WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE OUTGOING CROSSTREK, AS WE'RE WRAPPING UP A 12-MONTH LONG TERM TEST.

AND IF YOU WERE FOLLOWING ALONG AT HOME, YOU'D KNOW THAT SOME ADDITIONAL POWER WAS HIGH ON OUR WISH LIST.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] AND INDEED WE DID GET IT, BUT JUST BARELY.

IT'S THE SAME 2.0 LITER FLAT-4, BUT IT ADDS DIRECT-INJECTION AMONG OTHER TWEAKS TO RAISE OUTPUT BY ALL OF 4-HORSEPOWER, TO A STILL MODEST 152, WITH THE IDENTICAL 145 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE RESULT IS PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE ADEQUATE, THOUGH STILL FAR FROM THRILLING, BUT HEY, WE'LL TAKE ANYTHING!

STANDARD TRANSMISSION IS NOW A 6-SPEED MANUAL, BUT MOST WILL BE CROSS TREKKING WITH AN UPDATED CVT AUTOMATIC AS IN OUR TEST CAR.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE REMAINS STANDARD.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, IT ALL TRANSLATED TO A LEISURELY 0-60 TIME OF 10 SECONDS FLAT.

THAT'S ACTUALLY TWO-TENTHS SLOWER THAN THE ORIGINAL XV CROSSTREK WE TESTED.

IT FEELS STRONG OFF THE LINE, BUT QUICKLY SETTLES INTO ITS ECO-MINDED CVT MEDIOCRITY.

EVENTUALLY, WE CLEARED THE QUARTER IN THE SAME 17.5 SECONDS AS BEFORE, AT 79 MILES PER HOUR.

ON THE HANDLING FRONT, ALL CROSSTREK'S NOW GET ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING, AND IT CERTAINLY HELPS THINGS ON CURVES; FEELING BRISK AND GRIPPY THROUGH THE CONES.

WE HAD TO PUSH PLENTY HARD BEFORE FINDING NOTABLE UNDERSTEER, AND AS SOON AS IT ARRIVED, IT WAS SWIFTLY DEALT WITH BY STABILITY CONTROL.

STEERING IS LIGHT AND QUICK WITH JUST ENOUGH FEEL THROUGH THE WHEEL.

LIKE THE UPDATED EXTERIOR, THE INTERIOR LOOKS MUCH BETTER AS WELL, WITH THE SAME BASIC LAYOUT GETTING A REDO WITH NICER MATERIALS AND MUCH EASIER TO USE STANDARD STARLINK MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM.

OUR ONLY WISH, AND THIS IS A REPEAT, A LITTLE MORE SEAT COMFORT.

AS BEFORE, THE CROSSTREK FEELS SOLID AND CAPABLE; WHETHER EATING MILES ON THE SLAB, OR TACKLING SOME LIGHT OFF ROAD TERRAIN.

BUT LIKE MOST SUBARU'S, THEY COULD HAVE GONE A LITTLE FARTHER WITH NOISE CONTROL.

THE ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING HELPS IT FEEL BETTER ON CURVY ROADS AS WELL, AND WHEN COMBINED WITH THE NOTICEABLY QUICKER STEERING, IT MAKES FOR A MUCH NIMBLER DRIVING EXPERIENCE.

AND OF COURSE, SUBARU'S COMPREHENSIVE AND HIGHLY-REGARDED, EYESIGHT DRIVER ASSIST TECHNOLOGY IS AVAILABLE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS MOSTLY STAY THE SAME AS LAST YEAR, SAFE FOR CITY MILEAGE, WHICH CLIMBS 1 TO 27 WITH 33-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED ON REGULAR GRADE.

BASE PRICING IS UP ABOUT A HUNDRED BUCKS OVER LAST YEAR, STARTING AT $22,710 FOR A BASE 2.0I, WITH TOP LEVEL LIMITED, STARTING AT $27,210.

CALL IT AN SUV IF YOU MUST, BUT THE 2018 SUBARU CROSSTREK IS A GREAT LITTLE HATCHBACK THAT DELIVERS EXACTLY WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IN A COMPACT UTILITY; GO-ANYWHERE CAPABILITY WITH ENOUGH ROOM FOR TAKING ALONG THE NECESSITIES.

IT MAY NOT BE MEASURABLY BETTER IN EVERY WAY, BUT THEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO.

NOW, IF LUXURY IS HIGH ON YOUR WISH LIST, LOOK ELSEWHERE.

BUT, IF YOU'RE A TYPICAL SMALL-CAR BUYER, WITH LOTS OF EXPLORING TO DO, AND NEED A RUGGED RUNABOUT TO DO IT IN; THE CROSSTREK SHOULD BE AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST.

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, AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF A BIGGER VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN IS REALLY A BETTER TIGUAN.

WE'LL TACKLE THE THROLLE OF THE LEGENDARY CALLAWAY SLEDGEHAMMER.

AND CHECK OUT FORD'S SMALLEST CROSSOVER EVER, THE ECOSPORT.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, 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: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

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

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: TIRERACK.COM.

FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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] *