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

JOIN US AND SEE IF THE NEW FORD FUSION CAN HELP DETROIT TAKE BACK THE MIDSIZE MARKET.

PAT GOSS STRUTS HIS STUFF DOWN AT GOSS' GARAGE.

BRIAN ROBINSON COMES OUT A WINNER ON THE VICTORY JUDGE.

AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF THE CODA SEDAN CAN HANG WITH THE PLUGGED IN CROWD.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

Announcer: MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: AHH!

OHH.

AHH.

Monk: YOU MAY ASK ONE QUESTION.

Man: [HEAVY SIGH] WHICH TIRE CATEGORY SHOULD I CHOOSE TO GET THE MOST COMFORTABLE RIDE?

Announcer: THERE'S A BETTER PLACE TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR TIRES.

TIRE RACK.COM CAN HELP YOU GET THE ANSWERS YOU NEED, AND HELP YOU FIND WHICH TIRES ARE BEST FOR YOU.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRE RACK.COM.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF 3M'S COMPLETE COLOR CODED PAINT RESTORATION SYSTEM HELPS RESTORE YOUR CAR'S AUTO FINISH REMOVING OXIDATION, SWIRL MARKS, AND LIGHT SCRATCHES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM THE FORD FUSION WAS INTRODUCED FOR THE 2006 MODEL YEAR AS AN ATTEMPT TO STEM THE TIDE OF MID-SIZE STALWARTS CAMRY AND ACCORD.

IT DID A REASONABLE JOB, ALTHOUGH MOSTLY WHEN DEEP DISCOUNTS WERE APPLIED.

WELL, FOR 2013, FORD HAS READIED A SECOND GEN FUSION, AND THIS ONE IS NO BARGAIN HUNTER'S DELIGHT.

IT'S A "SYNTHESIS" OF HIGH STYLE, HIGH-TECH, AND HIGHLY FUEL EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE NEW FUSION GENERATES A WINNING "BLEND"!

FROM FIRST SIGHT YOU KNOW THAT THE STYLING OF THE 2013 FORD FUSION IS A WINNER.

IT'S STRIKING, CREATING AN AURA MUCH LIKE THE HYUNDAI SONATA DID WHEN IT FIRST APPEARED.

MOST OF THE AUTOMOTIVE PRESS, INCLUDING US, HAVE BEEN SALIVATING OVER THE ASTON MARTIN INSPIRED DESIGN SINCE IT DEBUTED IN DETROIT LAST JANUARY.

AND WHILE SUCH FAME CAN BE FLEETING, AFTER SPENDING SOME QUALITY DRIVE TIME WITH THE FUSION, WE'RE STILL JUST AS ENAMORED.

THE NEW FUSION HAS GROWN, ALTHOUGH BY LESS THAN APPEARANCES SUGGEST.

WHEELBASE IS UP BY ALMOST FIVE INCHES TO 112.2, BUT OVERALL LENGTH GROWS JUST OVER AN INCH TO 191.7.

BUT THAT LENGTH IS PUT TO GOOD USE WITH A LONG HOOD AND FOUR-DOOR-COUPISH BODY SIDES THAT ARE SLEEK AND MUCH MORE INTENSE.

THE REAR DECK SPORTS ADDITIONAL CREASING, AND SPLIT LED TAIL LIGHTS BOOK END A DECK-LID CUTOUT THAT MIMICS THE GRILLE FOR A VERY SUBSTANTIAL LOOK AT THE REAR.

INSIDE, EVERYTHING IS WELL DONE WITH GOOD MATERIALS THROUGHOUT, IF A LITTLE MONOTONE LOOKING.

THIS HYBRID EXAMPLE SPORTS SE TRIM WITH BOTH SYNC AND MYFORD COMMUNICATIONS, WITH OPTIONAL MYFORD TOUCH, NAVIGATION, AND BACK-UP CAMERA.

GAUGES FOLLOW OTHER RECENT FORDS WITH A LARGE CENTER SPEEDOMETER WITH MESSAGE CENTERS ON EITHER SIDE, EACH CONTROLLED WITH STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED 5-WAY SWITCHES.

ENERGY READOUTS WITH DRIVER COACHING ARE INCLUDED FOR THE HYBRID.

WE FOUND THAT THE SEATS ARE NOT AS COMFORTABLE AS SOME IN THIS SEGMENT, THOUGH ROOM IS DECENT BOTH UP FRONT AND IN THE BACK.

A BIG PART OF THE 2013 FORD FUSION BLEND IS FUEL ECONOMY WITH PERFORMANCE.

LIKE SONATA AND MALIBU, ALL ENGINES ARE FOUR CYLINDER.

AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN FOR NOW IS A NEW FUSION HYBRID.

ITS DOWNSIZED 2.0-LITER-4 COMBINES WITH AN 88KW ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR A SYSTEM OUTPUT OF 188-HORSEPOWER.

COMBINED WITH A NEW CVT TRANSMISSION, IT CAN CRUISE UNDER ELECTRIC POWER ONLY TO UP TO 62 MILES-PER-HOUR.

BATTERIES ARE UPGRADED TO LITHIUM-ION, AND AS BEFORE, THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE TRUNK, DECREASING STORAGE SPACE FROM 16.0 CUBIC FEET TO A STILL ACCEPTABLE 12.0, AND SEAT BACKS STILL FOLD 60/40.

OUR FIRST GASOLINE-ELECTRIC DRIVING OPPORTUNITY CAME IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WHILE CRUISING AROUND DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA THE HYBRID SYSTEM WORKED SEAMLESSLY, THOUGH THE ENGINE DOES TEND TO GET NOISY WHEN MAKING FAST GETAWAYS.

WHEN IT CAME TIME TO GET OUT OF TOWN AND HIT THE CANYONS, WE DITCHED THE HYBRID FOR A FUSION PACKING THE 1.6-LITER ECOBOOST I4, WHICH COMES WITH A 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AS STANDARD, AND WE FOUND IT A REAL JOY.

THROUGH CORNERS, BOTH TIGHT AND WIDE, THE FUSION'S ELECTRIC STEERING, COMBINED WITH A STRUT FRONT AND MULTI-LINK REAR SUSPENSION, DELIVERED EAGER RESPONSE.

FRONT AND REAR STABILIZER BARS HELP KEEP THINGS RELATIVELY FLAT, MAKING THE FUSION EASILY AMONG THE TOP IN ITS SEGMENT FOR DRIVER ENJOYMENT.

THE 6-SPEED MANUAL SHIFTS SMOOTHLY AND THE 1.6-LITER PROVIDES MORE THAN ADEQUATE POWER, MUCH MORE THAN THE 178-HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE WOULD INDICATE.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC IS AVAILABLE, AND IT'S STANDARD ON BOTH THE CARRYOVER BASE 175-HORSEPOWER 2.5-LITER NORMALLY ASPIRATED I4, AND WITH MANUAL SHIFT MODE ON THE 240-HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER ECOBOOST TURBO-4 THAT ALSO CAN BE ORDERED WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

WE SPENT SOME TIME IN THE 2.0 ECOBOOST AS WELL, AND IT IS DEFINITELY A LITTLE SMOOTHER AND QUIETER, PLUS PEPPIEST OF THE GROUP.

STILL, WE'D LOVE TO DRIVE THE 1.6 MANUAL EVERYDAY.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS SPAN FROM 22-CITY, 33-HIGHWAY AND 26-COMBINED IN THE 2.0 TURBO, TO A CAMRY BEATING 47 STRAIGHT ACROSS FOR THE HYBRID.

WHICH NATURALLY HAS THE BEST ENERGY IMPACT SCORE AT 7.0 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED ANNUALLY WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 3.1 TONS.

THE INTENSE COMPETITION IN MID-SIZE SEDANS HAS KEPT BASE PRICES LOW, AS THE FUSION STARTS AT JUST $22,495, AND TOPS OUT AT $30,995 FOR THE PLATINUM TRIM.

THE HYBRID STICKERS FOR $27,995 WITH A PLUG-IN ENERGI MODEL DUE NEXT YEAR.

THE FUSION'S BLEND OF BEAUTY AND BRAINS CERTAINLY WON US OVER.

ON TOP OF ITS GREAT FACE, LOADS OF FEATURES, AND LEADING FUEL ECONOMY, IT ALSO IS ONE OF THE BEST HANDLING FAMILY FOUR-DOORS EVER.

THE 2013 FORD FUSION IS YET ANOTHER SIGNAL THAT DETROIT IS BACK, ONCE AGAIN BUILDING GREAT CARS YOU'LL WANT TO OWN.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO FORT COLLINS, COLORADO - A CITY LEADING THE WAY IN ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE AND PUBLIC TRANSIT EFFICIENCY.

THIRTY-PERCENT OF THE CITY'S NEARLY 2,000 VEHICLE FLEET IS POWERED BY ALTERNATIVE FUELS INCLUDING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, PROPANE, B20, E85, ALONG WITH HYBRID AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

ALL 37 PUBLIC TRANSIT BUSES ARE EITHER POWERED BY COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS OR BIODIESEL, AND BY 2014, THE ENTIRE FLEET WILL RUN ON CNG.

70-PERCENT OF THE FUEL USED BY CITY VEHICLES DOESN'T COME FROM PETROLEUM, LEADING TO AN 800 TON REDUCTION IN MUNICIPAL CO2 EMISSIONS.

THE CITY'S AMBITIOUS MASON CORRIDOR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT IS BEING BUILT AROUND MAX, A BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM WHERE 60 FOOT CNG ARTICULATED BUSES TRAVEL DEDICATED PATHWAYS WITH INTERSECTION PRIORITY.

ARRIVING IN 2014, MAX WILL GREATLY REDUCE DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC CONGESTION.

Darin Atteberry: WE BELIEVE THAT THE STUFF THAT HAPPENS HERE CAN BE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK IT'S EXACTLY WHAT OUR COMMUNITY EXPECTS OF ITS LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

John: FROM ALTERNATIVE FUELS TO ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION, FORT COLLINS IS SETTING A CLEANER EXAMPLE FOR CITIES EVERYWHERE.

MANY OF US HAVE FOND MEMORIES OF THE MUSCLE CAR HEYDAY OF THE '60s AND EARLY '70s.

AND WHILE THERE IS PLENTY OF HIGH PERFORMANCE HARDWARE AVAILABLE TODAY, FOR SOME, IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME.

WELL, OUR TWO WHEELIN' GUY BRIAN ROBINSON IS ONE "DUDE" WHO IS STILL STUCK IN THE '70s.

AND THIS WEEK HE'S FOUND THE PERFECT BIKE TO APPEASE HIS MUSCLE CAR ADDICTION.

Brian Robinson: THESE DAYS, IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BUILD A NICE LOOKING CRUISER.

YOU NEED A THEME.

AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER THEME THAN AMERICAN MUSCLE CARS.

SO, DOES THIS VICTORY HAVE THE PERFORMANCE TO BACK UP ITS MUSCLE CAR STYLE?

WELL, WE'LL BE THE JUDGE OF THAT!

THIS IS THE 2013 VICTORY JUDGE, AND IT DOES INDEED TAKE STYLING CUES FROM MUSCLE CARS OF THE PAST, PRIMARILY THE 16-INCH MAG-STYLE WHEELS, AND FAT DUNLOP ELITE II'S WITH RAISED WHITE LETTERING.

THE REAR FENDER ALSO GETS A UNIQUE TREATMENT WITH ITS ALMOST FULLY RECESSED TAILLIGHT AND GRAY EXPOSED STRUTS.

BUT FROM THERE, IT'S A BIT MORE STANDARD VICTORY FARE, WITH THE TRADITIONAL SCALLOPED TANK.

THE BLACKED-OUT FRONT END, FRAME, ENGINE, AND PIPES ALL GIVE A MENACING LOOK AND ALLOW YOU TO KEEP THE POLISH ON THE SHELF AND SPEND MORE TIME RIDING.

SIDE COVERS ARE REMINISCENT OF OLD RACE-BIKE NUMBER PLATES.

THE HEAVILY STEPPED SEAT REALLY LOCKS YOU INTO POSITION.

FORTUNATELY, IT'S A FAIRLY COMFORTABLE ONE.

AND IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TIME IN THAT SADDLE TO REACH A VERDICT AND DECLARE THE JUDGE ONE SMOOTH OPERATOR.

IT EVEN RIDES LIKE A MUSCLE CAR, A LITTLE CHOPPY OVER BUMPS, BUT FAR FROM HARSH.

IT'S READY AND WILLING TO BE PUSHED THROUGH CORNERS, BUT DO SO TOO AGGRESSIVELY AND YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF SCRAPING THINGS BEFORE YOU'RE EXPECTING TO, AND THEN BACKING OFF A BIT TO A MORE REASONABLE PACE.

THE ENGINE IS PLENTY TORQUEY AND ALSO SMOOTH.

IT'S VICTORY'S LATEST 1,731CC 50-DEGREE FREEDOM V-TWIN.

OLD-SCHOOL AIR COOLING AND MODERN FUEL INJECTION WORK TOGETHER TO PUSH 113 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THROUGH A 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION.

THERE'S LOTS OF THROTTLE TRAVEL, SO JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE GIVING HER ALL SHE'S GOT, THERE'S STILL ANOTHER QUARTER TURN LEFT.

PIN IT AND UNLEASH THE FULL FURY THAT THIS ENGINE OFFERS.

BIG SMILES QUICKLY FOLLOW.

THE SHIFTER WORKS WELL, NOT QUITE AS CLUNKY AS A HARLEY, BUT MORE POSITIVE THAN MOST METRIC CRUISERS; AND THE CLUTCH, SURPRISINGLY SOFT.

GAUGES ARE MINIMAL, THOUGH YOU CAN BRING UP A DIGITAL TACH.

IN THE TRIP METER, BUT IT'S NOT THAT USEFUL, OTHER THAN FOR ME TO TELL YOU IN TOP GEAR AT 60 MPH, THE JUDGE'S V-TWIN IS PUMPING AT 2,200 RPM.

CUSTOM-STYLE CRUISERS CAN GET EXPENSIVE IN A HURRY, BUT THE JUDGE KICKS IT OLD SCHOOL HERE AS WELL, COMING IN AT JUST $14 GRAND FOR BLACK; ADD $400 IF YOU WANT SOME COLOR.

MUCH LIKE THOSE MUSCLE CARS MOST OF US REMEMBER SO FONDLY, THE 2013 VICTORY JUDGE IS MOST FUN IN A STRAIGHT LINE OR WHEN CRUISING THE STRIP.

STILL, IT WOULD BE A PERFECT BIKE FOR THE GUY WHO'S READY TO HANG UP THE SPORT BIKE, BUT NOT QUITE READY TO PUT ON AN OLD MAN'S BIKE JUST YET.

SO, DOES THE JUDGE SUCCESSFULLY BACK UP ITS MUSCLE CAR STYLE?

GUILTY!

NOW, IF I COULD JUST GET SENTENCED TO LIFE IN THE SADDLE WITHOUT PAROLE.

WHEN THINGS GET SHAKY, WE TURN TO OUR EXPERT PAT GOSS.

SO LET'S HEAD DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND SMOOTH THINGS OUT.

Pat Goss: A CAR THAT BOUNCES AS YOU GO DOWN THE ROAD CAN BE VERY TIRING AND VERY ANNOYING.

AND KEEPING IT FROM BOUNCING IS THE JOB OF THE SHOCK ABSORBERS AND OR THE STRUTS.

WHICHEVER YOUR CAR HAPPENS TO HAVE.

NOW, THE WAY YOU TEST THEM IS, A COUPLE TIMES A YEAR, YOU GO AROUND EACH CORNER OF THE CAR AND BOUNCE IT UP AND DOWN, LIKE I DID THIS ONE.

AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS, IT'S GOING TO GO LIKE THIS.

YOU LET GO OF IT IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND IF THE SHOCK OR STRUT ON THAT CORNER OF THE CAR IS GOOD, IT'LL COME BACK TO THE CENTER AND IT WILL STOP.

IT WON'T CONTINUE TO BOUNCE.

IF IT CONTINUES TO BOUNCE, PROBABLY YOU NEED NEW SHOCKS OR STRUTS.

BUT WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SHOCK ABSORBER AND STRUT?

WELL, HERE WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A STRUT.

NOW, WHAT THIS DOES IS, IT HAS A SHOCK ABSORBER IN THE MIDDLE, AND THEN AROUND IT, IT HAS A SPRING TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE.

A SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE OTHER HAND, SUCH AS WE HAVE HERE, THESE SHOCKS DO NOT HAVE THE SPRINGS ON THEM.

THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE HEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE ONLY THING THEY DO IS TO KEEP THE CAR FROM BOUNCING.

THE SPRING IS MOUNTED SOMEPLACE AWAY FROM THE SHOCK.

NOW, A SHOCK OR A STRUT, WHICHEVER IT IS, ALL THEY DO IS CONVERT THE VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF THE CAR INTO HEAT ENERGY, THEY DAMPEN IT, SO THAT YOU DON'T GO DOWN THE ROAD JUST KIND OF, A MOTORBOAT EFFECT, JUST FLOATING ALONG.

NOW, IF YOU HAVE BAD SHOCKS OR STRUTS, AND THEY CAN WEAR OUT IN AS LITTLE AS 50,000 MILES, OR IT MAY BE 150,000.

BUT YOU SHOULD CHECK THEM TWO OR THREE TIMES A YEAR.

AND WHEN THEY'RE BAD, REPLACE THEM IN PAIRS; TWO FRONTS OR TWO REARS.

NOW, HERE'S THE THING...

THIS SHOCK, RIGHT HERE, THIS ONE IS WORN OUT.

IF WE PUSH THIS DOWN, WE SEE THAT IT COMES BACK VIRTUALLY IMMEDIATELY.

NOW, OVER HERE WE HAVE A BRAND NEW ONE.

THIS GIVES YOU AN IDEA AS TO WHAT THESE THINGS DO.

AS YOU SEE, THIS COMES BACK VERY SLOWLY.

IT'S VERY CONTROLLED, AND THAT'S HOW IT CONTROLS THE RIDE OF YOUR VEHICLE.

SO, CHECK THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS, REPLACE IN PAIRS WHEN NECESSARY, AND REMEMBER THAT IF YOU DON'T REPLACE THEM, YOU CAN HAVE A DANGEROUS CAR, THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

BUT NUMBER TWO, YOU COULD HAVE SEVERE TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS, AS THE RESULT OF A BAD SHOCK OR STRUT.

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

NOW LET'S FIRE UP THE LATEST RIDES TO HIT OUR LOT WITH THIS WEEK'S CAR KEYS.

FIRST STOP, SANTA FE.

NO, NOT THE CITY, BUT HYUNDAI'S POPULAR MID-SIZE CROSSOVER.

AND 2013 HOPES TO BE A BIG YEAR FOR THIS CUV, NOW ENTERING ITS THIRD GENERATION WITH AN EXTENSIVE REDESIGN.

THE SANTA FE AS WE KNOW IT IS NOW THE SANTA FE SPORT, WITH ALMOST IDENTICAL LENGTH AND WHEELBASE AS THE OUTGOING MODEL.

BUT NEW STYLING AND A NEW POWERTRAIN HOPES TO GIVE THE SPORT BADGE SOME ADDED MERIT.

BASE MODELS RECEIVE A CARRYOVER 2.4 LITER I4, BUT HORSEPOWER IS UP 15 TO 190.

MORE EXCITING IS THE NEW 2 LITER TURBO-4, FORCING OUT 264 HORSEPOWER.

SITTING ON BIG 19 INCH ALLOY WHEELS, THE SANTA FE SPORT TURBO LOOKS LIKE A HEALTHY SHOT IN THE ARM FOR THE MID-SIZE CUV SEGMENT.

Greg Carloss: THE NEW SANTA FE REALLY TOOK A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY BECOMING MORE SPORT ORIENTED.

IT LOOKS GREAT, AND THE TWO LITER TURBO HAS PLENTY OF POWER.

ADD THAT WITH THE FUEL EFFICIENCY, AND YOU'VE GOT A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CUV SEGMENT.

John: WEARING THE MORE TRADITIONAL SANTA FE MONIKER IS A STRETCHED 7 PASSENGER, 193.1 INCH ALMOST FULL-SIZED CROSSOVER.

REPLACING THE HYUNDAI VERACRUZ, THE NEW SANTA FE GAINS A FEW INCHES ON IT, BUT KEEPS OFF THE POUNDS, THANKS TO A SLIMMED DOWN 3.3 LITER V6 RATED AT 290 HORSEPOWER.

PASSENGER AND CARGO ROOM ARE DOWN SLIGHTLY, BUT FUEL ECONOMY TAKES A NICE BUMP UP OVER THE VERACRUZ.

THE 2013 SANTA FE SPORT STARTS AT AROUND $25,000, WITH THE TURBO NEAR $29,000.

BOTH HAVE OPTIONAL AWD, AND ARE AVAILABLE NOW.

THE LONG WHEELBASE SANTA FE HITS SHOWROOMS IN JANUARY.

OUR SECOND STOP IS BAVARIA BY WAY OF SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE THE BMW X3 IS MADE.

MUCH LIKE ITS SEDAN COUNTERPART, THE X3 HAS DONE A LITTLE DOWNSIZING FOR A NEW MODEL YEAR, REPLACING ITS BASE STRAIGHT 6 WITH A TURBOCHARGED INLINE 4.

AND WITH A HOST OF NEW STANDARD FEATURES, WE COULDN'T PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE EXPLORING OF OUR OWN.

WITH A NEW ENGINE COMES NEW EXPECTATIONS, AND BMW HAS MET THEM IN OUR EYES.

THEIR TWIN POWER TURBO TECHNOLOGY BOOSTS THE 2 LITER INLINE 4 TO 240 HORSEPOWER, THE SAME AS THE OUTGOING STRAIGHT 6; AND WE PUT DOWN POWER TO A 0 TO 60 TIME OF 6.4 SECONDS, THAT'S ONLY A HALF SECOND LONGER THAN THE 328I SEDAN.

FUEL SAVING TECHNOLOGY, LIKE THE 8 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, IS NOW ENHANCED BY AUTO STOP/START, AND A STANDARD DRIVING DYNAMICS CONTROL SYSTEM.

THE DEDICATED ECO PRO SETTING REMAPS THROTTLE RESPONSE AND SHIFT POINTS, WHILE LIMITING POWER TO ON BOARD ELECTRONICS.

AND IT ALL HELPS, AS WE WERE RIGHT ON PAR WITH THE COMBINED GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATING OF 24 MPG.

RIDE IS STILL TAUT BUT COMFORTABLE, AND NO PASSING POWER HAS BEEN SACRIFICED.

COMBINE THAT WITH STANDARD XDRIVE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, IMPROVED FUEL ECONOMY, PASSENGER AND CARGO ROOM APLENTY, AND WE'D GLADLY TAKE THE 2013 BMW X3 FOR OUR DAILY DRIVING DUTIES.

AND YOU CAN TOO FOR AROUND $40,000.

FOR OUR THIRD STOP, WE CROSS THE BORDER FOR THE ALL-NEW, TENNESSEE ASSEMBLED 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER.

FEELING THE EFFECTS OF CONSUMER DEMANDS FOR BETTER FUEL ECONOMY, NISSAN HAS REVAMPED THE FOURTH GENERATION PATHFINDER BY RETRACING THEIR STEPS AND GOING BACK TO A LIGHTER UNIBODY.

THE ALTIMA-BASED PLATFORM, SHARED WITH THE INFINITI JX, BRINGS SOME CIVILITY TO THE ROUGH AND RUGGED PATHFINDER LEGACY.

EXTERIOR EDGES HAVE BEEN SMOOTHED AND SCULPTED.

THE 7-PASSENGER INTERIOR TAKES MAJOR STEPS FORWARD IN STYLE AND FEATURES WITH A CENTER STACK AVAILABLE TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE, AROUND VIEW MONITOR, AND TRI-ZONE ENTERTAINMENT.

ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW IS AMONG THE EASIEST IN ITS CLASS.

V6 POWER IS DOWNSIZED FROM 4.0-LITERS TO 3.5, GOOD FOR 260 HORSEPOWER WITH THE STANDARD CVT, AND A 5,000 POUND TOWING CAPACITY.

BEST IN CLASS HIGHWAY FUEL ECONOMY IS CLAIMED; 26 MILES PER GALLON FOR THE FRONT-DRIVE PATHFINDER.

WITH OVER TWO INCHES LESS GROUND CLEARANCE, THE NEW PATHFINDER CLEARLY CATERS TO THOSE LOOKING FOR LONG HAUL COMFORT AND VERSATILITY RATHER THAN GO-ANYWHERE RUGGEDNESS.

HOWEVER, IT'S NOT WITHOUT SOME OFF-ROAD ATTRIBUTES AS THE AVAILABLE ALL-MODE 4WD-I TRACTION SYSTEM CAN BE LOCKED INTO FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE.

THE 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING AT AROUND $28,000.

AND WE'RE JUST ABOUT RUNNING ON EMPTY, BUT JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK CAR KEYS FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

THERE IS A TIME HONORED BUSINESS THEORY THAT SAYS THE MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS WILL OFTEN COME FROM SMALL ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRMS RATHER THAN INDUSTRY BEHEMOTHS.

AND THAT CERTAINLY DOES SEEM TO APPLY TO ELECTRIC CARS WHERE TESLA AND FISKER ARE GIVING ESTABLISHED AUTOMAKERS SOME REAL EV COMPETITION.

NOW WE WANT TO ADD ONE MORE NAME TO THE UPSTART LIST, CODA.

AN ELECTRIC CAR COMPANY THAT HAS A PLAN TO TURN EVERYONE ON TO PLUGING-IN.

THOUGH THE COMPANY HAS BEEN HONING ITS EV PLANS FOR YEARS, 2012 MARKS CODA AUTOMOTIVE'S OFFICIAL ENTRY INTO THE EV COMPETITION WITH A VOLUME PRODUCED COMPACT SEDAN.

STILL, AS A NEW BRAND WITH LIMITED RESOURCES, THEY'RE FULLY AWARE THAT GOING UP AGAINST THE BIG BOYS WILL BE AN UPHILL BATTLE.

BUT CODA HOPES THEIR COMBO OF BETTER LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, MORE EFFICIENT BATTERY MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, INSIDE A MORE TRADITIONAL PACKAGE, WILL GRAB A PROFITABLE SLICE OF THE ELECTRIFIED CAR FIELD.

THE CODA STARTS OUT AS A GLIDER, A CAR WITHOUT AN ENGINE, THAT'S BUILT-UP IN CHINA UNDER CODA SUPERVISION.

THE ELECTRIC DRIVE AND BATTERIES ARE ADDED AT CODA'S PLANT IN BENICIA, CALIFORNIA.

A PRODUCTION PROCESS NOT UNLIKE TESLA'S ORIGINAL LOTUS DERIVED ROADSTER.

THE CODA'S 134-HORSEPOWER ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVES A HEFTY 221 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE THROUGH A SINGLE SPEED TRANSMISSION TO DELIVER A FACTORY 0 TO 60 TIME OF 9.5 SECONDS.

THAT RATES WELL WITH OTHER EVS.

BUT IT'S THE ALL-ELECTRIC DRIVING RANGE THAT IMPRESSES EV-BUYERS THE MOST.

ON THAT, CODA CLAIMS TO DELIVER THE MOST MILES ON A CHARGE OF ANY NON-LUXURY EV IN PRODUCTION TODAY.

CODA SAYS A DRIVING RANGE OF 125-MILES IS POSSIBLE FROM THE 31 KWH BATTERY.

MOREOVER, THEY HAVE A GOVERNMENT CERTIFIED RATING OF 88-MILES, COMPARED TO 76-MILES ON THE FORD FOCUS ELECTRIC, AND 73 FOR THE NISSAN LEAF.

CHARGING TIME IS THE SAME AS THE FOCUS, JUST SIX HOURS WHEN HOOKED UP TO A LEVEL 2 240-VOLT CHARGING STATION.

IT CAN TAKE AS MUCH AS 30-HOURS, HOWEVER, WITH 110 VOLTS.

THE BATTERY PACK IS MOUNTED LOW IN THE CHASSIS OF THE CAR WHICH HELPS WHEN IT COMES TO HANDLING, ANOTHER STRONG POINT FOR THE CODA.

STEERING IS FAIRLY NEUTRAL FEELING AND SURPRISINGLY QUICK, GIVING THE CODA A VERY RESPONSIVE FEEL AND AN ENTERTAINING NATURE SIMILAR TO THE FOCUS EV.

ANOTHER SOUND CODA MOVE IS TAKING THE HYUNDAI BIG WARRANTY APPROACH WITH A 10-YEAR 100,000 MILE COVERAGE FOR THE BATTERY SYSTEM.

STYLING IS VERY CONSERVATIVE.

ASIDE FROM LED DRIVING LIGHTS, CODA LOOKS LIKE A GARDEN VARIETY 4-DOOR, 5-PASSENGER SEDAN.

STILL, NOT BEING AN EV BILLBOARD MAY BE A PLUS FOR BUYERS UNEASY ABOUT BEING A ROLLING EXPERIMENT.

A SOLID LIST OF STANDARD FEATURES LIKE 17-INCH WHEELS, 7-INCH NAVIGATION TOUCHSCREEN, AIR, IPOD PORT, AND NICELY DONE ECO-CLOTH FABRIC ALSO HELPS.

OPTIONS ARE LIMITED TO LEATHER UPHOLSTERY, UPGRADED STEREO, AND BLACK-PAINTED ALUMINUM WHEELS.

BUT OUR EYES ALSO CAUGHT INTERIOR FIT-AND-FINISH, THAT WHILE ACCEPTABLE, WAS NOT UP TO THE STANDARDS WE'RE USED TO IN MODERN PRODUCTION CARS.

HOWEVER, CODA SAYS OUR CAR WAS A VERY EARLY ONE AND THAT CUSTOMER CARS ARE BETTER.

THE DASH AND GAUGES LOOK FAMILIAR, SAVE FOR THE LARGE BATTERY METER ON THE LEFT AND ENERGY METER ON THE RIGHT.

FURTHER, EV INFO CAN BE FOUND ON THE NAV SCREEN.

AND THERE'S A REAL BACK SEAT, WITH ROOM FOR 3 PASSENGERS, AND A BONA FIDE TRUNK WITH NO BATTERY INTRUSION AND ROOM FOR 14.1 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO.

THAT'S PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.

WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, THE CODA SLIDES IN BETWEEN THE LEAF AND FOCUS, STARTING AT $38,145.

FACTOR IN THE USUAL GOVERNMENT REBATES AND YOU COULD WALK AWAY WITH ONE FOR UNDER $30 GRAND.

WHILE STILL SOMETHING OF A WORK IN PROGRESS, THE RESULTS SO FAR FROM THIS UPSTART ARE VERY ENCOURAGING.

THE 2012 CODA'S COMBINATION OF MORE RANGE, LONG WARRANTY, AND TRUE SEDAN PRACTICALITY GRABBED OUR ATTENTION AND KEPT IT.

AND WE THINK IT SHOULD FOR EV BUYERS, AND OTHER EV MAKERS, TOO.

WELL, I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US AGAIN SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK, WHEN WE GO SOME EXTRA TRILLING MILES WITH THE PORSCHE CAYENNE DIESEL.

THEN MAX OUT OUR RANGE IN THE FORD C-MAX HYBRID.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK.

AND BY... 3M, MAKER OF INNOVATIVE AUTO CARE PRODUCTS.

3M'S FUEL SYSTEM TUNE-UP KIT HELPS PROLONG ENGINE LIFE BY REMOVING CARBON, GUMS, AND RESINS, AND CLEANING FUEL INJECTORS AND VALVES.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.