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

JOIN US AND SEE IF MERCEDES-BENZ CAN SHED THE ENTRY-LEVEL STIGMA WITH THEIR NEW CLA.

PAT GOSS SHINES A NEW LIGHT ON A FEW TIPS YOU SHOULD KNOW.

AUTO WORLD WILL EXPLORE HOW AMERICAN INGENUITY IS HELPING ELECTRIC CARS STAY FULLY CHARGED.

AND WITH SO FEW SMALLER PICKUPS LEFT, WE'LL SEE IF THE TOYOTA TACOMA STILL MAKES ITS CASE.

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION 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.

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

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

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HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

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DIEHARD.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM John Davis: WHEN YOU SAY ENTRY-LEVEL ANYTHING YOU'RE USUALLY TALKING ABOUT COMPROMISE OR AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO ACQUIRE A SCALED DOWN VERSION OF SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT BUT CAN'T AFFORD.

WELL, THAT'S NOT AN AREA THAT MERCEDES-BENZ USUALLY OPERATES IN.

BUT THAT'S ABOUT TO CHANGE WITH THIS ALL-NEW COMPACT SEDAN, THE CLA.

SO LET'S SEE IF IT'S MORE ABOUT COMPROMISE OR COMPETENCY.

THE LAST NORTH AMERICAN ENTRY-LEVEL EFFORT FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, THE C230, WASN'T A BIG HIT HERE.

ITS 3-DOOR HATCHBACK STYLE JUST DIDN'T FIT THE AMERICAN IMAGE OF PRESTIGE FOR THE BRAND.

SO, RATHER THAN JUST GIVING US A SMALL THREE-BOX SHAPE, THE 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA LOOKS LIKE A SCALED DOWN AND HOT RODDED VERSION OF THE MERCEDES CLS, BOASTING THE LOWEST COEFFICIENT OF DRAG OF ANY PRODUCTION SEDAN AT 0.23.

SO THE RACEY LINES AND ITS 4-DOOR COUPE STYLE ARE PURPOSEFUL, AS WELL AS THEY ARE TRULY SOULFUL.

C-PILLARS TUCK INTO THE REAR FENDERS TO GIVE A VERY MUSCULAR LOOK AT THE BACK WHERE THE WIDTH IS ACCENTUATED WITH HORIZONTAL TAIL LIGHTS.

STANDARD WHEELS ARE 17s, 18s A STANDALONE OPTION, OR AS PART OF THE SPORT PACKAGE.

ANOTHER THING THAT WILL APPEAL TO A WIDE CROP OF AMERICAN BUYERS IS THAT THE CLA IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE.

DERIVED FROM EUROPEAN A AND B-CLASS COMPACT FIVE-DOOR HATCHBACKS, IT'S THE FIRST FRONT-DRIVE MERCEDES BRANDED CAR SOLD HERE.

AS SMALL CARS DON'T USUALLY RIDE AS WELL AS LARGER CARS, WE WERE PREPARED FOR A MORE "SOLID" RIDE IN THE CLA.

IT ONLY GETS A LITTLE TOO MUCH SO OVER MAJOR BUMPS.

AND THAT'S THE ONLY TIME IT'S NOT TOTALLY QUIET INSIDE AS WELL.

MOST OF THE PREMIUM FEEL EXPECTED IN A MERCEDES REMAINS INTACT.

NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE STANDARD MOTOR IS A TRANSVERSE MOUNTED 4-CYLINDER.

BUT IT'S A 2.0-LITER TURBO I-4 WITH A VERY RESPECTABLE 208-HORSEPOWER AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, MANAGED BY A 7-SPEED DUAL CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE COMES LATER, AS WILL OTHER POWERTRAIN CHOICES, INCLUDING A 355-HORSE AMG VERSION.

WHEN IT COMES TO COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE, THE CLA HAS MANY OF THE FEATURES FOUND IN LARGER FAMILY MEMBERS.

ECO STOP/START, MBRACE2 CONNECTIVITY, AND COLLISION PREVENTION ASSIST ARE STANDARD.

THE PREMIUM PACKAGE ADDS HEATED FRONT SEATS, LOGIC7 SURROUND SOUND, AND AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL.

OUR CAR'S MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE ADDS A LARGER 7-INCH COMMAND SYSTEM WITH NAVIGATION AND BACK-UP CAMERA.

ALL SET IN A DASH THAT IS WIDE AND FAMILIAR.

THE COMMAND SCREEN FLOATS OVER THE CENTER STACK AND REALLY GETS YOUR ATTENTION.

COST CONTAINMENT IS OBVIOUS WITH LOTS OF HARD MATERIALS.

STILL, IT'S OVERALL NICELY DONE AND THE BLACK ASH WOOD TRIM IS A REASONABLE UPGRADE.

FRONT SEATS OFFER GOOD SIDE AND BACK SUPPORT, BUT THE BOTTOM CUSHIONS ARE FLAT AND HARDER THAN THE ALREADY STIFF CUSHIONS ON MOST BENZ CARS.

AS EXPECTED, THE SWOOPY ROOF STYLING MAKES GETTING INTO THE REAR SEATS DIFFICULT, AND THERE'S ONLY CHILD-SIZE ROOM ONCE YOU'RE SETTLED.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF TRUNK SPACE, SOME 13.1 CUBIC FEET BEHIND THE STANDARD SPLIT FOLDING SEATBACKS, AND THE SPACE IS VERY WELL FINISHED.

AT WIDE OPEN THROTTLE THIS FRONT DRIVER 2.0-LITER MAKES MORE NOISE THEN WE'RE ACCUSTOMED TO FROM MERCEDES-BENZ, BUT IT STILL GOT US TO 60 IN A GOOD 6.6-SECONDS.

EVEN WITH A BIT OF TURBO LAG AT LAUNCH, WE HAD TO USE SOME FINESSE TO KEEP WHEEL SPIN IN CHECK.

THE PADDLE-SHIFT AUTOMATIC GIVES QUICK SHIFTS TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM FLOWING.

STILL, THE QUARTER MILE WAS COMPLETED IN A RATHER LENGTHY 15.2-SECONDS, BUT AT 99 MILES PER HOUR, THE CLA IS NO BEGINNER WHEN IT COMES TO CORNERS EITHER.

OUR INITIAL RUNS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS AS TO GRIP AND BALANCE.

YOU COULD EVEN HANG THE TAIL OUT A BIT LIKE A TRADITIONAL REAR DRIVER.

BUT PUSH TOO HARD AND THE FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE NATURE OF THE CLA COMES ROARING UP WITH LOTS OF BODY ROLL AND INCREASED UNDERSTEER.

STILL, WE WERE IMPRESSED.

THERE IS A SPORTY, NICELY WEIGHTED FEEL TO THE ELECTROMECHANICAL POWER STEERING.

THE EPS ALSO WORKS WITH STABILITY SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE CORRECTIVE STEERING IN EMERGENCIES, AS WELL AS HELP WITH TORQUE STEER.

BRAKES ARE IMPRESSIVE WITH STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGING ONLY 123-FEET WITH ZERO DRAMA.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE DRAMATICALLY GOOD FOR A MERCEDES AT 26-CITY, 38-HIGHWAY, AND 30-COMBINED.

OUR MILEAGE LOOP ON VARIOUS ROADS NETTED A MILDLY DISAPPOINTING 28.4 MILES-PER-GALLON ON PREMIUM GAS.

CLA PRICING STARTS AT JUST $30,825; THAT'S ABOUT 6-GRAND LESS THAN A BASE C-CLASS SEDAN.

AND CONSIDERING YOU CAN SPEND THAT MUCH ON A BUICK REGAL, IT'S ALMOST A NO BRAINER.

INDEED, BASED ON PRICE AND PRESTIGE ALONE, THE 2014 MERCEDES-BENZ CLA LOOKS LIKE A WINNER, EVEN WITH SOME SHORT COMINGS THAT WERE VERY OBVIOUS TO US.

WE DON'T THINK FIRST-TIME CONVERTS TO THE BRAND WILL EVEN NOTICE.

WHAT THEY WILL NOTICE, AND BE DRAWN TO, IS A VERY AFFORDABLE AND YES, COMPETENT WAY, TO JOIN THE EXCLUSIVE CLUB OF THE THREE POINTED STAR.

VIRTUALLY ANYWHERE IN THE U.S. YOU CAN BRING LIGHT TO A ROOM WITH THE FLICK OF A FINGER.

WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT CREATING THE NATIONAL ELECTRIC GRID TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE TOOK DECADES TO ACCOMPLISH.

NOW, IN JUST A FEW YEARS, WE'VE SEEN THE BIRTH OF A NEW INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO QUICKLY RECHARGE THEIR BATTERIES AT HOME, WORK, OR WHEREVER THEY MAY ROAM.

BUT THIS RAPID GROWTH HAS COME WITH A FEW GROWING PAINS.

STARTING WITH LESS THAN 500 IN 2009, THERE ARE NOW OVER 19,000 PUBLIC-ACCESS CHARGING OUTLETS AVAILABLE TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE OWNERS AT COMMUTER LOTS, PARKING GARAGES, AIRPORTS, RETAIL AREAS, AND THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS WHERE EV OWNERS CAN CONVENIENTLY PLUG IN AS PART OF THEIR DAILY ROUTINES.

THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE LOCATED IN PRIVATE HOMES.

AND FOR THE MOST PART, THESE INSTALLATIONS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY EASY, PRESENTING FEW HURDLES IN TERMS OF THE PHYSICAL SPACE AND POWER REQUIREMENTS FOR THE NEW EQUIPMENT.

BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS QUICK.

CHARGING AN EV THROUGH A STANDARD 110 TO 120 VOLT OUTLET IS SLOW GOING, ADDING JUST 2 TO 5 MILES OF RANGE PER HOUR OF CHARGING TIME.

LEVEL 2 CHARGING, USING A 240-VOLT CIRCUIT, ADDS 10 TO 20 MILES OF RANGE PER HOUR, AND IS THE BEST CHOICE FOR A HOMEOWNER.

BUT LEVEL 2 CHARGERS CAN REQUIRE A DEDICATED CIRCUIT OF 40 AMPS OR MORE, WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM IN MANY HOMES, WHERE ELECTRICAL PANELS ARE ALREADY MAXED OUT.

AND WHAT ABOUT APARTMENTS AND CONDOS, OR CITY DWELLERS WITH ON-STREET PARKING?

THANKFULLY, AMERICAN INGENUITY IS ALREADY AT WORK FINDING SOLUTIONS.

EVSC, LLC, A SMALL COMPANY NEAR HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT HAS COME UP WITH A CLEVER AND INEXPENSIVE CONTROL PANEL THAT PIGGYBACKS ONTO AN EXISTING 220/240-VOLT APPLIANCE CIRCUIT, LIKE A STOVE OR CLOTHES DRYER, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO UPGRADE THE HOME'S ELECTRIC SERVICE.

THE DEVICE, CALLED POWER SHARE, SENSES WHEN THE DRYER OR STOVE IS TURNED ON, AND AUTOMATICALLY SCALES BACK OR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF POWER TO THE VEHICLE CHARGER AND DIVERTS THAT POWER TO THE APPLIANCE FOR AS LONG AS NEEDED.

THE COMPANY ALSO PRODUCES THIS ADA-COMPLIANT CHARGING STATION WITH A RETRACTABLE OVERHEAD-MOUNTED CORD.

THERE'S NO TANGLED CABLES TO TRIP OVER, AND IT'S LESS PRONE TO VANDALISM WHEN RETRACTED.

FOR LONG-TERM LOTS AND FLEET FACILITIES, EVSE OFFERS THIS PORTABLE LEVEL 2 CHARGER.

OUTLETS ARE INSTALLED AT EACH PARKING SPACE, AND THE ACTUAL CHARGE UNIT CAN BE MOVED FROM CAR TO CAR AS NEEDED.

BUT EVEN WHEN HARDWARE IS NOT AN ISSUE, THERE ARE STILL HURDLES TO OVERCOME.

BALTIMORE CITY RESIDENT JOHN SEGAL HAS BEEN WAITING MONTHS FOR PERMISSION FROM THE CITY TO INSTALL A CURBSIDE EV CHARGER FOR HIS TESLA MODEL S. John Segal: THE CITY TOLD US THAT WE WERE THE FIRST RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER TO REQUEST A CHARGING OUTLET IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, IN CITY PROPERTY, AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE, AS IS THE STATE, VERY PRO-ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE A POLICY THAT'S EQUITABLE FOR EVERYBODY, IN EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.

RATHER THAN WAIT, WE MOVED AHEAD AND PUT A 240-OUTLET ON OUR SIDE OF THE SIDEWALK, ON OUR PROPERTY, AND WHEN NECESSARY, WE PLUG IN, STRETCH OUR TESLA CHARGING CABLE ACROSS THE SIDEWALK, AND CHARGE THE CAR.

John: OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S CLEAN CITIES PROGRAM HAS AWARDED 36 COMMUNITY READINESS GRANTS TO SOLVE INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED BARRIERS FOR HOME, WORKPLACE, AND PUBLIC RECHARGING, AND TO HELP STREAMLINE THE PERMITTING PROCESS.

PROGRAMS ARE UNDER WAY IN 24 STATES.

FOR THOSE IN UNCOMMON SITUATIONS, LIKE THE SEGALS, OBTAINING PERMITS, FIGURING OUT WHERE TO SAFELY PLACE EQUIPMENT, AND THE NEED TO UPGRADE ELECTRICAL SERVICE TO EXISTING PANELS ARE JUST SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED BEFORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGERS CAN BE UNIVERSALLY AVAILABLE.

INNOVATIVE HARDWARE SOLUTIONS, ALONG WITH THE CONTINUING EDUCATION OF PERMITTING OFFICIALS, UTILITIES, AND CONSUMERS, ARE WORKING TO MAKE THE U.S.

CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE VIABLE FOR EVERYONE, AND WILL HELP DRIVE FURTHER ACCEPTANCE OF PLUG-IN EVs AS VEHICLES FOR CHANGE.

LET'S STOP IN AT GOSS' GARAGE, WHERE PAT SHOWS US THE LIGHT.

Pat Goss: I'M ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW PRODUCTS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY WOULD SERVE A GOOD PURPOSE, AND WHEN I FIND SOME OF THOSE, WELL, I WANT TO SHOW THEM TO YOU.

AND HERE WE HAVE SOME THINGS THAT GIVE US THE ABILITY TO SEE VARIOUS THINGS IN AND AROUND THE AUTOMOBILE.

FROM IMPELTRONICS, WE HAVE THESE LIGHTS.

NOW, IF YOU LOOK AT THIS, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE A REGULAR LED LIGHT.

EVERYBODY HAS THEM THESE DAYS.

BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT.

YOU SEE, THE FIRST THING WE HAVE IS DOWN HERE ON THIS END, WE HAVE A MAGNET THAT CAN PICK UP EIGHT POUNDS.

YOU CAN SEE HERE WE'VE GOT THIS BIG STEEL WEIGHT - IT PICKS IT UP, HOLDS RIGHT ON TO IT, NO PROBLEM.

BUT IT GOES BEYOND THAT.

SUPPOSE YOU DROP A BOLT, OR A WRENCH, OR SOMETHING, DOWN INTO THE ENGINE BAY, AND YOU MAYBE CAN SEE IT, OR MAYBE YOU CAN'T SEE IT, BUT YOU KNOW IT'S DOWN THERE.

WELL, HERE WE HAVE -- WE CAN USE THE LIGHT, BUT WE CAN ALSO EXTEND THE END OF THIS, AND THE END OF IT IS FLEXIBLE SO THAT YOU CAN BEND IT.

AND THEY WERE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TO PUT A MAGNET IN THE LIGHTED END OF IT SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU'RE PICKING UP.

PRETTY CLEVER, I THINK.

EVERY TOOL BOX SHOULD HAVE ONE.

ALRIGHT, NOW, BACKING UP, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO TOW A TRAILER, GETTING THE TRAILER HOOKED UP TO THE TRAILER BALL CAN BE AN ABSOLUTE NIGHTMARE.

AND BACK UP CAMERAS DON'T ALWAYS HELP BECAUSE THE TRAILER HITCH IS TOO CLOSE TO THE CAR.

SO THIS IS FROM MASTER LOCK COMPANY, THIS IS A CAMERA.

IT PLUGS INTO THE TRAILER WIRE HARNESS AT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE.

IT HAS A MAGNET ON IT AND YOU ATTACH THE MAGNET TO THE SIDE OF THE TRAILER HITCH.

NOW, THIS IS WIRELESS, AND WHEN YOU PUT IT IN REVERSE, YOU'RE GOING TO GET A PICTURE ON THE SCREEN THAT YOU'VE MOUNTED EITHER TO THE WINDSHIELD OR THE DASH OF YOUR CAR.

THAT GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO WATCH THE TRAILER HITCH FROM THE TRAILER PERSPECTIVE.

SO YOU CAN BACK RIGHT UP INTO IT, HOOK IT UP, NO PROBLEMS.

AND YOU AVOID ALL THOSE NASTY DINGS AND DENTS IN YOUR BUMPER FROM THE TIMES THAT YOU MISS.

IN EVERY OTHER PART OF THE WORLD JUST ABOUT, THEY USE DASH CAMS TO RECORD ALL OF THE GOOFY DRIVERS AND ACCIDENTS THEY'RE INVOLVED IN, AND SO ON.

WELL, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE IN THIS COUNTRY, BUT HERE WE HAVE ONE, THIS IS FROM GENIUS, AND IT'S A DASH CAM THAT HAS A NUMBER OF WAYS OF FUNCTIONING.

FIRST, YOU CAN PLUG IT INTO A 12-VOLT RECEPTACLE IN THE CAR, OR IT HAS ITS OWN BATTERY.

IT RECORDS ON A MICRO-SD CARD.

AND YOU HOOK THIS UP EITHER TO THE DASH OR TO A SUN VISOR, IT COMES WITH A CLIP TO ATTACH IT TO THE SUN VISOR.

YOU RECORD EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AS YOU'RE DRIVING.

SO IF SOMEBODY CUTS YOU OFF OR RUNS INTO YOU OR SOMETHING, YOU'VE GOT A RECORD OF IT RIGHT THERE ON YOUR DASH CAM.

PRETTY CLEVER.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION OR A COMMENT, DROP ME A LINE.

RIGHT HERE AT MOTORWEEK .

HAVING JUST FINISHED OUR INITIAL DRIVE IN THE HONDA ACCORD HYBRID, YOU MIGHT WONDER HOW IT COMPARES TO OUR LONG-TERM ACCORD SEDAN.

WELL, EXCEPT FOR MILEAGE, AND A FEW SOUNDS AND VIBRATIONS UNIQUE TO THE HYBRID, THE COMPETENT DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND AMPLE COMFORT ARE THE SAME.

AS TO FUEL ECONOMY, OUR LONG-TERM ACCORD EX-L WITH NAV, FOUR-CYLINDER CVT DRIVETRAIN IS AVERAGING A FINE 30.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR AFTER FIVE MONTHS AND 7,100 MILES.

THE ACCORD HYBRID, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS A COMBINED RATING OF 47 MPG.

BUT IT ALSO HAS A PRICE PREMIUM OF ABOUT $5,000.

GIVEN A LONG PAYBACK, AND WHAT AN EXCELLENT CAR THE NON-HYBRID ACCORD IS, WE THINK MOST FOLKS WILL STICK WITH THE TRIED AND TRUE.

WE ARE, AND WE'RE HAPPY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF COMINGS AND GOINGS ON OUR LOT.

GOING OUT IS OUR 2014 WINNEBAGO SIGHTSEER 33C CLASS-A MOTOR HOME.

IT PROVED A GREAT CHOICE FOR BOTH LONG DISTANCE FAMILY VACATIONS AND AS A LOCATION HQ.

TWIN PULL OUTS AND LOTS OF OPTIONS MAKE IT DOWNRIGHT LUXURIOUS FOR FIVE, WHILE THE REAR DRIVE FORD TRUCK CHASSIS WAS REASONABLY FUEL EFFICIENT AT SEVEN MILES PER GALLON.

BUT CLASS-A IS NOT THE ONLY POPULAR RV TYPE AROUND BY FAR.

IN COMING IS THIS CLASS-C WINNEBAGO MINNIE WINNIE PREMIUM RV.

BUILT ON A FORD F-450 VAN CHASSIS, AT NEARLY 33 FEET, IT'S ONLY TWO FEET SHORTER THAN THE SIGHTSEER.

BUT IT'S OUTFITTED FOR A FAMILY OF EIGHT, AND THUS IDEAL FOR LONG WEEKEND OUTINGS WHERE PRACTICALITY AND A MUCH LOWER PURCHASE PRICE TAKE PRECEDENT.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW HOW THE TRADEOFFS FAIR IN JUST A FEW WEEKS.

THERE ARE FIVE SEATBELTS IN THIS AMAZINGLY ROOMY NISSAN VERSA NOTE.

WE WERE SO IMPRESSED WITH THE NOTE IN OUR RECENT ROAD TEST THAT WE WANTED TO PLAY IT AGAIN.

SO WE'LL SEE IF IT STAYS IN TUNE OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

WE'LL PLAY-ON WITH OUR TOYOTA RAV 4, AND RAM 1500, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE.

NOW LET'S HEAD INSIDE FOR YOLANDA VAZQUEZ AND ALL THE LATEST MOTORNEWS.

Yolanda: WELL, JOHN, FUEL ECONOMY IS A MAJOR SELLING POINT FOR ANY VEHICLE THESE DAYS.

AND WHILE NEW CARS ARE REQUIRED TO DISPLAY DETAILS ON FUEL EFFICIENCY, IT'S LEFT UP TO THE CONSUMER TO FIND OUT SUCH INFORMATION ON USED CARS.

NOW, HOWEVER, THERE'S A NEW TOOL TO HELP IN THAT SEARCH.

JUST ADDED TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S FUEL ECONOMY.GOV WEBSITE, THE USED CAR FUEL ECONOMY LABEL TOOL WILL HELP BUYERS AND SELLERS ALIKE MORE EASILY ACCESS THE DETAILS ABOUT A VEHICLE'S FUEL ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

USERS SIMPLY CHOOSE THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL FROM A DATABASE OF VEHICLES GOING BACK TO THE 1984 MODEL YEAR.

A LABEL IS THEN GENERATED, WHICH CAN BE PRINTED OR DOWNLOADED AS A GRAPHIC TO POST IN AN ONLINE AD OR AUCTION LISTING.

LAST YEAR ALONE, OVER 40 MILLION USED CARS WERE SOLD IN THE U.S.

THE NEW LABELS ALLOW USED CAR BUYERS TO JOIN NEW CAR CONSUMERS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING BETTER CHOICES ABOUT FUEL-EFFICIENT VEHICLES.

AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S MOTORNEWS.

John: THE IMPROVING ECONOMY HAS LED TO A SALES BOOM FOR PICKUP TRUCKS.

BUT THAT'S FOR FULL-SIZE PICKUPS!

DESPITE HIGH GAS COSTS, AMERICA'S DESIRE FOR SMALLER TRUCKS REMAINS WEAK.

RIGHT NOW, THE TOP SELLER AMONG DOWNSIZED PICKUPS IS THE TOYOTA TACOMA.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN REENGINEERED IN ALMOST A DECADE!

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE 2013 TACOMA AND SEE IF IT'S STILL A TIMELY DESIGN.

TOYOTA SOLD OVER 140,000 OF ITS MID-SIZE TACOMA PICKUPS LAST YEAR.

THAT'S NEARLY THREE TIMES IT'S ONLY CURRENT COMPETITOR, THE ALSO AGING NISSAN FRONTIER.

BUT EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS NO PLANS TO SELL THE NEW RANGER HERE, GM IS BRINGING BACK THE MID-SIZE CHEVROLET COLORADO AND GMC CANYON NEXT YEAR.

SO, THE TACOMA WILL SOON FACE SOME UP-TO-DATE COMPETITION.

INDEED, OUR 2013 "TACO" HAS SEEN RELATIVELY FEW CHANGES SINCE IT WAS REDONE FOR 2005.

THOUGH TO BE FAIR, THE RUGGED LOOK WE PRAISED THEN NEVER SEEMS TO GO OUT OF STYLE.

SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THE SEAT AND YOU'LL REALIZE WHY BIG TRUCKS ARE WHERE IT'S AT.

IT'S HARD TO GET TRULY COMFORTABLE IN THE COMPACT CONFINES OF THE TACOMA.

OUR DOUBLE CAB'S REAR CABIN WAS SPACIOUS, BUT THE CUSHIONS ARE ROCK HARD.

WE WOULDN'T SUGGEST PUTTING ANYONE BACK HERE FOR A LONG TIME EITHER.

REGULAR CAB AND ACCESS CABS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.

NEW FOR 2013 IS A TOP OF THE LINE LIMITED TRIM.

IT INCLUDES A HEAPING HELPING OF CHROME SPREAD TO THE 18-INCH ALLOYS, GRILLE, FOG LIGHT HOUSINGS, DOOR HANDLES, SIDE MIRRORS, AND REAR BUMPER.

THE CHROME TUBE STEP RAILS ARE OPTIONAL, BUT WE FOUND THEM TO BE MORE OF A HINDRANCE THAN HELP.

OTHER OPTIONAL GOODIES ON OUR TESTER INCLUDED THE V6 TOW PACKAGE AND BED STEP.

WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE TACOMA'S COMPOSITE BED.

IT'S PROVEN TO HOLD UP WELL.

BOTH 5 AND 6-FEET BED LENGTHS ARE AVAILABLE.

DRIVING BACK ROADS, THE TACOMA'S SUSPENSION IS OLD-SCHOOL STIFF, WHICH WILL CERTAINLY APPEAL TO THOSE THAT LIKE THEIR TRUCK TO RIDE LIKE ONE.

BUT MOST OF TODAY'S TRUCK BUYERS ARE LOOKING FOR A PICKUP THAT HAS THE SAME RIDE AS THE FAMILY CAR.

WHILE A 2.7-LITER I4 IS STANDARD, MANY BUYERS OPT FOR THE SAME 4.0-LITER V6 THAT'S BEEN ROCKING OUT UNDER THE TACOMA'S HOOD FOR YEARS.

OUTPUT IS 236-HORSEPOWER AND 266-POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

ITS RELIABILITY IS LEGENDARY, AND AS THEY SAY, IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.

ON THE ROAD, IT FEELS POWERFUL AND HAS NO PROBLEM TOWING THE 6,500 POUNDS THAT IT'S RATED FOR.

STANDARD WITH THE V6 IS A 6-SPEED MANUAL, THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF BUYERS OPT FOR THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC IN OUR TRUCK.

AT THE TRACK, OUR V6 AUTO TACOMA 4X4 COMPLETED THE 0 TO 60 TASK IN A VERY RESPECTABLE 7.8-SECONDS.

ALONG WITH LOTS OF POWER IS LOTS OF NOISE, AS IT WORKS ITS WAY TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 16.1-SECONDS AT 86 MILES-PER-HOUR.

SHIFTS COME SMOOTH AND CONFIDENT WITH AN OBVIOUS TUG ACCOMPANYING EACH GEAR CHANGE.

HOWEVER, THE OLD SCHOOL STIFF SUSPENSION MADE FOR SOME SLOW GOING AND AN OVERALL PRETTY POOR PERFORMANCE THROUGH OUR SLALOM COURSE.

EVEN WITH THE 18-INCH WHEELS, THERE'S LOTS OF TIRE ROLLOVER.

STEERING IS SLOW TO RESPOND; SO WHILE MANY NEWER FULL-SIZE PICKUPS HAVE BECOME PRETTY DECENT HANDLERS, THE TACOMA IS STILL PARTYING LIKE IT'S 1999.

ONE AREA THE STIFF SUSPENSION PAYS OFF IS IN BEING ABLE TO CONQUER SOME PRETTY RUGGED OFF-ROAD TERRAIN.

TACOMA'S PART-TIME HI-LO 4X4 SYSTEM IS ANOTHER OLD-RELIABLE.

IT MAY NOT BE A COMFORTABLE OFF-ROAD TREK, BUT THIS TRUCK DOES INSPIRE CONFIDENCE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR OUR V6 MID-SIZER ARE 16-CITY, 21-HIGHWAY AND 18-COMBINED.

THAT'S LESS THAN MOST COMPARABLE FULL-SIZE V6 TRUCKS.

FOR BEST MPG'S IN THE TACOMA, GO WITH THE FOUR-CYLINDER.

AND WITH THE I4, PRICING STARTS AT A REASONABLE $18,470.

BUT FOR A V6 EQUIPPED LIKE OUR LIMITED TESTER, YOU'RE LOOKING AT OVER $37,000.

AND THAT HIGH STICKER IS THE BEST EVIDENCE WHY MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING FULL SIZE WHEN YOU CAN GET A LOT MORE TRUCK FOR THE SAME MONEY.

WE KNOW THAT AN ALL-NEW TACOMA IS JUST OVER THE HORIZON.

BUT TOYOTA, AND FOR THAT MATTER, GM AND OTHER TRUCK MAKERS, MUST PROVE TO CONSUMERS THAT MID-SIZE TRUCKS ARE A BETTER VALUE THAN FULL-SIZE IF THEY HOPE TO EVER ENERGIZE THE SMALLER PICKUP SEGMENT.

THE TOYOTA TACOMA IS THE BEST OF THOSE SMALLER HAULERS AT THE MOMENT; BUT THE CLOCK IS TICKING FAST.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US SOON FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHEN WE'LL LET TODAY'S NEWEST COMPACT SEDANS DUEL IT OUT FOR TOP HONORS.

THEN WE'LL BLAST OFF IN THE CHEVROLET SONIC RS.

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 PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY TIRE RACK.

AND BY... ROCKAUTO HAS AUTO PARTS FROM HUNDREDS OF MANUFACTURERS.

NO MATTER WHAT CUSTOMERS DRIVE, THEY CAN PURCHASE ONLINE FROM A COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BRANDS, PRICES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

ROCKAUTO.COM, ALL THE PARTS YOUR CAR WILL EVER NEED.

3M.

MAKER OF 3M PAINT DEFENDER SYSTEM.

HELPS PROTECT YOUR PAINT IN THREE STEPS.

DRYING TO A CLEAR, REMOVABLE FILM FOR PROTECTION.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT 3MAUTO.COM.

DIEHARD.

THE DIEHARD ADVANCED GOLD BATTERY.

DESIGNED TO HELP START YOUR CAR AND POWER THE DEMANDS OF TODAY'S ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT AND ACCESSORIES IN IT.

MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT DIEHARD.COM.