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

JOIN US AS WE TEST CADILLAC'S ALL-NEW 4-DOOR FLAGSHIP SEDAN, THE CT6... PAT GOSS KEEPS OUR KNOW-HOW ON THE UP AND UP... ROGER MECCA MEETS HIS BEST MATE IN AN OFF-ROADING ICON... AND WE'LL HAVE AN ATTITUDE CHECK OF VOLKSWAGEN'S BEETLE DUNE...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OF MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

"OH, COME ON..." "HOT, HOT, HOT..." THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... "JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER."

TIRERACK.COM.

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: LIKE MANY RECENT GMs, CADILLAC'S CT6 SEDAN SEEMED TO BE A LONG TIME COMING.

BUT THAT'S OKAY, IF YOU'RE LAUNCHING AN ALL-NEW FLAGSHIP SEDAN TO GO AFTER THE WORLD'S BEST, TAKING WHATEVER TIME IS NECESSARY TO GET IT RIGHT IS PRUDENT AND SMART.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT CADILLAC'S NEW TAKE ON GLOBAL LUXURY, AND SEE IF THEY DID INDEED GET THE JOB DONE.

* THE 2016 CADILLAC CT6 IS INDEED AN ALL-NEW FLAGSHIP SEDAN THAT DOESN'T REPLACE ANYTHING CURRENTLY IN THE LINEUP, BUT RATHER LOOKS TO EXTEND THE RANGE WHILE RAISING THE PROFILE OF THE ENTIRE CADILLAC BRAND.

SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN AN XTS, BOTH THE CT6s OVERALL LENGTH AND 122.4 INCH WHEELBASE ARE JUST SHY OF BENCHMARK LARGE LUXURY LINERS MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS AND BMW 7-SERIES, BUT IT'S MUCH BIGGER THAN 4-DOORS LIKE THE ACURA RLX THAT STRADDLE THE MIDSIZE/FULL-SIZE LINE.

THIS CAR IS CLEARLY FULL-SIZE AND IT IS ALSO BEAUTIFUL, SLEEK, AND SOPHISTICATED, FAR MORE GORGEOUS GOING DOWN THE STREET THAN IT EVER LOOKED ON AN AUTO SHOW STAND.

YET, IT STILL APPEARS VERY AMERICAN, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF TRADITIONAL CADDY CUES.

PROPORTIONS ARE JUST RIGHT.

STANDARD 2.0-LITER TURBO 4-CYLINDER POWER MIGHT BE A STRETCH FOR A LARGE GLOBAL SEDAN, BUT ITS 265 HORSEPOWER IS CERTAINLY ADEQUATE.

AND MOST CADILLAC OWNERS NEVER KNOW WHAT'S UNDER THE HOOD ANYWAY.

A 335 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6 IS THE NEXT STEP UP, BUT THE HOT TICKET FOR NOW, IS OUR TEST CAR'S TWIN-TURBO 3.0 LITER V6.

HORSEPOWER HERE IS 404, ACCOMPANIED BY 400 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

WE IMAGINE A V8 WILL APPEAR SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS FOR ALL.

MORE SIGNIFICANT IS THE RETURN OF A REAR-WHEEL DRIVE ARCHITECTURE.

OF COURSE, ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS AVAILABLE AS WELL.

AND CONSIDER, OUR MINDS BLOWN WHEN WE CHECKED THE REARVIEW MIRROR ONLY TO SEE IT'S ACTUALLY A WIDE VIDEO DISPLAY FROM THE REAR MOUNTED CAMERA.

IT TAKES A LITTLE GETTING USED TO AS YOU LOSE YOUR NORMAL FRAME OF REFERENCE, BUT YOU CAN ALWAYS SWITCH BACK TO A NORMAL MIRROR.

APPLYING LESSONS LEARNED WITH THE ATS, LOTS OF ALUMINUM IS INVOLVED IN KEEPING WEIGHT DOWN, MORE MID-SIZE THAN FULL AT JUST OVER 4,000 POUNDS WITH THE TURBO-6, AND YOU CERTAINLY FEEL IT.

HIGHWAY RIDE IS QUITE PLUSH, YET NOWHERE NEAR BLOATED; AND IT DOESN'T GO TO PIECES WHEN PUSHED HARD THROUGH CORNERS.

IT'S ACTUALLY IMPRESSIVELY SOLID, STAYS ALMOST FLAT THANKS TO MAGNETIC RIDE CONTROL, AND HAS A JOYOUS BIT OF OVERSTEER AT THE LIMIT.

STEERING IS VERY DIRECT WITH A PERFORMANCE SEDAN FEEL AND EXCELLENT FEEDBACK.

THINGS ACTUALLY DO GET SPORTY IN SPORT MODE, AND THE CAR SEEMS TO SHRINK AS YOU PUSH HARDER; YET IT REMAINS INCREDIBLY SMOOTH.

OFF THE LINE IT CERTAINLY FEELS LIKE 400 HORSEPOWER, WITH A QUICK LEAP TO 60 IN 5.4 SECONDS.

WITH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THERE WAS GOBS OF TRACTION AND PLENTY OF BOLD POWER LAID DOWN.

THE ENGINE REVS QUICKLY, AND AUTOMATIC SHIFTS COME ON JUST AS FAST, BUT THE CAR REMAINS SUPER STABLE AT SPEED, HITTING 105 AT THE END OF THE QUARTER, AFTER 13.7 SECONDS.

THE INTERIOR IS A HUGE STEP UP FOR THE BRAND, NICER THAN THE XTS, AND EVEN MORE INVITING THAN THE XT5 CROSSOVER THAT WE'VE ALSO RECENTLY SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN.

MOST MATERIALS LIKE WOOD AND CHROME ARE EXCELLENT.

THE LEATHER WORK, NOT SO MUCH.

AND THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND SURFACES GOING ON IN HERE.

MOST OF US AREN'T FANS OF HAVING STRICTLY TOUCH CONTROLS, THOUGH THINGS HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THE ORIGINAL CUE INTERFACE; SO WE COULD LIVE WITH THIS SETUP.

CT6 FRONT SEAT COMFORT IS TRULY SPECTACULAR, AND WITH ALMOST A FOOT MORE WHEELBASE THAN THE XTS, REAR SEAT ROOM VERY PLENTIFUL, AS IS TRUNK SPACE.

EVERY SAFETY SYSTEM YOU COULD EXPECT IS AVAILABLE INCLUDING NIGHT VISION AND AUTOMATIC BRAKING, WHICH WAITS UNTIL THE ABSOLUTE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND BEFORE AGGRESSIVELY TAKING OVER AND BRINGING YOU TO A SAFE STOP.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 26-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 22.8 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

FOR AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 15.7 BARRELS OF OIL CONSUMED AND 7.0 TONS OF CO2 EMITTED YEARLY, STYLE AND SOPHISTICATION COME WITH HEFTY PRICE TAGS, BUT CADILLAC DOES SEEM TO HAVE A CT6 FOR EVERYONE FROM A BASE CT6 AT $54,490 TO PLATINUM TRIM WITH TWIN-TURBO V6 AT $88,460.

SO, DOES THE 2016 CADILLAC CT6 REALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE WITH THE WORLD'S BEST LUXURY SEDANS?

WELL, IT'S CLOSE WITH ONLY A FEW DETAILS THAT NEED ADDRESSING.

STILL, WE THINK THE CT6 EASILY EXCEEDS ITS TRADITIONAL BUYERS' EXPECTATIONS, WHILE GIVING NEW CONVERTS WON OVER WITH THE CTS AND ATS A CAR TO ASPIRE TO.

IT IS A BOLD MOVE UP IN STYLE, STANCE, AND INTERIOR FEATURES, AND WORTHY OF ITS FLAGSHIP BANNER.

IT'S ALSO, CLEARLY THE BEST EVER FROM CADILLAC, AND AN EFFORT WE GLADLY PRAISE.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS WHERE PROPANE BUSES ARE MAKING THE GRADE!

A NEW SHIPMENT JUST ARRIVED FOR THE BOSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, WHICH MEANS OVER 20% OF THE DISTRICT'S FLEET IS NOW POWERED BY PROPANE.

WITH THIS CLEAN-BURNING FUEL SOURCE, THE PROPANE FLEET EMITS 132,000 FEWER POUNDS OF NITROGEN OXIDE AND 5,400 FEWER POUNDS OF PARTICULATE MATTER EACH YEAR, WHEN COMPARED TO THE DIESEL BUSES THEY REPLACED.

Peter Crossan: AND OF COURSE, WE'VE ELIMINATED THE PARTICULATE PROBLEM, AND GREENHOUSE GASES, WE'VE MADE A BIG CONTRIBUTION.

A CONTRIBUTION AS LARGE AS TAKING 30 DIESEL BUSES OFF THE ROAD ENTIRELY.

John: THE PUSH TO GO GREEN IS BOOMING IN BEANTOWN WITH A 10 YEAR PLAN IS TO HAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S ENTIRE FLEET GRADUATE TO THE POWER OF PROPANE!

* FROM ALASKA TO ZIMBABWE, ONE VEHICLE HAS BLAZED MORE TRAILS INTO THE WILDEST REGIONS OF THE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER, THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER.

ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED AS A FARM VEHICLE, THE DESIGN USED ALUMINUM ALLOY LEFT OVER FROM WORLD WAR II FIGHTER PLANES.

WHEN ASSEMBLY STATED IN ENGLAND IN 1948, NO ONE IMAGINED THE LAND ROVER WOULD BECOME SYNONYMOUS WITH ADVENTURE, AND BELOVED BY AUTO-ENTHUSIASTS WORLDWIDE.

INCLUDING OUR OWN ROGER MECCA.

SO, HE SET OFF TO DISCOVER FOR HIMSELF WHY SO MANY HAVE FALLEN SO HARD FOR SUCH A SIMPLE MACHINE.

Roger Mecca: IN THE LONG AND WONDERFUL HISTORY OF THE AUTOMOBILE, PERHAPS NO VEHICLE HAS BEEN AS SYNONYMOUS WITH BLAZING TRAILS, EXPLORATION, AND GETTING DIRTY IN THE FARTHEST REACHES OF THE GLOBE, LIKE THE LAND ROVER, AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE DEFENDER.

NOW, I KNOW WHAT, I JUST SAID IS CONSIDERED BLASPHEMY AMONG JEEP FANS, BUT CONSIDER THIS LITTLE FACTOID: IN THE 20TH CENTURY, THE FIRST VEHICLE EVER SEEN BY 60% OF THE DEVELOPING WORLD WAS THE LAND ROVER.

AND THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN UNLESS YOU'RE DRIVING A VEHICLE WHERE NO VEHICLE HAS EVER GONE BEFORE.

Trevor Griffiths: THEY HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF GROUND CLEARANCE, THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL COMBINATION OF ENGINES, TRANSMISSIONS, AND TRANSFER CASES WITH GEAR RATIOS THAT MAKE IT VERY EASY TO TAKE A LARGE LOAD OF PEOPLE OR CARGO OVER VERY DIFFICULT TERRAIN, OVER, AND OVER, FOR MILES, AND MILES, AND KILOMETERS, AND KILOMETERS.

Roger: TREVOR GRIFFITHS IS THE OWNER OF BRITISH 4X4 SPECIALISTS IN ELIZABETHTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND HE HAS BEEN DRIVING, AND WORKING ON LAND ROVERS OF ALL KINDS HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

BUT EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, THEY'RE STILL ABLE TO IMPRESS HIM.

Trevor: I SUSPECT THE VEHICLE MOST OF THE TIME CAN OUTPERFORM MY ABILITIES.

YOU TRY AN OBSTACLE, YOU ACCOMPLISH THAT, YOU GET OVER IT, EVERYTHING'S STILL INTACT.

YOUR LIKE, "OKAY, WELL LET'S SEE IF WE CAN DO THIS."

Roger: UNTIL 1983, THE LAND ROVER DEFENDER WAS SIMPLY CALLED A "LAND ROVER," BUILT BY THE BRITISH AUTOMAKER ROVER.

IN 1983, THE NAME WAS UPDATED TO THE LAND ROVER 90 AND 110, REFERRING TO THE WHEELBASES OF THE TWO MODELS.

AND THEN FINALLY IN 1990, THE DEFENDER NAME WAS INTRODUCED TO HELP DISTINGUISH IT FROM THE NEW DISCOVERY MODEL.

AND THEN IN 1993, DEFENDERS WERE OFFICIALLY BEING SOLD IN THE U.S...

BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT IT'S BEEN CALLED OVER THE YEARS, DRIVING ONE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON MY AUTO BUCKET LIST.

SO, TODAY IS PARTICULARLY EXCITING NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S MY FIRST EVER TIME DRIVING A DEFENDER, BUT BECAUSE I GET A CHANCE TO SEE IF IT LIVES UP TO ITS LEGENDARY STATUS AND ENJOY IT IN ITS NATURAL HABITAT, OFF ROAD!

UNLIKE, TODAY'S MODERN SUVs AND CUVs, THE DEFENDER HAS ALWAYS BEEN MUCH MORE AT HOME AS FAR FROM ASPHALT AS POSSIBLE.

IN FACT, DRIVING IT ON PAVEMENT IS NOTHING SPECIAL.

IT'S NOISY, BUMPY, AND ABOUT AS PRECISE AS A TRACTOR.

BUT NONE OF THIS MATTERS, NOT EVEN A LITTLE.

BECAUSE UNLIKE THE SUVs OF TODAY, GETTING OFF THE PAVEMENT AND ONTO THE DIRT IS WHAT THIS THING LIVES FOR.

IF I'M BEING TOTALLY HONEST, I'VE NEVER BEEN A HUGE FAN OF MODERN SUVs.

THE 4-RUNNER, THE LAND CRUISER, THE RUBICON, AND THE DEFENDER, ARE WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE A TRUE SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE.

THEY'RE NOT HAPPY RUNNING ERRANDS, THEY DON'T WANT TO BE GOING TO AN OFFICE, OR BEING STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

THEY WANT TO BE OUT HERE IN THE WILD, FINDING THE DEEPEST, DARKEST CORNERS OF THE GLOBE AND THEN WHEN THEY GET THERE, TURN AROUND AND FIND SOMETHING DIRTIER.

SO AFTER, SPENDING AN ENTIRE DAY BEHIND THE WHEEL OF ONE OF MAN'S GREATEST AUTOMOTIVE CREATIONS, WHAT'S MY VERDICT?

IT... IS...

AWESOME!

JUST LIKE A GREAT SPORTS CAR, LIKE A CAYMAN OR MIATA INSPIRES YOU TO DRIVE FASTER AND HARDER, THIS THING IS ALMOST DARING ME TO FIND SOMETHING STEEPER, AND ROCKER, AND MUDDIER.

AND NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF TERRAIN IS THROWN AT YOU, THERE'S AN UNDENIABLE CONFIDENCE THAT NOTHING CAN GET IN YOUR WAY...

EVEN WHEN FACED WITH A PARTICULARLY TECHNICAL DESCENT.

Trevor: NICE, KEEP ALL THE WHEELS ON THE GROUND.

GOOD CHOICE, GOOD CHOICE... ...THAT WAS EXCITING" Roger: BUT ALAS, AS OF JANUARY 29, 2016, THOSE MOMENTS OF EXCITEMENT ARE COMING TO AN END.

ON THAT DAY AT 9:22 AM, THE FINAL LAND ROVER DEFENDER, A 90 SOFT TOP, ROLLED OFF THE ASSEMBLY LINE IN ENGLAND, ENDING A 68 YEAR PRODUCTION RUN.

BUT DON'T WORRY.

MORE THAN TWO MILLION REMAIN, AND OF THOSE, AN ESTIMATED 70% ARE STILL RUNNING IN SOME FORM SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD TODAY.

SO, YOU SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF CHANCES TO EXPERIENCE THIS LEGEND FOR YOURSELF.

JUST BE READY TO GET DIRTY.

John: PAT GOSS HAS A FEW MORE TIPS TO KEEP YOUR CAR IN TIP-TOP SHAPE... Pat Goss: NO MATTER HOW WELL YOU CARE FOR YOUR CAR, THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT GO BAD JUST THROUGH TIME AND WELL, MAYBE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF USE.

WELL, ONE OF THOSE THINGS OF COURSE IS BRAKES, WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THAT...

BUT UNDER THE HOOD WE HAVE SOME PARTS THAT THEY WEAR OUT THROUGH TIME.

AND THOSE THINGS ARE: HEATER HOSES AND RADIATOR HOSES.

NOW, IT USED TO BE THAT A HEATER HOSE OR A RADIATOR HOSE WAS JUST A CURVED PIECE OF HOSE, OR MAYBE EVEN A STRAIGHT PIECE OF HOSE, AND THAT WAS IT.

BUT TODAY WE HAVE THINGS LIKE THIS: THIS MESS IS A RADIATOR HOSE.

AND IT HAS HEATER HOSES THAT ARE TAPPED OFF OF IT, AND SO ON.

WELL, IT'S MADE AS AN ASSEMBLY.

YOU DON'T BUY THIS IN PIECES, YOU BUY IT LIKE THIS.

AND IT HAS THESE SPECIAL CLIPS THAT PUSH ONTO THE CONNECTORS ON THE CAR, AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

THEY'RE EXPENSIVE, AND IN MANY CASES THEY'RE LABOR INTENSIVE.

SO, IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU COULD DO IT ONCE AND BE DONE WITH IT.

WELL, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

THIS HOSE IS FROM A COMPANY CALLED "RAINE," AND IT IS A SILICONE HOSE.

SILICONE, TYPICALLY IS GOING TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

SO, IF YOU PLAN ON KEEPING THE CAR FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STEP UP TO SILICONE HOSES AND BE DONE WITH IT UNTIL YOU GET RID OF THE CAR.

ALRIGHT NOW, ANOTHER THING THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM, AND YOU'LL FIND THAT A LOT OF TECHNICIANS ARE GUILTY OF THIS...

I USED TO BE UNTIL, I LEARNED THE FACTS ON IT.

AND THAT IS: YOU SEE THE CAR COMES FROM THE FACTORY WITH THESE SPECIAL SPRING TYPE CLAMPS ON THE RADIATOR HOSES AND LOTS OF TIMES ON THE HEATER HOSES AS WELL.

WELL, HERE WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE.

THIS CLAMP IS A SPRING AND IT APPLIES EQUAL PRESSURE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

AND YOU SHOULD NOT THROW THIS AWAY AND REPLACE IT WITH ONE OF THESE WORM-DRIVE CLAMPS BECAUSE THE WORM-DRIVE CLAMP HAS A PRESSURE POINT RIGHT UNDER THE SCREW.

AND WHEN YOU PUT THAT ONTO A PLASTIC PART, LIKE THIS RADIATOR, WHAT HAPPENS IS... BECAUSE THESE PARTS ARE EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING ALL THE TIME, WELL THAT PRESSURE POINT EVENTUALLY CRACKS THE PLASTIC, AND GOODBYE RADIATOR.

AND OF COURSE RADIATORS CAN BE EXPENSIVE.

SO YOUR BEST BET IS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO THIS YOURSELF, OR EVEN IF YOU'RE HAVING THE TECHNICIAN DO IT, INSIST THAT THEY USE THE ORIGINAL CLAMPS.

BECAUSE YOUR RADIATOR AND OTHER PLASTIC PARTS WILL LAST LONGER.

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

ROLL FOR RECORD...

SNEAK IN MUSIC...

IN 3-2-1... CLEAR ON 3... * John: BUT THE REAL TREAT ABOUT THE TOURING COUPE PACKAGE IS WHAT YOU CAN'T SEE.

CADILLAC'S TOURING SUSPENSION SYSTEM INCLUDES LARGER FRONT AND REAR ANTI-SWAY BARS, HIGHER EFFORT BALL-TYPE STEERING, STIFFER SPRINGS, AND MORE RESPONSIVE SHOCK VALVING.

AND ALL OF IT WORKS WONDERS.

AVERAGE SPEED THROUGH OUR SLOW SLALOM OF 43.7 MILES PER HOUR RATES GOOD FOR ANY CAR, AND BETTER THAN MOST.

THERE'S STILL LOTS OF BODY ROLL, BUT STEERING IS QUICK, PRECISE, WITH LITTLE PLOW.

IF YOU REMEMBER THAT THE EL DO IS FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE, YOU'RE EVEN MORE IMPRESSED... LET'S GRAB MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, FOR THE LATEST AND GREATEST.

THE HYUNDAI SANTA FE HAS BEEN IN FLUX OVER THE YEARS, JUST AS MUCH AS THE CROSSOVER SEGMENT ITSELF CONTINUES TO EVOLVE.

SO, OF COURSE FOR '17 THAT HERITAGE CONTINUES WITH A HOST OF UPDATES.

WE GRABBED A QUICK SPIN IN A REVISED SANTA FE SPORT, WHICH IS THE 5-PASSENGER VERSION THAT USED TO BE KNOWN AS JUST THE SANTA FE.

THAT NAME IS NOW RESERVED FOR THE 7-PASSENGER VARIETY.

AND MOST CHANGES DO APPLY TO BOTH MODELS, BUT NOT ALL.

STARTING OUTSIDE, THE TYPICAL NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS ARE IN PLAY, AS WELL AS A NEW BRUSHED APPEARANCE TO THE GRILLE AND RE-WORKED HEADLIGHTS.

WHEELS ARE NEW, AS IS THE ROCKER TRIM IN BETWEEN THEM.

FRESH DRLs COMPLETE THE PACKAGE.

ENGINE CHOICES REMAIN THE SAME, A 185 HORSEPOWER 2.4 LITER I4 OR 240 HORSEPOWER 2.0-LITER TURBO-4 IN THE SPORT, WITH A 290 HORSEPOWER 3.3 LITER V6 IN THE 3-ROW SANTA FE.

BUT ALL GET SOFTWARE UPGRADES THAT ADD STANDARD DRIVE MODES OF SPORT, NORMAL, AND ECO, BUT ALSO ROB SOME POWER FROM THE 4-CYLINDERS.

Brian Robinson: THE CROSSOVER MARKET IS SO PACKED, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ENTRY FOR JUST ABOUT ANYONE.

WHERE I THINK THE SANTA FE FITS IN, IT HAS A LITTLE BIT OF A SPORTY EDGE, BUT IT'S REALLY THE ATTAINABLE LUXURY THEME THAT IT CLINGS TO THE MOST.

John: SO, NATURALLY INSIDE THE CABIN, MATERIALS APPEAR ABOVE PRICE POINT AND THERE'S COMFORTABLE SPACE FOR BOTH OCCUPANTS AND CARGO.

THE CENTER STACK IS RE-CONFIGURED, WITH A NEW 7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN AVAILABLE IN THE SPORT, STANDARD IN THE SANTA FE.

BOTH CAN UPGRADE FURTHER TO AN 8-INCH SCREEN WITH NAVIGATION.

THERE ARE NEW SAFETY FEATURES AS WELL FOR '17, INCLUDING A 360-DEGREE CAMERA AND AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

ON SALE NOW, THE 2017 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT STARTS AROUND $26,000; THE 3-ROW SANTA FE GOING FOR ABOUT $31,000.

AND STAY TUNED FOR MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON.

WE TALK A LOT ABOUT PERFECT FAMILY VACATION VEHICLES, BUT IT TURNS OUT MOST OF THEM ARE CHILD'S PLAY COMPARED TO THIS 2017 WINNEBAGO 24J CLASS-C RV.

IN OUR FLEET A LITTLE OVER A MONTH, THIS RIG HAS ALREADY TAKEN IN TWO TRIPS TO ATLANTIC BEACHES AND 1 THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA.

WE'RE LOVING THE DIESEL POWER, BOTH FOR KEEPING UP WITH TRAFFIC ON STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADES, AND FOR THE BETTER THAN EXPECTED 13.4 MILES PER GALLON OVER OUR INITIAL 2,000 MILES.

STILL, THERE'S NO WINNING THE FUEL ECONOMY GAME WHEN DRIVING A MEMBER OF THE "TINY HOUSE NATION."

YET DESPITE A FOOTPRINT THAT YOU CAN ALMOST FIT INTO A NORMAL PARKING SPOT, THE 24J HAS PLENTY OF STORAGE SPACE.

THERE ARE THE USUAL CABINETS AND OVERHEAD BINS, BUT ALSO UNDER-BED STORAGE, AND EVEN A FEW CLASS-A STYLE BINS AROUND THE EXTERIOR.

AS FOR "ROOM AT THE INN", IT COMFORTABLY SLEEPS 4, 5 IN A PINCH.

THIS LATEST MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER CHASSIS HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A PLUS FOR THE RV WORLD.

NOT ONLY IS POWER MUCH MORE PLENTIFUL THAN BEFORE, BUT THE RIDE IS SMOOTHER THAN PREVIOUS SPRINTER BASED RVs WE'VE SAMPLED.

NO WONDER RVING IS A FAST GROWING AMERICAN PASTIME.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE TOYOTA TACOMA ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

IF YOU'RE LIKE VOLKSWAGEN THESE DAYS, YOU MIGHT WANT TO, JUST GET AWAY FROM IT ALL FOR A WHILE.

AND NOW, THEY'VE PRODUCED THAT PERFECT GETAWAY VEHICLE, THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE.

A CLASSICALLY THEMED, THOUGHT THOROUGHLY MODERN DUNE BUGGY BUG, THAT VOLKSWAGEN HOPES WILL MAKE YOU FORGET THEIR DIESEL WOES, AND GO FOR A RIDE, JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT.

* OKAY, WE KNOW THAT THIS 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE IS NOT AN ACTUAL DUNE BUGGY IN THE TRADITIONAL DIY SENSE.

BUT IT CLEARLY IS INSPIRED BY THE BAJA BUGS OF THE 1960s AND '70s, WHEN THE BEETLE INFESTATION OF AMERICA WAS IN FULL SWING.

PEACE AND LOVE, BABY!

TODAY'S DUNE PACKAGE IS A TRIP TO NOSTALGIA, AVAILABLE ON EITHER HARDTOP OR CONVERTIBLE BEETLES.

IT STARTS WITH SOME UNIQUE TRIM AND EXTERIOR COLORS LIKE THIS '70s TASTIC SANDSTORM YELLOW.

FROM THERE IT GETS ALL-NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS... BLACK-OUT AROUND THE WHEEL ARCHES... SIDE MOLDING... 18 INCH CANYON ALUMINUM WHEELS... SILVER AND BLACK SIDE MIRRORS... A BIG DUCKTAIL SPOILER... AND OF COURSE DUNE LETTERING ON THE DOORS TO LET EVERYONE KNOW WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT... RIDE HEIGHT DOES GET A SLIGHT BUMP OF ALMOST ONE HALF OF AN INCH, THOUGH YOU HAVE TO LOOK REALLY HARD TO NOTICE IT.

TAILLIGHTS ARE LEDs, AND AN AVAILABLE LIGHTING PACKAGE ADDS LED DRLs AND BI-XENON HEADLIGHTS TO THE FRONT.

THERE IS NO THROWBACK UNDER THE HOOD WITH THE SAME 1.8 LITER TURBO-4 FOUND IN BASE BEETLES, AND OF COURSE IT POWERS STRICTLY THE FRONT WHEELS.

A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS STANDARD.

ENGINE OUTPUT IS 170 HORSEPOWER AND 184 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

UNABLE TO FIND ANY SAND DUNES, DESERTS, OR EVEN BEACHES HERE IN OUR CENTRAL MARYLAND LOCATION, OUR ADVENTURES WERE STRICTLY CONFINED TO THE PAVEMENT.

* TAKING IT IN A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME, WE FOUND GOOD TORQUEY PUNCH OFF THE LINE; ENOUGH TO HAVE TO BATTLE A BIT OF WHEEL SPIN ON OUR WAY TO AN 8.0 SECOND 0-60.

WORKING DOWN THE TRACK, IT'S SWIFT AND MOSTLY SILENT.

SHIFTS ARE SNUG, AND QUICK, WITH THE ENGINE, AND EXHAUST FINDING AN ATHLETIC, AND EAGER HARMONY, FOR THE 16.2 SECONDS THAT IT TAKES TO TRIP THE LIGHTS AT 90 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE WAS GOOD BALANCE THROUGH THE CONES, WITH JUST SOME MILD OVERSTEER THAT PROGRESSED THE HARDER WE PUSHED, EVENTUALLY GETTING REALLY LOOSE AS SPEEDS ROSE.

STEERING IS LIGHT AND QUICK IN APPLICATION, BUT VAGUE IN FEEL.

STOPS FROM 60 WERE CONSISTENTLY 120 FEET, WITH A SOFT AND RELAXED NATURE THAT PERFECTLY MATCHED THE REST OF THE TRACK EXPERIENCE.

INSIDE, THE DUNE'S LANDSCAPE HAS NOTICEABLY SHIFTED.

THERE ARE SPORT SEATS WITH CONTRASTING COLOR, A UNIQUE STEERING WHEEL, AND BODY-COLORED DASH AND DOOR TRIM.

AS WELL AS VWs NEW MIB II COMPOSITION MEDIA INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM FEATURING A 6.3 INCH TOUCH SCREEN THAT SENSES WHEN YOUR HAND IS APPROACHING AND OPERATES WITH TABLET LIKE CONTROL.

GAUGES GET A UNIQUE THEME, WITH COLORS TO MATCH THE STITCHING FOUND ON THE WHEEL AND SEATS.

THE AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE ADDS DUAL ZONE AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL AS WELL AS A FENDER PREMIUM AUDIO SYSTEM.

A BACK-UP CAMERA IS STANDARD, AND WE STILL LOVE SEEING IT POP OUT FROM BEHIND THE LOGO.

THE REST OF THE BEETLE'S INTERIOR CONFINES REMAIN THE SAME, WHICH MEANS A REAR SEAT TOO TIGHT FOR ADULTS, BUT ALSO A WIDE OPENING HATCH THAT REVEALS ROOM FOR 15.4 CUBIC-FEET OF CARGO; EXPANDING TO 29.9 CUBIC-FEET WITH THE SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

THE DUNE IS DEFINITELY A COOL ADDITION TO THE BEETLE LINEUP.

BUT WE'D BE MUCH MORE JACKED UP ABOUT IT, IF VW WOULD HAVE JACKED IT UP A LITTLE MORE, ADDED ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND THROWN ON SOME ALL-TERRAINS, MAKING A SUBARU IMPREZA CROSSTREK COMPETITOR OUT OF IT.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 25-CITY, 34-HIGHWAY, AND 28-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A GOOD 29.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

PRICING FOR THE DUNE COUPE STARTS AT $24,815; PUTTING IT JUST ABOVE SE TRIM LEVEL.

AND YOU'RE STUCK WITH THE 1.8 LITER AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

THE CONVERTIBLE DUNE ARRIVES LATER THIS SUMMER.

LET'S FACE IT.

IF YOU'RE DRIVING AROUND IN A BEETLE, YOU'RE NOT AFRAID OF ATTRACTING A LITTLE ATTENTION TO YOURSELF.

SO, WHY NOT GO ALL IN, AND ADD SOME SERIOUS ATTITUDE TO YOUR BUG, WITH THE 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE.

IT'S A PERFECT LITTLE ESCAPE VEHICLE, EVEN IF YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO FIND A SHORT GET AWAY FROM YOUR DAILY GRIND.

WELL, THAT'S OUR SHOW, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT.

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK , WHY NOT CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST AS WELL AS COMPLETE EPISODES AT PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, AS WE CHECK IN ON CHEVROLET'S REVAMPED EQUINOX CROSSOVER UTILITY, THEN IT'S SOME MOTORING MMMADNESS IN THE BMW M2.

TILL 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... TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

"OH, COME ON..." "HOT, HOT, HOT..." THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... "JUST A BOTTLE OF WATER."

TIRERACK.COM.

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.

*