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

JOIN US AND PLUG IN AND RECHARGE WITH A TEST OF THE NEW CHEVROLET VOLT... PAT GOSS HAS AN IN YOUR FACE LOOK AT WHEN AIRBAGS GO WILD... ZACK MASKELL TRIES NOT TO GO OVER THE EDGE WHILE TESTING WINTER TIRES ON ICE... AND WE'LL FULFILL OUR NEED FOR SWEDE IN THE ALL-NEW VOLVO XC90... >> JOHN: SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

>> ANNOUNCER: 35 YEARS OF MOTORWEEK, TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE... BROUGHT TO YOU BY: >> ANNOUNCER: PHYLLIS IS HEADED TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

>> JOHN: WHILE SALES OF THE CHEVROLET VOLT MAY NOT HAVE LIVED UP TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN, IT DID FIND LEGIONS OF FANS WHO LOVED THE IDEA OF A PLUG-IN ELECTRIC CAR FOR COMMUTES, WITH A RELIABLE GAS ENGINE AS BACKUP AND FOR LONGER TRIPS.

INDEED VOLT OWNERS ARE AMONG THE MOST SATISFIED OUT THERE.

WELL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, 5-YEARS HAVE PASSED, AND A 2ND GENERATION VOLT HAS ARRIVED, AND IT LOOKS TO UP THE AMPERAGE IN EVERY RESPECT.

THE 2016 CHEVROLET VOLT MAY BE ALL-NEW, BUT IT'S MISSION IS STILL THE SAME.

GET AS MANY AMERICANS AS POSSIBLE TO EMBRACE THE PLUG-IN LIFESTYLE BY MAKING IT AS EASY AND STRESS FREE AS POSSIBLE, BY INCLUDING A GAS ENGINE AND GENERATOR TO ELIMINATE ALL ASPECTS OF RANGE ANXIETY.

AND TO THAT POINT, CHIEF AMONG IT'S NEWNESS IS ADDITIONAL RANGE; BOTH IN EV, NOW 53-MILES ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT; AND IN TOTAL, WITH 420-MILES NOW POSSIBLE BEFORE A FILL-UP.

MAKING THIS HAPPEN IS A NEW DUAL-MOTOR DRIVE UNIT THAT IS 12% MORE EFFICIENT THAN BEFORE.

THERE'S MORE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY ONBOARD AS WELL, NOW 18.4KWH'S WORTH, THOUGH IT WEIGHS 20-LBS.

LESS.

ELECTRIC MOTOR OUTPUT STAYS THE SAME AT 111-KW, BUT THE ENGINE, OR RANGE EXTENDER IN PLUG-IN PARLANCE, GROWS TO 1.5-LITERS.

HORSEPOWER JUMPS 17 TO 101.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE UP SIGNIFICANTLY; NOW 42-COMBINED, WITH AN MPGE RATING OF 106.

ALSO SAVING YOU A FEW DOLLARS, PREMIUM FUEL IS NO LONGER REQUIRED.

SO THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF JUST 2.0 BARRELS OF OIL USED YEARLY WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 0.8 TONS IS CLOSE TO NIRVANA.

PERHAPS MORE VITAL TO SOME, IS A NEW EXTERIOR DESIGN THAT LOOKS A LOT LESS SCI-FI, AND MORE DOWN TO EARTH.

THOUGH IT'S STILL VERY MODERN, SPORTY, IF A LITTLE PRIUS-LIKE.

A HIGHLY AERODYNAMIC SHAPE REMAINS OF COURSE, BUT NO MORE THAN MANY OTHER MAINSTREAM OFFERINGS.

EVERY EXTERIOR DIMENSION IS UP SLIGHTLY EXCEPT FOR HEIGHT.

BOTTOM LINE, THIS VOLT WILL DO A LOT MORE BLENDING IN THAN BROADCASTING YOUR ECO-MINDED CREDENTIALS.

SIGNATURE TOUCHES LIKE THE FLASHY SPLIT GRILLES GET A MAJOR RETHINK.

LOW ENERGY LED HEADLIGHTS ARE STANDARD; AS ARE 17-INCH WHEELS, KEYLESS IGNITION, AND REMOTE START.

RETAINING IT'S HATCHBACK DESIGN MEANS IT'S STILL A VERY PRACTICAL VEHICLE AS WELL, PERHAPS MORE SO NOW THAT YOU CAN GET A 3RD PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT, IF THEY ARE VERY SMALL IN GIRTH THAT IS!

THERE IS A GOOD AMOUNT OF REAR LEG ROOM, BUT HEAD ROOM IS STILL TIGHT FOR ADULTS.

THE CARGO AREA REMAINS UNCHANGED AT 10.6 CUBIC-FT. SEATS UP, BUT THE PORTABLE CHARGE CORD IS MORE COMPACT AND THERE'S A BETTER SYSTEM FOR STORING IT.

STANDARD SPLIT FOLDING REAR SEATS EXPAND THE SPACE FOR LONGER ITEMS.

MORE MAINSTREAM ALSO DESCRIBES THE CHANGES UP FRONT.

THE SEATS HAVE IMPROVED COMFORT, AND CONTROLS ARE MORE TRADITIONAL WITH ADMITTEDLY LESS WOW FACTOR THAN BEFORE.

BUT WHILE IT MAY NOT BE AS FUTURISTIC, IT STILL HAS A HIGH TECH FEEL WITH AN 8-INCH RECONFIGURABLE LCD SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL FOR INSTRUMENTATION, AND ONE ON THE CENTER STACK FOR INFOTAINMENT.

NORMAL, SPORT, MOUNTAIN, AND HOLD DRIVE MODES ARE HERE AGAIN, BUT THE CADILLAC ELR'S REGEN-ON-DEMAND BRAKE STEERING WHEEL PADDLES ARE A NEW ADDITION.

A BACK-UP CAM IS STANDARD; AND TO MESH WITH OUR CONNECTED LIVES, THERE'S INCREASED PHONE INTEGRATION THROUGH APPLE CARPLAY.

A NEW PREMIER TRIM EXPANDS ON THE PREVIOUS VOLT'S PREMIUM PACKAGE, ADDING HEATED SEATS FRONT AND REAR, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, WIRELESS PHONE CHARGING, AND AUTOMATIC PARK ASSIST.

REGARDLESS OF TRIM, ALL SEAT CONTROLS ARE MANUAL, AS NO POWER SEATS ARE AVAILABLE.

STILL RIDING ON THE CRUZE CHASSIS MEANS RIDE QUALITY IS GOOD, BUT NOT EXCEPTIONAL.

AND IT FEELS SMALL AND FAIRLY COMPETENT IN THE CORNERS, PROVIDED YOU DON'T ASK TOO MUCH OF IT.

STEERING IS DIRECT WITH A NICE WEIGHT TO IT.

WE WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE GOOD SENSATION OF POWER COMING OFF THE LINE, BUT PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO IN PASSING SITUATIONS.

GM CLAIMS AN 8.4-SECOND 0-60, BUT OUR SEAT OF THE PANTS FEEL PUTS IT EVEN QUICKER THAN THAT.

A REVISED BRAKING SYSTEM ELIMINATES SOME OF THE REGENERATIVE FEEL, AND WITH GOOD SUCCESS; THOUGH THE HARDER YOU WORK THEM, THE MORE IT COMES TO THE FOREGROUND.

MUCH LIKE IN THE ELR, THE REGEN-ON-DEMAND PADDLES ARE VERY AGGRESSIVE, PLUS THEY ARE FUN TO PLAY WITH AND CAN BE VERY HELPFUL.

THE CABIN HAS GOTTEN QUIETER, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE GASOLINE ENGINE IS HUMMING AWAY; THOUGH YOU WILL STILL HEAR SOME TIRE NOISE ON COARSER PAVEMENT.

BASE VOLT PRICING IS ACTUALLY DOWN A GRAND OVER LAST YEAR, WITH AN LT NOW GOING FOR $33,995.

THE NEW MORE LUXURIOUS PREMIER TRIM COMES IN AT $38,345.

EVEN WITH TAX INCENTIVES, IT IS STILL AN EXPENSIVE COMPACT CAR, WITH CURRENT LOW GAS PRICES PUSHING PAYBACK BEYOND THE HORIZON.

STILL, THE ORIGINAL CHEVROLET VOLT WAS A LANDMARK VEHICLE IN OUR TRANSITION FROM FOSSIL FUEL POWER TO ELECTRIC PROPULSION.

SO WITH THAT GROUND ALREADY BROKEN, THE 2016 VERSION IS NOT SO MUCH AN AUTOMOTIVE REVOLUTION, AS IT IS A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT ON A HIGHLY PRACTICAL IDEA.

>> JOHN: YEARS AGO, THE RUBBER THAT GOT YOU FROM A TO B WAS... SHADY AT BEST.

FROM SUMMER TO SNOW TIRES, WE JUST HADN'T FIGURED IT OUT YET.

BUT NOWADAYS TIRES ARE ONE OF THE MAIN INGREDIENTS TO THE ENTIRE RECIPE.

SO, TIME NOW TO "CHILL" WITH ZACH MASKELL AS HE DANCES OVER THE EDGE...

IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES.

>> ZACH MASKELL: WHILE WE HUMANS LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR... WE REACT DIFFERENTLY IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

JUST... LIKE...

TIRES.

TO SHOW YOU WHAT I MEAN...

IT'S OFF TO INDIANA... ON CAMPUS OF NOTRE DAME'S FIGHTING IRISH.

"THIS IS A HOCKEY PUCK.

IT'S MADE OF RUBBER.

I'VE BEEN AROUND IT ALL MY LIFE AND I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO ON THE ICE.

CAR TIRES...I DON'T HAVE AS MUCH EXPERIENCE.

AFTER TODAY, I'LL TELL YOU: YOU MIGHT THINK TWICE ABOUT YOUR ALL-SEASON TIRES."

I'VE BEEN THROUGH SNOW IN A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

FRONT, REAR, AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES.

ALL EQUIPPED WITH DIFFERENT TIRES.

IT'S STUNNING HOW THEY'VE GOT DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES.

>> JUSTIN HAYES: "WE LIKE TO SAY, IF IT'S COLD ENOUGH TO SEE YOUR BREATH, IT'S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT PUTTING WINTER TIRES ON."

>> ZACH: I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO WHEN IT COMES TO ICE.

WELL THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN WRONG BEFORE.

>> WOODY ROGERS : "WHEN I SAY GO, YOU'RE GOING TO MAT IT...

HOLD YOUR FOOT TO THE FLOOR... UNTIL I SAY BRAKE.

WHEN I SAY BRAKE, GO IMMEDIATELY TO THE BRAKE PEDAL...

MAXIMUM PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL."

>> ZACH: ISN'T THIS "COOL."

A DRAG RACE... WHERE HOCKEY PLAYERS ARE NORMALLY RIPPING EACH OTHER'S HEADS OFF.

ONE CAR...

EQUIPPED WITH OEM ALL-SEASON TIRES.

THE OTHER... IS EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK, WINTER TIRES.

"THIS MAY BE THE MOST BORING RACE IN HISTORY.

BUT THE RESULTS... WILL BE PRETTY INTERESTING."

ONE CAN BARELY GET MOVING.

THEN WHEN IT FINALLY DOES...

IT'S TOUGHER TO STOP.

BUT WHY WAS THE OTHER ONE DOING SO WELL?

BECAUSE IT HAS THE SAME TIRES THAT THIS... TRICYCLE HAS.

"YOU MAY NOT REALIZE NATURE IS THE WORLD'S FOREMOST ENGINEER.

SO WHAT THE FOLKS AT BRIDGESTONE DID WAS ACTUALLY STUDIED POLAR BEAR PAWS TO SEE HOW IT GRIPS THE ICE.

THEN THEY DISCOVERED HOW TO PUT THEIR MULTI-CELL TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR BLIZZAK TIRES."

THERE'S THREE BASIC COMPONENTS IN A BLIZZAK.

DEEPER TREAD DEPTH... A BIG BLOCKY PATTERN... AND THE COMPOUND.

THE MULTI-CELLS ACT AS A SPONGE TO DISPERSE WATER...

WORKING ALONG WITH BITE PARTICLES TO GRIP THE ICE.

OK... TIME NOW TO GET IN TWO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SUV'S AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

"LET'S SEE HOW THESE ALL-SEASON OEM TIRES DO.

WE'RE MASHING DOWN THE GAS...

THE TRACTION CONTROL IS TRYING TO HELP US.

DOWN ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS WE CAN... AND WE STILL SLID PRETTY GOOD."

EH, I GAVE THAT RUN THE COLD SHOULDER.

NOW TIME FOR THE RIGHT THAT IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED .

>> ZACH: ALREADY THE BLIZZAKS ARE GETTING A LOT MORE TRACTION.

>> BRAKES.

>> ZACH: HARD ON THE BRAKES... HOPEFULLY WE'RE CONSISTENT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> ZACH: 12.4 MILES PER HOUR... 24 FEET STOPPING DISTANCE.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR.

THAT MEANS WE STOPPED ABOUT HALF A CAR LENGTH QUICKER THAN THE ALL-SEASON TIRES.

WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LOWER SPEEDS LIKE THIS... THAT IS VERY GOOD."

SO OBVIOUSLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS...

THIS COULD BE A PRICELESS SAFETY INVESTMENT FOR YOUR FAMILY.

>> WOODY : "WE FIND THAT PEOPLE THAT BUY AND TRY WINTER TIRES FOR THE FIRST TIME, IT'S A REVELATION.

THEY DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH CONTROL AND CONFIDENCE THEY HAVE FROM BEHIND THE WHEEL."

>> ZACH : WINTER TIRES ARE NOT ONLY GOOD FOR SNOW AND ICE...

BUT THE RUBBER COMPOUND WILL STAY SOFTER THAN ALL-SEASON TIRES BELOW 45 DEGREES...

MEANING YOU ACCELERATE...

HANDLE... AND BRAKE EASIER.

THIS IS KIND OF A NO-BRAINER AT THIS POINT ISN'T IT?

WOODY : "A LOT OF CONSUMERS THINK ABOUT THE COST OF A SET OF WINTER TIRES.

TYPICALLY IT'S NOT MUCH MORE OR OFTEN LESS THAN THE COST OF THEIR INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE.

IF IN ONE WINTER SEASON YOU AVOID ONE SMALL FENDER BENDER IN TRAFFIC, YOU'VE PAID FOR THE WINTER TIRES."

>> ZACH: AROUND THANKSGIVING MAY BE A GOOD TIME TO MOUNT THEM UP... AND TAX SEASON IS ABOUT THE TIME THEY NEED TO COME BACK OFF.

REMEMBER... WORK SMARTER... NOT HARDER.

* >> JOHN: ...THE 240SX'S POWER CONTINUES TO COME FROM THE US MARKET ONLY, 2.4 LITER 4 CYLINDER.

THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, IT GETS FOUR VALVES PER CYLINDER.

AND A 15 HORSEPOWER BOOST TO 155.

TORQUE IS UP EIGHT POUND FEET, TO 160.

THIS MEANS THAT THE 240SX NOW SPRINTS TO 60 IN 8.6 SECONDS.

THE QUARTER MILE TAKES 16.6 SECONDS AT 85 MILES PER HOUR.

QUICKER THAN LAST YEAR'S CAR, DESPITE THE EXTRA WEIGHT OF THE STEERING HARDWARE.

BOTH ENGINE AND GEARBOX ARE SMOOTHER THIS YEAR.

AND COMBINE WITH A FLAT POWERBAND TO DELIVER AN UNINTERRUPTED FLOW TO THE REAR WHEELS... >> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS HERE WITH SOME IN YOUR FACE CAR CARE TIPS.

SO LET'S HEAD ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE.

>> PAT GOSS: ONE OF THE BIGGEST RECALLS OF ALL TIME INVOLVES THE TAKATA AIRBAGS.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, WE HAVE CHRIS BASSO, FROM CARFAX.

CHRIS, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

>> CHRIS BASSO : THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

>> PAT : ALRIGHT, NOW THE TAKATA AIRBAG... WELL HERE WE HAVE AN INFLATOR OF ANOTHER BRAND OF AIRBAG.

IT'S SIMILAR; NOT THE SAME THING AS THE TAKATA, BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IS THAT THERE'S TOO MUCH PRESSURE THAT BUILDS UP INSIDE OF IT WHEN IT GOES OFF, AND THIS METAL IS BREAKING INTO PIECES AND FLYING INTO THE CABIN OF THE CAR.

SO IT'S PRETTY DANGEROUS.

>> CHRIS : IT IS, AND IT'S CREATING LIFE THREATING INJURIES, UNFORTUNATELY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, AS HIGH PROFILE AS THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL HAS BEEN, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF OTHER RECALLS THAT HAVE BEEN ISSUED THAT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE NEVER BEEN FIXED THAT POSE JUST AS GREAT A RISK FOR PEOPLE TO BE INJURED OR WORSE.

IN FACT OUR DATA SHOWS THAT THERE'S 46 MILLION CARS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD WITH AN UNFIXED RECALL FOR THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE FIRES, CRASHES; OTHER ISSUES THAT CAUSE THE PASSENGERS OF THOSE VEHICLES AS WELL AS OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROAD, THAT PUT THEM IN DANGER.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THOSE PEOPLE TO GET THOSE CARS FIXED.

>> PAT : ALRIGHT, NOW, YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF A PROGRAM THAT HELPS PEOPLE TRACK THIS, RIGHT?

>> CHRIS : YEAH, IT USED TO BE THAT YOU HAD TO WAIT FOR THE MANUFACTURER'S LETTER.

IT WAS THE ONLY WAY TO GET RECALL INFORMATION, TO FIND OUT IF YOUR CAR WAS RECALLED.

BUT NOW THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE PROVIDING RECALL INFORMATION FOR FREE.

AND ONE OF THEM IS CARFAX.

WE'VE CREATED A FREE APP, CALLED MYCARFAX, THAT ONLY USES YOUR LICENSE PLATE TO SEE IF YOUR CAR HAS A RECALL NOW, AND IN THE FUTURE.

SO IT'S AS SIMPLE AS PLUGGING IN YOUR LICENSE PLATE ONCE, AND YOU'LL GET RECALL NOTICES ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE IF THERE'S A RECALL ON IT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE.

AND IN FACT, FOR THIS HONDA, WE HAVE A RECALL FOR A TAKATA AIRBAG ON IT RIGHT NOW.

>> PAT : OKAY.

SO THAT'S A GOOD WAY TO KEEP UP WITH IT.

I WONDER WHY SO MANY PEOPLE DISREGARD THE RECALLS.

BECAUSE IT CAN BE DEADLY.

>> CHRIS : IT CAN BE.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO...

EITHER THEY'VE DISCARDED THE NOTICE OR THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO GET IT FIXED.

BUT IN MOST CASES RECALLS CAN BE FIXED IN A MATTER OF HOURS.

SO IT'S A SIMPLE WAY...

IT'S SIMPLE TO GET THEM FIXED.

AND IF YOU DISCARDED THE NOTICE, THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO GET RECALL INFORMATION; LIKE THE FREE MYCARFAX APP.

>> PAT : OKAY, PLUS THE RECALLS ARE FREE.

>> CHRIS : THE RECALLS ARE FREE.

IT'S FREE TO FIND IT; IT'S FREE TO GET IT FIXED.

THERE REALLY IS NO REASON NOT TO DO IT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU CAN GET THAT INFORMATION ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE OF US HAS NOW.

>> PAT : OKAY CHRIS, THANK YOU.

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

>> JOHN: 3-MONTHS IN, AND WE'RE TRUCKING RIGHT ALONG IN OUR 2016 KIA SORENTO, HAVING SO FAR DRIVEN 6,600-MILES.

AND WHILE THIS MID-SIZE SORENTO HAS LOTS OF FANS AROUND THE OFFICE, IT'S VERY TIGHT TURNING RADIUS HAS US MANEUVERING WITH EASE; WE DO HAVE SOME COMPLAINTS.

ALL LOVE THE LAYOUT OF THE INTERIOR, BUT THE THIN LEATHER SEAT FABRIC IS WEARING ALREADY.

THE SORENTO IS A GREAT LONG DISTANCE CROSSOVER DELIVERING A SMOOTH, COMPLIANT RIDE QUALITY.

ONLY A BIT OF WALLOW IN CORNERS DETRACTS FROM THAT.

TWO NITPICKS ARE A CONSOLE 4X4 LOCK BUTTON THAT'S EASY TO ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGE, AND AN OVERSENSITIVE OUTSIDE SWITCH FOR THE POWER LIFT GATE.

THE POWERTRAIN ITSELF, HOWEVER; GETS ALL PRAISE.

THE 2.0-LITER TURBO AND 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC COMBO IS TREATING US RIGHT WITH A RESPONSIVE THROTTLE AND A FINE 23.1 MILES-PER-GALLON AVERAGE.

SO ON BALANCE, WE LOVE THE KIA SORENTO.

FIX A FEW THINGS AND IT JUST MIGHT BE THE PERFECT FAMILY CUV.

WE HAVE BIG NUMBERS TO REPORT ON OUR BIGGEST LONG TERMER: 9 MONTHS AND 22,709 MILES FOR OUR VERY USEFUL 2015 MAZDA CX-9.

THAT'S A LOT OF TIME, AND DISTANCE, COVERED FOR THE COMMENTS TO RACK UP... AND INDEED THEY HAVE.

NEARLY ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT THE 273 HORSEPOWER 3.7 LITER V6 GIVES A HEALTHY GRUNT, GOOD POWER, AND A SMOOTH DELIVERY.

YET FUEL ECONOMY IS MEDIOCRE.

DESPITE OUR AVERAGE ACTUALLY RISING TO 19.6 MILES PER GALLON, WE FUEL UP OFTEN.

NOW, THAT MAY NOT BE SURPRISING GIVEN IT'S 3-ROW, 7-PASSENGER, NEAR FULL-SIZE STATURE, OR IT'S 8 YEAR OLD DESIGN.

STILL IT SHOULD BE HIGHER.

THAT ASIDE, WHEN THE JOB CALLS FOR GETTING LOTS OF PEOPLE AND GEAR TO WHEREVER IN COMFORT, THIS MAZDA HAS US ARRIVING ON CLOUD 9.

TIME TO CHECK IN ON THE NISSAN MURANO AND CHRYSLER 200 ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

>> JOHN: TIME NOW FOR MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS.

SO LET'S GET IN AND GO!

>> JOHN: WHILE IT'S ROOTS GO BACK TO 2008, THE 5-SEATER INFINITI QX50, OR EX AS IT WAS FIRST KNOWN, HAS BATTLED BMW SAVS, AND, AUDI AND MERCEDES-BENZ SUVS, FOR A PIECE OF THE COMPACT LUXURY CROSSOVER PIE.

BUT THAT SLICE HAS BEEN SMALL.

SO, CHANGES WERE IN ORDER FOR 2016 TO HELP THAT GROW LARGER.

STYLING HASN'T EVOLVED TOO MUCH SINCE THE 2013 NAME CHANGE, SO IT'S STILL HANDSOME, STILL LOOKING MORE SPORTY HATCHBACK THAN UTILITY.

AND, PERHAPS, A LITTLE LONG IN THE TOOTH.

BUT ACTUALLY, THAT BRINGS UP THE BIGGEST CHANGE.

THE 2016 QX50 IS QUITE LITERALLY LONGER...LENGTH IS STRETCHED BY 4.5 INCHES, AND WHEELBASE 3.2.

BOTH BOWS TO THE CHINESE MARKET.

STILL, THE FOUR INCHES OF ADDED REAR LEGROOM IS GREAT FOR TALL ADULTS.

SEATS FOLDED CARGO IS ALSO UP.

INSIDE, SWITCHGEAR IS INFINITI FAMILIAR, THOUGH IT'S GOT ALL THE MODERN ACCENTS YOU'D EXPECT.

>> PATRICK LUCAS: THEY REALLY HAMMERED DOWN THE SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS, COMFORTABLE SEATS, QUIET DRIVE...

SO IT DEFINITELY LIVE UP TO THE LUXURY IMAGE THAT INFINITI IS GOING FOR...

I THINK SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY WANTS TO GET UTILITY OUT OF THIS LUXURY UTILITY SEGMENT IS GOING TO FIND SOMETHING VERY APPEALING IN THE QX50.

>> JOHN: ON SALE NOW, THE 2016 INFINITI QX50 ACTUALLY DROPS IN PRICE, NOW STARTING AROUND $36,000.

AND WE'LL GRAB MORE QUICKSPINS, SOON!

>> LAUREN MORRISON: WITH NEARLY EVERY PRESTIGE BRAND LAUNCHING A SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE, AN ENTRY FROM THE FOLKS AT MASERATI SHOULDN'T SOUND TOO CRAZY, RIGHT?

WELL GET READY, BECAUSE OUR SPY PHOTOGRAPHER CAUGHT ONE TESTING OUT IN THE OPEN.

THOUGH HEAVILY CAMOUFLAGE, THIS MASERATI MYSTERY UTE LOOKS NEARLY PRODUCTION READY, AND AS WE UNDERSTAND IT, WILL GO BY THE NAME LEVANTE.

USING A PLATFORM ADAPTED FROM THE GHIBLI AND QUATTROPORTE SEDANS, THE LEVANTE WILL USE THE SAME V6 AND V8 ENGINES.

THAT COULD PEG HORSEPOWER ANYWHERE FROM 345, TO 523 FOR A HIGH PERFORMANCE MODEL.

THE QUAD EXHAUST TIPS AND DRILLED BRAKE ROTORS SUGGEST SERIOUS SPEED WILL BE THE NAME OF THE GAME.

RUMOR IS IT WILL ARRIVE FOR THE 2017 MODEL YEAR.

>> JOHN: IT'S BEEN QUITE A WHILE SINCE WE'VE HAD A REALLY ALL-NEW VOLVO TO SAMPLE.

AND, FOR A WHILE WE WERE HAVING DOUBTS WHETHER VOLVO WOULD EVER GET AROUND TO ADDRESSING THEIR LARGE BUT AGING XC90 CROSSOVER.

WELL, NOT ONLY HAVE THEY GOTTEN AROUND TO IT, BUT THEY'VE TURNED IT INTO A POTENTIAL LUXURY-CLASS HALL OF FAMER.

>> JOHN: 13-YEARS HAVE PASSED SINCE VOLVO MADE IT'S MARK IN THE BURGEONING THREE-ROW LUXURY CROSSOVER SEGMENT WITH THE FIRST XC90.

BUT, OVER ALL THAT TIME, NEWER RIVALS HAVE SERIOUSLY DAMPENED THE "NINE-0'S" SALES.

SO THE ALL-NEW, 2016 XC90 HAS CERTAINLY GOT IT'S WORK CUT OUT FOR IT.

THAT FIRST 2002 XC90 PROVED TO BE THE RIGHT VEHICLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

AND, AT LEAST VISUALLY, THIS STYLISH SECOND-GEN 7-SEATER LOOKS LIKE IT SCORES AGAIN.

IT'S WAGON-ISH TWO-BOX SHAPE IS FAMILIAR ENOUGH TO BE EASILY PEGGED AS A VOLVO, BUT LIKE YOUR AUNT THAT TOOK A MYSTERIOUSLY LONG VACATION TO SOUTH AMERICA AND CAME BACK LOOKING YOUNGER THAN EVER, IT'S CLEAR THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK DONE HERE.

BUT WE ALL KNOW IT'S WHAT'S INSIDE THAT COUNTS; AND IMPRESSIVELY, THE XC90'S INTERIOR HAS TRANSFORMED FROM UTILITY GRADE TO FLAGSHIP MATERIAL.

THE LAYOUT IS SMOOTH, SIMPLE, AND NOT MUDDLED AT ALL.

VERY FEW TRADITIONAL BUTTONS OR KNOBS REMAIN; BUT THE FEW THAT DO, ARE THE RIGHT ONES.

A TABLET-LIKE SENSUS TOUCH DISPLAY DOMINATES THE CENTER STACK.

IT'S ARRANGED MORE VERTICALLY THAN HORIZONTALLY, LIKE A TESLA S, AND IT'S USE IS VERY INTUITIVE.

AS IN EVERY VOLVO WE CAN REMEMBER, THE FRONT SEATS ARE A HIGHLIGHT; OFFERING GREAT LEVELS OF COMFORT AND SUPPORT.

THAT'S ALSO TRUE FOR THE SLIDING AND RECLINING SECOND ROW, AND EVEN THE STILL ADULT CAPABLE THIRD ROW.

PLUS, FEATURES LIKE THE BUILT-IN CHILD BOOSTER SEAT ARE STILL FAR AND ABOVE CLASS TYPICAL.

AND, EVEN WITH VOLVO'S LATEST CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP, THE BRAND'S COMMITMENT TO SAFETY HASN'T WAVERED.

THE XC90 IS PACKED WITH ENOUGH SAFETY FEATURES TO KEEP EVEN WORRY WARTS AT EASE.

INDEED, OUR CAR'S AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM WORKED PERFECTLY IN OUR CRASH BARRIER TEST.

THE AVAILABLE SELF-PARKING SYSTEM ALSO WORKED BETTER THAN MOST.

AS FOR IT'S ACTUAL UTILITY FACTOR, THE XC90 CAN CARRY PLENTY OF GOODS.

13.0 CUBIC FEET WORTH BEHIND THE THIRD ROW SEATS, 41.8 BEHIND THE SECOND, AND 85.7 BEHIND THE FIRST.

AND, FOR EASE OF LOADING THERE'S A HANDS-FREE POWER LIFTGATE.

ALL XC90'S ARE EQUIPPED WITH ADVANCED ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE, 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, BUT SOMEWHAT SURPRISINGLY, ONLY 4-CYLINDER POWER.

BUT, THE 2.0-LITER I4 IN OUR T6 IS BOTH TURBOCHARGED AND SUPERCHARGED FOR 316-HORSEPOWER AND 295 LB-FT. OF TORQUE.

AND, YOU FORGET IT'S A 4-CYLINDER AFTER JUST A FEW MINUTES BEHIND THE WHEEL, AS IT PROVIDES EFFORTLESS POWER.

EVEN THE AUTOMATIC STOP/START IS SEAMLESS, AND IT CAN STILL TOW 5,000 LBS.

REGARDLESS, WE STILL THINK AN INLINE 4 MAY BE A TOUGH SELL IN THIS SEGMENT.

THOUGH THE FORTHCOMING PLUG-IN HYBRID T8, WITH THE BOOSTED 2.0 PLUS AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR 400 TOTAL HORSEPOWER, WILL CERTAINLY BE A VOLVO DIFFERENTIATOR.

THE MORE TIME SPENT DRIVING, IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THIS VEHICLE IS BUILT FOR FAMILY VACATIONS OVER LONG DISTANCES.

IT'S EXTREMELY QUIET AND SOLID.

ROUGH ROADS AND SLICK PAVEMENT DO NOTHING TO UPSET IT.

THERE'S A VERY NATURAL FEEL TO THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND THROUGH THE CONES WE WERE MOSTLY IMPRESSED WITH THE XC90'S SPORTY FIRMNESS.

THE REAR SUSPENSION FEATURES A CORVETTE-STYLE TRANSVERSE LEAF SPRING TO ELIMINATE CARGO-ROBBING COILS AND SHOCKS.

A FULL AIR SUSPENSION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

AS FOR ACCELERATION...

TRULY THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD, THIS 4-BANGER PICKS UP THE XC90'S 46-HUNDRED LBS.

AND DELIVERS IT TO 60 IN A SWIFT 6.5-SECONDS.

THE 4-MILE IS OVER IN 14.9-SECONDS AT 94 MILES-PER-HOUR.

PLUS, T6 GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE STILL 20-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD, FOR IT'S NEARLY FULL-SIZE DEMEANOR, 26.0 MILES-PER-GALLON OF PREMIUM.

THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AN AVERAGE ONE AT 15.0-BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSION OF 6.6-TONS.

CHOICES IN THIS SEGMENT ARE INDEED PLENTIFUL, BUT BASE PRICING OF JUST $49,825 MEANS THE XC90 T6 IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE.

LAVISH INTERIORS, SPORTY ATTITUDES, AND SOPHISTICATED POWERTRAIN'S ARE JUST THE PRICE OF ENTRY INTO THE HIGH END CROSSOVER SEGMENT.

SO, HOW DOES THE 2016 VOLVO XC90 EXPECT TO GET BACK ON PEOPLE'S SHORT LIST?

WELL, BY PROVIDING ALL OF THAT AND MORE, IN THE WAY THAT ONLY VOLVO CAN, WITH TOP NOTCH SAFETY, OTHERWORLDLY COMFORT, AND FAMILY EXTRA-FRIENDLY FEATURES; ALL WRAPPED UP IN UNMISTAKABLY SWEDISH STYLE.

WE ARE VERY IMPRESSED!

>> JOHN: 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 BLOW THE TOP OFF THE NEWEST AUDI TT ROADSTER, THEN WE'LL DO OUR CIVIC DUTY IN HONDA'S GEN-TEN MAINSTAY.

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.

TO ORDER A DVD OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-873-6154.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY: >> ANNOUNCER: PHYLLIS IS HEADED TO A SCIENCE CONFERENCE.

SO SHE'S NOT THINKING ABOUT TIRES RIGHT NOW.

IF SHE WERE, ALL SHE'D NEED TO KNOW IS TIRERACK.COM.

BUT PHYLLIS IS THINKING...

UH, I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

BUT IT'S PROBABLY IMPORTANT.

MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT TIRERACK.COM.

>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S CONTENT.

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