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

JOIN US AS WE GET TO WORK ON THE V8 TURBO-DIESEL NISSAN TITAN XD... PAT GOSS HELPS US FIND THE PERFECT BALANCE FOR POWERTRAINS... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE IN STYLE ON A TREK ACROSS SCOTLAND... THEN MORE OF THE SMALL CROSSOVER OVERLOAD WITH THE MAZDA CX-3...

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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING 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.

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: DESPITE FULL-SIZE PICKUP TRUCKS NOW GOING FOR LUXURY CAR PRICES, AND BEING USED MORE AS LEISURE VEHICLES THAN WORKHORSES, BUYERS ARE STILL DEMANDING THAT THEY CARRY AND TOW MORE THAN EVER.

NOW, THE ORIGINAL NISSAN TITAN WAS A COMFORTABLE TRUCK, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T MEASURE UP WHEN IT CAME TO HARD WORK.

BUT THAT'S SUPPOSED TO CHANGE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE GEN 2, CUMMINS V8 TURBO-DIESEL POWERED TITAN XD.

SO LET'S SEE IF THE XD GETS THE JOB DONE.

WHILE NOT A PURE HEAVY DUTY, THIS 2016 NISSAN TITAN XD IS INDEED A HEAVIER DUTY VERSION OF THE 2ND GENERATION TITAN FULL-SIZE LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCK.

SO WHILE IT'S ALL-NEW ALL AROUND, WITH VASTLY INCREASED CAPABILITIES, EVEN NISSAN STICKS IT WITH AN IN BETWEENER LABEL RATHER THAN EITHER CLASSIC DEFINITION.

THAT'S NOT A KNOCK BY ANY MEANS, JUST THE FACTS.

AND A FURTHER TRUTH, NISSAN'S "TWEENER" COULD POTENTIALLY TAP INTO A REAL SWEET SPOT THAT'S RIPE TO BE EXPLOITED.

LIKE MOST HARD WORKING CONTRACTORS, NISSAN IS SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW WHICH PART OF THE TASK TO TAKE ON THEMSELVES, AND WHEN TO SUB OUT A JOB TO THOSE THAT DO IT BEST.

THUS THEY TURNED TO CUMMINS FOR THE XDS OPTIONAL DIESEL ENGINE.

IT'S A 5.0 LITER TURBO V8 THAT CLATTERS UP 555 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE AND 310 HORSEPOWER.

SO, IT'S NOT THE SAME CUMMINS FOUND IN RAM HEAVY DUTIES.

THAT ONE'S A MUCH LARGER INLINE-6.

THE XD'S TRANSMISSION IS A 6-SPEED AISIN AUTOMATIC, AND 4-WHEEL-DRIVE IS AVAILABLE.

TOWING CAPACITY IS 12,300 POUNDS, OR RIGHT ABOUT WHERE LIGHT DUTIES END AND HEAVY DUTIES BEGIN.

THE ONLY OTHER FULL-SIZE LIGHT DUTY DIESEL, THE RAM 1500, TOWS 9,200.

LAST YEAR'S TITAN MAXED OUT AT 9,500.

IN ORDER TO GET THAT ALMOST TON-AND-A-HALF OF ADDED CAPABILITY, BESIDES THE V8 ENGINE, XDs GET A NEW FULLY-BOXED FRAME THAT EXTENDS THE WHEELBASE AROUND 20-INCHES.

A TASK THEY HANDLED THEMSELVES, AS THE FRAME COMES FROM NISSAN'S COMMERCIAL TRUCK DIVISION, AND IT IS UNIQUE TO THE XD.

OTHER UPGRADED PARTS INCLUDE A NEW REAR AXLE WITH HIGHER RATED LEAF SPRINGS, REINFORCED FRONT SUSPENSION, BEEFIER BRAKES, ADDITIONAL COOLING FOR BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION, AND YOUR CHOICE OF 17, 18, OR 20-INCH WHEELS.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL: A BIG BOOST IN CAPABILITIES WHILE STILL RETAINING ALL OF THE USER FRIENDLINESS OF A PERSONAL USE PICKUP.

LOOKING THE HEAVY DUTY PART WON'T NECESSARILY INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY, BUT IT SURE DOES HELP WITH YOUR STREET, OR HARDWARE STORE PARKING LOT, CRED.

AND HERE THE XD MOSTLY SUCCEEDS.

THE FRONT END IS BIG AND BOLD, SIDES TIDY, AND REAR PROFESSIONAL GRADE LOOKING.

OTHER GOODIES SUCH AS LED BED RAIL LIGHTING, INTEGRATED GOOSENECK HITCH, BACKUP CAMERA WITH TRAILER GUIDE, AND TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER HELP AS WELL.

AS FOR TRACK WORK, IN ADDITION TO THE PLENTITUDE OF TORQUE OFF THE LINE THAT YOU EXPECT, THERE IS A SMOOTH AND SLOW BUILD OF POWER AS YOU ROLL DOWN THE TRACK.

WE HIT 60 IN A FINE 9.5 SECONDS.

IT'S SURPRISINGLY QUIET AT FULL SONG, AND SHIFT QUALITY IS SMOOTH AND STEADY, DELIVERING US TO THE END OF THE QUARTER IN 17.4 SECONDS AT 82 MILES PER HOUR.

IT'S OBVIOUS THE XD IS NOT FOR CARVING THROUGH CONES.

THERE'S PLENTY OF UNDERSTEER AND A LOT OF LENGTH TO MANEUVER.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT THE WORST OF THE BREED; THOUGH BETTER REACTION TO STEERING INPUTS WOULD MAKE US HAPPIER.

A 120 FOOT AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE FROM 60 PROVED THAT THE BRAKES ARE DEFINITELY UP TO THE TASK.

NO FADE TO SPEAK OF EITHER, AS THEY WORKED BETTER THE HOTTER THEY GOT.

WHETHER IT'S JUST FOR SHORT TRIPS TO THE JOB SITE, OR LONG HAUL TOWS, NO ONE WANTS TO SPEND TIME IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE INTERIOR.

NO WORRIES THERE, AS OUR TESTER SPORTED FULL PLATINUM RESERVE TRIM.

WHICH INCLUDES A 7.0 INCH TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY, 12 SPEAKER ROCKFORD FOSGATE AUDIO, PREMIUM LEATHER SEATING, WOOD AND METALLIC TRIM, HEATED SEATS AND STEERING WHEEL; AS WELL AS SOME ADDED FLASH TO THE EXTERIOR.

BUT ALL NEW TITANS GET A ROOMIER INTERIOR; WITH A MORE FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT, INCREASED STORAGE SPACE, AND VERY COMPREHENSIVE GAUGES.

THE XD DIESEL'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING IS JUST HIGH ENOUGH TO NOT REQUIRE GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS, MAKING IT TECHNICALLY A HEAVY DUTY TRUCK.

HOWEVER, WE AVERAGED 18.4 MILES PER GALLON OF DIESEL, ABOUT 1-MPG BETTER THAN THE CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500HD THAT WE TESTED RECENTLY.

PRICING FOR THE XD DIESEL STARTS AT A HEFTY $41,485 AND GOES UP QUICKLY FROM THERE.

THE XDs STANDARD 5.6 LITER GAS V8 WILL START IN THE UPPER 30s, AND CURRENTLY CREW CAB WITH 6.5 FOOT BED IS THE ONLY ARRANGEMENT OFFERED.

OTHER ALL-NEW TITAN MODELS, WITH THREE AVAILABLE CAB CONFIGURATIONS, WILL ARRIVE IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

BUT NISSAN CHOSE THIS 2016 XD DIESEL TO SPEARHEAD THE LAUNCH OF THE NEW TITAN TO MAKE ONE THING CLEAR.

DESPITE THE DOMESTIC DOMINANCE OF THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK MARKET, NISSAN IS NOT RETREATING.

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY'LL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SUCCEED; INCLUDING OFFERING SOMETHING THE OTHER GUYS DON'T.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA, WHERE ONE UTILITY COMPANY IS DRIVING SMARTER WITH BIODIESEL!

FROM LIGHT TO HEAVY DUTY, SALT RIVER PROJECT HAS SOME 2300 PIECES OF MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT IN THEIR FLEET, WITH OVER 40% POWERED BY RENEWABLE B20 BIODIESEL.

BUT THIS GREEN WAY OF GETTING AROUND IS NOTHING NEW FOR SRP.

AS A LONG TERM PARTNER WITH THE VALLEY OF THE SUN CLEAN CITIES COALITION THEY BEGAN USING BIODIESEL BACK IN 1999!

Becky Lawrence: WE REALIZED THAT WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, AND WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND EXPLORE B20.

John: WITH OVER 15 MILLION MILES DRIVEN, AND OVER 900,000 GALLONS OF BIODIESEL USED ANNUALLY, SALT RIVER HAS FOUND THEIR CURE FOR FUELING GROWTH IN THE GRAND CANYON STATE.

OVERSEAS AUTOMOTIVE PRESS TRIPS ARE USUALLY RUN AND GUN AFFAIRS.

HOP ON A PLANE, DRIVE THE CAR A BIT, CATCH A FEW WINKS, AND BACK HOME AGAIN.

BUT THIS TIME THE INVITE PROMISED A MORE ELEGANT MOTORING EXPERIENCE.

SO, WE DISPATCHED OUR OVER THE EDGE GUY ZACH MASKELL ACROSS THE POND TO DO SOME GENUINE GRAND TOURING.

Zach Maskell: I KNOW A FEW GUYS AND GALS WHO HEAD TO SOME OF THE MOST GORGEOUS PLACES ON EARTH... AND ARE STUCK IN MEETINGS, ALL DAY... ERRR, NO THANKS...

IN FACT, I DON'T THINK YOU COULD PAY ME ENOUGH TO DO THAT.

BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO DRIVE YOUR CAR LINE... WITH THE WIND IN MY FACE, ON ROADS UNKNOWN TO ME, FOR THE PEANUTS THAT I FEED MYSELF WITH.

WELL, THEN YOU'D HAVE YOURSELF A DEAL... GRASS...

PLAID... BAGPIPES... AND CASTLES...

OKAY...

I'M SORRY THAT WAS TERRIBLE.

WE ARE IN SCOTLAND AND WE ARE DRIVING BRITISH MADE BENTLEYS.

WE COULD NOT BE IN A BETTER CAR RIGHT NOW TO TOUR THE COUNTRY.

THE CONTINENTAL GT.

IT'S AVAILABLE IN COUPE OR CONVERTIBLE WITH THREE DIFFERENT ENGINES PRODUCING UP TO 626 HORSEPOWER.

IT TAKES SOME TIME, YA KNOW, GETTING ACCLIMATED WITH DRIVING A RIGHT HAND DRIVE CAR, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD.

WITH SOME OF THEM AS SLENDER AS THEY ARE... WE STUCK OUT LIKE SORE THUMBS...

CREEPING THROUGH SMALL TOWNS AS WE MADE OUR WAY AROUND THE HIGHLANDS.

WE KICKED OFF NOT FAR FROM GLASGOW, AND WHILE NOTHING IN BETWEEN WAS BORING...

STOPPING IN GLENCOE WHERE "JAMES BOND: SKYFALL" WAS SHOT.

WAS PERHAPS MY FAVORITE LOCATION.

IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY STOPS WHERE VISITORS SEEM TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE SCENERY.

THAN WHAT WE WERE DRIVING!

Paul Jones: YOU CAN DRAW A CONTINENTAL WITH THREE LINES.

THE FLOWING ROOF LINE, THE POWER LINE OFF THE FRONT WHEEL ARCH AND THAT POWERFUL REAR HUNCH.

SO THE CARS GOT REAL PRESENCE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH 16' MODEL YEAR IS WE'VE SHARPENED THE APPEARANCE OF THE CAR.

NEW FRONT BUMPER, NEW FRONT FENDERS, NEW SMALLER RAG SHELL.

SO THE CAR'S REALLY HUNKERED DOWN ON THE ROAD AND LOOKS VERY PURPOSEFUL COMING TOWARDS YOU."

Zach: THIS IS THE FIRST BENTLEY TO ENJOY LARGE VOLUME PRODUCTION.

BUYERS AROUND THE WORLD ENJOY THE BESPOKE PROCESS THAT GOES INTO EACH VEHICLE.

AROUND 55,000 GT'S HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SINCE 2003.

EACH ONE, BUILT MOSTLY BY HAND, TAKES OVER 100 HOURS TO PRODUCE.

BACK IN THE 1900'S THAT WAS NOT THE CASE WHATSOEVER.

THEY WERE IN VERY LIMITED PRODUCTION.

LUCKILY FOR US WE'RE GOING TO A VERY SPECIAL PLACE AND WE'RE GOING TO GET TO SEE SOME OF THOSE CARS.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THE CONCOURSE OF ELEGANCE IT'S AN INVITE ONLY AFFAIR.

AHH YES, WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THE HOLYROOD PALACE AND FOR SOME REASON, THEY GAVE MOTORWEEK A PASS.

YOU'VE HEARD OF BIG SHOWS IN THE STATES LIKE "AMELIA ISLAND" AND "PEBBLE BEACH."

WELL, ALL THESE SHOWS COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER VERY WELL.

BUT THIS TIME WE'RE WALKING IN THE GARDENS OF THE QUEEN'S OFFICIAL RESIDENCE WHEN SHE VISITS SCOTLAND.

Richard Charlesworth: TO BE RANKED ALONGSIDE PEBBLE BEACH WHICH IS THE BEST OF THE LOT IS A GREAT ACCOLADE AND JUST SHOWS HOW THIS IS RAPIDLY GROWING TO BEING ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL CONCOURS IN THE WORLD IN SUCH A SHORT TIME.

Zach: THIS IS ONLY THE UK'S 4TH INTERNATIONAL CONCOURS AND IT'S ALREADY RECEIVING QUITE A BIT OF ATTENTION.

IT'S FOR GOOD REASON TOO, SOME OF THE RAREST CARS IN THE WORLD ARE HERE.

AND THEY'RE BEING DRIVEN TO AND FROM THE SHOW.

CHECK OUT THIS R-TYPE, THE SUPERCAR OF ITS DAY.

Richard: THIS WAS THE BUGATTI VEYRON ON THE 1950s.

IT WOULD'VE COST IN POUNDS AROUND 740,000, SO MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS.

SO THIS WAS IN SUPERCAR TERRITORY AT THE TIME, AND THAT'S WHY ALL 218 OWNERS WERE EXTREMELY WELL KNOWN INDIVIDUALS.

Zach: AND I ALSO GOT TO SEE, IN PERSON, ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN BENTLEYS.

FACING THREATS OF THE MERCEDES COMPRESSOR IN THE 24 HOURS OF LE MANS IN THE EARLY 1900s... BENTLEY NEEDED MORE FAST, THAT'S WHEN SOMETHING WILD, CAME ABOUT.

OH YEAH, COME CHECK THIS THING OUT.

THIS IS THE BENTLEY BLOWER TEAM CAR.

W.O.

BENTLEY HIMSELF ACTUALLY DID NOT WANT THIS THING TO BE MADE.

HE DID NOT LIKE FORCED INDUCTION.

IF YOU'VE EVER HEARD THE PHRASE "THERE'S NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT," HE'S THE ONE THAT CROWNED THAT.

WHY?

BECAUSE HE SAYS FORCED INDUCTION MADE THE CAR UNRELIABLE.

WELL HE WAS RIGHT.

EVEN THOUGH THIS CAR WAS SUPER-FAST, IT DID NOT FINISH THE LE MANS RACE IN 1930.

I ASKED HOW MUCH THIS CAR'S WORTH... AND THE NUMBER I GOT AMOUNTS TO "PRICELESS."

YOU CAN BET THIS ONE WILL NEVER LEAVE BENTLEY'S HANDS.

AS FOR MANY OTHER OWNERS IN THE SHOW.

I FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE SAME FEELINGS ABOUT THEIR PRIZED POSSESSIONS.

SO THIS ALL GOES TO SHOW, EVEN OVER SEA'S IT'S EASY TO FEEL AT HOME WHEN YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER DIE BY THE SWORD, THAN GIVE UP THEIR MACHINES.

* John Davis: THE NISSAN HARD BODY HAS A SIX FOOT ONE INCH LONG BED, WITH A 1,400 POUND RATING.

LIKE THE REST, IT USES DOUBLE WALL CONSTRUCTION.

WE LIKE THEIR MOST UNIQUE IDEA: SPRING LOADED TIE-DOWNS.

EYE HOOKS ARE ALSO PROVIDED IN THE BED WALL.

THE SIDE WINDOWS OPEN, AND A SLIDING REAR WINDOW IS INCLUDED IN THE KING'S SE PACKAGE.

ROOM IN THE BACK IS GOOD FOR TWO SIDE-FACING ADULTS.

HARD DOOR POCKETS ARE PROVIDED, ALONG WITH A DEEP GLOVE BOX.

STORAGE BEHIND THE SEATS WAS AMONG THE BEST OF THE GROUP, BUT WE DID MISS A CARGO COVER... John: PAT GOSS KNOWS HOW TO ACHIEVE THE PERFECT BALANCE, AT LEAST IN POWERTRAINS.

SO LET'S HOP ON DOWN TO GOSS' GARAGE AND SEE HOW IT'S DONE.

Pat Goss: ON THE FRONT OF AN ENGINE, DOWN ON THE END OF THE CRANKSHAFT, AT THE VERY BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, IS A PULLEY.

NOW, THOSE PULLEYS MAY BE SINGLE PURPOSE, AND MAYBE DRIVE THE BELT FOR THE ACCESSORIES AND SO ON, OR THEY MAY BE DUAL PURPOSE AND NOT ONLY DRIVE THE BELT, BUT DAMPEN VIBRATIONS FROM THE ENGINE.

NOW, TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS, TOM TAYLOR WHO IS AN ONLINE PARTS EXPERT.

TOM, WELCOME TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tom Taylor: THANKS, PAT.

PAT: OKAY.

HERE WE HAVE SOME HARMONIC BALANCERS.

OR DAMPENERS AS YOU MAY CALL THEM.

AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, IT LITERALLY CAME APART.

Tom: RIGHT.

ON CERTAIN ENGINES, SOMETIMES THESE LAST FOREVER, LAST THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE.

AND CERTAIN ENGINES THEY MIGHT ONLY LAST 50,000 MILES OR LESS THAN 10 YEARS.

THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE BECAUSE IT'S GOT SUCH A MASSIVE PIECE OF RUBBER, YOU CAN SEE THE RUBBER LITERALLY TEARS APART INTO TWO SECTIONS.

THE OTHER STYLE OF DAMPENER IS LIKE THIS: WHERE YOU STILL HAVE THAT STRIP OF RUBBER, BUT IT'S MUCH THINNER.

IT'S HARD TO SEE ON A BLACK ON BLACK PART.

Pat: NOW, ONE THING ABOUT THIS; IF YOU LOOK AT THE WAY THIS IS CONSTRUCTED... YOU HAVE THE CENTER HUB WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE CRANKSHAFT, AND THAT EXERTS FORCE ON THIS RUBBER, WHICH IN TURN EXERTS FORCE ON THE PART THAT DRIVES THE BELT.

SO, THERE'S A LOT OF TENSION ON THAT RUBBER.

Tom: RIGHT, RIGHT.

EVERY TIME YOU TURN ON OR OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER, THE BELT GIVES A JERK, AND IT GOES RIGHT TO THE RUBBER.

Pat: NOW, I'VE NOTICED ON SOME OF THE NEWER CARS, WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THIS CONFIGURATION: WHERE THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVES THE PULLEY DIRECTLY, THIS WEB COMES RIGHT OUT HERE TO THE OUTSIDE, AND THEN THE BALANCING PORTION OF IT, WHICH AGAIN IS MOUNTED IN RUBBER, IS INSIDE, AND IT'S JUST LIKE A WHEEL WEIGHT ON A TIRE.

Tom: RIGHT, IT'S JUST HANGING THERE.

ESSENTIALLY.

Pat: OKAY, NOW YOU FIND QUITE OF FEW OF THESE THAT FAIL.

YOU SELL A LOT OF THEM.

Tom: RIGHT, LIKE I SAID "CERTAIN MAKES AND MODELS AND YEARS, THEY GO THROUGH THEM VERY QUICKLY."

THE AFTERMARKET ONES ARE OFTEN BETTER THAN THE ORIGINALS.

WHEN THEY FAIL, IT CAN BE A HORRIFIC SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE.

ALL THAT VIBRATION OR DAMPENING FROM THE CRANKSHAFT DOESN'T GET DAMPENED ANYMORE, SO IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE A 1980s DIESEL THAT IS FALLING APART, EVEN THOUGH IT'S A GASOLINE ENGINE.

Pat: NOW, WHAT WE SEE IN THE REPAIR SHOP IS OIL LEAKS.

AND OIL GETS ON THIS.

AND RUBBER AND OIL ARE NOT COMPATIBLE.

SO THIS SWELLS UP, AND EVERYTHING COMES APART, AND YOU GET A HORRIFIC NOISE OUT OF IT.

Tom: RIGHT.

Pat: SO I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS, AS A DRIVER, IF YOU GET THIS OBNOXIOUS NOISE UNDER THE HOOD AND SOMEBODY CONDEMNS THE ENGINE, MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE CHECKED THE BALANCER.

Tom: RIGHT.

IT'S NOT THAT EXPENSIVE, COMPARED TO...

ESPECIALLY COMPARED TO A NEW ENGINE.

Pat: RIGHT.

Tom: AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING ON THE CAR, IF SOME OTHER REASON YOU NEED TO PULL THIS OFF, MOST OF THEM REQUIRE A SPECIAL TOOL.

SO YOU PULL IT OFF EVENLY AND DON'T APPLY TOO MUCH TORQUE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND DAMAGE IT.

Pat: YEAH, BECAUSE THE WHOLE PRY BAR BUSINESS TRYING TO GET ONE OFF, IS EITHER GOING TO DAMAGE THIS, OR IT'S GOING TO DAMAGE THE FRONT COVER BEHIND IT.

Tom: RIGHT.

Pat: THANKS TOM.

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

John: LET'S START THE NEW YEAR OF LONG TERM UPDATES WITH AN OLD FRIEND, OUR 2015 CHRYSLER 200.

WE'VE PASSED 18,000 MILES, AND WE'RE STILL MIGHTILY IMPRESSED... FIRST, BY THE RIDE QUALITY.

INSIDE, IT'S COZY AND COMFORTABLE.

MATERIALS ARE HOLDING UP WELL, AND IT'S STILL OUR GO-TO CAR FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS.

WHICH MIGHT EXPLAIN OUR RISING FUEL ECONOMY, NOW 27.1 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THAT, FROM A 295 HORSEPOWER 3.6 LITER V6 THAT DELIVERS A MENACING GROWL AND GOOD PICKUP.

WE ALREADY LEARNED THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE'S STRENGTH LAST WINTER, AS THE 200 TACKLED A MASSIVE FEBRUARY SNOWSTORM RIGHT UPON ITS ARRIVAL AT THE OFFICE.

SO WE HAVE NO FEAR HEADING INTO THIS WINTER SEASON.

BRING IT ON, MOTHER NATURE!

AS FOR OUR 2015 NISSAN MURANO, WE'RE TRANSITIONING FROM THE 3RD TO 4TH QUARTER OF ITS YEAR-LONG STAY, JUST AS THE WEATHER IT TRYING TO TURN FROM AUTUMN TO WINTER.

AND THE FACT THAT IT'S AWD-EQUIPPED GIVES US CONFIDENCE FOR WHAT SURELY LIES AHEAD, THOUGH THE SPORTY 18-INCH WHEELS AND TIRES DO GIVE US PAUSE.

WE'LL SEE IN THE COMING WEEKS HOW IT FAIRS THROUGH THE WHITE STUFF.

ONE STAFF MEMBER COMPLAINED ABOUT POOR SOUND QUALITY WHEN GOING HANDS FREE WITH HIS ANDROID PHONE.

NO SUCH ISSUE WITH ANOTHER STAFFER'S IPHONE.

OTHER THAN THAT, COMMENTS CONTINUE ABOUT THE GREAT ENGINE, GREAT SEATS, AND SMOOTH RIDE; TO GO ALONG WITH OUR 3.5 LITER V6s RESPECTABLE 23.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR FUEL ECONOMY.

THE MURANO IS CLEARLY ONE OF THE BEST HANDLING UTEs IN ITS 5-SEATER SEGMENT; AIDED BY A FIRM BUT SELDOM HARSH SUSPENSION.

REDUCE THE LAG TIME FROM THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND WE'D BE ENJOYING THE TWISTIES EVEN MORE.

WE'LL SAY HELLO AND GOODBYE TO SOME MITSUBISHI OUTLANDERS, ON THE NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

John: AS CROSSOVER UTILITIES SHRINK EVER SMALLER, THEY'RE LOOKING LESS LIKE A BLEND OF FAMILY CAR AND SUV, AND MORE LIKE PUMPED 5-DOOR HATCHBACKS WITH AVAILABLE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

CASE IN POINT, THIS MAZDA CX-3.

IT'S A GOOD LOOKING SUBCOMPACT UTE.

BUT IN ITS QUEST FOR POPULAR STYLE, IS UTILITY NO LONGER ITS STRONGEST POINT?

TO THEIR CREDIT, MAZDA CALLS THE 2016 CX-3 THEIR ULTIMATE "URBAN ESCAPE VEHICLE."

A COMBINATION OF SMALL CAR ATTRIBUTES NECESSARY FOR CITY DWELLERS; LIKE A MAZDA3 HATCHBACK, WITH ENOUGH CROSSOVER ELEMENTS FOR WEEKEND ADVENTURES AND ALL-WEATHER SECURITY.

GOING UP AGAINST THE LIKES OF HONDA HR-V, FIAT 500X, JEEP RENEGADE, AND CHEVROLET TRAX; 4 SUBCOMPACT UTEs THAT WEREN'T EVEN AVAILABLE HERE A YEAR AGO, GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF HOW RAPIDLY THIS SEGMENT IS EXPANDING.

BUILT ON A NEW SKYACTIV CHASSIS TO BE SHARED WITH THE NEXT MAZDA2, THE CX-3 IS TIDY INDEED.

EVERY INTERIOR DIMENSION IS LESS THAN THE MAZDA3.

AND WHILE OUTSIDE IT IS CERTAINLY TALLER, GROUND CLEARANCE IS THE SAME AT 6.1 INCHES.

BUT OF COURSE YOU CAN'T GET ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IN THE MAZDA3.

NOW, WHETHER ALL 4 OR JUST THE FRONT-2 WHEELS ARE IN PLAY, POWER COMES FROM THE MX-5s SKYACTIV-G 2.0 LITER I4.

HERE PUTTING OUT 146 HORSEPOWER AND 146 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WITH A 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION YOUR ONLY OPTION.

ONE THING IS CLEAR, AND THAT IS THAT THE CX-3 IS EASILY THE MOST STYLISH OF THE NEW BREED OF CUTE UTEs.

IT LOOKS LONG, LOW, LEAN, AND MUCH MORE MUSCULAR THAN BIGGER BROTHER CX-5.

IN THE FRONT, THE FACE IS FAMILIAR MAZDA TERRITORY, BUT THEY SEEM TO BE PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF THE GRILLE EVER FARTHER.

AND THE SLANTED REAR ROOF, WITH TIGHT HIND QUARTERS, DOESN'T HELP MUCH WITH CONVINCING US THAT THIS IS A CROSSOVER AND NOT A HATCHBACK.

AT OUR TEST TRACK, THERE WAS A SNAPPY THROTTLE AND EAGERNESS AT LAUNCH, BUT THE CX-3 RUNS OUT OF STEAM FAIRLY QUICKLY; TAKING US 8.6 SECONDS TO HIT 60.

TO BE FAIR, THAT'S ON PAR WITH THE JEEP RENEGADE WE TESTED.

AND THE CX-3 GIVES YOU ALL IT'S GOT DOWN THE STRIP SOUNDING GOOD WHILE DOING IT.

SHIFTS ARE PROMPT AND POSITIVE, AND THERE WAS EVEN A TOUCH OF TORQUE STEER AS WE WORKED OUR WAY TO A 16.7 SECOND QUARTER MILE AT 83 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGHOUT HANDLING EXERCISES, THERE WAS CERTAINLY A FUN, SPORTY MAZDA-STYLE CHARACTER.

BUT WHILE, STILL FAR FROM A SPORTS CAR, THERE'S A NICE BALANCE AND STEERING RESPONSE IS QUICK, PUTTING MOST OTHER TINY TRUCKSTERS TO SHAME.

WE WERE EXPECTING A LITTLE MORE FROM THE BRAKES HOWEVER, THAN A 133 FOOT STOPPING AVERAGE FROM 60 AND AN OVERALL SOFT FEEL.

FITTINGLY, THE INTERIOR IS DRIVER-ORIENTED, WITH AN ALMOST PREMIUM FEEL TO MATERIALS AND SURFACES THAT AGAIN PUT IT ABOVE MOST RIVALS.

THE CONTROL LAYOUT LOOKS SIMPLE ENOUGH, YET STILL MANAGED TO BEFUDDLE SOME OF OUR STAFFERS.

ERGONOMICS ARE ALSO NOT GREAT FOR FULL-SIZE ADULTS; PLUS WE FOUND CONSOLE SPACE MINIMAL AND CUP HOLDERS DIFFICULT TO ACCESS EASILY.

MOREOVER, IT CAN BE AT TIMES A VERY NOISY ENVIRONMENT.

CONTINUING OUR LIST OF GRIPES, CARGO SPACE IS MINIMAL, JUST 10.1 CUBIC-FEET BEHIND THE REAR SEATS IF THERE'S A BOSE SUBWOOFER IN PLACE; THAT'S ONE HALF THE SPACE OF A MAZDA3 HATCHBACK.

FOLDING THE SEATS EXPANDS THE SPACE, GETTING THE NUMBERS CLOSER TO THE MAZDA3'S AT 44.5 CUBIC-FEET.

THE LOAD FLOOR IS ALSO VERY HIGH.

IT MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN AS NOTICEABLE HAD WE NOT HAD AN HR-V IN AT THE SAME TIME WHICH HAS A MUCH LOWER LOAD FLOOR AND DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF REAR CARGO SPACE.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR AN ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE CX-3 ARE 27-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED, WHICH WE ALMOST REACHED AT 28.8 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

SO THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS MUCH BETTER THAN AVERAGE, WITH OIL CONSUMPTION AT 11.4 BARRELS YEARLY AND CO2 EMISSIONS OF 5.0 TONS.

PRICING STARTS AT $20,840, AND SINCE WE'RE DOING SO MUCH COMPARING HERE, A MAZDA3 STARTS ABOUT A GRAND LOWER, THOUGH TOP GRAND TOURING TRIMS ARE PRICED VERY SIMILAR.

IN THE END, WE KNOW WHY MAZDA COMMISSIONED THE CX-3.

EVERYTHING CROSSOVER IS SELLING LIKE MAD WHILE TRADITIONAL CAR SALES CONTINUE TO SAG.

STILL, WHEN IT COMES TO ACTUAL UTILITY, A WELL DONE COMPACT 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, LIKE A MAZDA3, FORD FOCUS, OR THE NEW HONDA CIVIC, BEATS THE CX-3, AND ALL OTHER TINY UTEs, IN EVERYTHING EXCEPT TRACTION.

BUT IF YOU GOTTA HANG WITH THE CROWD, THEN THE 2016 MAZDA CX-3 IS ONE FUN, CITY SIZE UTILITY, THAT'S RARIN' TO GO.

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, FOR BACK TO BACK TWOSOMES... FIRST IT'S THE VOLVO S60 INSCRIPTION AND S60 CROSS COUNTRY... AND SECOND IS THE BMW 4 AND 6 SERIES GRAN COUPES... PAT GOSS SHOWS US HOW TO INSPECT THAT CLASSIC CAR FIND... YOLANDA VAZQUEZ CATCHES UP WITH A UNIQUE GROUP OF AVID COLLECTORS... PLUS MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS... 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... PHYLLIS IS HEADING 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.

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.

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