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

JOIN US FOR A NEW TWO-FER FROM SCION, THE IA SEDAN AND IM HATCHBACK... PAT GOSS GETS DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF CAR CARE... ZACH MASKELL GOES OVER THE EDGE, WITH A FAR EAST CLASSIC... THEN WE'LL SEE HOW THE HONDA HR-V FITS IN TO THE WORLD OF SMALL CROSSOVERS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> ANNOUNCER: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

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>> JOHN: AFTER TAKING THE YOUTH MARKET BY STORM SHORTLY AFTER QUIET OF LATE IN THE SCION CAMP.

AND THAT GOES FOR SALES TOO.

BUT THAT MAY BE CHANGING AS A PAIR OF NEW MODELS HIT THE STREETS.

NOW, ONE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FROM SCION, AND ONE IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW FOR THE BRAND.

SO, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE IM AND THE IA.

YOU CAN EASILY ARGUE THAT THE 2016 SCION IA IS A VERY DISTINCTIVE PRODUCT FOR TOYOTA'S START AT EXPANDING THE BRAND'S REACH TO OTHER AGE GROUPS.

AFTER ALL IT IS THEIR FIRST 4-DOOR SEDAN AS SCION IS MOSTLY KNOWN FOR 5-DOOR HATCHBACKS SUCH AS THIS EQUALLY NEW 2016 SCION IM.

DRIVERS ARE LAUNCHING TOGETHER, THEIR ENGINEERING HAS LITTLE IN COMMON, AS THEY BOTH RELY ON DIFFERENT CHASSIS' AND LOOKS.

THE MORE FAMILIAR, COMPACT IM HATCH RESTS ON UNDERPINNINGS FROM COUPE STABLEMATE TC, WHILE THE SUBCOMPACT IA SEDAN RIDES ON A PLATFORM FROM TOYOTA'S NEW PARTNER MAZDA.

THE 5-DOOR IM'S 1.8 LITER I4 ENGINE COMES FROM THE COROLLA.

HERE IT MAKES 137 HORSEPOWER AND 126 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION OPTIONS ARE ASSIST OR A SPORTISH CVT WITH SEVEN VIRTUAL GEARS.

LIKE THE CHASSIS, THE IA'S ENGINE IS FROM MAZDA, A 1.5 LITER I4 WITH 106 HORSEPOWER AND 103 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

TRANSMISSION CHOICES HERE ARE 6-SPEED MANUAL OR A TRUE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

BUT THE IA CERTAINLY LOOKS LIKE A TOYOTA PRODUCT AT THE FRONT, WITH THE WIDE MOUTH HEXAGONAL GRILLE THAT THEY MUST THINK PORTRAYS CIVILIZED AGGRESSION.

BUT FROM THE SIDE, THERE'S CLEAR MAZDA2 FLAVOR, WITH LINES SWEEPING UP AND DOWN OVER A 101.2 INCH WHEELBASE IN BACK, THE SHORT REAR DECK AND ROUNDED SHAPE KEEP THINGS FAIRLY CLOSE TO HATCHBACK SCION FORM.

INSIDE IS WHERE YOU'LL SEE THE MAZDA INFLUENCE MOST OF ALL, AND IT'S HARD TO ARGUE WITH THE CLEAN, SIMPLE DESIGN, OR THE STANDARD DASH TOP TOUCHSCREEN WITH CENTRAL CONTROLLER.

QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD FOR THE PRICE POINT, BUT WE COULD USE A FEW SPLASHES OF COLOR TO BREAK UP THE DARKNESS.

CABIN SPACE IS ADEQUATE FOR A SUBCOMPACT, AND THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE TRUNK FOR GEAR.

60/40 SPLIT FOLDING SEATBACKS ARE STANDARD, THOUGH THEY DON'T EXACTLY FOLD FLAT.

PUSH BUTTON START, BACK-UP CAMERA, AND PRE-COLLISION SYSTEM ARE ALSO STANDARD.

AS FOR DRIVING, DESPITE HAVING THE SMALLER ENGINE OF THE PAIR, THE IA ZOOM-ZOOMS AROUND QUITE NICELY.

THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A LOVELY, TIGHT SHIFT PATTERN, AND WE HAD LOTS OF FUN SCOOTING THROUGH CURVES AROUND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA.

NOW, THE 5-DOOR IM'S LOOK IS CLEARLY MORE IN THE LINE WITH SCION'S CURRENT STYLING, THOUGH THERE'S ALSO A STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO THE LEXUS CT 200H.

LINES HERE ARE SHARPER, STANDARD WHEELS ARE 17s, AND THERE ARE A WEALTH OF ADDED ON AERO ELEMENTS AND OF COURSE LED RUNNING LIGHTS, ALL PORTRAYING A YOUNG, SPORTIER DEMEANOR.

THE INTERIOR IS A BIT MORE SOPHISTICATED AND MORE PREMIUM IN FEEL.

SPORTY LOOK FRONT SEATS DELIVER GOOD COMFORT AND FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL BOLSTERING; WHILE ALL CONTROLS FALL READILY TO HAND.

PIONEER 6-SPEAKER AUDIO IS CONTROLLED WITH A 7-INCH CENTER STACK TOUCHSCREEN WITH A STANDARD BACK-UP CAMERA.

OTHER STANDARD NICETIES INCLUDE A COLOR INFO DISPLAY IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER, AND DUAL ZONE CLIMATE.

THERE'S PLENTY OF SMALL ITEM STORAGE, WHILE CARGO SPACE BEHIND THE REAR SEATS IS THOUGH NOT EXACTLY PEGGED, THE EXCITEMENT METER CLIMBS A LITTLE HIGHER HERE AS WELL, LIVING UP TO THE IM'S SPORTIER PROMISE.

MUCH LIKE THE TC IT'S BASED ON, THERE'S A VERY SOLID DRIVING FEEL AND THE IM CAN HANDLE QUITE A BIT OF PUSHING BEFORE IT STARTS TO PROTEST.

SPORT MODE FURTHERS THAT NOTION WITH TIGHTENING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, QUICKER ACCELERATOR RESPONSE, AND AGGRESSIVE CORNERING LOGIC FOR THE CVT THAT SIMULATES HOLDING A SPECIFIC GEAR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR THE IA SEDAN ARE 33-CITY, 42-HIGHWAY, AND 37-COMBINED.

THE IM HATCHBACK'S RATINGS AREN'T FINAL YET, BUT TOYOTA SAYS 28-CITY, 37-HIGHWAY, AND 32-COMBINED.

THE IA'S ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AN EXCELLENT ONE, 8.9 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE WITH YEARLY CO2 EMISSIONS OF 4.0 TONS.

AS IS TYPICAL FOR SCION, BOTH CARS COME IN A SINGLE TRIM LEVEL WITH PLENTY OF COLOR AND A-LA-CARTE TRD OPTIONS FOR PERSONALIZATION.

PRICING FOR THE IA SEDAN STARTS AT $16,495; WHILE THE IM HATCHBACK BEGINS WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR SOME TIME FOR SOME NEW PRODUCT FROM SCION.

HOWEVER, WE'RE NOT QUITE SURE THE 2016 IA AND IM WERE THE RIDES WE WERE HOPING FOR.

ALTHOUGH SCION IS TRYING TO BRANCH OUT AND EXPAND ITS APPEAL BEYOND THE TWENTY SOMETHING MARKET, WE'D STILL LIKE TO SEE THE KIND OF CREATIVITY THAT ORIGINALLY ANCHORED THE BRAND.

STILL, THE IA AND IM DO HAVE CAPITAL LETTERS FOLLOWING LOWERCASE LETTERS IN THEIR NAMES, ARE OVERALL VERY ACCEPTABLE, AND EXTREMELY WELL EQUIPPED FOR THEIR PRICE.

AND THAT, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR BADGE, IS ALL GOOD.

>> JOHN: CLASSIC AMERICAN CARS LIKE THIS CAN BE FOUND IN SUBURBAN GARAGES EVERYWHERE.

AND WE SEE A LOT OF CLASSICS FROM EUROPE TOO.

BUT, WHAT ABOUT THOSE HIDDEN GEMS FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION, JAPAN?

NOW, YOU MIGHT THINK IMPORTING ONE OF THOSE WOULD COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

WELL, OUR ZACH MASKELL TAKES US OVER THE EDGE TO PROVE THAT YOU TOO CAN OWN A VERY SPECIAL ONE WITHOUT SELLING ANY BODY PARTS.

TODAY WE'RE SPENDING TIME IN A LEGENDARY JAPANESE SUPERCAR, AND WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO CROSS THE SEAS.

INSTEAD, WE HUNG OUT AT JAPANESE CLASSICS IN RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

WHERE THEY BRING THE CARS TO US.

THEY'RE A REGISTERED AUTO DEALER, BUT NOT YOUR USUAL ONE.

IT WAS HERE, WHERE WE CAUGHT THE HOLY GRAIL, KNOWN AS...

OLDER CARS REMIND MANY OF SIMPLER TIMES.

FOR ME, IT WAS PLAYING GRAN TURISMO AND STRIVING TO PILOT ONE OF THE FIRST RACE CARS I EVER KNEW EXISTED.

"THE R32 NISSAN SKYLINE GT-R ONE YEAR LATER, IT WAS ON THE JAPANESE TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP.

AND THERE, IN QUALIFYING, IT CAME OUT AND SHATTERED THE TRACK RECORD BY TWO SECONDS."

THE SKYLINE GT-R REMAINED UNBEATEN FOR THREE YEARS, WINNING 29 RACES IN A ROW.

I THINK IT'S GOT SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TEMPTATION TO GET THAT FORBIDDEN FRUIT.

A RIGHT HAND DRIVE CAR THAT WAS NEVER OFFERED IN THE U.S.

THIS IS JUST BRINGING SO MUCH JOY TO ME.

THIS IS A CAR THAT I'VE WANTED TO DRIVE FOR SO LONG.

THOUSANDS HAVE RISKED JAIL TIME TO BRING THESE AND OTHER GREY MARKET VEHICLES TO THE U.S.

BUT DON'T FEAR FOR MY WELL BEING.

THESE CARS ARE 100 PERCENT LEGAL AND READY FOR THE ROAD.

>> MELANIE JONES: IT WAS LIKE BUYING ANY OTHER CAR.

YOU WALK IN, YOU LOOK AT IT, IT'S ALREADY TITLED, AND GET IT REGISTERED... >> ZACH: THIS IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE INFAMOUS 25 YEAR BAN HAS COME TO AN END FOR MANY DESIRABLE CARS.

IF A MANUFACTURER NEVER RELEASED A CERTAIN CAR IN THE STATES, WE HAVE TO WAIT A QUARTER CENTURY FOR THE BUILD DATE.

AFTER THAT, IT'S EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL SAFETY AND EMISSIONS STANDARDS.

BUT IT'S STILL NO SIMPLE TASK.

THIS SHOP TAKES CARE OF THE STACKS OF PAPERWORK, AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH ONLY ONE PIECE OF PAPER.

>> CHRIS BISHOP: TITLES ARE TRANSFERABLE TO ALL 50 STATES.

HOWEVER, REGISTERING THE VEHICLE LAWS JUST LIKE ANY OTHER CAR IN THE U.S...

SO, IF YOU HAVE TO PASS EMISSIONS IN YOUR STATE, YOU WILL HAVE TO PASS EMISSION WITH THESE VEHICLES.

>> ZACH: MANY STATES ALLOW CARS TO BE TAGGED WITH LESS RESTRICTIONS.

SO, BUYING A VEHICLE THAT'S HARD TO COME BY, MAY JUST BE THE EASIEST BUYING EXPERIENCE YOU'VE EVER HAD!

SEE, THE COOL THING ABOUT THE GUYS AT JAPANESE CLASSICS IS THAT THEY TAKE THESE CARS OUT AND THEY MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE READY TO BE SOLD.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SELL YOU A CAR THAT GOES OUT, AND YOU TAKE IT UP TO REDLINE ONCE, AND IT BREAKS.

NOPE.

BEFORE THESE BEAUTIES START THE JOURNEY ACROSS THE PACIFIC THEY'RE PUT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE.

>> CHRIS BISHOP: ALL OF OUR VEHICLES ARE INSPECTED BY EITHER MYSELF OR TSUKASA, IN JAPAN.

WE TEST DRIVE THE CARS, WE LOOK OVER THE CARS, WE MAKE SURE THAT THE CARS THAT WE BUY ARE THE CLEANEST CARS AVAILABLE ON THE MARKET.

>> ZACH: WE'VE HEARD OF FANS PAYING ASTRONOMICAL PRICES FOR A GT-R BEFORE THE BAN ENDED.

HERE, THE PRICES ARE RIGHT.

AROUND $22,000 TOTAL FOR A GT-R. REALLY!

OR AROUND 12-GRAND FOR A SUNNY TRUCK LIKE THIS.

AND ONCE YOU BUY, SPARE PARTS ARE RIGHT NEXT DOOR.

SAY YOU DON'T LIKE YOUR MOTOR.

THEY'VE GOT YOU COVERED WITH A REPLACEMENT, COMPLETE WITH GAUGE CLUSTER AND VIDEO OF THE ENGINE RUNNING BEFORE IT WAS SHIPPED HERE.

FINDING CLEAN CARS, AND SHOWING PROOF OF THEIR HISTORY?

THIS IS SOMETHING I'D LOVE TO SEE ALL IMPORTERS DOING.

AND THIS IS TOO...

TEACHING A CUSTOMER HOW TO DO HER FIRST BURNOUT.

SPENDING ALL DAY NEXT TO THESE AMAZING MACHINES, IT'S HARD NOT TO BREAK OUT YOUR OWN VEHICLE AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND JUST LET IT RIP.

(TIRES SCREECHING/ENGINE REVS) >> JOHN: PAT GOSS IS ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS.

SO, LET'S HEAD TO GOSS' GARAGE AND GET DOWN TO THE NUTS AND BOLTS.

* >> PAT GOSS: WE NEED NUTS AND BOLTS BUT IT TAKES MORE THAN JUST NUTS AND BOLTS TO HOLD THINGS TOGETHER PROPERLY.

AND HERE WITH SOME TIPS, WE HAVE LYNDON ABEL FROM PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW, LYNDON.

>> LYNDON ABEL: THANKS FOR HAVING ME, PAT.

>> PAT: ALRIGHT.

YOU'VE GOT SOME FAMILIAR LOOKING STUFF LAID OUT HERE.

>> LYNDON: YEAH!

>> PAT: TELL US WHAT YOU'VE GOT.

>> LYNDON: SO, THE NUT AND BOLT IS REALLY A REMARKABLE DEVICE, AND IT HOLDS THINGS TOGETHER.

BUT TO DO ITS JOB PROPERLY, IT NEEDS SOME THINGS TO BE DONE PROPERLY, AS WELL.

RIGHT.

SO FIRST IS, USE PROPER TORQUE.

YOU KNOW, THE MANUFACTURER DOESN'T JUST GUESS AT THIS.

IT'S TIGHT FOR A REASON.

GET A PROPERLY CALIBRATED TORQUE WRENCH, AND TIGHTEN THINGS PROPERLY.

THE OTHER THING IS, FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS ON THREAD LOCKERS.

SO, HERE WE HAVE SOME DIFFERENT STRENGTH THREAD LOCKERS.

THERE'S BLUE AND THERE'S RED.

RED IS A HIGH STRENGTH APPLICATION.

BLUE IS MEDIUM STRENGTH.

IF YOU USE BLUE WHERE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO USE RED, THINGS AREN'T GOING TO HOLD PROPERLY; THINGS START COMING APART.

THAT'S NOT THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE, THAT'S THE FAULT OF THE INSTALLER.

RIGHT?

CONVERSELY, IF YOU USE RED, WHERE IT CALLS FOR BLUE, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO TAKE THINGS APART OR DO SOME MAINTENANCE, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF WITH HAVING TO GET OUT A TORCH, SKINNED KNUCKLES, BROKEN BOLTS, SO ON AND SO FORTH.

INCONVENIENT AT BEST.

>> PAT: NOW, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THREAD LOCKERS ARE, THEY'RE CHEMICALS THAT PREVENT BOLTS AND NUTS FROM VIBRATING LOOSE.

>> LYNDON: EXACTLY.

SO YOU GET THE PROPER TORQUE, AND THEN IT STAYS THAT WAY.

IN SOME APPLICATIONS, HARLEY-DAVIDSON'S FOR INSTANCE, A VERY POPULAR ADDITION IS TO USE SOME MORE CHROME BOLTS.

BUT CHROME IS A VERY HARD SURFACE, AND SOMETIMES, ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS SMOOTH, THERE ARE SOME SLIGHTLY JAGGED EDGES.

COMBINE THIS CHROME BOLT WITH THIS CHROME NYLOC, AND YOU OFTEN TIMES GET A SITUATION WHERE THEY LOCK TOGETHER, AND YOU CAN'T GET PROPER TORQUE ON IT, YOU CAN'T GET IT UNDONE, IT'S, IT'S AH... JUST STUCK WHERE IT IS.

THAT'S A PROPER PLACE FOR ANTI-SEIZE.

ANTI-SEIZE WILL ALLOW THAT, AH, THREAD LUBRICANT...

IT WILL GIVE IT A THREAD LUBRICANT WHICH WILL ALLOW THINGS TO TIGHTEN DOWN PROPERLY, SO THAT YOU CAN GET THE PROPER TORQUE.

AND THEN THAT NYLOC NUT WILL KEEP THINGS IN PLACE.

>> PAT: OKAY.

>> LYNDON: AND YOU'LL ALSO FIND PLENTY OF USES FOR ANTI-SEIZE ON OTHER THREAD PIECES.

ANOTHER...

SPARK PLUGS IN A GOOD EXAMPLE... ANOTHER THREADED ITEM ARE DRAIN PLUGS.

IF IT REQUIRES THREAD SEALANT, YOU MUST USE THREAD SEALANT.

IF YOU DON'T, MANY PEOPLE WILL OVER TIGHTEN THAT DRAIN PLUG IN ORDER TO GET A PROPER SEAL, AND THEN YOU END UP STRIPPING OUT AN OIL PAN, WHICH CAN BE A VERY EXPENSIVE MESS.

INSTEAD OF A COUPLE OF DOLLARS' WORTH OF THE RIGHT PRODUCT.

BOTTOM LINE, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS.

THEY PUT THEM THERE FOR A REASON.

>> PAT: OKAY.

LYNDON, THANK YOU.

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

>> JOHN: THIS IS NOW THE THIRD UPDATE ON OUR LONG TERM 2015 CHRYSLER 200C WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

AN ADDITIONAL 2,300 MILES, FOR A TOTAL OF 10,888 ON THE ODO.

AND STAFFERS STILL HAVE A LOT TO SAY.

THE 200 GETS REPEATED HIGH MARKS FOR ITS QUIET AND SMOOTH RIDE, AND GENEROUS POWER.

MOST LOVE THE SIMPLE CONTROLS AND THEIR FUNCTIONAL LAYOUT.

THEY'RE SMARTLY POSITIONED FOR MINIMAL DISTRACTION.

AND A PHYSICAL TUNE KNOB FOR THE RADIO IS A SMALL FEATURE THAT GOES A LONG WAY.

AS FOR THE 9-SPEED AUTO, SOME DRIVERS STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT A JERKY FEEL IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC.

BUT NO ISSUES WHEN THINGS ARE IN SYNC, AND THE 295 HORSEPOWER, 3.6 LITER V6 IS ABLE TO REV FREELY.

FUEL ECONOMY HAS DIPPED SLIGHTLY TO 24.5 MILES PER REGULAR GALLON COMBINED.

MARYLAND SUMMER AND LIBERAL USE OF THE A/C.

WE CLEARLY LIKE THE CHRYSLER 200, AND UNDERSTAND WHY ITS SALES ARE ALSO HOT, WHILE OTHER MID-SIZE SEDANS ARE NOT.

JUST TWO MONTHS INTO OUR LONG TERM TEST OF THIS HERE IS CLEAR.

THIS NEAR LUXURY UTE DELIVERS JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING YOU WANT, INCLUDING LOTS OF SPACE, AND FAIR AMOUNT OF EXTRAVAGANCE, IN A "JUST THE RIGHT SIZE" PACKAGE.

IT'S WELL SEASONED 3.5 LITER V6 AND CVT TRANSMISSION COMBO HAS BEEN SEAMLESS OVER OUR INITIAL 4,500 MILES.

BUT, WITH MOSTLY COMMUTE AND ERRAND DUTIES THIS GO AROUND, MILEAGE HAS SLIPPED A LITTLE TO 22.6 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

THE ULTRA COMFORTABLE, LIVING ROOM CALIBER INTERIOR, AS IT HAS PLENTY OF FEATURES TO OFFER, DESPITE OUR TESTER'S SL TRIM STATUS FALLING SHORT OF TOP DRAWER PLATINUM, AND IT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP VERY WELL.

AS TO STYLING, ITS SLICK, MAKING THE MURANO REALLY STAND OUT AMONG THE TODAY'S MID-SIZE CROSSOVER CLUTTER.

IT'S THE MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT AND VOLKSWAGEN E-GOLF, ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG TERM ROAD REST UPDATE!

>> JOHN: YOLANDA VAZQUEZ IS HERE WITH A MOTORNEWS UPDATE.

SO LET'S SEE WHAT SHE HAS FOR US.

>> YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: AS HONDA RAMPS UP PRODUCTION FOR ITS 10TH GENERATION CIVIC, TWO SPECIALIZED MODELS WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE COMPACT'S PORTFOLIO.

THAT MEANS THE HYBRID AND COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS CIVICS ARE NO MORE.

INFRASTRUCTURE, HONDA CLAIMS THAT COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS, OR CNG, JUST HASN'T CAUGHT ON LIKE THEY HAD HOPED.

MAINLY USED AS A FLEET VEHICLE, THE CIVIC CNG WAS, FOR A WHILE, THE ONLY PASSENGER CAR BUILT TO RUN EXCLUSIVELY ON NATURAL GAS.

NUMEROUS AFTERMARKET REFITTERS STILL DO CNG CONVERSIONS ON BOTH CARS AND TRUCKS, AND CHEVROLET HAS NOW THROWN THEIR HAT IN THE RING WITH A CNG POWERED IMPALA SEDAN.

BUT HONDA HAS DECIDED TO CUT THEIR CNG TIES AND FOCUS ON AN EVEN HARDER TO FIND ALT-FUEL, HYDROGEN.

AS FOR THE CIVIC HYBRID, HONDA'S REASON FOR DOING AWAY WITH THAT MODEL IS BECAUSE THEIR CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE ENGINES HAVE BECOME EFFICIENT ENOUGH TO STAND ON THEIR OWN.

THEY PEG THE NEXT GEN CIVIC WHICH WILL HAVE A TURBO CHARGED 4-CYLINDER FOR THE FIRST TIME TO ACHIEVE OVER 40 MPG ON THE HIGHWAY.

THEIR CURRENT CIVIC HYBRID RATES 47.

BUT HYBRIDS AREN'T COMPLETELY OUT OF THE MIX AT HONDA.

THE ACCORD HYBRID REMAINS AND HONDA SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP MORE EFFICIENT GAS-ELECTRIC POWERTRAINS FOR THE FUTURE.

WELL, ONE THINGS FOR SURE, WE'RE GLAD THE ACCORD HYBRID IS STILL AROUND.

EVEN THOUGH, PRODUCTION OF OUR 2014 MOTORWEEK DRIVERS' CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST ECO FRIENDLY VEHICLE, IS NOW MOVING FROM OHIO TO JAPAN DUE TO LAGGING SALES.

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

>> JOHN: THE OVERWHELMING ONSLAUGHT OF SMALL SUV'S REMINDS US OF THE TECH AND HOUSING BOOMS.

AND WE KEEP WAITING FOR THIS BUBBLE TO BURST AS WELL.

WHEN IS THERE ENOUGH?

WELL, HONDA THINKS THERE'S ROOM FOR ONE MORE.

AND IF THE NEW HR-V IS ANYTHING LIKE THE CR-V, WE'LL HAVE TO AGREE.

* IT'S ALSO HIGHLY LIKELY THAT LOTS OF BUYERS WILL AGREE THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE MARKETPLACE FOR THE 2016 HONDA HR-V.

THE LEVELS OF A YEAR AGO IT WOULD BE A SLAM DUNK.

STILL, THE ACE IN THIS FUN SIZE UTE'S HOLE MAY BE ITS KINSHIP TO THE FIT, WHICH THE HR-V HAS A LOT MORE IN COMMON WITH THAN THE LARGER CR-V. AND THAT MEANS THERE'S A VERY SOLID CHASSIS FOR DRIVING ENJOYMENT, AND MAGIC SEATS INSIDE FOR UNRIVALED VERSATILITY.

THERE'S 24.3 CUBIC FEET OF CARGO SPACE BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, AND A MAXIMUM OF 58.8 WITH THE SEATS FOLDED FLAT.

BOTH NUMBERS LARGER THAN FIT AND WELL ABOVE DIRECT CROSSOVER RIVALS.

IN ADDITION, YOU CAN FULLY RECLINE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FOR EXTRA LONG ITEMS.

AND OF COURSE, WITH THE 2ND ROW MAGIC SEAT FOLDED UP, THERE'S ROOM FOR ITEMS THAT ARE TALLER THAN MANY MID-SIZE CROSSOVERS CAN HANDLE.

THERE'S A FAMILIARITY TO MOST OF THE 5-PASSENGER HR-V'S SWITCHGEAR AND DISPLAYS, YET, THE LAYOUT APPEARS TRULY UNIQUE TO THE HONDA LINEUP, AS ARE THE TOUCH BASED AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROLS IN EX AND EX-L TRIM.

THERE'S GOOD USE OF SOFT TOUCH MATERIALS, AND AN AVAILABLE 7-INCH TOUCHSCREEN FOR INFOTAINMENT.

THE EXPECTED YOUTHFUL FLAIR IS PRESENT, WITH A PLETHORA OF CAFFEINE, AND JUICE BOX HOLDERS, ALONG WITH A TWO LEVEL CENTER CONSOLE, WITH LOTS OF STORAGE SPACE BELOW.

IT ALSO HAS HONDA'S FIRST ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE.

FRONT SEATS COULD USE A LITTLE MORE BOLSTERING AND LONG DISTANCE COMFORT, BUT THEY'RE PERFECTLY FINE FOR COMMUTING DUTY.

THE REAR SEATS ALSO OFFER ADEQUATE COMFORT, AND THERE'S MORE LEG ROOM BACK HERE THAN EXPECTED.

A MULTI-ANGLE REARVIEW CAMERA IS STANDARD, AND NAVIGATION IS OPTIONAL.

A LARGE, CENTRAL, ANALOG SPEEDOMETER HIGHLIGHTS THE GAUGE PANEL, WITH TACHOMETER TO THE LEFT, AND INFO DISPLAY TO THE RIGHT.

FINDING OUR WAY TO THE ENGINE BAY, WE DISCOVER A NORMALLY ASPIRATED, SINGLE-CAM, 1.8 LITER I4.

LIFTED NOT FROM THE FIT, BUT FROM THE COMPACT CIVIC, WITH A CLASS COMPETENT 141 HORSEPOWER AND 127 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

A THRILL SUCKING CVT MAY NOT SOUND PROMISING, BUT THE HR-V FEELS QUITE PEPPY AND HONDA'S CVT IS BETTER THAN MOST.

A 6-SPEED MANUAL IS AVAILABLE AS WELL, BUT ONLY WITH FRONT WHEEL DRIVE.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE MODELS ADD THE CR-V'S AUTOMATIC REAL TIME SYSTEM WITH INTELLIGENT CONTROL, WHICH JUST MEANS THERE'S NOTHING TO TURN ON, AS IT SENDS POWER REARWARD WHENEVER THE FRONT WHEELS START SLIPPING.

IT'S PRIMARILY FOR ALL WEATHER DUTIES; THOUGH IT CERTAINLY PERFORMS JUST FINE IN DIRT OR GRAVEL ROAD SITUATIONS AS WELL.

COUPE LIKE STYLING IS PRESENT, WHICH IS INDUSTRY SPEAK FOR HIDDEN REAR DOOR HANDLES AND CHUNKY C-PILLARS.

THAT HELPS TO GIVE IT MORE A HIGHER GROUND CLEARANCE CIVIC HATCHBACK APPEARANCE RATHER THAN JUST A FIT ON STEROIDS.

WHEELBASE IS 3.2 INCHES LONGER THAN THE FIT, AT 102.8; WITH OVERALL LENGTH AT 169.1 INCHES.

17-INCH ALLOY WHEELS ARE STANDARD.

THE HUNKERED DOWN LOOK ALSO FAVORS THE SHORT LIVED ACCORD CROSSTOUR, YET IT'S FAR MORE ATTRACTIVE, AND WITH ITS STYLISH FRONT END, IT WILL BE ONE OF THE MORE AGREEABLE OFFERINGS IN A SEGMENT THAT INCLUDES THE ANTAGONISTIC NISSAN JUKE AND CARTOONISH JEEP RENEGADE.

SUSPENSION DUTIES ARE HANDLED BY MACPHERSON STRUTS UP FRONT, WITH A TORSION BEAM IN THE REAR.

THEY DELIVER A VERY GOOD RIDE QUALITY FOR SUCH A SHORT WHEELBASE VEHICLE, WITH TUNING THAT MAKES THE HR-V FEEL "BEEFED-UP" COMPARED TO THE FIT.

CABIN NOISE IS ALSO MORE SUBDUED.

EXPECT SAFETY TO BE FIRST RATE, WITH A FULL SUITE OF AIRBAGS AND FEATURES LIKE HONDA LANEWATCH AVAILABLE.

MOST SMALL VEHICLES ARE BOUGHT WITH FUEL ECONOMY AS A PRIORITY.

AND HERE GOVERNMENT RATINGS COME IN AT 28-CITY, 35-HIGHWAY, AND 31-COMBINED FOR 2-WHEEL-DRIVE, AND 27-CITY, 32-HIGHWAY, AND 29-COMBINED FOR ALL WHEEL DRIVE.

AT $19,995, A FRONT DRIVE MANUAL HR-V NEATLY SLOTS BETWEEN THE FIT AND CR-V. A CVT ADDS $800.

ALL WHEEL DRIVE START AT WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS INDEED ROOM FOR ONE MORE SMALL CROSSOVER.

SO HONDA DEALERS, PREPARE TO CLEAR SOME SPACE.

THOUGH NOT TOO MUCH, AS WHILE THE ALL NEW 2016 HONDA HR-V OFFERS PLENTY OF IT INSIDE, IT DOESN'T TAKE UP A WHOLE LOT OF IT OUTSIDE.

AND WE DON'T THINK THEY'LL STICK AROUND YOUR LOT VERY LONG.

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 SHOOT FOR THE CLUB RECORD IN THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF R. THEN GO ALL RENEGADE IN JEEP'S LATEST SMALL CROSSOVER.

PAT GOSS HELPS KEEP CAR CARE ORGANIZED.

WE'LL SEE WHAT FILLING STATIONS OF THE FUTURE MIGHT LOOKS LIKE.

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.

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