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

JOIN US FOR AN ATTITUDE CHECK OF VOLKSWAGEN'S BEETLE DUNE... 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 SEE WHAT'S NEW AND IMPROVED WITH THE ACURA RDX...

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE...

"OOPS."

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: 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 TIP 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 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.

IT'S A NICELY DONE SPACE TOO, AND BETWEEN THE NEW THEME, AND GREAT MATERIALS, IT REALLY FEELS A NOTCH ABOVE ITS PRICE POINT.

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.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS QUITE GOOD, WITH USE OF JUST 11.8 BARRELS OF OIL AND 5.2 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS YEARLY.

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.

OUR SUCCESS STORY THIS WEEK TAKES US TO SOUTH FLORIDA, WHERE ONE COMPANY IS CREATING CLEAN SKIES WITH ALTERNATIVE FUEL.

CITY FURNITURE, ONE OF FLORIDA'S LARGEST FURNISHINGS RETAILERS, BEGAN CONVERTING THEIR DELIVERY FLEET TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS OVER TWO YEARS AGO.

TODAY, 68% OF THEIR TRUCKS RUN ON CNG.

LAST YEAR CITY FURNITURE LOGGED A RECORD 4.8 MILLION MILES ON FLORIDA ROADS, WITH CNG A PRIME MOVER BEHIND LOWER FUEL COSTS.

Shaun Feraco: THIS PAST YEAR, WE ARE 32% LESS ON OUR FUEL COST THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, AND WE'RE UP 23% IN MILES DRIVEN.

John: THE FIRM ALSO HAS A FILL STATION AT THEIR TAMARAC HEADQUARTERS, MAKING IT EASY TO FUEL UP AND GO!

CITY FURNITURE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE SOUTHEAST FLORIDA CLEAN CITIES COALITION, AND IS PLANNING TO HAVE THEIR ENTIRE FLEET RUNNING ON CNG NEXT YEAR.

* 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 IT, YOU GET OVER IT, EVERYTHING'S STILL INTACT.

YOU SAY, "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 SPECIAL FOR ME BECAUSE NOT JUST BECAUSE IT'S MY FIRST EVER TIME DRIVING A DEFENDER, BUT IT'S 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 HAVE 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 .

* John: IT'S THE DIRT OFF-ROAD THAT THIS SPORT MEGA-UTE WAS BORN TO PLAY IN.

WE WERE AT FIRST QUITE SKEPTICAL ABOUT THE QUIGLEY'S OFF-ROAD ABILITIES, BUT ONCE WE HIT THE DIRT, THE BIG VAN PROVED TO BE QUITE CAPABLE.

GM'S COIL-SPRING FRONT SUSPENSION IS REPLACED BY QUIGLEY'S OWN LEAF SPRING DESIGN... LET'S GRAB MORE QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS, FOR THE LATEST AND GREATEST.

WHAT WAS THE GL, IS NOW THE GLS.

SIMPLE ENOUGH, RIGHT?

YES, THIS 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS IS THE BRAND'S 7-PASSENGER, FAMILY HAULING SUV, ITS MOST PRACTICAL, YET NOT ITS MOST EXPENSIVE UTILITY VEHICLE.

BUT, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY...

THE GLS IS GOING TO LOOK VERY FAMILIAR TO ANYONE CURRENTLY ROLLING IN A GL, AND THAT'S BECAUSE, AT LEAST FOR NOW, LITTLE MORE THAN A NAME CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE.

DETAILS HAVE BEEN UPDATED, HOWEVER, WITH REDESIGNED FRONT AND REAR FEATURES LIKE BUMPERS AND LIGHTS, AND NEW WHEEL CHOICES.

INSIDE, A NEW GAUGE CLUSTER, STEERING WHEEL, AND CENTER CONSOLE HIGHLIGHT MORE CHANGES.

IT'S UNDER THE SKIN WHERE MOST OF THE UPDATES COME INTO PLAY.

ALL MODELS NOW GET A 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; ALL THAT IS EXCEPT FOR THE AMG VERSION, WHICH KEEPS ITS UNIQUE 7-GEAR SETUP.

OTHER MODELS INCLUDE THE GLS450, 550, AND 350D FOR DIESEL, ALL WITH 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ENGINES CARRY OVER FOR EACH BADGE...

THE 350D SEES A BUMP IN HORSEPOWER FROM ITS 3.0 LITER TURBO CHARGED V6, TO 255.

THE 450 STAYS PUT WITH 362 FROM ITS 3.0 LITER TWIN TURBO V6.

AND THE 550 SEES SERIOUS GAINS, UP TO 449 FROM ITS 4.7 LITER TWIN TURBO V8.

THE BEASTLY GLS63 AMG WAS ON DISPLAY FOR US TOO, WITH ITS 5.5 LITER TWIN-TURBO V8 NOW PUTTING OUT 577 HORSEPOWER.

AIR SUSPENSION IS STANDARD FOR ALL GLS MODELS, AND THE ENTIRE AIRMATIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN UPGRADED.

THE RESULT IS A SILKY SMOOTH CRUISER.

OUR FAVORITE WAS THE GLS-550, WITH ITS STOUT V8 POWER THAT ACTUALLY PLAYED NICE WITH THE 9-SPEED AUTO, MAKING ACCELERATION, DRIVING AT SPEED, AND HANDLING ALL, A VERY PLEASANT AFFAIR.

NOW, TO JUST FIND THAT SPARE 95 GRAND LYING AROUND... NOT TO WORRY, AS A BASE GLS450 STARTS A LITTLE CHEAPER, AT $70,000.

BOOK ENDING THE LINEUP ARE THE 350D, STARTING AT $68,000, AND THE GLS63, AT AN EYE-POPPING $125,000.

SPRING IS IN FULL BLOOM, AND THAT SEEMS LIKE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO CHECK IN ON THE NISSAN LEAF.

FOR 2016, IT'S BEEN UPDATED TO GO THE DISTANCE.

Greg Carloss: I THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE THE NISSAN LEAF ISN'T JUST A NOVELTY ITEM, BUT A SOLID DAILY COMMUTER.

AND THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THIS 2016 VERSION.

AND A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO THE NEWLY AVAILABLE 30 KWH BATTERY PACK, WHICH BOOSTS RANGE 27% OVER THE 24 KWH BATTERY PACK.

THAT GIVES YOU OVER 100 MILES OF RANGE ON A FULL CHARGE, AND SHOULD EASE ANY RANGE ANXIETY THAT YOU HAVE.

AND AS I FOUND OUT, YOU CAN FORGET TO CHARGE IT OVERNIGHT, AND STILL HAVE PLENTY OF RANGE FOR A LONGER THAN AVERAGE COMMUTE.

John: OTHERWISE, IT'S THE SAME LEAF WE'VE SEEN FOR YEARS.

FUNKY DESIGN OUTSIDE, FUNKY DESIGN INSIDE.

THE ODD SHIFTER REMAINS, AS DOES THE SLEEK, YET, SIMPLY LAYOUT OF CONTROLS AND GAUGES.

NEW THIS YEAR IS A LARGER CENTER TOUCH SCREEN.

DRIVING IS ANYTHING BUT FUNKY; THOUGH IT'S SMOOTH AND WHISPER QUIET.

YOU'LL NOTICE WIND AND ROAD NOISE MORE, BUT THAT'S ONLY BECAUSE THERE'S NO ENGINE TO DROWN IT OUT.

IT RIDES AND HANDLES EXACTLY AS YOU WOULD EXPECT A MAINSTREAM NISSAN HATCHBACK WOULD, COMPETENTLY.

THE 2016 NISSAN LEAF IN BASE S-TRIM WITH AN 84 MILE DRIVING RANGE STARTS AROUND $30,000 BEFORE INCENTIVES.

MID-LEVEL SV, WITH THE LARGER BATTERY AND 107 MILE RANGE, STARTS AROUND $35,000.

AND WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE QUICKSPIN'S, SOON!

SINCE THE COMPACT ACURA RDX ARRIVED ON THE SCENE FOR 2007, THE LUXURY SUVS LANDSCAPE HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AND CHANGE.

AND WHILE, AN EVEN SMALLER FOOTPRINT IS WHERE MOST RIVALS ARE THESE DAYS, WITH FUEL PRICES ON THE DOWN SWING, LUXURY BRANDS ARE STARTING TO ONCE AGAIN MAKE BIG PLANS FOR THEIR MAINSTREAM UTEs.

SO LET'S SEE WHERE THE RDX FITS IN AMONG THE MAYHEM.

* NOW, IN ITS 2ND GENERATION, THIS 2016 ACURA RDX GETS A THOROUGH MID-CYCLE MAKEOVER, TO HELP IT STAY APPEALING IN TODAY'S ULTRA-COMPETITIVE LUXURY CROSSOVER WORLD.

THE EXTERIOR IS CERTAINLY SPRUCED UP, WITH NEW FRONT AND REAR FASCIAS, ACURA'S JEWEL EYE LED HEADLIGHTS, AND NEW WHEEL DESIGNS.

UNDER THE HOOD, THERE'S STILL A SINGLE-CAM 3.5 LITER V6, BUT IT'S A NEWER VERSION, WITH IMPROVEMENTS ACROSS THE BOARD.

HORSEPOWER IS UP 6 TO 279; TORQUE CLIMBS JUST ONE POUND-FEET TO 252, BUT ITS TORQUE CURVE HAS BEEN BROADENED AND FLATTENED.

FUEL ECONOMY IS ALSO BETTERED, THOUGH ONLY BY ONE HIGHWAY MILE PER GALLON.

GOVERNMENT RATINGS WITH THE STANDARD 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC AND OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE ARE 19-CITY, 28-HIGHWAY, AND 22-COMBINED.

WE AVERAGED A VERY GOOD 25.1 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM.

SO, THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS AVERAGE AT 15.0 BARRELS OF YEARLY OIL USE WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.6 TONS.

AND FINALLY, THE ENGINE ALSO RUNS A LITTLE SMOOTHER, THANKS TO AN IMPROVED VARIABLE CYLINDER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND NEW ACTIVE ENGINE MOUNTS.

AS FOR WHY ACURA CONTINUES ON WITH V6 POWER WHEN MOST RIVALS GO WITH, OR AT LEAST MAKE AVAILABLE, A 4-CYLINDER?

WELL, LUXURY SHOPPERS OFTEN SEEK THINGS NOT TO MEET THEIR NEEDS, BUT TO PORTRAY AN IMAGE.

BY GOING FOR A COMPACT CLASS UTE, THEY CAN APPEAR ECO-FRIENDLY AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT WITH A SMOOTH RUNNING HIDDEN V6, AND MIDSIZE-LIKE CAPABILITIES, THEY CAN STILL GET THEIR CHORES DONE EASILY AND COMFORTABLY.

SO, WHAT ELSE IS NEW ABOUT THIS TWEENER?

WELL, IN AND AROUND ITS ROOMY 5-SEATER CABIN THERE'S A FEW MORE FEATURES STANDARD, INCLUDING THE POWER OPERATED LIFT GATE.

ALL EXCEPT BASE MODELS GAIN A NEW 4.2 INCH TFT DISPLAY IN THE GAUGES CLUSTER THAT PROVIDES MORE INFORMATION.

CARGO CAPACITY REMAINS A VERY GOOD 26.1 CUBIC-FEET; EXPANDING TO 61.3 WITH THE REAR SEAT BACKS FOLDED.

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDE THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING ACURAWATCH SUITE OF HANDS-OFF SYSTEMS.

AUTO BRAKING WORKED WELL IN OUR TESTING.

PERFORMING SMOOTHLY, THOUGH WITH LOTS OF MECHANICAL NOISE.

AND YOU GET PLENTY OF BOTH AUDIBLE AND VISUAL ALERTS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY BRAKES FOR YOU.

AS FOR THE ROAD MANNERS; EVEN WITH LOTS OF NEW TWEAKS, LITTLE HAS CHANGED FROM OUR 2014 IMPRESSIONS.

THIS RDX IS CLEARLY MORE ABOUT RIDE COMFORT THAN ANY SPORT IN UTILITY.

IT CONTINUES TO HANDLE COMPETENTLY, BUT DRIVERS' COMMENTS LIKE STEERING NUMB AND TOO LIGHT, AND COMFORTABLE, BUT GENERIC, TELL THE TALE.

* STILL, WE FOUND ABUNDANT V6 GUSTO AND COMPOSURE FOR ON-RAMPS AND EMERGENCY PASSING SITUATIONS.

A TRIP TO OUR TRACK CONFIRMED THAT THERE IS INDEED PLENTY OF POWER ON TAP.

60 MILES PER HOUR WAS HIT IN JUST 6.5 SECONDS.

THERE'S GOOD TORQUE OFF THE LINE AND THROUGH THE FIRST COUPLE OF GEARS, AS SHIFTS ARE BOTH SMOOTH AND QUICK.

THE ENGINE SOUNDED BEEFY, AND THE EXHAUST QUITE SPORTY, AS WE COMPLETED THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.0 SECONDS FLAT AT 96 MILES PER HOUR.

OUR HANDLING IMPRESSIONS WERE ALSO VALIDATED, WITH A VERY SOFT FEEL EVEN WITH DAMPER REBOUND SPRINGS TO REDUCE BODY ROLL.

STILL, THERE'S DECENT COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE WHEEL FOR A LUXURY MINDED UTE, AND THE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM HAS MORE REAR BIAS, GREATLY LIMITING UNDERSTEER.

BRAKING WAS VERY IMPRESSIVE.

SOLID STOPS FROM 60, WITH AN AVERAGE OF JUST 123 FEET, WERE MOSTLY FADE FREE; ACCOMPANIED BY A NICE FEEL TO THE PEDAL AND GOOD FEEDBACK.

ACURA LETS YOU PRIORITIZE WHETHER TO ADD TECH, SAFETY, OR LUXURY TO YOUR BASE RDX THAT STARTS AT $36,310.

IF YOU WANT IT ALL, THE ADVANCE WILL SET YOU BACK $42,960.

ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ADDS JUST $1,500 MORE TO ANY RDX.

ALL IN ALL, A VERY WORTHY UPDATE TO A FINE VEHICLE.

BUT IT WILL TAKE A COMPLETE NEXT GEN REBOOT TO BRING IT FULLY UP TO SPEED WITH LUX COMPACT RIVALS.

NOW, THAT'S NOT A KNOCK ON THE 2016 ACURA RDX BY ANY MEANS.

IT'S JUST A SIGN OF WHERE WE FIND OURSELVES THESE DAYS, IN THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WORLD OF "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY" LUXURY CROSSOVERS.

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 SOME MOTORING M-M-MADNESS IN THE BMW M2.

THEN SOAK UP THE SUN IN THE BUICK CASCADA.

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... "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

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