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

JOIN US AS WE SEE IF THE MERCEDES-BENZ E300 IS AHEAD OF THE PACK IN HANDS FREE DRIVING... CLASSIC CAR BUYING ADVICE FROM PAT GOSS... LAUREN MORRISON FILLS UP WITH FUEL THAT WAS ONCE A DREAM... AND A NEW NISSAN TITAN TAKES ON THE TRUCK GIANTS...

SO COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

* Announcer: MOTORWEEK , TELEVISION'S ORIGINAL AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

Announcer: 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: THE GERMANS ARE HERE TO TAKE YOUR DRIVING AWAY!

NOW, I KNOW THAT SOUNDS A BIT ALARMIST.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THESE DAYS, ALL ANYBODY WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IS SELF-DRIVING CAR TECHNOLOGY.

NOW, I'M DRIVING AN ALL-NEW 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E CLASS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVE PILOT, ARGUABLY THE MOST ADVANCED AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SYSTEM YOU CAN BUY TODAY.

YET, EVEN MERCEDES DESCRIBES DRIVE PILOT AS MORE OF A DRIVING ASSISTANT THAN A TRUE CO-PILOT.

SO, LET'S DRIVE ON AND SEE HOW IT WORKS, AND IF IT MAKES THE E300 MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER MIDSIZE LUXURY CAR.

WHETHER AN E-CLASS BY NAME OR NOT, THERE'S BEEN A MIDSIZE SEDAN IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ LINEUP SINCE 1953.

SO THEY CONSIDER THIS 2017 MERCEDES-BENZ E300 THE START OF A 10TH GENERATION.

ERGO, IT'S A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT CAR FOR THE BRAND.

WHILE, THE S-CLASS ACTS AS THE SHOWCASE FOR WHAT THE BRAND IS CAPABLE OF, IT IS IN THE E-CLASS WHERE ASPIRATIONS COME DOWN TO REALITY AND A LARGE, DIVERSE OWNER GROUP THAT MUST BE KEPT SATISFIED.

PHYSICALLY LARGER AS YOU WOULD EXPECT, WHEELBASE IS UP OVER 2.0 INCHES, WITH OVERALL LENGTH UP JUST SHY OF 2; YET, IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK BIGGER.

POWER COMES UP FROM THE C-CLASS, THE NOW UBIQUITOUS 2.0 LITER I4 TURBO.

COMPLAIN IF YOU WILL, BUT MOST BUYERS WILL LIKELY BE MORE THAN SATISFIED WITH ITS 241 HORSEPOWER, AND 273 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, WE WERE.

HELPING IT ALONG, IS AN ECO-MINDED 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC, AND IN OUR TESTER'S CASE, OPTIONAL 4MATIC ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

NOW, ON TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ DRIVE PILOT SYSTEM, WHICH GETS YOU AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN LEGALLY GET TO AUTONOMOUS DRIVING?

MAKING IT HAPPEN ARE A PLETHORA OF CAMERAS, AND RADAR SENSORS, AND SOME HEFTY COMPUTING POWER.

BUT, JUST HOW CLOSE IS THIS TECHNOLOGY TO MASS MARKET PRIME TIME?

AS ONE COLLEAGUE PUT IT, "DRIVE PILOT IS FOR WHEN YOU HAVE TO DRIVE BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO."

LIKE LONG STRETCHES OF BORING INTERSTATE OR STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC.

IN THOSE SITUATIONS, IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.

IT EVEN USES THE FAMILIAR CRUISE CONTROL STALK TO ACTIVATE IT.

DRIVE PILOT TRIES TO KEEP YOU IN THE CENTER OF THE LANE, ALTHOUGH, WE HAVE NOTICED A LITTLE PING-PONGING EFFECT AT TIMES.

AND YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE WHEEL, ALTHOUGH, AFTER ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR SO YOU'LL GET FIRST A VISUAL WARNING, AND THEN A VISUAL, AND AUDIBLE WARNING.

AND IF YOU DON'T MIND IT, IT WILL BRING YOU TO A STOP.

DRIVE PILOT NAVIGATES GENTLE CURVES PRETTY WELL, AND IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE LANES, YOU PUT ON THE TURN SIGNAL FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS, AND IF IT IS CLEAR THE CAR WILL MOVE OVER TO THE LANE NEXT TO YOU.

BUT, THIS IS NOT A SET IT AND FORGET IT SYSTEM.

AND WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY, ACTIVE BRAKE ASSIST WILL BRING THE VEHICLE TO A FULL STOP TO AVOID A COLLISION.

BUT LEST YOU WORRY, THIS E-CLASS IS STILL A CAR THAT YOU'LL WANT TO DRIVE YOURSELF!

THROUGH THE CONES, THE E300 BOASTS EXCELLENT AGILITY, BUT ALSO A VERY HEFTY FEEL.

STEERING WAS A TAD LIGHT, YET IT WAS STILL VERY PRECISE.

POWER FROM THE 2.0 LITER IS VERY RESPECTABLE OFF THE LINE.

WE HIT 60 IN A NEAT 6.6 SECONDS, WITH THE QUARTER MILE PASSING MORE LEISURELY IN 15.1 SECONDS AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

THE 9-SPEED AUTO DOES A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE BOOSTED 4-BANGER IN ITS SWEET SPOT; SHIFTS WERE FIRM, BUT NOT ESPECIALLY FAST.

WITH AN AVERAGE STOPPING DISTANCE OF 109 FEET FROM 60 MILES PER HOUR, BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS GREAT, WITH A FIRM, SOLID PEDAL.

ON REAL ROADS, THERE'S A PEACEFUL HIGHWAY NATURE THAT'S TO BE EXPECTED; AND WHEN DRIVEN AT A RELAXED PACE, THE POWERTRAIN IS INOFFENSIVE IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.

THE INTERIOR IS CLEAN, MATERIALS EXQUISITE, AND UPGRADES INCLUDE A WIDE FULLY INTEGRATED DASH WITH NEAR-PANORAMIC GAUGE, AND CONTROL SCREENS THAT LOOK AS ATTRACTIVE AS THEY ARE FUNCTIONAL.

WITH MANY OF THOSE FUNCTIONS THE DUTY OF THE COMMAND CONSOLE CONTROLLER AND ITS REDUNDANT FINGER-TIP CONTROLS.

AND WE'LL PRAISE THE TWO EXQUISITELY NEAT ROWS OF AUDIO AND CLIMATE SWITCHGEAR THAT WE TENDED TO USE MOST OFTEN.

SEAT COMFORT IS AMONG THE BEST WE'VE EVER TRIED, WITH PLENTY OF LEG, AND HEADROOM IN FRONT, AND IN BACK, WHERE THE SEATBACKS FOLD FOR NEAR SUV LIKE VERSATILITY.

THE SPACIOUS TRUNK IS MORE THAN AMPLE BY ITSELF MEASURING 13.1 NEATLY LINED CUBIC FEET.

BASE PRICING IS SIMPLE, STARTING AT $53,075, JUST CHOOSE LUXURY OR SPORT TRIM, AND IF YOU WANT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ADVANCED SAFETY AND SELF-DRIVING SYSTEMS ADD ANOTHER 10 GRAND.

WHILE, MOST PEOPLE NOWADAYS WOULD RATHER THROW THEIR LUXURY MONEY DOWN ON AN SUV, MERCEDES-BENZ THINKS THE 2017 E300 IS WORTHY OF SUCH LAVISH LOOT, AS THEY CLAIM IT'S NOT ONLY ONE OF THE GREATEST CARS EVER, BUT "ONE OF THE MOST INTELLIGENT MACHINES EVER MADE."

THAT'S ESPECIALLY TRUE IF YOU OPT FOR DRIVE PILOT, BUT USE IT MORE AS SAFETY NET THAT SURROGATE.

BUT, WE'LL JUST CALL IT ONE OF THE FINEST LUXURY SEDANS MONEY CAN BUY, AND ONE YOU WILL STILL LOVE TO DRIVE YOURSELF.

* WE TALK A LOT ABOUT ALTERNATIVE FUELS HERE ON MOTORWEEK .

CNG, PROPANE, BIO-DIESEL, E85, AND OF COURSE PLUG-IN BATTERY-ELECTRIC.

BUT THE PROMISE OF A SUPER CLEAN DRIVING FUTURE POWERED BY HYDROGEN HAS ALWAYS BEEN DESCRIBED AS YEARS AWAY.

RIGHT NOW IN CALIFORNIA, HOWEVER, YOU CAN ACTUALLY BUY, AND DRIVE YOUR OWN HYDROGEN POWERED FUEL-CELL CAR.

AND WHAT'S THAT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE LIKE?

WELL, WE SENT OUR FYI REPORTER LAUREN MORRISON TO FIND OUT.

Lauren Morrison: JUST THIS YEAR HONDA, HYUNDAI, AND TOYOTA ALL DEBUTED PRODUCTION READY HYDROGEN FUEL CELL VEHICLES, ALTHOUGH INITIALLY THEY WILL ONLY AVAILABLE IN LIMITED AREAS.

THINGS UNDER THE HOOD OF A FUEL CELL VEHICLE LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'D FIND UNDER THE HOOD OF A GAS OR DIESEL VEHICLE.

IN FACT, A FUEL CELL VEHICLE ACTUALLY IS AN EV, BUT IT MAKES ITS OWN ELECTRICITY FROM HYDROGEN.

THERE'S NO NEED TO PLUG IT IN TO RE-CHARGE.

TO SEE JUST WHAT ONE DRIVES LIKE, I JUMPED BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A TOYOTA MIRAI SEDAN.

MUCH LIKE A TRADITIONAL EV, THINGS ARE VERY QUIET, AND HAD ME ASKING, "IS THIS THING EVEN ON?"

BUT, WITH THE POPULARITY, AND PETROL HUNGRY REPUTATION OF SUVs, IT SEEMED ONLY NATURAL FOR ME TO CHECK OUT THIS NEW HYDROGEN HYUNDAI TUCSON AS WELL...AND AGAIN, THE DRIVE WAS VERY SIMILAR TO A BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLE, WITH THAT REALLY QUICK GET UP AND GO.

SO, WHY HYDROGEN OVER BATTERY ELECTRIC?

FOR ONE, THE TIME IT TAKES TO REFUEL.

Dr. Sunita Satyapal: SO, IT JUST TAKES A FEW MINUTES UM, TO FUEL, SO THERE IT'S MORE SIMILAR TO A GASOLINE VEHICLE AS OPPOSED TO CHARGING THE BATTERY.

Lauren: ANOTHER PLUS FOR HYDROGEN VEHICLES?

THEIR RANGE.

THE EPA ESTIMATE FOR THE TOYOTA MIRAI I DROVE IS 312 MILES.

THE HYUNDAI TUCSON BOASTS 265 MILES PER TANK, AND EACH ONE OF THOSE MILES IS POLLUTION FREE.

THE ONLY KIND OF EMISSIONS THAT COME OUT OF HYDROGEN ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE A LITTLE BIT OF HEAT AND H2O.

EVEN CONSIDERING THE ENERGY, IT TAKES TO PRODUCE, DELIVER, STORE, AND TRANSPORT HYDROGEN, OR WHAT THE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE DEFINES AS WELL TO WHEEL EMISSIONS, HYDROGEN COMES OUT AHEAD.

Dr. Satyapal: IF YOU LOOK AT TODAY'S GASOLINE VEHICLE, ON AVERAGE, UM, BASED ON ALL THE ASSUMPTIONS, WE HAVE ROUGHLY ALMOST ABOUT A POUND OF CARBON EMISSIONS PER MILE OF DRIVING.

IF YOU'RE PRODUCING HYDROGEN FROM NATURAL GAS, THERE'S ABOUT HALF OF THAT IN TERMS OF EMISSIONS OF TOTAL WELL TO WHEEL EMISSIONS.

Lauren: SO, WHY AREN'T WE ALL DRIVING HYDROGEN VEHICLES?

WELL, IT STARTS WITH THE HIGH COST OF THE FUELING STATIONS, THE FUEL CELL VEHICLES, AND THE HYDROGEN FUEL ITSELF.

BUT, THE WEST COAST, CALIFORNIA IN PARTICULAR, IS MAKING STRIDES.

Dr. Satyapal: AND CALIFORNIA, THE STATE HAS ACTUALLY SET ASIDE FUNDING SPECIFICALLY TO INSTALL HYDROGEN STATIONS.

Lauren: SIMILAR TO OTHER ALTERNATIVE FUELS, COLLABORATION SEEMS TO BE KEY IN MAKING HYDROGEN MORE MAINSTREAM.

TAKE THIS FUELING STATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

AND WITH THE STATION RIGHT IN THEIR BACKYARD, THE GREATER WASHINGTON REGION CLEAN CITIES COALITION IS MAKING MOVES TOO, TALKING WITH DC GOVERNMENT ABOUT PURCHASING HYDROGEN VEHICLES, NOW THAT A STATION IS LOGISTICALLY AVAILABLE.

Ronald Flowers: WASHINGTON, D.C. HAS OVER THE YEARS BEEN AN INNOVATOR AS IT RELATED TO ALTERNATIVE FUEL PROGRAMS, AND I SEE, AGAIN, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GOVERNMENT, AND DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS MAKING SOME MAJOR EFFORTS TO BRING HYDROGEN TO THE CITY.

Lauren: OTHER THAN CALIFORNIA, THE THREE AUTOMAKERS HAVE YET TO ANNOUNCE WHICH MARKET AREAS THE FUEL CELL VEHICLES WILL BE OFFERED IN NEXT.

BUT AFTER MY DRIVES, THERE'S NO DENYING THE POTENTIAL AND PRACTICALITY OF HYDROGEN POWERED CARS.

SO, THIS TIME THE FUTURE OF THIS FUTURE FUEL LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE MUCH SOONER THAN WE THOUGHT.

John: WE LOVE CLASSIC CARS... WHO DOESN'T?

PAT GOSS HAS SOME GREAT ADVICE IF YOU'RE IN THE MARKET FOR ONE.

Pat Goss: SO, YOU THINK IT'S TIME TO BUY THAT COLLECTIBLE CAR THAT YOU'VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT ALL THESE YEARS.

WELL, THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT UNLESS YOU DO IT RIGHT YOU MIGHT NOT WIND UP WITH WHAT YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING.

AND HERE TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS WE HAVE TONY FLEMING FROM FLEMING'S ULTIMATE GARAGE.

TONY WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Tony Fleming: THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW THIS IS A GORGEOUS CORVETTE, BUT WHAT MAKES IT A REALLY TOP NOTCH CAR AS OPPOSED TO JUST BEING A LUMP?

Tony: WELL, A LUMP IS WELL SAID.

ALRIGHT, SO START WITH HOW DOES A CAR LOOK?

WHEN YOU WALK UP TO A CAR IS IT A GREAT LOOKING CAR?

AND A LOT OF TIME YOU'LL SAY, "WELL THAT'S A GREAT LOOKING CAR" BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHY IT'S A GREAT LOOKING CAR RIGHT?

TO MAKE THOSE CARS DESIRABLE THINGS LIKE WHERE WE PAINT THE WHEEL THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, AND THE WHEEL COVER GOES OVER TOP, AND YOU HAVE THE THIN LITTLE PIN STRIPE OF THE PAINT COLOR...

ADDING THE WIDE WHITE, SO THEY'RE PERIOD CORRECT, SO THEY STILL LOOK GREAT.

THIS CAR IN PARTICULAR IS THE LAST YEAR YOU COULD GET THE PAINTED COVE ON THE SIDE, AND I THINK IT LOOKS GREAT, I PERSONALLY LOVE THOSE.

AND THEN, YOU THROW IN THE HIGH PERFORMANCE ENGINE YOU COULD GET RIGHT?

THIS CAR RIGHT HERE HAS TWO 4-BARREL CARBURETORS ON IT.

IT'S THE ORIGINAL ENGINE THAT CAME IN THE CAR AND THE CAR'S OVER 50 YEARS OLD.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THAT THAT'S PRETTY COOL.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NOW ANOTHER THING I'VE NOTICED OVER THE YEARS THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE IS THE AUTHENTICITY OF LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE DECALS AND THE STENCILS EVEN DOWN TO HOSE CLAMPS.

Tony: VERY WELL SAID.

SO, THE PROVENANCE OF A CAR WHETHER YOU HAVE SOME PAPERWORK FROM BACK IN THE DAY OR YOU HAVE LIKE THE HARRISON RADIATOR DECAL, THE OVERFLOW TANK DECAL, EVEN THE HORSEPOWER CALL-OUT DECALS ON SOME OTHER CARS IT MAKES IT LOOK NEAT WHEN YOU OPEN THE HOOD.

THAT'S THE WAY THE CAR WOULD HAVE COME FROM THE FACTORY.

THIS ONE EVEN HAS THE WONDERBAR RADIO IN IT, SO IT'S THE ORIGINAL FACTORY RADIO IT'S A 50-YEAR-OLD RADIO AND IT'S PRETTY COOL TO LOOK AT.

Pat: YEAH!

ALRIGHT, SO UNLESS YOU DO YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU CAN WIND UP BUYING SOMETHING THAT REALLY ISN'T WORTH THE DOLLARS, THIS IS WORTH MORE THAN ONE THAT DOESN'T HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS.

Tony: WELL, THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART YOU SAY THERE.

SO THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS SAME CAR FOR LET'S SAY $60,000 VERSUS A CAR FOR $90,000.

LIKE WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

SO SOME PEOPLE JUST GO OUT, AND BUY A CAR BECAUSE THEY SEE IT'S RED, AND WHITE, AND THEY THINK IT SHOULD BRING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY YOU GOTTA DO A LITTLE HOMEWORK OR BUY IT FROM SOMEBODY WHO CAN SHOW YOU THE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD GET THAT, AND SPEND THE EXTRA AND KEEP THAT MONEY.

Pat: OKAY, AN AUCTION MAY NOT BE THE BEST ANSWER.

Tony: WELL, THE AUCTION REALLY IS JUST PUTTING THE BUYER AND THE SELLER TOGETHER WITH NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER.

Pat: OKAY, TONY THANK YOU.

Tony: ALRIGHT.

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

John: THERE'S NOTHING LIKE DRIVING A NEW CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

AND WE HAVE SOME OF THE LATEST ON THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

THE LAST AUDI A4 SPORT LUXURY SEDAN WE TESTED WAS IN 2013.

WE FOUND IT POLISHED, AND POTENT THEN, AND THE ALL-NEW 2017 AUDI A4 LOOKS LIKE MORE OF THE SAME.

THE 5TH GEN'S STYLING IS FAMILIAR.

AUDI'S SIGNATURE 4 RING BADGE SURROUNDED BY AN EVEN MORE PRONOUNCED GRILLE.

FRONT LIGHTING IS MORE AERODYNAMIC; LED'S DURING THE DAY... XENON PLUS HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT, WITH FULL LED'S AVAILABLE.

THE REDESIGN FLOWS TO LED TAIL LIGHTS WITH DYNAMIC TURN INDICATORS.

IT'S NOT JUST A SPORTIER LOOK...

IT'S ALSO A LIGHTER SPORTIER RIDE, USING FAR MORE WEIGHT SAVING MATERIALS, POWERED HERE BY A TURBOCHARGED 2.0 LITER I4 DELIVERING 252 HORSEPOWER UP 32 OVER LAST YEAR.

WHILE NOW LARGER, THE A4 QUATTRO S TRONIC WE DROVE REACTS BOTH WITH MORE AGILITY AND MORE SOLIDITY.

THE REDESIGN IS MOST OBVIOUS INSIDE.

THE ENVIRONMENT IS MORE ELONGATED AND SLEEKER.

A TOP-MOUNTED MMI DISPLAY RISES FROM THE DASH, THE GAUGE POD HOUSES A FULL WIDTH TFT DISPLAY AS WELL, WITH A HEAD-UP DISPLAY AVAILABLE.

THE 2017 AUDI A4 IS IN DEALERSHIPS NOW, STARTING AT ABOUT $35,000.

IT MAY NOT BE SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU SEE, BUT WHAT YOU GET, THAT MAKES THE SUBARU CROSSTREK NEW FOR 2016.

FOR STARTERS, THE NAME IS SHORTER; NO MORE XV.

SUBARU DESIGNERS ADDED REFINEMENTS TO THE GRILLE, HEADLIGHTS, AND BUMPER...

ALTHOUGH, THE CHANGES ARE REALLY SUBTLE.

AS FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE 2.0 LITER FLAT-FOUR HORSEPOWER, IT'S THE SAME AT 148.

INSIDE, THERE'S NEW TECHNOLOGY PACKED INTO THIS COMPACT 5-DOOR, LIKE THE BLIND SPOT DETECTION/REAR CROSS TRAFFIC ALERT SYSTEM WHICH IS STANDARD ON THE 2.0I LIMITED.

BUT, WHAT REALLY SETS THE CROSSTREK APART FROM OTHER CUTE-UTEs IS ITS ABUNDANCE OF BOTH COMFORT AND SPACE.

IN FACT, IT CAME OUT ON TOP DURING OUR MOST RECENT SUBCOMPACT UTILITY CHALLENGE.

SO WHILE, THE SUBARU CROSSTREK MAY NOT LOOK THAT NEW FOR 2017...

IT SIMPLY OFFERS MORE OF WHAT BUYERS ARE DEMANDING.

AND IT'S AVAILABLE NOW, STARTING AROUND $21,000.

THE 2017 PRIUS PRIME REPLACES THE PREVIOUS PRIUS PLUG-IN, AND ITS MEDIOCRE EV-ONLY RANGE.

THE PRIME'S EV RANGE IS A COMMUTER FRIENDLY 25 MILES PER CHARGE, WITH A 640 MILE TOTAL RANGE.

THE PRIME SHARES MUCH WITH THE STANDARD 4TH GENERATION PRIUS.

BUT STEP AROUND THE FRONT, AND YOU'LL IMMEDIATELY SEE SOME DIFFERENCES.

THE PRIUS PRIME HAS A MORE COMMANDING, BLACKED OUT FRONT FASCIA WITH TALLER LED FOG LIGHTS, AND FOUR-PROJECTOR LED HEADLIGHTS.

THE PRIME'S NOVEL LED TAILLIGHTS FORM AN ALMOST CONTINUOUS RED GLOW AT THE HATCH.

WHICH IS NOW EASIER TO LIFT THANKS TO TOYOTA'S FIRST USE OF CARBON-FIBER-REINFORCEMENT.

INSIDE, A HUGE TESLA-STYLE 11.6 INCH TOUCHSCREEN NOW DOMINATES THE INTERIOR.

THE PRIME'S UPDATED 1.8 LITER GAS/ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN PRODUCES 121 HORSEPOWER, THE SAME AS THE TYPICAL PRIUS, BUT WITH A MUCH LARGER 8.8 KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FOR AN ESTIMATED 124 MPGE RATING.

Greg Carloss: SURE THERE ARE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES THAT COME WITH THE PRIUS PRIME.

YOU GET MORE EV DRIVING RANGE, BUT ITS 300 POUNDS HEAVIER.

IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER, BUT YOU LOSE SOME SPACE ON THE INSIDE.

THE DRIVING ISN'T MUCH DIFFERENT THOUGH, THEY'RE BOTH ON TOYOTA'S NEXT GENERATION GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE; A DOUBLE WISH-BONE REAR SUSPENSION.

IT'S SMOOTH, COMFORTABLE, AND QUIET.

HANDLES SWITCH BACKS PRETTY WELL, SO THEY'RE VERY CLOSE IN THAT ASPECT AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THE HYBRID SYSTEM WORKS VERY, VERY WELL EXACTLY WHAT YOU'D EXPECT FROM A PRIUS.

John: FIFTY-STATE SALES OF THE 2017 PRIUS PRIME BEGIN LATER THIS FALL, STARTING AROUND $27,000.

AND, WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

IN A WORLD WHERE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS OFTEN SEVERELY LACKING, JOSEPH A. MICHELLI MAKES A CASE IN HIS BOOK, "DRIVEN TO DELIGHT: DELIVERING WORLD CLASS CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE THE MERCEDES-BENZ WAY."

MERCEDES-BENZ'S DEDICATION TO PROVIDING THE ULTIMATE OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN A MAJOR KEY TO THEIR SUCCESS HERE IN AMERICA.

OF COURSE, THEY MAKE A GREAT PRODUCT, AS DO MANY OTHER CAR COMPANIES.

BUT IT WAS THE "DRIVEN TO DELIGHT" PROGRAM, PUT INTO PLACE BY MBUSA CEO STEPHEN CANNON THAT HAS MADE THE MERCEDES-BENZ OWNERSHIP EXPERIENCE AN UNRIVALED ONE, AND A PATTERN FOR THE REST OF THE INDUSTRY, AND ALL BUSINESSES TO FOLLOW.

LAST YEAR, NISSAN MADE QUITE A SPLASH WITH THE FULL SIZE TITAN XD.

A BRAWNY, V8 TURBO DIESEL TRUCK AIMED SQUARELY AT THE SWEET SPOT BETWEEN LIGHT, AND HEAVY DUTY PICKUPS.

WELL, NOW COMES THE EVER MORE IMPORTANT HALF-TON TITAN.

AS THE VOLUME ENTRY AGAINST THE BIG THREE, LET'S SEE IF THEY HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

* SURELY, YOU'VE SEEN A LOT OF NISSAN TITANS ON THE ROAD, BUT THIS FULL-SIZE TRUCK HAS ONLY BEEN A MODEST SUCCESS FOR THE BRAND.

AND THERE WERE RUMORS IT MIGHT NOT BE REDESIGNED.

WELL, BURY THAT THOUGHT.

CLEARLY, NISSAN IS AFTER A MUCH LARGER PIECE OF THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK PIE WITH A GEN TWO, GROUND-UP TITAN REDESIGN FOR 2017.

NOW, BOWING TO REALITY, NISSAN DOESN'T EXPECT TO LURE AWAY MANY DIE-HARD FORD, CHEVY, AND RAM BUYERS.

BUT, RATHER ATTRACT FIRST-TIME BIG-TRUCK BUYERS, ESPECIALLY IMPORT BRAND OWNERS, WITH A FRESHER FULL-SIZE ENTRY.

ALTHOUGH, ALL TITANS ARE U.S.

BUILT, ASSEMBLED IN CANTON, MISSISSIPPI.

POWERING THEIR SALES GOAL IS NISSAN'S UPDATED 5.6 LITER ENDURANCE V8, NOW WITH 390 HORSEPOWER AND 394 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE; CONNECTED TO A 7-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

A MORE FUEL EFFICIENT V6 ARRIVES LATER.

ON THE ROAD, TITAN FEELS EVERY BIT AS SOLID AND FORMIDABLE AS ITS DOMESTIC COMPETITION, BUT WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN THE PARKING LOT, OR A TIGHT DRIVEWAY IT FEELS MORE MANEUVERABLE.

YOU MIGHT THINK IT WOULD FEEL LESS POWERFUL THAN THE LARGER XD DIESEL, BUT WITH A WHOPPING 1,500 POUNDS LESS WEIGHT TO HAUL AROUND, IT FEELS EVERY BIT AS MENACING.

AND IT CAN DO ALMOST AS MUCH WORK, TOWING UP TO 9,390 POUNDS.

THE LOOK IS BIG TRUCK CUMBERSOME, THOUGH SURELY NISSAN WOULD PREFER TO CALL IT BOLD.

HAVING MUCH MORE IN COMMON WITH THE XD THAN THE PREVIOUS TITAN HALF-TON.

BUT THERE'S 11.8 INCHES LESS WHEELBASE, AND ABOUT 15 INCHES LESS TO OVERALL LENGTH THAN THE XD.

AND EVEN WITH A MORE MACHO APPEARANCE, AERODYNAMICS ARE 10% BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL TITAN.

PLATINUM RESERVE TRIM IS AVAILABLE TO APPEAL, TO LUXURY MINDED BUYERS AND THE PRO-4X FOR THE RUGGED TYPES.

THE LATER INCLUDES 18-INCH WHEELS WITH 275/70 A/Ts, BILSTEIN SHOCKS, SKID PLATES, AND A LOCKING REAR DIFF.

THE NEW TITAN IS AVAILABLE AS CREW CAB ONLY AT LAUNCH, WITH A 5.5-FOOT BED; A FOOT SHORTER THAN THE XD, BUT KING AND SINGLE CABS WILL FOLLOW SHORTLY, WITH BEDS UP TO 8-FOOT.

PRODUCTIVITY AIDS INCLUDE ADJUSTABLE TIE DOWNS, LED BED RAIL LIGHTING, AND A KICK OUT BED STEP.

STEPPING UP INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, YOU'LL FIND PLENTY OF COMFORT FOR LONG HAULS, AS WELL AS LOTS OF BIG KNOBS ON THE CENTER STACK.

HERE, THINGS ARE MOSTLY THE SAME AS IN THE XD, WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY CONVENIENCE FEATURE YOU EXPECT AVAILABLE; INCLUDING NAVIGATION, HEATED AND VENTILATED SEATS, HEATED STEERING WHEEL, AROUND VIEW MONITOR, TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER, ROCKFORD FOSGATE AUDIO, AND EVEN REMOTE START.

THE CREW CAB'S REAR SEAT AREA IS INCREDIBLY ROOMY, AND THOSE SEATS ARE CONFIGURABLE FOR BOTH SEATING AND MULTIPLE STORAGE OPTIONS.

PLENTY OF BINS AND BIG CUP HOLDERS ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CABIN TOO.

4X4s GET A TRADITIONAL PART-TIME SETUP WITH DASH MOUNTED SELECTOR, AS WELL AS A BIT MORE GROUND CLEARANCE.

TITAN CAN HANDLE A WIDE RANGE CONDITIONS, AND FEELS VERY RUGGED WHEN BANGING THROUGH OBSTACLES.

[TIRES SCREECHING] NOW, OFF TO THE TRACK, WHERE WE FOUND A BIT OF THE USUAL EMPTY-BED V8 PICKUP WHEEL SPIN WITH OUR PRO-4X 4X4, BUT STILL GOT OFF TO A 7.3 SECOND 0-60.

POWER BUILDS GRADUALLY ALL THE WAY UP THE TACH, UNTIL SHIFTS HAPPEN QUICKLY WITH LITTLE LOSS OF MOMENTUM.

15.8 SECONDS WAS OUR BEST QUARTER MILE TIME AT 92 MILES PER HOUR, WITH A NICE LOW GROWL FROM THE EXHAUST.

HANDLING WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE REST OF THE FULL-SIZE BRIGADE; TOP HEAVY AND SLOW TO REACT.

NO BETTER OR WORSE THAN ANY OTHERS WE'VE TESTED.

STEERING FELT A LITTLE HEAVIER HERE THAN EXPECTED, BUT THIS PRO-4X IS GEARED MORE TOWARDS ROMPING OVER THINGS, THAN SCOOTING AROUND THEM.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 20-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED, WE ONLY MANAGED A 16.2 MILES-PER-GALLON AVERAGE ON REGULAR.

SO THE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE IS QUITE POOR AT 19.4 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL USE, ALONG WITH 8.7 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

WHILE NOT A BARGAIN, IT IS CERTAINLY COMPETITIVELY PRICED, WITH A BASE TITAN S STARTING AT $35,975.

ADD ABOUT 3-GRAND FOR 4X4, OR STEP UP TO THE PRO-4X WITH STANDARD 4-WHEEL DRIVE AT $46,215.

WE DOUBT THE BIG THREE OR EVEN TOYOTA WILL ADMIT THAT NISSAN'S NEW TITAN IS A CONCERN.

STILL, WE THINK THEY ARE HEADING IN A SMART DIRECTION; BOTH WITH THIS VOLUME-LEADER 2017 TITAN, AND THE HEAVIER DUTY TITAN XD.

AND WE ALSO THINK EVEN THE MOST JADED TRUCK OWNERS COULD FIND A LOT TO LIKE IN THE NEW TITAN LINEUP.

PLUS, NOW THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT; NISSAN IS IN THE FULL-SIZE TRUCK GAME TO STAY.

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

NOW, FOR MORE MOTORWEEK ; INCLUDING DAILY UPDATES, PODCASTS, AND EVEN COMPLETE EPISODES, CRUISE ON OVER TO PBS.ORG/MOTORWEEK.

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE SEE IF JAGUAR'S FIRST SUV WAS WORTH THE WAIT... AND BMW HOPES TO TAKE HYBRIDS TO A NEW LEVEL.

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.

MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Man: "IT'S GOT 430 FOOT UNITS OF BEAST!"

Announcer: TIRERACK WANTS YOU TO BE SMART WITH YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN HELP YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE... Man: "OOPS."

Announcer: 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.

*