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

JOIN US WHEN PERFORMANCE MEETS PRACTICAL IN THE PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO... PAT GOSS HAS SIMPLE WAYS TO IMPROVE QUALITY TIME IN YOUR CAR... STEPHANIE HART WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ON CUSTOMERS WITH COMMANDING BUYING POWER... AND A CAPABLE CROSSOVER WITH CAMARO FLARE...

THE ALL-NEW CHEVROLET BLAZER...

SO, COME DRIVE WITH US, NEXT!

CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION.

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

BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

Man 1: I DO.

Announcer: WE'RE TIRERACK.COM, AND WE HAVE ANSWERS, AND TOOLS TO HELP.

Man 2: LIKE OUR TIRE DECISION GUIDE.

IT'S A...TAKE A LOOK.

Man 1: OH.

Announcer: FIND...DELIVER...INSTALL...

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.

STATE FARM IS PROUD TO SUPPORT MOTORWEEK .

John: SALES OF SUVs, SHOW NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN ANY TIME SOON.

AND SALES OF THE PORSCHE CAYENNE IN PARTICULAR, SEEM IMMUNE TO THE ECONOMY, FUEL PRICES, OR ANY OTHER SOCIO-ECONOMIC BARRIER YOU CAN THINK OF.

AND IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, THAT THE ALL-NEW 3RD GENERATION CAYENNE WILL BE FASTER THAN EVER.

BUT, WILL IT BE BETTER?

* THERE ARE PERFORMANCE ORIENTED SUVs, AND THEN THERE'S THIS 2019 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO; SOMETHING MORE AKIN TO A SUPERCAR WOLF IN CROSSOVER CLOTHING.

THAT ATTIRE HASN'T CHANGED ALL THAT MUCH SINCE THE CAYENNE FIRST BEGAN ROAMING AMERICA'S BYWAYS 16-YEARS AGO.

THIS LATEST 911 FLAVORED UTE STILL LOOKS WIDE AND PURPOSEFUL; BODY PANELS DRAPED TIGHTLY OVER THE SAME 114 INCH WHEELBASE AS BEFORE.

OVERALL LENGTH IS UP SLIGHTLY, BUT WHERE THE CAYENNE ATTEMPTS TO DIFFERENTIATE ITSELF IS WITH ITS LIGHTING; DISTINCTIVE LEDS EVERYWHERE, INCLUDING THE FULL WIDTH OF THE REAR HATCH.

TURBOS GET AN EXCLUSIVE DOUBLE-ROW SET OF LIGHT MODULES FOR HEADLIGHTS; ALONG WITH EVEN WIDER FENDERS, 21-INCH WHEELS, AN ADAPTIVE ROOF SPOILER, AND UNIQUE EXHAUST OUTLETS.

WHILE INSIDE, IT IS 2-ROW COMFORTABLE WITH FIRST RATE MATERIALS; THE OVERALL AMBIENCE IS VERY TECHNICAL AND SPORTY.

YOU'LL FIND THE SAME BASIC, PANAMERA-INSPIRED, RISING CENTER CONSOLE THEME AS BEFORE, BUT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING HAS BEEN UPDATED.

NO MORE BUTTON OVERLOAD, BUT WE CAN'T SAY, WE LIKE THE TOUCH-PANELS THAT REPLACES THEM MORE.

YEAH...WE KNOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE NEVER SATISFIED.

STILL, THERE'S NO DENYING EVERYTHING IS LOGICAL, AND ALL IMPORTANT CONTROLS FALL READILY TO HAND.

THAT INCLUDES THE ESHIFTER THAT CONTROLS AN UPDATED 8-SPEED TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC, WHICH IS OF COURSE, CONNECTED TO THE REAL STAR OF THIS SHOW... ...A FIRE-BREATHING 4.0 LITER TWIN-TURBO DRAGON OF A V8 THAT EXHALES 550 HORSEPOWER AND 567 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

IT DUMPS A HEAVY DOSE OF SPORT INTO THIS UTILITY AS YOU'D EXPECT; MAKING IT A SHEER JOY TO HUSTLE THROUGH ANY ENGAGING ROADS YOU COME ACROSS.

YOU DON'T EVEN NEED AN EXOTIC DESTINATION, AS IT MAKES EVERY TRIP AN ADVENTURE.

AND YOU GET MUCH MORE THAN JUST A BIGGER ENGINE WITH THE TURBO, PORSCHE'S SURFACE COATED BRAKES GREATLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST DIRTYING UP YOUR WHEELS.

IT'S INCREDIBLY QUIET INSIDE, AND AT NO TIME DOES IT FEEL TRUCK-LIKE...

THOUGH, WE DID EXPERIENCE SOME HICCUPS FROM THE TRANSMISSION IN SLOW SPEED SITUATIONS.

AS FOR CARGO HAULING, THERE'S A GOOD 26.3 CUBIC-FEET OF SPACE IN BACK; EXPANDING TO 59.3 WITH THE REAR SEATBACKS FOLDED.

ALL CAYENNES ARE ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, AND TRIPS DOWN THE DRAG STRIP ARE MORE SIMILAR TO A ROLLER COASTER RIDE THAN ANY TYPE OF SPORT UTILITY CONVEYANCE.

MUCH LIKE THE 911, PORSCHE'S LAUNCH CONTROL WORKS EXTREMELY WELL, TAKING CARE OF ALL OF THE MATH.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS POINT AND PRAY BEFORE RELEASING THE BRAKE, AND BRACE FOR THE ACCOMPANYING OUTPOUR OF POWER THAT IS THE IMMEDIATE RESULT OF THAT ACTION.

YOU'LL BE AT 60 BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, OR 3.6 SECONDS WHEN YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK.

POWER IS MYTHICAL IN DELIVERY, WITH HERCULEAN AMOUNTS OF IT, NO MATTER WHERE THE TACH NEEDLE IS POINTING.

AND JUST TO FURTHER MIX OUR MYTHOLOGICAL METAPHORS, THE EXHAUST NOTE IS A THING OF VENUS-LIKE BEAUTY FOR THE EARS.

SHIFTS ARE CLOSER TO PDK THAN THE TIPTRONICS OF OLD, HELPING SHUTTLE US TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 12.0 SECONDS FLAT, AT 115 MILES PER HOUR.

THERE'S A SHOCKING AMOUNT OF GRIP FOR A 4,800 POUND SUV THAT CAN TOW 7,700 POUNDS.

TURN-INS ARE BRUTALLY AGGRESSIVE, AND OVERSTEER IS ALWAYS JUST AN INAPPROPRIATE STAB OF THE THROTTLE AWAY.

ALL SYSTEMS, INCLUDING OPTIONAL REAR AXLE STEERING, WORK TOGETHER IN PERFECT HARMONY TO CREATE A SPORTS CAR LIKE, EXPERIENCE THAT JUST DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE.

ALL WHILE, THE 3-CHAMBER AIR SUSPENSION KEEPS IT VIRTUALLY FLAT THROUGH THE CONES.

IT DOESN'T FEEL EXACTLY LIKE A 911, BUT YOU CAN SURE TELL THEY'RE RELATED.

BRAKES ARE SIMPLY ENORMOUS, AS WELL AS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE.

STOPS FROM 60 AVERAGED AN INCREDIBLY SHORT 84 FEET, WITH LASER-LIKE STABILITY AND NO TRACE OF FADE.

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING IS STANDARD; ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL AND MULTIPLE DRIVER-ASSIST SYSTEMS ARE OPTIONAL.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 15-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 17-COMBINED; WE WORKED IT PLENTY HARD, AND STILL AVERAGED 17.8 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM BUT THAT'S A WORSE THAN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE, BURNING 19.4 BARRELS OF OIL YEARLY, WHILE EMITTING 8.7 TONS OF CO2.

PRICING FOR THIS TOP-OF-THE-LINE CAYENNE TURBO IS A LOFTY $125,650; IF YOU CAN MAKE DO WITH A BIT LESS PERFORMANCE, THOUGH NOT MUCH, A BASE CAYENNE STARTS AT JUST $66,750, WITH E-HYBRID AND S TRIMS IN BETWEEN.

THE FIRST GEN CAYENNE WAS PROOF THAT PORSCHE CAN DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN SPORTS CARS, AND DO IT QUITE WELL.

NOW, WITH MULTIPLE SUVs AND EVEN SEDANS IN THE PORSCHE LINEUP, THE 2019 CAYENNE TURBO SEEMS TO HAVE EMBRACED ITS ROLE OF JUST BEING FAR MORE CAPABLE THAN ANY OTHER PERFORMANCE-ORIENTED SUV OUT THERE, WHILE STILL WRAPPED IN ALL OF THE LUXURY OUR BODIES CAN HANDLE.

* YOU KNOW, IT'S NO SECRET THAT MEN AND WOMEN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT OPINIONS ON LOTS OF THINGS, INCLUDING BUYING A NEW CAR.

SO WHILE, THE MAJORITY OF AUTOMOTIVE ADVERTISING SEEMS TO BE AIMED AT MEN, THE FACT IS THAT WOMEN HAVE A STRONG INFLUENCE IN THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF CAR BUYING DECISIONS.

SO, WHAT PERSUADES WOMEN TO CHOOSE ONE CAR OVER ANOTHER?

OUR FYI REPORTER STEPHANIE HART HAS SOME ANSWERS.

* Stephanie Hart: MOTORWEEK LITERALLY HIT THE STREETS TO GET WOMENS' POINT OF VIEW ON BUYING A NEW CAR.

STARTING WITH THE BIG QUESTION... Anita Moore: I PURCHASED A NISSAN ALTIMA BECAUSE I NEEDED A FAMILY CAR A 4-DOOR CAR FOR ADULTS TO SIT IN THE BACK AND IT'S SPORTY ENOUGH WHERE IT HAS GREAT PICKUP SPEED AND IT'S A GREAT PRICE FOR ME.

Mercy Boakye-Boaceng: I LOOK FOR A CAR WHICH IS VERY DURABLE, SPACIOUS WHICH I CAN TAKE MY KIDS IN AND BACK EASILY, NOT COMPLICATED FOR ME, AND EASY TO GET IN THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FOR IN A CAR.

Stephanie: HOW DID SAFETY AND TECH FEATURES PLAY A ROLE IN YOUR PURCHASE?

Aprenea McCutchen: SAFETY, THE BASICS, AIRBAGS, WARNING LIGHTS, WARNING SIGNALS.

THE MAXIMA ACTUALLY HAS ALL OF THOSE, MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED SO THAT PLAYED A LITTLE BIT.

GPS, NAVIGATION, SATELLITE RADIO, A SMART CAR WAS REALLY IMPORTANT, SO YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR CELL PHONE, YOU CAN JUST PUSH BUTTONS IN THE CAR.

Stephanie: TODAY, WOMEN HAVE FAR MORE BUYING POWER THAN EVER BEFORE... STATISTICS SHOW 80% OF CAR BUYING DECISIONS ARE MADE OR STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY WOMEN.

ITS INSPIRING AND EMPOWERING... AND A GAME CHANGER FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

TRADITIONALLY, IT'S BEEN A MALE-DOMINATED BUSINESS... NOW, WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE WOMEN HIGH RANKING AUTO EXECUTIVES, REIMAGING THE AUTO INDUSTRY.

FEMALE AUTO ENGINEERS, I'VE SPOKEN TO...SAY, "THEY'RE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO CREATE NEW VEHICLES THAT APPEAL SPECIFICALLY TO WOMEN," TAKE THEIR CROSSOVER AND SUV CRAZE RIGHT NOW FOR EXAMPLE, THAT HAS EVOLVED LARGELY DUE TO A WOMAN'S DESIRE FOR A VEHICLE THAT'S SPORTIER THAN A MINIVAN BUT HANDLES BETTER THAN A TRUCK.

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE.

IT'S CLEAR THE AUTO INDUSTRY IS STARTING TO CELEBRATE THAT CONCEPT.

STILL, MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE, ESPECIALLY AT LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIPS.

ANITA MOORE SHARES HER CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE.

Anita: THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY GAVE ME THE PERSON, WHO WAS THE LEAST KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS AND IT WAS ACTUALLY ALARMING THAT I KNEW MORE ABOUT WHAT I WANTED, MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE CAR THAT THEY WERE SELLING THAN THE PERSON TALKING TO ME, SO I ENDED UP WALKING AWAY THE FIRST TIME AROUND.

Stephanie: SHE WENT BACK TO THAT SAME DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS LATER.

THIS TIME SHE REQUESTED THE MOST EXPERIENCED SALES PERSON.

HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED... Anita: THIS TIME AROUND THEY TOOK ME SERIOUSLY, WHERE AS THE FIRST TIME AROUND THEY JUST THREW A DEALER AT ME WHO DIDN'T KNOW THE CARS ON THEIR LOT.

Stephanie: DO YOU THINK IT WAS BECAUSE YOU WERE A WOMAN?

Anita: ABSOLUTELY!

AND ACTUALLY, THE FIRST TIME I WENT IN THE TRADE IN VALUE OF MY OLD CAR.

THEY WERE OFFERING $700.00.

I HAD MY SON-IN-LAW TAKE MY CAR, THE SAME CAR, AND THEY OFFERED $2,500.

Stephanie: WOW!

Anita: SO THAT IS DEFINITELY, A DIFFERENCE OF WHO BROUGHT THE CAR THERE.

Stephanie: AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S THE KIND OF PERCEIVED GENDER BIAS THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.

BETSY LIBERTO EXPLAINS HER CAR BUYING EXPERIENCE WHEN SHE BROUGHT HER HUSBAND RON WITH HER TO THE DEALERSHIP.

Betsy Liberto: WE WERE FINALLY IN THE LAST STAGES WHERE YOU ARE SIGNING ALL THE PAPERWORK AND THEY'RE TRYING TO UPSELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT THEY WANT YOU TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, EVERY CLEAR COAT, EVERY INSURANCE POLICY, OR WHATEVER, THEY WOULD TRY TO SELL TO HIM.

AND THEN, WE WOULD LOOK AT EACH OTHER, AND WE WOULD BOTH GO... AND THEY WOULD STILL TRY TO SELL TO HIM.

AND THEN FINALLY, IF HE SAID, "NO!"

THEY WERE DONE, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS KIND OF INTERESTING.

Stephanie: IT IS INTERESTING.

Betsy: YEAH.

Stephanie: SO, WHAT ARE TODAY'S WOMEN EXPECTING FROM THE AUTO INDUSTRY?

THE WOMEN I SPOKE TO SAY: CLEAR, BOTTOM LINE CAR PRICING FOR ALL SEXES.

PAIR THAT WITH LATEST SAFETY, TECH, STYLE, AND COMFORT, AND YOU HAVE A DEAL.

John: NASCAR ENTERED THE 1990s AS BASICALLY A REGIONAL, SOUTHERN-BASED STOCK CAR RACING SERIES, BARELY FLIRTING WITH NATIONAL RELEVANCE.

BUT BY THE END OF THE LAST CENTURY, IT WAS AMERICA'S FASTEST GROWING SPORT, WITH MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR NETWORK TV DEALS, BIG CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP, AND GARAGE AREAS THAT RESEMBLED HOLLYWOOD RED CARPETS MORE THAN DOWNHOME RACE TRACKS.

NO DRIVER ENCAPSULATED THAT TRANSITION MORE THAN THE CALIFORNIA KID, JEFF GORDON.

IN THIS MUST READ, JEFF GORDON: HIS DREAM, DRIVE & DESTINY, JOE GARNER LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED, GIVING A FULL ACCOUNT OF JEFF'S EARLY RACING DAYS THROUGH HIS MULTIPLE NASCAR CHAMPIONSHIPS, ALONG WITH MANY NEVER BEFORE SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS.

EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT INTO NASCAR, IT'S A GREAT MUST READ.

John: COMFORT IS A BIG PART OF DRIVING SATISFACTION.

PAT GOSS SHOWS US ONE WAY TO IMPROVE JUST THAT.

Pat Goss: NOW, THAT THE OUTSIDE OF OUR WAGONEER IS ALMOST COMPLETED, ITS TIME TO MOVE INSIDE AND MAKE THAT AREA MORE HOSPITABLE AND MODERN.

NOW, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'RE GOING TO TREAT SOME SURFACE RUST THAT WE SEE IN THE FLOORS.

NOW, WE'VE TAKEN THE CARPETING OUT AND WE SEE THERE ARE MINOR SURFACE RUST AREAS THAT WE DON'T WANT TO BECOME STRUCTURAL RUST AREAS.

SO, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A WIRE BRUSH, WE'RE GOING TO SCRAPE THE SURFACE OFF OF THE RUST SPOTS, THEN WE'RE GOING TO USE A RUST ENCAPSULATOR THAT WILL PREVENT THE RUST FROM SPREADING OR GETTING ANY WORSE.

THEN, THE NEXT THING WE'RE GOING TO DO...

THE INSIDE OF OLDER VEHICLES THEY WERE HOT, AND THEY WERE NOISY, AND SO ON.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO USE A HEAT AND SOUND BARRIER COATING TO COAT THE INSIDE OF THIS VEHICLE, SO WE CAN GET DOWN INTO THE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE TWO PIECES OF METAL THAT ARE CLOSE TOGETHER, WE WANT TO TRY TO SEAL THOSE OFF.

SO, DIRT CAN'T COLLECT IN THERE AND THAT WILL HELP PREVENT FUTURE RUST PROBLEMS.

NEXT THING...OVER THERE, WE HAVE SOME OF THE ORIGINAL SOUND DEADENING AND HEAT BARRIER MATERIAL THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS FINE IN ITS DAY, BUT ITS DAY HAS COME AND GONE.

WHAT WE'RE GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH IS X-MAT.

NOW, ALL OF THESE PRODUCTS ARE FROM EASTWOOD TOOLS.

AND, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THIS, IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT HAS A RUBBERIZED BACKING ON IT AND THEN A FOIL COATING.

YOU PEEL THE BACKING OFF, CUT THIS STUFF TO SIZE FIRST, PEEL THE BACKING OFF, STICK IT TO THE FLOOR OR BACK INSIDE THESE PANELS WHEREVER YOU WANT IT TO DO ITS JOB.

AND THE OVERALL EFFECT OF THIS IS GOING TO BE MUCH MORE LIKE A MODERN CAR BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO HELP KEEP THE TEMPERATURE DOWN AND THE NOISE LEVELS DOWN.

IF YOU PLAN YOUR INTERIOR AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS YOU'LL HAVE A COMFORTABLE NICE INTERIOR FOR A LOT OF YEARS TO COME.

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

John: WE SEARCH HIGH AND LOW FOR THE RIGHT RIDE.

SO, HERE WE GO ON ANOTHER QUICKSPIN.

THE 2019 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO TAKES THE TRACK-CRED OF THIS, SO CALLED ENTRY LEVEL SUPERCAR TO THE NEXT VAULTED LEVEL.

WE TESTED THE FIRST HURACAN BACK IN 2015.

THIS LATEST ITERATION STILL USES A 5.2 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED V10, BUT WITH NEW TITANIUM INTAKE VALVES AND SUPER SPORT EXHAUST, HORSEPOWER IS UP TO 631 FOR AN ESTIMATED 0-62 TIME OF 2.9 SECONDS, RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE PERFORMANTE.

NOW, THE EVO DOESN'T HAVE THE PERFORMANTE'S BIG REAR WING.

BUT, IT DOES HAVE NEW AERO TREATMENTS THAT ADD ABOUT SEVEN TIMES MORE DOWNFORCE THAN THE ORIGINAL HURACAN.

THE 7-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS REMAINS AS DOES ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

FOUR-WHEEL STEERING AND TORQUE VECTORING ARE ADDED, AS WELL AS STANDARD MAGNETICALLY CONTROL DAMPERS AND VARIABLE RATIO STEERING.

SO, EVO IS AN EVEN MORE CAPABLE TRACK PERFORMER.

A NEW PROCESSING UNIT READS STEERING, ACCELERATION, BRAKING, AND DATA FROM UPDATED ACCELEROMETERS, AND GYROSCOPE SENSORS, INSTANTLY PREDICTING THE OPTIMAL DRIVING SETUP.

OUR DRIVE TIME INCLUDED A SLALOM TEST AND A FEW HOT LAPS AT WILLOW SPRINGS IN CALIFORNIA.

THE FOUR-WHEEL STEERING SYSTEM IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND DOES HELP IN MOST CORNERS, BUT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO.

EVEN IN CORSA, THE GAUGE CLUSTER STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT MADE A REGULAR APPEARANCE, SIGNIFYING SOME BACKGROUND COMPUTER INTERVENTION.

ON WILLOW'S BUMPY CIRCUIT THE EVO NEVER REALLY SETTLED IN, BUT IT NEVER FELT NEAR ANY LIMITS OF CONTROL EITHER.

INDEED, THE CAR'S POWER AND GRIP ARE EXCEPTIONAL.

ONE OF THE BEST THINGS ABOUT THE HURACAN IS THAT IT IS A RELATIVELY EASY CAR FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON TO DRIVE FAST AND LAMBORGHINI HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO KEEP IT THAT WAY EVEN AS TRACK CAPABILITY HAS INCREASED.

THE 2019 LAMBORGHINI HURACAN EVO STARTS AT ABOUT $260,000.

SINCE IT ARRIVED FOR 1991, THE FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN THE ONE TO BEAT AMONG MID-SIZE FAMILY HAULERS.

FOR 2020, THE 6TH GENERATION FORD EXPLORER GOES THROUGH A COMPLETE REDESIGN, RETURNING TO A REAR DRIVE ARCHITECTURE, WITH OPTIONAL ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

ALL I4 AND V6 POWERTRAINS ARE STRONGER.

MODELS NOW INCLUDE A PERFORMANCE TUNED ECOBOOST 3.0 LITER ST AT 400 HORSEPOWER, AND A HYBRID WHICH WE DROVE IN OREGON.

THE HYBRID'S 3.3 LITER NATURALLY ASPIRATED SIX AND ELECTRIC MOTOR PRODUCE 318 HORSEPOWER.

SMOOTH AND CALM SHIFTS COME FROM THE 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

Kyle Scanlon: THE THROTTLE RESPONSE, AGAIN, REALLY GOOD.

WHEN IT SWITCHES OVER FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO THE GAS-POWERED MOTOR, ITS VIRTUALLY SEAMLESS.

ALL YOU SEE IS YOUR TACHOMETER BLIP UP REAL QUICK, AND YOU MIGHT FEEL A LITTLE RUMBLE DEPENDING ON THE ROAD SURFACE AND DEPENDING ON HOW HARD YOU ARE ACCELERATING.

John: SEVEN DRIVE MODES AND GREATER APPROACH AND DEPARTURE ANGLES MAKE IT MORE OFF-ROAD CAPABLE.

AN ALL-INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION KEEPS THE RIDE STABLE AND COMFORTABLE ON THE STREET.

TOWING CAPACITY RANGES FROM 5,000 TO 5,600 POUNDS DEPENDING ON THE POWERTRAIN.

THIS NEW GEN EXPLORER TAKES UP THE SAME AMOUNT OF ROOM IN A GARAGE...

BUT WITH A WHEEL BASE THAT'S ABOUT 6-INCHES LONGER.

INSIDE, THE EXPLORER DELIVERS THE 3-ROW ROOMINESS FAMILIES NEED WITH THE TECH THEY WANT, LIKE, 4G LTE WI-FI FOR UP TO 10 MOBILE DEVICES.

THE SUITE OF SAFETY FEATURES INCLUDES AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING.

WHILE, BEING THE BENCHMARK IS AN ENVIABLE POSITION, THE BAR IS ALWAYS RISING.

THE 2020 FORD EXPLORER IS UP TO THE CHALLENGE.

ON SALE NOW, THE PRICE STARTS AT UNDER $37,000, WITH THE HYBRID BEGINNING JUST OVER $52,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPINS SOON!

WITH SO MANY NEW CROSSOVER UTILITIES ON THE MARKET, TRYING TO MAKE ONE STAND OUT FROM ANOTHER USUALLY COMES DOWN TO THE DETAILS.

BUT RATHER THAN FOCUS ON EXTRA ALL-WEATHER RUGGEDNESS, OR CAVERNOUS CARGO HAULING, CHEVROLET'S ALL-NEW MIDSIZE BLAZER ADDS SOMETHING NO OTHER BRAND CAN.

THE SPORTINESS OF A CAMARO.

SO, LET'S SEE IF THAT BLAZES A NEW TRAIL WORTH FOLLOWING.

* WE HAVE TO ADMIT, THAT WHEN WE FOUND OUT THAT THIS ALL-NEW 2019 CHEVROLET BLAZER WAS NOT A RUGGED, REAR AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, UTILITY, BASED ON THE COLORADO TRUCK, WE WERE QUITE DISAPPOINTED.

AFTER ALL, FORD HAS REVERTED TO A REAR DRIVE ARCHITECTURE FOR ITS NEW EXPLORER.

BUT, THAT'S MOSTLY WHERE OUR DISAPPOINTMENT ENDS.

NO, THIS NEW BLAZER IS FOR A NEW, MORE MODERN TIME, LOOKING TO TAKE ON THE RECENTLY UPDATED FORD EDGE, AS WELL AS THE REBORN HONDA PASSPORT, IN A RESURGING 5-PASSENGER MIDSIZE CROSSOVER FIELD.

BIGGER THAN THE EQUINOX, SMALLER THAN TRAVERSE, THE BLAZER RIDES ON A NEW VERSION OF GMs FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE CROSSOVER CHASSIS THAT DEBUTED BACK WITH THE 2017 CADILLAC XT5, AND ITS CLOSEST IN SIZE TO GMCs ACADIA.

THOUGH, AND HERE'S THE FUN PART, ITS BIG AND BOLD FRONT END HAS IT LOOKING MUCH MORE LIKE THE CAMARO SPORT COUPE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE BOWTIEs CROSSOVER FAMILY, AND THAT'S JUST FINE WITH US.

BASE ENGINE IS THE ACADIA'S 193 HORSEPOWER 2.5 LITER I4.

BUT, IF YOU WANT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, OR TO TOW MORE THAN 1,500 POUNDS, YOU'LL HAVE TO UPGRADE TO GMs 3.6 LITER V6.

YOU'LL GET 308 HORSEPOWER, 270 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE, AND BE ABLE TO PULL 4,500 POUNDS.

BOTH ENGINES GET THE SAME 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

BUT WHILE, WE LIKE THE SPORTY SHIFTER'S SHAPE, HAVING A ROCKER SWITCH FOR MANUAL GEAR SELECTION IS JUST SILLY.

THE OPTIONAL TWIN-CLUTCH ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS MORE STREET PERFORMANCE ORIENTED THAN MADE FOR OFF-PAVEMENT EXPLORING.

TORQUE VECTORING SENDS POWER TO THE OUTSIDE REAR WHEEL TO HELP TIGHTEN UP TURNS.

INDEED, MAKING THE BLAZER A SPORTIER HANDLER THAN MOST IN THE SEGMENT.

BODY ROLL IS VERY MINIMAL DESPITE A 7.4 INCH HIGH RIDE HEIGHT, AIDED BY 20 INCH WHEELS OF OUR PREMIER-TRIMMED TESTER.

THOUGH, THE INEXPENSIVE-FEELING DRIVE MODE SELECTOR DOES INCLUDE AT LEAST A SKETCH OF A MOUNTAIN TRAIL FOR OFF-ROAD MODE, AS WELL AS THE ABILITY TO LOCK IT INTO TWO-WHEEL DRIVE.

SEATS ARE FIRMER THAN WE EXPECTED, AS WAS THE RIDE QUALITY.

THOSE LOOKING FOR AN EVEN FIRMER EXPERIENCE CAN GET A BLAZER RS, WHICH ALSO GETS QUICKER STEERING, TO FURTHER ENHANCE A CAMERO-EST FEEL.

HOWEVER, OUR PREMIER HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH INTERIOR FEATURES TO PLEASE THE TYPICAL BUYER.

GREAT FLEXIBILITY AS WELL, THANKS TO SLIDING REAR SEATS, AND SEAT BOTTOMS THAT LOWER WHEN FOLDING THE SEATBACKS, FOR AN ALMOST COMPLETELY FLAT LOAD FLOOR.

AND DOING SO, EXPANDS LOAD SPACE FROM 30.5 TO 64.2 CUBIC-FEET.

GAUGES ARE QUITE COMPREHENSIVE FOR A FAMILY TRUCKSTER; JUST ONE OF MANY THINGS THAT HIGHLIGHT WHAT IS QUITE A NICE INTERIOR FOR THE PRICE POINT.

ITEMS LIKE THE POWER TILT/TELESCOPE STEERING WHEEL AND THE HIGH-QUALITY LEATHER, HAVE IT FITTING IN WITH THE NISSAN MURANO'S NEAR-LUXURY ATMOSPHERE.

THE DASH CONTINUES THE CAMARO VIBE, WITH EVEN THE SAME LOW CIRCULAR CENTRAL VENTS THAT ARE A THROWBACK TO WHEN A/C WAS AN ADD-ON, WITH A HANG-ON UNIT FITTED UNDER THE DASH.

THAT SPORTY FEEL CARRIED OVER TO OUR TEST TRACK, WHERE THIS CAMARO... ERR... BLAZER RIPPED THROUGH THE CONES WITH EASE.

THE CHASSIS FEELS FIRM AND RESPONSIVE, WITH VERY MANAGEABLE AMOUNTS OF BODY ROLL.

THOUGH, WE FOUND THE TRACTION NANNIES A LITTLE TOO EAGER TO STEP IN AT THE FIRST SIGN OF UNDERSTEER.

THE V6 PUTS THE POWER DOWN QUITE EFFECTIVELY AS WELL, WITH A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE THROTTLE RESPONSE; 6.2 SECONDS FOR A 0-60 RUN IS MUCH BETTER THAN MOST RIVALS, AND CLOSE TO THE FORD EDGE ST.

CONTINUING THROUGH THE QUARTER MILE, SHIFTS ARE QUICK AND STEADY, ENDING THE PROCEEDINGS WITH A TIME OF 14.8 SECONDS AT 94 MILES PER HOUR.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE 18-CITY, 25-HIGHWAY, AND 21-COMBINED FOR AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE V6.

WE AVERAGED A FINE 22.7 MILES PER GALLON OF REGULAR.

PRICING IS VERY COMPETITIVE, STARTING AT $29,995, TOPPING OUT WITH OUR PREMIER TESTER AT $43,895.

BRINGING THE VAULTED BLAZER NAME BACK AS A CROSSOVER, DOES STING A LITTLE.

BUT THIS IS 2019, AND A SPORTY SUV PACKED WITH TECHNOLOGY, AND FAMILY FEATURES IS WHERE THE PREMIUM MARKET IS TRULY AT THESE DAYS.

SO, YOU CAN'T BLAME CHEVY FOR GOING THAT ROUTE.

AND IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT IS MORE THAN JUST ANOTHER FINE UTILITY, SOMETHING MORE LIKE THE CAMARO OF CROSSOVERS, THIS IS THE ONE YOU WANT.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME...

WHEN VOLKSWAGEN HOPS ON A NAME FOR THE PAST, WITH THE GOLF GTI RABBIT EDITION.

AND THE NISSAN MURANO BECOMES EVEN MORE POSH AND POLISHED... 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... MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY... Announcer: YOU'RE SHOPPING FOR TIRES ONLINE AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.

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