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

JOIN US AS WE SEE WHAT BLENDING MERCEDES ENGINEERING WITH INFINITI STYLE MEANS FOR PREMIUM BUYERS... PAT GOSS HAS ADVICE ON HOLDING ON TO YOUR TREADS LONGER... WE'LL SEE WHY ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD FOR FLEETS IS GREENER THAN EVER... AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF TOYOTA'S LATEST PLUG-IN PRIUS IS READY FOR PRIME TIME...

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.

John: IT LOOKS LIKE THE LINES BETWEEN HATCHBACK CAR AND CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE HAVE FINALLY BEEN OBLITERATED ENTIRELY.

AS PROOF WE PRESENT THE INFINITI QX30, THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE GROWING COMPACT LUXURY CUV MARKET HERE IN THE U.S., BUT BASICALLY, THE SAME VEHICLE IS ALSO KNOWN AS THE Q30 HATCHBACK IN EUROPE.

AND THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF THE BLURRED LINES FOR THIS DYNAMIC LITTLE 5-DOOR HATCHBACK, SORRY...CROSSOVER!

* YES, THIS 2017 INFINITI QX30 IS MANY THINGS TO MANY PEOPLE.

BUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS HERE, IS THAT IT ARRIVES AT A PERFECT TIME; WHEN AMERICANS CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OF SMALL LUXURY CROSSOVERS.

OH, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN BEMOANING THE FACT THAT YOU CAN'T BUY A MERCEDES-BENZ A-CLASS HATCHBACK HERE; WELL, NOW YOU CAN, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S UNDER THE QX30s WAY MORE DYNAMIC BODYWORK.

YES, THIS IS THE FIRST VEHICLE TO EMERGE FROM THE RENAULT/NISSAN/DAIMLER PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.

AND THOUGH, THE OVERALL STANCE AND SILHOUETTE ARE VERY SIMILAR TO THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA CROSSOVER; IT'S MUCH BETTER LOOKING, SO IF YOU SPEAK INFINITI'S DESIGN LANGUAGE LIKE WE DO, WE'D PICK THIS ONE OVER THE GLA.

THERE'S A DECENT 8.0 INCHES OF GROUND CLEARANCE, SAME AS THE GLA.

UNLESS OF COURSE, YOU OPT FOR FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE ONLY SPORT TRIM.

WHICH, TO CONFUSE THINGS FURTHER, REALLY IS THE Q30, A.K.A., A-CLASS HATCHBACK, WITH ITS HARD PARTS JUST 6.1 INCHES ABOVE THE PAVEMENT.

IT ALSO, COMES WITH SOME MINOR UNIQUE EXTERIOR ELEMENTS.

INFINITI ENGINEERS HAD THEIR WAY WITH THE SUSPENSION OF COURSE, SO IT RIDES NOTHING LIKE THE GLA.

IT FELT STIFFER INITIALLY, BUT BETTER THE MORE TIME WE SPENT WITH IT; NO SUSPENSION ALTERING DRIVE MODES TO BE FOUND HERE.

IT DRIVES LIVELY, NOT ECONOMY CAR-LIKE AT ALL; STRADDLING THE COMFORT/CAPABILITY LINE ALMOST PERFECTLY.

LEANING SLIGHTLY MORE TOWARDS THE TOUGHER END THAN SOME OTHER SPORTY CROSSOVERS, WHICH IS NO LONGER A WEIRD THING TO SAY.

YET, IT REMAINS EXCEPTIONALLY QUIET.

THERE'S GOOD PICK-UP FROM THE STANDARD 2.0 LITER TURBO I4 AND 7-SPEED DCT TRANSMISSION, BOTH OF WHICH COME FROM MERCEDES, AS DOES THE KEY TO GET THINGS STARTED.

SOFTWARE FOR MANAGING ALL OF IT, HOWEVER, COMES FROM NISSAN, STILL THE OVERALL FEEL IS VERY BENZ, AND RATINGS ARE THE SAME AT 208 HORSEPOWER, AND 258 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

THE INTELLIGENT ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM IS ALSO, A VERSION OF BENZ'S 4MATIC, WHICH CAN SEND AS MUCH AS 50% OF TORQUE TO THE REAR WHEELS WHEN SLIP IS DETECTED.

THERE WAS NOTICEABLE TURBO-LAG, AND AN OVERALL SOFTER LAUNCH THAN WHEN WE HAD THE GLA, BUT THE RESULTING 0-60 TIME WAS STILL NOT BAD AT 6.8 SECONDS.

AS IS USUALLY THE CASE, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR THE BEST OUTCOME, JUST LEAVE IT IN AUTO, AS MANUAL SHIFTING WAS SLOW TO RESPOND.

STILL, THERE WAS A NICE WHOOSH OF SOUND COMING FROM THE TURBO-4 AS IT POWERED US TO THE END OF THE QUARTER MILE IN 15.1 SECONDS AT 92 MILES PER HOUR.

THROUGH THE CONES, THERE'S A PLAYFUL NATURE, WITH MINIMAL AMOUNTS OF BOTH UNDER AND OVERSTEER.

SUSPENSION FEELS TAUT, AND IT REMAINED VERY FLAT.

INFINITI ALSO TWEAKED THE STEERING TO THEIR LIKING, BUT THEY DID IT NO FAVORS AS FAR AS WE'RE CONCERNED.

IT'S LOOSE FEELING ON-CENTER, AND THERE'S AN AWKWARD HEFT WHEN MAKING INPUTS.

A 110 FOOT STOPPING AVERAGE FROM 60 IS VERY GOOD, AND STOPS WERE BOTH SMOOTH AND STABLE.

BUT AFTER ABOUT 4-RUNS, FATIGUE SET IN AND BRAKES STARTED TO FADE.

INSIDE THE QX30s CABIN IS WHERE THINGS DEPART MOST FROM ITS MERCEDES-BENZ ROOTS.

THERE ARE STILL SOME GLA CONTROLS ON THE DASH, BUT THINGS APPEAR MUCH MORE INVITING.

MATERIAL QUALITY IS QUITE GOOD.

INFINITI OWNERS WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH THE GLA WILL ENJOY THE REFRESHING NEW TAKE ON LAYOUT, AS WELL AS FIND THE FIT AND FINISH THEY ARE USED TO.

THE MOST OBVIOUS BENZ ELEMENT IS THE DOOR MOUNTED SEAT CONTROL, BUT THEY WORK SO WELL, WE'RE GLAD INFINITI LEFT THEM ALONE.

BOTH CENTRAL CONTROLLER AND SHIFTER ARE UNIQUE, WITH A NICE OBVIOUS PARK BUTTON.

THERE'S A COMFORTABLE SEATING POSITION FOR THE DRIVER, BUT VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR, WITH THICK PILLARS IN BACK AS WELL AS A VERY SMALL REAR WINDOW.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS FOR ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ARE 21-CITY, 30-HIGHWAY, AND 25-COMBINED.

SO, OUR 30.7 MILES PER GALLON OF PREMIUM AVERAGE WAS EXCELLENT.

STILL, THERE'S ONLY AN AVERAGE ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 13.2 BARRELS OF ANNUAL OIL CONSUMPTION WITH CO2 EMISSIONS OF 6.0 TONS.

WITH MANY DIFFERENT QX30S TO CHOOSE FROM, $30,945 TO START SEEMS REASONABLE, CONSIDERING IT'S ABOUT 2-GRAND CHEAPER THAN A GLA.

SO, WHILE THE MERCEDES-BENZ GLA CAME TO MARKET EARLIER, DON'T THINK OF THIS 2017 INFINITI QX30 AS A RE-BADGED BENZ, BUT A COOPERATIVE EFFORT ALONG THE LINES OF TOYOTA AND SUBARU WITH THE 86 AND BRZ.

IT IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE WITH THE CURRENT INFLUX OF CUTE UTEs, AS WELL AS A PERFECT STEP UP FOR OPEN-MINDED HATCHBACK BUYERS.

WE PREDICT THIS INTERNATIONAL COALITION WILL BE QUITE SUCCESSFUL.

WITH ALL OF THE CHOICES AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND CLEAN POWER TECHNOLOGIES, CHOOSING THE RIGHT GREEN VEHICLE FOR YOUR NEEDS CAN BE A TOUGH DECISION, ESPECIALLY FOR FLEET BUYERS LOOKING TO MAKE MULTIPLE PURCHASES.

BEING ABLE TO DEMO A VARIETY OF GREEN VEHICLES UNDER ACTUAL WORKING CONDITIONS WOULD BE THE IDEAL SOLUTION, AND THE MIDWEST DRIVES INITIATIVE IS DOING JUST THAT FOR FLEETS LOOKING TO MAKE THE CLEAN DRIVING SWITCH.

WITH CORPORATE GIANTS LIKE UPS, COCA-COLA AND WASTE MANAGEMENT LEADING THE WAY, AMERICA'S COMMERCIAL VEHICLE FLEETS ARE PUTTING THOUSANDS OF CLEAN FUEL VEHICLES ON THE ROAD EVERY YEAR, AND REAPING THE BENEFITS IN FUEL SAVINGS, REDUCED TAILPIPE EMISSIONS AND LOWER MAINTENANCE COSTS.

BUT FOR SMALLER BUSINESSES AND MUNICIPALITIES, EVEN A SINGLE VEHICLE PURCHASE CAN HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON THE BOTTOM LINE, SO BUYING THE RIGHT CARS AND TRUCKS IS CRUCIAL.

MIDWEST DRIVES IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN CLEAN CITIES COALITIONS IN OHIO, INDIANA AND MICHIGAN, FUNDED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, THAT IS WORKING WITH VEHICLE AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIERS TO PLACE ALT-FUEL DEMO VEHICLES, RANGING FROM LIGHT DUTY EVs ALL THE WAY TO CNG FUELED BIG RIGS, FOR SHORT-TERM LOANS IN FLEETS THROUGHOUT THE MIDWEST.

INDIANA UNIVERSITY, FOR INSTANCE HAS JUST TAKEN DELIVERY OF THIS NISSAN LEAF, TO BE USED AROUND CAMPUS AND FOR LOCAL TRIPS.

Kevin Whited: OUR CAMPUS FLEET CONSISTS OF REGULAR AUTOMOBILES, SMALL PASSENGER VANS, A COUPLE SMALL BUSES... OBVIOUSLY, THE POLICE VEHICLES ARE IN THAT FLEET AS WELL.

SO, IT REALLY RUNS THE GAMUT.

SAY, A PROFESSOR OR FACULTY STAFF CHECK IT OUT AND GO TO A MEETING IN INDIANAPOLIS OR ANOTHER TOWN IN INDIANA.

THERE'S NOT MANY CARS IN OUR MOTOR POOL THAT TRAVEL MORE THAN, YOU KNOW, 30 TO 50 MILES A DAY.

DEPENDING ON HOW THIS WORKS FOR US, WE'D LIKE TO TURN OVER AT LEAST 20 TO 30% OF OUR FLEET TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

John: THE CITY OF DUBLIN, OHIO IS NO STRANGER TO ALTERNATIVE FUELS, WITH 61 NATURAL GAS TRUCKS ALREADY IN THEIR FLEET.

THE CITY'S PUBLIC ACCESS CNG STATION HAS PUMPED MORE THAN 500,000 GALLON EQUIVALENTS SINCE 2012.

NOW, THEY ARE TRYING OUT A NISSAN LEAF ALONG WITH A CNG-POWERED CHEVY TRAX, TO SEE IF THESE CLEAN COMPACTS ARE THE RIGHT SIZE FOR THEIR LIGHT-DUTY APPLICATIONS.

John Hyatt: THE INSPECTOR THAT'S DRIVING THE CHEVY TRAX IS VERY HAPPY WITH IT.

IT'S EASIER TO GET IN AND OUT THAN THE LARGER F-250 HE WAS CURRENTLY DRIVING.

THE EFFICIENCY IS A LOT BETTER.

I THINK, WE'VE ONLY FILLED IT UP TWICE, WHERE NORMALLY HE'S FILLING UP EVERY DAY WITH THE F-250.

WE WANT TO FIND THE BEST FIT FOR THE CITY, ON THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS.

WE'RE A VERY GREEN CITY AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET.

John: TAG LANDSCAPING IS A SMALL OHIO BUSINESS LOOKING TO GROW GREEN.

THEY RECENTLY SWITCHED ALL OF THEIR LAWN CARE EQUIPMENT TO PROPANE POWER.

Trent Grove: MAINTENANCE IS A HUGE THING FOR US.

IT'S VERY EASY TO USE.

WE CAN FILL OUR TANKS AND RUN THEM FOR ALMOST A WEEK FOR WHAT WE DO.

WE DON'T HAVE THE SPILLAGE OF GAS THAT YOU HAVE ON A TYPICAL MACHINE.

IT BURNS A LOT CLEANER, SO YOU DON'T HAVE THE SAME FUMES AND STUFF JUST RUNNING THE MACHINE, AND AGAIN, WE ARE GOING GREEN, SO WE WANT ALL OUR MACHINES TO BE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AS WELL.

John: THROUGH THE MIDWEST DRIVES INITIATIVE, TAG WAS ABLE TO TRY OUT A PROPANE-POWERED FORD F-250, TO SEE IF THIS ALT-FUEL PICKUP COULD MEET THEIR TRANSPORT NEEDS, BEFORE PLUNKING DOWN BIG BUCKS TO BUY ONE.

Trent: WE DID NOT FIND ANY DIFFERENCE.

WE HAULED OUR EQUIPMENT AROUND, WE USED IT IN THE SAME MANNER WE USE ALL OUR OTHER TRUCKS, AND WE ACTUALLY LIKE THE PROPANE UNIT BETTER.

John: THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS HAS A NUMBER OF AFVs IN THEIR FLEET ALREADY, INCLUDING A NUMBER OF CHEVY VOLTS, BUT THEIR DEMO THROUGH THE MIDWEST DRIVES PROGRAM IS THIS DERIVE DATA LOGGER SYSTEM, WHICH CAPTURES DUTY-CYCLE DATA FROM POLICE INTERCEPTORS AND ALLOWS FOR THE CAR'S ENGINE CONTROL UNITS TO BE OPTIMIZED FOR THE MOST FUEL EFFICIENT OPERATING PARAMETERS.

Jennifer Hashem: POLICE FLEET VEHICLES HAVE A TENDENCY TO USE A LOT OF FUEL.

AND DUE TO THEIR HEAVY IDLING, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO STRENGTHEN FUEL ECONOMY WHILE AT THE SAME TIME NOT INTERFERING WITH THEIR PERFORMANCE.

John: BY ALLOWING DECISION MAKERS TO TEST THESE VEHICLES UNDER ACTUAL DUTY CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY BUY, THE MIDWEST DRIVES INITIATIVE, AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY, ARE MAKING IT EASIER THAN EVER FOR FLEETS TO DRIVE CLEAN INTO THE FUTURE.

John: ROUTINE CAR CARE MAY NOT BE VERY GLAMOROUS, BUT IT SURE IS A NECESSITY.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME ADVICE TO KEEP US SMOOTHLY ROLLING ALONG.

Pat Goss: FREQUENTLY SOME OF THE MOST OVERLOOKED PARTS OF A CAR ARE ITS TIRES.

AND TO GIVE US SOME POINTERS ON TIRE MAINTENANCE, WE HAVE OUR TIRE EXPERT MATT EDMONDS.

MATT, WELCOME BACK TO GOSS' GARAGE.

Matt Edmonds: PLEASURE TO BE HERE PAT.

Pat: ALRIGHT, WHAT DO YOU GOT FOR US?

Matt: WELL, I'LL TELL YOU WHEN IT COMES TO TAKING CARE OF YOUR TIRES AND GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THEM, THE TIRE PRESSURE, MEASURING THE PRESSURE INSIDE THAT TIRE THE AIR CHAMBER IS REALLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS.

NOW, HAVE A GOOD TIRE GAUGE, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THAT TIRE PRESSURE ONCE A MONTH.

THAT PRESSURE IS WHAT REALLY CARRIES THE LOAD OF THE VEHICLE BUT ALSO, GIVES THE TIRE THE ABILITY TO HAVE ITS RIGHT SHAPE TO PERFORM PROPERLY.

Pat: OKAY, I TELL MY CUSTOMERS THAT.

AND THE FIRST THING I HEAR IS, "OH, I DON'T NEED TO CHECK MY TIRE PRESSURE, I'VE GOT TPMS AND THE LIGHT WILL COME ON."

Matt: AND THAT LIGHT WILL COME ON IF ONE OF YOUR TIRES GOES DOWN, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN INDIRECT SYSTEM WHICH REALLY IS JUST USING WHEEL SENSORS, ALL FOUR OF YOUR TIRES WILL GO DOWN AT THE SAME RATE 1-2 POUNDS A MONTH AND YOU'LL NEVER GET A WARNING.

WHEN THAT PRESSURES DOES GO DOWN DAMAGE CAN HAPPEN.

Pat: OKAY, SO TPMS IS JUST FOR EXTREME SITUATIONS.

Matt: IT IS, ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: OKAY, WHAT ELSE YOU GOT?

Matt: WELL, WHEN THAT PRESSURE GOES DOWN AS WE TALKED ABOUT WITH A TPMS SYSTEM, YOU MAY GET TO THE POINT WHERE YOU'RE TIRES HAVE GOTTEN LOW ENOUGH, DAMAGE HAS HAPPENED.

AND THIS IS NOT THE WAY YOU WANT TO LOOK AT THE SIDEWALL OF YOUR TIRE.

THIS HAS BEEN DAMAGED.

YOU KNOW REALLY, THE TIRES HAS COME APART.

AND WHEN WE SEE TIRES LIKE THIS, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S CATASTROPHIC.

UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN RUN A TIRE LOW, NOT SEE ANY DAMAGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE AND INSIDE YOU'VE GOT THIS.

AND THAT CRUMB RUBBER, AND WHAT WE SEE HERE IN THIS JAR CAME OUT OF ONE TIRE THAT HAD BEEN RUN LOW, LOOKED PERFECTLY FINE ON THE OUTSIDE SOMEONE RE-INFLATED THAT TIRE, DROVE ON IT AND ENDED UP WITH THIS.

Pat: OKAY.

SO IF IT'S RUN LOW, CHECK THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE.

Matt: ABSOLUTELY.

Pat: ALRIGHT, NEXT THING.

Matt: WELL THERE'S LOTS OF NUMBERS AND DATA ON THE SIDEWALL OF THAT TIRE.

THE DATE AND AGE OF THE TIRE THAT WE SEE AS A DOT NUMBER, THE LAST FOUR DIGITS GIVE YOU THE WEEK AND THE YEAR THAT TIRE WAS MANUFACTURED.

VERY IMPORTANT IF YOU HAVE A VEHICLE THAT'S OLDER, MAYBE YOU PURCHASED AN OLDER VEHICLE THE TIRES LOOK LIKE THEY HAVE LOTS OF LIFE IN THEM STILL, CHECK THOSE TIRES BECAUSE IF IT'S BEEN A WEEKEND DRIVER IT HASN'T HAD A LOT OF MILES PUT ON IT THOSE TIRES COULD BE 6 TO 10 YEARS OLD AND REALLY WORTH CONSIDERING CHANGING THOSE TIRES.

Pat: ALRIGHT NOW, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TIRE PRESSURE, WE HAVE A PRESSURE READING ON THE SIDE OF THE TIRE.

Matt: WE DO, AND THAT'S SOMETHING MANY PEOPLE MISCONSTRUE AS THE PROPER PRESSURE THEY SHOULD BE SETTING THOSE TIRES AT.

THAT PRESSURE IS THE MAX PRESSURE THIS TIRE CAN OPERATE UNDER, AND THAT REALLY IS A LOAD ISSUE.

YOU WANT TO CHECK THE PLACARD ON THE DOOR SILL OF YOUR CAR OR YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL FOR REALLY THE PROPER PRESSURE FOR YOUR VEHICLE.

BECAUSE IF YOU RUN AT THIS MAX PRESSURE IT WON'T NECESSARILY HURT THE TIRE, BUT YOU'LL HAVE A VERY HARSH RIDE.

Pat: OKAY, MATT THANK YOU!

Matt: PLEASURE!

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

John: WE LOVE TO DRIVE, AND PLEAD GUILTY AT ALWAYS LOOKING FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE.

AND WE FOUND IT IN THIS WEEK'S QUICKSPIN.

AT THE RECENT PARIS MOTOR SHOW, AUDI TEASED US WITH A FIRST EVER RS 3 SUPER SEDAN, COMPLETE WITH A 2.5 LITER TURBO-5, WITH NEARLY 400 HORSEPOWER, AND A 4 SECOND 0-60 TIME.

BUT ALAS, FOR THAT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR!

FOR NOW, WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE DO WITH A REVISED AUDI S3 AS THE MOST POTENT MODEL IN THE A3 FOUR-DOOR LINEUP.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD, IT WILL SUIT MOST AUDI BUYERS JUST FINE.

IT'S A SPUNKY YET DELIGHTFUL DAILY DRIVER IN EVERY RESPECT.

BEHIND ITS WHEEL, YOU'LL QUICKLY UNDERSTAND WHAT FIRST MADE SMALL, EUROPEAN HARD-TOPS SUCH AN ENTHUSIAST'S HIT HERE IN THE LATE '60s AND EARLY '70s.

ON TOP OF ALL THE THINGS WE'VE ALREADY SAID ABOUT THE LATEST GEN A3, THE S3s POTENT 2.0 LITER TURBO COMES WITH A HEALTHY BOOST IN POWER, FROM 220 TO 292, WITH A 6-SPEED DCT.

WHILE, ALL THAT'S UNCHANGED, AUDI SPENT LOTS OF TIME MAKING SURE THE SUSPENSION AND STANDARD ALL-WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM NOW ALMOST SEAMLESSLY WORK TOGETHER.

DURING A LOT OF SEAT TIME ON THE TWISTING ROADS AROUND DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, I FOUND THE CHANGES MADE FOR A NICE IMPROVEMENT IN CORNERING GRIP WITHOUT DEGRADING RIDE QUALITY.

AUDI'S MAGNETIC RIDE SPORT SUSPENSION IS AVAILABLE FOR THE FIRST TIME TOO, DRIVER ADJUSTABLE THROUGH AUDI'S DRIVE SELECT INTERFACE.

NEW TO THE S3s MOSTLY-BUSINESS YET UPSCALE INTERIOR IS THE FULL VIRTUAL COCKPIT THAT WE'VE ALWAYS PRAISED ON PRICIER AUDI MODELS, WITH A DRIVER CENTRIC SPORT VIEWING MODE WITH BIG TACH AND LAP TIMER.

GREAT LOOKING AND WELL BOLSTERED SPORTS SEATS WERE ANOTHER FEATURE THAT MADE TIME IN THE S3 GO BY MUCH TOO QUICKLY.

ALMOST 300 HORSEPOWER, 19-INCH WHEELS AND TIRES, REAR BIASED QUATTRO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE, THIS 2017 AUDI S3 IN A LOT OF WAYS IS LIKE A TTS WITH TWO EXTRA DOORS.

IT'S A VERY DYNAMIC CAR TO DRIVE DESPITE BEING A BIT OF A SLEEPER AS FAR AS OUTWARD APPEARANCE.

ALL-IN-ALL IT'S A LOT OF PERFORMANCE IN A VERY TIDY PACKAGE.

ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE UPDATED A3 LINEUP, THE 2017 AUDI S3 IS ON SALE NOW, STARTING JUST UNDER $43,000.

AND WE'LL HAVE MORE QUICKSPIN'S SOON!

THE CALENDAR MAY NOW SAY DECEMBER, BUT SINCE OUR LAST REPORT, OUR 2016 HONDA PILOT HAS DRIVEN THROUGH JUST ABOUT EVERY SEASON OF THE YEAR; INCLUDING SUMMER-LIKE TEMPERATURES, AUTUMN COLORS ON OUR WAY TO THE NORTH EAST, AND SNOW ONCE WE ARRIVED, HANDLING THEM ALL EQUALLY WELL.

OUR PILOT'S ROAD TRIP ACUITY HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED; BUT USUALLY WE'RE REFERENCING THINGS FROM THE DRIVER'S PERSPECTIVE, NOTING THE CAR-LIKE HANDLING AND ULTRA-QUIET INTERIOR.

THIS TIME HOWEVER, IT'S THE PASSENGERS THAT HAVE BEEN WEIGHING IN; LOVING ALL OF THE CUP HOLDERS AND USB PORTS, AS WELL AS PRAISING THE COMFORTABLE, RECLINING 2ND ROW SEATS.

WITH OUR ODOMETER NOW SHOWING WELL OVER 20,000 MILES, FUEL ECONOMY HAS SLIPPED EVER SO SLIGHTLY THIS GO-AROUND TO 22.7 MILES PER GALLON; STILL GREAT FOR A 3-ROW, BIG FAMILY-SIZE CROSSOVER.

ARGUABLY, IT'S NOT THE MOST DYNAMIC LOOKING CUV ON THE MARKET, BUT WE'LL TAKE BIG FAMILY FRIENDLY FEATURES OVER "LOOK AT ME STYLING" ANY DAY.

EVERYTHING SEEMS TO BE HOLDING UP WELL, AS WE'VE HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS OVER 10-MONTHS, THOUGH WE'VE RECENTLY NOTED SOME STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION UNDER HARD BRAKING.

WE STILL HAVE NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR THE 3.5-LITER V6 ENGINE; AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT, FEWER COMPLAINTS RECENTLY ABOUT THE SOMETIMES CLUNKY 9-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

BUT THE TOUCHSCREEN INTERFACE IS STILL DRAWING ITS SHARE OF CRITICS, AND THE "SAFETY AT ALL COSTS" HONDA SENSING SYSTEM HAS SENSED AN AWFUL LOT OF PENDING COLLISIONS THAT AREN'T THERE.

UNFORTUNATELY, OUR YEAR WITH THE PILOT IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE, SO WE'LL KEEP RACKING UP THE MILES WHILE WE CAN, AND ENJOYING EVERY ONE OF THEM.

WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE KIA OPTIMA AND VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DUNE ON OUR NEXT MOTORWEEK LONG-TERM ROAD TEST UPDATE!

THE 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME OFFERS MORE, BUT NOT TOO MUCH MORE, THAN THE TYPICAL HYBRID; THOUGH IT CERTAINLY OFFERS MORE THAN THE PRIUS PLUG-IN THAT IT REPLACES.

BY WAY OF EXPLANATION, THE EV-ONLY RANGE OF THE PRIME IS NOW 25 MILES AT UP TO 84 MILES PER HOUR.

THAT'S DOUBLE THE RANGE IT CLAIMED BEFORE, BUT STILL ONLY HALF OF THE CHEVROLET VOLT'S EV RANGE.

THE MILEAGE INCREASE COMES BY WAY OF BOTH POWERTRAIN UPDATES, ENABLING BOTH MOTOR-GENERATORS TO NOW POWER THE CAR, AND A LARGER 8.8KWH LITHIUM-ION BATTERY.

THE GAS ENGINE ITSELF REMAINS THE SAME 1.8 LITER ATKINSON CYCLE I4, AND COMBINED SYSTEM OUTPUT CONTINUES AT 121 HORSEPOWER.

GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 55-CITY, 53-HIGHWAY, AND 54-COMBINED; WITH AN EV-MODE MPGE RATING OF 133.

CHARGING TIME IS A BIT OVER TWO HOURS ON 240 VOLTS; ABOUT 5.5 HOURS ON STANDARD 120.

BUT, THE BATTERY NEVER GETS FULLY DEPLETED, AS NORMAL PRIUS OPERATION KICKS IN WHEN EV-ONLY RANGE IS REACHED.

TOYOTA PUTS TOTAL RANGE BEFORE PLUGGING IN, OR TOPPING OFF, AT 640 MILES.

THE PRIUS PRIME'S NEW MISSION CALLS FOR A NEW LOOK, AS BOTH FRONT AND REAR STYLING ARE DISTINCTIVE FROM STANDARD PRIUS FARE.

SHARPER LINES, A BLACK FACIA WITH BIGGER AIR INTAKES, AND ULTRA-LOW PROFILE LED HEADLIGHTS PORTRAY BOTH A MORE ECO-CONSCIOUS LOOK, AND AT THE SAME TIME, ADD SOME SPORTY FLAIR AS WELL.

WHEELS ARE 15-INCH ALLOYS, BUT WITH 2-TONE COVERS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE AIR FLOW.

IN BACK, THINGS ARE VERY DIFFERENT WITH FULL-WIDTH LED TAILLIGHTS, A DUAL WAVE REAR WINDOW, AND A CARBON-FIBER REAR HATCH.

PRIMARILY, IN PLACE FOR WEIGHT-SAVING, IT ALSO MAKES OPENING A LITTLE EASIER.

SPACE BENEATH IT, IS TAKEN UP SOMEWHAT BY THE LARGER BATTERY PACK, REDUCING CARGO CAPACITY FROM 27.4 CUBIC-FEET TO A STILL GOOD 19.8.

NOTHING MAJOR STOOD OUT TO US IN TERMS OF RIDE QUALITY, DURING OUR DRIVE TIME IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

PRIME FEELS SMOOTH AND COMPOSED OVER JUST ABOUT ANY ROAD SURFACE.

THERE IS ABOUT 300 POUNDS OF ADDITIONAL WEIGHT; YOU WON'T REALLY NOTICE IT SO MUCH IN HANDLING SITUATIONS, BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY FEEL IT OFF THE LINE.

THERE'S A LOT OF BUZZING AND WHIRRING GOING ON, BUT NOT MUCH PROPULSION; EXPECT A 0-60 TIME OF 10 SECONDS PLUS.

SHUFFLING BETWEEN POWER SOURCES REMAINS AS SEAMLESS AS ALWAYS, AND AT CRUISING SPEEDS, EXCEPT FOR SOME TIRE NOISE, THINGS ARE PRETTY QUIET.

VISIBILITY REMAINS VERY GOOD ALL AROUND.

OVERALL, THE INTERIOR IS JUST FINE, EVEN IF OUR CAR'S, HEATED, SIMULATED-LEATHER COVERED SEATS WERE STILL NOT TRULY LONG DISTANCE COMFORTABLE.

THERE ARE A HOST OF TECH UPGRADES FOR PRIME, AND TRIM STRUCTURE DIFFERS FROM THE STANDARD PRIUS; GOING FROM PLUS TO PREMIUM TO ADVANCED.

ALL EXCEPT FOR PLUS TRIM SPORT A LARGER TESLA-LIKE 11.6 INCH CENTRAL TOUCHSCREEN.

IT REALLY BLENDS IN QUITE NICELY AND LOOKS GREAT.

BUT WE FOUND ACTUAL FUNCTION TO BE A LITTLE LAGGY.

THERE'S ONLY ADEQUATE WIDTH FOR TWO IN THE REAR SEAT, BUT PLENTY OF LEG ROOM TO BE FOUND, EVEN IF THE SLOPPING ROOF TAKES A TOLL ON ADULT HEADROOM.

WHILE THE CHEVROLET VOLT MAY OFFER MORE RANGE, THE PRIME HAS QUITE AN ADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO PRICING, AS IT IS STILL A VERY REASONABLE $27,965.

WHETHER, THAT'S WORTH THE $2,400 OVER A BASE PRIUS DEPENDS ON YOUR GREEN DRIVING DESIRES.

TOP LEVEL ADVANCED TRIM MOVES CLOSER TO VOLT AT $33,965.

REGARDLESS, THE PRIUS, IN ALL OF ITS ITERATIONS REMAINS A LOT OF ECO-MINDED CAR FOR THE MONEY.

WITH THAT BEING SAID, IT'S HARD TO ENVISION THE 2017 TOYOTA PRIUS PRIME BEING A MAJOR PLAYER.

AS IT STILL SEEMS TO APPEAL TO THE FEW PEOPLE WHO WANT A BIT MORE BATTERY RANGE THAN A TRADITIONAL HYBRID CAN OFFER, BUT AREN'T YET READY TO MAKE THE JUMP TO A FULL EV.

BUT THERE'S NO DENYING IT'S A BETTER OPTION THAN THE PRECEDING PRIUS PLUG-IN, WHICH MAY BE ENOUGH TO MAKE IT, A "PRIME MOVER" FOR THE TOYOTA FAITHFUL.

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

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

AND I HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US NEXT TIME, WHEN WE'LL "C" WHAT'S NEW FOR THE LUXURY SPORT COUPE BUYER FROM MERCEDES BENZ... THEN KIA'S RE-THINK OF ONE SOPHISTICATED SEDAN... PAT GOSS ON PROTECTING YOUR ENGINE... LAUREN MORRISON ON A NEW WAY TO ACQUIRE A USED VEHICLE... PLUS, MOTORNEWS AND QUICKSPIN FIRST DRIVING IMPRESSIONS... 'TIL 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... 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.

* Announcer: THIS PROGRAM WAS PRODUCED BY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, WHICH IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CONTENT.

*