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

JOIN US AS DODGE SHAKES UP THE FAMILY SUV SEGMENT WITH SERIOUS PERFORMANCE IN THE DURANGO SRT... PAT GOSS SHOWS US INVALUABLE TOOLS TO USE WHEN PRECISION COUNTS... ZACH MASKELL DISCOVERS AN ARTIST WHO CREATES WITH MOVING METAL... AND FULL SIZE UTEs GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WHILE JOCKEYING FOR THE TOP SPOT...

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...

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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 .

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, CUSTOM FIT, VEHICLE FLOOR PROTECTION IN THE FRONT, BACK, AND UP THE SIDES.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

John: WHILE, WE CAN ALL DREAM OF OWNING A DODGE CHALLENGER SRT DEMON OR MAYBE EVEN A JEEP CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK, MOST OF US NEED SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE PRACTICAL FOR THAT DAILY GRIND.

BUT IF WE'VE LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THE DODGE BOYS, PRACTICAL DOESN'T HAVE TO MEAN BORING.

SO, LET'S SEE WHAT THEY'VE DONE NOW TO THE VENERABLE DODGE DURANGO!

* YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE YOUR 2018 DODGE DURANGO SRT TO A RACE TRACK, BUT KNOWING THAT YOU COULD, AND IT WOULDN'T DISAPPOINT, IS REASON ENOUGH FOR MANY.

OWNING ONE OF THE BADDEST SUVs EVER CREATED, IS ANOTHER GOOD REASON.

[ENGINE STARTS UP] NO, THIS DOESN'T HAVE THE FULL-ON HELLCAT HEMI OF ITS JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK RELATIVE, BUT IT DOES HAVE SRTs 6.4 LITER NATURALLY-ASPIRATED VERSION, HERE WITH 475 HORSEPOWER AND 470 POUND-FEET OF TORQUE.

AND WHILE ON PAPER, THAT LOOKS FAR SHY OF THE SUPERCHARGED TRACKHAWK'S 707 HORSEPOWER INSANITY, ONCE YOU NAIL THE DURANGO'S THROTTLE, YOU PROBABLY WON'T NOTICE MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STOP LIGHTS, AS IT FEELS EVERY BIT AS FAST.

A HEALTHY SEVEN DRIVE MODES, ALLOW YOU TO TAILOR THE EXPERIENCE TO WHATEVER YOU HAVE IN MIND THAT DAY.

FOR US IT WAS, TRACK MODE; WHICH SETS THE SUSPENSION TO ITS STIFFEST SETTING, DIALS BACK THE TRACTION CONTROL, AND QUICKENS STEERING, AS WELL AS INCREASES SHIFT SPEED IN THE 8-SPEED AUTOMATIC.

THE LOWERED SUSPENSION DOESN'T HELP THE DURANGO FEEL ANY LIGHTER; HOWEVER, IT DOES HELP IT FEEL EXTREMELY WELL-PLANTED, AND DODGE WAS WISE ENOUGH TO NOT ELIMINATE ALL OF THE TRACTION CONTROL NANNIES FOR IT CAN BE A HANDFUL UNDER STRESS.

WHEN NOT IN TRACK OR SPORT MODE, IT MOSTLY FEELS LIKE WHAT YOU'D EXPECT AN ALL-WHEEL DRIVE BIG BOX CHARGER HELLCAT TO FEEL LIKE, IF SUCH A THING EXISTED.

BUT ALSO, MUCH LIKE YOUR EVERYDAY DURANGO, THERE'S SUFFICIENT COMFORT, AND ENOUGH LUXURY FEATURES FOR PASSENGER PAMPERING, AS IT REMAINS AN AMAZINGLY COMFORTABLE HIGHWAY CRUISER.

IT ALSO FEELS NIMBLER ON THE HIGHWAY THAN CLASSIC DETROIT SUVS LIKE THE CHEVROLET TAHOE, AND NEW FORD EXPEDITION, AND SOMEHOW MORE EUROPEAN AS WELL IN THE WAY IT SOAKS UP BUMPS WITH LITTLE FUSS.

THERE IS AN AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE, BUT EVEN IT BACKS OFF THE NOISE, WHEN YOU BACK OFF THE THROTTLE; QUITE CIVILIZED INDEED.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM INSIDE FOR HAULING CARGO, OR A FEW UNDERSTANDING FRIENDS NOT OPPOSED TO WHIPLASH, AND PERHAPS MOST IMPRESSIVELY, IT STILL TOWS 8,700 POUNDS.

FOR HAULING OF A DIFFERENT SORT; DIAL IN YOUR PREFERRED LAUNCH RPM, STEP FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, ENGAGE LAUNCH CONTROL, FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR, THEN RELEASE SAID BRAKE.

[ENGINE REVS/TIRES SCREECH] IF THE STARS ALIGN CORRECTLY, YOU'LL JUMP OFF THE LINE, AND BE AT 60 BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, OR 4.5 SECONDS IN OUR CASE.

SOMEHOW, IT MANAGES TO HANDLE ALL OF THAT POWER GOING TO ALL FOUR WHEELS QUITE EASILY, STAYING AMAZINGLY SMOOTH FOR THE WHOLE QUARTER MILE.

SHIFTS ARE FAST AND AGGRESSIVE, ACCOMPANIED BY A NICE THROATY POP FROM THE EXHAUST.

WE CLEARED THE QUARTER IN 13.0 SECONDS FLAT, TRAVELLING 104 MILES PER HOUR.

INSIDE, THEY'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF KEEPING THE 3-ROW, 6-PASSENGER INTERIOR CURRENT EVEN THOUGH THE BASIC ARCHITECTURE HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 2011.

NO COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE UCONNECT MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM AS USUAL, AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS CHOCKED FULL OF FINGERTIP CONTROLS.

AMAZINGLY, IT REALLY WASN'T THAT LONG AGO, THAT WE WERE WONDERING WHETHER THE DURANGO WAS GOING TO BE AROUND OR NOT.

AND NOW, NOT ONLY ARE SUVs BACK, BUT THEY'RE TURNING INTO EXCITING PERFORMANCE MACHINES LIKE THIS ONE.

BUT, POOR GOVERNMENT FUEL ECONOMY RATINGS ARE THE NATURE OF THIS BEAST; 13-CITY, 19-HIGHWAY, AND 15-COMBINED, WHICH WE MATCHED EXACTLY, ON PREMIUM FUEL.

THAT'S A VERY POOR ENERGY IMPACT SCORE OF 22.0 BARRELS OF OIL BURNED YEARLY WITH 9.7 TONS OF CO2 EMISSIONS.

NOW, YOU COULD SPEND $31,090 ON A BASE DURANGO AND PERFECTLY ENJOY IT, OR YOU COULD SAY, THE HECK WITH THAT, AND DROP $64,090 ON THIS DURANGO SRT.

YOU PROBABLY WON'T REGRET EITHER CHOICE, BUT ONE OF THEM WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT MORE FUN, AND EVEN A MUCH MORE SENSIBLE ANSWER THAN THE GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK.

IN FACT, MOST OF US HERE, WOULD PREFER THE 2018 DODGE DURANGO SRT OVER JEEP'S TRACKHAWK.

IT'S JUST A BETTER ALL-AROUND CRUISER WITH MORE THAN ENOUGH POWER, AS WELL AS PLENTY OF PRACTICALITY; A TRUE SLEEPER FOR SURE, AND FURTHER PROOF THAT DODGE JUST DOESN'T DO BORING.

* FOR THOSE WHO FIND IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW A CROWD, MEDIOCRITY IS A KILLER.

A COOKIE CUTTER LIFE-STYLE JUST ISN'T FOR THEM, OR FOR THE CARS THEY DRIVE.

SO, LET'S SEE HOW ONE ARTIST KEEPS HIS CREATIVE JUICES MOVING, AS WE GO OVER THE EDGE, AND DRIVE MOBILE ART, WITH ZACH MASKELL.

Zach Maskell: SO THERE YOU ARE JUST CRUISING ALONG AND YOU COME ACROSS SOMETHING INTERESTING.

INSTEAD OF JUST CRUISING BY AND TAKING A PICTURE, WHY DON'T YOU STOP, AND TAKE A LOOK.

* THIS FEAST FOR THE EYES SITS IN HYATTSVILLE, JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND'S COLLEGE PARK.

WE'RE BENDING, MENDING, AND BUILDING INSIDE THE WORLD OF RETIRED ART CONSERVATOR CLARKE BEDFORD.

Clarke Bedford: OH, I STARTED MAKING ASSEMBLAGE SCULPTURE AND WHATEVER MANY YEARS AGO.

I'VE ALWAYS MADE IT.

IT'S MY FAVORITE.

YOU KNOW, FOUND OBJECT THINGS IS TRADITIONAL CUBIST ART FORM.

IT'S 100 YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW.

BUT IN TERMS OF DOING AN ENVIRONMENT, THE HOUSE, THE CARS AND ALL THAT IT STARTED MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO.

Zach: DEMISE, A 1984 VOLVO 240 WAGON, KNOWN AS AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION MACHINE OR STEAMPUNK.

DEBACLE, A 1946 CHEVY SCHOOL BUS, IMAGINE PULLING UP TO LATE FOR CLASS IN THIS BAD BOY.

AND THE FLAGSHIP OF BEDFORD'S 6 CAR FLEET, AN '88 FORD ECONOLINE, VANADU.

MANY OF THE OBJECTS SPRAYED WITH CARBURETOR CLEANER TO GIVE THEM A WEATHERED LOOK.

Clarke: YOU CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING FALLING OFF.

EVEN A LITTLE THING SO THEY'RE BOLTED TO THE BODY.

OR BOLTED TO SOMETHING THAT'S BOLTED TO THE BODY."

Zach: SPRINGS, LAMP POSTS, AND THE OCCASIONAL SKULL.

MADE UP OF THINGS OTHERWISE NOT VALUABLE, THE END RESULT IS MEANT TO HAVE SUSTENANCE... THAT'S WHAT ASSEMBLAGE IS ALL ABOUT.

Clarke: MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE REALLY HAPPY TO SEE IT.

Zach: CHECKING MY MEDICAL RECORDS...

YES, I'M UP TO DATE ON MY TETANUS SHOT.

HIS CAPE COD STYLE HOME, ALSO KNOWN AS "VANADU ART HOUSE" IS DECKED OUT MAINLY IN RECYCLED METALS.

HE FINDS RUSTY BITS FROM THE STREET, VISITS JUNK YARDS, THRIFT SHOPS, AND ANTIQUE STORES ALL ACROSS THE EAST COAST.

Clarke: EVERYTHING YOU MAKE, EVERYTHING YOU PUT SOMEWHERE, YOU'VE CHOSEN.

AND IT'S ECCENTRIC, AND IT'S EXTREME, BUT WHEN I WALK INTO IT...IT'S KIND OF ENVELOPING, AND I LIKE THAT.

Clarke: I LIKE TO BE IN A PLACE THAT I FIND COMFORTABLE.

Zach: STEP INSIDE AND FEEL CLARKE'S PASSION FOR OBJECTS FROM THE LATE 18 AND EARLY 1900s.

A PERIOD IN ART HE'S FOND OF... LATE VICTORIAN AND THE START OF MODERNISM.

Clarke: MY WIFE AND I BOTH LOVE IT.

IT WAS ACTUALLY, A BIG SELLING POINT FOR OUR HOUSE.

SORT OF A LACK OF THAT SORT OF EXPRESSION IN THE AREA.

Zach: CLARKE SAYS, OUR CULTURE DICTATES THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR CARS LOOK IDENTICAL.

THESE MOBILE ART GALLERIES SEPARATE THAT... AND SUGGESTS THAT NOT CONFORMING IS OKAY.

Clarke: I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A CAR PERSON, MY FATHER CERTAINLY WASN'T.

Zach: WHILE, ADMITTEDLY NOT A MECHANIC EITHER, HE CONFESSED HIS RESPECT FOR RAT RODS AND THEIR A-TYPICAL EXPRESSION.

OFF FOR A SPIN WE GO.

[LAUGHS] YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THE PEOPLE WONDERING WHAT'S COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

Clarke: Yeah.

Zach: A 1995 CAPRICE WAGON, AND HIS DAILY DRIVER.

IT FEELS REALLY NICE.

IT'S GOT THAT CLASSIC "DRIVES LIKE A BOAT ON AIR FEEL."

VERY NICE.

Clarke: THAT'S GOOD, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT IT IS.

IT DOES HAVE THESE CYLINDERS IN THE REAR SPRINGS, TO LIFT OF THE BACK BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXTRA STUFF ON IT.

Zach: AND GOOD THING TOO.

IT FELT HEAVY...HEAVY METAL.

Clarke: A LOT OF TIME YOU'LL GET PEOPLE WHO SAY, "OH YOU REALLY MADE MY DAY."

AND I SORT OF THINK, "OH GEE, YOU KNOW THAT'S GREAT, BUT IT'S SORT OF TOO BAD ALSO.

[LAUGHS] BECAUSE YOUR DAY SHOULDN'T BE QUITE THAT LIMITED.

John: HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS MAKES REPAIRS A LOT EASIER.

PAT GOSS HAS SOME THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR GARAGE.

Pat Goss: NO MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE ONE BIG CAR OR TWO MINIS, IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ON IT YOURSELF, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOMETHING TO MEASURE PARTS AND SO ON WITH.

WELL, THE OLD TRIED AND TRUE IS A MICROMETER SUCH AS WE SEE HERE JUST MAKE SURE YOU USE YOUR STANDARDS TO KEEP IT PERFECTLY CALIBRATED.

BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD, WELL, IT'S DIGITAL LET'S FACE IT.

AND HERE WE HAVE THE MOST COMMON TOOL THAT YOU'RE GONNA FIND AROUND THE REPAIR SHOP.

AND THAT IS A DIGITAL MICROMETER CALIPER, WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT.

AND THIS CAN MEASURE INSIDE, OUTSIDE, AND DEPTH.

SEE HERE, WE CAN MEASURE THE INSIDE OF SOMETHING.

HERE, WE MEASURE THE OUTSIDE, OVER HERE, WE MEASURE THE DEPTH.

IN OTHER WORDS, IF WE WANTED TO SEE THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THIS LIFTER BORE HERE, WE WOULD SIMPLY PUT IT IN THERE, TAKE THE READING AND THERE WE HAVE IT.

ALRIGHT...NOW, BRAKE ROTORS BIG PROBLEMS ON CARS.

HOW DO WE MEASURE THEM?

WE USE ONE OF THESE DIAL INDICATORS, IT HAS A FLEXIBLE ARM THAT WE CLAMP TO THE CHASSIS OF THE VEHICLE, THEN WE ALIGN THIS TO THE ROTOR AND SPIN THE ROTOR, AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS.

A LOT OF THEM ARE TWO THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH OR LESS THAT IS ALLOWED TO KEEP THE BRAKE FROM PULSATING.

ALRIGHT...NOW, OTHER THINGS YOU MAY WANNA KNOW THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF A PIPE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, HERE...WE CAN CHECK THE INSIDE DIAMETER OF THIS CYLINDER BY PUTTING THIS TOOL DOWN IN HERE.

NOW, WHAT WE'RE ACTUALLY DOING IS...

WHEN WE PUT THE TOOL IN THERE, WE PUT IT IN COMPRESSED THEN WE TURN THIS, THESE COME OUT AGAINST THE SIDES THEN WE LOCK IT DOWN AGAIN AND THEN USE ONE OF THESE OTHER TOOLS TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE FROM END TO END.

NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK BUT GOOD ENOUGH TO GET TO IN THE BALLPARK.

ANOTHER THING THAT WE SEE LOTS OF TIMES IS YOU HAVE TO TORQUE VARIOUS BOLTS, INTAKE MANIFOLDS, HEADS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING DOWN IN THE HOLE THAT IS GOING TO PREVENT THE BOLT FROM TIGHTENING PROPERLY OR TORQUING PROPERLY.

SO, THIS DEPTH INDICATOR BECAUSE IT'S REALLY GENTLE, WE CAN PUT THIS DOWN IN THERE, AND WE CAN MEASURE THE DEPTH, AND COMPARE IT THROUGH ALL OF THE HOLES TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO DEBRIS, OLD GASKET OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT DOWN IN THERE BECAUSE THAT WILL RUIN YOUR DAY.

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

John: IF YOU'RE A FOLLOWER OF FORMULA 1 RACING OR JUST HIGH PERFORMANCE CARS, YOU MAY THINK YOU KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT TEAM MCLAREN.

CHANCES ARE, YOU DON'T.

BUT THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO GET THE FULL STORY THAN DIRECTLY FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS THERE FROM THE BEGINNING.

TYLER ALEXANDER.

RELEASED JUST PRIOR TO HIS DEATH UNFORTUNATE PASSING, THIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY, "TYLER ALEXANDER: A LIFE AND TIMES WITH MCLAREN," GIVES YOU THE FULL STORY OF HOW A MASSACHUSETTS BORN LAD BECAME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE BRITISH RACING TEAM FOR 46 YEARS.

WITH A YEAR BY YEAR ACCOUNT OF BOTH THEIR TRIALS AND GREAT VICTORIES, INCLUDING MCLAREN'S MOST RECENT FORMULA 1 CHAMPIONSHIP WITH LEWIS HAMILTON IN 2008.

IT'S ONE HIGH PERFORMANCE MUST READ THAT FLIES BY AT FULL SPEED.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK US TWICE TO TAKE A DRIVE, NO MATTER WHERE THE ROAD LEADS.

SO LET'S HEAD OUT FOR MORE QUICKSPIN'S.

* WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS FINALLY SOME REAL COMPETITION FOR TESLA'S MODEL X SUV EV, AND IT'S FROM AN UNEXPECTED PLACE... JAGUAR, AND THEIR 2019 I-PACE.

YES, NOT ONLY HAS THE OFT-STRUGGLING BRAND BEEN REBORN WITH INDIAN OWNERSHIP, BUT IT'S FORGING AHEAD WITH AN ALL-ELECTRIC UTILITY VEHICLE.

A LONG BATTERY-HOLDING 117.7 INCH WHEELBASE, AND NO NEED FOR AN ENGINE UP FRONT, GIVES IT A UNIQUE "CAB EVERYWHERE" PROFILE.

YET, JAGUAR MADE A POINT OF KEEPING THE FACE FAMILIAR, EVEN INCLUDING A FULL GRILLE.

IN ITS CURRENT EV400 FORM, THERE'S A 90 KWH BATTERY PACK FOR A 240 MILE RANGE.

THERE'S A SEPARATE MOTOR FOR EACH AXLE MAKING IT ALSO, FULL-TIME ALL-WHEEL DRIVE.

TOTAL OUTPUT IS 394 HORSEPOWER FOR A 0-60 OF 4.5 SECONDS.

SMALL OUTSIDE, BIG INSIDE, WITH PLENTY OF COMFORT, IN A SPACE THAT'S TECHY BUT NOT STERILE.

AS FOR THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE, WELL...IT'S TRULY SPECTACULAR.

Brian Robinson: THE I-PACE FEELS EVERY BIT AS ATHLETIC AS THE REST OF THE LARGER JAG SUVs, ONLY HERE...YOU GET THAT INSTANT HIT OF EV THRUST, WHENEVER YOU NAIL THE THROTTLE.

John: THAT POWER CAN BE ACCOMPANIED BY A SIMULATED ENGINE GROWL THAT CAN SOUND A LITTLE GIMMICKY; FORTUNATELY, YOU CAN DIAL IT DOWN.

THE CHASSIS IS WELL-BALANCED; STEERING FEEL, QUITE NATURAL.

ALL-IN-ALL, A REAL WINNER!

PRICING STARTS AT JUST UNDER $70,000, WITH DELIVERIES BEGINNING BEFORE THE END OF SUMMER.

WHEN WE TEST SMALL SPORTY CARS, WE ALWAYS SEEM TO COME BACK TO THE VOLKSWAGEN GOLF AS THE BENCHMARK.

THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI AUTOBAHN ADDS ONE MORE REASON, WE FEEL THAT WAY.

THE ORIGINAL GTI STARTED THE HOT HATCH WAVE IN THE U.S. AS THE 1983 RABBIT GTI WITH A MERE 90 HORSEPOWER.

MY, HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED.

NOW, IN ITS 7TH GENERATION, A 220 HORSEPOWER 2.0L TURBO IN-LINE 4 POWERS ALL GTI MODELS.

THAT'S AN EXTRA 10 HORSES FROM PREVIOUS, AND 50 MORE THAN THE STANDARD GOLF.

THE AUTOBAHN TRIM ADDS A TORQUE-SENSING LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, AND BRAKES FROM THE EVEN MORE POTENT GOLF R. WHILE, THE NAME CONJURES UP IMAGES OF HIGH-SPEEDS ON THE FAMOUS GERMAN MOTORWAY.

EVEN OUR MOST DISCRIMINATING DRIVERS ARE IMPRESSED WITH THROTTLE RESPONSE.

WE TEND TO PREFER MANUALS, BUT THE SMOOTH 6-SPEED DUAL-CLUTCH AUTOMATIC KEEPS PACE WITH THE ATHLETIC ATTITUDE.

THE QUICK THINKING DYNAMIC CHASSIS CONTROL HELPED THIS FRONT DRIVER HOLD ON TIGHT AS WE CRUISED THROUGH THE CURVES.

TIME IN THIS ROOMY COCKPIT PASSED QUICKLY IN THE COMFY SEATS, WHILE A VARIETY OF SAFETY FEATURES ARE ALSO, ALONG FOR THE RIDE.

ONE MORE THING.

IT SEEMS EVERYONE IS COMING OUT WITH A NEW SMALL UTILITY THESE DAYS.

THE GOLF EASILY COMPETES WITH MINI-UTEs WHEN IT COMES TO CARGO ROOM, BUT ADDS PURE GERMAN DRIVING DYNAMICS.

THE 2018 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF GTI AUTOBAHN IS ON SALE NOW STARTING AT $35,000.

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

WHETHER IT'S THE ECONOMY, LOW GAS PRICES, OR JUST THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE WORLD, FULL-SIZE, BODY-ON-FRAME SUVs ARE BACK EN VOGUE.

PLUS, THEY ARE NOW BEING COMPLETELY MODERNIZED FOR EVEN BIGGER SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

SO, ALONG WITH OUR COLLEAGUES AT CARS.COM, WE'VE PUT THE LATEST BIG UTEs TO THE TEST, TO SEE WHICH ONE STANDS OUT.

* BIG FAMILY-SIZE RIGS HAVE A PURPOSE OF COURSE, AND IT'S NOT JUST TOWERING OVER PEOPLE ON YOUR DAILY COMMUTE.

WHEN IT COMES TO HAULING AND TOWING MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE, GEAR, OR TOYS; THEY REALLY ARE THE MOST COMFORTABLE CHOICE.

THIS LANDSCAPE OF BIG TRUCK SUVs, WHERE THIRD ROWS ARE STANDARD AND V8-STYLE POWER ARE THE NORM, IS REPRESENTED HERE BY...

THE CHEVROLET TAHOE; SEGMENT VOLUME LEADER AND LAST REVISED FOR 2015... AN ALL-NEW FORD EXPEDITION, THE ONLY COMPETITOR HERE NOT ACTUALLY SPORTING A V8...

THE NISSAN ARMADA, RELAUNCHED FOR 2017, AND NOW BASED ON NISSAN'S GLOBAL PATROL SUV, NOT THE TITAN PICKUP AS BEFORE... AND FINALLY, OUR OLDEST COMPETITOR HERE, THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA, LAST REDESIGNED FOR 2008...

THIS TIME WE SET UP CAMP IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA, RACKING UP AS MANY MILES AS POSSIBLE IN A WEEK'S TIME; IN JUST ABOUT EVERY SCENARIO IMAGINABLE, INCLUDING TOWING THROUGH THE NEARBY SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS.

AND IF THERE'S ONE CONSTANT WITH FULL-SIZE UTEs, IT'S THAT YOU'VE GOT TO PAY TO PLAY, SO NO PRICE CAP HERE, WHICH MEANS A FAIRLY WIDE RANGE OF MSRPS, FROM THE 70 Gs OF THE DOMESTICS, TO THE RELATIVE BARGAINS OF OUR TWO ASIAN COMPETITORS.

BE SURE TO HEAD TO CARS.COM FOR COMPLETE DETAILS ON OUR TEST.

IF WE'RE HERE TO PICK A WINNER; THAT MEANS THERE'S GOING TO BE ALSO RANS AS WELL, AND COMING IN 4TH PLACE IS THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA.

IT WAS TRULY FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE AGAINST THESE NEWER DESIGNS, BUT IT WASN'T ALL BAD NEWS, IT DID COME WITH THE LOWEST PRICE HERE, BY QUITE A MARGIN AT $59,873, WITH RELIABILITY THAT'S SECOND TO NONE.

Brian: GETTING IN THE SEQUOIA, IT FEELS LIKE A DINOSAUR COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLES HERE; THE NAV.

SCREEN IS TINY AND NOT WELL-INTEGRATED, THERE ARE LOTS OF HARD PLASTICS EVERYWHERE.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME NICE, BIG CONTROL KNOBS AND THE RIDE IS QUITE GOOD...

IT'S JUST THAT ITS OLDER DESIGN KEEPS IT WELL BEHIND THE PACK HERE.

Brian Normile: IF YOU HAD TOLD ME THIS WAS MAYBE A 2013 OR '12...I WOULD HAVE BELIEVED YOU, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT IT'S THE NEW TRIM LEVEL...

IT'S GOT SOME BASIC SAFETY FEATURES, BUT IT'S LACKING THE FULL LIST THAT THE OTHER COMPETITORS HERE HAVE, AND IT'S DEFINITELY LACKING IN TERMS OF COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE FEATURES... John: THIRD PLACE GOES TO THE CHEVROLET TAHOE.

A LONG-TIME BENCHMARK IN THE SEGMENT, IT'S STILL THE MOST TRUCK-LIKE RIG OF THE BUNCH, SPORTING THE BIGGEST ENGINE HERE, AS WELL AS THE HIGHEST PRICE TAG.

YET, IT PUT THAT MONSTER MOTOR TO GOOD USE, GETTING THE BEST FUEL ECONOMY OF THE BUNCH DURING OUR TOWING LOOP.

Brian: THE TAHOE HAS A COMFORTABLE INTERIOR AND A POWERFUL ENGINE THAT TOWS TRAILERS LIKE THEY'RE BARELY EVEN THERE.

IT'S NOT PERFECT THOUGH, THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE BARELY ADEQUATE IN NORMAL USE, MUCH LESS IN TOWING, AND THE REALLY WIDE CENTER CONSOLE GIVES IT A CLAUSTROPHOBIC FEELING COMPARED TO MOST OF THE OTHERS HERE.

Mark Williams: THE CHEVY TAHOE RST IS KIND OF THE ATHLETE OF THIS GROUP; IT'S GOT THE BIGGEST V8 ENGINE, WHICH SOUNDS AMAZING THROUGH THE DUAL PIPE EXHAUST, BUT IS ALSO PERFORMS REALLY WELL EVEN WHEN WE'RE TOWING.

John: A BIT OF A SURPRISE, IT'S THE NISSAN ARMADA THAT CAME IN 2ND, MOSTLY DUE TO THE OVER THE TOP LUXURY OF ITS PLATINUM RESERVE INTERIOR, AT A PRICE WELL BELOW THE DOMESTIC ENTRIES, AT $67,145.

Brian: THE ARMADA FEELS VERY SOLID, SURPRISINGLY SO, YET, IT STILL HAS A GOOD RIDE; THE INTERIOR IS COMFORTABLE; IT JUST CAN'T HANG WITH THE DOMESTICS WHEN IT COMES TO TOWING AND OVERALL CAPABILITY.

Aaron Bragman: IT HAS PLENTY OF FEATURES, AND IT REALLY IS KIND OF THE LUXURY VERSION OF THESE VEHICLES; IT IS SUPER PLUSH INSIDE, ABSOLUTELY QUIET, AND REALLY A PLEASURE TO DRIVE.

John: IT'S NO SECRET, DOMESTIC BRANDS DO FULL-SIZE TRUCKS RIGHT, AND THE SUVs BASED ON THEM ARE QUITE NICE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SHOCKED THAT THE NEW FORD EXPEDITION WON.

BASED ON THE LONG-TIME BEST-SELLING TRUCK IN AMERICA, THE F150, THE TWIN-TURBO V6 EXPEDITION DID EVERYTHING WE ASKED OF IT IN TRUE V8 FASHION, WHILE PACKING IN MORE LUXURY AND FEATURES THAN ANY OTHER ENTRANT HERE.

Aaron: FORD'S NEW EXPEDITION IS THE FIRST BIG UPDATE TO A REALLY POPULAR PRODUCT IN A LONG, LONG TIME, AND THEY REALLY DID KNOCK THIS ONE OUT OF THE PARK.

IT'S BETTER IN EVERY SINGLE CONCEIVABLE WAY; IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE, IT'S MORE FUEL EFFICIENT, IT'S MORE STYLISH, IT OPERATES REALLY WELL IN TERMS OF ITS CARGO FLEXIBILITY INSIDE, IT DRIVES REALLY WELL, IT'S SUPER QUIET, AND THEN YOU GET SOME OF THAT TURBO SPOOL-UP FROM THE TURBO V6.

Brian: AS THE NEWEST DESIGN HERE, THE EXPEDITION HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT, INCLUDING A GORGEOUS INTERIOR, SMOOTH 10-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, GREAT TECH INTERFACE, AND JUST WAY MORE FEATURES THAN ANY OF THE OTHER VEHICLES HERE... John: SO, A DOMESTIC BRAND'S EFFORT WAS THE STANDOUT HERE, BUT IT'S CLEAR THAT OTHERS ARE CATCHING UP.

AND WHEREVER YOUR ALLEGIANCES LIE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF GOOD OPTIONS FOR YOUR FULL-SIZE SUV WANTS AND NEEDS.

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... FOR THE AGILE, ABLE, AND AWESOME MCLAREN 570S SPIDER, AND RAM KEEPS THE COMFORT WHILE INCREASING CAPABILITY IN THE ALL-NEW 1500.

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 MOTORWEEK HAS BEEN 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...

WEATHERTECH DIGITAL FIT FLOOR LINERS AND CARGO LINERS OFFER LASER MEASURED, DIGITAL FIT PROTECTION FOR YOUR VEHICLE'S FLOORS.

WEATHERTECH.

MADE IN AMERICA.

HUM IS THE CONNECTED CAR SYSTEM THAT ASSISTS AND EMPOWERS DRIVERS TO HELP THEM BE PREPARED FOR THE ROAD AHEAD, SO THEY CAN GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING.

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 .

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

[SOUND OF CAR ENGINE REVVING] *