Hi, I'm John Davis and this is MotorWeek !

We have the details on big updates for the popular Kia Telluride!

We'll get to the bottom of barrel for a "Your Drive" filter on oil viscosity... See how car crushing events turns old rides into new ones... Then, we'll plug in with the all-new Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV...

So, come drive with us, next!

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First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it TireRack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

JOHN: 2020 saw the arrival of the biggest Kia yet, the Telluride 3-row SUV.

Both it and its platform-mate Hyundai Palisade have been very successful and raised the bar for large crossover UTEs.

And while, the Telluride was already the tougher looking of the two, for '23, it takes an even more rugged turn through the power of X.

♪ ♪ This is an X-Pro outfitted 2023 Kia Telluride, one of two rugged X-themed upgrade trims now available throughout the Kia utility lineup.

X-Line is the other one, and where the bulk of the off-road specific upgrades are applied; X-Pro just adds a little more capability on top, you know, for the pros.

Naturally, the transformation starts with higher ground clearance, though it's only about a half an inch here; more noticeable is the new beefier roof rack.

On top of that, X-Pro adds a tow mode, better cooling, and a self-leveling rear suspension that boosts towing capacity from 5,000 to 5,500 pounds, and the Pro gets tough looking 18 inch wheels with actual all-terrain tires.

Choosing either X upgrade trims will include active on-demand all-wheel-drive with a locking center differential, along with added downhill brake control to manage descents in steep or slippery terrain.

Much of the technical aspects were already available on the Telluride, just now gathered into a more comprehensive and marketable package.

Both share a toughened-up face with simulated skid plate up front and more substantial looking bumper in rear.

But all '23 Telluride's get updated lighting in front and back, as well as a new grille and specific wheel designs for each trim level.

You don't have to be the rugged type to enjoy the tech enhancements available in all Telluride's which include standard navigation, enhanced smart phone integration, and a new panoramic curved display with dual 12.3 inch screens that blend into one another seamlessly on top of the dash.

The dash itself gets reshaped to accommodate this, getting slimmer vents along with upgraded materials, and even a redesigned steering wheel.

Three rows of seating remains standard in all Telluride's, and whether you go with captain's or bench seating for the 2nd row, it is very spacious feeling; the 3rd row is not bad either.

Cargo space remains quite good for a crossover too, 21.0 cubic-feet of space behind the 3rd row, 46.0 behind the 2nd, and a max of 87.0 cubic-feet with all seats folded.

The SX-Prestige trim level of our X-Pro Telluride tester means nicely stitched Nappa Leather seating, Harmon Kardon premium audio, surround view monitor, and even a Head-Up display which has grown from 8.5 to 10 inches.

And there's even a real shifter for the 8-speed automatic transmission, instead of platform-mate Palisade's array of buttons.

Attached to that 8-speed is the same 3.8 liter V6 as before, and output remains at 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

This is a lot of vehicle for that humble V6 to deal with, but at our Mason Dixon test track, it leapt off the line with a decent amount of punch, and hit 60 in 6.9 seconds, actually a few tenths quicker than our original Telluride test in '20.

Power delivery remains very linear throughout the quarter-mile, with smooth and steady shifts from the automatic helping to maintain good momentum throughout the 15.2 second quarter-mile which we completed at 93 miles per hour.

All-terrain tires are never the best choice for on-pavement slalom work, and at times our Telluride did struggle for grip; but, body roll is by no means excessive and both steering feel and weight were quite good.

Plus, the 4-wheel independent suspension and unibody construction certainly give it a leg up on full-framed competitors.

Kia's all-wheel-drive system comes with handling benefits as well, constantly adjusting the distribution of power sent fore and aft to best match road conditions and driver input.

Brakes were strong with just moderate nosedive during the consistently straight and smooth stops which averaged just 109 feet.

Great pedal feel too, along with very little ABS pulsing, all delivering a very confidence inspiring feel in this big utility.

Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 18-City, 24-Highway, and 21-Combined.

We averaged a reasonable 20.1 miles per gallon of Regular.

That's just slightly below average for the Energy Impact Score, using 14.2 barrels of oil yearly, with 7.2 tons of CO2 emissions.

X offerings expand the already very broad lineup of Telluride's which start at just $37,255.

X-Line is available on EX and above, starting at $47,050; you'll have to step up to SX trim to go pro, starting at $51,040.

Now, we're not saying you should run out and trade your current Telluride in to go to the X-side, but if you are already thinking about buying a 2023 Kia Telluride, why not choose the one with the most capability, and just happens to be the best looking one too?

For us, it would be X-Pro all the way.

♪ ♪ Each year in the US, about 12 to 14 million vehicles reach the end of their useful rolling lives, and about 99 percent of those end up in a scrapyard.

But usually, that's not the end of their story.

Stephanie Hart visits a local salvage yard to show us how automobiles are recycled, and the crushing first step to a new ride tomorrow.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: I'm here at ConservIt in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Forty to 45,000 vehicles are shredded each year.

Their materials are then used to make entirely new products, which is a win for the environment.

Alright, I'm going to put on my safety gear and head out to check out the shredding plant.

Just look at this place!

Very cool!

Vehicles are actually the most recycled objects in the United States.

Globally, 27 million vehicles are recycled each year.

Twelve million of those vehicles come from the United States.

Once, plastics are removed, what's left of the modern automobile are most metals such as iron, aluminum, and steel.

All can be efficiently recycled!

HOLDEN METZNER: The individual metals are separated using magnets and other technology.

So, a car goes in-- mixed metals and waste-- and it comes out as furnished-ready steel, aluminum, copper, brass.

The benefits of recycling automobiles is you're taking something that has very little value and breaking it down into items that can be reused or recycled.

STEPHANIE: Recycled vehicles in the U.S. and Canada provide enough steel to build about 13-million new vehicles.

Plus, recycling end of life cars eliminates the need for 85 million barrels of oil that would otherwise be used to make new and replacement car parts.

HOLDEN: Being able to make new metal from recycled metal saves a ton of energy.

It's much more environmentally friendly from emissions to the energy that's used to-- melt the aluminum or steel, to the mining that takes place to get the-- raw materials that would be necessary to make new cooper or new aluminum or new-- iron.

STEPHANIE: It's no wonder the car recycling industry is the 16th largest in the United States, contributing about $25 billion to the national gross domestic product.

HOLDEN: The steel from automobiles goes to steel mills that make items from rebar, to I-beams, to plate, to coil.

They can be used to make new cars, appliances... they're used in buildings, bridges...

They can be used for making new equipment.

STEPHANIE: Recycling cars is nothing new, it's been underway since the first vehicles rolled off the production line well over 100 years ago.

Its success is built on an entrepreneurial spirit, a love of cars, and a desire to satisfy the needs of an evolving automotive ecosystem.

Cars are more complex these days, so it's only gotten more challenging for recyclers as far as effectively recovering all of the metals.

HOLDEN: The technology and the auto-recycling industry has also been improving.

It's allowing us to identify and- and capture, uh, scrap metals that otherwise we weren't able to, such as insulated copper wire, circuit boards.

And also, the sizing of what we're able to capture.

Now, we're able to capture much, much smaller part sizes versus what we were previously able to do.

NICK REED: So, all the cars that come in-- they're all different, every make and model.

Um...

So, it kind of gives you a challenge to figure out how to process them the best way.

Um... that's probably why I like my job.

STEPHANIE: ConservIt employees also feel good, knowing with each car they crush our planet is being preserved for future generations.

SAM METZNER: It's nice to know that these, uh, items aren't going to be landfilled or--or disposed of in a way that's not beneficial for the environment.

JOHN: All engines need oil; but, not all oils are created equal, and figuring out which one is right for your car can be hard to decipher.

Audra Fordin translates for us in this week's "Your Drive."

♪ ♪ AUDRA FORDIN: The work motor oil does in your engine is second to none.

If the oil level decreases or become contaminated there is much more heat that builds up and is produced inside of the engine because of lack of lubrication; which causes parts in your engine to wear, parts to warp, gets pitted, and even melts.

So, why is an oil change important?

To answer that question, first, you need to understand that motor oil and motor oil filter go together like shoes and socks.

The oil filter filters out and removed any debris that's flowing through the engine and it is designed to last the lifecycle of an oil change at a minimum.

So, you should always change your oil filter when you're due for a motor oil change.

The motor oil has many jobs; and, yes, it is very busy.

Motor oil cleans and protects the engine and all of the moving parts, it keeps your engine cool, and keeps all of the valvetrain components well lubricated.

There are different kinds of motor oil as well.

You have conventional motor oil, which is crude oil from the ground where all the molecules are different sizes; you have a synthetic blend of motor oil, which is a blend of oil, so it's important to read the ingredients of the bottle.

And this is, of course, better than conventional motor oil; but, it's still a blend.

You have high mileage motor oil, which is for cars that have, like, 100,000 miles-plus and/or tow heavy loads.

And synthetic motor oil, which is now man-made in a laboratory.

And the beauty of this is that the molecules are all the same size so the oil burns more clean.

Note: You do not need to be brand specific.

What you do need to be is using the specific grade of oil that the manufacturer demands for your car.

No, this is not a ploy to make money on you.

This is actually the best way to keep your engine in great condition and to live a long life.

You can find the specific viscosity for your type of oil by looking underneath your hood at your oil cap, in your owner's manual or you could find it online.

Now, if you do your own oil changes, please be sure to recycle your oil in the proper container.

It is mandated by law, and all service centers accept used motor oil.

And please, don't mix your fluids.

It's the right thing to do for the environment.

If you have any questions or comments, reach out to us right here at MotorWeek !

JOHN: Let's get rolling, it's time for another QuickSpin!

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: All-new vehicles coming from Dodge are relatively few and far between these days, but when they do, they tend to go full throttle.

So, naturally, this 2023 Dodge Hornet is the quickest, fastest, and most powerful compact utility vehicle you can buy for less than 30 grand.

The worker bee here is the Hornet GT; it comes with standard all-wheel drive and a 2.0 liter turbo-4 with 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

The R/T is the queen of the hive with a plug-in powertrain featuring a smaller 1.3 liter turbo-4 engine and a rear-mounted 90 kilowatt electric motor for a totally different all-wheel-drive setup than the GT, making it the first plug-in performer of any sort to come from Dodge.

All engine for the front axle, all motor for the rear combine for a 288 horsepower output with a healthy 383 pound-feet of torque.

That's enough for mid-50 to 60s when using the on-demand PowerShot, and the 15.5 kilowatt hour battery delivers more than 30 miles of EV driving.

The R/T also gets unique 18 inch wheels, Brembo brakes, dual exhaust and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

BRIAN ROBINSON: Dodge has, uh, established themselves as America's performance brand, so entering the small crossover world could be a challenge; but, for the most part, the Hornet brings it.

The throttle is super aggressive, it sounds great, at times it feels like maybe there's a little too much power there; all great things, if you're trying to create the muscle car version of a small crossover.

JESSICA: Though, based on Alfa Romeo's Tonale chassis, the look here is all Dodge; aggressive face, wide stance, hood venting, and full width taillamp with an illuminated logo, a first for Dodge.

Both the GT and the R/T have a highly functional, driver-focused, and comprehensively outfitted cabin with a 12 inch digital cockpit and 10 inch touchscreen for Uconnect 5 standard.

Pricing starts at just under $30,000; with Hornet GTs beginning to swarm into Dodge dealers nationwide, R/Ts will follow a little later this spring starting around $40,000.

And we'll have more QuickSpins, soon!

♪ ♪ GREG CARLOSS: We like driving here at MotorWeek .

That explains how we've been able to accumulate 6,000 miles in this 2023 Volkswagen Jetta GLI in a bit less than 3-months.

It's a true joy managing all of its 228 horsepower with the smooth and steady 6-speed manual transmission.

And we even managed to improve our MPGs this go-around, bumping our average up to 31.9 miles per gallon.

The fuel economy we're seeing in this GLI is due in-part, of course, to the engine, but I would argue it's also because of things that have nothing to do with how much gasoline we're using.

Things like the suspension and seat comfort.

My point being, is that this car is such a great cruiser that we're taking it on longer highway trips, which is boosting our fuel economy despite our less eco-minded back road escapades.

Regardless, it's a real, "Have your cake and eat it too" scenario.

While, not overly flashy, the interior of this latest Jetta is well laid out, controls are logically placed, and the infotainment system is easy to use.

All things that help you focus on driving, which is something we plan on doing as much as possible with our remaining time with the GLI.

Believe it or not, we have another manual equipped 4-door joining our fleet in this 2023 Acura Integra A-Spec.

But before we get to that we'll see what our Kia Carnival has been up to lately on the next MotorWeek Long-Term Road Test Update!

JOHN: Mitsubishi has had few bright spots in recent years, but when it comes to battery-electric tech, they've actually been ahead of the game.

First with their i-MiEV electric car, and then giving their Outlander utility the plug-in hybrid treatment well before many larger rivals.

Well, last year saw the arrival of a new generation of Outlander, and it looks like they're still plugging away!

♪ ♪ The Mitsubishi Outlander started its 4th-generation last year, beginning a new partnership with Nissan, specifically sharing a chassis with the compact Rogue.

We weren't sure where that would leave the Outlander PHEV, as it was not only way ahead of its time, but it was also by far our favorite version of the Outlander.

Well, we needn't have worried, as much like they injected a whole lot of Mitsubishi into that shared platform, for 2023, Mitsubishi has taken their plug-in game to the next level with an all-new Outlander PHEV.

It starts with Mitsubishi's own 2.4 liter I4 gas engine with not one, but two electric motors attached; an 85 kilowatt unit that can drive the front wheel on its own, and a smaller one that prioritizes charging the battery.

A larger 100 kilowatt motor is mounted in back, providing power for the rear axle, and all told, the quartet delivers 248 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque.

A bigger 20 kilowatt hour battery now has an EV-only range of 38 miles, which is 14 more than the previous generation.

Thankfully, it still feels very refined in everyday use, despite the CVT transmission, which takes advantage of that electric boost to calm down extended engine revs.

And braking is very natural feeling whether you're running on battery power or burning fossil fuels.

And while, it does feel very fast off the line in everyday driving situations, at our test track, shortly after that initial hole shot, power delivery levels off substantially.

Still, 6.8 seconds to 60 is quicker than most of the compact crossovers, and almost 3.0 seconds faster than we saw with the original Outlander PHEV.

Not much excitement from there though, as the petrol engine/CVT combo adds more noise than power.

Still, a 15.9 second quarter-mile at 83 miles per hour is quite acceptable, and again, much quicker than before.

Hitting our slalom course, the Outlander feels like a completely different vehicle, cutting through the cones like a vehicle half its weight.

Designed for all-weather traction and rally-style off-road performance more than rock climbing, this unique Twin Motor version of Mitsubishi's Super All Wheel Control is more rear-biased than most AWD systems and keeps this utility smooth and flat no matter how hard you push it, using both torque vectoring and select braking.

Turn-ins are sharp and precise, and there's very little understeer or body roll.

The benefit of PHEVs is directly linked to how much time, you can spend on battery power; for our loop, we started out with a full tank and full battery, drove for 316 miles, and ended up with a 33.6 miles per gallon average.

Which seems about right, as Government Fuel Economy Ratings are 64-Combined for the MPGe and 26-Combined with strictly the gas engine.

The PHEV is available in ES, SE, and SEL trims, so you're not forced to go with the top drawer; but if you do, SEL gets updated trim inside and out, leather seats, roof rails, and the ability to use DC fast chargers.

A 9.0 inch infotainment screen replaces the standard 8.0 inch unit, but all PHEV's come with a great looking 12 inch driver display and substantial switchgear.

Plug-in privileges do come at a cost, as pricing starts around 10 grand over a comparable all-wheel drive ES, starting at $41,190; top SEL begins at $46,790.

That's certainly in line with other plug-in hybrid utilities, which are still relatively few in number.

But the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has been around long enough to actually be the world's best-selling plug-in hybrid utility.

For 2023 it has only gotten way better.

It may not be the best choice for everyone, but if you're able to take full advantage of that battery range, it's one plug-in that's easy to live with and even easier to love.

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 our full test of Honda's long-running family icon, the all-new Accord.

Then, it's upscale luxury in the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

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... To order a DVD of this program, call... MotorWeek has been brought to you by... ANNOUNCER: For more than 30 years Lucas Oil products has helped people tackle mechanical problems in the automotive, marine, and industrial fields.

From our original four core products... Lucas Oil has developed over 400 custom products to help both professionals and do it yourselfers.

To learn more visit Lucasoil.com.

Lucas oil, keep that engine alive!

MotorWeek is proudly sponsored by Auto Value and Bumper To Bumper, featuring major brand auto and truck parts, and service from coast to coast.

Learn more at AutoValue.com and BumperToBumper.com.

TireRack.Com is proud to support MotorWeek .

First, there was the wheel.

Then, the tire.

"We'll call it Tire Rack."

Forty years later, we're not slowing down.

♪ ♪ This program was produced by Maryland Public Television, which is solely responsible for its content.

(car engine revving) ♪ ♪ You're watching PBS.