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

Time for a look at an updated EV, the Toyota bZ... Then, we'll click with some ratchets and sockets on "Your Drive!"

Stephanie Hart profiles a group making teens safer on the road... And then, it's back to homebase in the Mazda CX-30 Aire Edition... So, come drive with us, next!

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JOHN: The Toyota bZ4X dropped in 2023 as Toyota's first mass-produced all-electric vehicle.

In 2024, Toyota dropped prices significantly, and then in 2025, they dropped 4X from the name.

So, what's dropping for 2026?

Well, how about a whole host of updates touching on range, performance and even style!

Sounds like we need to drop in on the new bZ.

♪ ♪ Toyota introduced their "beyond Zero" vision in 2021, with a plan to launch 15 battery-electric vehicles globally with partner Subaru by 2025.

This plan has mostly come to fruition, though not all vehicles are available here in the U.S.

Toyota will be moving away from the bZ naming strategy with future products, but before that happens, they've treated the 2026 bZ to a functional and stylish makeover.

Mechanical updates are mostly the same as the Subaru Solterra we also recently tested, which means top battery capacity has increased from 72.8 to 74.7 kilowatt hour, allowing max range to jump from 252 miles to a more than adequate 314.

In addition, a smaller 57.7 kilowatt hour battery is fitted to the 168 horsepower base XLE, delivering 235 miles of range.

The onboard charger has grown from 7.0 kilowatt to 11, with electricity now imported through a standard NACS charging port; 150 kilowatt max DC Fast charging will fill the battery to 80 percent in about 30 minutes.

But they didn't stop there, adding new silicon carbide semiconductors to increase output of the electric motors too, helping the dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup put out almost 50 percent more power than before to 338 horsepower.

Also, new are shift paddle-style selectors on the back of the steering wheel for moving through the four available levels of regen braking.

Unlike the Solterra, the bZ is available in a front-wheel-drive version, which we took advantage of with our XLE Plus trimmed tester.

Its single motor also sees an increase from 200 to 221 horsepower.

Though, we could have used some extra traction at our Mason Dixon test track as that newfound power had us really modulating the throttle to keep front wheelspin in check.

We hit 60 in 6.3 seconds, two-tenths quicker than the original bZ4X twin motor all-wheel-drive.

Power delivery remained very consistent all the way down the track as we completed the quarter-mile in 14.9 seconds at 93 miles per hour.

When pushing hard through our handling course there was a lot of understeer and body roll to deal with, as well as some inconsistent steering feel that had us not always sure what the car was going to do.

But, after dialing back the pace just a little, both the bZ and our test drivers were much more comfortable.

There wasn't much feedback from the car in our braking runs either.

Still, stops from 60 averaged a good 115 feet.

Toyota has taken strides to increase functionality inside; the infotainment screen has gotten bigger and includes more features along with actual knobs and buttons, a slimmer dash now incorporates ambient lighting, wireless phone charging has been improved, and there's more storage space for small items.

Seating remains very comfortable up front, with plenty of space for adults in the back seat too.

Exterior changes include a redesigned front fascia with new LED lighting that includes updated hammerhead running lights, fender flares have been tweaked for better aero efficiency and can also now be color-matched with certain exterior colors.

Now, before going beyond zero, Toyota went hybrid in a big way, popularizing global battery-electric driving with the Prius Hybrid in 2001.

We called it an important first step towards going green with the auto industry.

They've since sold 5.0 million of them around the world and have integrated electric motors into almost all their current fleet, approaching 50 percent of total sales.

Our test XLE Plus front-wheel-drive full-battery-electric comes with a 314 mile rating, which we came very close to matching, on pace for 307 miles in our driving loop.

It's also quite efficient, using only 26 kilowatt hour of electricity per 100 miles.

But the best news yet is pricing keeps getting better and better, especially if you stick with front-wheel-drive which you can get for just $36,295; the max range XLE Plus goes for $39,495, with all-wheel-drive versions starting at $41,495.

Top Limited trim bumps it up to $44,895.

The original bZ4X was just enough to get Toyota established in the EV game, but Toyota and partner Subaru have definitely been putting in the hard work over the last 3.0 years.

They've turned the 2026 bZ into a great and highly competitive EV SUV that's also one of the best values on the market today.

♪ ♪ JOHN: Clearly, the Blackwood doesn't fit the traditional pickup definition.

Indeed, it's part Lincoln Navigator sport Ute and part Ford Supercrew with plenty of glitzy Lincoln touches, like the prominent chrome-trimmed grille, integrated turn signals in the side mirrors, Chris Craft style faux wood applique on the exterior bed panels, polished aluminum fuel filler door and giant 18 inch alloy wheels wearing wide 275/55 Michelin tires.

Though, the trickiest piece of all is this solid, power-operated, but non-removable tonneau cover.

It covers a carpeted and stainless steel-lined 56.3-inch-long cargo space that's accessed not by a tailgate but by Dutch doors.

No dirt bikes or lawn tractors in here please.

Plus, micro-cellular urethane body mounts reduce noise and vibration.

It's the kind of smooth luxo-ride that you expect from a Lincoln, but not from a truck.

But once you experience, you'll be willing to cross all of America in it.

♪ ♪ JOHN: Statistics show that teen drivers are involved in deadly car accidents three times more than adult drivers.

So, a teen advanced car control driving school is one great idea to keep teens and our roads safe.

Our Stephanie Hart traveled to Concord, North Carolina, to show us the lifesaving driving skills that teens are learning to master.

♪ ♪ STEPHANIE HART: I'm here at the zMAX Dragway where teens are learning lifesaving driving skills on three courses like this one, completing a total of six exercises.

This course is designed to simulate wet driving conditions during the B.R.A.K.E.S.

advanced car control driving school.

INSTRUCTOR: Get up to 14, and off the gas.

Alright, easy, turn, easy, correct, correct, correct... Whammm.

STEPHANIE: That's what happens when you abruptly turn the wheel during a rear wheel skid.

Through hands-on trial and error, the teens eventually got the hang of it thanks to excellent instructors.

INSTRUCTOR: Alright, off the gas, no brake.

Alright, easy turn, keep turning, keep turning correct, correct, correct, steer to that car.

So, you're getting right here and you're stopping, alright?

Use that hand over steering, keeping steering the wheel to catch back up with the car.

STEPHANIE: As the teens learned, slowly steering into the skid can prevent an accident and keep everyone safe on the road.

AMELIA TELFORD: I didn't know you were supposed to turn into the slide.

I thought just slam on the brakes and that really could be worse.

And it taught me a lot, and it's going to make me more cautious on the road.

STEPHANIE: One hundred eighty teens and parents are participating in the free two-day B.R.A.K.E.S.

advanced car control driving school.

The program is open to most teens who have a learner's permit or driver's license with at least 30 hours of driving experience.

MATT REILY: The B.R.A.K.E.S.

is a non-profit charity that was started back in 2008 right after NHRA star Doug Herbert lost both his boys in a horrible car accident here in North Carolina, and Doug wanted to do something to try to teach other teens how to be safe behind the wheels.

STEPHANIE: B.R.A.K.E.S.

has trained more than 150,000 people in 15 states during the last 17 years.

MATT: Personally, I don't want to see another teen not get that training and not make it home.

At this age, you go into high school with a 50 percent chance that they may get involved in a car crash and with our program we have shown, statistically, our graduates are 64 percent less likely to crash.

So, we're just trying to give the teens more tools in their toolbox to pull from on a Friday or Saturday night and just get them home in one piece.

STEPHANIE: Distracted driving is tackled in this unique exercise, designed to be ridiculously exaggerated so the teens don't forget its important lesson.

INSTRUCTOR: Right there is where I want you to stop, now you're going to do that between 5 and 10 miles an hour, right?

I want you to hold this, and I want you to read it to us out loud as we're doing that.

And I have these balls, and you and I are going to play catch while we are doing all that.

STEPHANIE: The goal?

Don't knock down any cones.

The lesson?

Tell distracting friends to stop it and if they ignore you, pull over.

Another important part of the program is teaching teens to safely share the road with trucks like this one.

I want you to take a look at this.

This scenario could be a potential problem and here's why.

MATT: We never want to hover right over the front end of that truck because he won't be able to stop as fast as your car can stop.

STEPHANIE: The teens also learned if they can't make eye contact with the truck driver in his mirror then they're in the truck's blind spot, a dangerous place to be.

And on this course, the teens find out what they should do, if they drop a wheel off the edge of the road.

GARRETT BURRIS: You come here and you learn, you know, how to drive really well, and it's a great time.

STEPHANIE: Ultimately, teaching teens things they probably didn't learn from a typical driver's ed program or mom and dad.

MATT: I find that some of the teens today aren't as excited about cars, so it gets them excited about driving.

It's a... it's a path to freedom, and when you see that little light bulb go off in their head and they get it, and then later on you read stories and...and get phone calls from the parents that tell us their teen has done something with the training to save them, and they always say, "I remember that instructor's voice in my head and it worked," and that makes us feel good.

That's why we keep coming back.

INSTRUCTOR: Alright, don't hit her.

What're you doing?

Uhh!

Alright, back her up.

JOHN: The right tool for the right job.

A good set of sockets and ratchets can be just that.

Well, Logan McCombs knows the basics on MotorWeek's "Your Drive."

(car engine starts up) LOGAN MCCOMBS: One of the most handy tools to have when working on your car is a good set of sockets.

These allow you to grip onto fasteners once, then tighten or loosen them just by moving the handle back and forth, and not re-applying it to over and over again, like with regular wrenches.

But not all sockets or ratchets are created equal, and here's what you need to know.

Regular sockets are typically made of a chrome vanadium steel.

This is a strong form of steel, but it can also be brittle.

Just like with wrenches, you'll see sockets with six or twelve points of contact.

Six points offer a more secure grip on fasteners and are best for higher-torque applications, while a 12-point sockets gives you more versatility, but it may be more likely to round off the corners of a nut due to its shallow grip.

Impact sockets have a thicker sidewall for durability, and you'll typically notice that they're black, and that's how you know it's an impact socket.

They're made of a molybdenum steel, which is actually a "softer" metal that will twist and deform slightly to absorb the impact, rather than break like regular sockets might.

When it comes to ratchets, one big consideration is the number of "teeth" they have.

If you look here, I have the sprocket from inside a ratchet, and that click that you hear is the paws passing by each tooth.

So, the greater the number of teeth, the more precise the movement can be, so you can work in tighter areas and it makes it a bit easier on your hands.

This ratchet here has 90 teeth, so it just needs four degrees of swing to engage the next tooth.

For comparison, a ratchet with 32 teeth needs 11 degrees of motion.

That's a pretty big difference.

Now, having a good variety of sockets and ratchet handles will make any job around the house or garage a lot easier.

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

JOHN: Before our next Road Test, lets take it around the block for a new QuickSpin.

♪ ♪ JESSICA RAY: In any feature length dino-flick, the T-Rex is often heard before it's seen, and that's true of today's QuickSpin.

Only, instead of a roar, it's a whine.

(engine whines) This is the 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT, revived to one-up this light-duty pickup's off-road game and stomp out the competition.

Its rampage is officially a byproduct of SRT engineering, the TRX sporting the Hellcat-derived supercharged 6.2 liter V8, disturbing the peace with 777 horsepower and 680 pound-feet of torque.

A T-Rex's roar is proportionally matched by its footprint; and this TRX's whine is met by massive 35 inch Goodyear Wrangler tires on 18 inch wheels.

Behind that are Bilstein adaptive shocks; in the rear, a five-link suspension setup soaks up the bumps and jumps, while a Dana 60 axle keeps the power planted.

In total, the TRX boasts nearly a foot of ground clearance, with an impressive 13 inches of front and 14 inches of rear suspension travel.

DAVE SCRIVENER: TRX is not a truck for the meek or the weak.

It's not subtle, but unless you buy a look-at-me color, it's not over the top either.

From the drivers' seat, TRX feels tall and drives big.

The ride is soft and bouncy, a side effect of those 35 inch tires and long-travel suspension.

That triple seven horsepower number guarantees quick getaways, but the power is never overwhelming and always well-controlled.

And I love that supercharger whine!

(engine whines) JESSICA: Styling can be toned down by a subtle paint job or flaunted by a much flashier one.

Regardless, the theme is surprisingly tame inside, mirroring the exterior's black and red scheme, and complete with just about every Ram appointment you can imagine.

Tech here includes a 14.5 inch Uconnect infotainment screen, a head-up display and, believe it or not, active noise cancellation.

More pertinent to the experience are the nine drive modes and launch control, the latter priming the TRX for a 3.5 second 0-60 time.

And all this adds up to a six-figure price tag, starting just under $103,000.

We'll dive more into the 2027 Ram 1500 TRX SRT and what makes it such a thrill in an upcoming Road Test.

GREG CARLOSS: Yep, it's another Porsche 911.

But this one is so special we were invited to Stuttgart, Germany, to drive it.

"It" being the first ever 911 GT3 convertible.

Or properly, the 2027 Porsche 911 GT3 S/C, or "Sport Cabriolet."

And dropping the top definitely has its perks: Wind in your hair, sun on your skin, and up to 9,000 RPMs of flat-6 fury racing through your ear canals.

In back is the GT3's naturally aspirated 4.0 liter engine, a 502 horsepower boxer-6 paired exclusively here with a 6-speed manual transmission.

The adjectives used to describe this Sport Cabriolet's ride could be plucked from any fixed-roof GT3 test we've done as of late.

KYLE SCANLON: Now, the car is light, quick, agile.

It's emotional.

You can feel it.

You can feel what it wants to do.

It tells you through the steering wheel, through the pedals, that I want to go fast, that I want to make sure you have a good time.

Because that's all this car has done for me all day long.

It's made sure I've had an absolutely fantastic time.

GREG CARLOSS: The S/C carves its own niche in the ever-expanding 911 lineup, leveraging GT3 performance while slightly dialing back the whole "street-legal race car" approach.

The Street Style pack adds a little extra flair outside with special graphics, and extends the use of leather inside.

Just you and a plus one, though, as there are no rear seats.

You already know the 2027 Porsche 911 GT3 S/C cost dearly.

This limited run model starts at about $275,000.

So, we're very glad we had a chance to experience it for ourselves and bring you along for it.

And we'll have more QuickSpins, soon!

JOHN: When the Mazda CX-30 arrived for 2020, we wondered why the brand needed two compact utilities in their lineup.

Well, the CX-30 eventually displaced the CX-3 and has continued to evolve ever since, with tweaks added here and turbos added there.

Now, fast forward to this 2026 CX-30.

So, let's see what's in the wind for Mazda's smallest Ute.

♪ ♪ We knew this CX-30 would be a real hit for Mazda from the moment we first drove it.

Now, 6 years into its lifecycle, there's most likely a new one right around the corner.

But, before moving on, and with such enduring popularity, we wanted one more turn in the 2026 Mazda CX-30.

And there is visibly "new" news for '26, this Aire Edition.

Building on the CX-30's Preferred Package, the Aire Edition adds unique 18 inch black metallic aluminum wheels, and applies gloss black finishes to the roof rails, side mirrors, and exterior emblems.

In contrast to all the darker hues outside, Aire Edition gets a light and bright interior with unique materials and handsome stitching, adding to what was already a very premium feel cabin environment.

Mazda keeps the multi-function command controller for their 10 inch multimedia setup, and also includes plenty of logically placed manual controls.

Driver info is provided in a sharp-looking LCD gauge display that maintains an analog look to it.

Front seats are a little small, and space up front is cozy; even more so in the rear seat.

Seats come fitted in white leatherette, and if you opt for the turbo engine upgrade, you'll also get gray suede-like panels worked in.

And the seat of our pants does highly recommend you make that upgrade as this 2.5 liter turbocharged 4-cylinder puts out 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque, a healthy step up over the standard naturally aspirated 2.5 liter's 186 horsepower, and it even comes with an "engine harmonic enhancer."

Six-speed transmissions are a bit of a rarity these days, but Mazda is still a believer and we appreciate it.

It may not be as quick in the quarter-mile, but in daily driving, not enduring a constant random gear shuffle when you're cruising at slower speeds is a relief.

And in a subcompact utility class where some don't even offer all-wheel-drive, it's included as standard with every CX-30.

In our handling course, it felt exactly as we were expecting, which is to say quick and spot on with great balance.

A new limited slip differential and upgraded dampers are in place for '26 with a mission of providing just a bit more comfort without affecting handling characteristics.

Steering has the kind of tautness that makes you feel really connected to the car, not just initiating a process for computers to then carry out for you.

Mazda's i-ACTIV all-wheel-drive uses G-Vectoring Control Plus to apply muted braking and torque delivery adjustments to help the cause.

In the straight-line environment, it didn't register quite as peppy as it does on the street, but it remains very smooth and surprisingly quiet.

There was still a nice lift of power right off the line with 0-60 in 6.5 seconds.

All-wheel-drive grip very effectively transferred power to the pavement.

Gearchanges were soft and smooth.

quarter-mile trips took 14.8 seconds at 95 miles per hour with seemingly no power drop-off in the process.

Stopping distances were a little inconsistent in our panic braking runs, but a 112 foot average from 60 is certainly acceptable.

(SUV whooshing by) Government Fuel Economy Ratings for the Turbo are 22 city, 30 highway, and 25 combined.

We average a good 27.5 miles per gallon on Regular fuel.

The CX-30 starts at just $27,470.

This 2.5 Turbo Aire Edition is a bigger tally at $35,905.

Still, that's well below top Turbo Premium Plus.

The CX-30 is a much better execution of the small crossover theme than the CX-3, bringing an Audi-like feel and attention to detail to the segment.

So, it makes sense that Mazda hasn't messed with the formula too much these last half-dozen years.

This 2026 2.5 Turbo Aire Edition sticks with that while giving buyers another timely option, one that we think Mazda fans will be, like us, very happy with.

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 we dial into the gen-three Audi Q3 and a feature-filled compact, the Nissan Sentra.

Until next time, I'm John Davis.

We'll see you right here on MotorWeek !

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Learn more at AutoValue.Com and BumperToBumper.Com.

We're Tire Rack.

We test tires, then share our results.

We stock over a million tires.

We offer multiple installation options.

We do this because we believe tires matter.

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