America on the Road

The Corolla Cross Hybrid is a low-priced, high-value crossover SUV, a vehicle type American consumers just can't seem to get enough of. In little more than a year on the market, it has already become a giant hit. The addition of a hybrid-powered version tops the model line with a model that isn’t just efficient — it’s engaging. More horsepower and a sport-tuned suspension will do that.

The 2023 Corolla Cross Hybrid delivers better acceleration than the conventional Corolla Cross, and Toyota emphasizes that added sportiness in the way it decks it out. The Corolla Cross Hybrid is available as an S, SE, or XSE, the brand's sport-oriented grades. In addition to its taut suspension, even the base S features LED headlamps, 17-inch alloy wheels, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and smart key access. The SE adds privacy glass, roof rails, paddle shifters, blind spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert. The XSE is the sportiest and most luxurious Corolla Cross Hybrid with 18-inch alloy wheels, premium LED lighting front and rear, leatherette seat coverings, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver's seat. Host Jack Nerad had the chance to drive several Corolla Cross Hybrid variants at a recent driving event in Southern California, and he’ll have a full report.

Also in the road test segment, guest host Matt DeLorenzo was behind the wheel of the battery-electric Volkswagen ID.4. The ID.4 brings European driving dynamics to the BEV crossover segment, and Matt DeLorenzo, author of How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car, will share his thoughts.

In the news, Tesla has cut the prices on some of its models for the sixth time this year. We’ll tell you what’s behind these unusual price changes and give you our comments coming up later in this segment.

Also in the news this week, the other shoe dropped on federal electric-vehicle tax credits, and there are big winners and big losers. A number of well-known brands are crying this week. We’ll give you the details plus our commentary on the multi-billion dollar decision a little later.

On new-car front, Buick revealed the 2024 Envista, a vehicle it claims, offers the cargo space and utility of an SUV, packaged in the sleek proportions typically found in a sedan. Not only that, but it’s darn good-looking. We’ll give you the details and our reactions coming up.

We have a terrific guest for you this week. Ted West is a veteran auto journalist and author of one of the best motor racing novels ever, a book called Closing Speed. He is also one of the reasons Host Jack Nerad got into the business of reviewing cars in the first place. We will bring you their conversation and much more in this episode of America on the Road.

The 2023 Lincoln Corsair PHEV is a full-featured 5-passenger luxury crossover filled with high-tech features like Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 and other niceties. As we found in our 800-mile trek in the heavily revised vehicle, it is an impressive traveling companion for cross-country cruising.

The luxury car business has evolved into the luxury crossover business. Lincoln isn’t alone in switching to follow the desires of luxury customers, and it continues to seek ways to differentiate its SUVs from those of other prestige brands. For the 2023 Corsair, its smallest crossover, Lincoln has emphasizes leading-edge tech. Lincoln BlueCruise 1.2 is a hands-off self-driving system that functions on hundreds of thousands of miles of highways in the United States. And its engineers and product planners have enhanced the infotainment system, the interior, and the exterior while adding new advanced driver assistance systems.

Lincoln equips the Corsair Grand Touring with a plug-in hybrid powertrain that consists of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine running the Atkinson cycle, an electronic continuously variable transmission, a rear-axle electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack. When fully charged, the battery provides 28 miles of all-electric range. In this episode, we’ll tell you how the Corsair fared during our extended drive.

Also in the road test segment this week, co-host Chris Teague puts the 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV through its paces. We’ll discuss how it compares to the Lincoln Corsair, another plug-in hybrid vehicle.

The top news story this week revolves around new proposed government regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed sweeping emissions cuts for new cars and trucks through 2032. The regulations could radically change what vehicles you can buy and what you’ll pay for them. We’ll have all the troubling details for you coming up.

On the autonomous vehicles front, one of the top companies pursuing self-driving technology had to shut down several of its test vehicles recently, and we’ll tell you why.

And in a special report worth reading, Reuters has reported that Tesla employees not only viewed videos captured in customers’ cars but also routinely shared those videos with others. We will give you details and our comments.

This week's guest is Chris Sutton, vice president of automotive retail at J.D. Power. He oversees the recently released J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study. This year’s study suggests that some things you’ve been told about electric cars might not be true. We’ll let you know what and have much more in this episode of America on the Road.

Some very important vehicles are being introduced at the New York Auto Show, which is going on right now, and we’ll have all the highlights for you in this episode of America on the Road. Perhaps the most important of the new production models is the all-electric 2024 Kia EV9 SUV. The first three-row electric vehicle SUV from Kia, the EV9 is the flagship of the automaker’s global Plan S strategy and one of the first mainstream three-row battery-electric EVs from a mass market brand.

The Kia EV9’s standard 800-volt electrical architecture enables ultrafast recharging on high-speed DC chargers. Kia says the EV’s battery pack is designed to go from a 10 to 80 percent state of charge in under 25 minutes. With an optional 99.8-kWh battery, a single-motor configuration of the EV9 could achieve 300 miles of all-electric range.

And when it comes to predicted range, Ram can top that with its just-introduced all-new 2025 Ram 1500 REV full-size pickup. When it finally comes to market to compete with the Ford F-150 Lightning, Ram suggested it will have a targeted range of up to 500 miles.

Jeep pulled the wraps off a heavily revised 2024 Wrangler at the New York Show. Among the highlights are an available factory-supplied Warn winch, a new version of the iconic seven-slot grille, standard side curtain airbags, and a 12.3-inch Uconnect Touchscreen infotainment system.

Our guest for you this week is Jay Joseph, the vice president of the Sustainability & Business Development unit for American Honda Motor Co. He oversees the company's renewable energy, resource circulation, and new business development in the United States. We will talk with him about Honda’s hydrogen power efforts globally and in the United States.

In this week’s road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will chronicle his driving experience in the all-new 2023 Toyota Prius Prime, the latest plug-in hybrid version of the vehicle that put hybrids on the map in the United States. From its looks to the way it handles day-to-day driving, the model is totally transformed. And Nerad will tell you why he thinks it’s the best Prius ever.

Also in this week’s road test segment, Co-host Chris Teague will detail his week-long evaluation of the 2023 Toyota RAV4 Adventure, an off-road-oriented trim. He got the opportunity to put the SUV through its paces as the final winds of winter howled through Maine.

All that and much more is coming up in this episode of America on the Road.

With more than 600 horsepower on tap, piloting the 2023 Lucid Air Touring is more like flying an airplane than driving a sedan. But a highly competent performance sedan is exactly what the Lucid Air Touring is. Interestingly, it has other personalities as well. And we discovered many of them as we interviewed David Lickfold, Lucid’s Director of Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics.

Host Jack Nerad sat down with him at a recent driving event based in Santa Monica, California. In the extensive interview, he revealed what Lucid Motors set out to achieve in the Air Touring … and how they were able to do it. Their successes in realizing the vision are impressive, as we will detail in our discussion.

The all-new 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport is the anchor of this week’s road test segment. The new version of the TrailSport is designed and equipped to deliver more off-road prowess than ever before. That said, it will still be an on-road transport vehicle for most of its buyers, so Nerad and his wife put it to the test on a road trip from Southern California to Phoenix. One object of the journey was to test the new Pilot. The other was to attend a couple of Spring Training games before the Major League season started. Mission accomplished on both fronts. And we’ll tell you more in this episode.

At the other end of the country — battling snow and ice — Co-Host Chris Teague was testing the 2023 Volvo XC90. One interesting thing about the test — he and his family own a three-year-old XC90 as their family car of choice. He’ll reveal how the SUV has changed and improved since he bought his.

In the news, new-car prices keep going up, and now a global carmaker says the U.S. average price will top $50,000. We’ll tell who that automaker is and have more details and our thoughts on this coming up.

And Tesla Motors is being investigated again. This time seat belts are the culprit. We’ll tell you which model is affected and what the problem is.

Also newsworthy, the European Union is breathing new life into vehicles with internal combustion engines. Ferrari is one brand that is expressing relief at the news, and we’ll have more details on that and our comments as well.

The 2023 Dodge Hornet is the newest addition to the giant compact sport-utility segment. And it brings along the Dodge brand muscularity, an image that is entirely lacking in that starkly conventional segment. The Hornet also marks a major departure for the Dodge brand, which like all Stellantis brands, has an uncertain future as the parent company considers consolidation. But if the Hornet points the way for Dodge, the brand should have a bright future. The two variants — the plug-in hybrid 2024 Dodge Hornet R/T and the turbocharged 2023 Dodge Hornet GT — are shining proof that crossovers don’t have to be mundane.

Host Jack Nerad had the rare chance to drive both Hornet models at a recent event in and around Asheville, North Carolina, and he’ll have a full report. With enticing doses of horsepower and a “Powershot” feature that releases 30 extra horsepower for occasional use, the Italian-built Dodge Hornet will certainly raise some eyebrows … and may raise Cain.

The subject of our other road test is equally interesting but for far different reasons. The 2023 Toyota Crown supplants the long-in-the-tooth Toyota Avalon as the brand’s full-size sedan. And while the Crown channels Buick sedans in some important ways, it also brings a distinct Toyota spin to a segment that is in need of as much spin as it can get. Guest Host Matt DeLorenzo tested the Toyota Crown and will share his impressions in this episode.

This week's special guest is Greg Kitzens, General Manager of Product and Consumer Marketing for Lexus. He joined Host Jack Nerad to discuss the all-new 2023 Lexus RZ 450E, the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle. And he had interesting thoughts on how the Japanese luxury brand can compete with the Tesla Motors juggernaut.

In the news, the European Union has just announced a plan that would allow the use of so-called e-fuels in combustion engines after 2035, its previous deadline to go all-electric. This could be a giant game-changer in the auto industry, and we’ll have our thoughts coming up.

Also in the news this week, a just-published article by Reuters says that many electric vehicles offer no way to repair even slightly damaged battery packs after accidents. This forces insurance companies to write off cars with few miles, which could lead to mammoth insurance rate hikes. We’ll let you know which automaker is most responsible for this problem coming up a little later.

All this and much more are coming up in this episode of America on the Road on the SportsMap Radio Network.

The all-new version of the 2023 Honda Accord surprises in several areas. The most startling change is under the hood where Honda has made a hybrid the top powertrain. Up until a few years ago, Honda showed a distinct lack of interest in hybrid powertrains but now it has done an about-face and installed a hybrid driveline is its flagship sedan. The addition of a hybrid drivetrain permits the Accord to go head-to-head with the 2023 Toyota Camry, which has its own well-regarded hybrids.

Host Jack Nerad had the opportunity to drive and evaluate the all-new 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid for a week during a period of wild weather in Southern California. He’ll report his findings in this episode of “America on the Road.”

At the same time, Co-host Chris Teague was at the wheel of the 2023 Kia Telluride, which now offers two new off-road trims. Higher ground clearance, raised roof rails, and Downhill Brake Control are a few of the models’ added all-terrain features. Chris Teague will share his opinions on the Telluride coming up.

Our special guest this week is Scott Tallon, director of product at Jeep. At the recent 2023 Jeep Compass driving event in Malibu, Host Jack Nerad sat down with him for a detailed interview on the changes that have transformed the Compass into a solid contender in the compact SUV segment.

In the news, a prominent safety organization — the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety — has just gone on record knocking electric vehicles for being too heavy. It suggests their added weight is a safety issue and posits that lowering speed limits is the appropriate solution. Listen up to hear what we have to say about that.

Also in the news this week, Porsche says criticism of its e-fuel initiative is “emotional,” and it is serious about proceeding with its plan. Do e-fuels represent a logical alternative to battery-electric vehicles? We present the pros and cons.

And General Motors says it is considering installing ChatGPT in all its vehicles in the future. We’ll have more details on the implications of that and our comments as well in this episode of “America on the Road.”

Host Jack Nerad's latest book, a crime novel filled with intrigue, suspense and a car chase or two. It's now available as a paperback and Kindle edition at Amazon.com.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive electric vehicle, the Hyundai Kona should be on your list. And if you’re looking for an inexpensive performance car, the Hyundai Kona should be on your list. With that in mind, this week, we road test both the 2023 Hyundai Kona EV and the 2023 Hyundai Kona N. Which is better? Which suits your needs? We have some surprising conclusions coming up for you in this edition of America on the Road.

Foxconn, the company that makes iPhones, is looking for a partner to begin building electric cars, but it hasn’t found one yet. According to auto industry analysts, time is getting short. Will the postponement of the Apple car prove costly to Apple’s chief supplier? We'll have details and our thoughts on this multi-billion dollar issue coming up.

Also in the news this week, Tesla has slashed prices, then raised them in a frenzy of pricing actions globally. The net in the United States for its two high-volume models is lower prices than the prices available at the start of the year. Will that be enough to pull Tesla from its recent funk? We’ll have more on that coming up.

The Inflation Act passed last summer was widely seen as a giant boon to union workers in America. But recent analysis shows that most of the jobs it could create will go to non-union workers. We’ll chat about those unintended consequences in the news.

Our terrific guest for you this week is Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power. If you want to know what cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVs are the most dependable, he is the guy to talk to. He and Host Jack Nerad will discuss the just-released 2023 J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, and we think you’ll find the interview useful to you.

The 2023 Jeep Compass has undergone an engine transplant for the new model year, and the transformation is nothing short of amazing. The substitution of a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the previous normally aspirated 2.4-liter four has markedly brightened the Compass’s all-around performance. Host Jack Nerad was one of the first journalists to drive the renewed small SUV in the hills above Malibu, California, and to say he was impressed is putting it mildly. After long stints of challenging on-road and off-round driving, he came away with a new respect for the small SUV. He’ll tell you much more as the show unfolds.

Our special guest this week is Bob Welby, senior director, Infiniti USA Operations. Host Jack Nerad not only had a chance to talk with him at length about the future of the luxury brand, but then he and Welby drove together at the Infiniti Winter Driving Event in Big Sky, Montana. The unique event gave them the chance to put the luxurious Infiniti QX60 three-row SUV through its paces on glare ice, packed snow, and wet pavement. Oh, and the temperature the whole time hovered at about -10 degrees Fahrenheit, so the pavement wasn’t wet for long.

What do women want? Well, we can’t tell you everything they want, but we can tell you which car brands they like. And we have a good handle on which ones they don’t, too. Details and our thoughts on all the ramifications of that story coming up.

Also in the news this week, Volkswagen is getting blowback after its top executive in China asserted that the company doesn’t use forced labor in a plant it shares with Chinese automaker SAIC. Many human rights groups claim he’s wrong, and the result is yet another VW controversy. We’ll have more on that coming up.

There is good news for people with bipolar disorder as lithium prices plunge on the world market. Why is the price of the critical commodity going down? A giant Chinese auto battery supplier is turning to different materials, and Chinese consumers are starting to turn away from electric vehicles. Those are two key reasons. We’ll have the details on that coming up.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague examines a vehicle whose name is longer than some roads. The 2023 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali Ultimate could be the most luxurious pickup truck we have ever driven at “America on the Road.” If Cadillac made a pickup, it would likely be very much like this one, and we’ll have more thoughts for you coming up.

Host Jack R. Nerad's latest book, Dance in the Dark, is a suspense thriller that will keep you guessing until the final pages. It is available in paperback and Kindle right now at Amazon.com.

The 2023 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 combines old-school components like a normally aspirated high-displacement V8 engine with specialized off-road tech to create a commonsense premium all-terrain truck. This past week America on the Road Co-Host Chris Teague had the opportunity to put the Silverado ZR2 through a grueling series of tests in the midst of the Maine winter. We’re freezing just thinking about it. But what he discovered is worth knowing, and he’ll reveal it all and a little more in this edition of America on the Road.

Meanwhile, across the country, Host Jack Nerad road tested one of the darlings of the car tester set —the 2023 Mazda CX-5 Turbo. Crossovers don’t usually get much respect from vehicle critics, but the exception is the CX-5. After an informative week behind the wheel of the newest CX-5, Nerad will tell what he found. Does the CX-5 deserve its “favorite son” status?

Our special guest this week is extremely knowledgeable about the heavily revised 2024 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport. Brian Wallace is a Volkswagen product planner and vehicle expert. Host Jack Nerad caught up with him at the Chicago Auto Show for a lengthy interview on the fraternal twins that bring a lot of new stuff to the midsize SUV party.

In the news this week, a new study shows that the total ownership cost of an electric car is near that of a conventional internal combustion vehicle but dealers are having a tough time getting customers to do the math. We'll have details and our thoughts on all that coming up in this episode.

Also in the news, a well-regarded sports car brand from the past might soon see a revival in the United States. We’ll tell you what that brand is and have more on that story coming up too.

Finally, the Biden Administration’s new rules on the national EV charging network could drastically change the way Tesla does business. We’ll have the details on that and what it could mean to you and your family coming up.

The first new Mustang performance series in 21 years, the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse features a sinister look worthy of its name. And it finally emerged into the limelight at the Chicago Auto Show, its first public display, where Host Jack Nerad got the opportunity to discuss it at length with Ford Mustang marketing guru Jim Owens. That interview is featured in this week’s show.

To achieve what Ford calls the pinnacle of 5.0-liter V8 performance, the Mustang Dark Horse features a highly tuned fourth-generation Coyote V8 engine that is rated at 500 horsepower and 418 ft-lb of torque. That makes it the most powerful non-Shelby Mustang ever.

With the available handling package, the Mustang Dark Horse will also be the most track-capable street-legal 5.0-liter V8 Mustang in the proud history of the model. It boasts improved aerodynamics, upgraded hardware, new software and tuning, plus an available six-speed manual transmission. Baby Boomers, the line forms at the left…

Host Jack Nerad road tested the 2023 Hyundai Elantra HEV this week, and it wasn’t simply because gasoline prices in California are again over $5 a gallon. In addition to its amazing fuel efficiency — as good as 54 mpg combined — the compact hybrid four-door gives buyers many other great reasons to consider it. Safety equipment abounds, and the Hyundai infotainment array is one of the best in the business.

While Nerad was testing the compact Elantra, Co-Host Chris Teague challenged the full-size Ford F-150 Lightning with harsh Maine weather. Since EVs are known to find cold weather a challenge, both Teague and Nerad were eager to see how the much-heralded Lightning would fare when temperatures plunge to the zero mark. We’ll have a full report coming up in this episode.

In the news this week, the federal government is in the midst of trying to persuade (bribe?) Tesla into opening up its supercharger EV charging network to non-Tesla vehicles. Some say if the company does that it will be selling out its thousands of loyal buyers who benefit from the unique charging network. Will Tesla take the money and run? We'll have details and our thoughts coming up.

While Tesla is facing its latest dilemma, Kia and Hyundai are in the midst of fixing a software glitch that has left thousands of their vehicles vulnerable to theft. If you’d like to steal a pre-2020 Kia or Hyundai, social media will show you how. We'll have more on that incredible story coming up.

Also in the news, Mercedes-Benz is trying to jumpstart its EV sales by offering a bounty to current electric vehicle owners and lessees. At the same time, Volvo says it will not lower its EV prices to match Tesla's recent move.

All that and so much more, including answers to your questions coming up in this episode of America On the Road.

Host Jack Nerad's newest book, a suspense-filled crime novel, is now available at Amazon.