America on the Road

Lexus has some important new vehicles coming this year, including an all-new 2023 Lexus RZ 450e crossover utility. And our special guest will share his thoughts about where the brand is going. Andrew Gilleland, Lexus Group VP, sat down for an exclusive interview with Host Jack Nerad recently, and the exec had interesting things to say about the luxury brand’s future in the “electrified era.”

Guest Co-Host Matt DeLorenzo joins us this week as Co-Host Chris Teague takes a break. Matt is the author of the new book How to Buy An Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership, and he and Jack Nerad will discuss the important questions facing potential first-time EV buyers.

In the road test segment, Matt DeLorenzo will profile the all-new 2023 Toyota bZ4X battery-electric crossover. Matt had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of Toyota’s first nationally marketed EV at the recent Motor Press Guild Drive Day 2022 event. And Host Jack Nerad drove the bZ4X at the Toyota HQ Confidential event in Texas.

Also in the road test segment, Jack Nerad will give his initial impressions of the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado ZR2 off-road specialty pickup. Jack got the chance to drive the impressive vehicle at MPG Drive Day, and he’ll tell you all about how it fared on the event’s very challenging off-road course.

In the news, car sales were down precipitously in the second quarter while at the same time finding a new car to buy continues to be difficult for consumers. We’ll have the details and our reactions to that coming up.

Meanwhile, a new study of the industry gives rosy predictions about the future of electric vehicles. But is the study right? We’ll give you details on the study and share our opinions about the optimistic predictions for electric vehicle adoption. Are they real or just wishful thinking? We’ll let you know.

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

If you want to be the coolest parent at this Fall’s first soccer game arrive in the new 2022 Acura MDX Type S. Yes, it is a three-row SUV, but its performance helps you forget that when you’re behind the wheel. The hottest variant of Acura’s flagship MDX, the Type S is the most powerful, best-handling, and most lavishly equipped Acura SUV built since the planet was formed.

In this episode of “America on the Road,” extremely rigid Co-Host Chris Teague tests the extremely rigid, fourth-generation MDX platform in Type S trim. It helps the SUV reach an elevated level of performance aided by its new 355-horsepower Type S Turbo V6. The model also features torque-vectoring Super Handling All-Wheel Drive, Brembo front brakes, and a 10-speed automatic transmission reengineered to handle the engine’s stout torque production.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad puts the fun-to-drive Mazda CX-30 through its paces. The vehicle can prompt debate on whether or not it’s an SUV, but there is no debate about its engaging driving performance. In standard trim, it offers 186 horsepower, but our testers were drawn to the 250 horsepower turbocharged version. Go figure.

Do want to know what the highest quality vehicles are for 2022? Probably, and lucky for you, we have J.D. Power’s 2022 Initial Quality Study results. Many of the top models aren’t what you’d guess, and we’ll have the details plus our incredulous reactions.

Also in the news, Volkswagen has just pulled the wraps off an all-new battery-electric sedan concept called the ID.Aero. With smooth styling and a lot of range on a charge, it could give Tesla a run for its money when it arrives on our shores in a year or two.

If you are thinking about buying a car, you’ll be interested to hear what our special guest has to say about that. Jason Barrie is the chief operating officer of Digital Air Strike and an expert in auto retailing. Interviewed by Host Jack Nerad, he will bring his insight on today’s bizarre and challenging car market. And that insight could help save you some money. And heartache.

All that and more are coming up on “America on the Road,” brought to you by Mercury Insurance and Driving Today.com.

While many automakers are putting out happy talk on the prospects of EVs, Toyota is taking a more sober, reasoned view. In this episode, we bring you our exclusive David Christ, Toyota Group Vice President. He is in charge of the Toyota brand in the U.S., and Host Jack Nerad had a chance to sit down with him for a wide-ranging exclusive interview. We think you’ll find what he has to say about electric cars and hydrogen-powered vehicles like the Toyota Mirai a breath of fresh air.

In the road test segment Co-Host Chris Teague will examine the pluses and minuses of the 2022 Nissan Altima SR Midnight Edition. The Altima has always been a popular favorite in the midsize sedan category, but does it have the juice to compete with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry? Chris Teague will have the answers.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will take a close look at the 2022 Volvo XC40 T5 AWD Inscription. It's the top-of-the-line conventional XC40, but how does it measure up to the battery-electric XC40 Recharge? We’ll let you know in this week’s episode.

In the news this week, Elon Musk says Tesla Motors will cut 10 percent of its salaried workforce because of an impending recession. We’ll have the details and our reactions to that coming up.

And also in the news, experts say the nation’s electric grid needs a tuneup if we are to see a more significant number of EVs on the road. It’s a big issue that isn’t getting much attention even as many suggest the need to switch to EVs is critical.

All that and more coming up in this week’s episode of “America on the Road” brought to you by Mercury Insurance and Driving Today.com.

General Motors is in the process of reinventing itself as a major EV maker. One way it hopes to separate itself from the pack is its Ultium technology. GM’s expertise in electric vehicles is making vehicles like the new 2022 GMC Hummer EV more efficient. In this week’s episode of “America on the Road” we go behind the scenes with one of Ultium’s experts. Our special guest is Lawrence Ziehr, General Motors Ultium Energy Recovery Project Manager. In an in-depth interview, he tells Host Jack Nerad how the Ultium team gets more efficiency from its unique batteries. It’s insightful, leading-edge stuff so stick around for that.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague puts the 2022 Hyundai Kona N-Line through its paces. Is the Kona N-Line a crossover SUV? Or is it a hot hatch in disguise? Chris Teague and Jack Nerad will share their opinions on that and tell you how the Kona N-Line relates on the value scale.

Also in the road test segment, Jack Nerad takes a detailed look at the 2022 Kia Sorento X-Line SX Prestige AWD. The Sorento submodel is designed to have enhanced off-road capabilities. At the same time, it is chockfull of luxury features that help make it a very attractive choice in the hotly contested three-row crossover SUV segment.

In the news, some prominent carmakers are asking Congress to lift the cap on the tax credit for electric vehicle purchases. Is it a wise move that will move the needle on global climate change? Or is it a money grab by automakers looking to leverage taxpayer money into more sales for themselves? We’ll have the details and our reactions to that coming up.

Also in the news, BMW has announced the test of a new battery that could offer EVs 750 miles of range on a charge. We’ll give you more on this potential breakthrough coming up in this episode of “America on the Road.”

The Toyota Sequoia stood pat for over a decade, but now an all-new 2023 Toyota Sequoia is about to come to market and we’ve driven it. Host Jack Nerad got behind the wheel of several new Sequoias both on the road and off. In this episode of “America on the Road,” Nerad will give you his detailed opinions of what is expected to be a very important vehicle for Toyota. Based on the already well-regarded Toyota Tundra full-size pickup, the new Sequoia sports a powerful hybrid powertrain and a Toyota-designed infotainment system. And it has surprising off-road abilities, as Nerad will describe.

Also in the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will detail his weeklong test of the 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands. This off-pavement-oriented trim is one of the hot new model’s most popular, and Teague will describe how it fared in all the tests he put it through in the wilds of Maine.

If you are hoping the high prices for new and used cars and trucks will end soon, you might be disappointed. In the news segment, we have the details from new J.D. Power research on how long these elevated car prices will be with us..

We will also share new details on the potential joint car-making venture that involves Honda and Sony. Is a SonyCar in your future?

We have a terrific interview for you this week. Our special guests are Matt Lins and Paul Harmon, Mercedes-Benz product experts on the all-new 2023 Mercedes-Benz C-Class sedan. Host Jack Nerad recently had a chance to drive the new C-Class in San Diego County, and he was extremely impressed with the new vehicle. We will give you the insights from Mercedes-Benz’ product planners on the car in this week’s interview segment.

All that and more coming on this week’s episode of “America on the Road.”

Electric vehicles continue to make news this week. In this episode we road test the heavily revised 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and take a long look at what many suggest is an all-electric future. Some say an electric future is inevitable but an important new study from J.D. Power shows that a big majority of Americans are still very skeptical about an EV for their households. We’ll give you a deep dive into the study’s findings in the news segment of “America on the Road.”

Both Host Jack Nerad and Co-Host Chris Teague will describe their experiences in the newly changed 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV. It has a new look inside and out, and it’s equipped with the newest Chevrolet Infotainment Plus system. Not only that, but it also has a new low price. We’ll tell you how it stacks up against the other EVs in this week’s road test segment.

Also in the road test segment, Jack Nerad and Chris Teague will discuss the 2022 Volvo V90 Cross Country. It’s a vehicle that combines the attributes of an SUV with those of a station wagon. And we found it to be a breath of fresh air in a marketplace filled with cookie-cutter crossover SUVs.

Our special guest this week is Derrick Ty. He's Kia Manager of Product and Pricing Strategy and an expert on the all-new 2023 Kia Sportage compact utility vehicle. Jack Nerad recently had a chance to drive the new Sportage in and around Palm Springs, California. And the drive day included a serious off-road course as well. The 2023 Sportage is trying to re-establish its off-road credentials in this all-new package, We’ll have an exclusive interview with Derrick Ty on that vehicle coming up later in the show.

Finally, is your vehicle a prime target for catalytic converter thieves? That crime is up astronomically this year and we’ll have the details.

The 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning battery-electric truck is one of the most important vehicle launches of this generation. To bring you important details on the vehicle “America on the Road” Host Jack Nerad conducted an exclusive interview with Darren Palmer, Vice President of Global Electric Vehicle Programs at Ford Motor Company.

To prepare for the interview Nerad drove the all-new 2022 Lightning pickup truck both on- and off-road during the vehicle’s introductory driving event near San Antonio, Texas. He even towed a horse trailer with the all-new battery-electric truck. In the interview with Darren Palmer, the Ford exec will detail how important the vehicle is to the company and what the engineering team sought to accomplish. It’s information you won’t find anywhere else.

In the news, Toyota has just introduced the 2023 40th Anniversary edition of its popular and rugged 4Runner SUV, and we have details. Plus, Honda has confirmed that an all-new Honda CR-V is waiting in the wings for 2023. We’ll tell you about that, too.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will describe his weeklong adventures in the new 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness as he gave it the special Maine treatment.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad tells what it was like to live with the 2022 Kia Niro plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV). The vehicle’s styling and interior treatment have both grown up. See which of the three electrified Niros our host and co-host pick as the best value.

All that and more coming up in the Memorial Day edition of “America on the Road.”

Mazda is well-known for producing vehicles with uncommon handling precision and exceptional driving feel. Now the brand is bringing those attributes to another type of motoring — off-road. It’s a departure but it tracks the rise in popularity of SUVs and crossovers. The all-new 2022 Mazda CX-50 is the standard-bearer in the move off-road. In this episode of America on the road we give the vehicle a very thorough road test in the hills outside Santa Barbara, California. Host Jack Nerad drove the Mazda CX-50 through the dirt and along the ridgelines.

In the same episode, Co-Host Chris Teague tests an off-road specialist — the 2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. The Tacoma has had a decades-long history as a stalwart off-road pickup, and the TRD Pro variant takes those capabilities to a new level.

Continuing with the off-road theme, our special guest is David Partlow, chief engineer on the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe. Host Jack Nerad recently had a chance to drive the plug-in hybrid version of the new Grand Cherokee outside Austin, Texas, and it was impressive. We’ll get all the details from its chief engineer in the interview segment.

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

In the news this week a security firm has demonstrated that Teslas’ door locks are vulnerable to hackers. We’ll give you details on that.

And a prominent online retailer just dumped a big portion of its workforce as it goes through tough times. We’ll have more on that too.

All that and more coming up in this episode of “America on the Road.”

 

The first journalists have driven production versions of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, and we at “America on the Road” were among them. Not only is the F-150 Lightning a remarkable vehicle that is fast, stable, and eerily silent, but it also has superpowers that have very little to do with driving. How about the ability to power your house for days if a thunderstorm knocks out your electricity? How about the ability to recharge other electric vehicles? How about the ability to weigh its own cargo?

In our extensive highway driving, we tested Blue Cruise, Ford’s hands-free driving system that turns the Lightning into a semi-autonomous vehicle. And we had the chance to sample the electric pickup’s incredible acceleration. More speed is a flash away every time you push the go-pedal.

We also had the chance to put the Ford F-150 Lightning through its paces on a difficult off-road course. It immediately became apparent that the Lightning’s massive instant torque teamed with its sophisticated all-wheel-drive system can make short work of even the most challenging terrain.

Worried about the Lightning’s towing ability? We have you covered there as Jack Nerad took to the highway with a 5,000-pound horse trailer hooked up behind.

Our interview subject this week is something we all have to be concerned with — car insurance. Justin Yoshizawa, the Director of Product Management at Mercury Insurance, sits down with Host Jack Nerad to tell us about MercuryGo, new usage-based insurance that is as simple as installing an app on your smartphone. MercuryGo takes care of the rest, saving you money every time you drive. The details on MercuryGo will probably convince you it is a no-brainer.

In the road test segment, in addition to Jack Nerad’s test of the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning, Co-Host Chris Teague puts the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport through its paces. He tells us if the Bronco Sport’s three-cylinder engine is up to the task. And he gives us his opinion on whether the smaller of the two Broncos is worthy of that legendary name.

In the news, we’ll tell you which major car manufacturer is on the verge of losing its ability to offer federal tax credits on its EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles. And we will offer five commonsense tips for saving gas.

That’s all this week on “America on The Road.”

As more and more people consider switching from conventional vehicles to EVs, we wanted to see what it would be like to live with one of the most-appealing EVs out there. So we borrowed a 2022 Volvo XC40 Recharge and put it through a rigorous list of tasks for a week. The XC40 Recharge is Volvo’s leader in its quest to become an all-electric carmaker by 2035. The big question: is: can the average American adapt to the new lifestyle that a leading-edge EV like the XC40 Recharge requires? We’ll tell you the good and the bad of both the vehicle itself and the EV lifestyle in our special report.

In the news segment, we discuss exciting development in the innovative quest to create climate-friendly fuels. One fuel we discovered is said to be created from carbon dioxide pulled from the atmosphere, resulting in a closed loop that doesn’t add incremental carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Instead, with this potential gamechanger, it’s carbon out and carbon in. Will this breakthrough doom electric cars? Host Jack Nerad and Co-Host Chris Teague will discuss this fascinating development.

Also in the news segment, Jack Nerad outlines his recent analysis of whether buying a hybrid or plug-in hybrid is a good answer to the nation’s rapidly rising fuel prices. We’ll reveal what he discovered.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague takes a long look at a very popular compact SUV, the 2022 Chevy Equinox. It’s a vehicle that doesn’t get much love from car testers, but it’s also a vehicle you and your family might cherish. Teague will give us his conclusions.

And we have a terrific guest. Phillip Battista is president of dealership technologies at J.D. Power, and he and his team have just launched Shop With Ease. It’s a digital auto retailing solution that allows shoppers the ability to search, purchase, and finance vehicles without having to leave the dealer’s or manufacturer’s website. It could help you buy your next car painlessly and swiftly.

All this and more coming up this week on America on the Road.