America on the Road

After years of existing in the wilderness, Ford Motor Company is taking the midsize Ford Explorer back into the woods. And it hopes the move will help get the midsize SUV out of the woods and into the sales sunshine. We have just tested the 2022 Ford Explorer Timberline, the automaker’s newest version of its very important SUV. The goal is not only to sell Timberline models; it is also to give a new, more adventurous sheen to the Ford Explorer’s image. A “reliable-but-dull” aura doesn’t sell cars the way an adventurous image does, and that’s one of the things the Timberline brings with it. The new model is equipped with better approach and departure angles, tow hooks, all-terrain tires, and increased ground clearance. We’ll tell you if Ford has gone far enough in our review in this episode.

Also in this episode, Guest Co-Host Matt Delorenzo tells us about his early drive in the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone. It’s the pinnacle of the Tundra full-size pickup truck lineup as Toyota makes a new attempt to become more relevant in the high-volume segment that also features the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Ram 1500.

In the news segment of this week’s show Host Jack Nerad and Guest Co-Host Matt DeLorenzo discuss General Motors’ announcement that it will build an electrified version of the Chevrolet Corvette as early as next year. We’ll give you our thoughts on that and on the fact that a full-battery-electric Chevy Corvette is also in the works. Also in the news, Lincoln has just pulled the wraps off a battery-electric SUV, and we will give you the details on that too.

We also have a terrific interview this week. Our special guest is Colleen Jansen, the chief marketing officer at Chargepoint. Chargepoint is a major player in the vehicle charging industry that is vital to growing electrification, and we’ll discuss all that with her. Many EV buyers express frustration with public charging, so we’ll talk about that and other important issues concerning vehicle electrification.

Have you ever wondered why a Mazda feels like a Mazda and nothing else? We’ll have the answer for you in our exclusive interview with Dave Coleman, Mazda Vehicle Dynamics Manager. Host Jack Nerad had the chance to have a long discussion with Coleman on the recent first drive of the Mazda CX-50 crossover utility. He gave us insight into the special things Mazda does to give their vehicles an edge others lack.

Among other things, he'll tell us why Mazda engineers study human calves and what they learn from that. It's a detail that will probably surprise you. And so will Mazda's philosophy about the now-popular drive modes many vehicles offer.

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

In the road test segment, Jack Nerad gives details on his early drive in the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, It’s the plug-in hybrid version of the midsize SUV. And Jeep executives say it is the most capable of all the Grand Cherokees. Is it? Nerad will give his opinion.

Photo: Jack R. Nerad

Also in the road test segment Co-Host Chris Teague will describe his weeklong test of the 2022 GMC Sierra Limited full-size pickup. The Sierra Limited is one of two 2022 model year Sierras coming to market. He’ll clear up the confusion on that and tell us if the Limited is the one to buy.

We also have some fascinating and important news for you. Ferrari is about to introduce a vehicle that would have Enzo Ferrari rolling over in his grave, and we’ll tell you about that. Meanwhile, one state has introduced new regulations that would ban the sales of gasoline-powered cars in 2035 and beyond. We will give you the details on that and what it could mean for you. It could have giant ramifications even if you don’t live in the state.

Volvo is turning itself into a completely new brand with a strong emphasis on EVs. The latest example of that is the all-new Volvo C40 Recharge, a vehicle we got a chance to test drive in the desert of Southern California. Kristina Vasandani, Volvo Senior Product Manager, is an expert on the C40 Recharge EV, and Host Jack Nerad got the chance to talk with her at length about the new car and how it fits into Volvo’s plans to concentrate heavily on electric vehicles. We’ll have that insightful interview for you in this week’s episode of America on the Road.

It is New York Auto Show week so the new model introductions came thick and fast. In our news segment, we’ll tell you about the 2023 Toyota bZ4X electric sport-utility, the 2023 Kia Niro, the 2023 Honda HR-V, and the truly mind-boggling 1,050-horsepower Lucid Air Grand Touring Performance. Does a sedan really need 1,000 horsepower? Or 1,050 for that matter? We’ll discuss all that and the implications of what was introduced in New York including what it all means to you.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague took the wheel of the all-new 2022 Ford Maverick. Equipped with a hybrid powertrain, the base XL model could be the best automotive bargain on the road right now. Chris Teague will tell us how the small pickup worked out for his family as winter turned to spring in Maine.

At the same time, Host Jack Nerad had the opportunity to drive the 2022 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, a sport utility that has strong off-road credentials. In the course of the rigorous test that involved a trip from Southern California to the Central Coast, he put more than 600 fresh miles on the 4Runner’s odometer. Was it up to its on-road and off-road tasks? We’ll reveal that in this week’s episode.

 

Two global giants that many feel are past their prime have gotten together on a major joint venture to build electric vehicles. General Motors and Honda have announced plans to codevelop a series of “affordable electric vehicles” based on a new global architecture using next-generation Ultium battery technology. GM currently uses Ultium battery tech in its just-introduced GMC Hummer EV pickup truck.

The companies say they will enter into global production of millions of EVs starting in 2027. One of the first products of the collaboration will be compact crossover vehicles, one of the most popular vehicle types in the U.S. We’ll discuss what this means to you in this episode of America on the Road.

If you drive a big SUV or tow a boat, you might find your next vehicle more expensive because of some revised federal regulations. We’ll tell you all about that in AOTR as well. And a major auto show has just been postponed “indefinitely” and we’ll tell you what that could mean to auto shows worldwide.

This week our special guest is Jolanta Coffey, Chief Engineer on the Ford Bronco. Host Jack Nerad will talk with her about how far the Bronco has come in its first year after re-entering the market and what comes next.

In the road test segment, Guest Host Matt DeLorenzo will be reviewing the all-new 2022 Kia EV6. And Jack Nerad got the chance to drive the 2022 Dodge Durango R/T, a midsize sport-utility unlike just about every other midsize SUV on the market. DeLorenzo and Nerad will discuss the merits of both.

The 2022 Dodge Durango R/T Tow N Go leverages the SRT’s menacing looks, 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 performance, best-in-class towing of 8,700 lbs. and an increased top speed of 145 mph.

 

Ford has just introduced a new low-priced off-road version of the F-150 pickup that is sure to be a hit. And we’ll tell you all about it in this episode of America on the Road.

The 2023 Ford F-150 Rattler is a rugged, entry-level addition to the Ford truck lineup. Its standard four-wheel-drive is a tipoff to its off-road emphasis. Designed with affordability in mind, it is based on the XL series, and it leverages FX4 content. The F-150 Rattler’s list of special mechanicals includes skidplates, special off-road shocks, electronic locking rear differential, and hill descent control.

The F-150 Rattler also looks the part of a canyon cruiser with a dual exhaust system, all-terrain tires, and painted 18-inch aluminum wheels. F-150 Rattler badging on the fender vents and rattlesnake-inspired graphics let others know what its intentions are.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will offer a very special look at the 2022 Volkswagen GTI. Why is it special? Because the GTI isn’t just another press fleet car. Instead, it is Teague’s very own just-leased GTI, and he’ll give us the lowdown on its pluses and minuses. Does he have buyer’s remorse? We’ll find out in this episode.

Also, in this episode, Host Jack Nerad got the chance to drive the 2022 Toyota Venza as he paid a motoring visit to two of his daughters in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area last weekend. Among other things, the Venza transported Nerad and his daughters to a college baseball game, a barbecue dinner, and a fried chicken lunch. And when he wasn’t eating, he was driving the hybrid-powered Venz all over the metroplex. How did it fare? The answer will be clear in this edition.

Finally, America on the Road also has a special guest this week. Scott Caplan is co-founder of Everwash, a new company that has devised an interesting and innovative way to keep your car clean. We all wash our cars and don’t think much about it but Nerad will talk with Caplan about the ingenious business he has built revolving around car washes. That and more coming in this week’s episode of America on the Road.

Jeep continues to move toward electrification while retaining all the capabilities that it is known for. The latest example of that is the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, a plug-in hybrid version of the new five-passenger SUV. In this episode Host Jack Nerad interviews Jim Morrison, head of Jeep in North America, about the brand’s recent efforts to add electrified versions of many of its top products. The interview was conducted as Morrison piloted Nerad around the Camp Jeep obstacle course. In it Morrison talks at length about the Jeep’s philosophy concerning EVs. It’s an enlightening 15 minutes of conversation from within a Jeep Wrangler 4xe.

In the road test segment Guest Host Matt DeLorenzo takes a long look at a vehicle that he believes deserves more respect — the 2022 Toyota Prius Nightshade Edition. Once the darling of the “green set,” the Prius has taken a back seat lately, but DeLorenzo and Nerad believe it is worth a second look.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad gets behind the wheel of the 2022 Genesis G80 luxury sedan. While luxury-brand sedans aren’t as popular as they used to be Jack Nerad suggests the Genesis G80 is more than reason enough to give high-zoot sedans another look. In its quest to break into the luxury ranks dominated by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi, Genesis has filled the G80 with tons of valuable features. It could well be the best buy among all the top-of-the-line luxury sedans these days.

In the news, a recently released safety study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety finds that pedestrians need to be wary if they are near SUVs and pickup trucks, and we’ll tell you in this episode. And in the midst of the chip shortage, Volkswagen is committing a huge amount of money to electric vehicle production in North America. We have the details on what that could mean to you in the next few years.

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

For the 2022 model year, the Mustang will offer five new special edition models while standing pat mechanically. With no major changes this year in powertrain or suspension, the special editions should give buyers a new reason to take a look at the venerable sports model. The limited editions are designed to suit a wide variety of tastes. They include the Shelby GT500 Heritage Edition, Ice White Edition Coupe, California Special GT Performance Package, Coastal Limited Edition, and the Stealth Edition. Each model adds unique appearance items to suit their intended audiences. In our road test segment, host Jack Nerad takes a long look at the Mustang to see how it stacks up in the crazy market we now find ourselves in.

Helping us sort out this crazy market is an expert on auto retailing. Marina Angelides, the chief financial officer of automotiveMastermind, is our special guest this week. She deeply understands the intersection between the car buyer and the car dealer, and she’ll help us all get a handle on what is going on as the prices of both used cars and new cars skyrocket, leaving consumers in the dust.

In the car review segment of this week’s America on the Road, Co-Host Chris Teague will examine the Infiniti QX80 luxury full-size SUV. The segment has grown ever more competitive, and Teague will give his opinion on whether the QX80 is a worthy competitor for the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.

In the news, Jack Nerad returned from the J.D. Power Automotive Summit filled with information about the current state of the industry and where it is likely to go in the future. He’ll share those insights, and Nerad and Teague will discuss the return of the much-missed Acura Integra. Can it pull Acura from its funk? That and more in this episode of America on the Road.

Battery-electric pickup trucks are top of mind right now, and Ford has taken the early lead in the sweepstakes with its 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning. What does that truck deliver? And how will Ford capitalize on its early start? To answer those and other questions, Host Jack Nerad talks with Jasen Turnbull, Ford F-150 Lightning marketing manager. He’ll share details on the electric truck and answer some tough questions about EV truck capabilities.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will put the 2022 Nissan Sentra under the microscope. With gasoline prices climbing higher every day, it is likely many consumers will turn to small, inexpensive cars like the Sentra, and Teague will share details and give his verdict on the car. Will Nerad agree?  We'll see.

If the Nissan Sentra isn’t for you, perhaps you’d prefer the 2022 Toyota Corolla. A heads-up competitor to the Sentra, the Corolla has long been one of the world’s most popular cars. But now it is turning over a new leaf with the sporty Corolla APEX. Host Jack Nerad had that vehicle as his test car for the week, and he and Chris Teague will share their opinions on it. Is it sporty enough? Is it a good bargain? We’ll give you our opinions in this edition of America on the Road.

In the news segment, a major carmaker and a world-famous consumer electronics company are teaming up to build electric vehicles, and you could see the results of that effort soon. We’ll have the details.

And in other news, Stellantis, the global conglomerate that builds Jeep, Ram, Dodge, and Chrysler vehicles, has unveiled its plans for success in the electric-vehicle age. And some of the company's goals are eye-opening, to say the least. Much more on that coming up in this, the 100th episode of America on the Road.

Kia is seeking to change the way it is perceived — shifting from being a value brand to a maker of leading-edge electric vehicles. It’s a big change, and we have one of the architects of that change as our special guest this week. Steve Kosowski is Manager, Long Range Strategy & Planning at Kia America. Host Jack Nerad had the chance to sit down for an in-depth interview with him recently. One of the subjects was the introduction of the all-new Kia EV6, the first salvo in what could be a barrage of new Kia battery-electric vehicles. And the conversation ranged far beyond Kia’s first EV in this new series to what is likely to come over the horizon.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague got behind the wheel of the all-new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. It’s the first three-row Grand Cherokee, and it has all the features it needs to be a strong player in the midsize SUV segment. Chris Teague will tell us how it survived the Maine winter.

Also in the road test segment, host Jack Nerad drove the 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Limited Denali on a road trip to the Southern California low desert. The Sierra Limited lineup was designed to be a stopgap until the heavily revamped 2022 Sierra arrives. But maybe that's not giving it enough credit. Is the Limited a good bargain. After braving snow in Southern California, Jack Nerad will give you the answer.

In the news, a major global carmaker shut down production after a suspected cyber attack, and we’ll have the details on what that could mean to you. Plus, a start-up electric vehicle company is having difficulty meeting expectations. Will they get back on track or will they succumb to the massive competition that is building in the EV pickup truck sector? We’ll give you our opinions.

For those not paying attention, Ram is on a roll. Despite inventory shortages that have plagued the industry, the truck brand finished 2021 with a sales increase. Ram brand total year sales were up 4 percent year over year, the second-best year for the brand ever. At the same time, Ram’s competitors have announced electrification efforts that could alter the balance of power in the truck segments. So how will Ram answer that?

In this episode, we interview Ram brand CEO Mike Koval. He will describe Ram’s newest installment in its Built to Serve line of limited-edition trucks, which will honor firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical service providers. And he will discuss with Host Jack Nerad the ways Ram intends to move forward with electric truck models that he says will outpace those from competitors, be they established brands or startups.

In the road test segment, Co-Host Chris Teague will review the Honda Passport TrailSport. The new off-road-oriented version of the crossover SUV features standard torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive, rugged-design tires, unique styling touches, navigation system, roof rails, and more all-terrain gear all for an MSRP of $42,470. Does it pass the Maine off-road test? Teague will give us the answer.

Also in the road test segment, Host Jack Nerad will take a close look at the venerable Toyota Highlander. Long a favorite in the midsize crossover segment, the Highlander is available in conventional and hybrid versions. But which would be better for your family? Nerad and Teague give their thoughts on that thorny question and others regarding the Highlander.

In the news, Tesla Motors is in even more hot water with federal safety authorities, and we’ll have the details. And if you are looking for a dependable vehicle — and who isn’t — we will have definitive information for you from a very credible source -- J.D. Power. All that and more is in this episode of “America on the Road.”