America on the Road

We have a lot of EV and SUV rumors for you and some new introductions to talk about this week in this episode of America on the Road. Leading off, we discuss the just-announced extensions of the Jeep brand, Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer. Both will be built on the Ram 1500 pickup truck chassis. The Wagoneer will compete against the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Explorer, while the Grand Wagoneer will take on full-size luxury SUVs like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator.

Jeep promises the new SUV twins will have a brand-appropriate level of off-road capability plus a bevy of innovative features.

All-new 2022 Grand Wagoneer Series III (left) and 2022 Wagoneer Series II (right) will compete against full-size SUVs from Ford, Chevy, Lincoln, and Cadillac.

In the rumor mill, word on the street is General Motors is on the verge of introducing a new Hummer. The 2022 GMC Hummer EV SUV is a battery-electric version of the vehicle that many regard as the poster child of conspicuous consumption. Using components from GM's Ultium Drive EV toolkit the GMC Hummer EV SUV could offer as much as 1,000 horsepower from three electric drive motors. The vehicle might have an air suspension that could raise ride height as much as six inches.

In the road test segment, host Jack Nerad put the incredible 797-horsepower 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye through its paces. The bright red test car attracted attention even standing still, and Nerad found few places in traffic-chocked Los Angeles where he could really sample the niceties of the supercharged V-8 engine, but that doesn't mean he didn't try. Meanwhile, J.D. Power's Director of Corporate Communications Geno Effler, co-hosting this week, gave the voice-of-the-customer look at the Dodge brand.

Effler also revealed the findings of the just-released 2021 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study, a closely watched industry bellwether.

In the interview segment, saving money was the theme with guest Raghu Iyengar, director of CPO and Remarketing for Volkswagen of America. Have you ever thought of buying a Certified Pre-Owned car instead of a new vehicle? After hearing this interview, you might give it even more serious consideration.

Midwinter might not be primetime to drive the massive 2021 Ford F-350 Tremor pickup in the wilds of Maine, but it was a perfect time for co-host Chris Teague. Not only could he put the truck through the rigors of a below-zero Maine winter, but he could also use the imposing truck to do some furniture moving. Great plan, right?

The big Ford SuperDuty might not be the biggest pickup in Maine, but it is certainly in the running for that title. And it proved more than capable of handling everything the Teague family threw at it.

The Volvo C40 Recharge EV will be sold exclusively online when it comes to market next year.

In our other road test, host Jack Nerad and his wife didn't have to battle freezing weather on their trip back and forth from their home to the Coachella Valley in the 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE. While you might not choose a compact like the Corolla for a lengthy drive, the Nerads and dog Austin found it to be just fine -- comfortable, quiet, peppy, and roomier than might have been expected.

The 2021 Toyota Corolla XSE proved to be the perfect vehicle for a long drive to the desert and back.

You hear a lot about online buying these days and our two guests this week -- Toyota SVP Jack Hollis and general manager of retail experience Tim Bliss -- shared a detailed look behind the scenes at the Toyota and Lexus efforts to enable online buying through their dealers. A work making great progress, the initiative is designed to give customers the experience they want, no matter what they want.

In the news segment, Chris and Jack discuss the recent high-performance hybrid and EV developments from Volvo and Mercedes-Benz, including the just-introduced Volvo C40 crossover coupe.

As carmakers introduce more electric vehicles adoption of the technology grows. But a big question is where and how will we charge all these new electric vehicles? Happily, we just interviewed a guy who has the answers to those questions, special guest Bill Loewenthal is SVP Product at ChargePoint, a giant player in the electric vehicle charging space. In business before the current electric-car era began, ChargePoint has thought through and solved problems many of us never knew existed in its quest to make owning and charging an electric car seamless. In his in-depth interview with host Jack Nerad he'll have interesting things to say about issues like the fabled "range anxiety."

The 2021 Acura TLX splits the difference between sports and luxury sedan.

In the car review segment co-host Chris Teague will discuss the 2021 Acura TLX sedan. In many ways a "tweener" splitting the compact and midsize luxury sedan segments, the car captures some of the best points of both, though Chris points out some of its foibles as well.

The Lexus LX570 has big power, big interior, and big styling.

Also in the road test segment Jack Nerad will talk about the big pluses and minuses of the 2021 Lexus LX 570 full-size SUV. The kissing cousin to the fabled Toyota Land Cruiser, the LX 570 wears a well-tailored suit outside and is luxury-filled inside. Is it as good as domestic luxury SUVs? Jack and Chris have a disagreement on that.

In auto news from around the globe, host and co-host will discuss the just-released 2021 Top Safety Pick Award Winners from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS.) The insurance-industry-funded safety organization named 49 vehicle models Top Safety Pick+, its highest award, and it cited an additional 41 vehicles as Top Safety Pick. Between the two awards, IIHS lauded a total of 90 award winners this year versus 64 in 2020, and we'll tell you about many of them.

We'll also tell you about a new and interesting re-mix of Carvana's signature car vending machine. It's located in Las Vegas, and that might give you a hint of where they went with it.

The week we present an exclusive interview with Ryan Nagode, the chief interior designer for some of the hottest production cars in the world. In a discussion with AOTR Host Jack Nerad, The Dodge/SRT designer takes us behind the scenes to see how interior design and the new UConnect 5 infotainment system contribute to the overall performance of impressive vehicles like the 2021 Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye and 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat. True dual-use vehicles, their interiors make them day-to-day livable despite their incredible performance.

The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat gives new meaning to the three-row SUV.

In road tests this week, co-host Chris Teague puts an all-wheel-drive 2021 Toyota Avalon to work over the icy roads of Maine. And we discover that the once awkward Avalon is really coming into its own.

With all-wheel-drive, the 2021 Toyota Avalon is well-equipped for frigid weather.

Also road tested is the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon four-door coupe, one of the best looking cars you've probably never heard of. Jack Nerad spent quality time in the recently refreshed Arteon and discovered that both exterior changes and interior tweaks have made this car one of the "sleeper values" of the 2021 model year. Get yours before word gets out.

The 2021 Volkswagen Arteon brings even more sophistication to the cotillion.

The lead story in the news segment is the release of the J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study for 2021. We give listeners an in-depth look at the findings that spell out the most dependable cars, trucks, SUVs and vans in the country. Also in the news, we discuss Ford of Europe's big shift to all-electric cars.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is one of the most exciting off-roaders to be introduced in the last two decades. In this episode, host Jack Nerad speaks with Adrian Aguirre, the vehicle's chief program engineer. Aguirre details the thinking that went into debuting the brand-new vehicle in what is already an extremely crowded segment. And he digs deep into the attributes that he believes are critical to establishing the Bronco Sport's all-terrain DNA.

In the road test segment co-host Chris Teague continues his effort to test every full-size pickup truck in America in conjunction with his family's move from one house to another. Real-world testing like that, using the vehicle for its intended purpose, is a keynote of our testing efforts at America on the Road and Driving Today.

 

The Toyota Tundra full-size pickup has one of the highest-tech engines in the segment.

The flipside of our road test segment features Jack Nerad's test drive of the 2021 Mazda CX-9 midsize crossover utility. The CX-9 has long been a favorite of vehicle reviewers the world over. Do the changes for this year make it better?  Or do they dull some of the sheen of the crossover that almost aspires to be a luxury vehicle?

The Mazda CX-9 keeps making incremental improvements to up its game.

In the news segment, we reveal some of the hottest electric vehicles to ever come out of a car factory in the 2022 Audi e-tron GT and RS e-tron GT. With launch control and overboost, the e-tron GT brings 522 horsepower to the street, but that pales in comparison to the RS e-tron GT's 637 horsepower routed to all four wheels. The 2022 Audi e-tron GT is expected to go on sale in the U.S. this summer.

Also in the news, Toyota makes the strong case that a plug-in hybrid is as positive for the environment as a battery-electric vehicle and more cost-effective as well. Are they to be believed? We'll tell you what we think.

Listen to the Road Test of the Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor promises to be one of the most exciting trucks of the year, and we have an exclusive interview with Raptor program head Tony Greco. The wide-ranging interview covers all of the Raptor's impressive new features, including a first-ever coil-spring rear suspension and 37-inch tire option. Conducted by host Jack Nerad, the interview also airs out the philosophy behind the third-generation truck.

In the vehicle review segment of the program, we cover another super truck, the Raptor's arch-rival, the Ram 1500 TRX. Co-host Chris Teague spent a snow-filled week with the TRX in his hometown in Maine. The week that included the move into a new home gave him a unique perspective on the vehicle.

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX proved an unlikely vehicle to aid co-host Chris Teague's move.

Also in the review segment, Jack Nerad discusses the ins-and-outs of the 2021 Hyundai Sonata midsize sedan. One of the best-looking cars introduced in the past few years, the Sonata offers a host of positives. But there is one thing about it that's worth a question or two.

The Hyundai Sonata is one of the best-looking sedans on the road at any price.

The introduction of the Cadillac CT4 V-Series Blackwing and its Cadillac CT5 V-Series Blackwing is the lead story in our news segment. The CT5-V Blackwing features the most powerful engine ever installed in a production Cadillac. We also take a look at the just-unveiled 2021 Nissan Pathfinder SUV. And the Volkswagen ID.4 does something weird with light, so we'll tell you about that.

While the redesigned 2021 Nissan Kicks small SUV is just as sassy as it ever was, it also shows a new level of sophistication and refinement. That is one of the key takeaways from our recent road test of this just introduced model. Introduced in the American market just three years ago, the renewed Kicks has more features, enhanced technology, and a new standard level of connectivity. The updated interior offers a revised center console, new seating, and upscale trim. Does the driving experience match its new, more mature looks? We'll tell you.

In the news segment, we'll also tell you all about the upcoming 2022 BMW M5 CS, the quickest and most powerful BMW production car ever. Sporting an intercooled twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 that delivers 627 horsepower, the new limited-production model will be available only for the 2022 model year. Price for the new super-sedan? A cool $142,000.

The revisited 2021 Nissan Kicks has a higher level of gravitas.

The redesigned 2021 Nissan Kicks has a much bolder front end that rids it of its "cute" image.

Also in the news, host Jack Nerad will discuss a new study just released by J.D. Power detailing the likes and dislikes of electric vehicle owners. What do Tesla owners value most about their cars? You might be surprised. You might also be surprised to learn how the Nissan LEAF and Chevy Bolt score in the survey.

In our interview segment, we talk with Eilliott Asch of Safelite Autoglass about the difficulties novice drivers might experience learning to drive in cars equipped with high-tech driver's aids. And we'll look at how you can best take care of the glass in your car.

Finally this week we say a fond goodbye to two vehicle models that are the latest victims of the SUV crossover craze. Either one of them might represent a big bargain as a 2020 model. But don't bother looking for a 2021.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks has an updated interior with a new center console, new seating and trim materials.

 

Nissan has made big changes to its 2021 Armada full-size sport utility vehicle, and we'll tell you all about them in our comprehensive road test.  Better looking and more sophisticated. And we'll tell you more.

We also road test the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-in Hybrid. It's not a name that on everyone's lips, but will it pass our rigorous tests that include children in booster seats? We'll give you the definitive word.

This week our in-depth interview is with Andreas Hinrichs, CEO of a company called Digital Motors that has set out to revolutionize auto retailing. Can the car dealership of the future offer you an online experience that is the equal of Apple or Amazon? Will you actually enjoy visiting a dealership in the years ahead? Hinrichs will tell host Jack Nerad about that and much, much more.

In the news segment, we explore the fact that during the COVID-19 pandemic electric cars have gained major ground in Europe and we'll say a find goodbye to a famed Volkswagen model that you'll have a hard time believing is departing from the U.S.

The 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid doesn't wear its hybrid credentials on its sleeve, but it acts the part.

See what the major automakers could learn from Apple

In this edition of the award-winning America on the Road we take the brand-new 2021 Ford Bronco Sport on a real-world 500-mile road trip. Host Jack Nerad and his youngest daughter, Greta, set off on a trek to take her back to college. The open question was could the Bronco Sport swallow all the gear a college student needs these days? The results were surprising.

On the other side of the road test equation, this week co-host Chris Teague put the 2021 Lincoln Corsair crossover utility through its paces. Does the Corsair offer advantages its opposite number, the Ford Escape, doesn't offer? And can the Corsair hold its head up versus the European luxury SUVs? We'll have the answers for you.

In the interview segment of America on the Road, Jack Nerad will have a lengthy discussion with North American Car of the Year jury president Gary Witzenbug about the just-released winners. They discuss how the winners of the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year awards matched up against the other finalists, that are pretty good vehicles in their own right.

2021 Hyundai Elantra wins North American Car of the Year award, and we'll talk to the president of the jury that chose it.

 

Filled with new tech, the 2021 Ford F-150 has just been named North American Truck of the Year.

Big news this week is the cancellation of the annual North American International Auto Show for this year. Originally the 2021 NAIAS was scheduled to take place in September after a series of date changes that were complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now the show won't happen at all and in its place the organizers will stage a "celebration of the automobile:" called Motor Bella. And in other news, rumors abound regarding a hot performance version of the Hyundai Kona small crossover SUV.

Look back at what was named North American Car of the Year for 2020

The following is a partial transcript of Episode 38 created with AI, so please forgive some occasional grammar, spelling, and usage errors.

Jack Nerad 0:03

This is America on the Road, winner of the International Automotive Media Conference Gold Medal Award for radio and now in its 24th year on the air. Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around the world. And we'll have special coverage of the North American Car of the Year for you today. America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com and the Coalition for Vehicle Choice. I'm Jack Nerad, with me is co host, Chris Teague. Chris is very excited because he's moving from one house in Maine to another house in Maine. And he writes for Ford Authority, Forbes, Driving Today, among others. Tell us all about that exciting new house there, Chris.

Chris Teague 0:42

I think it'll be most exciting not to live in a house stacked tall with boxes. But the new house will be great. I'll have a garage to do projects on cars and actually park a car for the first time. And we'll have a little bit of waterfront too so the view never hurts.

Jack Nerad 0:55

Wow, a little waterfront. I like that What kind of water?

Chris Teague 0:58

A river, not the ocean, unfortunately, but it's still better than nothing.

Jack Nerad 1:02

Yeah, I like a little little river view. That would be very nice. This week, our special guest is Gary Witzenburg. He is president of the North American Car of the Year organization. I have a little bit of an in and getting an interview with him because I'm Vice President of that organization. He will give us a close up look on what to expect from the 2021 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year winners. They were just announced this week.

In our road test segment, we heat up the winter with the red-hot Dodge Durango SRT and the Volvo V60 T5 Cross Country. Both vehicles make short work of bad winter weather.

In the interview segment of the program, host Jack Nerad takes a look at yet another all-wheel-drive vehicle, the AWD version of the new Chrysler Pacifica minivan. After a recent drive in the top-level Pinnacle version of the vehicle. he had a chance to sit down for a lengthy interview with Chrysler product planning manager Mary Ann Capo.

In the news segment. Jack Nerad and co-host Chris Teague look at the sales winners and losers from 2020. And they also discuss a possible new model from Toyota that is lighting up the rumor mill.

The Volvo Cross Countrys put a modern spin on the prosaic station wagon.

The following is a transcription of Episode 36 of America on the Road. It was created with the aid of AI, so please forgive the inevitable grammatical errors.

Jack Nerad 0:04

This is America on the Road winner of the International Automotive Media Conference Gold Medal Award for Radio and now in its 24th year on the air. Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around the world. Plus this week we're going to take a quick look back at 2020. Talk about sales, among other things vehicle sales. America on the Road is brought to you by drivingtoday.com and the Coalition for Vehicle Choice. I'm Jack Nerad with me his co host, Chris Teague. Chris is based in Maine. He writes about cars and trucks for Ford authority, Forbes and driving today, among others. And he's enduring a pretty good day in Maine today, aren't you Chris?

Chris Teague 0:43

Yeah, I'll take it above freezing in mid-January cannot be outdone in northern New England.

Jack Nerad 0:48

Yeah, like that a lot. It's so early as we're doing the recording today. I haven't even looked outside barely. I can't tell whether it's cloudy or sunny or what it was still dark as I was preparing for this. So I can't do a Southern California weather report. But I guess we can live without that. What we will like to live with is our special guest who is Maryanne Keiko. She is the senior manager of the Christ, Christ their brand product planning, and we're gonna get a close up look at what to expect from the new 2021 Chrysler Pacifica minivan. I talked to her about it at length at a recent event. And it now offers all-wheel-drive among other things. So we will get up close and personal with that really popular minivan from Chrysler. In the car you segment Chris will give us his opinion on what vehicle, Chris?

Chris Teague 1:41

The 2021 Dodge Durango SRT.

Jack Nerad 1:45

I tell you those SRT models are terrific as a little preface to what I might say in a moment. I just love those things. I had a very fun vehicle to drive, kind of on that order. In a way it is not precisely an SUV, kind of halfway between a station wagon and an SUV. It is the Volvo V60 T5 Cross Country. So those are our two road test vehicles. Before we do any of that, though, let's take a look at automotive news.

And I think the big news was a year has ended and auto sales are in and we can report on that and particularly what it means to consumers — what it means to people like our listeners out there and not so much industry reporting. But reporting that is a valuable to you. One thing to know right off the top is the car sales dropped to their lowest level since the Great Recession, about 2009-2010. Sales were down 14.6%, which seems like a giant drop. But given what we've gone through the past year, I think that's kind of a positive,