America on the Road

Kia has changed things up by changing the name of its well-regarded Optima midsize sedan to K5 in honor of its complete makeover. With an eye toward improving its image as a sporty car brand, Kia has endowed the K5 with a hot turbocharged model that offers 290 horsepower and best-in-class torque. Host Jack Nerad talks with Kia product planner Brian Williams about the car's radical changeover. Not only is the halo model turbocharged the base model is turbocharged as well. It has a 180 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. It, like the GT model, has an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission.

Kia K5 slideshow

In the car review and road test portion of the show co-host Chris Teague and Jack Nerad discuss two upscale SUVs, the Lincoln Corsair and the Volvo XC90 T6 R-Design. The Volvo XC90 is an attractive three-row crossover that is noted for its luxuriously simple interior, extensive safety features and fun-to-drive demeanor.

Volvo XC90 slideshow

The Lincoln Corsair is a compact luxury SUV that seems well-suited to the needs of empty-nesters. It is heavily laden with features and content, has a sharp exterior, and delivers a smooth if somewhat uninvolving driving experience.

Lincoln Corsair slideshow

In this episode of America on the Road, hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague will take a special look at safety for young drivers who find motor vehicle accidents a serious health issue. Special guest Kevin Quinn, Mercury Insurance vice president of customer experience and claims, is an expert in teen and young adult driving, and in his comprehensive interview with Jack Nerad he will reveal how parents can influence their young drivers to adopt safe habits behind the wheel.

In the road test segment, Jack and Chris will discuss the merits of the 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the 2020 Hyundai Venue. The Highlander is well known in the market, a successful three-row midsize SUV for decades. In hybrid form, the Highlander offers both good drivability and superior fuel economy.

The Hyundai Venue is a small SUV designed for active city-dwellers. The Venue is inexpensive but equipped with good connectivity, and it offers a significant amount of interior space. Chris found that young families should like the economy and versatility of the Venue, a front-drive vehicle.

In the news segment, Chris and Jack discuss the announcement that Jim Farley will replace Jim Hackett as president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. A true "car guy," Farley is expected to juice up Ford's product offerings over the next few years.

Toyota Highlander Hybrid slideshow

Hyundai Venue slideshow

In the interview segment of America on the Road hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague welcome FCA's Tim Kuniskis, who is global head of Alfa Romeo and North American head of passenger cars. A performance car junkie, Kuniskis talks about Dodge's recent announcements upping the acceleration ante for vehicles like the Dodge Challenger Hellcat Redeye and the Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock. With 807 horsepower on tap, the Super Stock claims to be the quickest and most powerful production musclecar on the planet. And that is part of Dodge's strategy to capitalize on its deep performance heritage.

In the road test segment, Jack and Chris put the Volkswagen Tiguan and Honda CR-V Hybrid compact sport-utility vehicles. Chris praises the CR-V Hybrid for its excellent drivability and good integration of hybrid power. Jack lauds the Tiguan for its seven-passenger interior room and its European-inspired driving habits.

In the news, Jack and Chris take a look at Hyundai's new Clean Air technologies designed to freshen the air inside their vehicles, and they discuss the fact the average car on the road is now over 11 years old.

2020 Dodge Challenger slideshow

In this episode of the award-winning America on the Road radio show/podcast, hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague unravel the just-released J.D. Power APEAL Study that views how American drivers feel about their cars, trucks, and SUVs. Spoiler alert: Porsche was the top luxury brand while Dodge topped the mainstream brands.  Performance means emotion!

The Mazda Mazda6 and the Ford F-250 Super Duty Tremor are the subjects of this week's road tests. Long a car-tester favorite, the Mazda6 turns the trick again this model year. Its combination of handling, turbocharged power, and luxury-like interior accommodations makes it a winner in the midsize sedan segment. The F-250 heavy-duty pickup isn't just big; it is also tall, and it is a vehicle of choice for those who tow big trailers, boats, or toy haulers. Our test vehicle was fitted with the Tremor off-road package that includes 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac maximum-traction tires, two-inch front-end lift, shorter air dam,and 10.8 inches of ground clearance.

In the interview segment Jack sits down for a lengthy interview with Ford SUV Marketing Manager Dave Rivers, who rhapsodizes about the virtues of the just introduced Ford Bronco sub-brand. With a three-vehicle lineup, Bronco is expected to give Jeep some major new competition in the off-road arena when its models begin hitting showrooms this fall and early next year.

In this episode of America on the Road hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague will look at just-announced new variants of the Toyota Corolla and the Toyota Avalon, including a Nightshade Edition of the latter car.

The Honda CR-V and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport R-Line are the subjects of the road test segment of the podcast. The CR-V is one of America's favorite vehicles, and these days it is equipped with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. One of the roomiest vehicle in its segment, the CR-V demonstrates many good reasons for its popularity.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport R-Line is not nearly as well-known as the CR-V, but it caught the attention of both Jack and Chris for its combination of good looks, premium interior and exceptional utility. It is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 276 horsepower in combination with eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive.

The special guest in the interview segment of the program is Brad Franz, marketing and advertising manager for Chevrolet SUVs. The subject of the interview is the all-new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer, the brand's expressive, highly styled subcompact crossover SUV.

In this episode of the award-winning America on the Road program hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague road test the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid SUV and the Genesis G70 luxury sports sedan. Chris drove the highest-performance version of the G70 and praised it not only for its handling, acceleration, and braking, but also for its all-around abilities as a practical five-passenger car. The car's infotainment system also came in for praise as both hosts noted the intuitive controls and easy operation of the eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system that offers MirrorLink, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.

The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid won praise for its all-around solidity, fuel economy, and drivability. The hybrid model is available in the LE, XLE, XSE, and Limited trim levels, and that means buyers can find a RAV4 Hybrid that will likely match their tastes. The 2020 RAV4 Hybrid is equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II that works in combination with the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine to make the hybrid versions the performance and efficiency leaders of the RAV4 family. The RAV4 Hybrid delivers an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg city/38 mpg highway/40 mpg combined. All RAV4 Hybrids for 2020 feature all-wheel drive and Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a robust list of active safety features.

In the interview segment, Jack Nerad discusses the just-released 2020 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study with David Sargent, J.D. Power vice president, automotive quality. This year the landmark study has undergone some significant changes. The interview details those changes and also examines Tesla Motors' surprising results.

2020 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid slideshow

Genesis G70 slideshow

This episode of America on the Road includes an in-depth interview with Brian Bell, marketing manager of the all-new 2021 Ford F-150. The F-150 is the bestselling vehicle in the United States, a title it has held for decades, so an all-new version is big news. In his discussion with Jack Nerad Bell gives a detailed look at the F-150's new features that include a hybrid powertrain, a 12-inch infotainment screen and interior work areas.

The Volvo V60 Cross Country and Lexus GX 460 are the subjects of the week's road tests. The V60 Cross Country is that rare species, a station wagon, although it represents a modification of the conventional V60 wagon designed to give it more off-road cred.

The Lexus GX 460 is an old-school body-on-frame SUV that is filled with luxury features. In this iteration, it features a revised grille and some revised driver-assistance technologies. And its powerful engine gives it a leg up when the trail gets rough.

In the news segment, hosts Chris Teague and Jack Nerad look at June auto sales and their rapid rebound from the pandemic panic, and Chris delivers some thoughts on the proper care and feeding of hand sanitizer in a vehicle.

 

Lexus GX 460 slideshow

Volvo V60 Cross Country slideshow

In this episode hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague road test the Kia Stinger and the Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring. The Stinger is the sportiest of the Kia offerings, and Jack drove the highest performance version of the vehicle. It's equipped with a 365-horsepower 3.3-liter turbocharged V-6 and it features all-wheel-drive.

Chris was behind the wheel of the Honda Civic Hatchback, a car that strikes a winning compromise between performance and practicality. The Civic is one of the most-purchased vehicles in the country, and the AOTR test vehicle was equipped with the 174-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission that prompted some discussion.

In the interview segment, Jack has a lengthy discussion with Jim Owens, Ford Performance Marketing Manager, about the amazingly potent Shelby GT 500. The best performing production Mustang in history, the car will do a sub-11-second quarter-mile at more than 130 mph, and that's just one of its highlights.

Kia Stinger slideshow

Honda Civic Hatchback Sport Touring slideshow

In this episode of America on the Road hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague will discuss the future of electric vehicles in light of the COIVID-19 pandemic, and they will examine the all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue that was just introduced this week.

Road tests on the show will include in-depth looks at the Volkswagen Passat R-Line and the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, both cars competing in the midsize sedan segment. The Passat R-Line is the sporty version of the lineup, but you wouldn't know it from the engine compartment where it employs the same 174-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged as other Passats.

The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid is another variation of the very well-received all-new Sonata. Good looks are among the Sonata's most notable strengths, and the hybrid has those good looks plus excellent fuel economy.

Hyundai Sonata slideshow

In the interview segment, Jack questions Nissan product expert Robin Moreo about the just-unveiled 2021 Nissan Rogue compact SUV. Less curvaceous and more upright than the 2020 version, the new Rogue retains its appeal to female buyers but is likely to pick up more male buyers as well.

Volkswagen Passat R-Line slideshow

2021 Nissan Rogue slideshow

In this episode of America on the Road hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague road test the Genesis G90 luxury sedan and the Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 specialty coupe. The GLC Coupe is part crossover SUV, part sport coupe. If offers the sweptback roofline of a coupe in a tall, crossover chassis, providing either the best or worst of both vehicle types depending upon how you look at it and what your needs are.

The Genesis G90 is much more straightforward. It's a large luxury coupe that competes with the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Our test version was the 5.0 Ultimate AWD version of the car, extremely adept at making miles disappear effortlessly.

Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 Coupe slideshow

In the interview portion of this episode, Jack Nerad speaks with Gina Callari of RelayCars about her company's effort to provide consumers with new, high-tech ways to experience vehicles virtually. The technology is especially apt in these days when in-dealership opportunities to spend time with cars is more limited than before.

Genesis G90 slideshow