The 2024 Lexus TX three-row crossover might prompt some luxury SUV buyers to wonder why Lexus hasn’t had a vehicle like it before. The good news is Lexus has it now, and it promises to be a strong competitor to other three-row luxury crossovers like the Acura MDX. Host Jack Nerad had the opportunity to test the vehicle at its American launch outside Austin, Texas, and he came away impressed.

Its spacious interior, up-to-the-minute technology tech, and multiple powertrains give the TX all it needs to compete in its very competitive segment. The Audi Q7, Volvo XC90, and Infiniti QX60 each have their strong points, but the Lexus TX seems to have encapsulated the factors that luxury crossover buyers want most. Smooth-riding and extremely quiet, the 2024 TX might not outrun some of its rivals on the racetrack, but it does deliver the space and comfort buyers demand. The TX also offers a fascinating selection of powertrains — a turbocharged four-cylinder, a hybrid that combines a turbocharged four-cylinder with electric motors, and a plug-in hybrid that teams a V6 with electric motors. Add four-wheel-steer in some trims, and you have a technological tour de force.

In our other road test, Co-Host Chris Teague took the wheel of the scintillating BMW M2. Small, agile, and supremely powerful, the M2 proved to be a more than willing partner as Teague tore his way across southern Maine. In this episode, he’ll have a full report.

In the news this week, Honda is bringing back the popular Civic Hybrid compact sedan, and it promises to be better than ever. Honda was long a hybrid skeptic, but in the past couple of years, it has changed its tune and now embraces hybrid technology. Its Accord and CR-V hybrid models are bestsellers in the brand, so you can see why Honda execs are bullish on the Civic Hybrid.

Some major carmakers are far less bullish about the prospects for battery-electric vehicles. Spurred by federal, state, and local regulations, most automakers have invested billions in electric vehicle tech. Not only have they introduced scores of new EVs, but they have even more waiting in the wings. Now, though, they are facing the reality of the market, and the prospects are less than encouraging. We’ll give you our take on this conundrum in this episode.

Kia is an example of a carmaker that has swallowed the EV Kool-Aid. The Korean brand has just introduced a trio of lower-cost electric vehicles in Asia as it tries to reach its goal of selling one million EVs by 2026. We’ll tell you if we can expect to see any of them in the U.S. soon.

Our special guests this week have a fascinating new concept that can provide peace of mind to the millions of Americans who buy vehicles from private parties each year. Ed Brojerdi and Craig Nehamen are co-founders and co-CEOs of Caramel, a company they designed to relieve the many pain points of buying a car from an individual. From dealing with the Department of Motor Vehicles to offering service contracts, Caramel can help private buyers and sellers make beautiful music together … or at the very least, complete car transactions hassle-free. Please tune in for their conversation with host Jack Nerad.

America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, YourTestDriver.com, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com