Vehicle payments are the monthly bills you pay when you buy or lease a car. If cars cost more, these payments can get really high, making it harder for people to afford them.
Enthusiast forums are websites where people who love cars talk about them. They share tips, news, and experiences about different car models and modifications.
The Subaru Forester is a small SUV that is great for families and outdoor activities. The 2026 version has new features and improvements compared to earlier models.
A CVT transmission is a type of automatic transmission that can change seamlessly through a range of gear ratios. This can make driving smoother and more efficient, but some people have had problems with them, especially in certain car brands.
Monthly payments are the regular amounts you pay every month when you buy a car on credit. If the price of cars goes up, these payments can become very high, making it harder for people to afford them.
Amounts financed is the total money you borrow to buy a car. It includes the car's price and any extra costs, and it affects how much you pay each month.
A safety recall happens when a car company finds a problem with one of their cars that could be dangerous. They then ask car owners to bring their cars in for free repairs to fix the issue.
General Motors, often called GM, is a big car company that makes many different brands of cars, like Chevrolet and Cadillac. They are one of the largest car manufacturers in the world.
Fuel economy regulations are rules that set how far cars should be able to drive on a gallon of gas, helping to make cars more efficient and better for the environment.
The Ram 1500 is a big truck that people use for work or towing things like trailers. It recently brought back a powerful engine called the Hemi V8, which makes it even stronger and better for heavy jobs.
The Genesis G80 is a fancy car that looks nice and has a lot of cool features to make driving comfortable. It's part of a luxury brand from Hyundai, which means it offers good quality without being as expensive as some other luxury cars.
Ground clearance is how high a car sits off the ground. A higher clearance means the car can drive over bumps and rough roads without getting stuck or damaged.
Symmetrical all-wheel drive means that power goes to all four wheels of the car equally. This helps the car grip the road better, especially in bad weather like snow or rain.
X-mode is a special setting in some cars that helps them drive better on slippery surfaces like snow or mud. It makes the car grip the road better and helps it not to slip.
The Subaru Crosstrek is a small SUV that can drive well on different types of roads, making it great for adventures. It's popular with people who like outdoor activities because it has a lot of space and is reliable.
The Cadillac Fleetwood is an old luxury car that was very big and comfortable, often seen as a symbol of wealth. It was known for its smooth driving experience and fancy features.
The Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a top-of-the-line luxury car that is very comfortable and packed with the latest technology. It's known for being really expensive, but many people consider it one of the best luxury cars you can buy.
The Hyundai Genesis is a luxury car that offers a lot of comfort and high-tech features. It was made to compete with other fancy cars, providing a good option for people who want something special without spending too much.
The Ford Model T is an old car from the early 1900s that was one of the first cars that regular people could afford. It changed how cars were made and helped many families own a car for the first time.
The Ford F-150 Lightning is an electric version of the popular F-150 truck, which means it runs on electricity instead of gas. It's designed to do everything a regular truck can do but with the benefits of being more environmentally friendly.
The Honda Fit EV is an electric car that is small and easy to drive, perfect for city use. It's designed to save energy and is a good option for people who want to be more environmentally friendly.
The Tesla Model 3 is a small car that runs on electricity instead of gas, making it better for the environment. It's popular because it can go a long distance on a single charge and has a lot of cool technology inside.
The Nissan Leaf is an electric car that doesn't use gas and is designed to be affordable and easy to drive. It's one of the first electric cars that many people bought, helping to make electric cars more popular.
The Porsche 917 is a famous race car known for being super fast and winning big races in the 1970s. It's considered one of the best racing cars ever made because of its special design and speed.
The Ferrari 512 M is a super-fast sports car made for racing in the 1970s. It's famous for its speed and is considered one of the best cars Ferrari has ever made.
The Hyundai Elantra is a small car that is good on gas and easy to drive. It's a popular choice for people looking for a reliable and affordable vehicle.
LIVE
This is America on the Road named Best Radio Show by the International Automotive Media
Conference and now in its 33rd year on the air.
Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around
the world.
I'm Jack Neerad with me is co-host Chris Teague back from Illness.
Chris, are you overloaded with football on TV these days?
It seems like there's a ton of it.
I gotta be honest, I got really into racing and I kind of dropped football for a little
bit.
I know my Tennessee home state people are going to be mad at me for that, but I honestly
haven't kept up with it in a couple of years.
Okay, well, maybe you're wise about that.
Plenty of automotive news to talk about this week.
Vehicle payments hit new highs at the end of 2025, but the dealer Outlook for 2026 tells
a very different story.
We'll have more on that coming up while there are two points of view on that.
Ford set a record in 2025, but it's a record it might not be proud of.
We'll tell you what it is and why Ford says the headline misses the real trend.
A famous three-letter ram truck is returning from the dead and the numbers attached to
it are already lighting up enthusiast forums.
Maybe they're lighting up your eyes too, Chris.
We'll give you the happy news about that vehicle.
Electronics giant LG made an automotive announcement at CES that could change what occupants do
when the vehicle is moving.
We'll have our takes on that.
And Will I Am rolled into CES with something small, electric, and AI-brained.
The early reaction to that vehicle, which is a strange one, is louder than the vehicle
looks.
Do you have any thoughts about the Will I Am machine, Chris?
Every creation I've seen from him has been wild, so I haven't seen this one yet, but
I'm going to have to take a look.
Yeah, I'll tell you.
Well, it's worth looking at, that's for sure.
America on the Road is brought to you by drivingtoday.com, emlancy.com, the publisher
of my latest book, only one thing stays the same, and mercury insurance.
If you're looking to save some money, you should switch to mercury for your auto and
home insurance.
California can save an average of $670 with mercury.
So imagine how much you could save.
Get a quote today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance.
That's drivingtoday.com slash auto hyphen insurance.
As your longtime listeners have shown, oh, Chris lives at one end of the country.
I live at the other.
Each week we get together to talk about cars and the car industry.
Chris, what is your test vehicle this week?
I spent the week driving the 2025 Subaru Forester, I'm sorry, 2026 Subaru Forester
wilderness, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.
Yeah, here we are in a new year.
And my test vehicle is also a 2026 to 2026 Genesis G83.5T sport prestige all wheel drive.
We'll tell you all about it in our road test segment coming up.
Instead of a special guest this week, Chris and I are going to talk about things because
it's a new year and it's also our 301st episode.
So we'll have that for you.
Stay with us and we'll be right back.
Welcome back, everybody, to American on the Road with Chris.
So glad to have Chris back with us.
I know you had some illness issues last week, but glad you're with us for our 301st episode.
That's exciting for us.
A lot of automotive news to talk about.
The word affordability seems to be the word of late 2025 and I guess going into 2026.
And it sure is something we've talked about regarding the car industry for quite a long time.
Cars keep getting more and more expensive, kind of blowing our minds.
US car shoppers have record high monthly payments at the end of 2025.
20% of new vehicle buyers committed to payments of over $1,000 a month,
this according to Edmunds.
So that's a sharp jump.
The average new car payment is $772 and amounts financed were $43,700.
This is an immense amount of debt people are taking on to buy an asset that plunges in value
pretty quickly, right, Chris?
Yeah, and we're seeing the market kind of bifurcate here too, right?
Like households with more than $150,000 are accounting for an ever increasing portion of
the car buying public and everybody else is buying used.
So it's going to be interesting to see as we go through this year.
You know, I think that a lot of analysts are thinking there's going to be a pullback this year.
So we'll have to see.
Yeah.
On the other hand, a lot of people are thinking that with new tax laws and that kind of stuff,
there's going to be an increase in buying.
So we'll see.
Certainly US dealers are very optimistic about what's going to happen.
There is a thing called the 2025 Kerrigan dealer survey that shows that dealer sentiment is very
positive for the first time since 2021.
Nearly one-third of dealers now expect higher profits in 2026 and 2025 and 32% plan acquisitions
within the next 12 months.
And not surprisingly, Toyota and Lexus are the most sought after franchises.
And Chevrolet and GMC Buick Cadillac also had big gains in value expectations.
What are your thoughts about that?
Yeah, it's not surprising given, you know, the quality of some of those vehicles and
the popularity of some of the models that they're seeing.
So those those dealers probably haven't made.
But on the other side, you look at Nissan and Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealers.
I think those are the two least trusted or least optimistic dealer brands.
So, you know, there's a whole spectrum.
Yeah, absolutely.
There is a spectrum.
Well, let's I'd like to talk about this record that Ford has set in 2025.
I think we've alluded to this in earlier shows, but now it's official.
Ford posted a record 152 safety recalls in 2025 calendar 2025.
That's the highest singer single year total ever logged by an automaker.
And it dwarfed the 2014 record of 77 recalls that General Motors set.
I'm certain that's a record that Ford Motor Company is not too excited about having your thoughts.
I think they've held the title of the most recalled automaker for a few years in a row now,
if I'm not mistaken.
I wish I could see the numbers attached to the costs of all these repairs.
And, you know, at one point, Ford said, well, we're doing these recalls proactively to address
issues before they arise.
I think the quality issue is still there, whether you do it proactively or reactively.
So I think they have a lot of work left to do.
Yeah, I think there is a lot of work left to do.
I mean, they have a bunch of different recalls, rollaway risk, electrical faults, fire concerns,
components that could detach from the vehicle at speed.
I mean, these are not great things to have happen.
Ford would argue that they're doing a lot better.
And as you say, they're getting ahead of these things.
But I think all of us would like to see this not happen at all.
And safety recalls, it's not just a product problem.
I mean, these are safety related product problems.
And so certainly we don't want that to happen.
Yeah, I think, you know, culturally, it's one of those things that the company would
like to address before the vehicle leaves the factory, you know, proactive recalls or not.
This is, you know, something that's going to reduce customers' confidence in Ford.
So, you know, I think over time, this is going to start chipping away,
even though they are still a very popular brand.
Yeah, absolutely. You know, certainly they have the most popular pickup truck.
And here's another brand that has just brought back a pickup truck that I'm pretty excited
about, actually. I mean, I remember going on the launch of the Ram TRX.
This was during COVID time. Kind of a crazy time to do vehicle testing and to go on a
vehicle testing event. But we did so. I think it was up in
near Reno or something like that up near Tahoe. And now they brought it back.
You know, certainly the change in fuel economy regulations is responsible for this.
It has returned for 2027. It's going to go back into production I think later this year.
But it will again be the fastest, most powerful production street legal gasoline half done pickup
truck ever built. So that's pretty cool. It will also be the first SRT badge Ram truck since 2006.
So I think that's cool too. I love SRT stuff. And I love the fact that SRT has been revived a bit now.
It's going to have the 6.2 liter supercharged Hemi V8. 777 horsepower. Is that enough for you,
Chris? 777 horsepower? I don't know, man. I could use a few more.
We all want more horsepower though. But what's your reaction to this truck? I think it's kind
of cool. I am totally unsurprised by this move. Given that Ram brought back the V8, the Hemi V8
in the Ram 1500 in the past year, this has been something that people have been expecting and
hinting about since it went away. And look, the Hellcat engine in that truck, I mean it makes
it an absolute riot. I used a TRX to move my house. I moved a bunch of furniture in one
and had a ton of fun doing that. So look, it's a great truck. Fuel economy aside, I guess.
Yeah. I mean, that's the thing about this vehicle. You can actually use it as a truck. It is pretty
useful as a truck. It has a towing rating and it has a big payload and all of that stuff. And then
it has all this stuff. I mean, a full-time active transfer case. You can select four-wheel drive
auto, lock it into four-wheel drive high, engage low range for rock crawling. There's launch control.
You can drag race and it goes zero to 60 in three and a half seconds.
It's kind of nuts all the way around, but cool too. Yeah. I'm excited to drive the new one and I
can't wait to see what else they decide to re-Hellcat now that they're free to do so.
Yeah. We'll see a lot of it. Not inexpensive. It's going to cost about $100,000 right under
$100,000 plus $2,500, $2,600 in destination charge. But again, it's a useful truck and
I'm glad to see things like this come back. Same. Well, CES is just unwound in Las Vegas,
so what used to be called the Consumer Electric Electronics Show, but now just CES. And LG,
of course, the giant electronics firm, I think based in Korea, has expanded its push into in-car
entertainment. They announced at CES that Amazon's Prime Video will join the LG Content Platform.
If you have an LG TV, you're probably part of that LG Content Platform. You can't avoid it.
You don't need to tune into it, but it's there. They had their own WebOS-based system and their
goal is for Amazon to put all its programming in vehicles, on vehicle infotainment screens,
starting in the second quarter of this year. Now, I think we both have opinions about that,
right, Chris? Yeah. I spend a lot of time studying consumers' contents and sentiment in
the automotive industry, and I see a lot of things that people say they can't live without.
In-car video has never been one of them, and I don't know other than revenue streams. I don't see
how this benefits anyone other than the automaker or LG or Amazon. Yeah. I don't think there's any
great swell in the public for this. I think this is anticipating something that might happen.
Certainly, if we get autonomous vehicles, then you have to have something to do while you're
being conveyed, right? But right now, I think driving the car is probably an important thing.
Of course, this is not for the driver. This is for the passengers. But I think most of the time,
most vehicles are operated with one person inside, right? So there's really no use for this. But,
again, I think it's in anticipation of something else that might happen. I want to get to this
Will-I-Am vehicle, a three-wheeled motorcycle that actually pushes AI as a major component of
what it's offering here. What should you take on this thing?
Well, it's really weird. Like I said earlier in the show, they're going to make 500 of these
things. I think this is more of a test bed for the NVIDIA AI than an actual vehicle that they're
going to put out and make a production thing. But I think it's cool they let Will-I-Am design it.
Certainly eye-catching and get the attention that they wanted.
Yeah, and I think to the extent that he did or did not design it, it's cool to have his name
attached to it, too. Remind us of your road test vehicle this week, Chris.
I had the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness. I look forward to hearing about that. I was in the 2026
Genesis G80. So stay with us for that, and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris Keeb, Jack, and you read back with you for road
test time. And, Chris, you're road testing one of those off-roaders that we're seeing,
just burgeoning. All we see is new ones coming and coming and coming. Certainly one from Subaru
makes a whole lot of sense, and it's been around for a while. Let's tell us about it.
Yeah, I drove the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness. This is one of the more SUVE
body styles that Subaru now offers. The Forester has kind of grown like almost everything in
the company's lineup, but you can get into this vehicle for around $30,000 to start.
My wilderness model was just under $40,000 with options as tested, and you can go up to around
$42,000 with the limited and getting the nicer finishes inside. Jack, before I get into this,
have you driven the newest Forester, and if so, what did you think about it?
I think I have. I'm trying to remember if I drove one at North American Car of the year.
It seems like I have. With those, the Acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree. They're very
evolutionary, so it was a good vehicle before, and I imagine it'd be even better now.
I agree. All of them are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 178
pound-feet of torque. Subaru's symmetrical all-wheel drive is standard along with a continuously
variable transmission. We've talked about this a lot, Jack, and I think Subaru and Toyota do a
decent job with their CVTs, but there's still a little bit more noise and some whining and
droning on the highway in this vehicle that a non-CVT, like an 8-speed or a 10-speed, wouldn't
exhibit. That said, I don't think it impedes the performance here to a high degree. 180 horsepower
isn't a ton on paper, and it doesn't feel that strong in real life, but acceleration is decent.
There's a good amount of refinement to the CVT, and it's pretty smooth even though there's some
noise. This vehicle has almost nine inches of ground clearance thanks to its all-terrain tires,
but even with that, it's got a good ride quality. Jack, here in Maine, we've had snow now since
late November, and the roads are already getting chewed up with the plows, and this vehicle just
goes right over all of it, even snow, potholes, and everything. What do you think about the larger
forester's ride quality? I think they've done a good job making it a good combination of all
kinds of ride. It's reasonably fun to drive, and at the same time, it does everything you say.
It is a great all-arounder. With the symmetrical all-wheel drive, I think that's the key thing.
That's their benchmark kind of thing. Yeah, and the handling here is pretty decent too,
and I know I keep commenting on the forester's size. It's been around this same size for a while,
but it's definitely more SUV-like than it was several years ago. It handles decently for a
vehicle of that size. You also get X-mode driving mode with this, which kind of slows the differential
down and gives you more grip. One thing I will say about the forester, I took this off. We live
next to a fairground here in town with some big snowy hills. One of the things I will say is
that it's very competent. It will tackle almost anything you throw at it, but it is not a hardcore
off-roader, even in the wilderness trim. I think you're still going to run into some situations
where if you lose or if you have a wheel lifted off the ground, it's going to kind of struggle a
little bit. But for the vast majority of people, snowy weather, rainy weather, muddy, muddy,
ruddy roads, it's perfectly fine. And you still get around 24 miles per gallon in the city,
and I think 26 miles per gallon combined. Inside it seats five people. The cloth upholstery comes
standard. My wilderness trim came with synthetic leather. Heated seats were standard, and you get
the nice wilderness stitching in the seats with some orange contrast stitching. Jack the front
seats in this vehicle are very comfortable. I think the seat is a little bit too flat on the
bottom for my American size rear end, but there's plenty of room, and the ergonomics are good.
The cabin is functional, not super fancy looking. What do you think about the interior?
I think they finally got the ergonomics pretty much right. Maybe not a hundred percent right,
but a lot better. I mean, they used to be very funky, and there are still some Subaru models.
Maybe the low-line Forester model has this two-screen look on the infotainment system,
which takes some getting used to. I think you can get used to it fairly rapidly, but it's
certainly different than the typical larger central screen. So, you know, some ergonomic
things that are a little idiosyncratic, but I think it works pretty well.
Yeah, we're going to get to that infotainment screen in just a minute. I'm going to have a few
things to say about it, but one thing this vehicle's shape and size does give you is good rear seat
headroom and good cargo space. If you have a large tall item to put in the back, it's more
than capable of carrying much larger items than you think, and kids and dogs can ride in the back
seat without any problem, and they're not going to impede on front seat space. So, good news there.
As you mentioned, the lower trims do get a dual-screen infotainment system. My higher
trim wilderness came with an 11.6-inch portrait-oriented touchscreen, and this is the same
screen that the Subaru Crosstrek I tested a couple of months ago had, and we had a long
discussion about it. Now, almost every control, every function is in this screen, and the screen
itself takes a while to start up. It's a little laggy to start responding to commands, and things
like audio volume, climate control, you know, temperature and fan speed, all those things are
kind of locked away until the system kind of boots up and figures out what it's doing, and that to
me is just a real hassle. I think if you're in the car and it's cold outside and you want to
change some settings, waiting for the weather to load into the infotainment system is just a big
pain. But the good news is, you know, there's a lot of features here, and once it's running,
it's pretty intuitive and responsive. You get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and so on.
Subaru iSight Safety Sense is standard. My wilderness trim came with reverse automatic
braking and blind spot monitoring. Jack, I think if I were getting this vehicle, I would opt for
a lower trim. You still get all-wheel drive and plenty of ground clearance at a much lower price,
but the wilderness is easily one of the, I think, better looking in the model line for sure.
Yeah, I think it gets attention, and I think it gets a premium price because it kind of looks
better. You know, it kind of looks a lot cooler than some of the other vehicles in the lineup.
I also think Subaru did a good job of, you know, making this a squared-off body style. You kind
of alluded to that with the cargo space. I think a lot of car companies, I think, make the mistake
of trying to make their SUVs look swoopy and, you know, have put a sloping rear window on
the back, and I think Subaru did the right thing here. I think more cargo space is better.
Agree. Well, I'd like to talk about a vehicle that I just plain liked a lot. Sometimes you
walk up to a car and you can see what their priorities are the minute you walk up to them,
and with the 2026 Genesis G80, I mean, that is very, very plain. This is supposed to kind of
knock your socks off in terms of looks, right? I mean, this is a car that makes a visual statement
first and then wants you to be comfortable, puts you in control, makes you hurried only if you
want to be. This is a segment that has been dominated by German brands, BMW, Mercedes, Benz, Audi,
that maybe kind of drift more towards sports than they need to, right? I mean, I think
there's a lot of people out there who have some money to spend, who want to show it off a little
bit, who just want a comfortable ride. I would call them kind of like the Cadillac buyers of 1960,
right? I mean, they didn't want sport. They wanted something that was just very comfortable to drive,
and maybe the G80 is that, although I think it's certainly more fun to drive than a 1960 Cadillac
Fleetwood, but I was driving the 3.5 T Sport Prestige All-Wheel Drive model, and it's kind of
top of the line, but the total price, $79,000, almost $80,000, I mean, that's a lot of money
for a five-passenger sedan. At the same time, I think in some ways this is a bargain. I mean,
from a high level, what's your take on G80 before we get a little deeper, Chris?
Yeah, compare it to some of the cars that it competes with, the BMW 5.7 Series, the Mercedes
high-end E and S-class cars, some of those go well above $100,000 easily, so it's a value,
and I agree, some of the Germans have gotten too sharp with their sportiness, and they've
lost some of the luxury that they used to have. Yeah, I think they're doing the right thing with
this vehicle. By them, I mean Genesis. The G80 lineup is simple. You can get a turbocharged
four-cylinder or a twin turbo V6. Again, I had the 3.5-liter twin turbocharged V6 that produces
375 horsepower. That's not going to blow people away in these days of 500 horsepower sedans,
but do you need 500 horsepower in a luxury sedan? I mean, this certainly felt peppy enough.
Eight-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive actually.
What it didn't have was a mild hybrid system, any kind of electrified torque or that kind of stuff.
It's just kind of a basic, although it is turbocharged, twin turbocharged, a basic kind of
car with a normal geared transmission, but I think that's pretty refreshing, and I think
it just performs really, really well. Yeah, as you mentioned, there's plenty of power from the V6.
It's so funny that you don't hear or feel it really because the car is so well insulated,
and it feels like there's just this outside force pulling the car, but yeah, very refined and quick
enough. Yeah, I mean, quick enough, low five-second zero to 60 seems pretty quick to me. I mean,
this isn't a sports sedan, but that seems pretty quick. I think it has a nice balance. I was talking
about nice balance with Forrester. I think the Genesis G80 has a nice balance in its own way
of enough sportiness. It doesn't feel like it's wallowing. It doesn't feel like it can't get
out of its own way or boat-like. You're slopping from one side to the other or something like that.
At the same time, it's super comfortable ride, and as you mentioned, extremely quiet. I mean,
all you can hear is the high end audio system, which is a nice one. So it's very composed,
tracks well. I think this is a great over-the-road car. I mean, if I were going,
wanted to go 500 miles in a day, this certainly would be a vehicle I would think to take. How
about you, Chris? Absolutely. Those seats are amazing and the ride quality is great.
Yeah. Braking is strong and predictable. It's got all-wheel drive, so it's not going to be an
off-roader or maybe even cope with main snowstorms, but probably help you a little bit versus something
that didn't have it. Fuel economy is 18 miles per gallon combined. That indicates there's no
mild hybrid here or anything near it. But if you're buying a car that's $80,000 and are worried about
fuel economy, there are other things wrong with the way you're looking at things. And what I
haven't talked about and probably should have at more length is the interior of this vehicle,
it's super, super nice. Your quick take on that. Yes, high-end materials and a great look. It's
perfect place to spend time. A great place to spend time. So we have some really good vehicles
to take a look at here in the Subaru Forester and the Genesis G80. Take a look at those. And
when we come back, we will talk about 2025 and talk about America on the Road in its
301st episode. So stay with us for that and we'll be right back with you right here
on America on the Road. We're glad you're with us.
I received a letter from a reader this week and I thought I'd share it with you. Here's what he
wrote. I just got around to reading Dance in the Dark and wanted to say how much I enjoyed it.
I'm a compulsive reader and this one was right up my alley. An unlikely hero. A lot of twists and
turns. Some adult content and humor that rose naturally from the action. Keep on writing and
I'll keep on reading. Of course, that's just the kind of letter any author would love to get.
I hope that others get the same enjoyment from reading Dance in the Dark and my newest crime
novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same. Both are available exclusively at amazon.com. That's Dance
in the Dark and Only One Thing Stays the Same, both written by me, Jack R. Neyred. Thanks for
looking for them today. Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris T. Jack Neyred back with
you. This is usually the segment of the program where we have a special guest but this is our
301st episode. It is also the beginning of 2026 and the first episode of the new year with Chris.
He was ill last week and it couldn't be with us on the 300th episode but I want to kind of go over
what happened in 2025 from your point of view, Chris. I think it was just kind of a monumental
year in a lot of ways for the auto industry. I think a lot of things happened that were very,
very important and kind of going to change what we drive over the course of maybe the next decade
it'll depend but what's your overall take on the biggest stories of 2025?
Well, I think we've got more than a few to talk about, right? I think the first for me would
have to be the political situation and the shift from electric vehicle tax credits and clean vehicle
tax credits to no tax credits and the impact that that has had on the industry even though we kind
of knew that was happening for a while. We thought it was happening. I think the other big thing for
me that I'd like to talk about is Tesla and this again ties back into politics a little bit but
the shift in public sentiment against Tesla and the shift from a year ago to today, the difference
in how people feel about the company, I think those are the two bigger stories for me but there
are many, many more to talk about. Well, I really agree with you and when we had Matt DeLorenzo on
the show last week we talked a bit about the fact or more than a bit about the fact that the change
in fuel economy regulations really does shift what we're going to see not only in the near term but
probably even more so in the long term and for the longest time, the better part of 15 years,
the government was trying to direct us one way or another to buy electric vehicles. It was
essentially increasing the price of conventional vehicles. It was increasing the price of fuel
for those conventional vehicles and thus kind of pushing us toward electric vehicles and I guess
you could make the case depending on how you look at it whether that was a good thing or a bad thing
or the right thing to do or not the right thing to do but it was certainly trying to direct the
market and I think what we have now is a market that the consumer will direct a little bit more.
They'll decide based on fuel prices, based on their own individual needs, what kind of vehicle
works best for them and I think the car companies will respond to that and there are plenty of car
companies that have all kinds of cars. I mean your thoughts on that? Yeah it is interesting how
they've responded right and they've all responded differently so Ram Stalantis responded by bringing
back the V8 engine and knocking off their plug-in hybrid model. Ford responded by saying we'll make
more affordable hybrids and we're going to discontinue the F-150 Lightning and some other
things. However Toyota you know some others are going hybrid too so I think where what you're saying
is true is that we may end up in a situation where some automakers decide that making electric vehicles
is profitable and beneficial to them and others don't. Yeah well one of the things I found interesting
about Ford's reaction was they also among the other things among you know you know flushing away
the F-150 Lightning they also talked about introducing a new line of affordable electric
vehicles not just one but several affordable electric vehicles there were no real specifics
that I've seen but I found that interesting because I'm not certain in the in the mid in the near to
mid term that there's going to be an appetite for electric vehicles you know based on much lower
fuel prices infrastructure that isn't all that great we're going to have a glut we already have a
lot of new electric vehicles on the market that I don't seem to be selling I'm I'm curious about
your thoughts on that. It does feel risky and as you mentioned there's probably a lot of used EVs
heavily depreciated for sale right now as well I think the vehicle that I'm probably most excited
to see this year and I think it's going to be kind of a bellwether for the rest of the affordable
EV so to speak is the Chevy Bolt EV that's supposed to return for around $30,000 if GM is able to
land it for that price and if anybody buys it at that price I think will be a good snapshot of what
we might expect going forward. Yeah I think it's really difficult for these entry-level EVs when
a lot of people who are in that market live in multiple family housing and you don't have access
to a home charger those kind of things it makes having an electric vehicle more difficult and I
think to add to that we're now seeing much lower fuel prices across the country they're not much lower
here I don't know if they're much lower in Maine but they're not here either yeah but I'm in the
middle of the country I spent a lot of time in Texas recently and you know gas was under $3 a
gallon I think close to $2 a gallon it's over $4 like four and a half dollars here in California
and I think you probably are running into the same thing there in in Maine we have the same kind of
I think fuel requirements in a lot of ways but what do you think about that?
Yeah you know it's hard so I've mentioned this many times here in Maine I think the
closest fast charger to my house is 50 miles away almost an hour of driving if you can imagine
filling your car up and driving an hour it's almost halfway depleted by the time you get home
I have a home charger and we own an EV but without the home charger it would not be possible here
and if we lived in an apartment or as you say you know like a duplex or something where you can't
install those things it could be really hard if you live in a place like Maine or even I don't
know some parts of the Midwest that are sparsely populated gas here is not all that cheap and
electrical rates here are also the highest in the country you know comparatively so I think we're
kind of screwed on both sides here but I don't think that the benefit of an EV is the same for
everyone everywhere in fact I know it's not the same for everyone everywhere yeah and I'm very
concerned about all these used EVs I mean you kind of alluded to that but I wonder what's going to
happen with those because the the people who are buying used vehicles and particularly you know
older used vehicles or sedans for example are transportation buyers I mean they they need a
car they need something that is going to fit into their monthly budget and a lot of times they're
stretching even to do that and I just don't know how well an EV fits into that lifestyle
yeah when you're looking for a car as an appliance and you want it to be as simple and
as straightforward as possible if you don't have a fast charger or any sort of charging available
to you that's not gonna can that's not gonna be conducive to a happy everyday commute for you
you know those people are shopping on price and functionality and a lot of EVs the EV the change
in ownership style between a gas and EV is not the best for those people I think yeah well maybe
it's time to kind of segue into Tesla and again certainly Tesla and Elon Musk have been a fascinating
story for well maybe forever but certainly even more fascinating over the course of the last two
or three years and the fortunes have changed very very radically for that company and I think some
of the fuel economy regulations are partly responsible for what's happening with Tesla but
I also think that well you tell me what you think well I think you're right I think the
market is definitely impacting Tesla so that that cannot be understated but I also think that
Elon Musk's impact on the company can also not be understated I think Tesla has long had some
quality and production things that people had questions about for a while they were building
the Model 3 in a tent outside the factory you know so people who are willing to forgive those
shortcomings in the past probably some of them are probably not willing to do so now given his
political alignment I think that's been an impact on them but overall you know they face the same
challenges that all other EV makers face so I think they've got kind of a double whammy in front
of them yeah well and I am even more afraid for this the smaller EV makers for the for the Lucids
and the the Rivians of the world I think and I just don't know what the future holds for them
I think they have a very difficult path going forward I think they had a difficult path before
but I think it's much more difficult now yeah and you know there are a lot of these things the
startup automakers Rivian and Lucid especially people rely on remote service for those vehicles
they sometimes have to travel hours to deliver to a service center have it picked up and and
that's not something everybody wants to live with you know a lot of people have had things to say
about Lucid's service times and things and and I don't have any solid numbers so I'm not going to
throw them out but there are some issues with with timing and delivery on those things that
people just don't want to deal with yeah yeah very very difficult are there other issues that came
up during 2025 or even individual models that you'd like to talk about that you think were kind of
landmark yeah I'm really watching Nissan I think it's going to be very interesting to see how
Nissan's lineup changes by the end of 2026 and where they end up and maybe by the end of the decade
in terms of the market I'm not buying into the woe and death of the automaker like a lot of people
are but I think the Nissan we see in 27 28 may look very different than the the automaker we see today
yeah I kind of wonder where they go I don't I don't know you know what they can do at this point
they have pretty good products I think you know when each of us is in the the product we're like
okay these are these are nice vehicles there's nothing I mean pickup trucks are nice you know
the the new center I think is a very very nice vehicle whether it is class leading or not is
is different I think it's one of this brand is kind of a follower right there are brands that
lead and then there are brands that follow and unfortunately I think for Nissan it has been
looked at as a follower even though it launched the leaf an electric car and had a you know
because some kind of lead in the electric car business a decade ago or so maybe even over a
decade ago but kind of let that languish and it's been a tough go for them since yeah to your point
even now with their sort of restructuring plan they've said they want to release several new
Nismo sport models in the next couple of years that's a following move Toyota has been doing that
you know a lot of other people a lot of other automakers have as well so if it's successful
for Toyota maybe it will be for Nissan but I'm pulling for them you know there have been a few
years of CBT transmission complaints that I've had for Nissan but I still like them I hope they
pulled through yeah and I think they did some some kind of odd technology like the the dual
compression engine you know that kind of thing probably didn't help them a whole bunch I mean
I don't think a lot of people are looking for out there technology you know just leading edge
or bleeding edge technology and I think that hurts some companies that go that direction
you know maybe you can make a big gain but I don't think they they made a particularly big
gain with with that I think there there are venues for cutting edge technology that are
very helpful and people can get a lot out of it but I also think that a car that is responsible
for getting you from point A to B safely and undistracted is probably not the best place for
that and a lot of consumers like you said have responded yeah I'd like to talk about America
on the road a little bit this is our 301st episode I think a lot of podcasts and we're both a podcast
and a radio show don't reach a hundred episodes so the fact that we've got 301 I think speaks
something about us or something something more about the listenership and we're really
so happy with the the quality of our listeners and the fact that the loyalty of our listeners we
we appreciate that very very much it's been an interesting ride don't you think Chris I mean
we kind of came together we live across the country from one another we we literally have
not seen each other face to face more than a handful of times that I think you probably
count them on the fingers of your hand and yet we get together every week and we seem to get along
and have some fun doing this yeah Jack I don't know if you remember but I reached out to you
before I was really even in the industry and got started working for driving today and kind of got
started with you in the industry but growing from there to having a podcast and then the radio show
now we're on our second radio network it's just been great and the the amount of outreach that I
get it's not a ton but people do reach out and say hey we love listening we love hearing what you
guys have to say you know we have different perspectives but we always do seem to argue it
out and figure it out so I'm happy yeah and I like the fact that we have different perspectives and
I think that the listeners probably do too and you know you've been such a wonderful addition to
the show I mean Mike Anson and I did this show for years and years and years kind of had the same
points of view we're about the same age so having somebody who's much younger and a different point
of view I think is is very valuable and I appreciate you being with us and I hope you're with us for
years and years to come I'm very happy to be here and even as I've moved into a new full-time
role with Cox Automotive I'm very happy that I'm able to stay on and keep doing this and testing
vehicles and talking about main weather all the time yeah it's always good to hear well stay with
us and we'll be right back with a listener question thanks so much for being with us right here on
America on the Road
I'd like to tell you about the most exciting and authentic racing novel I've ever read
it's called Closing Speed written by award-winning author Ted West in 1970 the Indy 500 pole speed
was 170 miles an hour but at Le Mans Vic Alfred's Porsche 917 raged down the Mulson straight at 248
miles per hour the racing pit of the Porsche 917 versus the Ferrari 512 the fastest road racing ever
and Rodentrack sent a promising new rider 27 year old Ted West to cover it he traveled from
brand's hatch to Monza the Targa Florio Spa the Nurburgring and Le Mans you got to know the races
personally and the women who love them the racing was blindingly fast driving horrifically fragile
cars at those speeds took unheard of courage that was around every corner and the drama
tensely real every moment closing speed is the most realistic intimate racing novel ever written
as a look into the very heart of the sport an incomparable racing read is available now at
Amazon that's Closing Speed by Ted West look for it
welcome back to America on the Road with co-host Chris Teague this is Jack Nierad back with you
and it is listener question time we love to answer questions for you based on our long experience
in providing car advice we love doing that we love helping people out please send your questions
to editor at drivingtoday.com that's editor at drivingtoday.com and Chris I have a great question
I think from Lenore she lives fairly close to me actually in Calabasas California she asks
I drive about an hour each way back and forth to work welcome to southern California I'm thinking
of buying a new car this year what do you think is the best car for long highway commutes I think
a lot of people might tell you a hybrid would be the best choice but I think that hybrids are better
in town driving where the electric motor can handle more of the stop and go driving I think
what you might be best off doing is a small four cylinder or even you know some car like that a
Toyota Corolla Honda Civic Hyundai Elantra those cars are very fuel efficient on the highway they
offer a comfortable ride and you don't have to worry about range or charging if if you're going
you know like a plug in hybrid or an EV yeah I think that is great advice like you say the hybrid
might seem like oh look at that fuel economy but if you're driving at highway speeds and maybe you
won't you know if you're depending on where she's commuting from to Calabasas to where she might be
in running into a lot of bumper to bumper where frankly hybrids would would do a little better
because that that would help you but I think those are really good choices so I guess that
wraps up our show number one I'd like to remind you that my crime novel only one thing stays the
same is available in both ebook and paperback form at amazon the publisher is continuing the
post christmas sale so it is stupidly cheap right now I mean stupidly cheap I don't know how we
can make any money selling it at that if you like our show please pass it on listen on this radio
station each week and let your friends know where you hear america on the road and we'd love to
double our listenership this year that's a little goal of ours so we need your help you know tell
people about us if you if you can do that we'd appreciate that and tell us about the podcast
chris yeah I quit google search for the america on the road podcast will bring us to you on all the
major platforms apple spotify all the rest like us download us leave us a review please leave
us a review all those things help us and you can take us with you wherever you go right we have
youtube channel so check that out look for our america on the road videos road tests and that
kind of stuff on youtube our thanks to mercury insurance for sponsoring the show and to our
sports byline network stations for carrying it we do appreciate that we love being on the radio
and most of all thanks to you for listening we know you have a lot of choices so we're honored
by the fact that you'll listen to america on the road and join us again next time for another
edition of america on the road
hi i'm jack arnie redd and i'd like to tell you about my newest crime novel only one thing stays
the same in a style reminiscent of james m cayne and jim thompson two of my writing idols the book
chronicles of blue collar workers up and down love affairs with two modern southern california
women who continue to surprise shock and ultimately confound him as the story unfolds an unemployed
aeronautics worker named bill McCurdy becomes disillusioned with his wife and slips into an
illicit affair with a teenager from down the street before long he begins to think of doing the
unthinkable but despite his desperate attempts to make things work almost nothing goes as planned
his misguided quest for simple love doesn't turn out to be simple at all and before the roller
coaster ride stops he learns quite personally and very finally that only one thing stays the same
only one thing stays the same is available in kindle ebook and paperback form exclusively at
amazon.com i'd appreciate it if you'd look for it today
About this episode
The episode dives into the 2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD, highlighting its competitive stance against luxury giants like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Hosts Jack Neerad and Chris Teague discuss the rising vehicle payments, Ford's record recalls, and the return of the Ram TRX. They also touch on LG's CES announcement about in-car entertainment and Will.I.Am's unique electric vehicle. The hosts share their experiences with the Subaru Forester Wilderness and the Genesis G80, emphasizing comfort, performance, and the evolving automotive landscape as they celebrate their 301st episode.
This week on America on the Road (episode 301), host Jack Nerad and cohost Chris Teague kick off the new year with road tests of two very different vehicles, breaking news from Ford, and a special discussion on the highs, lows, and lessons from the 2025 auto industry. This week’s road tests are especially compelling. Chris evaluates the rugged 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness, built for off-road adventures. while Jack reviews the refined 2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD.
🚗 Jack Nerad Test Drives the 2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige AWD
Jack explores Genesis’ top-trim, high-value luxury sedan, powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 delivering 375 horsepower and paired with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive for smooth, confident acceleration in the low five-second 0-60 mph range. It features an electronically controlled suspension for composed handling, a premium interior with soft leather, open-pore wood trim, heated/ventilated/massaging seats, a wide OLED display with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and advanced safety. Priced at $79,845 as tested, the G80 emphasizes serenity and craftsmanship over aggressive sportiness, and it’s backed by a strong warranty package including 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
🚙 Chris Teague Test Drives the 2026 Subaru Forester Wilderness
Chris takes on Subaru’s off-road-focused crossover, equipped with a 2.5-liter boxer engine producing 180 horsepower and 178 lbft of torque, a revised Lineartronic CVT with XMODE Dual settings for Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud, and Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive. It boasts 9.3 inches of ground clearance, all-terrain tires on 17inch matte black wheels, Bilstein shocks, a 3,500-pound towing capacity, water-resistant StarTex upholstery with copper accents, and the latest EyeSight safety suite, including BlindSpot Detection and Emergency Lane Keep Assist. Starting at $38,385, the Forester Wilderness combines rugged capability with everyday practicality.
🎙️ Looking Back at 2025, Forward to 2026 and Beyond
Hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague reflect on 2025’s startling impact on car buyers and the auto industry, from market trends to upcoming challenges. They share insights on why 2025 was such a consequential year and predict what to expect in 2026 for vehicles, technology, and consumer choices.
📰 This Week’s Headlines
Vehicle Affordability Crisis Deepens
Over 20% of new-car buyers faced $1,000+ monthly payments in Q4 2025, but dealers express optimism for 2026 profits and AI integration.
Ford’s Record Recalls in 2025
The automaker issued 152 safety recalls, a new high, but emphasizes improved quality processes and falling warranty costs.
Ram Revives the TRX for 2027
The supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 now delivers 777 horsepower in this off-road beast, with Bilstein adaptive shocks, 14inch suspension travel, and a starting MSRP of $99,995.
LG Expands In-Car Entertainment
Prime Video joins LG’s Automotive Content Platform for streaming on vehicle screens starting Q2 2026.
Will.i.am Unveils TRINITY at CES
A self-balancing electric three-wheeler with AI brains, 0-60 mph in under two seconds, and 150-mile range.
📩 Listener Question of the Week
Lenore from Calabasas, California, asks: “I drive about an hour each way back and forth to work. I’m thinking of buying a new car this year. What do you think is the best car for long highway commutes?”
Jack and Chris share recommendations based on their expertise in comfort, efficiency, and reliability for extended drives.
📚 Jack Nerad’s New Book
Jack’s crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, is available now in paperback and eBook on Amazon — currently at a post-Christmas sale price.
🎧 Where to Listen
Catch America on the Road on this station each week, or subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Follow for newcar reviews, guest interviews, auto news, and road tests.
Sponsored by Mercury Insurance and DrivingToday.com
📺 Watch & Subscribe
Find America on the Road on YouTube and Rumble. Subscribe for road test videos, shorts, and extended reviews.
