An appearance package is a set of “looks” upgrades, like styling details. The host is saying it’s a little odd when those cosmetic options are sold as their own separate trim level.
Torque is the “pulling power” that helps the vehicle accelerate. Higher torque usually means it feels stronger when you start moving or press the pedal.
They’re quoting how quickly the battery can be charged. Going from 10% to 80% is a common test because charging tends to slow down as the battery gets fuller.
They mention the Kia plant to talk about how car companies organize parts and shipping. The goal is to make sure the factory gets the right parts at the right time.
The Ford Maverick is a smaller pickup truck. They’re bringing it up because it sells well, and they’re comparing that to how Ford’s other truck sizes do.
A hybrid uses both gas and electricity. It can save gas, especially in stop-and-go driving, because the car can use the electric motor sometimes and recharge while slowing down.
The Ford Ranger is a mid-size pickup truck. The hosts are using it as a comparison point for where Ford’s truck lineup sits in terms of size and market positioning.
Company
Louisville plant
The Louisville plant is a factory where trucks are built. If a new truck is planned for that factory, it can influence how soon it’s available and how many can be made.
Instead of making the body from lots of smaller parts, the manufacturer uses bigger cast sections. That can save money to build, but if the car gets wrecked, fixing those big sections may cost more than you’d expect.
The Chevrolet Corvette is a sports car designed to be fast and fun to drive. The host mentions driving it across the country to see how comfortable and practical it is for a long trip. That’s why it comes up in the conversation.
Google Gemini is an AI “helper” made by Google. In cars, it’s meant to understand what you say and help with things like voice commands and other responses.
Term
voice command situation
This is about how well your car listens to you when you talk to it. The better the system, the fewer times you have to repeat yourself and the easier it is to use without touching your phone.
Concept
privacy things
In-vehicle AI raises privacy concerns because voice and interaction data may be collected, processed, or stored to improve responses. Listeners should consider what data is used, how long it’s retained, and whether it can be controlled or deleted.
Google Assistant is an older voice assistant system from Google that some cars use. The hosts are saying it may get replaced by Gemini for smarter AI responses.
The Honda Ridgeline is a pickup truck that’s built more like an SUV, not like the heavy-duty trucks with a separate frame. The Trail Sport version is the more adventure/off-road-oriented trim, meant for dirt roads and tougher conditions.
This means the engine has six cylinders, arranged in a V shape, and it’s 3.5 liters total. It’s a common engine layout that helps balance smoothness and usable power.
This is the car’s automatic gear box, and it has nine different gear settings. More gears can make the car feel smoother or more efficient, but it depends on how the car is programmed.
All-wheel drive means power goes to all four wheels. That usually helps the car grip better on wet, snowy, or rough roads.
Term
off-roady variant
This is a version of the vehicle meant to handle dirt roads and rougher conditions better than the basic model. It’s more about traction and clearance than extreme off-roading.
Payload capacity is the maximum weight you can put in the vehicle—people and cargo. If you load more than that, the car can become unsafe and handle poorly.
Some trucks are built with a separate heavy frame underneath, and the body sits on top of it. This one doesn’t feel like that kind of truck—it drives more like a regular crossover.
“Clunky off the line” describes a rough or delayed feel when starting to move from a stop. With an automatic transmission, this can come from shift timing, torque converter behavior, or how the transmission manages low-speed throttle response.
“Hunting for gears” means the car keeps changing gears back and forth instead of staying in the right one. That can make the ride feel jerky or not very smooth.
A heated steering wheel uses an internal heating element to warm the wheel surface. It’s a comfort feature that helps reduce cold-weather numbness and improves drivability in winter.
The Honda Passport is another SUV they’re using as a benchmark. They’re basically saying the back-seat feel is similar to what you’d get in a Passport.
Wireless charging powers your phone by placing it on a charging pad in the car. The phone doesn’t need a cable, but it may charge slower than plugging in.
Infotainment is the combined system for information and entertainment in the car, typically including the touchscreen, audio controls, navigation, and phone integration. It’s a key part of the daily usability of modern vehicles.
Sirius XM is a satellite radio service. The hosts are saying some newer Honda models don’t include it, so you can’t easily set up your kid’s station the same way.
The Honda Pilot is a family SUV with three rows. They’re comparing it to other Hondas and pointing out that this one doesn’t come with satellite radio.
Honda Sensing is a set of safety and driver-assist features. It can help with things like staying in your lane and warning you if you’re getting too close to a car ahead.
Forward collision alerts use sensors (typically cameras and/or radar) to detect vehicles or obstacles ahead. If a potential crash is detected, the system warns the driver—often with visual and audible alerts—so you can brake or steer in time.
Adaptive cruise control is like cruise control, but it also reacts to the car in front of you. If traffic slows down, it can slow the vehicle too to keep a safe gap.
Rear cross traffic alerts warn you about cars coming from the sides while you’re reversing. It helps prevent accidents when backing out of a driveway or parking space.
This is a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is an SUV meant to handle both normal driving and tougher terrain. “Summit” is a higher trim level, so it’s usually more equipped than the cheaper versions.
A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine uses a device (a turbo) to cram more air into the engine. That helps a smaller engine feel stronger, and it’s a major change the host is evaluating.
Dual spark plugs means there are two ignition points per cylinder. That can help the fuel burn more evenly, which can improve efficiency and smoothness.
The combustion chamber is where the engine actually burns the fuel. If the fuel is sprayed differently into that space, it can change how well the engine runs.
A V6 is an engine with six cylinders arranged in a “V” shape, typically used for smoother power delivery than a smaller 4-cylinder. Here, the host is comparing the older V6 option against the new turbocharged four-cylinder to decide what they’d choose.
Fuel economy regulations are government rules that require vehicles to meet targets for how efficiently they use fuel (often measured as miles per gallon or equivalent metrics). The host suggests the engine choice is a “remnant” of these rules, implying the move toward smaller turbo engines is partly policy-driven.
A turbo-charged engine uses a device that squeezes more air into the engine. More air helps the engine make more power without needing a bigger engine.
A V8 is an engine with eight cylinders. People often like V8s because they can feel strong and responsive, especially when you accelerate from low speeds.
Horsepower is a number that describes how much power the engine can make. But a car can still feel less impressive if the engine doesn’t deliver strong pull at low speeds.
Term
high-stress four-cylinder engine
A “high-stress” engine is being pushed harder to make power. The hosts are saying that, in a heavy SUV, that can make the driving feel less satisfying than you’d expect.
“Hemi” is a type of engine design that Chrysler used on some performance V8s. In this discussion, they’re saying the Grand Cherokee used to offer that kind of V8 and now it doesn’t.
A powertrain is what makes the car move—basically the engine and the parts that send its power to the wheels. The hosts are saying they’re unsure which version they’d choose.
Uconnect 5 is the Jeep’s touchscreen system inside the car. It controls things like music, navigation, and settings, and the host says it’s simple to use and packed with features.
A plug-in hybrid is part gas, part electric—but you can charge it by plugging it in. That means you can often drive on electricity for a while before using gas.
In automotive terms, hybrids combine an internal-combustion engine with an electric motor. Unlike plug-in hybrids, many hybrids can’t be charged from an outlet and instead rely on regenerative braking and the engine to recharge the battery.
ICE engine means a regular gas or diesel engine that burns fuel to move the car. The hosts are talking about whether people will switch from these to electric options.
The Hyundai IONIQ 5 is an all-electric Hyundai crossover. The hosts are saying it’s one of Hyundai’s main EVs and has been a big part of their lineup for a while.
The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is a newer Hyundai electric vehicle. In this segment, they talk about it getting extra features and that the host has driven it and thinks it feels especially close to what people expect from an EV.
Concept
non-combustion EV alternatives
Non-combustion means the car doesn’t burn fuel like a typical gas engine. The hosts are talking about EV-style options that avoid that kind of fuel burning.
A battery-electric car is powered only by electricity from a battery. “Adoption” here means how many people will buy them over the next several years, not just whether they exist.
Tax incentives are money the government gives (or reduces taxes) to make certain cars cheaper to buy. The hosts are saying that without those breaks, you can better see what people want on their own.
A rebate is a discount the buyer gets after purchase (or a credit that lowers the price). They’re saying these incentives can make EVs look more popular than they would be without the help.
ADAS are safety and driving-assist features in modern cars. They use sensors to help you stay in your lane, keep distance from other cars, and reduce the chance of crashes.
The 2010 Lexus IS is a luxury sedan. The host mentions it because some older cars tie the screen to other systems like climate controls, which can make upgrades harder.
The 2010 Porsche Cayenne is a luxury SUV with a lot of electronics. The host’s point is that some cars connect the infotainment area to safety systems, so replacing the stereo isn’t always straightforward.
LIVE
This is America on the Road named Best Radio Show by the International Automotive Media
Conference and now in its 34th 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 as co-host Chris Teague.
Chris, are you preparing a special meal for Mother's Day?
Yeah, you know, we haven't talked a lot about it, but I think I'll have to surprise her
with some nice steak or something we'll see.
Sounds good, I always love a steak.
Plenty of automotive news to talk about this week.
A growing fight in Washington is putting so-called vehicle kill switch technology under the spotlight.
Critics are warning it could go too far in monitoring drivers, limiting vehicle operation.
We'll talk about that.
Hyundai is pushing further into the luxury EV space with its new Ioniq 9 Black Ink Edition.
It's a three-row SUV that blends bold styling, upscale features, and potent electric performance.
And it's a Black Edition that Chris loves.
Ford is aiming to shake up the EV market with a new mid-sized electric pickup truck, targeting
a $30,000 price point and 300 miles of range.
We'll see what we think about that.
The U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a new series
of commemorative stamps.
Do people use stamps anymore?
Honoring the historic highway, we'll look at the Mother Road and see what we think about that.
Polestar is upgrading its in-car tech with Google's Gemini AI, adding that to their vehicle.
So, Chris, what do you think about AI and the vehicle?
I'm sure it has some uses, but I'm not sure who's asking for this.
I certainly haven't met anyone that's really excited about it.
I'm more scared than excited, frankly.
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
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California is saving an average of $670 with Mercury.
So imagine how much you could save.
Get a quote today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance.
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Well, as your longtime listeners of the show know, Chris lives at one end of the country.
I live at the other.
Each week, we get together to talk about cars.
And Chris, what is your test vehicle this week?
I spent the week driving the 2026 Honda Ridgeline Trail Sport, and I can't wait to tell you
all about it.
Right.
I was driving the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit.
I'll tell you about that with a new power plan.
Our special guest this week is Dan Wang.
He's Hyundai Advanced Vehicle Manager.
We had a chance to talk about the future of cars.
So stay with us for all that, and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris D. Jackney Redback.
Well, you were so glad you're with us, and if you like America on the Road, please pass
it on to somebody else who you think might like to hear two guys talking about cars.
It is our new segment, and this is a big one that I want to talk to you about, Chris.
This is this kill switch debate.
There's a growing political fight in Washington.
It draws attention to there's a little known provision that was tucked into the 2021 Infrastructure
Investment and Jobs Act.
This dates back to the Biden administration.
Critics say it could eventually allow vehicles to monitor drivers and even disable operation
under certain conditions, like if they're speeding, for example.
Do you have some concern about this?
I do.
I wrote about this the other day for Kelly Blue Book.
There's no denying that that distracted impaired driving kills.
We have those statistics.
We know that it's happening, but this feels like a major invasion of privacy for me,
and I think that there are some big questions about, as you say, how they all end up disabling
the operation of the vehicles and those sorts of things.
I'm probably against it at this moment, and I don't know that there's anything that's
going to really convince me otherwise.
Proponents say that it could determine whether the driver is impaired.
We certainly don't want drunk or drug-influenced drivers out there, and I guess that the vehicle
could maybe, based on the driving ability or lack thereof of the driver, determine,
hey, this driver is impaired, but at the same time, this I think even goes to self-incrimination.
I mean, you're kind of spying on yourself or your own vehicle is spying on you and
tattling on you.
I think it has some problematic aspects to it.
Yeah.
I mean, you can imagine the data sharing with insurance companies and other agencies.
I mean, there's an endless number of ways that this could go wrong.
Automakers and other companies, too, not just automakers have proven that they're not always
the best with data security, so bad actors can do with this as they please in some cases.
There are a lot of questions to be answered for this, for me, I think.
I think both you and I are in favor of safety, but I think maybe this goes too far in the
big brother area and looking over our shoulders.
Well, I'm curious as to your reaction to the Ioniq 9 Black Ink Edition.
This is the most recent edition of the Ioniq 9, which is, of course, Hyundai's
three-row electric SUV.
A pretty cool vehicle.
We have talked about it on the show here, and I think among those vehicles, that type of
vehicle, it's a pretty good one.
But this has that distinctive black look that everybody seems to be going for now.
I wonder about it in the future, but your take on this.
Yeah, I have mixed emotions about appearance packages being made into standalone trim levels.
What I'll say about this one, though, is the Ioniq 9 had kind of a funky look to it,
at least in my eyes before.
I think this kind of remedies a lot of those awkward styling points that it had.
So in terms of an appearance package, I think they did a good job with the styling,
and you can't argue with the performance.
The performance is just, it blows your way, 422 horsepower, more than 500 pound feet of torque,
and quick charging, too.
I mean, that's one of the advantages of the Ionix, is they charge fairly rapidly,
10 to 80% in 24 minutes, this under ideal conditions.
It's going to be assembled in Georgia.
I was at the plant fairly recently, where this is being assembled outside Savannah, Georgia.
An amazing plant with an incredible number of robotics also employs a lot of Georgians.
So that is a terrific thing.
Yeah, I was at the Kia factory not far from where you were, and they talked a lot about it,
and the amount of parts sharing and logistics that they have arranged down there is really,
really interesting.
And we're going to talk to Dan Wang later in the program about all that and more coming up on that.
$30,000 EV truck from Ford, a mid-size EV truck, again, targeting a $30,000 price point,
range of roughly 300 miles.
All that sounds pretty good.
I would say one of the things that has me scratching my head a little bit is Ford sells
the Maverick truck.
The small truck sells very well, and it's F-150, full-size truck sells very well.
It's mid-size truck, not so much.
It's a pretty good truck, but maybe a lot more competition there.
I'm wondering why they decided this was the place, and why a truck was the place for an EV.
Yeah, we've been hearing about this truck since the Lightning debuted in 2020 or 2021,
and the 2027 launch date, that's six or seven years Ford has been working on this.
I'm going to say unskeptical that they end up releasing this at the price point that they
promise.
I think this is one of those I'll believe it when I see it moments.
But as you say, the Maverick sells pretty darn great, and it's very efficient in the
hybrid form.
It's pretty capable for what people need it to be, and it's comfortable to drive.
It is interesting to see them pursue this given the success that they've seen.
And then also you said the slower sales of the Ranger, which sits right in the middle.
I mean, they are putting preparations for this to build this at the Louisville plant.
I visited the Louisville plant about a year ago.
It's an interesting plant there, a very major plant that builds a lot of trucks.
So this is going to come to fruition.
I think what is liable to happen is it will launch at that kind of price.
And then as soon we will see a price increase of maybe $4,000 or $5,000 or more.
And that would not surprise me a bit.
So a little crystal ball reading from Jack here.
Yeah, this is the skepticism I have about one of this truck's competitors,
likely competitors, which is the Slate pickup truck.
They pitched a very low starting price.
But once you get into anything that looks like a reasonable amount of equipment,
you're not at that price point anymore.
So I don't know.
Some of the methods they're going to use to achieve this also have kind of mixed outcomes,
right? This large casting of pieces of the body.
It's great for saving costs.
But if you get a little bit of a wreck later on,
you're going to find that the repairs aren't as easy or as affordable as you thought.
And people don't think about that, but they should because insurance costs,
even if you're not in a wreck, that will affect your insurance costs.
Yes.
Let's talk about Route 66.
I think it's kind of interesting that there is a bunch of stamps issued by the United States
Postal Service honoring Route 66 and its 100th anniversary.
I grew up, as I mentioned earlier, about a mile or so from Route 66,
from almost the beginning of Route 66 near Chicago.
It was established in 1926 and not only was it a great road,
but it was a symbol of freedom and opportunity.
It got you across the country to Los Angeles.
I kind of took that trek myself from Chicago to Los Angeles.
I now reside out there.
Actually, one of my first stories that I did as a automotive journalist was driving a Corvette
from Chicago to Los Angeles.
So I remember that fondly.
Your take on Route 66.
Yeah, I've driven large portions of it in a large truck in one of my previous job lives.
But look, we have the interstate system now.
Everything is fast, high speed, modern.
But when you get on Route 66, it is interesting because it still feels a lot like the older days.
A lot of the businesses are tailored to that nostalgic feel.
You have old diners and signs and things like that, roadside attractions.
So I'm really happy that it's being preserved, the pieces of it that are still very true to the original.
And I'm not much of a letter mail or stamp user.
I think we're still in our 2022 holiday stamps at this point.
But I also think it's cool the USPS is commemorating it.
Yeah, the stamps are meant to celebrate the enduring spirit and encourage people to experience
a historic roadway for themselves and they can.
There's still pieces of Route 66 that people can drive on and get that sense.
These are also forever stamps.
So they will match the current first class mail rate if you want to actually use them to mail a letter.
Kind of a not thing to do, but one could do that.
And so I think that's kind of cool.
I can't wait to see these at our local post office.
Postar is rolling out Google Gemini in its in-car technology.
Beyond Google built in, it also has AI.
And they're saying that this is groundbreaking and I guess in some ways it is.
So what's your thought about AI in general in vehicles?
Again, I'm not sure who's asking for this, but I'll say this.
Like I think if anything that can improve the voice command situation
is probably going to be a good thing for people who use voice commands regularly.
I'm not one of those people other than to text and drive while I'm driving,
so I don't have to pick up my phone.
I think if that's the case here, that's great.
I just have questions about the other functionality and again,
some privacy things and things like that.
So AI doesn't have to be in everything.
But apparently it's going to be there and it's going to replace the present Google Assistant.
So remind us of your test vehicle for this week, Chris.
I had the 2026 Honda Ridgeline Trail Sport.
And I will be talking about the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit when we come back.
So stay tuned for us and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
We're so glad you're with us and stay with us. We'll be right back.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris Teague.
Jack, you read back with you. It is road test time.
And Chris, you are testing what I would call a very idiosyncratic pickup truck from Honda.
Different than pretty much anything else out there. Tell us about it.
Yeah, it is an interesting vehicle.
And Jack, you know, I've driven a passport every year, a pilot every year.
In fact, I have a pilot this week, but this is the first Ridgeline that I think I've ever
tested, had it on test. And it is an interesting vehicle, as I said before.
But it's a 2026 Honda Ridgeline Trail Sport.
This is the penultimate trim level of this vehicle.
So it's not the cheapest one you can buy. That one's at around $42,300.
My test vehicle is around $48,000.
And then you can spend a little bit more than $49,000.
I think it's on the Black Edition or whatever that one's called.
Have you driven a Ridgeline anytime recently?
I have. And like I say, I find it to be quite an interesting vehicle.
In a lot of ways, it's almost minivan underneath.
It shares a platform with several other Honda and I think Acura vehicle.
It does. And the engine is the same in a lot of those vehicles too.
So it's Honda's Trident True 3.5 liter V6.
It's 280 horsepower, 262 pound-feet of torque.
This is the same engine in the Honda Odyssey, the passport, the pilot,
and other Acura vehicles as we've talked about.
It's paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
You get all-wheel drive with this truck.
This is their sort of off-roady variant here.
5,000 pounds of towing, which is pretty solid.
A 1,521-pound payload capacity for the Trail Sport trim.
I think you get like 17 more pounds of payload in the lower trim levels.
Jack, you get all-terrain tires with the Trail Sport.
But one thing that's obvious driving this vehicle
is that it is not a body-on-frame pickup truck.
This thing feels a lot like a crossover, even the Honda Odyssey.
It drives a lot like the Honda Odyssey.
That's a good thing for people who use pickup trucks occasionally,
but want to drive them on the road and go to school pickups or the grocery store.
Very comfortable, very quiet inside.
The V6 engine, as it is in other vehicles, is very capable.
It makes a good noise. I'd always like Honda's V6.
What do you think about the powertrain and the handling of this truck?
Well, as you mentioned, it is a tried-and-true powertrain.
It has been around forever.
I like it. We just bought a Passport for my in-laws a couple of weeks ago
with essentially a very similar powertrain, that same V6 engine.
So I guess I endorse that.
Yeah, and one thing I'll say, and I've noticed that with the pilot that I have this week,
is that automatic transmission feels a little bit clunky off the line.
Doesn't feel as smooth or refined.
It feels like it's hunting for gears.
There are a lot of shifts before it kind of settles out and you reach speed.
But again, it's a smooth ride.
The handling is great for a pickup truck.
You know, you can't fault it there.
And if you're going to drive this vehicle every day, I think,
if you're going to drive a pickup truck every day,
I should say I think this vehicle is a good choice there.
Inside, you get leather upholstery in the trail sport trim,
with orange piping and trail sport stitching in the seats.
So pretty nice there.
You get heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Five-person seating capacity.
And the back seats in this vehicle are pretty spacious.
They're about the same feel as in a Honda Passport.
So you get two rows of seating here.
One thing I really liked is, you know, the bed is a decent size,
but under the bed, you get lockable storage.
So there's a compartment that opens,
and it's a really deep storage space back there
that could be useful for things that you don't want to leave laying out in the bed.
And then higher trims of the passenger, the ridgeline, excuse me,
come with a sunroof.
So you're getting things that you don't normally get in a pickup truck.
It's more comfortable.
It's more daily usable here.
But you still have the bed.
I think I took several dump runs in this truck.
And it's just so useful in that regard
to be able to throw stuff in the back
and still have your kids in relative comfort inside.
You get a seven-inch digital gauge cluster
and a nine-inch touchscreen,
no matter which ridgeline you choose.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard
along with wireless phone charging,
which I thought was nice for every trim.
One thing I'll say is that connecting the wireless Apple CarPlay
and Android Auto in this vehicle
is a little bit touchier than others I've tried.
And I'm also finding that with the pilot this week.
It seems to like a wired connection first,
and then it asks you if you want to go wireless after that.
But I just usually use the cord in these vehicles
and still charges faster than the wireless phone charger.
What do you think of Honda's infotainment check?
I think it's okay.
And I think it's improved.
I mean, they've done really good things
like putting a volume knob onto it fairly recently.
They had a lot of problems.
I mean, it wasn't so much problematic in that it didn't work.
It just worked as designed.
It's just people didn't like the way it was designed.
They didn't like the ergonomics of it.
You know, lack of knobs was a major problem.
I think they've kind of got that sorted out,
and I think it's pretty good now.
Yeah, kind of.
The interface is pretty easy to use.
You do get a physical volume knob.
One thing I found interesting,
the Ridgeline comes with Sirius XM radio.
The new pilot that I have this week does not.
A lot of Honda vehicles now do not have satellite radio,
which is something I didn't know until yesterday
when I was trying to figure out
why I couldn't put my kid's music station on.
Beyond that, you get Honda Sensing Safety Equipment
as standards.
So you get lane keep assist, forward collision alerts,
all those things.
The higher trims come with blind spot monitoring
and rear cross traffic alerts and adaptive cruise control.
So quite a bit here, but 48K is not cheap.
I think if you're looking at this vehicle,
or if I were considering it,
I would go for a cheaper trim.
You lose the all-terrain tires and things,
but you would still get all-wheel drive
and a lot of the capability.
So I like the Ridgeline jack.
I think the trail sports a little bit pricey for my taste.
But again, it is, as you say, a little bit quirky,
but there are a lot of people who like it.
I see a lot of them on the road.
I think if you want a Ridgeline,
it's the only one for you, right?
I mean, it's kind of in some ways like a Jeep,
and I'm going to talk about Jeep here in a second,
but and if you don't,
you know, if you're not dyed in the wool,
I need that kind of thing.
There are other mid-sized pickup trucks
that I think maybe are better values or,
you know, just more versatile.
Yeah, I agree.
Well, I'm going to talk about the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit.
It sits at the top of that lineup.
And of course, the Grand Cherokee is a major vehicle for Jeep,
typically a five-passenger.
They also offer a seven-passenger version
of the Grand Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee L.
But I'm talking about the five-passenger version,
mid-size pickup, mid-size SUV,
with rugged Jeep capability and everyday usability.
It's interesting that this vehicle will go off-road
and really do some amazing stuff off-road.
And at the same time,
is a great little suburban station wagon substitute
for you're running the soccer games
and then, you know, taking your kid to lacrosse practice
and all of that stuff.
I've never taken a kid to lacrosse practice,
but I imagine it's taking,
like taking a kid to softball practice.
We do that every day almost.
Lacrosse is a big deal here.
Very good.
And it's a cool sport too.
I think a Native American sport,
if I'm correct about that.
In any case, this has strong off-road capability
and smooth on-road capabilities.
And I think it got a mild refresh for 2026,
which is one of the reasons I was driving it.
Larger infotainment screen, which we endorse, of course,
up to a point.
It doesn't have to be a wide-screen panavision kind of screen,
but it has a nice large screen.
And then it has this new turbo-charged four-cylinder engine,
which I think is the big story here.
And to tell you the truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it.
There's a lot that should be cool about it.
It's really interesting technology.
It uses dual spark plugs.
And the way the gas is sprayed
into the combustion chamber is different.
It's really an interesting technology.
Over the road, it didn't feel all that great.
I mean, it didn't feel bad,
but it wasn't like, hey, a revelation.
This is terrific, which leads me to wonder
which one I would pick in this vehicle.
Would I go with the old V6,
which also has had some issues, I think, the Pedestar V6,
or would I go with this new turbo-charged four-cylinder?
And I think this is kind of a remnant, Chris,
of fuel economy regulations that are now pass A.
They were kind of felt forced into,
oh, we have to do a turbo-charged engine for this vehicle
to get fuel economy to where it needs to be so we could sell it.
And well, then they didn't really have to do that.
And maybe you could get even a V8 in this thing,
or you'd be just as well off.
And it's not cheap.
The total price of the tester I had was over $66,000.
So the numbers are pretty good.
You get a 324 horsepower, that sounds good.
It didn't really, to me, feel as strong as that.
And maybe it's because low-end torque isn't as strong
as in some other vehicles.
I'm talking a lot about this, Chris,
and you're kind of nodding along.
What are your thoughts about this vehicle?
Yeah, I can see why they did it,
but a smaller high-stress four-cylinder engine
and a vehicle like the Jeep Grand Cherokee
just feels like something that buyers aren't going to warm to.
And they've offered the hemi in that vehicle for a long time,
and now they don't.
I wouldn't be surprised to see it come back.
You're not really down on specs,
but as you say, the performance doesn't really match up.
Yeah, yeah.
There's a lot to like about this vehicle.
I mean, one thing Jeep has done is made these very upscale.
I think we talked about a Mazda recently
as being premium-adjacent,
and I would certainly say that about the Grand Cherokee.
I think the interior of the Grand Cherokee,
practically the summit levels, the higher levels,
are just beautiful.
I think they're really nice.
A great kind of look to them.
Plenty of cargo space.
The vehicle, the test vehicle I had,
had Napa leather upholstery, open-pore wood trim.
I mean, this is luxury kind of stuff.
And then plenty of, as I mentioned, cargo space.
And I'll get to a number here.
38 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats,
which is plenty.
71 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
So this is a really useful vehicle.
This is a great vehicle for suburban drivers,
I think, for families, particularly families
with two or fewer children.
I think there's a lot to like about it.
I'm just not sure of the powertrain these days.
Which powertrain I would pick.
We certainly do like the Uconnect touchscreen
and all of that.
Your quick take on anything you want to talk about there,
infotainment system or interior.
Yeah, I like Uconnect 5.
I think it's a great infotainment system.
It's easy to use.
It's packed with features.
But as you said before,
66 grand is a big ask for an SUV with a four-cylinder engine,
no matter how nice the interior is.
But the Grand Cherokee's always been one of my,
I've had a soft spot for it for a long time.
Good safety equipment, but in tiers,
and you're going to pay more for some of that stuff.
So a lot of money for this thing is the way I look at it.
I like the vehicle a lot,
but at $66,000, I might look for a much lesser trim
and give up some of that.
And kind of pick and choose of the safety
and other features that I want.
But I think good vehicles overall,
and I think the Ridgeline is the right vehicle
for the person who wants a Ridgeline.
I agree.
So when we come back, we will have a terrific guest.
Dan Wang is an advanced product specialist at Hyundai,
and we'll talk about electric vehicles.
So stay with us and talk about that when we come back.
I'd like to tell you about my newest crime novel,
Only One Thing Stays the Same.
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,
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 e-book and paperback form
exclusively at Amazon.com.
I'd appreciate it if you'd look for it today.
Welcome back, everybody, to America on the Roadjack.
We read back with you,
and we are outside Savannah, Georgia,
with Dan Wang of Hyundai.
Say your title for me.
Sure.
Senior Manager for Advanced Vehicle Technologies.
Not only that,
but you understand all kinds of stuff about EVs, don't you?
I tried it.
Let's talk about that.
We're at this mega factory,
just this incredible, out of nowhere,
Greenfield site that's now millions of square feet
of production capacity,
just an amazing place designed to produce electric vehicles.
Tell us a little bit about the place we're at
before we talk about where the market's going.
Well, the market itself originally started out with
ice and combustion engines.
We're making the evolution now to progress beyond that,
and these include technologies like hybrid,
plug-in hybrid, and BEVs, or full electric vehicles.
And the plant that we visited today
is the company's commitment towards that effort
in electrifying our fleet.
So we've got a variety of powertrain options today
with plans to offer more in the future.
Yeah, it's interesting.
I think that this plant has started out
building electric vehicles,
and that's what we've seen today,
you're building IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 9 here, I think, right?
That's correct.
That's correct, yep.
But you have the ability to switch
or to add to the production capacity here
with other electrified vehicles,
plug-in hybrids and potentially hybrids, I imagine.
Talk a bit about the flexibility and how important that is.
It's our newest plant as a company,
and as part of the billion-dollar investment
that we've made here,
we've made the plant to be smart and flexible
with a lot of automation
and a lot of efficiencies built in.
So you're correct, it was originally started
as an EV-only plant,
but we're now making adjustments
to be able to accommodate
other types of powertrains and vehicles.
Yeah, I mean, the technology here is just mind-blowing.
The amount of robotics that are here,
I mean, this employs a lot of people,
don't get me wrong,
but there don't seem to be all that many people on the floor
because the productivity of this plant is so high.
It's the highest tech plant I've ever seen.
It's really an impressive achievement by Hyundai here.
Very efficient.
We employ automation where it makes sense
not to replace people,
but to augment their capabilities and their productivity.
Yeah, have them doing the machines do tasks
that will be difficult for humans to do.
Maybe painful for them to do even that kind of thing.
So that's really terrific.
Let's talk about the market.
This American market is really different
than other markets around the world.
It has changed radically in the last 12 months, certainly.
The whole environment has changed for electric vehicles.
Talk about that and where Hyundai sits here
and where Hyundai in North America feels like it's going to go.
Well, there's certain external factors that we can't control.
And what's happening in the world today,
we've got to make adjustments for when and where we can.
Gas prices have recently risen again.
That's impacted people's, I guess, intent or interest in EVs.
Certainly their interest.
So they're certainly interested.
So when it gets to a certain tipping point,
and that will vary by consumer,
they may be at that crossroads where they may contemplate
to make that switch from an ICE engine,
maybe to a hybrid or even a full BEV.
So I think we need to be able to adjust
to these market conditions.
And having a plant like the meta-plant here
gives us that flexibility.
Well, it strikes me that Hyundai is well-positioned
to respond to the market no matter where the market goes.
Because you have a wide variety of internal combustion
engine-powered vehicles.
You have hybrids, very sophisticated hybrids,
plug-in hybrids, and then full battery electric vehicles
among the leading engine on the battery electric side.
That's correct.
Well-positioned.
Yeah.
Hydrogen too.
Yes.
Well, walk us through your current battery electric lineup
and how you think that's going to change going forward.
Well, I can speak to the lineup at a very high level.
So we've got, on the Hyundai side, we've got a Kona EV.
We also have our IONIQ 5, our IONIQ 9.
The IONIQ 5 really was our stand-up and continues
to be our stand-up model in our lineup.
IONIQ 9 was just recently introduced.
We've also introduced new additions to the IONIQ 9
in terms of features and capabilities.
So what we've done is taken a normal EV and added the capabilities
for it to improve with other features and services
that normally wouldn't be available right off the line.
Yeah.
Well, we talk about some of those.
We did.
Yeah.
You know, if you're a Peanuts fan and as I am with Charles Schultz,
you can customize the infotainment screen.
So instead of the standard infotainment screen that's on the car,
you can be replaced with Snoopy, the Peanuts gang, Woodstock.
So that kind of flexibility and fun touches
is what we hope to provide more in the future.
Yeah.
I mean, the IONIQ 9, and I've had a chance to test it.
We've tested it on America on the road.
I think it's probably the closest electric I've ever seen
to being a kind of a straight-up family vehicle, right?
Three-row does all the things that a three-row family vehicle should do,
from range to convenience to infotainment to safety, all of that stuff.
I think it's a terrific product.
What do you think the future is for that?
For IONIQ 9, for three-row EVs, and for EVs, it's kind of mainstream vehicles.
It is. Well, I wouldn't consider it mainstream just yet.
I think we're getting closer towards that point.
But more specifically on the IONIQ 9, it's one of the few three-row EVs that are available here
in the United States with a very usable third-row.
So it's not one that's been scaled down to a very small size that can only accommodate children.
This is a full-size dust can sit in the third-row.
Where do you think EV is going to go here in the United States?
I mean, I hear a lot of talk.
We hear a lot of talk about having affordable EVs.
And yet, I think kind of the entry-level market is not necessarily prime for EV
just because of the premium prices of EVs, because of the fact that,
you know, to get full advantage out of an EV,
you probably have to have a single-family home where you can plug it in,
those kind of things, right?
Walk me through your thoughts on that,
because this is kind of stuff you're thinking about, I think, all the time.
Yeah, I think we've gotten to the phase where a lot of the early adopters have gotten their first EVs.
As we start approaching the later parts of the early adopters and into the early mainstream,
that's when it becomes a little bit of an inflection point
on whether or not they'd like to make the leap.
You brought up a good point about having the ability to charge at home.
I think in the near term, an EV is really best suited for those that have the ability
to charge their vehicle at home.
So it's essentially like having gas station at home for sure.
If you don't, it's a little bit more difficult.
I wouldn't say it's impossible.
We're growing our EV infrastructure network through our partnerships with Iona.
Our vehicles also have NAX charging, so it can take advantage of the Tesla Supercharger network.
Supercharger network, right.
There's also Electrify America charge point.
So there are options out there, and it's continuing to get better month after month.
But if you're in a situation, perhaps you're an apartment dweller or you live in a high rise,
and you don't have dedicated parking, or street parking, which is even more difficult.
Those are tough, and it would really require someone dedicated to having EV to take on that challenge.
So I think for now, we'll continue to see modest growth, but there'll come a time where
if the infrastructure can be built out more completely, and owners that don't have the
ability to charge at home can do otherwise more easily in other places, we'll start seeing that increase.
I mean, obviously we have lost the federal tax credit that's been a big advantage to EV purchase.
And now people are coming back into the market who took advantage of that the first time.
And that might be tough for them, right?
There might be a little bit of sticker shock for them, given the fact that all of a sudden, wow,
it's $7,500. It's gone. It's longer available now.
How is that going to affect the market, do you think? What do you think is going to happen
in the kind of short to medium term with that?
It will temper the initial demand, but I think the market will adjust.
There are people that still continue to seek out
non-combustion EV alternatives today.
So it's hard to say what the long term look would be,
but the removal of the tax incentives really brings to light who's winning in the EV race.
Well, tell us about that, because I think you probably have something to say.
I'm a little biased here as a Hyundai employee, but I think what it does is it really
measures what the true market demand of EVs is without that additional subsidies of rebates.
And right now, what we're seeing is that the demand may have cooled a little bit,
but it's not declining substantially.
So that's a clear signal to us that there's still demand out there for EVs.
We're still sorting this out. We don't know what the real level is without those kind of subsidies.
But do you have a sense? Is it 10% of the market? I think most recently, the market has been about
7% battery electric. Is it 7%, is it 5%, is it 10%, is it... I don't think we're going to see full
adoption, maybe even in my lifetime, but what's your prediction as the guy who looks at this?
You know, what I think, and this is independent of Hyundai, what I see as far as an adoption would be
something more modest. I wouldn't expect the entire UIO of vehicles out there to switch over to
EVs overnight. I think it's going to probably take roughly 10 to 20 years where we'll start
seeing share increase beyond the current 5% to 7%. I think more modestly, realistically,
it's probably closer in the lower double digits, maybe 10%, 12%, 15% as a healthy market demand.
It is a healthy market share, isn't it? I mean, that is significant.
You need to have that additional share and demand to be able to justify the enormous
investment that's required to manufacture those vehicles.
Let's talk a little bit about hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Where do you think they fit
in the picture? I mean, hybrids are kind of the darling of today, right? Is that a transition
vehicle? Is that something we're just going to see forever? What's your take on that?
I think they have their place in the product lineup. There will continue to be owners and users
that want to have the convenience of a hybrid and not have to worry about finding a charging
station, particularly those that live in areas where they can't charge at home. So I think for
the near term, I think hybrids will still continue to play a role. A lot of people consider hybrids
as a transitional powertrain. I don't necessarily agree with that. I think they'll have a continued
place in every OEM's lineup. As emissions tighten across the world, hybrids are a way to help meet
those emissions, but still provide the convenience and flexibility that people have with normal cars.
What excites you most about the next 10 years? Where do you think the market is going? What
excites you about the market? Where do you feel we are? What excites me about the next, I'd say,
10 to 20 years is, for me, being responsible for our ADAS systems and autonomous vehicles,
I'd like to see the ability for vehicles to provide mobility and transport for those that
can't drive anymore. Well, Dan Wang, I want to talk to you about that coming up when we do another
one of these interviews, but thanks so much. Absolutely. We appreciate it. Thank you, Jack.
And stay with us, everybody. We'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Coach Christie. It is listener question time,
our final segment of this week. We love to answer your questions based on our long experience
providing car advice. Send those questions to editoratdrivingtoday.com. That's editoratdrivingtoday.com.
Here's a great question for you, Chris. This is from Billy in Texarkana, Texas,
and Billy says, I really rely on my phone, but I have an older car. Can I add Apple CarPlay
to an older vehicle? Yeah, I would say yes and no to that question. I think it depends on how
old your vehicle is and how the center console is configured. I'll tell you, in my 2010 Lexus IS
that I had, Toyota loves to tie climate controls into the infotainment screen, so replacing it,
you can't really do that with an aftermarket stereo because you have to retain the,
it also had the airbag system built into it somehow. My 2010 Porsche Cayenne, well,
on the other hand, you could do that, the climate and everything was separate. I would say if you
have one of those vehicles that it's kind of right on the cusp of having newer technology,
it might be a little bit more difficult. And if that's the case, I would just buy a good phone
mount and either use Bluetooth or auxiliary input so you can still see the maps on your phone and
things like that, and you might be able to interact with it by voice, but you're not really
fiddling with the electronics that make everything work. Yeah. I mean, the only thing I would point
out is you might be adding so much in terms of cost that it wouldn't be cost effective for you,
but if you're going to keep that older car for a while, you probably would enjoy that functionality.
And as you say, the older car, the older the vehicle, probably the easier this is rather than
the harder it is. So yeah, I think power management is your big concern with the older vehicles.
You know, the newer head units suck some juice, but yeah, they're a lot easier to install.
Well, that wraps up our show for this week. I'd like to mention that my crime novel,
only one thing stays the same, is still available in ebook and paperback form at Amazon. Look for
that. If you like our show, please pass it on. Listen on this radio station each week,
let your friends know where you hear America on the road and of course win. We'd love to double
our listenership this year and we need your help, don't we, Chris? We do. And you can do that by
doing a quick Google search for the America on the Road podcast. We'll come to you on all the major
platforms, Apple, Spotify, all the rest of them. Like the show, sign up to download the show,
subscribe, leave us a review. All those things help us out and you can take us with you wherever
you go. We have a YouTube channel, so you can check that out. A lot of videos, road tests,
just some shorts out there. Look for those on our YouTube channel. Subscribe, please.
Our thanks to Mercury Insurance for sponsoring the show and to our sports byline network
stations. We're carrying it on terrestrial radio. Most of all, thanks to you for listening.
Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers out there and join us again next time for another edition
of America on the Road. I received a letter from the 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 Arnie Rad.
Thanks for looking for them today.
About this episode
A quick news roundup kicks things off with vehicle kill switch regulation, new EVs, and Polestar adding Google Gemini AI. The hosts then shift to the week’s test vehicles: a 2026 Honda Ridgeline Trail Sport and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. The Summit gets attention for its larger infotainment screen and a new turbocharged four-cylinder with dual spark plugs, plus heated, upscale materials and practical cargo space. Value and real-world torque feel are debated, alongside connected-car and charging topics.
This week on America on the Road, Jack Nerad and Chris Teague review two standout midsize off-roaders — the versatile 2026 Honda Ridgeline and the luxurious 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. They also dive into Hyundai’s brand new premium IONIQ 9 Black Ink edition, Ford’s plan for a $30,000 EV pickup, the heated “vehicle kill switch” debate, and Polestar’s new Google Gemini AI. (Do we need AI in our cars?) Our special guest is Hyundai’s Dan Hwang, who will discuss what the U.S. Market will look like in 10 years.
🚙 Jack Nerad’s Road Test: 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
Jack reviews the flagship 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4×4, which reaches deep into luxury territory with premium Nappa leather, open-pore wood, a large 12.3-inch touchscreen, available McIntosh audio, and a smooth ride courtesy of air suspension. With a choice of V6 or new turbo four-cylinder power and impressive off-road capability, it delivers a winning mix of refinement and ruggedness at a tested price just over $66,000.
🚗 Chris Teague’s Road Test: 2026 Honda Ridgeline
Chris tests the 2026 Honda Ridgeline, a refined unibody midsize pickup that blends car-like comfort with genuine utility. Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, it pairs with a 9-speed automatic and standard i-VTM4 all-wheel drive. It offers up to 5,000-pound towing capacity and signature features like the dual-action tailgate and In-Bed Trunk. Available in Sport, RTL, TrailSport, and Black Edition trims, the Ridgeline gets noticed for its smooth ride, practical bed, comfortable cabin, and strong value.
🎙️ Special Guest Interview
Dan Hwang, Hyundai Advanced Vehicles Manager, joins the show to discuss the future of vehicles after a recent driving event in Georgia.
📰 This Week’s Headlines
Hyundai IONIQ 9 Black Ink Edition Debuts
Hyundai’s premium three-row EV features bold black styling, 422 hp, ultra-fast charging, and luxurious six-passenger seating.
Vehicle “Kill Switch” Debate Heats Up
Lawmakers push to repeal a federal mandate for driver-monitoring technology that could potentially disable vehicles, citing privacy and freedom concerns.
Ford Targets $30,000 Midsize EV Pickup
Ford is developing an affordable electric truck with ~300 miles of range for a 2027 launch.
USPS Honors Route 66 Centennial
New Forever stamps celebrate the historic “Mother Road.”
Polestar Adds Google Gemini AI
More natural, conversational voice interaction comes to Polestar vehicles with Google built-in.
❓ Listener Question
Billy from Texarkana, Texas asks: “Can I add Apple CarPlay to an older vehicle?”
📚 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 sale price.
🎧 Where to Listen
Catch America on the Road on your local Sports Byline Radio Network station each week and subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more. Follow for new car 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.
