America on the Road Sep 6, 2025

Crossing the Red River to Broken Bow in 2025 Lexus RX 350 F Sport

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This is America on the Road, Name 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 Nehrad, with me is co-host Chris Teague, and Chris, I know your girls went

to their first day of school this week.

How did that go?

They did.

You know, I think they have it down to more of a science than the parents

do.

They're less emotional and less excited about it than we are, but they let us take

the first day pictures and went off like it was no big deal, so yeah, they seem to be

having a good time.

Yeah, I'm glad to hear that.

I remember when my daughters did that many, many years ago, and now they're out of

college and working and doing all that stuff, so.

It goes real quick, Chris.

It's a warning.

Plenty of news to talk about this week on the automotive front after a short

but painful absence, Ram is bringing back an old standby.

We'll give you the happy news on that coming up.

Tesla is trying to fight off a huge jury award, hundreds of millions of dollars.

We'll have the details on that in our reactions.

Long car loans are leaving some consumers baffled, others dismayed, and we'll tell you why and

what you might do about it coming up.

And a well-known European brand has big plans and a new concept vehicle to back those plans

up will tell you the brand and offer our commentary coming up.

I'm curious as to your reaction, Chris, about that concept vehicle.

What do you think is the most interesting story this week?

Yeah, you know, the concept vehicle has been on my mind for a few days.

It's very interesting, but I'm excited about the Ram news, too.

Yeah, the Ram news is very good news.

I'm glad to hear that.

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Well, as you 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, the car industry, and how you can

save some money on your car.

Chris, we've got double test vehicles this week.

What are your two?

My first is going to be the 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X.

I spent the week driving that recently.

And then the second is going to be the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max.

If I got that right.

But two good vehicles to talk about.

Yeah, I have the 2025 Lexus RX 350 F Sport that I drove between Dallas and

Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

And the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.

So tons of show coming up for you.

We're so glad you're with us and stay with us as we have all these road tests this week

and so much more.

Stay with us and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.

Welcome back everybody to America on the Road Tech, we read with Chris Teague back with

you for news time and good news out of Ram.

The wait is finally over.

I guess it wasn't that long a wait, but for Ram fans craving V8 power, it's coming

back.

The first of the 2026 Ram 1500 pickup trucks equipped with the 5.7 liter Hemi E-torque engine

are now shipping.

What's your reaction to this, Chris?

Not surprising given the reaction to it going away in the first place.

I think Ram's identity is tied to that engine in more ways than one.

Yeah, they had more than 10,000 orders after they announced the V8 would be there,

which makes a lot of sense.

They, I think, did all they could to rush the 2026's into production.

Of course, they have a new brand CEO who is a former brand CEO at various Stellantis brands,

Tim Kaniscus.

I think bringing back the Hemi just makes a ton of sense in that big pickup truck market,

doesn't it?

It does.

They showed the Hurricane inline-6 engines to be just as capable in many ways as the

V8, but it's the belief that the V8 is better and it sounds better and people

love it.

Like I said, I'm not surprised at all by this move.

I'm not surprised at all.

And of course, this V8 will have the Ram E-torque mild hybrid system, so a little better fuel

economy than it would otherwise have had.

So interesting stuff and I'm glad it's back.

Good to hear that.

Me too.

There's not such good news at Tesla.

They are trying to fight off a $242.5 million verdict.

This is on a single lawsuit, a wrongful death case, tied to its full self-driving autopilot

system.

This was a 2020, it stems from a 2019 crash in Key Largo, Florida, where a Model S operating

on the autopilot struck and killed a couple people.

It actually killed a person and injured another.

And the jury awarded $329 million in damages.

Wow.

And Tesla was found responsible for nearly three quarters of that total.

Now you and I have talked about these autopilot systems, full self-driving, what they're called.

What is your reaction to this suit and this award?

Yeah.

As we've talked about a bunch of times, I don't have any problems with the technology.

I think the technologies are fantastic, they can be helpful.

It's always been the marketing and the naming conventions that Tesla has used around these

products, full self-driving autopilot.

They inspire a sense of feeling of confidence that shouldn't be there.

While the driver probably should have been paying attention and it's not like there

aren't warnings in these systems, I think Tesla could have and should have done more

to label them more carefully.

Yeah.

I mean, this is kind of an egregious kind of problem here where the driver admitted

that he dropped his phone and was looking for his phone and relied on the autopilot to

drive the car, which you were told not to do.

I mean, the driver is supposed to stay attentive and you're not attentive if you're looking

for your phone between the seats.

We've all done that.

So at the same time, I mean, this kind of jury award is more than punitive.

I mean, that's an immense amount of money.

And how do you value a human life?

You can't, or I can't, but this is really kind of an amazing thing all the way around.

Any other reaction to that?

Yeah.

I think if it stands, it's going to have some sort of impact on all the other automakers

developing this technology.

Mercedes stepped out and said that they would take responsibility and liability for

these accidents when they happen, but I don't think the others have, so it'll be interesting

to see their reaction.

Yeah.

That's an interesting story that I ran across on Bloomberg, and it's about long car loans

and certainly long car loans are something we've been talking about on America on the

road for several years now, and the car loans get longer because cars are more expensive

than these days.

Interest rates are also high.

The average new car vehicle price has gone up according to Bloomberg 30% in the past

five years.

The average car has now cost about $50,000, something like that.

That's the average car.

Shoppers are financing for longer terms than ever before just to keep the monthly payment

reasonably manageable.

This is shocking a lot of people, and maybe they shouldn't be shocked because they should

be reading the contract before they sign them, right?

Yeah.

I mean, that's one of the first things that they tell you when you go to shop

for a car is that don't focus on the monthly payment only.

You got to look at the total price, look at the terms.

Over seven years, you're going to be paying a ton of interest, and I've seen some eight-year

car loans, especially on the more expensive pickup trucks, and man, I couldn't imagine

doing that for almost a decade.

Yeah.

It's really kind of amazing.

I ask people, would you be as happy paying this car payment in the seventh or eighth

year of the ownership as you would for this brand new car?

I think when people look at it that way, you're going to be paying something

like $750 a month for this seven-year-old car whose value has dropped like a stone during

that period of time.

It's not really a very good decision.

I'm one of these really old-school kind of guys, Chris, in that I'm not a big believer

in car loans period.

I think there's a lot of useful transportation you can get for cash, or if you save up

for it.

You don't need the newest and shiniest car out there, at least that's kind of a luxury,

and I think you can need to work your way up for it.

I think kids graduate from college or they get their first job and they immediately go

out and buy a brand new car and put themselves in debt for $50,000 or $60,000.

It's kind of amazing to me.

Let me be clear, and I'm going to be careful with my response to what you just said.

I switch cars very frequently, and a lot of them have been new cars, but I'll

say this, I'm in my 40s now, but also we've been very careful with down payments,

and we've never ever taken longer than a four-year car loan, and that's been the

maximum for us, but even then I would say, you know, you're going to be out of

warranty coverage near the end of these longer loan terms, you're going to have

a car that is no longer the latest and greatest, it just isn't going to feel

that great.

At the same time, I'm not a big proponent of leasing either, and some

people might look at that as the alternative, and so you're kind of

between a rock and a hard place.

And I think for the right person, a car loan makes a lot of sense.

As you say, keep those loan terms as short as you possibly can as you

afford them, because you're just going to pay more if you have a longer term

loan. It might look like you're not paying more, because your monthly

payment will be somewhat lower, but you will be paying more.

So take it from old Jack, that's what happens.

Well, we talked about a brand that has very strong targets

coming up for vehicle sales, Audi.

This kind of surprised me in a way that Audi is getting so aggressive here,

Chris. They want to sell 2 million vehicles annually, I think globally.

I think to do that, though, they have to put a lot more emphasis on the

North American market than they have put up till now.

And that might include building Audi's in North America, maybe in the

United States, the way things are going tariff-wise that make some sense for them.

I'm curious as to your thoughts on all this and what's going on at Audi.

Yeah, I agree. I think Audi could end up building vehicles here, but it is

interesting to see, as you mentioned, they need to place a heavier

emphasis on North America. They're basically selling a European product

line in North America right now, very EV heavy and that sort of tech

forward lineup. And Americans have shown, we like the performance wagons,

we like the bigger engines and gas engines and things.

So I hope they pull it through like Audi's lineup, but I don't see them

reaching that sales target unless there are some more appealing vehicles

for sale here.

Yeah, I mean, they want to double their sales.

Their sales in the United States have been around 200,000 units a year,

200,000 vehicles a year. I mean, doubling that is a tall order.

I mean, these are not inexpensive vehicles, among other things,

and tariffs are a potential steep barrier for Audi going forward.

So I think we're probably going to see some U.S. production of this,

which is, that in itself is a good thing.

It will employ some American workers, but I think this is a tall order.

Any other thoughts on that before we talk about concept C for Audi?

No, like I said, other than, you know, hoping that they figure this out

and pull it through, it would be interesting to see which models

they choose to build here versus elsewhere, maybe the lower end cars.

But cars like the A4 are going away.

They're moving to the A5 and things and the A7 is being discontinued.

So who knows where we'll see them in the next couple of years.

Well, let's talk about the concept C that they have just shown.

It's a two seat all electric roadster with, I think, very intriguing styling.

Let's put it that way. Your take, Chris.

It's awkward. The front end looks awkward.

The square grille is weird looking, but the rest of the car looks very futuristic.

So we probably won't see that car in production,

but I'll be interested to see where they take that concept

into a mass market production car.

Yeah, and that is their goal is to take this forward.

So we will see what happens with that.

And when we come back, we will see what happens with some road tests

that we're going to do.

So we will have several road tests for you.

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 Teague,

Jack Mead Radmack with you.

And we have a double dose of road tests in America on the Road this week.

And Chris, you're driving a vehicle that I think in some ways is

it may be underrated in its segment.

There are a lot of good choices in that segment,

but I think the Nissan Frontier is a really, really good vehicle.

Tell us about it.

I will agree with you on that.

It's the 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X.

And one of the things that people knock this truck for sometimes

is being unrefined, a little loud and rough around the edges.

But that's what I really appreciate about it is it's just a truck.

It's a straightforward pickup truck.

You get some tech and some features with it.

But by and large, it is one of the more simple and straightforward models

in its segment.

Jack, what do you think about that?

I absolutely believe what you're saying.

And, you know, I endorse it.

I mean, I think a pickup truck like this straightforward is a good thing.

You know, a lot of gigas and fancy tech,

maybe not what you need in a straight on truck.

Yep, you get no turbos, no hybrids and nothing else in this truck.

It's a 3.8 liter V6 with 310 horsepower, 281 pound feet of torque

sent through a nine speed automatic transmission

to all four wheels in the Pro 4X.

The standard truck is a rear wheel drive, but you can option four wheel drive.

As I mentioned, the engine's a little noisy, but it's got plenty of power.

Acceleration is good and towing is strong at up to 6,700 pounds

or a little bit less than 6,700 pounds.

And the ride quality here is pretty good, Jack.

I think sometimes with the off road trucks, what you get is a balance

where the ride quality is a little bit more jilted because of the lifted suspension.

But then you have beefier tires that are better at soaking up

some of the road imperfections.

What do you think? I agree with you.

I have driven the Frontier several times.

I've liked it every time I've driven it.

I've driven it off road and I was impressed with its off road abilities,

especially when you get an off road oriented trim.

I just like it all around.

I think, again, straightforward to me is good in this segment.

It makes a lot of sense to me.

It does.

And the nine speed automatic transmission is responsive.

It shifts smoothly.

There's none of the hunting for gears and the lower speed.

That's one of the things that I almost always point out

with Ford's 10 speed automatic transmission, because it constantly starts

for gears, but this is a much more relaxed operation.

The truck comes in two cab forms.

You can get a crew cab or a double cab.

Mine was the crew cab with five seats.

Leather upholstery is standard with the Pro 4X.

You get cloth and lower trims, power front seats, heated front seats,

a heated steering wheel.

One of the things I like about this truck over like the Ford Ranger

or the Toyota Tacoma is the decent backseat space.

And it's an upright shape, but you don't suffer from the sort of

bunched in feeling that you get in a lot of pickup trucks.

It's nice and wide so you can fit two car seats and a person in the middle

or three people across in the back seat and Nissan's zero gravity

front seats are extremely comfortable.

Jack, we've talked about these a bunch of times.

They're not super spacious, but they are very deep and nicely padded

and there's a lot of support.

What do you think about the zero gravity seats and how do they compare

to like a Ford seat?

You know, a lot of people think or might think that the zero

gravity seats are hype, but I really don't.

I think there's really something to this.

I've spent a lot of time in these seats and they do seem really comfortable.

And one of the biggest things is if you're not noticing the seat

after a long time at the wheel, then they're doing the right thing, right?

It's when you notice the seat that it's not necessarily all that great.

I agree.

And it's one of those things that you can spend a lot of time in the truck

and you don't feel like you want to get out.

And when you stand up, when you've been in the truck for a while,

you don't have the same sort of creaky feeling or maybe that's just

me getting older, but it definitely doesn't have that feeling.

The interior ergonomics are good.

One thing I will say is that the design is one of the least visually

appealing, I think, in the segment, the combination of blocky logos

and shapes with the colors just is too much going on for me.

I think some people probably get used to it after a while, but it is very busy.

You do get good tech in the pro for actually get a 12.3 inch touchscreen,

a digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,

Fender Audio system.

Nissan's infotainment is pretty straightforward.

Jack, I enjoy using it.

It's very responsive on the screen and there are plenty of good features

here and then you also get safety tech too.

So blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alerts and the rest.

The pricing for this truck, Jack, starts at around $34,000.

My pro for X was about $45,000.

If I were going to buy this truck, I would look for the SV trim,

which is kind of a mid range trim.

It doesn't get all the off road goodies, but it's about $7000 cheaper.

And you can still option in four wheel drive and have a very capable truck.

Yeah, sounds good.

Yeah, I endorse that.

I think the front here is one to look at if you're looking

for a mid-sized truck, take a look, a good thing.

Well, I'm going to talk about the Lexus RX.

We were driving the Lexus RX 350 F Sport.

So I'll tell you about that for a fairly lengthy drive

over the course of the last week or so.

Of course, the RX has been the big dog in the luxury mid-size SUV segment

virtually since it was introduced.

But it's had a little bit of an image problem.

I think when it comes to appealing to men,

I'm not sure how you feel about that, Chris,

but I think too many blue-haired ladies drive RXs for a lot of guys' taste.

But to remedy that, the Lexus has introduced the F Sport trims.

I don't think they'll tell you that that's exactly why they introduced it.

But I think that's behind the scenes.

That's what they're doing.

And I think in a lot of ways it's worked out pretty well.

Let me tell you how that worked out a little later.

Let me tell you about the vehicle, though, that we drove from Dallas, Texas

to Broken Bowl, Oklahoma and back to Dallas and then Fort Worth

because it turned out to be a perfect vehicle for that drive

that included tons of thundershowers and immense amounts of rain.

It is the sport-tuned version of the midsize crossover

and its position between luxury and performance.

But I would say it's positioned much more toward luxury than it is toward performance.

But I think it has enough performance and enough

it has added some sharper driving dynamics versus the standard RX.

Some of it is suspension.

I think some of it is just tires.

But I think it really works well.

And for what I was doing and there was a lot of twisty two lane

in the drive from Dallas to Broken Bowl, let me tell you, I was on two line

most of the time.

I think it worked out really well.

I think it's a very good compromise.

What are your thoughts on that, Chris?

Yeah, I've traditionally been kind of down on the F Sports

because they don't add performance to go along with the looks.

But your statement earlier about appealing to men and a larger audience

has kind of got me thinking that I should change my tune a little bit.

I think it might be worthwhile in that regard.

Yeah, you know, I think this kind of you can keep your man card

and drive a RX F Sport and that's good.

And it's sporty without being in your face sporty.

I mean, their functional side air intakes, they've changed the lower

fascia, you know, looks sportier.

It has 21 inch alloy wheels with a dark finish.

It's generally good looking without going to an all black treatment

that Chris would not have anything any good words to say about.

I just think it's a pretty good looking vehicle.

I think you wouldn't say it's exactly manly.

But what are your thoughts on the exterior styling of the RX?

I am very appreciative of the latest styling redesign.

I think Lexus has moved away from such a prominent giant grill

to one that is more blended with the surrounding bodywork,

makes it look a lot better.

And the rest of the vehicle is fine.

I think, you know, Lexus has leaned into this sort of sharp pointy

styling thing over the past several years.

And I'm not a huge fan, but the new RX is pretty decent in that regard.

Yeah, I think it looks good.

And I think the F Sport has enough differentiation from the base model

that it's worth the extra money, probably.

It uses a 2.4 liter turbocharged inline four cylinder engine,

produces 275 horsepower and 317 pound feet of torque.

That's not going to set your heart racing necessarily,

but I found that it had plenty of power.

I did a lot of passing on these two lanes

and gets up to speed very, very well.

Suddenly you're going, wow, you're going way over the speed limit

if you're not paying attention.

Eight speed automatic transmission that works flawlessly,

all wheel drive, which was really nice.

And we drove on a lot of dirt roads during this trip.

Broken Bow, Oklahoma has a lot of dirt two lanes

and that kind of thing.

And as I say, torrential rain.

So all of that worked out.

What do you think about the turbo four in this model

and then this amount of horsepower?

It's a good amount of horsepower.

And, you know, you said this earlier,

but Lexus absolutely tuned this vehicle for comfort

and luxury over performance, even in the F Sport trim.

The engine is quiet.

It's smooth.

There's not even under heavy acceleration.

It doesn't sound like it's trying to go very hard,

but it's got enough power for commuting and highway cruising.

And it doesn't take a lot of effort to pass either,

which I think is sort of the sweet spot for a vehicle like this.

Yeah, I think all around the ride quality is noticeably really good.

It's also a super quiet vehicle.

And at the same time, it's precise enough for these two lanes

where you can feel like you're getting it done pretty well.

And I had a chance to do that fuel economy pretty good.

Of course, there are hybrid models that have much higher fuel economy,

but I think this is a really cost effective kind of version of the vehicle.

And I like the interior.

It had a new look synthetic leather upholstery

that you wouldn't know weren't were not leather.

Aluminum pedals, you know, some trim specific things

that are F Sport oriented, looks good, very nice adjustable seats.

Again, very comfortable over long drives.

And we were driving, you know, multi hundreds of miles

in a in a sitting panoramic glass roof

so we could see the raindrops coming down, well controlled and quiet ride.

Infotainment system has a 14 inch touchscreen with a Lexus interface,

which is of course the Toyota interface.

I think it's very straightforward.

We hooked this up with Apple CarPlay

and generally just kind of rock and roll with this thing.

It seemed to work almost flawlessly.

12 speaker audio system is standard.

It had plenty of plenty of power for all the country music

that my lovely wife likes to play.

And I try not to listen to so much and it makes her happy.

So I go along with that.

I just like the interior, certainly plenty of luggage space.

I mean, this is a five passenger vehicle with tons of luggage space.

If you were a golfer, there's plenty of room for your golf clubs.

I'm not necessarily that, but there was plenty of room for all of our stuff.

It is filled with safety equipment, including blind spot monitoring,

rear cross traffic alert.

It has parking sensors.

Sometimes those parking sensors are a little irritating, but there you go.

The rear seats fold for a 40 20 40.

I think that's a good split kind of a luxury kind of split versus the typical 60 40.

Any final thoughts on that?

Yes, having just moved a load of lumber in a Honda prologue,

I would have loved the 40 20 40 split.

Yeah, exactly.

The vehicle as we tested starts at about $57,000

and includes a bunch of premium stuff.

At the same time, the average car is around $50,000.

So here you have a luxury SUV with a lot of interior space,

just immense amounts of comfort, great driving dynamics.

I think this is a heck of a vehicle.

In fact, it's a vehicle I recommended to my oldest daughter

is something to look at coming up.

So I think it's a really, really well done piece.

I agree.

And stay with us.

So we will be right back right here on America on the Road with even more.

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Welcome back, everybody, to America on the Road.

We're so glad you're with us for our double dose of road tests

in this America on the Road episode and Chris, you were driving a vehicle

that has a name maybe as long as this segment is going to be.

It's a pretty long one.

Tell us all about it.

Yes, it's the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max.

And this is a relatively new model.

The Grand Highlander came out.

I think in 2024, maybe I'm wrong about that 2024 2025 as an extended

version of the regular Highlander with more interior space and cargo room.

I drove the Platinum Trem, which is the top model of this lineup.

It starts at around 46,000.

My platinum after a few options was around 63,000.

Jack, have you driven the Grand Highlander and what did you think about it

compared to the regular Highlander?

I have driven the Grand Highlander.

And of course, it's very similar in a lot of ways, I think to the Lexus TX.

And I think to its credit, it is a full on three row vehicle.

I don't want to steal your thunder here, but I think there's a lot to like

about the vehicle.

Yes, I will say I drove the Lexus TX a few months ago.

We reviewed it on the show.

And then after driving this vehicle a few weeks ago,

comparing the two in my mind, they're very similar.

The Toyota is actually pretty luxurious compared to the Lexus.

So it's surprising.

But with the Hybrid Max powertrain, you get a turbocharged 2.4 liter

four cylinder and two electric motors.

It's 362 horsepower, 400 pound feet of torque jack in a three row family SUV.

There was six speed automatic and all wheel drive is standard with the Hybrid

Max. This vehicle is very quiet, but acceleration is surprisingly strong.

And I wouldn't say that it's thrilling, but for a three row SUV,

there's a lot going on here that makes us a little bit more engaging than a

usual vehicle. What do you think?

Yeah, I think so.

I think the driving dynamics are good.

And in the previous segment, we talked about how Lexus pretty much nailed it

with the F Sport on the RX 350.

And I think in a lot of ways, as a three row, the Grand Highlander does

the same thing.

It does. And it's surprisingly quiet and refined while it's doing all of this.

I mean, even when you stamp the throttle down,

it doesn't feel like the vehicle is trying to figure out what's going on.

It just goes.

And that's one of the things that I appreciate about Toyota's hybrid systems

is that they're generally more refined and less noisy and sort of

bumpy, I'll say, than others.

There's a transition period.

Towing is decent in this vehicle.

And as I mentioned, the ride quality is good.

Inside is my favorite part.

The cabin in this vehicle is extremely nice, as I mentioned earlier.

It's almost a Lexus level of luxury in this in this vehicle.

Synthetic leather upholstery in the platinum trim.

You get cloth in the lower levels.

You can get eight passenger seating with the second row bench seat.

I had seven seats with the second row captain's chair.

Jack, what do you think about the interior

quality of this compared to like the Lexus TX or RX?

I think it must be difficult, I think, for the Lexus folks,

how they negotiate this, because certainly Toyota wants the platinum

trim to be very luxurious and at the same time, I don't think they wanted

to overshadow what you can get in the Lexus TX.

I'm not sure that that's answering your question.

I think it's got a good luxury luxurious interior.

I think Lexus adds even more.

But I don't think anybody would shy away from the platinum interior.

Yes, the platinum.

You know, some of the differences of Lexus gets a nicer stereo.

It probably gets genuine leather compared to synthetic leather and it gets

real wood trim and things like that.

But sitting in the Grand Highland or hybrid,

you'd be hard pressed to feel like you're missing anything in this vehicle,

especially in the platinum trim.

It's got a visually appealing design.

It looks nice. The ergonomics are good.

The seats are comfortable.

There's plenty of space in the second row seats.

And the Grand Highlander addresses one of my

complaints with the regular Highlander is that the third row seats are

actually usable for adults in this vehicle.

I wouldn't say you could fit three across back there,

but two people can ride comfortably.

One of the things that this vehicle struggles with back there, though,

is that the seat is too low to the floor.

So if you're an adult, your knees are kind of up in your chest a little bit,

which is a little bit uncomfortable and then it's harder to access the third row seat.

Jack, I know you guys probably don't use the third row as much,

but what do you think about that compared to like a full size third row in a Tahoe?

I think access is pretty good.

I mean, I moved my creaky old bones and got into the third row of the Grand

Highlander when we had it.

And, you know, I found that would be an OK place to be.

And for reasonably long drives, I'm not quite as tall as you.

I think you're six feet tall and I'm five 11.

I know you're proud of that six feet tall thing, Chris.

And so I decided to put that out there.

But it worked out pretty well in getting in.

And as you know, we have a Tahoe with a third row.

And it takes a little getting into, but I think comparable in a lot of ways.

Yeah, I agree.

And, you know, the thing with the Grand Highlander over the regular Highlander

is that you get more cargo space with the third row seats in use, too.

So this could legitimately be used to haul six or seven people and some suitcases

and gear to go with it, where as in a lot of three row vehicles,

even the regular Highlander using the third row seat really cuts into cargo space.

Tech is decent in this vehicle, too.

A twelve point three inch touchscreen and a twelve point three inch digital gauge

cluster and eight inch touchscreen come standard.

But both displays run Toyota's newest infotainment system,

which is very similar to Lexus's.

The new interface is brighter, it's more responsive.

It's much easier to learn and use the buttons and the menus and navigate the system.

You get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto with this system as well.

The Platinum trim comes with wireless charging, serious XM radio, HD radio,

and a whole lot more.

Jack, I want to get your feeling here that the infotainment system is very

good in this car, but I still think it's not necessarily a class leader or

an industry leader. What do you think?

I think you're right.

And at the same time, maybe we're expecting too much out of some of these

infotainment systems, and maybe this provides exactly what the consumer wants.

And anything beyond that is kind of egregiously too much, right?

And it's like I just they won't be able to digest it all.

And I'm not sure we as testers always digest everything that's in these

infotainment systems.

I agree. And, you know, I've written about this a few times,

automakers like Mercedes and BMW, they pack everything in the kitchen sink

into their infotainment system.

But what that ends up doing is you have to wade through all of that stuff to get

to the feature that you actually want to use and it can be confusing.

But Toyota has done a good job simplifying the interface.

The Highlander Platinum, Grand Highlander Platinum comes with a full suite

of Toyota Safety Sense Safety Gear.

So for $63,000, Jack, that's a whole lot of money for a Toyota.

But I think you're almost getting a Lexus here.

I'd probably opt for a lower trim level, maybe with a lesser powertrain.

Keep the price around $50,000 and you're still going to have a very nice vehicle.

Yeah, I think if you can keep the price around $50,000,

you are really doing quite well.

Even in the maybe the mid to high fifties, I think you've got a good value here.

It's a vehicle that does have a lot of good stuff.

I'm a little concerned about the complication of the powertrain.

What's your thought on that?

I think that is a concern here, but I think, you know,

it's a pretty standard setup.

You have a turbocharged four cylinder and two electric motors.

Toyota's hybrids have proven to be pretty durable.

I'm a little bit more worried about my G.R.

Corolla with a giant turbo on it than I am with this.

Right.

Well, I think it's a good good value.

And I certainly, you know, if we ever go to replace our aging Chevrolet Taho,

one that we would absolutely consider.

And I've talked to my wife about that.

I think it's a vehicle that's certainly worthy of consideration.

I also drove a Toyota testing another Toyota SUV.

But far different.

This is the Toyota forerunner.

Of course, one of the legendary SUVs in the Toyota lineup,

based on the Tacoma pickup truck, it's one of the few midsize body on frame SUVs

still sold in the United States.

Kind of old school from that point of view.

It's getting its first redesign in 2025.

Mollier, it seems like we were reported on this before,

but it's still new for 2025.

This is the first redesign in more than a decade.

And I was driving the TRD Pro trim, which is the most off-road focused version.

It's positioned at the top of the lineup.

And you'll see from the price it should be at the top of the lineup.

This, of course, is replacing the long running running V6 powered vehicle

with a turbocharged hybrid powertrain.

Virtually identical, I think, to the to the powertrain you were just talking

about if memory serves and my notes serve me right.

Turbocharged four cylinder engine with hybrid

attachments making that happen.

Again, that works quite well.

The redesign addresses some long

standing criticisms, including criticisms we had of the forerunner.

Efficiency was one of them.

I think outdated cabin technology was one we mostly dinged it for.

And that's certainly been solved.

Let's talk about this powertrain a little bit more.

As I say, a 2.4 liter turbocharged four cylinder engine with an electric motor

backing it up in an eight speed automatic transmission in this form.

326 horsepower, 465 pound feet of torque.

That's a ton of torque, plenty of horsepower.

Certainly the electric motor applies torque when you need it.

What should take on this all wheel drive system?

Yeah, people love to be down on hybrid systems,

but it really helps with torque off the line, especially off-roading,

which people will do with the forerunner.

It's just there when you need it.

Yeah, I mean, this is a powertrain that is the antithesis of what we were

talking about with the frontier right in the previous segment.

This is a very complex powertrain.

At the same time, it is a Toyota complex powertrain.

So we are crossing our fingers that

their record of longevity and just reliability shines through here.

This is replacing a four liter V6 that produced a lot less torque.

So the performance is good.

Of course, the fuel economy is also better,

which I like towing capacity is rated at 6,000 pounds for this vehicle.

So that's quite good.

It's in line with other body on frame platforms.

And there aren't too many of them.

I guess the Dodge Durango is another one.

You could kind of lump in into this general size range.

This is not as large as the Chevrolet Tahoe or Ford Expedition.

Fuel economy is 20 miles per gallon combined.

We got roughly that when we were driving it.

I have a bit of a heavy foot.

So I give the vehicle a little bit benefit of the doubt sometimes.

Others that we have recently reviewed probably get better fuel economy.

We had the Hyundai Palisade fairly recently,

but I think it works well overall.

What's your take on the design of the forerunner, Chris, the new one?

Yeah, the old forerunner was starting to look a little awkward to me.

I think I loved it at first, but it started to age kind of poorly.

I think this design does a good job at updating that and it aligns it with

front or not the frontier, the Tacoma.

It's a little bit more modern.

I like it. It really depends on the trim level, though.

Some of the more luxurious trims look a little awkward with the way the

the proportions are, but I think the off-road trims look great.

Yeah, I think they look great.

They look very purposeful and I like that.

It has a high roof line, of course,

upright stance squared off in the rear.

So a lot of cargo space because of that.

And I think that functionality I like, it has slimmer LED headlights than before.

This, of course, has more pronounced fender flares.

The TRD Pro has more pronounced fender flares than the basic model.

It also adds functional skid plates, which is a good thing if you're going off-road.

A roof rack is a mammoth roof rack.

I mean, you can practically live up there.

Kind of stuff up there.

It also creates some wind noise when you're driving at speed, which I have

had a tendency to do, 17 inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.

So you have that nice thick sidewall.

Overall, this is really kind of well positioned to be a good off-roader,

isn't it?

It is. I think they've done enough to make it a worthy upgrade over the previous model.

I actually haven't driven the

four-runner yet. I've driven the Tacoma and I can't wait to take it behind.

I can't wait to get behind the wheel.

I can't even talk about it. I'm so excited.

Yeah, well, and rightly so.

Let me get to the price of this thing.

I mean, the convenience inside, they've really improved the cabin significantly.

It has plenty of cargo space.

All of that is great.

The infotainment system is very similar to the infotainment systems we've

talked about for a bunch of the other vehicles here, 12.3 inch touchscreen.

You can get a JBL system, which is nice in terms of that.

Great safety tech, of course.

Let me get to beyond the off-road stuff.

Let me get to the pricing here, because this is where I kind of knock my socks off

a little bit. The suggested retail price is $72,000

with an additional $1,300, almost $1,400 destination charge.

Your quick reaction to that, Chris.

That's a heck of a lot of money for a four-runner, Jack.

Yeah, that was my reaction to this is a great vehicle, but that's a ton of money

for that. So there you go.

I liked it, but

maybe there are others in the lineup that you can get for less money and not

have all that stuff at the same time.

It's nice to have all that stuff.

Well, when we come back, we will have a listener question.

So stay with us for that.

And we'll be right back right here on America on the road.

Welcome back, everybody, to America on the road.

Jack, you read back with you and it is our final segment.

Did Jack knee read along with Chris Teague, of course, back with you?

And great to have Chris along with us on the show.

It is listener question time, Chris.

And we love to get listener questions, comments, send them to editordrivingtoday.com.

That's editordrivingtoday.com.

Here's the question for you, Chris.

This is from Sandra in Mesa, Arizona.

I'm thinking of buying an EV and I heard that one of the advantages

they have is that they are cheaper to maintain.

Is that true?

You think I can save substantial amounts of money on maintenance if I buy one?

Well, there are two parts to this.

So, yes, I do think that they are generally less expensive to maintain in the

long run for a number of factors, which we can get to.

But I would caution you, even saving money on maintenance,

it's going to take a very long time to make up the extra purchase price,

the cost of the extra purchase price, because EVs are generally more expensive.

EVs don't have engineer filters.

You don't have engine oil, transmission oil, belts, those sorts of things to change.

But you do have brakes and tires and cabin air filters and windshield wipers and bulbs.

So they're not maintenance free.

I don't want to paint that picture that way.

Yeah, I think you've outlined it exactly perfectly.

Maintenance costs are probably going to be lower, but your purchase price

very much higher.

So the Twain might never meet.

Yeah, it's hard to balance that out.

The same thing with charging and fuel costs.

It takes a long time.

Well, that wraps up our show for this week.

Of course, my new crime novel, only one thing stays the same is now available in

both ebook and paperback form at Amazon.

We'll have links in the show notes to both versions of the book.

If you like our show, please pass it on.

Listen on this radio station each week.

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Right, Chris?

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We really do appreciate that.

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And join us again next time for another edition of America on the Road.

Hi, this is Jackie Redd, host of America on the road.

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About this episode

A lively discussion kicks off with hosts Jack Nehrad and Chris Teague sharing personal anecdotes before diving into automotive news. Highlights include Ram's return of the V8 engine, Tesla's legal troubles over its autopilot system, and the rising trend of long car loans. The episode features detailed road tests of the 2025 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, praised for its comfort and driving dynamics, and the 2025 Nissan Frontier Pro 4X, noted for its straightforward design and off-road capabilities. The hosts also explore the new 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and the redesigned Toyota 4Runner, emphasizing their features and market positioning.

Chevrolet Tahoe Ford Expedition Ford Ranger Honda Prologue Hyundai Palisade Lexus RX Lucid Gravity Nissan Frontier Tesla Model S Toyota 4Runner Toyota Corolla Toyota Grand Highlander Toyota Tacoma

Original notes

We kick off this episode with an in-depth review of the 2025 Lexus RX 350 F Sport, a luxury midsize SUV that blends sporty design elements with Lexus’ signature comfort. Host Jack Nerad crossed the Red River to test the RX on a road trip from Dallas to Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and came away impressed. The F Sport trim brings sharper exterior styling, a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine, and adaptive variable suspension. It doesn’t quite deliver a full-blown performance experience, but it does allow you to keep your Man Card. Inside, the RX maintains Lexus’ high standards for quietness and comfort, with a 14-inch touchscreen, premium materials, and comprehensive safety tech. For those who want a slightly sportier Lexus without sacrificing daily drivability, Jack says the F Sport trim offers just enough edge. We’ll have a full report.

2025 Nissan Frontier: Smarter Tech, Sharper Looks, Same Rugged Attitude

Co-host Chris Teague reviews the refreshed 2025 Nissan Frontier PRO-4X, a midsize pickup that doubles down on its rugged personality with updated styling, enhanced utility, and smarter tech. New exterior elements like a revised grille, front fascia, and Afterburn Orange paint make the PRO-4X stand out from the crowd. Under the hood, the 3.8-liter V6 delivers 310 horsepower and 281 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and the Pro-4X trim also offers Bilstein shocks, all-terrain tires, red tow hooks, and an improved Intelligent Around View Monitor that now functions up to 12 mph in off-road mode. With a boosted maximum tow rating of 7,150 pounds and a larger available 12.3-inch infotainment screen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, the 2025 Frontier blends brains and brawn. Should it be your go-to in the segment? Chris and Jack will offer their opinion.

2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro: A Tougher, Smarter Redesign

Our road test extravaganza continues with a review of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, the first full redesign of this iconic SUV in over a decade. Built for serious off-roaders, the TRD Pro now features a 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain producing 326 horsepower and a massive 465 lb-ft of torque. The upgrade improves fuel economy by over 20%, while also enhancing trail performance and towing capability. The cabin gets a much-needed tech overhaul, with a 14-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and improved ergonomics. Although pricey at over $73,000, the 4Runner TRD Pro delivers on Toyota’s reputation for durability and adds new levels of refinement to its legendary capability. But is $73K just too much?

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: Big Comfort Meets Big Power

If the 4Runner TRD Pro is too rich for your wallet, you might prioritize family transport with the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum, the top-tier version of Toyota’s three-row SUV. In Hybrid MAX form, it delivers a punchy 362 horsepower from a turbocharged hybrid system while still offering an EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined. Premium features include Ultrasuede seats, a panoramic moonroof, and a full suite of technology, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen, digital rearview mirror, and seven USB-C ports. With second-row captain’s chairs and AWD versatility, the Grand Highlander aims to be both a luxury family hauler and a road-trip-ready powerhouse.

This Week’s Top News Stories

Ram Brings Back the HEMI 

Ram is resurrecting its 5.7-liter HEMI V8 with eTorque mild-hybrid tech for the 2026 Ram 1500 lineup. Over 10,000 orders were placed within 24 hours of the announcement, and the first units are already shipping to dealers.

Tesla Appeals $242.5 Million Verdict

Tesla is appealing a massive jury verdict related to a fatal 2019 crash involving its Autopilot system. The company argues the crash was due to driver error, not a design flaw, and is seeking to cap punitive damages under Florida law.

Seven-Year Loans Becoming the Norm

Car buyers are increasingly turning to seven-year auto loans as vehicle prices skyrocket past $50,000. Over 20% of all new-vehicle financings now span seven years, a sign of worsening affordability in the U.S. car market.

Audi Eyes 2 Million Sales, Shows Off Concept C 

Audi is targeting 2 million global sales annually, with a focus on expanding in the U.S. market and possibly building a North American factory. Meanwhile, the company debuted its Concept C, a sleek all-electric two-seat roadster that previews a new design direction.

Listener Question of the Week

Sandra from Mesa, Arizona, asks: “I’m thinking of buying an EV and I heard that one of the advantages they have is that they are cheaper to maintain. Is that true? Do you think I can save a substantial amount of money on maintenance if I buy one?”

Jack and Chris address Sandra’s question by discussing the lower maintenance needs of EVs—no oil changes, fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking systems that reduce wear. However, they also highlight that battery replacement costs, tire wear, and cooling system maintenance are still important considerations.

Don’t Miss the Next Episode

If you enjoy America on the Road, make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, check out our YouTube and Rumble channels, and spread the word. And don’t forget to send your questions to: [email protected].

Check Out Matt’s Book:

Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.

Look for Jack’s Newest Crime Novel:

Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a pre-publication price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.

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