America on the Road Apr 25, 2026

Hyundai Santa Fe XRT AWD Road Test: Rugged Style Meets Everyday Utility

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Term

AWD

AWD means the car can send power to all four wheels. That can help it grip better on slippery or rough roads.

Concept

EV partnership

An EV partnership is when two companies team up to build electric vehicles. If they cancel or restructure it, it can change what cars they plan to make and when.

Company

Sony

Sony is best known for electronics, but it can also partner on car technology. In this episode, Sony is mentioned because its EV collaboration with Honda is being changed.

Concept

defective replacement airbags

Sometimes cars get airbags replaced because of a safety problem. But if the replacement airbags are also defective, they can still cause injuries, so regulators issue new warnings.

Concept

AI and satellite internet are tools that can make road trips easier. Satellite internet helps you stay connected even far from cell towers, and AI can help the system suggest things or manage information.

Concept

air quality

Air quality is how clean or polluted the air is in a place. If it’s worse during busy vacation times, it can make the trip feel less comfortable, especially if you have breathing issues.

Car

EX60

The EX60 is a Volvo electric car that runs on batteries instead of gasoline. The podcast is talking about it as a preview of what Volvo is bringing next. It’s included because it shows where Volvo’s future electric lineup is headed.

Concept

negative equity

Negative equity means you still owe more money on your current car than it’s worth today. If you trade it in, the extra amount can get added to your new car loan.

Concept

upside down

“Upside down” means your car is worth less than what you still owe on it. So when you try to switch cars, you may have to bring that extra debt along.

Concept

trade-ins for new vehicles carry debt exceeding the vehicle's value

The segment highlights a specific statistic: a large share of trade-ins involve debt that exceeds the car’s value. This indicates many buyers are financing the “gap” between what they owe and what the trade-in is worth.

Concept

rolled some of the debt they had on the old car into the new car loan

Rolling debt into a new auto loan is a common way negative equity gets carried forward. Instead of paying the difference out of pocket, the lender finances it as part of the new purchase, which can extend the time you’re paying off that gap.

Concept

monthly payment close to $1,000 ($932 is the average)

They’re talking about how much the loan costs each month. If the average payment is around $932 (or close to $1,000), that’s a sign the financing is getting expensive. Rolling old debt into a new loan can make those payments even higher.

Concept

vehicle prices were pretty inflated (early COVID days)

During the early COVID period, fewer cars were available and demand was still strong, so prices went up. When cars cost more, the amount you need to borrow usually goes up too. That can make monthly payments much harder to manage.

Concept

back end of those loans

The “back end” means later in the loan, after you’ve been paying for a while. If the car’s value drops faster than you pay off the loan, you can owe more than the car is worth when you try to trade it in. That’s when people may refinance or bundle the old balance into a new loan.

Concept

rolling in (rolling debt into a new car loan)

“Rolling in” is when you don’t pay off your old car loan before getting a new car—you add what you still owe into the new loan. That usually makes the new monthly payment higher and can keep you paying for longer. It can feel like you’re “starting over,” but you’re often financing more than the new car costs.

Concept

average transaction price is up near $50,000

“Average transaction price” is basically the typical price people pay for a car. If that average is around $50,000, it means more buyers are financing bigger numbers. Bigger numbers usually mean higher monthly payments.

Concept

electric vehicle partnership

An electric vehicle partnership is a collaboration between companies to share development costs, platforms, and technology for EVs. These deals often target manufacturing scale and faster time-to-market, but they can be canceled if business priorities change.

Brand

Ophila

Ophila is the name of the vehicle brand mentioned in connection with the EV partnership. The segment says that brand is also being discontinued.

Topic

CES in 2023

CES is a big tech show where companies announce new ideas. They’re saying this EV partnership was announced there in 2023.

Concept

electric vehicles

Electric cars were once seen as very futuristic. Over time, many buyers started wanting cars that look more normal and cost less.

Concept

write off

A write-off usually means the car is considered too damaged or too expensive to repair, so it’s treated as a total loss.

Company

ASE

ASE is an automotive organization that’s involved in helping train and certify car technicians. Here, the hosts are using it as a source for safety information about airbag problems.

Concept

defective airbags

Airbags are safety devices meant to protect you in a crash. If an airbag is defective, it can malfunction and hurt people instead of helping them.

Concept

Takata airbag recall

Takata made airbags that sometimes didn’t work safely. Instead of protecting you, they could break apart in a crash and hurt people, so many cars had to get their airbags replaced.

Term

counterfeit airbags

Counterfeit airbags are fake safety parts sold as if they were real. Even if they look correct, they may not deploy properly, which can make an accident more dangerous.

Term

airbag inspection

An airbag inspection is how you verify your car has the right safety parts installed. Because fake parts can look real, a proper check helps confirm you’re actually protected.

Term

airbag deployment

Airbag deployment is when the airbag inflates during a crash. Most people won’t have a crash that triggers it, but if you do, you want the airbag to work correctly.

Term

genuine part

A genuine part is the exact replacement part the car maker designed for your vehicle. For safety systems, using the right part matters so it works the way it’s supposed to.

Concept

AI trip planning

Some people use AI to help choose where to camp. It can be a helpful starting point, but you still want to double-check details before you go.

Concept

out on the trail

“Out on the trail” means driving on rougher paths than paved roads. It’s where traction and clearance matter, and you want to be more careful.

Concept

planning stages

The planning stages are what you do before you leave—like figuring out where you’re going and what to expect. It’s the part where helpful tools can make things easier and safer.

Concept

satellite imagery

Satellite imagery is like a bird’s-eye view from space. It can help you spot where campsites are and get a better sense of where you’re going.

Concept

peak travel season coincides with the highest pollution levels of the year

Sometimes the time when everyone travels is also when the air is worst. So your trip could be affected more than you’d expect just because of the season.

Concept

wildfire smoke

When wildfires burn, they release smoke into the air. Even if you’re not near the fire, the smoke can travel and make the air quality worse where you’re driving or visiting.

Car

2026 Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid

The Corolla Cross is a small SUV. In the hybrid version, a battery and electric motor help the engine, which usually means better gas mileage than a regular gas model.

Concept

trim level

A trim level is like a package of options for the same car model. The XRT trim is the one with the more rugged look and usually extra features compared with the cheaper versions.

Concept

hybrid powertrain

A hybrid uses both gas and electricity. Sometimes the electric motor helps, and sometimes the gas engine does the work, which can help you use less fuel.

Car

Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV4 is a mainstream compact SUV that’s often used as a pricing and value benchmark in the crossover segment. Here, it’s referenced because its elevated pricing makes shoppers look at alternatives like the Santa Fe hybrid.

Term

2.0 liter four cylinder engine

A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine is the gasoline portion of the hybrid system, providing power and helping charge the hybrid system as needed. In hybrids, the engine’s job is often optimized for efficiency rather than maximum acceleration.

Term

electric motor

In a hybrid, the electric motor can provide torque for acceleration and can also help the vehicle move at low speeds with less engine use. It works alongside the engine and the battery to manage power smoothly.

Term

196 horsepower combined

Hybrid cars often list “combined” power, which means the total from both the gas engine and the electric motor. It’s meant to show how strong the car feels overall, not just the gas engine alone.

Term

all wheel drive

All-wheel drive (AWD) sends power to more than one axle, improving traction when roads are slippery or uneven. In hybrids, AWD can also help the vehicle feel more stable and confident during everyday driving.

Term

continuously variable transmission

A continuously variable transmission (CVT) uses pulleys and a belt (or chain) to provide an infinite range of gear ratios, keeping the engine near its most efficient operating point. The tradeoff is that many drivers feel the engine “rev” changes are less connected to acceleration, which can feel less engaging.

Concept

enthusiast friendly option

“Enthusiast friendly” is shorthand for a driving feel that matches how a performance-minded driver expects the car to respond—often involving noticeable gear changes, direct throttle-to-speed connection, and less engine-sound “drone.” CVTs are frequently criticized in this context because they can keep the engine at a relatively constant speed while the car accelerates.

Concept

smooth daily driver

A “smooth daily driver” emphasizes comfort and easy, predictable behavior in everyday traffic rather than maximum performance. The segment frames the CVT’s character as acceptable for most buyers because the goal is fuel savings and calm drivability.

Concept

ride quality

Ride quality is how comfortable the car feels over bumps and rough pavement. They’re saying it doesn’t bounce or shake much, and it stays calm even when the roads are bad.

Concept

potholes

Potholes are holes in the road that can make your car hit hard or feel shaky. They’re saying this SUV deals with them without being too noisy or bouncy.

Concept

hybrid fuel economy (city stop-and-go)

A hybrid can use its electric motor more when you’re creeping along or stopping a lot. In city traffic, that usually helps it burn less gas than it would on a smooth highway drive.

Term

cloth upholstery

Cloth upholstery just means the seats are covered in fabric instead of leather. It’s usually comfortable and practical, but it may not feel as upscale as leather-like materials.

Term

synthetic leather

Synthetic leather is a fake leather material made to look and feel like leather. It’s usually cheaper than real leather, but it can still feel nice depending on the quality.

Term

heated front seats

Heated front seats warm you up using built-in heat in the seats. It’s a comfort feature that helps fast in cold weather.

Term

heated steering wheel

A heated steering wheel warms the part you hold. In cold weather, it helps your hands feel comfortable right away.

Term

power sunroof

A power sunroof is a roof panel that can be opened and closed electrically, usually with a switch or button. It adds ventilation and light, and it’s typically more convenient than a manual sunroof.

Term

wireless phone charging

Wireless phone charging charges your phone without plugging in a cable. You just set the phone on the charging spot.

Car

Toyota GR Corolla

The Toyota GR Corolla is a performance-oriented Corolla variant, so it’s a useful benchmark for how “sporty” touch points and ergonomics can feel. Here, the host says even in a sporty GR Corolla, the Hyundai’s layout feels similar in terms of controls and seating feel.

Term

cubic feet behind the second row

“Cubic feet behind the second row” is cargo volume, a common way to compare how much stuff an SUV can hold without folding the seats. Lower numbers generally mean less everyday practicality for larger items, even if the vehicle is otherwise roomy.

Term

44 cubic feet

This is a measurement of how much stuff the SUV can hold. When they fold the back seats down, the cargo area becomes much larger—enough for bigger items, but not truly heavy hauling.

Term

wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

These features let your phone’s apps show up on the car’s screen. With wireless setup, you usually don’t need to plug your phone in every time.

Term

digital gauge cluster

Instead of regular dials, the speedometer and other info are shown on a screen. A bigger screen can make it easier to see what you need while driving.

Brand

Toyota Safety Sense

This is Toyota’s package of safety tech that helps you avoid crashes. It can warn you about things like cars in your blind spot or traffic coming from the side.

Term

blind spot monitoring

This feature watches for cars you can’t easily see in your mirrors. If a car is in your blind spot, it warns you so you don’t accidentally change lanes into it.

Term

forward collision warnings

This system watches the road ahead for situations where you might hit something. If it thinks a crash is likely, it alerts you so you can brake or steer sooner.

Company

JBL

JBL is a well-known brand for car audio. If the car has a “JBL system,” it usually means the speakers and sound tuning are meant to be better than the cheapest audio option.

Topic

trim choice and value (opting for lower trim vs top trim)

They’re talking about whether it’s worth paying extra for the highest trim level. The idea is: you can save money with a lower trim, but the top trim may be worth it if you really want the added features.

Car

Hyundai Santa Fe XRT AWD

This is a Hyundai Santa Fe with the XRT trim, which is meant to look more rugged and capable. It’s still an everyday family SUV with three rows, not a dedicated off-road vehicle.

Car

Hyundai Palisade

The Palisade is Hyundai’s bigger three-row SUV. They’re comparing it to the Santa Fe to explain how “midsize” the Santa Fe feels in real life.

Term

all-terrain tires

All-terrain tires are made to work on both regular roads and rougher surfaces. They’re one of the main reasons this SUV can feel more “off-road ready.”

Term

2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4

It’s a small four-cylinder engine with a turbocharger. The turbo helps it feel stronger without needing a bigger engine.

Term

turbocharged engine

A turbo can make the engine work harder, so some people worry about how long it will last. Here, the host notes the long powertrain warranty as reassurance.

Term

10-year powertrain warranty

This is Hyundai promising to cover big drivetrain repairs for a long time. It helps if something expensive breaks in the engine or transmission area.

Term

eight-speed automatic transmission

This is an automatic gearbox with eight different gear ratios. It helps the car shift smoothly and keep the engine in the right “sweet spot.”

Term

Multiple drive modes

Drive modes are presets that change how the car behaves. For example, Eco usually aims for smoother, efficient driving, while Sport tends to feel more responsive.

Term

turbocharged powertrain

“Turbocharged” means the engine gets extra air pushed in, so it can feel more powerful without needing a bigger engine. It usually helps with acceleration and pulling power.

Term

snow mode

Snow mode is a driver-selectable AWD/traction setting designed to reduce wheel slip and manage throttle response on low-grip surfaces. The hosts argue it’s not strictly necessary because the system works well even on the standard setting.

Term

up to towing capacity of 4,500 pounds

Towing capacity is how much weight the vehicle is allowed to pull safely. “4,500 pounds” is the maximum the car is rated for (assuming you use the right setup).

Term

50-50 split folding third row

The third-row seats can fold down in two halves. That way you can carry bigger items while still keeping some seats available.

Term

H-tex

H-tex is Hyundai’s name for their fake-leather seat material. The hosts are saying it looks good and works well for them.

Term

leatherette

Leatherette is a synthetic upholstery material designed to look and feel like leather while typically being easier to maintain. The hosts mention Hyundai’s specific branding for this material (H-tex) and how it compares to real leather in their view.

Term

152 cubic feet of passenger volume

This is a measurement of how much room the cabin has for people. More cubic feet usually means the seats and space feel less cramped.

Term

infotainment

Infotainment is the car’s main tech system—like the screen for music, maps, and phone features. They’re saying it’s easy to use without distracting you.

Brand

Genesis

Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand. The hosts are comparing how the two brands handle infotainment screens—Genesis may be more flashy, but Hyundai’s setup is still easy to use.

Car

Hyundai Genesis

Genesis is a luxury car brand that comes from Hyundai. It makes cars that are meant to feel more premium than typical mainstream models. The podcast mention is about how Genesis presents its cars with more eye-catching design and visuals.

Term

total sticker price

“Sticker price” is the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) shown on the vehicle before taxes and fees. When the hosts say the total sticker price is $44,000, they’re emphasizing the upfront price point rather than the final amount you might pay after dealer charges and taxes.

Car

Volvo EX60

This is Volvo’s electric SUV/crossover called the EX60. The conversation is about what it’s like and how Volvo is approaching its newer EV products.

Car

Volvo EX90

The EX90 is another Volvo electric vehicle. They mention it to show that Volvo has already been rolling out multiple EVs, not just one.

Concept

EV tax credit incentives

They’re saying that earlier, buying an EV was cheaper because of government tax credits. Now that those credits are gone, EVs have to make their case based on normal things like range and price.

Concept

OEMs stepping in to keep EVs affordable

OEMs are the car companies themselves. The idea here is that even without tax credits, the companies are trying to keep EVs priced so regular shoppers can still afford them.

Car

Hyundai EX60

The Hyundai EX60 is an all-electric SUV. They’re talking about how far it can drive on a charge and how quickly it can charge, plus different versions with different power and range.

Car

Volvo XC60

They’re comparing the new electric SUV to the XC60 to explain how big and practical it feels. The point is that the EX60 should feel similarly sized, but with more room inside.

Concept

Spa3 platform

A platform is the car’s main “foundation” that determines how the body and components fit together. They’re saying the EX60’s new platform helps it fit more space inside and use space more efficiently.

Concept

electric range

The segment repeatedly cites electric range figures for different EX60 configurations, emphasizing how far the vehicle can go on a charge. Range is one of the biggest practical considerations for EV buyers because it affects trip planning and charging frequency.

Concept

zero to 60

“Zero to 60” means how fast the car can accelerate from standing still up to 60 mph. It’s a simple way to compare which version feels quicker when you need to speed up.

Concept

charging time

This is about how fast the battery can be replenished at a charger. They’re comparing a quick charge that gives you a lot of range versus a longer charge that gives you even more.

Term

NAX charging built-in

This means the car is set up to charge using a certain charging system without needing extra add-on pieces. That makes charging simpler and usually faster to do in real life.

Company

supercharger network

This is a network of fast charging stations. They’re saying the car can use those stations more easily because you don’t have to mess with adapters.

Concept

flat load floor in the rear

This means the back cargo area is mostly flat instead of having bumps or raised sections. That makes it easier to load groceries, bags, or gear without fighting the shape.

Concept

power recline

Power recline means the seat back can tilt backward using buttons or switches. It’s more convenient than adjusting it by hand.

Term

Google as their assistant or maps

They’re saying the car can use Google for things like voice help and navigation. That’s meant to feel familiar if you already use Google on your phone.

Concept

Google built into our car

Some cars now have Google services built in. That means you can use navigation and an assistant without always plugging in your phone first.

Company

Google Maps

Google Maps is the navigation app that tells you where to go and how to get there. In this case, it’s built into the car.

Company

Google Gemini

Gemini is an AI assistant you can talk to. You can ask questions and it answers, which can be handy for things like learning about people or events.

Term

Android Auto wirelessly

Android Auto wirelessly means you can connect your Android phone to the car without plugging it in. Then you can use supported apps through the car screen.

Term

curved OLED screen

OLED is a high-quality screen technology. A curved screen can make it easier to see clearly from the driver’s seat.

Term

forward facing dim

They’re describing a display placed near the windshield so you can see important info without looking down. That can help you stay focused on the road.

Term

triangle... squircle... square circle

They changed the steering wheel shape to help you see the screen better and to avoid it feeling like it hits your knees. It’s more about comfort and visibility than looks.

Term

field of view

Field of view means what you can comfortably see at a glance. The hosts are saying the design helps you see the important info without moving your eyes or head much.

Concept

0 to 60s

“0 to 60” is just a measure of how fast a car gets up to 60 mph from a stop. It’s one of the easiest ways to compare acceleration between different cars.

Concept

800 volt architecture

“800-volt” is the EV’s electrical system design. Higher voltage can help the car charge faster and deliver power more efficiently, but you only get the best results if the charger and conditions support it.

Concept

P6, P10, P12 nomenclature

P6, P10, and P12 are Volvo’s internal naming tiers for performance/power levels on the EX60 platform. The hosts explain that the labels correspond to the power the car can produce within certain “bands,” and they map to motor configurations like single vs twin motor performance.

Term

single motor, twin motor

Single-motor and twin-motor refer to how many electric drive units propel the vehicle. Twin-motor setups typically allow easier AWD behavior and can improve acceleration by distributing torque across more wheels.

Company

Bose

Bose is the company making the car’s sound system. Here they’re saying the entry-level Volvo gets a multi-speaker setup with extra features like noise cancelling and speakers built into the headrests.

Company

Bowers and Vulkan

Bowers and Vulkan is the premium audio brand Volvo is using on the top trim. They’re saying it adds a lot more speakers (28 total) and includes headrest speakers in front and rear for a more immersive sound.

Company

Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra sound setting

It’s a built-in audio mode that tries to make music sound like it’s being played in a concert hall. The goal is better sound quality, not just volume.

Concept

equalizer

An equalizer is a sound control that changes the balance of bass, mids, and treble. It helps you make voices sound clearer or music sound richer depending on what you’re listening to.

Company

Volvo EVs

They’re talking about Volvo’s electric cars and how Volvo plans to make them easier to live with. The focus is on how fast you can charge, how far you can drive, and how service is handled.

Concept

range 400 miles

Range is how far the car can go on one full battery charge. The hosts are saying Volvo is targeting around 400 miles so it competes well with other EVs.

Concept

direct-to-consumer brands

Some EV companies sell cars straight to you online, without local dealerships. The hosts are saying that can make it tougher to get service, while Volvo’s approach keeps service tied to local retailers.

Concept

Volvo ecosystem

They mean Volvo’s whole plan for what happens after you buy the car. In this case, they’re saying Volvo expects to offer both electric cars and gas cars for a while.

Concept

mild hybrid

A mild hybrid is a car that uses a small battery to help the gas engine work more efficiently. It can’t usually drive very far on electricity alone, but it can improve gas mileage.

Concept

plug-in hybrid

A plug-in hybrid is part-electric and part-gas. You can charge it and drive for a limited distance on electricity, and when that runs out, the gas engine takes over.

Term

12-volt battery

The 12-volt battery is the car’s smaller battery that helps run electrical systems. In a mild hybrid, it also helps the engine be more efficient, but it doesn’t let the car go far on electricity alone.

Concept

charging situation

Your EV’s charging situation is basically how you’ll charge it day to day. If you don’t have easy charging where you live or work, the car can be a lot more annoying to own.

Concept

home charger

If you can charge your electric car at home, it’s much easier to live with. You don’t have to hunt for chargers every day.

Concept

public chargers

If you can’t charge at home, you rely on public charging stations. They can be crowded, sometimes broken, and may not charge as fast as you need.

Company

Mercury Insurance

Mercury Insurance is sponsoring the podcast. It’s not directly about the cars—more about who’s paying to support the show.

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 is co-host Chris Teague and Chris, you just went to Vermont

and came back.

How was that trip?

It was very fast, cloudy and rainy, but I'll take it, Vermont's beautiful any time of

year.

Yeah, I love Vermont.

Great state, great state, you're lucky to live nearby, you live in a great state as

well.

Plenty of automotive news to talk about this week.

Car buyers, I don't have to tell a lot of people this, car buyers are facing a growing

financial squeeze, negative equity, reaching near record levels, monthly payments climbing

to new highs, we'll talk about that.

As we hinted in an episode a few weeks ago, Sony and Honda are hitting the brakes on their

high profile EV partnership, they're canceling all the Othila models and restructuring their

joint venture, kind of restructuring it into not a joint venture I think, but we'll talk

about that.

Safety concerns are back in the spotlight, regulators are warning about defective replacement

airbags.

We've talked about this on the show maybe a year or so ago, but there's still causing

injuries out there, so take a look.

Camping is getting a high tech upgrade as travelers turn to AI and satellite internet

to choose camping sites.

Is that something you would do, Chris?

I think about camping as getting away from other things, so I don't know.

Yeah, I find that interesting.

And going on the road on vacation might not be as refreshing as you think with new data

showing that peak tourist season often coincides with the worst air quality in major destinations.

Go figure.

Do you consider air quality in your vacation destination choices?

I haven't yet, but I might start.

There you go.

Why not?

There's something else to worry about.

America on the Road is brought to you by drivingtoday.com, emlancy.com, the publisher

of my latest book, Only One Thing Stays the Same, and Mercury Insurance.

If you're looking to save some money, you should switch to Mercury for your auto and

home insurance.

Californians save an average of $670 with Mercury, so imagine how much you could save.

Get a quote today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance.

Chris, what is your test vehicle for this week?

I meant that we drive in the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid, and I can't wait to

tell you all about it.

I am looking forward to that report.

I had a somewhat similar vehicle, I think a size up maybe.

The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT all-wheel drive.

So we'll talk about that in our road test segment.

And this week our guest is Garang Kalsaria.

He's head of future vehicles at Volvo Cars America, and we'll be talking about the Volvo

EX-60 battery electric that we got a preview of.

So stay with us for that.

We have tons of show coming up.

Great guest, Chris is with us as co-host, so it's a marvelous time.

Stay with us and we'll be right back.

Welcome back everybody to America on the Road.

Chris T, we're so glad Chris is with us.

He does a marvelous job with co-hosting America on the Road, and we're also thankful to you

for listening to America on the Road.

We do appreciate that.

If you like the show, pass it along to somebody who you think might like hearing a couple

of guys talk about cars, and we do that every week.

Negative equity.

That's a big problem, right?

Being upside down is a big problem.

It's a growing financial strain.

This has been going on for a while, but this is a number that jumped out at me, Chris.

31% of trade-ins for new vehicles carry debt exceeding the vehicle's value.

That means they were upside down.

They rolled some of the debt they had on the old car into the new car loan.

This is the highest share since 2021 when we had all that weird COVID stuff going on.

The average amount of owed on these underwater vehicles is $7,100.

So these people are owing $7,100 on the car that they're rolling into the dealership with

to trade in, and then they're looking for a new loan.

Some cases they're carrying $15,000 or more into these things.

When you look at what this does to the monthly payment of these folks, it's close to $1,000.

$932 is the average.

Comment on this.

This is crazy, right?

Yeah.

I mean, if you look back in the early COVID days, vehicle prices were pretty inflated

when we had some shortages and things were happening that were causing the prices to

go up.

People like myself who don't want to keep a vehicle for a long time are now looking

at the back end of those loans, and they haven't been paying on the value of them for that

long.

And so they're looking to trade that in on a new vehicle.

Look, that is one thing that as many times as I've swapped cars I've avoided doing is

rolling in because you end up paying for two or three cars with your current vehicle.

And cars are only becoming more expensive, right?

I mean, the average transaction price is up near $50,000.

So rolling that in on top of an already expensive car, you're kind of looking at some very

steep payments for what could be a very long time.

Yeah.

I mean, folks are rolling up tons of credit card debt, and that's hurting them.

They're paying huge interest on those.

And then they're rolling their previous debt into a new car loan.

I mean, I'm just, people are kind of committing financial suicide in a way or certainly hurting

themselves and they could do a better job, I think.

Yeah.

And, you know, unfortunately, it doesn't look like car prices are cooling anytime soon.

They're, you know, those average prices, I should say, we wrote about this the other

day are being driven by the higher end of the market, right?

People are buying a lot of pickup trucks and full-size SUVs.

The average prices for compact vehicles are nowhere near that number.

They're down in the $30,000 range in some cases.

So, you know, but rolling in negative equity obviously kills any good deal you might have

gotten on a new car.

So I would advise to keep the vehicle if you're, unless you absolutely have to get rid of it,

keep that car and keep paying on it.

Yeah, makes a whole lot of sense.

Well, it is official.

This is something we talked about on a fairly recent show.

Sony and Honda had put together what I thought was a very ambitious electric vehicle partnership.

I was looking forward to seeing what they would come up with, you know, two really interesting

companies getting together for Sony Honda Mobility.

Well, that's kind of going away, really.

They have officially pulled the plug on that and the Ophila brand.

That wasn't maybe the necessary, the best name for a vehicle brand anyway.

But they had two cars kind of lined up, ready to go.

And they've just decided, well, not going to do that.

They had announced this at CES in 2023.

And I think I was excited about it.

You probably were too, right, Chris?

Yeah, I was.

And I think I said this the first time we discussed this, the Ophila was one of those

visionary early models when everyone was very excited about new electric vehicles.

They're futuristic.

They got a lot of tech in them.

But that moment passed when people started looking at more, you know,

regular looking vehicles, lower priced cars.

And unfortunately for Honda and maybe even Sony, they put a ton of money into this thing

and now they're going to have to sync it.

Yeah.

I mean, the scale of these things and the scale of the write off on this is just

amazing, but it just shows you the scale of the auto industry globally.

It's just it's crazy amounts of money.

But there you go.

Well, the ASE has automotive service excellence.

That organization has advised that there's a lot of defective airbags out there.

And the airbag is right in your steering wheel.

It's right in the passenger side dash among other places.

And sadly, some of them are actually killing people rather than saving people.

They certainly have saved many, many lives, but they're also costing some lives.

And if you have a defective airbag and don't know it, you might have, you know,

something equivalent to a gun pointing at the middle of your chest in your car.

You know, I don't want to over dramatize this, but that's kind of the case.

Isn't it, Chris?

It is.

And if you look back at the Takata airbag recall, there are millions and

millions of vehicles involved in this.

And, you know, everybody's looking to save money.

So these counterfeit airbags look just like the real thing.

They're getting being put in sometimes by reputable shops who don't know any

better, but they're no better than the defective airbags they replace.

In some cases, they may even be more dangerous.

So yeah, and you can't tell just by looking at your car.

So an inspection, like you said, is something that would be in order.

Yeah.

I mean, it's really frightening because even the boxes are counterfeit a lot of

times, I mean, they come in packaging that makes them look like they're authentic.

And at the same time, they're not.

And, you know, certainly most cars are not going to be in a crash that

deploys airbags, so that's good.

But you never know.

And you certainly want that protection.

And the last thing you want, of course, is for that airbag to cause injury to you

or even worse in an accident that otherwise you have no problem with at all.

And that's happened too.

Yeah.

You know, legitimate airbags save lives.

There's no question about it.

They're one of those things that people count on to work when they're in a

crash and having one that either doesn't deploy properly or, as you said,

deploys as an explosion with metal flying everywhere.

Those can worsen the accident by a lot.

Yeah.

So have those inspected and it's probably not all that easy to do that inspection.

But I think be very careful if you were replacing an airbag that you're getting

a genuine part, I think that is critical.

Here's, are you a camper, Chris?

Do you go camping?

Do you do that camping thing?

My back doesn't love it as much as I do, but I do still try to get out a

couple of times a year.

Yeah.

I was a camper years ago.

I loved it.

Uh, maybe those days are over for me.

I kind of like camping in the hotel room these days with the running water and

the plumbing nearby.

But, uh, apparently a lot of folks, this is according to the DIRT, D-Y-R-T, by

the way, are using AI to pick out campsites.

And I think that's kind of interesting.

This is according to the 2026 camping report.

One third of campers say they trust AI to recommend campgrounds.

I think a lot of people are using AI just to plan their trips or to give

them a jumping off point on their trip.

Uh, would you do that?

Uh, yeah, you know, I think AI has its pluses and minuses.

Being able to do a wide range of research and combine it into something that's

easy to read is one of the things that's actually pretty good at.

Uh, so I could see that happening.

You know, I don't know that I want it guiding me when I'm out on the trail or

doing those sorts of things, but for the planning stages, I could see it being

useful.

Yeah, I can see this.

And also, you know, satellite imagery, you can kind of see where the campsites

are and things like that.

Uh, one of the things that always amuses me about campsite camping is you try

and get away from it all.

And then in a lot of campsites, you're much closer to your neighbors than you

would be if you were staying at home.

Uh, which some people like that camaraderie and it can be fun, you know,

the campfire joy and meeting new people.

That's all that great.

And then you get the drunken guys, you know, two campsites down that are, uh,

you know, playing the guitar and drinking beer until three in the morning.

And that isn't so wonderful.

Yeah.

You know, my favorite camping tricks of trips have been ones where we've been

on a long hike on a very long trail and we can kind of go off the trail and

find a spot that's a little bit out in the wild.

Uh, but I do see the appeal of driving a camper to a campsite and having

those, you know, the base camp sort of setup.

But as you say, there are a lot of campsites here in Maine where you end up

very close to people and it's, uh, can be an unfriendly or an annoying

situation, I should say, in a lot of cases, probably more annoying than

unfriendly, but I, uh, a hundred percent get you air quality at tourist destinations.

This is something I had never even thought of, Chris.

And this is from data from a company called champion traveler.

They say in 45 major tourist locations, some of them overseas, by the way, uh,

the peak travel season coincides with the highest pollution levels of the year.

And this wasn't even in my consciousness.

This is something I should be watching out for.

Yeah, I, you know, like I said earlier in the show, I don't know, I hadn't

been thinking of this prior to, uh, this conversation, but you know, I might start.

Yeah.

For instance, in the American West, I live in the American West and I'm

proud of it, uh, wildfire smoke has significantly worsened summer conditions in

a lot of places, cities like South Lake Tahoe, which I wouldn't necessarily

consider a city, but a lovely place to go.

Even Portland, Oregon, they see triple up pollution levels in, uh, the summer

that they do in other times of year.

Uh, on the other hand, if you go there and go to Portland in the winter,

you're probably going to get drenched, uh, in tons of water.

So interesting stuff.

I think, uh, maybe something I would factor in, maybe not.

Yeah.

We've had Canadian wildfire smoke covering Maine in the past couple of years.

The last time I was at Yosemite, there was quite a bit of wildfire smoke around.

So I can see that.

Yeah.

What is your road test vehicle this week, Chris?

I drove the 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid.

And I will be talking about the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT.

It's off the off-road version of the Santa Fe.

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 to Jackie.

If you wrote does time and we have some affordable and I think kind of

fun to drive, uh, SUVs to talk about here, reasonably affordable and reasonably

fun to drive.

Uh, tell us, give us your take on what you were driving, Chris.

Yeah.

I think reasonable is the word here.

Uh, I was driving the 2026 Corolla, Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid.

Uh, Toyota offers a gas and a hybrid version of this vehicle.

Uh, you can get into it for around $25,000 on the base end.

That's for the lower end gas model.

Mine as the very top end of the hybrid was around $35,000 as tested.

Jack, when have you driven the Corolla Cross and what did you think of it?

I was on the launch of the Corolla Cross.

I was impressed with it.

I thought, wow, this makes a lot of sense given the elevated price

levels of the RAV4, uh, which is a wonderful vehicle, but getting

pricier and then the Corolla Cross has gotten a lot pricier too.

And so that's kind of my take on that.

I think a great vehicle, but, uh, price has gone up.

Yeah, I still don't think it's terribly expensive for what you get.

And I think everything that I say in this review should be colored

under the view of this being a slightly more affordable vehicle on the spectrum.

But the hybrid model comes with a 2.0 liter four cylinder engine and an electric

motor. You get 196 horsepower combined.

The hybrid comes standard with all wheel drive and it's powered by a

continuously variable transmission.

Jack, we've talked about this, uh, we're blue in the face at this point in time.

The continuously variable transmission here, uh, is not the most

enthusiast friendly option.

I think, you know, Hyundai, you made the one you might be discussing

in a little bit uses a six speed or a seven speed transmission.

It lets the engine wine when you're, when you're under heavy, even light

acceleration, not even heavy throttle.

And it just kind of dulls the driving experience.

But for a hybrid that's looking to save fuel and be a smooth daily driver,

I think most people won't mind this and nobody's going to be hot rotting

around in their Corolla Cross hybrid.

It's not terribly quick, as I said, but it is reasonable, especially

with the electric motors that helps you get off the line.

So if you're pulling from a red light or from a stop sign or trying to pull

into traffic, uh, you're going to have enough power and it feels

reasonably quick at those first 25 to 30 miles an hour.

So, uh, I don't think anyone's going to feel, uh, left out in this regard.

But again, this is not a performance vehicle.

Um, the ride quality here is surprisingly solid.

Uh, you know, we're at the end of winter.

I say that as most people are going to the beach already, but here in

Maine, it's still pretty cold.

Uh, they're starting to patch up the roads, but they're rough.

This vehicle is able to handle some of the potholes here.

There's not a lot of noise.

There's not a lot of jitteriness, uh, and handling at the same time.

You're not going to feel like you're swaying back and forth.

So, um, pretty well composed and I didn't have any problems with it.

What did you think of the overall driving experience, not necessarily

the speed, but the comfort and the sound levels?

I thought it was perfect for the buyer of the vehicle, right?

I don't think this is an enthusiast buyer.

I think this is a buyer of practicality.

They want something that can haul a bunch of stuff.

I see this as a really nice urban vehicle, for example.

And, you know, I think it works just fine for them.

And the added fuel economy of the hybrid, uh, it's just a bonus.

Yeah.

And the hybrid does its best, uh, fuel economy reduction in the city

where you're doing stop and go and the electric motors can take up

more of the, the propulsion there.

Uh, but inside this vehicle comes standard with cloth upholstery.

My top trim tester had synthetic leather upholstery as Toyota does.

Their synthetic leather is pretty nice.

It feels, you know, quality.

It doesn't feel sticky or vinyl like vinyl or anything like that.

The top X, X, S, E trim, if I can say that without stuttering,

comes with heated front seats, a heated steering wheel.

You get wireless phone charging and a power sunroof.

The front seats are comfortable.

Jack, it feels a lot like a regular Corolla in this vehicle.

You know, I owned a GR Corolla and even that sporty vehicle,

there's some of the touch points and the ergonomics are similar between them.

So I was pleasantly surprised here.

The back seat is not the most spacious, which I think is the same in the Corolla sedan.

So I think there's no surprises there.

And the back bench is a little bit flatter than I would like to see.

There's not a lot of support.

The padding is not the best, but you're paying for the fuel economy here.

And again, some of the reliability that you get from a Toyota.

You get 21, only 21.5 cubic feet behind the second row, which isn't a ton.

You know, we could fit some boxes back there.

I was able to do my family's grocery shopping for a family of four.

So six or so grocery bags will max out the back of this vehicle.

Folding down the back seats, it expands that space to 44 cubic feet.

And they do fold reasonably flat.

So you can fit some larger items in there, but you're not going to be hauling a dresser

or going on any big antiquing runs with this vehicle without some stress involved, I should say.

Come standard with an eight inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also

standard. My vehicle had a 10.5 inch touchscreen.

And as we've talked about many times, Toyota's infotainment system is much improved over previous

versions. It uses a white background, a lighter interface now as opposed to the sort of blocky

black interface that it had before. It's easy to use. It's easy to navigate.

You can decide, you know, your inputs between your phone or the radio pretty easily.

And scrolling through radio stations is reasonably easy, although there's no tuning knobs.

So you're left tapping at a back and forth arrow on the touchscreen.

But you do get a volume knob here, which a lot of systems can't say, can't say that.

So big benefit there. My top trim tester also had a 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster,

which is nice. Toyota tends to pack in way too much information onto that screen though.

And it's not as configurable as something you get in like a Volkswagen product.

So something to keep in mind. And I'd also had a nine speaker JBL system and a full suite of

Toyota Safety Sense safety features such as like blind spot monitoring, forward cross traffic,

rear cross traffic, rear cross traffic alerts, forward collision warnings and so on.

Jack, I think if I were getting this vehicle, I would opt for a lower trim to save some money.

But if you're going for the top trim, 35 grand is not breaking the bank in terms of today's

auto market. I know that sounds crazy, but you do get quite a bit for the money.

Yeah. I mean, here we have a subcompact SUV, nice one, you know, high quality and, you know,

upscale with a hybrid powertrain, but it's costing 35,000 bucks. I mean,

a while ago, this maybe was high 20s, 28, 25, 27, something like that.

Yeah. This was Lexus territory in the early 2000s, high in Lexus territory.

Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely true. Well, I was driving a vehicle that I just flat like. I should get that

out of the way. I think the Hyundai Santa Fe, I think they've done a really nice job. Hyundai has

done a really nice job with the Santa Fe. I was driving the XRT trim, which kind of presents

itself as a ruggedized, if there is such a word, variant of this three-row SUV, kind of presents

itself as a midsize. I mean, it's kind of on the small side of midsize here. I would say the

Hyundai Palisade is really, to my mind, more of the midsize vehicle, but this is a very roomy

vehicle with three rows. So I like that. It has this off-road aesthetics and capability kind of

exterior elements, the things that Chris really loves. He loves that stuff. I don't think they

overdo it here. It has unique badging and 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. The all-terrain

tires are probably the biggest bow to going off-road that this vehicle has. It's just a worthwhile

vehicle with a lot of interior volume. It's designed to appeal to buyers who want this tough

image. I think there's a ton of folks that seem to like that, whether they ever even

remotely go off-road is another question and maybe immaterial to the car manufacturers.

They just want to sell vehicles. Under the hood, this vehicle does not use the hybrid powertrain

that you can get in some other Santa Fe. It uses the 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4

with 277 horsepower, 311 pound-feet of torque. It has plenty of power. I have some questions

about having a turbocharged engine in a vehicle like this, but just for longevity's sake. You

know me, Chris. I keep vehicles like forever, so maybe that's not an issue. They do have a 10-year

powertrain warranty, so it can't be that much to worry about. To your point on automatic

transmissions, this has an eight-speed automatic transmission teamed with the H-track all-wheel

drive system, so that works just fine and is kind of very conventional in the way it feels,

which I think we both applaud. Multiple drive modes, Comfort, Eco, Sport, Smart, and it has the

terrain-specific settings like snow and sand and mud. Sand and mud is exclusive to the XRT,

so it allows you to go through sand and mud where others won't. Well, maybe they will, but I don't

know. Your thoughts on powertrain and overall thoughts about this thing before I go onward here.

The turbocharged powertrain is plenty powerful, as you say. I think it does its job. I do agree

with the looking tough, but not necessarily being tough situation. I'm in the minority when I

complain about this, but Hyundai's all-wheel drive does great in the snow. I can tell you that from

experience. It does great even on the standard setting. You don't need to go into snow mode

or anything like that, so some of those feel superfluous, but they're there for what they are.

I guess people do use them. Yeah, they have up to towing capacity of 4,500 pounds,

so that's a reasonable amount. Driving dynamics are just fine, kind of what you would think about

with a vehicle like this. It's an SUV with these large off-road tires. It handles just fine, though.

I like the interior. It's seating for up to seven with the second row bench. It has a 50-50

split folding third row. I just think it's a really worthwhile kind of interior, very useful

versatile interior. It has leatherette. H-tex is what they call their faux leather,

and I think it looks good. I think it works just fine. I think it's a lot better than leather.

In terms of interior, passenger volume, gigantic, 152 cubic feet of passenger volume, 79.6 cubic

feet of cargo space behind the front seats. It actually has, if you fold down the third row seats,

it has a lot of room back there, too. We were actually trying to fit my father-in-law's wheelchair

back there and sorted that out, so that worked. Infotainment and technology very, very good because

it uses the Hyundai system, so that works well. What's your reaction, Chris, to the infotainment

system in the Santa Fe? We've talked about this a bunch of times, Jack, but I think it does well

with simplicity. Hyundai doesn't do a lot of flashy graphics and transitions and things.

Genesis does, which is a Hyundai brand, but even so, it's easy to navigate it when you're driving,

so you're not spending a lot of time pecking around and being distracted. They also do a good

job with physical steering wheel control, so it makes it easy to interact without taking your

hands off the wheel. I'm a fan. I've always been a fan. I think they've been a leader for a long

time. Yeah, I think that sums it up real well, and they also do a nice job with safety. I think

all around, this is a worthwhile vehicle. It's not inexpensive. Let me tell you exactly what

this cost. The total sticker price was $44,000. That's a lot of money. Hyundai does a good

job with value, though. As you mentioned, the powertrain warranty is one of the longest.

It's among the longest in the segment, in the business, too, so good for them, I guess.

Overall, I think it's a very good vehicle. Again, I might not buy the XRT, or I might,

because it looks kind of cool. When we come back, we'll have a great guest,

Garang Kalsaria, his head of future vehicles at Volvo Cars Americas. He and I sat down and

talked about the Volvo EX60 that we got a special look at fairly recently here in Southern California,

so stay with us for that, and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.

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Welcome back everybody to America on the Road, definitely right back with you in Culver City,

California. An exciting day to talk about an electric vehicle, the electric EX60.

With me is a product expert on that. Thanks so much for being with us. We appreciate it.

Glad to be here. Thanks for having me.

We have talked before. We're talking yet again about a brand new product, and you're kind of a

different atmosphere, right? I mean, then we've seen before, especially with electric vehicles,

you've introduced several now. EX90, for example. Correct. Yes. Really, really nice vehicle, but

a little different kind of environment right now. Talk about that a little bit before we dive into

the vehicle. Sure. I'd say the EX60 is going to go into a segment where it's the biggest EV

segment right now. There's a lot of competitors out there, so we have access to a lot more

customers who are shopping for mid-sized, fully electric SUV. We do see that EV sales have been,

I'd say, depending on the month or the year. They've been on a decline, but we're still

committed to be launching new EVs for our future. Maybe we've reached stasis on that,

do you think, as opposed to a decline in EVs? Certainly, there was a lot of promotion of EVs,

and of course, there was a tax credit that was a major, major financial advantage in buying one.

Now that's gone, but I think maybe things are starting to level out. Now these vehicles are

going to fight pretty much on their own merits, right? Correct. Yes. I think the tax incentives

might have gone away, but the OEMs have kind of stepped in and are still trying to make the

cars affordable for the consumers. Yeah. Well, let's talk about EX60. Yes.

Exciting vehicle. I happen to drive here in an XC60. Okay. I was just struck about how nice

that car is, how right-sized it is, and you kind of captured all that in the EX60, right?

Correct. We have, and exactly as you said, so I'd say think of the XC60, but the EX60,

since it's built on our new Spa3 platform, we're able to increase the proportions. So we'll have

some more roominess on the inside, as well as versatility and efficiency on the outside.

Let's dive into the powertrain and charging and all that. Yeah. That's kind of the life's blood of

an EV. Yeah, sure. We'll have three different flavors. So we have the P6, which will be the

rear-wheel drive that gets over 300 miles of range. About 307 is what we're seeing right now with

our internal testing. The P10, which will be the all-wheel drive, will get 322 miles of range

in about 503 horsepower. So about 4.4 seconds zero to 60. And then we'll have the top of the line

P12, which is 670 horsepower, 3.8 seconds zero to 60, and up to 400 miles of electric range. Wow.

Yeah. And tell us about charging time, because I think you have some...

Yes. Charging time has been really improved in our cars over the years.

This will have the best charging time of any Volvo that we've produced. So in 10 minutes,

you could get 173 miles of charging, or you could go from 10 to 80% within 16 minutes.

Wow. So a cup of coffee or maybe a bio break and out of the car and off you go.

And what's really neat about the EX-60 is it's going to have the NAX charging built-in,

so no need to have adapters, and you could use a supercharger network without needing adapters.

Which is nice, because there's a little bit of fumbling around, I think.

Yeah. So EX-60 will be the first car with NAX built-in.

This is a vehicle that looks a lot like the EX-60, right? But different platform,

largely different than. Tell us how different than in all the different ways it is.

Yes. So if you look at the wheelbase of the EX-60, it's about four inches bigger.

And because of this, you have more interior space. And speaking of interior space,

the load floor in the rear is flat. So again, more roominess for our customer.

And just seeing what SUV buyers want. We know they want space, they want comfort,

and they want confidence in a vehicle. And EX-60 delivers on all three.

Cool. Does it have wider rear doors too, because of the longer wheelbase?

A similar proportion for the door-wise, but the wheelbase is longer,

so it's more of a space on the inside. So on the front and rear,

there's also a little bit more in the cargo area, but the doors are very similar in size.

Rear seat space about the same? The couple of distance is actually larger.

So when you are sitting, you will have more space from your knees to that front seat.

And not only that, the rear seats have power recline, so the customer in the back has more

space to relax. Let's talk about infotainment system, because it seems a big critical factor

in a lot of vehicles now. And either a factor that gets a lot of praise or a lot of complaints.

Talk about what's available. So we've incorporated what customers are so

used to using in their daily life. Usually they're using Google as their assistant or maps.

So Google is built into our car. You have Google Maps as a navigation system.

Google Gemini as your assistant, which I've been testing out and I find very useful,

especially having a seven-year-old. You're able to ask all types of questions and get a lot of

knowledge while you're driving back from those pickups. And it has a Google...

Are you interested? I do. I do. So just...

Mostly it's accurate.

Yeah. I mean, I'm not going to ask for like super detailed like investment advice, but

the other day we're going to a science fair and there was happened to be astronauts at this fair

Hoot Gibson and a few others, which I didn't know much about. So along the drive, I was just

asking Google, like, hey, can you tell me a little bit more about these people? So my daughter can

know too. Give us a bio, some trips that they've been on, and some key information. So very helpful.

Yeah. Yeah. Sounds very helpful. And it doesn't require a smartphone. Am I right that you can

hook up an Android phone and operates that way, but also can use this without a smartphone and

a lot of these factors? Exactly. Since it's all built in, there's no need to hook up your phone

to use Google. But if you do want to use Apple CarPlay, that's going to be available as well as

Android Auto wirelessly. Displays like instrument display and that kind of thing. Yeah. So

EX60 is going to be our first car to feature a curved OLED screen. It's 15 inches and it's

placed horizontally. We also have a forward facing dim that's very close to the windshield. So

less taking your eyes off the road. It's right there. The information's right in front of you,

and again, placed by the windscreen. So it's less distracting for the driver. Cool. You have a

different shaped steering wheel because of that? It is slightly different shaped, yes. So we call it

a triangle. Not a triangle, but more of like a squircle, let's say, a square circle. Again,

that's for helping the field of view from that dim, as well as keeping more leg room, too,

because since it's a little bit squared from the bottom, you don't feel it touching your knees.

Yeah. I kind of like those wheels. I experienced those in a couple of vehicles now, and it's

kind of interesting. It was kind of a throwback to the 1950s. I don't know if you realize that

they were squared off wheels. No, I didn't know that. You're not as old as that. Lucky you.

Let's talk a bit about performance. I mean, electrics have kind of high opening performance,

and I've always asked the question on the radio show, like, do people do the buyers of these

vehicles care about that? And if so, walk me through all of that, the performance, and then...

I wouldn't say our typical Volvo buyer would be looking for performance when buying a car,

but I think we are conquesting from a lot of other brands, and being competitive, you do need

those quick 0 to 60s because other cars have them as well, right? So with the 800 volt architecture

that the EX60 has, we're unable to unlock all this power in the car, as well as those charging

times that I mentioned. So the car is very quick and responsive, and it will bring in new customers

to the brand, I'd say. Talk about the all-wheel drive system in this vehicle because it's different

than, obviously, conventional vehicles, all-wheel drive, or the advantage, do you think?

Correct. So it is, but we have new in-house built motors. Real-wheel drive is what I'd say on the

P6, but then kicks in with all-wheel drive as well on the P10 as well as the P12.

It's just a new nomenclature for this vehicle because...

It is, it is. So we will... EX60 will be the first one to launch the P6, P10, P12, and it's, again,

based off of the power that the car is producing. So within our certain bands, that's how we're

going to be naming them. Like, currently the EX90 has single motor, twin motor, twin motor

performance. You could see, you'd think of it as a similar way as P6, P10, and P12 would be the

twin motor performance. What's your favorite feature of this vehicle? You've spent time with it.

Oh, that's a tough one. I'd say the audio system in this car is quite amazing. So on the plus level,

which will be our entry level from all year 27, we have a 21 speaker Bose system standard that has

noise cancelling, headrest speakers, sound zones. But what's really amazing is our Bowers and Vulkan

system, which is standard on the Ultra. 28 speakers, including headrest speakers in the front and rear,

which is new for Volvo. When do we reach a kind of overkill with this, do you think?

That's the thing for Volvo, I'd say. The years I've spent with the company and listening to the

sound systems, we don't put speakers just to have speakers. They're really expertly tuned. So it's not

like just noise. It's a very, like you might have heard, like we have the Gothenburg Symphony

Orchestra sound setting. So we spent a lot of time with sound engineers to make sure it's not just

loud noise, but it's nicely tuned noise. And tunable too, I imagine. Exactly. So the Bowers

and Vulkan system does have an equalizer. So you could set it to your own settings.

Set it to a podcast setting. Here are dulcet tones, right? Yeah. When will this vehicle be

available in the United States to all our wonderful buyers? So production actually starts a week from

today. We will start in Torschlanda factory in Gothenburg, Sweden. And then we'll start seeing

them slowly arrive to retailers by early summer, let's say June, July-ish, and then consumers

shortly thereafter. Yeah. None of them are going through the Straits of Hormuz.

What do you think the average consumer should know about Volvo EVs versus the run-of-the-mill EVs?

I'd say you might see a lot of new EV brands coming up, but Volvo has been building cars for

about a hundred years now. So I think we know how to make cars. It's been quite some time that we've

been doing this. We're going to be experts in charging time. Range 400 miles is almost going to

be best in class. If not, it will be best in class. So we have the range covered. Charging time is

covered to give back more time to our consumers. Service is also there available at actual retailers.

So that's a big sometimes. I mean, I think that's an important point. You shouldn't gloss over that

because I think there's a lot of direct to consumer brands where the consumers then struggle

to get their vehicle service. Yeah. Yeah. So here you're able to have that relationship with

your retailer that you're comfortable with. And if anything happens or if you need a car service,

you could just give them a call. They'll come pick it up, drop off a loaner for you.

We try to make our customers' lives as easy as possible and give time back to them. What is

the Volvo ecosystem going to look like going forward? Mix of EV, I imagine, internal combustion

engines? Yes. Good question. I'd say we have something for everyone. So we have our mild

hybrids. We have our plug-in hybrids for those customers who are not quite there yet to go

full electric. They could go 34, 35 miles on pure electric range, but then they have the

gas as a backup plan. Can you walk, just for our listeners, walk them through what a mild hybrid

is and then the plug-in hybrid and how that relates to your lineup? Yeah. So mild hybrid,

it's not using, it doesn't have any actual electric range. It's a gas engine, but it has a 12-volt

battery that helps with the efficiency of the gas, the miles per gallon that you're getting.

Our plug-in hybrid has what we like to say the best of both worlds. So if you go on those longer

trips, you could use a gas engine, but those daily commutes that might be a shorter distance,

pick up, drop off for kids, you could go on a full electric range, which again, right now,

what we have is about 33, 34 miles, depending on what model. And then for those customers

who are ready to go fully electric, we do have a whole lineup of EX30, EX40. We have the EX60 now,

as well as the EX90. So four different than the C40, of course. In other ways. So if you're not

ready to have your whole family go full electric, you have the opportunity to have another Volvo

that has an internal combustion engine. Exactly. Well, it is the exciting day. Thanks so much

for inviting me to this, and thanks so much for telling us all about the EX60. Great. Thanks

for having me. Appreciate the time. 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 Carlos Christie. This is Jack

B. Rad with you. And it is listener question time. We're so glad you're with us. We do appreciate

that. And we love to answer questions for you based on our long experience doing what we do here,

which is drive other people's cars. We love that. Please send your questions to editoratdrivingtoday.com.

That's editoratdrivingtoday.com. Here is a great question from Timothy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I

think it's a great question. And we'll see what Chris does with it. Timothy asks this, with gasoline

prices so high, I'm thinking of shifting to an electric vehicle, but I live in an apartment.

I'm wondering if that's a good idea. Well, first of all, Cedar Rapids is an awesome town. I've been

there a bunch of times. I'll say two things. And one of them has to do with the pricing. First of all,

electric vehicles are typically more expensive than their gas powered or hybrid powered counterparts.

And buying one to save money on fuel, it'll take you a very long time, maybe even longer than you

want to own that vehicle to make your money back. So I think that's one thing to consider. Second,

as an EV owner with a home charger at my standalone house, I can say that in Iowa, I don't know what

the charging situation there is. It's probably similar to the situation here in Maine. It can be

a real hassle to own an EV if you don't have the ability to charge it at home or at work. Maybe your

job has a charger you can use every day. Relying on public chargers, they're sometimes unreliable.

They're sometimes very busy. They're hard to find. They often don't charge as fast as you need them

to. So I would think long and hard about that. But buying one to save money on fuel is probably

not the best choice at least for the next few years. Chris, I think you answered that perfectly.

I really have nothing to add. I think you hit all the high points. And I would think twice if I were

Timothy about buying electric. Not that there's anything wrong with electrics, but for his

situation, I just don't think they'd be the best choice. So that kind of wraps up our show for

this week. My crime novel, only one thing stays the same, is available in ebook and paperback

form at Amazon. So 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. We'd love to double

our listenership this year and we need your help, right Chris? That's right. Our show is growing,

but not as fast as we would like it to. And you can help us do that by looking for the America

on the Road podcast with a quick Google search. We'll come to you on all the major platforms,

Apple, Spotify, several others. Like the show, subscribe to the show so you get us every week

or you can take us wherever you go. And that will help us out a lot. Yeah, check out our

America on the Road YouTube channel. Subscribe to that. I think you'll enjoy our videos to see

what we look like, see what these cars look like more importantly. Alright, thanks to Mercury

Insurance for sponsoring the show and to our sports byline network radio stations for carrying it.

We love terrestrial radio and let's save AM radio. Love to see that continue. Most of all,

thanks to you for listening. Please join us again next time for another edition of America on the Road.

I received a letter from a reader this week and I thought I'd share it with you. Here's

what he wrote. I just got around to reading Dance in the Dark and wanted to say how much I enjoyed

it. I'm a compulsive reader and this one was right up my alley. An unlikely hero. A lot of twists and

turns, some adult content and humor that rose naturally from the action. Keep on writing and

I'll keep on reading. Of course, that's just the kind of letter any author would love to get.

I hope that others get the same enjoyment from reading Dance in the Dark and my newest crime

novel. Only one thing stays the same. Both are available exclusively at amazon.com. That's Dance

in the Dark and only one thing stays the same. Both written by me, Jack Arnie Red. Thanks for

looking for them today.

About this episode

The hosts cover a wide-ranging mix of car news and road tests, from rising negative equity and counterfeit airbag warnings to a canceled Sony-Honda EV plan. The centerpiece is Jack’s review of the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT AWD, highlighting its 277-horsepower turbo engine, towing ability, roomy cabin, and $44,000 sticker. They also dig into Volvo’s EX60, especially its fast charging, Google-based tech, and range claims, before closing with practical advice on EV ownership for apartment dwellers.

0 to 60s 10-year powertrain warranty 12 volt battery 152 cubic feet of passenger volume 196 horsepower combined 2.0 liter four cylinder engine 2.5-liter turbocharged inline 4 44 cubic feet 50-50 split folding third row 800 volt architecture

Hyundai Genesis Hyundai Palisade Hyundai Santa Fe Toyota Corolla Cross Toyota GR Corolla Toyota RAV4 Volvo EX60 Volvo EX90 Volvo XC60

Original notes

This week on America on the Road, Jack Nerad and Chris Teague lead with road tests of two appealing mainstream SUVs — 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT and 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid. This week’s headlines take a closer look at the pressures reshaping today’s auto market, from rising negative equity and higher monthly payments to a high-profile pullback in the Sony-Honda EV partnership. We’ll also examine urgent safety warnings over defective replacement air bags, the growing role of AI and connectivity in, of all things, camping, and new research showing how poor air quality can impact your travel plans. (Or can it?)

🚗 Jack Nerad’s Road-Test: 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT AWD

Jack takes a close look at the semi-rugged Santa Fe XRT, powered by a 277-horsepower turbocharged engine with standard all-wheel drive and terrain modes. He highlights its added ground clearance, off-road styling cues, spacious three-row interior, and strong mix of technology and value that could make this likable SUV the right choice for your driveway.

🚗 Chris Teague’s Road-Test: 2026 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid XSE

Chris evaluates the top-trim Corolla Cross Hybrid. While hardly a sports machine, it features a 196-horsepower hybrid system and standard electronic all-wheel drive. Its standout 42 mpg efficiency, updated styling, upscale interior touches, and intuitive infotainment system are among its virtues. But is the price too high?

🎙️ Special Guest

Gaurang Kalsaria, head of future vehicles at Volvo Cars Americas, joins the program to share insights on the upcoming Volvo EX60 battery-electric SUV and what it signals about Volvo’s electrified future. AOTR got a special behind-the-scenes preview recently.

📰 This Week’s Headlines Negative Equity Squeeze Hits Car Buyers

Car buyers are facing mounting financial pressure as negative equity reaches near-record levels, with nearly one-third of trade-ins carrying more debt than their vehicles are worth. Rising loan balances, longer terms, and higher payments are reshaping how consumers approach new vehicle purchases.

Sony-Honda EV Venture Scales Back

Sony and Honda are scaling back their EV partnership, shelving AFEELA production plans and restructuring their joint venture. The move reflects cooling demand and broader uncertainty in the global electric vehicle market.

Air Bag Safety Warning Issued

Safety concerns are intensifying as experts warn about defective replacement air bags linked to injuries and fatalities. Drivers are urged to seek inspections and verify repairs through certified technicians.

AI and Tech Transform Camping

Camping is becoming more connected as travelers increasingly turn to AI tools and satellite internet for trip planning and remote work. While adoption remains limited, interest in tech-enabled outdoor experiences is rising.

Air Quality a Travel Concern?

A new global study finds that peak travel seasons often align with the worst air quality in many destinations. Researchers suggest adjusting travel timing could improve health outcomes for vacationers.

❓ Listener Question

Timothy from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, asks whether switching to an electric vehicle makes sense for apartment dwellers without easy access to home charging. Jack and Chris share practical considerations and advice.

America on the Road is brought to you by DrivingToday.com, EMLandsea.com, and Mercury Insurance.

📚 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.

📨 Email: [email protected]

Check Out Matt DeLorenzo’s Book

Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book Mercedes-AMG: Race-Bred Performance

Special Price for Jack’s Newest Crime Novel

Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a 67%-off price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.

America on the Road

Jack Nerad - Host

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