The Mazda 3 is a small car known for its sporty design and good handling. The 2.5S Carbon Edition is a special version with a more powerful engine and some unique features.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV that is very popular in the U.S. The 2026 model is the newest version, which usually includes updated features and technology.
Tesla is a car company that makes electric vehicles, which are cars powered by electricity instead of gasoline. They are known for their advanced technology and environmental focus.
The destination charge is what car companies charge to deliver the car to the dealership. It's an extra fee that you usually can't avoid when buying a car.
Ram is a brand that makes trucks, especially known for their heavy-duty models. They are popular for people who need a strong vehicle for work or towing.
Chevrolet is a popular car brand in the U.S. that makes many types of vehicles, like trucks and cars. They are well-known for models like the Silverado and the Malibu.
MSRP is the price that the car manufacturer suggests dealers sell the car for. It's a starting point, but the final price can be higher due to extra fees.
The Volkswagen Beetle is a small, round car that many people recognize. It’s famous for its quirky look and has a lot of history, making it a favorite among car lovers.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is a small SUV that is good for families because it has a lot of space inside. It also has modern features that make it comfortable to drive.
The Mazda Mazda3 is a compact car that many people like because it looks good and is fun to drive. It has a nice interior and offers different engine options.
The Ford Maverick is a small truck that is easy to drive and park, perfect for city life. It’s known for being affordable and comes with a version that saves gas, which is great for people who want to save money on fuel.
A 4-cylinder engine is a type of engine that has four separate chambers where fuel and air mix and burn. They are usually smaller and use less fuel than bigger engines.
The Renault Wind is a small car that you can take the roof off, making it a fun choice for sunny days. It’s designed to be sporty and enjoyable to drive.
The Ford F-150 is a big truck that many people use for work and play. It’s popular because it can carry heavy loads and is built to last, making it a favorite among truck buyers.
The Sync infotainment system is what Ford uses in their cars to help you control things like music and navigation. You can use it by touching the screen or talking to it.
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto let you connect your phone to your car without using a cable. This way, you can use apps and listen to music right from the car's screen.
Ford Sync is a system in Ford cars that helps you use your phone and music with voice commands and a screen. It makes it easier to control things while driving.
Co-Pilot 360 is a safety system in Ford vehicles that helps drivers avoid accidents. It includes features like alerts for cars in your blind spot and helps keep you in your lane.
Blind Spot Monitoring is a feature in some cars that warns you if there's a car in the area you can't see when changing lanes. It helps keep you safe while driving.
The Ford Ranger is a smaller truck compared to the F-150. It's great for people who want a truck that can still carry things but is easier to drive around town.
A naturally aspirated engine is one that gets air into it without any extra help from a turbo or supercharger. This means it relies on the air pressure around it to work, which can make it feel different when you drive it.
The Toyota Camry is a popular car that many families choose because it’s reliable and comfortable to drive. It’s known for being good on gas and lasting a long time without many problems.
The Volkswagen Jetta is a small car that’s easy to drive and has a nice interior. It’s a good option for people who want a reliable car that feels a bit fancy without being too expensive.
LIVE
This is America on the Road, named Best Radio Show by the International Automotive Media
Conference and now in its 33rd year on the air.
Thanks for being with us as we bring you the latest automotive information from around
the world.
I'm Jack Nierad.
With me is co-host Chris Teague back after a week or so off.
Question for you Chris, have you had any snow on the ground yet?
Some parts of the state have, not ploughable yet, but we're going to get there pretty
soon.
We've had a frost, so it's on its way.
Yeah, plenty of news to talk about this week on the automotive world.
Elon Musk is seeking a pay raise.
Reports are he might bail from Tesla if he doesn't get it.
New vehicles are getting more expensive, but suggested list prices aren't going up.
So what's going on?
We'll have the details on that for you.
Car makers have decided to step up their cybersecurity in line of the Jaguar Land Rover
debacle.
I love studying the word debacle, and we'll have details coming up.
And a major automaker is celebrating its 70th birthday in America.
We'll tell you which one and what they're doing lately coming up.
Chris, do you have a favorite among these stories?
I always like talking about long running automakers.
Yeah, well we'll tell you which one that is coming up, maybe you could guess.
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.
I'm going to quote today at drivingtoday.com slash auto insurance.
That's drivingtoday.com slash auto hyphen insurance.
As your longtime listeners to the show know, Chris lives at one end of the country, end
of the country where it might snow.
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, what is your test vehicle this week?
I spent the week driving the 2025 Ford Maverick.
It's a compact pickup truck, and I can't wait to tell you all about it.
I look forward to your reaction to that.
My wife calls it a toy truck.
My test vehicle this week is the all-new Mazda 3 2.5S carbon edition.
Maybe not all new, but certainly new as all-wheel drive.
We'll tell you all about it in our road test segment.
Our special guest this week is Beatrice Diaz.
She's senior marketing manager on the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4.
I had a chance to talk with her about the RAV4 at the recent introduction event in Arizona.
She has a lot of interesting things to say about what is the most popular vehicle in America.
So stay with us, and we'll be right back with much more of America on the Road.
We're glad you're with us, and stay with us.
We'll be right back.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris Teague.
This is Jackie Radback with Who It Is News Time.
Plenty of news, and here's a big story, I think.
Big story being maybe, just maybe, Elon Musk will be leaving Tesla Motors.
I kind of don't think that's going to happen, but I think he's using some leverage because
he wants a lot more money.
His future with the company could hinge on a single shareholder vote that's coming up this coming week.
Tesla chair Robin Denholm has warned investors that if he has proposed $1 trillion performance-based
payback as is rejected, Musk could leave the company.
Well, that's kind of crazy.
They want all kinds of stuff.
Stock options, all kind of hitting ambitious targets are part of the thing.
So there are, I guess, landmarks along the way here, but what's your overall take on this?
This is kind of insane to me.
Yeah, the numbers are mind-blowing, but I guess it's okay because they put performance targets
in that he has to hit before he gets all this money.
But look, even if he doesn't get it, I don't see him leaving.
He's one of the richest people in the world, and the vast majority of his wealth is tied up in Tesla.
So I would assume he would want to stick around and keep an eye on that as it grows or whatever
it's going to do.
So I don't see him leaving, but I don't know what's going to happen with his pay.
I don't think a trillion dollars is reasonable.
Yeah, I mean, surely it's kind of nuts.
I mean, just as some perspective, I did some research and here's some earnings from like
the CEO of General Motors, Mary Barra.
She gets almost $30 million or got almost $30 million in compensation in 2024.
You can argue with that being maybe, well, you can have your own opinion on that.
Jim Farley at Ford Motor Company, kind of her opposite number at Ford Motor Company,
received $24.9 million, mostly from stock and performance bonuses.
So that's maybe 40 times more than the combined compensation of those very,
very successful, highly paid chief executives in the automotive industry.
I just scratched my head over this one.
I agree, automakers are looking to cut costs all over the place and maybe Tesla is not one of them,
but executive salaries should be on the table.
I realize the people making the decisions are the ones cutting their own paychecks, but jeez.
Yeah, well, in next week's show we'll be reporting on what happened at Tesla and see what happened.
My guess is that Elon Musk will not be leaving Tesla Motors, but maybe that's just a guess.
Maybe a somewhat educated guess.
Well, what you might have noticed if you've gone into the dealership recently is there are
increased prices on vehicles or total prices on vehicles, but the list prices aren't going up.
So what's happening? Well, destination prices are going up and, you know,
destination charges have been a thorn in a lot of car buyer's side for ever and ever and ever.
It's a charge that you can't get rid of.
It's supposedly quote-unquote for freight or to get it there.
But it's a big fee. It's a big number and it keeps going up to give you some perspective on that.
Chevrolet, Ford and Ram have raised the destination fee on their pickups from about $2,000,
which was high enough to $2,600 in the past year.
This is just happening all over the place.
I do a lot of comparison tests where I report on total prices, including the destination
charge. And I've noticed, you know, this escalation for many, many years now.
I mean, take on this, Chris.
Yeah, just a few years ago, it seems that I was writing about an $1,100 destination charge
being expensive and giving automakers a bunch of crap about four digit destination charges.
But I guess their costs are rising, so they're going to pass them along wherever they can.
The destination charge is a sneaky way to do that because it keeps it out of the MSRP that
they can list and still keep that appealing price as the advertised point.
Yeah, a lot of people compare MSRP's and then you look at the destination fee and it might be
vastly different. It could differ by $500 or $600, maybe even $1,000.
Interestingly enough, too, some luxury brands have kept their destination fee under $1,000.
You could say $1,000 to do what, but at least it's $1,000 and not $2,700, something like that.
I mean, it's kind of a sneaky way to raise prices and I don't know that the consumers will serve by
that. They're not. Like I said, it allows the automaker to come out and say, we're holding
prices firm in the face of tariffs and in the face of, you know, trade headwinds and it makes
them look good on paper until you actually get to the dealership and start signing the paperwork.
Right. And you know, they say these charges are not negotiable, but the price of a vehicle is
negotiable. So I mean, it's going to go into the overall price. So I would say negotiate hard and
maybe ask the dealer to eat some of that destination charge and do that. You're about to
maybe make another car purchase. Chris, drive a hard bargain, get in there and make good things
happen. Let's talk about cybersecurity. I mean, this is a story that we've been following and,
you know, I am amazed that this hasn't been a bigger story just in the general news, but
cybersecurity threat shut down, essentially totally shut down Jaguar Land Rover. Their factories
were shut down for well over a month. It cost the company, this is the reported cost,
$2.67 billion in lost revenue and they're a relatively small company. Think of this happen to
a larger company. I mean, there is, I think all of these car companies are probably fairly vulnerable
to hackers. Your thoughts, Chris? Yeah, when you think about the cybersecurity incident at Jaguar,
you know, you think about Jaguar as one company, well, their systems are intertwined with all of
their suppliers and all of their everything. There are probably hundreds of companies who share data.
So there are a lot of entry points and it's got to make the automakers very nervous. And as you
point out, larger companies like Toyota have experienced some smaller breaches and they've
jumped on it right away. But these ones, the larger ones that are capable of shutting down
business, that could be catastrophic for a global company like Toyota or Honda.
Yeah, I think this breach occurred with a supplier and of course a lot of car companies,
all car companies are heavily integrated with their suppliers and getting parts from their
suppliers. This was a compromised connection, just one compromised connection, but went across
all the factories and then halted assembly lines from Britain to Slovakia all around the world.
It's really a tough thing and something that I think car companies have to be very, very aware of.
Even dealers, I've said this before on the air, but the fact that dealers had to go back to pencil
and paper to finish their deals was just, that was the big shocker for me, hearing how far it
went out into their network. Yeah, crazy stuff. Well, we teased a car company that was celebrating
a 70th birthday in the United States and it's Volkswagen of America. It was founded 70 years
ago this week, or kind of it was. What they're celebrating was the fact that a Dutch importer
named Ben Pahn took two Beatles, Volkswagen Beatles, into New York and that got things going
in 1949 or so, and then the rest is history, I guess, then established Volkswagen of America.
I think they did an amazing job in popularizing import vehicles. Before Volkswagen came here,
import vehicles were just oddball things or really high-cost things like the occasional Mercedes
Benz or Rolls Royce or those kinds of things, but Volkswagen took this in a whole different
direction and built a car for pretty much everybody, hence the term Volkswagen.
Chris, thoughts on Volkswagen through the years? Well, I've owned several Volkswagen.
Volkswagen's the last one of which did not end so amicably with my ownership period, but
look, they've been consistently one of the mainstream automakers that makes more exciting
vehicles to drive. Even their more pedestrian vehicles are noticeably more engaging than
their competitors, and to your point, they did help popularize, popularize, I can't talk today,
imported vehicles and probably helped brands like Toyota and Honda get off the ground here too.
So kudos to them, and even though I probably won't buy one for a while, I'm glad they're here.
Well, it's interesting that you use the term pedestrian in connection with Volkswagen because
sometimes you have to become a pedestrian, depending on the Volkswagen you've had. The
neat thing about the Volkswagen's I've owned is I could fix them with simple hand tools and I kind
of understood how they work. That's not exactly the case these days, far from it as you discovered,
but I still love to drive Volkswagen vehicles, and the Volkswagen Tiguan that I drove in North
American Car of the Year was one of my favorites among the SUVs that I drove recently. So we'll
talk about that in an upcoming show. Yeah, the Tiguan was on my shopping list to replace my
GR Corolla. It didn't make the cut because of my history, but it was worthy of a spot.
Right. Well, certainly fun to drive. There's no doubt about that. Well, when we come back,
we will be road testing some vehicles, including the Ford Maverick, a little pickup truck,
and the Mazda Mazda 3, which I love saying because, well, I just love saying that. I'm not sure why,
but stay with us and we'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
Welcome back to America on the Road with Chris Teague. This is Jack Nierad back with you,
and we're so glad you're with us. We really do appreciate you listening to America on the Road.
It honors us that you're with us. It is road test time, and Chris, you were driving a vehicle that
I had a little experience with at North American Car of the Year testing, not exactly the same trim,
but certainly the same vehicle, and it's become a very, very popular vehicle. I think we're seeing
them all over the place. I certainly see a lot of them here in Southern California, but tell us
about the Ford Maverick. Yeah, I always enjoy my time with the Ford Maverick, and it did, as you said,
get a few updates for 2025, including the new Lobo trim, which is like a take on a street truck.
It's got lowered suspension and neat wheels and a limited slip differential in the back, so I think
you drove that at North American Car of the Year. I was driving the Lariat trim. Before I go any
further, do you have any big thoughts you can share about the truck? You know, it's a vehicle I
like a lot, and I think is very useful, and it's interesting that my wife has no respect for it
whatsoever. She calls it a toy truck. She says the same thing about, I think, the Hyundai Santa Cruz.
I'm not sure why, because it strikes me as a size that would be useful for her,
but everybody's got an opinion, right? Yeah. Well, I guess the bad news is that it's a little bit
more expensive than it was when we started out a few years ago. It starts at just under $30,000,
which I think was around where it maxed out before or somewhere close to that. Yeah, I think
you're right. Yeah, it started out right around 20 or maybe even under 20. Yeah, and if you go all
the way up to the Lobo trim, you're going to spend more than $43,000. Though I will say,
in shopping for cars recently, almost all Ford dealerships have some pretty steep discounts on
these trucks right now, so I don't know that you'll pay that much. But the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder
and a hybrid system come standard. My Lariat test truck came with the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder
engine. It's an EcoBoost engine that makes it 250 horsepower. It sends power to all four wheels with
an 8-speed automatic transmission. Jack, I have to tell you, I was not expecting this truck to feel
quick and lively, but I got both of those things out of it, and I wouldn't call it like a sports car
by any means, but I think if you get in this truck and you're using it as a commuter, which a lot
of people would, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the power output here. What do you think?
Yeah, I agree with you. I think it's got plenty of power, and if you note the way most people drive,
they're not heavy on the gas. They're not really accelerating real rapidly from a stop light or
something like that. I think it says plenty of passing power for the freeway or interstate
highways. I like the vehicle a lot. I agree, and one of the things that Ford did pretty well with
this vehicle is kept the noise levels in check. Even with the hybrid engine, sometimes in trucks,
you get a lot of engine and wind noise and things, and you just don't get a lot of that in the
Maverick. It feels pretty relaxed at most times. I wouldn't call it the most refined vehicle on
the road, but it's a truck. What do you expect? Surprisingly decent handling. As I mentioned,
it's a smaller truck. The Lobo has a lower suspension system, so it's going to handle a
little bit better, but this truck did just fine. The brakes are solid. The steering is confident,
so no complaints there. Inside, and I want to get your opinion on this, Jack, I think
this is my biggest complaint with the truck is that Ford made some really funky design decisions,
whether it be the open handle, the open-ended door handles inside the way the door pockets are
shaped. It's not very intuitive to me. What do you think? I think it's inventive. That's a positive
way to look at the same thing. I think what they had to deal with here is putting an interior in
inexpensive truck, and they were trying to keep the cost down. How do you do that and still make
it interesting and appealing? To some extent, they did, but in doing that, I think they've
done exactly what you said. They made it a little harder to use in some instances.
Yeah. Part of the effect is that we swap vehicles every week. Getting used to some of these features
are something that an owner would do over the course of a few weeks. I will say the combination
of these design choices, the open-ended door handles, my hand slides off it a lot. I get that
we'd probably be used to with the rotary dial gear selector. There are just a lot of differences
here between the Maverick and an F-150 that somebody would need to take some time to get
used to, but nothing super problematic. Inside, Ford gave it a new larger touchscreen for 2025.
It's a 13.2-inch unit. It runs the latest Sync infotainment system. You get wireless Apple
CarPlay and Android Auto, Sirius XM radio, HD radio, and a whole load of other features.
We've talked about Ford Sync ad nauseam on this show. We've always praised it for being responsive
and easy to use. I will still give those labels to it this time. However, I will say the larger
screen now incorporates climate controls. Touch-based climate controls are very annoying. Even if you
are used to them, it's still difficult to use because you can't build muscle memory with the
screen. That's one step backwards, I think, that Ford took here. With the Lariat, you also get
full safety suite, so you get co-pilot 360, and you also get blind spot monitoring for
collision alerts and all the rest. Jack, to me, 43K is a lot for this truck. Even if you get a
discount down to 39 or 40, which is where I've been seeing them, that's still a lot compared
to where we were in 2022. Boy, absolutely. I think one of the reasons it became so popular was the
low price. It was one of the lowest-priced vehicles you could buy. It probably still is, but I think
that's taking it in a different direction. You can't get a low-end F-150 for that.
Maybe a Ranger or something like that, a low-end version, probably not that either,
because I'm sure they have figured out what they call in the industry the price walk between these
various vehicles here. Wow, that's a lot of money for that vehicle, I think. Yes, it is.
It's interesting to me that they have stuck with SYNC when their top system now is a non-SYNC
Google, you know, a Google on board or Google-based system. What do you take on that?
Yeah, I would need to ask a Ford engineer the exact reasoning behind it. My assumption is that
the architecture of the Maverick is a bit older and they can't adapt the software from the new
interface to the older architecture of the vehicle, but that would be my guess, not a confirmation.
I think that's a logical thing to think. At the same time, you're getting a system that
now a Ford is admitting is not a state of the art, so I think that's interesting too.
I like the Maverick. I've said this before. I think this is a handy size. I think there's
a lot to like about it. And for the way some, a lot of people use their pickup truck. You can
use that open bed for a lot of things, and at the same time, it's not gigantic. I think
there's a lot to like about it. There's not as much to like about it at $40,000 as there was
when it was 30. Yeah, I agree. Well, I was driving a vehicle. I'm going to tell you right off the
top. I like this vehicle a lot, and I like this configuration of the vehicle. I'm talking about
the Mazda 3. This was in 2.5 s carbon edition trim, the sedan, not the hatchback. And this
included all-wheel drive, so it's a good looking car, has a nice looking exterior. Of course,
Mazda interiors are very, very nice. It had red leather inside, which my wife hates, but I think
it's kind of cool. And I think there's a lot to like about this because it's very upscale,
but it's not all that expensive. A spoiler alert here. This was less than $30,000 or right around
$30,000 or so. So I see your eyes light up a little bit when I say that, because that's not
something we're expecting these days, and especially out of a vehicle like this, essentially kind of
premium in the compact sedan class from a 35,000 foot level. What's your quick reaction to that?
Well, I remain surprised that Mazda can offer so many configurations of all of its different vehicles,
but the result is that you can get nicer trims without spending the top of your budget.
Yeah. I mean, this has a naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. It's not the most powerful
engine. I'll talk about that. It has nice automatic transmission. Works just fine.
Many features from higher trims. It has wireless smartphone connectivity. It has leather upholstery
that I talked about. Heated front seats, one of my favorite things, along with heated steering wheel.
Anything heated, I kind of like. I must have horrible circulation. The starting MSRP on this
vehicle was $29,610. And I think as tested, I'll get to that, but it's right around $30, maybe $31,000,
something like that. It has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, 191 horsepower. That's a reasonable
amount of horsepower. There were a lot of times when the quote-unquote sport versions of vehicles
this size had 191 horsepower not that many years ago. Not necessarily a torque monster, but I think
it's nice. It is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, which I found interesting,
as a manual shift mode. And then it has this all-wheel drive system, and it's not just your
standard issue all-wheel drive system. Pretty sophisticated. It has torque vectoring and
things like that. Overall, this vehicle handles really well and is, at the same time, pretty
comfortable ride. I think if you want something that's a little bit upscale as a commuter car,
it's hard to say that something $32,000 is a screaming bargain, but I think this kind of is.
Yeah, you get most of the way to a premium vehicle at a much lower price tag, and so that's been
the big draw there. And Mazda's interiors, look, you might not get quilted leather and all the
things inside, but it's a nice space. They look nice, and the materials are nice enough for the
price, for sure. Yeah, yeah. It had good-looking paint, a well-finished paint that's carbon
addition, 18-inch black finish aluminum alloy wheels. It has gloss black heated side mirrors,
and this will look that Chris, you love all the time. You love these black additions.
It isn't called that, though. I think it's just a good-looking car. It's not overdone. To its credit,
it doesn't have a wing or spoiler on the rear. I think it's just a good-looking,
kind of normal sedan. And as I say, it has red leather trim seats inside and
eight-way power driver seat with lumbar support and memory. Dual-zone climate control is standard
as well. Then we get to the infotainment, and we say this all the time about Mazda's infotainment.
I wish it weren't true, but it still is true. This has an 8.8-inch infotainment display,
kind of on the small side these days. It does have wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto,
but it's not a touchscreen. To me, I don't even think it's acting as much as a touchscreen as maybe
some Mazdas I've driven in the past. Maybe I'm just imagining that, but your quick take on the
infotainment system. Yeah, again, it's probably one of those things that you get used to over time,
but the resulting action here is that it takes forever to scroll through long lists of songs
and radio stations, so I think there could be a middle ground maybe, but I'm not a fan of it.
But this is still a vehicle to look at. It has great safety as well. I don't have time to kind
of go over all those things, but excellent safety. So I think at a vehicle that's priced at around
between $30,000 and $32,000, this is a kind of semi-luxury sit-in. I think it's a really good
value, and I think people should take a look at the Mazda 3 in this carbon edition. I agree.
And when we come back, we will have a terrific guest, and her name is Beatriz Diaz, and she is the
marketing manager on the all-new RAV4, which is very cool. I got a chance to drive that,
so stay with us for that. We'll be right back right here on America on the Road.
I received a letter from a reader this week, and I thought I'd share it with you. Here's
got a round 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.
Welcome back everybody to America on the Road, Jack Arnie Red back with you. We're outside Scottsdale,
Arizona, and getting the opportunity to drive one of the most popular vehicles in the United States.
The all-new version of the Toyota RAV4 with me is an expert on that, marketing expert, and just
all-around expert Beatriz Diaz. Thanks so much for being with us. We do appreciate it.
This is one of the most important vehicles in the marketplace, isn't it? Tell us a little bit
about that. Yes, for sure, Jack. This is our number one selling SEV, eight years in counting.
In fact, we actually outsold the F-150 last year. Impressive, yes. Very impressive.
We noticed that this vehicle was lacking some emotion, and this new generation is really
bringing that emotion and fun back to the segment. It's a segment that we know is full of rational
and practical buyers, which is great, but we want some energy back in the segment, and this vehicle
is going to do that. It's kind of interesting to me that you have this vehicle that is absolutely
so successful. It is so successful that two of my three daughters drive RAV4s, one a Gen 4, one a
Gen 5. They're really interested in the new one, of course, and I've recommended the RAV4 to my
third daughter, who's not driving one yet. We've got a lot of this in the family, but it's interesting
that you want to take a vehicle that is already so successful and then take it up a notch or two
or three. Tell us about that. Like I mentioned, it's something that we've noticed for years
in the segment. It's more of a trend that we're noticing, and the vehicle on paper, just like
others, does really well. It has all the specs, all the features, all the safety, but that white
space that we needed to uncover was really that emotional connection. We can show the vehicle
doing all these things and fulfilling your lifestyle, but this one's really going to take it up.
As you were mentioning to that next level, it has style. It has the latest in technology.
We're really happy with our 24-multimedia system that's getting introduced with this model,
our new safety system, TSS 4.0. The unique styling elements, as we talked about earlier,
we have three unique identities for this vehicle. We have our core. Walk me through that,
because that's interesting. That's probably one of the ways you're putting more emotion in this,
right? You're tailoring it a little more for particular buyers. Tell us about that.
That's correct. We have three unique identities, what we're calling our core grade identities,
and then we have our rugged grade identities and sport grade. It's really, to your point,
making sure that there's a RAV4 for everyone, and it's a vehicle that will enable people's
lifestyles. Depending on if you're more of that stylish type of person and you want those modern
luxuries, you have your core grades. You have your limited, which is the hero of that category.
If you're more of that outdoor enthusiast and you want to go and take the road less traveled,
that beaten road off the beaten path, you get into your woodland grade. If you are looking for
that performance and handling, you go into our sport grades and that GR sport being the epitome
of that. It's exciting to have that. Let's talk a little bit about the rationale for the GR sport,
because it's all new, obviously, for this year, for this generation. It's taking the vehicle in
a different performance direction. Gazoo Racing is what GR is all about. There are other GR models,
the GR Corolla, for example, a very impressive vehicle. My co-host on the show owns one and drives
that. Tell us a little bit about the rationale for the vehicle and what it delivers.
Again, playing off of that theme right of the emotion, I think the GR brand itself does a lot
of that for the company. This is a vehicle, again, our number one seller. What better way to bring
that emotion and then to introduce this really great sub brand that we have at the company.
I think one thing that we're being very clear about is how we're positioning it. We don't want
to over promise, but we know that it's not a GR. We know it's not a GR product, but it's part of the
GR company and part of that GR lineup. It's your introduction into that type of world. You're
getting those great styling elements, those great performance enhancements, but we're not pretending
that this is the vehicle you're going to drive on the track. It's not really a track vehicle.
Not big engine changes or those kind of things, but things that a hint at.
Correct. You'll see the nod, the cues, and those things that once you see them, that brings a
smell to your face and you start noticing that difference or that nod into that GR company type
of brand. It's a little lower, a little snarkier, kind of different cues all the way around.
Yep. You have your grill, your matrix grill. You have your rear wing type spoiler. So again,
a lot of those little elements that give a nod into GR brand. You have your aluminum sport pedals.
The interior is gorgeous. If you haven't had a chance to look at it yet, you'll notice those,
the GR brand stitching in the headrest, the perforated red suede seat inserts. It's a gorgeous.
I mean, that's the vehicle. When I look at it, someone asks me which is your personality. It's
that one. Cool. Yeah. Here, yeah. Hot driver. Talk about the off-road version of the Woodland.
Yeah. So that, again, is to tailor to that personality, right? That type of customer that
wants to go outdoors, maybe not the body on frame type of person that's doing the extreme type of
activity, but it's going to satisfy the need for those customers, right? It's really
I think the epitome of an SUV, right? Your SUVs are intended to go out and
show capability and versatility and the Woodland does that. It's a little bit higher, right height,
given the off-road wheels that it has or tires that it has. A little thicker, wider side wall,
which is great for off-roading, right? And then even the front face of the vehicle is different
compared to our core grades and our sport grades. And that's really intended to help emphasize that
outdoor adventure type of lifestyle. So you'll notice the roof rails that are Woodland branded.
You'll see the unique Woodland badge on the back of the vehicle. So there's a lot of great elements
inside the vehicle. Again, a very unique interior that's tailored for that Woodland buyer. It's our
mineral green interior. You'll notice some more like rugged or typical off-road type of elements,
you know, looking at the gear shift, looking at the center console lid, little things like
that that give a nod into that outdoor lifestyle. I mean, we're seeing a lot of these vehicles of
this type coming into the marketplace. It's very popular with people. I mean, it's in some ways
more of a styling thing or like a lifestyle expression thing than it is really going off-road.
I think it's kind of expressing, I could go off-road. I kind of like that, right? Tell us about that.
It helps inspire that, right? I think we'd started noticing, obviously, during COVID, right? A lot
of people were just turning to that type of lifestyle to get, you know, going on adventures,
going on long road trips. People just started doing more and more of that. And I think we took
that as inspiration to produce or develop a product that's going to meet that need. And yes,
there is a lot of great styling element, but there's also a lot of capability with this product.
So it's something that internally we joke about. I mentioned earlier about which one is your
personality. We all have a different one that represents us. And I appreciate that. I'm not an
outdoorsy person, but this is one that I appreciated that it kind of inspires me to want to go do the
off-road course because I wouldn't do it otherwise. But this vehicle, I feel that I can do it. I can
conquer it. You can do it. And it's not too intimidating, right? Yeah, it's not taking.
Talk to us about powertrain. I think that's an interesting thing here. And we don't have to go
deeply into the technical aspects of the powertrains. But you have interesting powertrains here
concentrating on hybrid types, hybrid and plug-in hybrid, I think. Walk us through that.
So with this new generation, we're going 100% electrified to help with our electrification
message and strategy for the company. So we want to give people choice. And we are introducing our
fifth generation hybrid system on this vehicle, as well as our sixth generation plug-in hybrid
system. So you have the choice across all of our, most of our grades. GR Sport is the only one
that's exclusive to plug-in. Plug-in, yes. Because that's the highest performing or higher
performing. I believe it's 324 horsepower on that one. But yeah, we are really looking,
following suit, right? We did this move with Camry, with the latest generation Camry, with Sienna,
going 100% electrified. So we're seeing success in that. And we see that customers are now becoming
more comfortable with hybrid technology, getting them more familiar with plugins, right? There's
still some hesitation out there, just lack of knowledge. But we hope that with this new generation
we'll be able to help satisfy those needs. And hybrid now, and I just experienced this, I just
got out of the RAV4, one of the new generation RAV4s with, there was a hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid,
but a quote-unquote conventional hybrid. The drivability is so good. I mean, it's not just
about fuel economy. In fact, maybe fuel economy is secondary to the fact that this is so smooth,
so quiet. I mean, talk a bit about that and what you get out of hybridization.
Yeah, I think one thing that through our research, we've also learned that customers,
when they hear the word hybrid, or even plug-in hybrid, there's some immediate hesitation.
And I think what's surprising, and you spoke to this, like once they drive the vehicle,
they fall in love with the performance, right? They fall in love with the smoothness, the quietness,
the handling, and then they don't realize that it's an actual hybrid vehicle. And I think it helps
then get them over that hesitation, that initial hesitation that they had once they're in the
vehicle. So I think the performance, the smoothness of the engine really helps with that. And making
the base vehicle, so there's really no choice, if you're going to get a RAV4 you're going to get
this, and you get all the benefits of it. I almost think maybe not even calling it a hybrid would
be a good thing, right? Because there should be no hesitation. And this is just part of the
drivability, part of improving drivability of this vehicle in all ways, fuel economy, but
general drivability. Consumer perception has definitely shifted, right? I think
when consumers heard the word hybrid, they would think about fuel economy first, but
there's been a lot of change and improvements over the years. And it's really now,
I think you mentioned this earlier too, it's more of a secondary thing, right? They fall
in love with the look. They fall in love with the feel of the vehicle. And then the cherry on top,
so to say, is the fact that it is a hybrid engine. Let's talk about the mainstream models,
because that's probably 80%, more than 80% of the total volume I would imagine. A lot of improvements
there. A lot of, you know, I'm pretty cognizant having two daughters driving RAV4s with how the
vehicle is evolved. But there's a lot in this interior that's a lot better than the previous
ones. Talk about that. Oh, sure. Yeah, it's definitely redesigned inside and out. We have a
lot of new technology that's being introduced to this vehicle, a lot of two at a first with the
model. I had mentioned earlier, our 24 multimedia system is awesome. We have a standard 12.9 inch
screen on the limited grade. And our instrument panel is all digital as well. So you can actually
see your maps on your display audio and reproduce the same maps on your instrument panel. So
there's a lot of those little touches in there. We have a shift by wire shifter that's on the
limited grade available on the limited grade panoramic moon roof, a standard on the limited
grade. So we're trying to bring more of those premium type of features that customers are
expecting at that level of vehicle, and showing it as more of a standard for them and also to
help bring with, you know, reinforce that energy and that excitement with the model. So it's not
your typical safety QDR type, you get more than that, right? It's one of being what we're used to.
Yeah, and you've upgraded safety. I mean, tell me about what is it, TSS 4.0?
Correct, TSS 4.0. So we'll be the first model to introduce the new TSS system and again,
a lot of enhancements to the existing system, a lot of specific things. I think panoramic
view monitor is one of the features that we are talking a lot about too, that you actually,
similar to your phone device, your iPhone or your Android device, you're able to zoom in and out and
look all around your vehicle, what's around you. So it's a really cool feature, but also I think it
helps with safety as well. It gives you a piece of mind like if you're parked in a parking garage
and you don't know what's around you, you're able to see that before you.
Of all the features and all the newness of this, all that's going on with RAV4,
what do you think is the coolest thing? Just to you. To me personally, it's the style.
It's the style. I love the look of the vehicle. I love that there's three different styling
identities for the vehicle. I think it's a really cool thing is the fact that the vehicle kept a
lot of its DNA right in terms of shape. And I think it was something that I know our engineering
team, our chief engineer really worked hard to maintain because it was such a home run.
Current generation has been. And we didn't want to mess too much with a good formula, but truly
try to find a way to make those enhancements that would take it a step above. But for me,
it's styling 100%. I think they really achieved that. Well, Beatrice Diaz, thanks so much for
being here. We really appreciate it. 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 co-host Chris T.
This is Jack here and back with you. And it is listener question time. It's the final segment
of this edition of America On The Road. We love to get your questions and comments. So send them
along to editoradrivingtoday.com. That's editoradrivingtoday.com. Here's a provocative question
from Manny in Roanoke, Virginia. This says, I have a 2011 Volkswagen Jetta. Why does the service
light on my dash keep turning on and off? Oh, well, a 14-year-old Jetta could be the start of the
phone. No, I'm joking. The check engine only could mean literally almost anything under the sun.
It could be that you have an intermittently loose fuel cap. It could mean that you've got
some issues, maybe an exhaust leak somewhere that's only the sensors can only pick it up
every so often. Or it could be something catastrophic in the engine. You really don't know.
I think your best bet, if you're comfortable doing this at home, is to get a code reader,
an OBD2 code reader, and plug it into your dash. If you're not comfortable doing that, I think you
can go to advanced auto parts or something and pay them maybe nothing for free to have it done.
Yeah, they might even do that for free just to help you out there and maybe sell you some auto
parts. It could be something as simple as tire pressure. I think the 2011 Jetta has tire pressure
monitoring. I think most cars and certainly more modern cars have that. And I think back in those
days, that kind of system wasn't all that sophisticated. So it could be something like that.
If your car is running properly or seems to be running properly, like you say, drive in to
an auto parts store, they'll put a scope on it or something like that.
Yeah, sometimes you're just over your recommended maintenance interval. You need an oil change,
something like that. And they can just throw a switch and make those codes go away.
Well, that wraps up our show for this week. My new crime novel, only one thing stays the same,
is available in both ebook and paperback form exclusively at Amazon. Look forward to Amazon.
We have links in the show notes to that. If you like our show, please pass it on. Listen on this
radio station each week and let your friends know where you hear America on the Road. And of course,
America on the Road is available as a podcast, right, Chris?
That's right. A quick Google search for the America on the Road podcast will bring us to you
on all the major platforms, Apple, Spotify, all the others. Like us, leave us a review,
download the show. All those things help us out and you can take us with you wherever you go.
We'd love that. We have YouTube and Rumble channels. So check those out. We have all kinds
of content going up there these days. So take a look at that. Our thanks to Mercury Insurance
for sponsoring the show and our sports byline network stations for carrying it. We do appreciate
that. Most of all, thanks to you for listening. We know you have many choices. So the fact that
you're listening to America on the Road honors us. We feel good about that. And please do it again
next week for the next edition of America on the Road. Hi, I'm Jack Arnie Redd. And I'd like to
tell you about my newest crime novel. Only one thing stays the same. In a style reminiscent of
James M. Kane and Jim Thompson, two of my writing idols, the book chronicles a blue collar workers
up and down love affairs with two modern Southern California women who continue to surprise, shock,
and ultimately confound him. As the story unfolds, an unemployed aeronautics worker named Bill
McCurdy becomes disillusioned with his wife and slips into an illicit affair with a teenager from
down the street. Before long, he begins to think of doing the unthinkable. But despite his desperate
attempts to make things work, almost nothing goes as planned. His misguided quest for simple love
doesn't turn out to be simple at all. And before the roller coaster ride stops, he learns quite
personally and very finely that only one thing stays the same. Only one thing stays the same
is available in Kindle ebook and paperback form exclusively at amazon.com. I'd appreciate it if
you'd look for it today.
About this episode
Exploring the Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition, this episode dives into its value as a premium compact sedan. Hosts Jack Nierad and Chris Teague discuss the vehicle's upscale features, including all-wheel drive and a stylish interior, while comparing it to the Ford Maverick. They also touch on industry news, including Elon Musk's potential departure from Tesla and rising destination fees. Special guest Beatrice Diaz from Toyota shares insights on the new RAV4, emphasizing its emotional appeal and diverse configurations.
In this week’s episode of America on the Road, host Jack Nerad and co-host Chris Teague test two of the most talked-about new vehicles of 2025. The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup redefining practicality, while the Mazda Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition is a refined sedan with all-wheel-drive confidence and style. Our special guest is an expert on one of the most important vehicles to be released this year, the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4.
🚙 Jack Nerad Test-Drives the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition
Jack takes the 2025 Mazda3 2.5 S Carbon Edition sedan for a spin, a model that combines sleek design, standard all-wheel drive, and premium interior touches at a reasonable price. Its 2.5-liter Skyactiv-G engine produces 191 horsepower through a six-speed automatic transmission, while G-Vectoring Control enhances cornering stability and precision. The cabin screams premium with red leather seats, an 8.8-inch infotainment display, and upscale trim that rivals much more costly luxury cars. With composed handling, excellent build quality, and a comfortable ride, the Mazda3 Carbon Edition bridges the gap between mainstream practicality and premium sophistication.
🚗 Chris Teague Test-Drives the 2025 Ford Maverick
Chris gets behind the wheel of the 2025 Ford Maverick, a compact unibody pickup that’s quickly become one of America’s favorite multitaskers. Offered with either a fuel-sipping 2.5-liter hybrid and a punchy 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the Maverick delivers up to 42 mpg city and can tow as much as 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. Inside, it’s roomy enough for five adults, featuring smart storage under the rear seat and a 13.2-inch SYNC 4 infotainment screen with wireless smartphone integration. With available all-wheel drive, the availability of Tremor off-road hardware, and the street-smart new Lobo trim, the Maverick proves that small trucks can do big things without sacrificing comfort, efficiency, or affordability.
🎤 Special Guest Interview
This week’s guest is Beatris Diaz, Senior Marketing Manager for Toyota, who joins Jack to discuss the all-new 2026 Toyota RAV4, the latest evolution of America’s best-selling vehicle. She shares insights from the model’s Arizona debut, highlighting its updated technology, new hybrid systems, and the strategy behind its continued dominance in the SUV segment.
News This Week:
• Musk Seeking More Money — Tesla CEO Elon Musk could walk away if shareholders reject his proposed trillion-dollar compensation package. The plan ties 12 tranches of stock options to ambitious performance goals, including massive valuation targets and AI advancements.
• Destination Fees on the Rise — Automakers are quietly raising destination and delivery fees to record levels, adding hundreds of dollars to new vehicles even as base prices remain flat. The average charge has climbed to about $1,550 amid higher logistics costs.
• Automakers Step Up Cybersecurity — A 40-day cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover that cost $2.7 billion has jolted the auto industry into action. Carmakers are now investing heavily in real-time monitoring and stronger data protection to avoid future shutdowns.
• Volkswagen of America Turns 70 — VW celebrates seven decades in the U.S., from its Beetle and Microbus roots to modern Tennessee-built SUVs and EVs. The milestone marks a legacy of innovation that helped reshape how Americans think about cars.
🎧 Listener Question:
Manny from Roanoke, Virginia asks why the service light in his 2011 Volkswagen Jetta keeps turning on and off. Jack and Chris explain what might be causing intermittent service alerts and how owners can track down minor sensor or maintenance issues before they become major repairs.
🎙️ Hosts:
Jack Nerad — Award-winning auto journalist and author of Only One Thing Stays the Same
Chris Teague — Longtime auto critic and journalist
📢 Presented by:
• DrivingToday.com
• EMLandsea.com
• Mercury Insurance – Switch today and save. Californians save an average of $670.
📺 Watch & Subscribe
Find America on the Road on YouTube and Rumble. Subscribe for road test videos, shorts, and extended reviews.
