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The 2024 Toyota 4Runner is the last of its generation, and all indications are it is going to be missed. This week, Host Jack Nerad got a special chance to say goodbye to the old and respected warrior as he took the wheel for the last time before an all-new 2025 model-year 4Runner arrives.
While many are excited about the new 4Runner and its equally new turbocharged powerplant, a similar number seem wistful about the passing of the current generation SUV, which has proven itself tough as a month-old bag of jerky. Some of its toughness stems from its venerable normally aspirated V6 engine, which just seems to keep ticking and ticking no matter how old or what obstacles are thrown in its way. Nerad will tell us more about his last hurrah with the 4Runner in this episode.
In our other road test this week, Co-Host Chris Teague will put the new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek through its paces. While not as fully off-road capable as the 4Runner, it boasts some impressive off-road chops of its own. And despite its new body, it remains powered by the latest version of Subaru’s famed boxer engines, another powerplant that has more than proven its worth. Teague will tell us more in the road test segment.
This week our special guest is Matt DeLorenzo, author of How To Buy An Affordable Electric Car, a Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership. An auto expert par excellence, DeLorenzo has been on the show several times before, and he always has an insightful point of view on individual cars and the car industry as a whole. Now, as electric vehicle sales have hit a lull, we’ll talk with him about what is likely to end up in your driveway going forward. Will we have an all-electric future as so many have predicted? Or is an industry reset occurring before our eyes? DeLorenzo will give us his well-informed opinions.
In the news this week, Jeep has confirmed it will re-launch its Renegade as a battery-electric vehicle for the 2027 model year. And it will have a base price of less than $25,000. We’ll tell you more about Jeep’s aggressive EV plans.
Speaking of EVs, Tesla’s Elon Musk will get his $56 billion pay package after all, at least if Tesla Motors’ shareholders get their way. Musk has big plans for his Texas-based car company going forward, and we’ll have more on that continuing saga.
Another continuing saga isn’t going nearly as well. Fisker Motors, an EV start-up helmed by car designer turned entrepreneur Henrik Fisker, has officially filed for bankruptcy. If everybody had an Ocean across the USA, then things would be different. But it looks like they won’t.
In more positive news, BMW has just pulled the curtain away from its all-new 2025 X3 small SUV. We’ll have the details and our reactions to its new look.
All that and more coming up this week on America on the Road.
America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Dance in the Dark, which is available HERE on Amazon.com
