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They call it “False Spring” in Maine. The weather warms up, and the result is acres and acres of mud everywhere. While it’s not good for many outdoor activities, it is made-to-order for all-terrain vehicle testing. That’s exactly what co-host Chris Teague did with the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road. One of several Tacoma variants, the TRD Off-Road is equipped with monotube Bilstein remote reservoir shocks that facilitate extended wheel travel and offer greater heat dissipation, properties that are useful when splashing through the mud. One question many ask about the new Tacoma revolves around the new powertrain. Does the turbo-four adequately replace the tried-and-true V6? Chris Teague will answer that question and many others in his comprehensive review.
At the other end of the country, Host Jack Nerad didn’t have mud to deal with. Instead, his major obstacle was the heavy traffic around Phonix as snowbirds from the Midwest and West locked to baseball’s Spring Training. Nerad’s ride for this second stint in Arizona this spring was the 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI, the performance version of the popular compact sedan. With 228 horsepower under the hood and a six-speed manual shift lever in his right hand, Nerad and his wife, Sandi, made their way to a pair of exhibition baseball games while simultaneously putting the Jetta GLI through its paces. He’ll have a complete report.
This week, we have a terrific guest for you. Jason Norton is the director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power and an expert on vehicle dependability. In his exclusive interview with Host Jack Nerad, he’ll offer the details of the recently released 2025 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. If you’re looking for a dependable vehicle — and who isn’t? — you’ll want to hear what he has to say.
In the news this week, we’ll answer the important question: Is this a good time to buy a new car? New data gives us some hints on that, and we’ll give you the details in this episode.
On the tech front, General Motors and NVIDIA have teamed up for a couple of big new initiatives involving artificial intelligence — one obvious and one not nearly as obvious. We’ll tell you about both.
Embattled Tesla Motors, the recent victim of multiple acts of arson and vandalism, has gotten a green light on a phase of its robotaxi initiative, and we’ll have more on that.
California EV drivers could lose a special perk by the end of the year, and we’ll tell you what it is and why it may go bye-bye coming up.
So we have a lot of show for you this week Stay with us. We’ll be right back.
Jack Nerad’s newest book
Jack is now offering his newest crime novel, Only One Thing Stays the Same, at a pre-publication price of just $4.99. Click here to buy from Amazon at this special limited-time price.
Matt DeLorenzo’s Book
Pick up a copy of co-host Matt DeLorenzo’s terrific new book How to Buy an Affordable Electric Car: A Tightwad’s Guide to EV Ownership.
Brought to you by:
• DrivingToday.com
• Mercury Insurance: Find out how much you can save at DrivingToday.com/auto-insurance.
• EMLandsea.com, publisher of Only One Thing Stays the Same and Dance in the Dark
We have a lot of shows for you this week. Thanks for joining us, and don’t forget to look for new content on our YouTube and Rumble channels. Please subscribe. If you do, we’ll like you forever.
America on the Road is brought to you by Driving Today.com, Mercury Insurance, and EMLandsea.com , the publisher of Nerad’s latest book, Only One Thing Stays the Same which is available HERE on Amazon.com
Chapters
00:00 America on the Road This Week
02:59 AI Innovations in the Automotive Industry
05:25 General Motors & NVIDIA Team Up
07:53 Tesla’s RoboTaxi Initiative
09:51 California’s EV Carpool Access Changes
12:45 Road Test: 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road
18:45 Road Test: 2025 Volkswagen Jetta GLI
25:41 Jason Norton, J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study Interview
39:39 Listener Question: Is It Safe to Charge EVs at Home?
Keywords
automotive news, car buying, electric vehicles, AI in cars, Tesla, Toyota Tacoma, Volkswagen Jetta, vehicle dependability, carpool access, automotive trends
Summary
In this episode of America on the Road, hosts Jack Nerad and Chris Teague discuss the current state of the automotive market, including vehicle affordability, AI innovations in the industry, and Tesla’s latest developments with its RoboTaxi initiative. They also explore changes to California’s EV carpool access, conduct road tests of the 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road and Volkswagen Jetta GLI, and answer listener questions about electric vehicle safety.
Takeaways
It’s a good time to buy a new car according to recent data.
Vehicle affordability has improved significantly since mid-2021.
General Motors and Nvidia are collaborating on AI for vehicles.
Tesla has received approval to test its RoboTaxi initiative in California.
California may revoke carpool access for single-occupancy EVs.
The 2025 Toyota Tacoma TRD Off-Road has made significant improvements.
The new infotainment system in the Tacoma is much better than before.
The Volkswagen Jetta GLI offers a sporty driving experience.
Electric vehicles operate on high voltages, but charging at home is safe with precautions.
Consulting an electrician is advisable before installing EV chargers at home.
Titles
Is Now the Right Time to Buy a Car?
AI Innovations in the Automotive World
Tesla’s Next Steps with RoboTaxis
Sound Bites
“Is it a good time to buy a new car?”
“Tesla is getting the okay to test robo taxis.”
“The new infotainment system is 100% better.”
“The Jetta GLI is a solid car.”
“Electric vehicles use high voltages.”
“Charging an EV at home is generally safe.”
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