2026 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail: Full-Size Land Cruiser Available Now

This week on America on the Road, Jack Nerad and co-host Chris Teague deliver fresh road tests of the revived 2027 Chevrolet Bolt and the rugged 2026 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail. They also examine the Senate push to ban Chinese-linked vehicles and Lexus’s expansion into luxury yachts. Are improved self-driving systems actually a potential safety menace? The New York Times thinks so, and we’ll offer our opinions. In addition, special guest Hiren Patel, Nissan Design manager, joins the show to discuss the all-new 2027 Rogue Hybrid.

🚗 Jack Nerad’s Road Test: 2026 Lexus LX 700h Overtrail

The most off-road capable LX blends Land Cruiser-derived hardware with a twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6 hybrid producing 457 hp and 583 lb-ft. This big bad boy will do 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, deliver 8,000-pound towing, and offer 20 mpg combined. Locking front and rear differentials, 33-inch all-terrain tires, and Crawl Control deliver serious trail ability while the cabin remains fully luxurious with massaging seats and Mark Levinson audio. Base price is a lofty $115,735, while as-tested will set you back $119,311. The is a locked-and-loaded full-size luxury SUV for both pavement and adventure.

⚡ Chris Teague’s Road Test: 2027 Chevrolet Bolt

Chevrolet has revived the Bolt as an affordable front-wheel-drive EV with a 210-hp single motor and 65-kWh LFP battery. EPA range is 262 miles, and DC fast charging now goes 10-80% in about 25 minutes. A native NACS port, 11.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, and available Super Cruise might delight, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto is disappointing. The Bolt LT starts at $28,995 including destination, and that will buy you a practical daily-use EV focused on range, fast charging, and accessible pricing.

📈 Chinese Carmakers Could Claim Over 10% of U.S. Market

Research firm Mobility Global forecasts Chinese brands could reach 11 percent of the U.S. market by 2038 (about 1.7 million vehicles annually) if barriers ease—though current tariffs and connectivity rules keep them largely locked out.

🤖 Self-Driving Cars: Better Technology, Bigger Risks?

A New York Times report warns of potential “automation complacency.” As the self-driving systems improve, drivers may actually rely on them. But most current tech still requires full driver attention, and comprehensive safety data on the potential issue remains limited, so why not predict doom?

🌏 Asian Brands Set to Top Half of U.S. Sales

Cox Automotive predicts Asian automakers will account fo