Jake Smith, Automotive Editor
Jake Smith · Automotive Editor
Jake Smith is Automotive Editor for Craig & Landreth’s news and ownership coverage and Vice President of Craig & Landreth. His dealership leadership provides context for reporting on the questions people ask when choosing, buying, driving and maintaining vehicles.
The publication is part of Craig & Landreth, an automotive retail and service business. That business relationship is relevant context for readers: this is a dealership-owned publication, not an unaffiliated vehicle-testing organization.
Coverage and approach
Jake’s byline covers model and equipment announcements, in-car technology, EV and hybrid ownership, safety information, vehicle comparisons and market developments with a practical consumer consequence. Articles aim to identify the exact vehicle or question involved and distinguish what is confirmed from what remains uncertain.
The reporting links readers to source material such as manufacturer specifications and instructions, official safety campaigns, testing organizations and published market reports. A manufacturer claim remains attributed; an illustrative calculation is labelled; and a reported test is not presented as a test performed by this publication.
Selected work
Android Auto vs. Apple CarPlay: Which Is Better in 2026?
A detailed comparison of phone integration, connections and everyday functions, with the different software platforms clearly identified.
EV Fast Charging: Compare Stop Time, Not Just Peak kW
An explanation of why a useful charging-time comparison needs an interval and test conditions, as well as a peak power figure.
IIHS Rear-Seat Crash Ratings: What Shoppers Should Read
A guide to reading rear-passenger results and applicability notes in a specific IIHS evaluation.
Sources, tools and corrections
Read our editorial standards for sourcing, corrections, image credits and the use of AI-assisted tools. We identify a technician, reviewer or firsthand test only when that person’s participation or that work is documented; a byline alone is not a claim of a professional technical certification.
To flag an error, use the Craig & Landreth contact page and include the article URL, the passage involved and supporting information. Please do not include private customer records or sensitive personal information.