Unnamed Automotive Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 227: 2021 Kia Carnival, 2021 Chrysler Pacifica, 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, Listener Questions Jun 06, 2021

Show notes

The 2021 Kia Carnival is an all-new minivan that tries to bridge the gap between comfortable family cruiser and legitimate luxury vehicle, depending on how much money you want to spend. Sami sets it up against the 2021 Chrysler Pacifica to see how well it pulls off its fancy dance.

Benjamin returns to an old favorite, the 2021 Volkswagen Golf GTI, on the even of the Mk 7's disappearance from the American market. Is it as good as he remembers, and what does the future of the now-splintered hot hatch segment look like?

Finally, the pair answer listener questions about Mustangs in the winter and Boxsters in the future, while also dissecting the latest press release weirdness from BMW.

Links:

Check out Benjamin's Graphic Novel Code 45 — Dragons, drugs, and underground raves beneath the streets of Montreal. Launches June 1st on Kickstarter at www.code-45.com.
Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 226: 2021 Polestar 2, 2021 GMC Terrain, 99 Cent Nissan Leaf Lease May 30, 2021

Show notes

The 2021 Polestar 2 is the first all-electric luxury car from Volvo's boutique brand. Benjamin gets his neck snapped in two by its instant-on torque so he can talk about head bobbles, underwhelming interiors, and the chances that Polestar can lure away Tesla buyers. Sami then takes a historical detour into the SUVs of GMC's past with the 2021 Terrain, a trucklet that's dying for a refresh. Finally, the pair ask whether it's worth leasing a Nissan Leaf for 99 cents if it comes with one enormous catch.

Links:

Check out Benjamin's Graphic Novel Code 45 — Dragons, drugs, and underground raves beneath the streets of Montreal. Launches June 1st on Kickstarter at www.code-45.com.
Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 225: Guest Chad Kirchner, 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe, Learn EV, Ford F-150 Lightning EV Pickup May 23, 2021

Show notes

Sami and Benjamin welcome back friend of the show Chad Kirchner from EV Pulse to talk about the site's new Learn EV feature, and then the trio rip into the over-the-top details of the 2021 Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S Coupe and the 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup—two ridiculously powerful vehicles from very different sides of the tracks.

Links:

EV Pulse's Learn EV Feature Is Live! — The quickest way to compare electric vehicles on the Internet.
Check out Benjamin's Graphic Novel Code 45 — Dragons, drugs, and underground raves beneath the streets of Montreal. Launches June 1st on Kickstarter at www.code-45.com.
Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 224: 2021 Mazda CX-9, 2021 Kia Telluride, 2021 Toyota Highlander, 1970 Maximum Muscle Book Review May 16, 2021

Show notes

Is the 2021 Mazda CX-9 a stealth luxury SUV at a much more affordable price? Benjamin certainly seems to think so, especially after trading in the Acura MDX in favor of the older, yet somehow better Mazda design. Sami also works out a comparison between two SUVs: the 2021 Toyota Highlander and the newer 2021 Kia Telluride challenger, and discovers that Toyota fans might not be shopping around before making their pick.

The pair also review the book '1970 Maximum Muscle,' which dives deep into the pinnacle of muscle car power and pegs that particular year as the apex of big cubic inches.

Links:

Check out Benjamin's Graphic Novel Code 45 — Dragons, drugs, and underground raves beneath the streets of Montreal. Launches June 1st on Kickstarter at www.code-45.com.
1970 Maximum Muscle: The Pinnacle of Muscle Car Power — In 1970, the American muscle car was as fast and outrageous as it would ever get. But the end was nigh, and 1970 Maximum Muscle dives head-first into the storm before the calm. ISBN 9780760366783
Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 223: 2022 Acura MDX, 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD, Ford Explorer Timberline, 2022 Honda Civic May 09, 2021

Show notes

Benjamin offers a counterpoint to Sami's past drive of the 2022 Acura MDX SUV by asking why anyone would pick this particularly hauler over any other premium crossover. Sami loves the look and feel of the 2021 Kia K5 GT-Line AWD but questions just how well its drivetrain stands up to direct competitors like the Toyota Camry.

The pair wrap things up with a look at the new (off-road) Ford Explorer Timberline and the redesigned 2022 Honda Civic.

Links:

Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 222: 2021 BMW M5 Competition, 2021 Infiniti QX55, Best Era For Driver's Cars May 02, 2021

Show notes

The 2021 BMW M5 Competition might be the perfect luxury sedan, if crushing power and four-door track performance are your thing. Benjamin argues that as impressive as the car is, 90 percent of buyers would be just as well served by the also-fantastic BMW M550i xDrive.

Sami dives into the 2021 Infiniti QX55 SUV, and while he loves the looks inside and out he's not so sure Infiniti makes a compelling argument as to why the QX55 should be picked out of a very deep premium crossover field.

Finally, after a lengthy rant about the 'waterfall capital of Canada,' the pair answer a listener question about the best era for driver's cars.

Links:

Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Episode 221: 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor, 2021 Nissan Kicks, Off-Roading Apr 25, 2021

Show notes

Is the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor a hardcore off-roader that can keep up with the Tacoma TRD Pro and the Colorado ZR2? Benjamin heads into the mud to get the answers. Meanwhile, Sami spends time with the all-new 2021 Nissan Kicks SUV to see if it's still his favorite affordable hauler (even if the next-generation price tag is a little bigger than before). Plus: bonus Nissan Micra talk.

Links:

Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.
Does the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor Deliver Off-Road Fun For 4x4 Fans? — Has the Tremor been worth the wait? I took the 2021 Ford Ranger Tremor out to play in the mud to see how it compares against the class-leading Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro and Chevrolet Colorado ZR2.
How To Level Up The Base Ford Ranger Truck For Maximum Factory Off-Road Fun On The Cheap — We dove deep into the Ford Performance catalogue to level up a base Ranger from milquetoast to monster, focusing exclusively on the gear you need to dominate the trail without forcing you to pay for all the extras and accessories baked in to Ford's pre-programmed packages.

Episode 220: 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Hellcat Truck, 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz, 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS Apr 18, 2021

Show notes

The Hellcat truck is finally here, and Benjamin gets to bounce around off-road in the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX while flexing its mud-covered 702 horsepower all over Montreal. So why isn't he super excited about the most over-the-top pickup truck ever built? Sami tracks down shooting stars in the headliner of the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost while expressing his intense anxiety about parking a car that costs half a million dollars.

The pair wrap things up by talking about the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz mini-truck and the surprisingly boring 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQS EV.

Links:

Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi. — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.
Review: The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX Is Detroit’s Mightiest Off-Road Pickup — The Hellcat-powered truck is also the last gasp of over-muscled V8 menace

Episode 219: 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander, 2021 Genesis G80, Weird Ford Explorer Talk Apr 11, 2021

Show notes

Is the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander a carbon-copy of its Nissan Rogue platform-mate, or does it stand as a legitimate alternative despite all of its shared bits and pieces? Sami is pleasantly surprised by Mitsubishi's latest small SUV.

Benjamin goes road-tripping in the 2021 Genesis G80 sedan, and discovers that good things still come in sedan packages, especially when it comes to upstart luxury brands.

Finally, the pair try to decide who, exactly, is the customer for the new stripped-down version of Ford's high performance Explorer ST sport-utility vehicle.

Episode 218: 2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD, 2021 Cadillac Escalade Super Cruise Super Test Apr 04, 2021

Show notes

Sami questions Benjamin's sanity as he develops more-than-like feelings for the 2021 Lexus IS 300 AWD, an entry-level luxury sedan that his co-host had previously decried as a missed opportunity for the brand.

The pair then attempt to answer the question of whether Cadillac's new Super Cruise assisted driving system is even worth having in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV SUV if it doesn't constantly irradiate rear seat riders with radar of questionable utility.

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