Unnamed Automotive Podcast

28/10/2024

Driving the Acura ZDX, I couldn't help but wonder at what Honda's actual EV future will actually look like.

The electric SUV checks all the boxes but doesn't stand out from rivals.

24/10/2024

Kia and Hyundai were the first automakers to find themselves at the center of a social media clout-chasing crimewave, all because of a product decision that was made many years before platforms like TikTok took over the internet. My look at the cost of making mistakes in an ultra-online world, for Motor Trend.

It shows what happens when weird social media and car culture collide in all the wrong ways.

17/10/2024

In which I ponder the age-old question of "will it rally?" The answer will not surprise you.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=https://driving.ca/reviews/2024-toyota-gr-corolla-circuit-review&count=1

Once again, Canadian news links are blocked by Facebook, but this Bing link will take you to the page.

28/08/2024

Which year of the 1980s was the absolute worst for buying a new car? My answer in the link (formatted through Bing because Canadians can't post links to new sources anymore), but there are so many strong candidates to choose from.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=https://driving.ca/car-culture/vintage-collectible/worst-year-1980s-cars&count=1

07/08/2024

I think Toyota missed the mark with the Land Cruiser - at least, when it comes to pricing, and separating it from the 4Runner.

The off-roader has a new mission: go head-to-head with Ford and Jeep 4x4s

24/06/2024

This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast gets their hands on a unicorn, or so they think. The 2024 Ford Maverick is the topic du jour, but unlike past discussions of the small pickup truck, this one is equipped with the fuel-friendly hybrid powertrain. While this setup was hard to find in the past, this year the Blue Oval has changed its mind about what engines are standard and which isn't, so would you pay more for less power and more MPGs? And how good is this small truck once you step back from its compact crossover roots?

Then the guys discuss the endless comedy of Fisker's bankrupcty, before talking about a cool road trip Benjamin took to a gaming hub in the US. Which brings up the wonderful world of driving video games that we know our hosts can get carried away in.

Is a hybrid a standard engine, or optional? In case of the Ford Maverick, it can be both! This week the guys talk about the 2024 edition of the Maverick, before shifting topics to a road trip to video gaming heaven and the endless comedy of Fisker's bankruptcy.

01/05/2024

Today the guys race against the clock as Sami gets locked in an air-tight room with enough oxygen for only 45 minutes of recording. During this time, the guys have to talk about the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport that Benjamin recently tested. Totally redesigned for this year, the Taco has a new engine, design and interior which all had an interesting impact on Benjamin during his test drive. The guys also talk about suspension, cargo preferences, and fake trim bits during this review of the mid-size truck.

Then the conversation shifts to the recently announced 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, which gets the look of the outgoing TRX but with a smaller engine. That news is followed up with the reveal of the 2025 Mercedes Benz G 580 With EQ Technology, an all-electric version of the beloved G-Wagon, and maybe the best looking EV at Mercedes. Then the guys chat about Ford's EV woes and their new strategy of making smaller, more affordable cars. Who'd've thunk it?

This week the guys lock Sami in an air-tight room with only enough oxygen for 45 minutes of recording. During this time, they review the 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport and discuss the recently announced 2025 Ram 1500 RHO, 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 With EQ Technology and Fords future EV strategy. Thanks....

21/04/2024

This week on the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, our hosts dive into the Land Rover Defender 130, but not just any Defender: this one is loaded with all the trimmings, including a side-mounted accessory box, a roof rack made for camping, a ladder to access that rack, and some sweet flat-black paint. Benjamin asks, are these things useful? Are they worth the money? Won't people in the city just be tempted to mess with your cool Land Rover stuff? And Sami has his thoughts on why he's right and wrong - not to mention how the rest of the car behaves on the road.

Then our hosts get dirty discussing the recently revealed 2025 Toyota 4Runner, which has finally recieved a significant redesign after being untouched for so long. While that's good news, the guys can't help but bring up the new 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser, and how this news affects its standing in the Toyota truck lineup.

Finally, the guys bring up some news from Up North about the banning of cars with Level 3 hands-free driving systems

Lots of automakers have cool accessories, but how useful are they? Benjamin gets deep into this topic after his time testing the Land Rover Defender 130, which was equipped with an optional accessory package. Then the guys talk about some recent news including the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner and how som...

26/03/2024

Today's show starts with Benjamin's review of the 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, an EV that could stand on its own in a vaccuum, but runs up against a few issues when you consider the rest of the EV world. Benjamin wonders if its worth it to spring for a homegrown rival electric vehicle for just a few thousand dollars more.

Then Sami continues his three-row review extravaganza with his take on the 2024 Honda Pilot TrailSport. Having undergone a thorough redesign last year, is the new Pilot a solid choice in this segment? What are its strengths and weaknesses in one of the most competitive arenas in this industry? Sami reveals his thoughts on these concerns and more!

Then the guys answer a unique listener question, involving two totally different cars, but with similar family-friendly goals.

This week's episode is full of discussions of cars that seem good on their own, but struggle to stand out competitively in their segments. Benjamin starts off with a review of 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric, which might be a touch too expensive to recommend. Then Sami chimes in with his thoughts on the....

22/03/2024

It may be St Particks Day, but our hosts are driving anything but green rides. Benjamin starts this weeks show off with a discussion of the 2024 Lexus TX 350, an all new model in the Lexus lineup, but one that feels pretty familiar to anyone who's checked out the Toyota Grand Highlander. While this three-row is more competent than past offerings by Lexus, Benjamin shares his concerns about whether this is a worthy option in this class, and what to do about its troublesome user-interface and weird driver-facing-video recordings.

Then the guys talk about some weird fake heavy-duty trucks, and this history behind such a strange trend in the automotive industry. Who's heard of the Big 10, or Heavy Half before? It was certainly an eye-opener for our enthusiastic hosts.

This week the Unnamed Automotive Podcast enters new territory, talking about the 2024 Lexus TX 350 for the first time. This three-row SUV offers a pretty good experience, but Benjamin says it may feel a bit too familier to the Toyota Grand Highlander. Then the guys talk about story that caught Benja...

13/03/2024

Starting things off this week is the 2024 BMW i5 M60, a near-600 horsepower all-electric sedan that Benjamin seems impressed with, especially in comparison to the Mercedes-AMG EQE from last week. But every BMW comes with its hiccups and gimmicks, and Benjamin is more than eager to share his experience with this high-end German, and how the new executive sport sedan feels.

Then Sami gets his three-row on by talking about not just one, but two family oriented crossovers. The discussion starts with the 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, which seems to be the default three-row for families looking to grow from their RAV4. Then the guys go on to talk about Sami's recently tested 2024 Subaru Ascent, and how the brand has recieved a lot of credit for its steady approach to the market.

This week starts off with Benjamin talking about the near-600 horsepower 2024 BMW i5 M60, which does a lot to impress. Listen to him discuss the performance along with the weird technology that surrounds this new EV. Then Sami compares the 2024 Toyota Highlander and 2024 Subaru Ascent as he checks o...

28/02/2024

The Unnamed Automotive Podcasts goes dipstick deep (eww, no) into electrification this week with a discussion of every kind of electric car available these days. First Benjamin talks about the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, and how the Japanese automaker adopts its new large three-row crossover to a (hopefully) more efficient model of transportation. Benjamin goes road tripping in his electron-enhanced Mazda, and finds a few hiccups that mar the overall experience.

Then Sami gets curious about all the award hype going on for the 2024 Toyota Prius AWD and checks it out himself. With more power, extroverted styling and a 'normal' looking cabin, the Toyota hybrid feels completely removed from the original example that came out nearly 25 years ago - but is it for the better?

Finally Benjamin takes the rear-wheel-drive 2024 Hyundai IONIQ 5 for a spin in the snow to see if the big battery and evenly distrubuted weight make for a confident drive in slippery conditions. Then he finds out a harsh truth about EVs in cold weather...

This week the guys talk about every form of electrification on the market, starting with a review of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 PHEV, including how it performs on a road trip and any strange hiccups encountered during the test-drive. Then Sami tests out the award-winning 2024 Toyota Prius AWD, to find out...

05/02/2024

Our show starts with the 2024 Hyundai Tucson N-Line Hybrid, which looks cool and promises low fuel consumption, but Sami and Benjamin have a few contrasting thoughts about the design and effectiveness of that powertrain.

Then the guys bring on Thomas Hundal from The Autopian to discuss his recent drive of the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla Circuit Edition. While a $50k Corolla sounds like a crazy idea, Thomas has a few arguments in its favor, without going overboard praising Toyota as some kind of Enthusiast Haven.

Finally, Thomas shares the details on one of his latest published features, discussing the Honda Civic Tour, which saw the Japanese automaker splash fancy and unique graphics on a bunch of cars for the latest and greatest (at the time) bands. This list of participating bands include Maroon 5, The Black Eyed Peas, Panic! At The Disco and Blink-182 though some cars have the works, while others are barely changed. Thanks everyone for listening!

This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast welcomes guest Thomas Hundal from The Autopian to discuss a variety of cars and topics. The show starts with a review of the 2024 Hyundai Tucson N-Line Hybrid, before things shift to more enthusiast oriented talk of the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla. Finally the gu...

30/01/2024

This week we get our hands on a hourly anticipated hit hatch: the 2024 Acura Integra Type S. Based on the equally impressive Civic Type R, this Integra refines a few things, looking more mature and less boy-racer. Is that enough to convince Benjamin? Also what's the deal with its Konami code to disable traction control? Learn the secrets of the pedal dance!

Then we have a special guest to discuss EVs. Tom Chep from Arc Motors stops by to talk about restomodding classics into modern functional electric vehicles. This Canadian start up has all the elements of a great story including family ties, high tech wizardry and a hopeful future.

We get our spin in the 2024 Acura Integra Type S, which takes the formula from the Civic Type R and matures it a bit. Benjamin has plenty to share about his experience with the car, and talks about its secret pedal dance. Then the guys talk to the master of engineering at Arc Motors, Tom Chep, to di...

04/12/2023

As Spotify Wrapped comes flying into your inboxes, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast can hold off no longer with this weeks episode. The "No Procastination Special" shows up with roughly 40 minutes of focused car-talk, all centering around two (or maybe three) vehicles. Hey, if you listen carefully you may find real consumer advice here...

First up Benjamin has plenty to say about the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic SUV. Despite its wacky name, this all-electric SUV should be a highlight in the world of luxury EVs, but there are a few factors that stand in its way, including its price, performance and technology. It all has our hosts asking: "How much is that three-pointed star badge really worth?"

Then Sami chimes in with his experience in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Sport, and compares it to the recently reviewed 2024 Hyundai Kona. To make things extra-thorough, Benjamin discusses his time in the 2024 Crosstrek base model, and the two come to many of the same conclusions, which, given the long history of this podcast, is very rare.

This week on the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, you may stumble upon some real consumer advice. Consider yourself warned, as Benjamin reviews the 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE 500 4Matic SUV, and comes away with many concerning thoughts about the German brand's electrification strategy. Then Sami compares the...

30/11/2023

There's a GoFundMe to help Jason Torchinsky and his family with their emergency medical expenses. Give if you can.

Hello Fellow Autopians, As we now know, JT suffered a split in the hose leading out of his prim… Thad Thompson needs your support for Torch Medical Fund

24/11/2023

This week, the guys ask: How many off road trims should a mid-size truck offer? Benjamin explores this concept with his review of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss, which sits alongside the Z71 and ZR2 models as an off road oriented truck. However, the Trail Boss is surprisingly cheaper and pared down compared to those other models. Does that help or hurt it's chances in the market? Benjamin shares the full scoop!

Then Sami gives an update about the LA Auto Show, and all of the new reveals, from the expected, to the confusing and bizarre. The guys close up the episode with a laugh as they reference an interview with Volvo CEO Jim Rowan. Thanks for listening!

The guys talk off-road mid-size pickup trucks, including an in depth review of the 2023 Chevrolet Colorado Trail Boss. Then a quick round up of the LA Auto Show. Thanks for listening!

07/11/2023

No podcast has the hard hitting truth about ELECTRIC VEHICLES like the Unnamed Automotive Podcast! This week we hear what makes the 2023 Mazda MX-30 such a "disappointing effort" according to Sami, who spent plenty of time testing and driving the little Japanese EV and dealing with its range anxiety inducing design. What possible redeeming factors are there for this Mazda with limited availability? You'll have to hear the whole episode to find out!

Then Benjamin chimes in with some thoughts on the 2023 Nissan Ariya. Seeing how Nissan used to have a foothold in the EV space with the leaf, but slowly lose that edge over the years to Hyundai, Kia and Ford, Benjamin seeks the truth about the latest Nissan EV, and you won't want to miss his definitive verdict of the brand's latest electric car.