Unnamed Automotive Podcast

What is there to say about the 2020 Honda CR-V? Sami struggles to come up with anything more than good vibes about possibly the best compact family crossover money can buy, but doesn't particularly think that's a problem for customers. After a brief diversion into the fascinating world of car showers, Benjamin reveals that the 2020 BMW M850i Gran Coupe is not just just a great alternative to the s...

Has BMW finally figured out how to translate the fun bits of the MINI Countryman platform into an intriguing compact SUV of its own? Benjamin is surprised by how strong a response the 2020 BMW X1 elicited from him during their 7 days together. Sami, on the other hand, checks out a less exciting, but still important piece of the Lexus line-up - the 450h SUV - and reflects on its place in a world wh...

Guest Stefan Ogbac shares his experience with the absolutely crazy Polestar 1 supercar, which offers 619 horsepower and 738 lb-ft of torque from a hybrid setup. Benjamin reveals just how uncomfortable he felt driving the twitchy 2020 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon pickup truck on a long highway trip, while Sami is back from Detroit with news about the redesigned 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Suburban...

The 2020 Toyota Highlander emerges into a hyper-competitive 3-row SUV market that is currently being lead by an unexpected pair of Korean contenders. Does it have what it takes to unseat the Kia Telluride and the Hyundai Palisade? Benjamin and Sami head to Texas - but not together - to find out. The two also discuss whether the long-awaited 2019 Mazda CX-5 diesel crossover makes sense, and if the...

Is the new Mercedes-Benz A-Class sedan a step in the right direction after the disappointment that was the CLA-Class? Benjamin drives the 2019 A220 to find out. Meanwhile, Sami tries hard to understand where exactly the all-new 2020 Cadillac XT6 fits into the luxury SUV universe. Rounding things off, the two talk about 'stealth' car movies where the vehicles are the true stars and the plot is in t...

How can the 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque offer such distinctly different personalities behind the wheel when you add 50 horsepower from a mild hybrid system? That's what Benjamin and Sami try to figure out after they each drove this luxury SUV and came away impressed by some of it, and puzzled by more. The pair then dive into news about the JETTA sub-brand, Volkswagen's I.Bees, the Hyundai S...

Is the future of Porsche electric? Sami tries to figure out what that might look like after driving the phenomenally expensive - and very, very heavy - 2020 Porsche Taycan. He also slips behind the wheel of the 2020 Hyundai Venue to see if it can dislodge that special spot he keeps warm in his heart for another tiny crossover, the similarly-priced Nissan Kicks. Benjamin relates his disbelief over...

How different is the new, front-wheel drive platform under the BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe as compared to the rear-wheel drive BMW 2 Series coupe? Sami drives a prototype and comes back with his opinion on how well this entry-level four-door fits into the BMW family. Benjamin drives two of the best three-row SUVs on the market - the 2020 Hyundai Palisade and the 2020 Kia Telluride - and can't believe...

Is it possible that taking the roof off a car Benjamin never really enjoyed driving suddenly changes everything? So it would seem with the 2019 BMW M4 Cabriolet, the last edition of this generation's convertible M car, and perhaps the second-most interesting drop top in the BMW line-up. Sami, on the other hand, can't quite understand who's out there lusting after the 2020 BMW X6's muscular hindqua...

Guest Chad Kirchner gets a ride in the 2020 Ford Bronco R, the 'Raptor' version of the upcoming SUV, and dives deep into the details on what to expect from the heritage-inspired model. Benjamin is back from Texas after driving the 2020 Aston Martin Vantage, which marries a German heart to a British body. Sami and Chad both attended the Infiniti at 30 celebration, which generated some surprise EV-r...

Sami's trip to the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show with Toyota paid dividends for car fans who are also robot lovers, as he was exposed to all manner of chasing, gripping, and transportation-oriented bots that combine terrifying levels of dexterity with a personality that 'wants to get to know you better in the night.' Highlights include Olympic robots, artificially intelligent Lexus concepts, and some sort...

How far has the Porsche Cayenne fallen behind the rest of the luxury people mover pack? Sami discusses his disappointment with what was once a class leader after driving the 2019 model. Benjamin, on the other hand, has a surprisingly positive encounter with the 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio after failing to be impressed by the standard, non-performance model. He compares it back-to-back aga...

Minivans get almost no respect on an SUV-laden landscape, but if the 2019 Chrysler Pacific Hybrid is any indication, they are still the best option for families who truly need to maximize space and practicality. Benjamin drives the battery-powered van and discovers all the ways it's a better choice than an SUV for so many buyers. Sami reports back on his time with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class,...

Charger fans have finally been thrown a bone by SRT in the form of the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody, a track-oriented version of the super sedan that mimics the wider stance of last year's Challenger Widebody while bringing some important suspension and performance improvements to the table, too. Benjamin drives both the Hellcat and Scat Pack Widebody cars at Sonoma Raceway and compares...

Is America ready for the first-ever Subaru to have been fully built by STI - to the point where it had to be homologated as an all-new manufacturer? Benjamin drives the 2019 Subaru STI S209 on a race track to find out if it lives up to the hype. Meanwhile, Sami puts the 2019 Ford F-150 Platinum Diesel to work and realizes he might still prefer the revamped Ram. Finally, we take a deep dive into Je...

The 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI really a Golf GTI with a trunk? VW would love to convince you that's true, but Benjamin isn't so sure after a week together with the car. Sami rediscovers the Mini Cooper S magic that he thinks makes the car something special in a very crowded slice of the new car market.

Friend of the show Chad Kirchner spends time in the 2020 Ford Mustang EcoBost High Performance Pack and comes back to tell Benjamin just how wrong he was about his instant dismissal of the turbocharged muscle car. Sami then leads a discussion on the Netflix show Hyperdrive, which is perhaps the first time someone has made a competitive driving program that doesn't completely suck.

Is the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata's new motor a worthy upgrade over the previous 4-cylinder? Benjamin certainly thinks so - to the point where it changes the entire character of the car for the better. Sami then dives deep into the 2020 Hyundai Palisade SUV and wonders how such a luxurious three-row hauler came to market without a Genesis badge. Finally, the pair pay their respects to Benjamin's Datsun...

Subaru's basic design language doesn't take any risks, and after driving the 2020 Subaru Legacy for the first time Sami kind of wishes it did so that more buyers might be tempted to take a chance on the brand instead of seeking out the more stylish competition. Benjamin sets sail in the 2019 BMW 750i xDrive across two-lane blacktop seeking county fair fun, and is surprised by the combo of performa...

Is the 2019 Volkswagen Golf R a hot hatch, or a 'stealth executive car?' Will Sami tolerate Benjamin's unabashed use of marketing speak to describe the turbocharged, all-wheel drive Golf, or will it end their friendship forever? Will Sami's time in the 2019 Subaru BRZ Raiu Edition make him paint his own BRZ 'Cool Khaki Grey?' The answers to these questions, plus a Porsche book giveaway and fun lis...

How strong is the charisma of Steve McQueen that Ford is still making Bullitt Mustang tribute cars 50 years after the movie debuted? Sami dives deep into the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt and comes away impressed with its mix of style and performance. After a detour into the weird world of movie tie-in cars, Benjamin continues the discussion with the 2020 BMW M340i xDrive, the fastest non-M3 version o...

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Camaro Turbo worth of the 1LE road racing package? Benjamin spends a week with the entry-level car to find out. Meanwhile, Sami pits the 2019 Ford Ranger against the 2019 Chevrolet Colorado ZR2 in a mid-size pickup battle that may have a surprising winner.

Is the world ready for a version of the Nissan GT-R that costs over $200,000? Guest Chad Kirchner explains why the NISMO makes sense - and who it makes sense to - after driving the automaker's most expensive sports car to date. Benjamin relates his experiences with the 2019 Mercedes-Benz G550, the first re-design of the boxy G-Class in decades, and argues with Sami about whether it truly has a pla...

When a Japanese company pays for a Germany automaker to build its flagship sports car, and then lets it sell a more powerful roadster version of its own, Benjamin is there to try to make sense of it all. The 2020 BMW Z4 M40i turns out to be more impressive than inspected after a week together on the road. Sami follows up with a comparison test between the 2019 Toyota Corolla sedan versus the 2019...

Benjamin's love for the BMW M850i is no secret - but when the roof gets sliced off, will his heart stay true? A week in the 2019 BMW M850i Cabriolet has a surprise ending that leaves Sami shocked. The pair then go on to discuss Sami's time in the 2019 Honda Passport, and debate whether anyone is really heading down to their local Honda dealer to pick up an off-road capable SUV.