Unnamed Automotive Podcast

They shook the magic eight ball and it came up "trucks." Sami and Benjamin dive into some rugged, practical machines this week, with Mr. Hunting starting with a closer look at the 2022 Honda Ridgeline. Now facing stiff competition from new trucklets like the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz, how can the Ridgeline stay appealing to shoppers? Benjamin points out a few of the flaws in Honda's app...

It's time to talk about everything speedy, fun and joyful. First up, Benjamin describes his time in the 2022 Toyota GR86, the successor to the lightweight, fun-to-drive 86 that caught the attention of enthusiasts everywhere. He recaps the importance of the older 86, which is important context to his experience in the new GR86, which recieves a new powertrain and updated interior along with a new e...

This week on the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, the duo jump into action to discuss the 2023 BMW iX M60, a combination of BMW's M, i and X brands that looks... frumpy. Besides the exterior design, the M60 sports a ton of power and performance, especially in a straight line. But everyone knows that a BMW M product has to sound cool too, so be sure to hear Sami explain how the iX M60 achieves its signa...

Benjamin talks about his first impressions of the 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5, the Korean automaker's mainstream EV which rides on an entirely EV-oriented platform. He discusses the vehicle's unique and approachable styling, the range and charging performance and touches on the driver assistance features before delivering his verdict on whether this is an EV worth checking out. Then Sami finds himself in...

Benjamin and Sami are back after a short hiatus! The duo explain their mysterious absence before jumping back into whatever it is that makes the Unnamed Automotive Podcast so unstoppable. This week Benjamin describes his experience in the 2022 Audi RS e-tron GT, the speedy alternative to the Porsche Taycan and his first high performance EV experience. Does it make the right noises for an RS badged...

No episode this week or next, but stay tuned because we've got the Audi RS e-tron GT, the BMW iX, and the Toyota Yaris Cross all coming your way when we resume podcasting May 15.

When luxury car makers like Audi ask you how much performance you want, the options are Mild, Medium or Spicy. This episode Benjamin dives into the Medium flavour in the form of the 2022 Audi S3, and decides whether this middle ground is balanced or compromised, and how BMW and Mercedes-Benz fit into in the strange entry-level landscape. Then Sami describes how the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets th...

Weren't you just wondering a bunch of random things about the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover? Get ready for all the details about the secret air-suspension setting, the weird second sharkfin antenna, the non-JLR engine under the hood, the motorized accessories and the overall luxuriousness of it all as Sami spills the beans after his first drive experience. Then Benjamin talks about his time in the 2...

Sami talks about his time and experience in the 2022 Subaru Forester WILDerness. This vehicle seems intent on reminding shoppers where Subaru lands on the SUV ruggedness scale, and that's 'at the tippy top.' With more ground clearance, beefy tires, skid plates and additional cooling, it's designed to be a rugged Forester, even though that seemed to be the default Subaru method not too long ago Ben...

This week on the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, witness something that's as rare as a double-rainbow: the double-Toyota subcompact crossover conversation. Sami and Benjamin discuss their experiences in Toyota's TWO small crossovers: the 2022 Corolla Cross and the C-HR. Is is a problem for Toyota and its customers? Which one of these two vehicles is better positioned for success? The pair also dive in...

Benjamin talks about the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and comes away thinking this may be a real competitor against the likes of German luxury. Hear him brag about the number of screens in his tester, and how Jeep manages to keep infotainment and other controls modern and simple. Sami chimes in with his confusing experience in the 2022 Volvo C40 Recharge, a battery-electric vehicle with the same dimen...

As reliable as a 20 year old Toyota, we have yet another fun episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast for you to listen to this week. First Benjamin jumps in and talks about the massive hole left in VW's lineup that is being replaced by the 2022 Volkswagen Taos subcompact crossover. While the old Golf was a compact-car favorite, VW felt that Americans just didn't deserve it anymore, so here comes...

Its another twisty-turvy episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, so buckle in and get ready! First Benjamin describes how he wasn't on the hype-train for the new 2022 Ford Maverick compact pickup truck. After hearing tons of other journalists, and even Sami talk it up a pedestal, Benjamin still had to try it for himself. Given his love for the Hyundai Santa Cruze, could the Maverick ever measur...

It's another episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast, and this time, we're talking cars. Benjamin has a lot to say about the latest two door BMW, the 2022 M240i xDrive. With more power, and a longer wheelbase, this coupe is a departure from what the 2 series used to represent, and hints towards the future that BMW is building for its brand. Is more power ever a bad thing? What does this mean for...

Benjamin drives the new 2022 Infiniti QX60 and frames his take on it by discusshing the heirarchy of luxury car brands. What is Tier 1 Luxury anyways and where does Infiniti rank? While the QX60 shares many components with the Nissan Pathfinder, the styling and effort with the details are supposed to make it stand out, so find out what Benjamin thinks after his time with the 3-row Japanese luxury...

We're back with a other jam packed episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast. First Benjamin shakes off the post surgery blues in a green (paint, not personality) Alpina B8. This BMW+1 brand has made a name for itself over the years but it's recently stepped up its charms. Benjamin runs down what makes it so special and why it might be the coolest new BMW on the road. Sami then shares his thoughts...

You might have heard that North Americans only get the 2022 Volkswagen Golf in enthusiast grade GTI and R forms. Recently, Benjamin picked up the keys to the more powerful of the two, and while there was a massive winter storm blowing snow during his testing, it wasn't the weather conditions that left him cold. Hear what VW has done to the most recent generation Golf R and whether Benjamin would r...

Benjamin discusses his go around in the 2022 Hyundai Kona N-Line, a crossover that strives to be the median point beween the standard Kona and the speedy Kona N. Hyundai is trying to follow the path of the German M Sports and AMG Lines, but is the Kona N-Line a successful push in the right direction? Is this just a style and attitude package, a weak echo of the Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk? Sami then...

This week our hosts go fast and the furious. 2022-style, with a pair of sporty compact cars. First Sami talks about the 2022 Honda Civic Si, a sedan that's grown up over the past few generations. Benjamin wonders why Honda won't give the Si more than 200 horsepower from the factory, and Sami asks if the Civic is still true to its sport-compact roots. Benjamin then jumps to the 2022 Hyundai Veloste...

It's time for another great guest host. Sami and Benjamin are joined by the one and only Stephen Elmer from the Truck King YouTube channel. First the three discuss the new 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, where the L stands for "Third Row," a phrase which doesn't contain a single L within it. Or maybe it stands for "Premium Interior," another statement without the 12th letter of the alphabet. It could...

For 2022, Benjamin, Sami Haj-Assaad and guest Chad Kirchner from EV Pulse ask you to consider 3D printing your own podcast, much like how the much hyped 2022 Ford Maverick provides you with instructions to DIY your own accessories. The trio talk about the little Ford trucklet in great detail, and determine if it's worthy of praise, or if it's just a modern take on the cheap truck template. Chad th...

Before they get ready for the holidays, the hosts of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast get together for one more episode. Benjamin shares his experiences aboard the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder and tries to decide if it really is a "return to rugged" or just another three-row SUV in a crowded field of contenders. To get to that answer, he dives into a rabbit hole of Pathfinder info, discussing past generat...

Benjamin talks about his experience in the new 2021 Ford Bronco Wildrak, and explores how the Blue Oval has worked to keep up with the legacy and momentum of the Jeep Wrangler. Was the Wrangler as easy of a target as Ford thought it was? Benjamin decides whether the Bronco beats its Jeep bogey in any meaningful way, and whether the hype machine surrounding the Ford is warranted. The Sami jumps int...

Benjamin dives deep into the crossover-turned-pickup-truck known as the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz. As Sami chants "Utes not Coupes," he explains why this quirky compact trucklet is in the running for his Car of the Year. Or would that be Truck of the Year? Sami gets another go in the 2022 Genesis GV70, but this time it's the more affordable 2.5T model. Considering there's a $20,000 gap between the e...

On this week's episode our hosts dive deep into a pair of cars that struggle to impress. First Sami describes the mild updates to the 2022 Volvo XC60 B6, which gets a new Johan De Nysschen-like nomenclature to go along with a Google-branded operating system and a beefy 48-volt electrical system. Is the twin-charged motor and minimalist styling enough to save this Swedish luxury crossover from Sami...