Episodes
There are two electrified SUVs to talk about on this weeks Unnamed Automotive Podcast. First up Benjamin drives the 2024 Kia EV9, an all-electric three row SUV, which faces limited competition. Kia has plenty of experience with electrified platforms, so Benjamin dives into what makes the EV9 work and where it struggles. Then Sami gets his turn in the 2024 Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid. With a little over 20 miles of electric driving range the Japanese crossover has limited appeal as an...
Published 05/19/24
This week the podcast returns to the two-car review format, as Sami brings up the newly redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse which he drove around Georgia. The new Traverse has a new look, new engine and new technology to help it stand out in a sea of completely forgettable crossovers, but does it actually do that? Sami and Benjamin discuss. Then Benjamin reviews the 2024 BMW X2 xDrive28i, which grows in size, yet limits in personality as it borrows heavily from its MINI corporate cousins. Is...
Published 05/05/24
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...
Published 04/28/24
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...
Published 04/21/24
Following a logistical and technical complication last week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast is back to deliver the freshest and bestest takes in the automotive media. Or so we believe! This week's episode starts us off on a journey of Easter candies, before we quickly change lanes to discuss the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, the kissing cousin (eww) of the Buick Envista. This attractively priced crossover has quite a lot going for it, and very little fanfare, so is Benjamin impressed with this newly...
Published 04/12/24
Benjamin details his recent experience in the 2024 Volvo V60 T8 Polestar Engineered PHEV. That may sound like a bunch of gibberish, but the reality is that Ben had a lot to say about this 455 horsepower, plug-in hybrid wagon. Is it fast enough? Big enough? Efficient enough? Fancy enough? Benjamin has all the answers and more! Then Sami brings up all the news that popped up during the 2024 New York Auto Show, including the new Kicks, new G Class, new Defender and performance oriented...
Published 03/31/24
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...
Published 03/24/24
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...
Published 03/17/24
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...
Published 03/10/24
Some high-tech luxury cars enter the Unnamed Automotive Podcast garage this week, as Sami finally shares his experience driving the totally redesigned 2024 BMW X2. Where the outgoing model was more of a hot hatch, this seems more like a sedan-ified crossover. And while that sounds kind of mundane, the sheer amount of weird technology help the X2 stand out in a way, or so Sami suggests. Then Benjamin gets his hands on the 2024 Mercedes-AMG EQE Sedan, which promises the world, but only...
Published 03/03/24
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...
Published 02/25/24
The guys have returned from their short hiatus to give you even more great content and car conversations. This weeks episode starts off following Benjamin's recent drive of the 2024 Jaguar F-Type R 75, a celebration of the British automaker's great history of sports cars. Benjamin takes a cruise down Memory Ln. to talk about the F-Type and its impact on the brand, as well as how the rest of the sports car world looked when it first debuted compared to where we are now. Plus we get some more...
Published 02/18/24
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...
Published 02/04/24
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...
Published 01/28/24
The 2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport has arrived to this week's episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast and the timing couldn't be better. Benjamin tested the Range under some seriously snowy conditions allowing him to see if the British luxury SUV can stand out from the Germans. With a weird nomenclature and revised trim walk, this year's model has plenty to show off, and Benjamin is eager to share the details. Then Sami catches you up on the latest weird and funny news in the...
Published 01/21/24
This year's show starts off with weird, punchy energy as Benjamin tests out the 2024 Toyota Corolla Hybrid AWD. One of the only hybrid compact sedans at its price point, Toyota takes things a bit further with this model as it throws AWD into the mix. What does that mean for the drivability and efficiency? Does it make sense to get this over the regular Corolla Hybrid? Is this car interesting to drive at all? Benjamin answers these questions and more. Then our hosts dive into a few of the...
Published 01/14/24
Welcome to the New Year with the Unnamed Automotive Podcast! As we enter 2024, the guys have plenty to talk about starting with a paid of luxury three-row crossovers. Benjamin starts things off with his test drive of the 2024 BMW X7 M60i, which is loaded with a twin-turbo V8 and three-rows of luxurious seating. Who could've guessed this thing could do 0-60 in under 4 seconds? Beyond that little tidbit, Benjamin had plenty of frustrations about the Bimmer, but does that detract from the...
Published 01/07/24
First up Sami reviews the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450e 4Matic, a plug-in hybrid SUV equipped with a four-cylinder turbo that has 48 miles of all electric range and costs around $70k. Sami talks about the highs, lows and more importantly, the competition of this Mercedes, and whether or not you should check it out. Then Benjamin brings up the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, a larger three-row crossover from the Japanese automaker, and one he wonders might kill the non-Grand Highlander...
Published 12/24/23
This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast welcomes guest Chad Kirchner from EVPulse, which means a great and fun discussion of electric vehicles. Our guest arrives following his test drive of the highly anticipated 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EV. Available with three different drive configurations (front-, rear, or all-wheel-drive) but no Android Auto or Apple CarPlay support, the Blazer has a lot of questions to answer, and Chad has the answers ready. Then Benjamin reviews the 2024 Buick...
Published 12/17/23
The mercury is dropping but the Unnamed Automotive Podcast is still blazing a trail through your ears with another great episode. Not only do our hosts ponder about how integral their friendship is to the show, they also bring up the 2023 Lexus RX 500h F Sport that Benjamin recently tested (and apparently Sami drove but didn't tell anyone about.) Always the popular choice for luxury crossover buyers this RX boasts a totally new powertrain that should make it stand out from previous...
Published 12/10/23
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...
Published 12/03/23
Benjamin and Sami jump into action this week to discuss two polar opposites in the automotive industry. First up Benjamin tests the 2024 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. This big bruiser of a pickup truck has a price that needs hauling, but is the equipment and experience worth it? Benjamin has plenty of stories from his time with the heavy duty truck as well as an important conclusion about these big ole pickups. Then Sami tests out the 2024 Hyundai Kona N-Line which has undergone a complete...
Published 11/26/23
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...
Published 11/19/23
Weird cars come and go, but the Unnamed Automotive Podcast is here forever! Or at least until the end of interesting cars in general. Speaking of which, the guys have some curious cars to talk about this week, starting with Benjamin's take on the new 2023 Toyota Crown. A sedan/sportback mix with a hybrid powertrain, this vehicle seems to combine the best elements of the ultra successful Camry and RAV4. But is that really the outcome? Benjamin has the whole scoop and a thesis about what kinda...
Published 11/12/23
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...
Published 11/05/23