Unnamed Automotive Podcast

The show starts with the 2025 Lucid Air Sedans, which Benjamin thoroughly reviews. This EV sedan from a well-funded startup, promises lots of performance and range, but Benjamin has some thoughts to share about all that. And he wonders, why do we have to keep changing the way we turn cars on and off? Then Sami takes on the 2025 Acura ADX, a much needed subcompact crossover in the Japanese automakers lineup. Based around the Integra, Civic and (ugh) HR-V, the ADX features a punchy 1.5-turbo which may be able to help us gloss over the car's CVT. Sami has plenty of positives and negatives to discuss with the ADX, so be sure to listen to the whole segment to learn everything you need to know about this new crossover.

What has over 600 horsepower, and can sprint from 0-60 MPH in under 4 seconds? BOTH of the cars the Unnamed Automotive Podcast are reviewing! This weeks show starts with Benjamin's take of the 2025 Chevrolet Blazer SS EV, which is super heavy, features a huge battery, and a weird WOW feature to blast off to high speeds. But what else does it deliver for car enthusiasts? And why does it kind of look like an Equinox EV? Then Sami drives the 2025 Range Rover Sport SV Edition Two, another high-horsepower machine, but this time focused on track capabilities, with some of the biggest brakes found on the market, carbon fibre wheels, and 626 horsepower. Plus some weird gimmicky vibrating seats with tons of PR drivel around them. Finally our hosts answer a car-buying question from a listener who is concerned about towing and hauling, which lets Benjamin get his calculator out for the ultimate advice section. Thanks for listening!

This weeks episode starts off with Sami's description and review of a strange little Jeep that he drove out in Europe: the Avenger EV. Limited with a small battery and front-wheel-drive, how does this compact car translate the Jeep design language to a new market? And what can we expect in North America, with the Avenger's design team penning the new Compass? Sami explains his thoughts, though you have to hang on to understand them all. Then Benjamin reviews the 2025 Subaru WRX tS, and can't stop bringing up his memories of the STI brand. While all kinds of sport compact newcomers keep popping up in the world the old WRX STI used to dominate, Subaru instead holds back, delivering a few upgrades for a lot of money. Why is Subaru limiting itself? Finally, our hosts tackle the complex issue of JLR's cybersecurity hack, which has cost the company about $2B in damages and lost sales. Yikes! Why isn't anyone else talking about this? Thanks for listening!

When Sami's away, only guest host Chad Kirchner has the gravitas to step into his shoes and keep the podcast vibes flowing. Chad and Benjamin talk about Benjamin's time in the 2025 Nissan Versa S, by far the most affordable new car on the market, and what you give up when shopping for a brand new vehicle at used vehicle prices. Then Chad spills the beans on the return of the Chevrolet Bolt, a longtime favorite of the podcast, and a car which seems likely to stick to its roots as a cheap EV.

Whats that you hear? Is it the sound of trails being hunted? Or roads being lit? No, you're right, its another episode of the Unnamed Automotive Podcast being beamed right to your devices! This weeks show starts off with our first review of the 2025 Toyota 4Runner TrailHunter, which Benjamin is towing with around town. Why is there yet another off-road oriented version of this off-road-oriented SUV? How does it differ from TRD-branded models? What's with the pricing? Benjamin breaks it down for you. Then Sami flies of the country to test out the 2026 Audi Q3 in Scotland. Armed with a new design, new infotainment system, new gear selector and new headlights, Sami is eager to talk about what makes this compact crossover so special, and what his reservations are about this whole class of small luxury vehicles. Finally, Benjamin finally reveals the latest addition to his garage. Thanks for listening!

The show starts with Benjamin's review of the 2025 Audi SQ6 e-tron, a performance minded electric crossover which seems to nail so many thing, but falls short of its rivals in one key area; can you guess where? Benjamin's review of the EV expands to a wider discussion of its rivals that you don't want to miss. Then Sami shares his thoughts on the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport, a rugged looking SUV with the same bones as the Pilot, but with fewer seats. While it looks tough and offers a few handy features that are useful off-road, Sami claims this isn't a true all-terrain SUV comparable to the likes of the Wrangler, 4Runner, Bronco and others. Then the guys wonder what's in the water at all the automaker HQs that make them so off-road-trim happy. The show finishes up by tackling a tough, Miata-minded question from a listener. Thanks for listening!

This week the Unnamed Automotive Podcast is so revved up it's putting Benjamin to sleep! Even while Benjamin does tons of PR for his upcoming book (www.modeluncomic.com) he has time to review a car for us. He jumps into the pilots seat of the 2025 BMW M2, which has been totally redesigned on a new platform and feels very close to its M3/M4 cousins. While boasting plenty of power, and a manual gearbox, Benjamin wonders if there's something missing in the M2's typically exciting sauce. Then Sami climbs into the 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport Hybrid, and comes away unimpressed. Yet another off-roading cosplaying trim arrives on the street with minimal real upgrades to capability and it sends out hosts into disassociation mode. What does Honda think its doing? Listen to find out!

If you're after the latest reviews of some three-row crossovers of varying sizes, then you're listening to the right podcast! The Unnamed Automotive Podcast starts off with Benjamin's review of the 2026 Mitsubishi Outlander, loaded with three rows and a gas-powered motor, the Outlander begins to boil Sami's blood due to its lack of competitiveness in a field full of excellent options. Benjamin has more than a few nice things to say about the Outlander, but none of them are about the barely-useable third row. Then Sami chimes in about his plug-in experience with the 2025.5 Volvo XC90. Loaded with 455 ponies and 30-ish miles of range, the XC90 is sure to be a hit. But then Sami's attention turns to the Swedish automakers attempts at designing an infotainment system, and things fall apart a bit. While not as bad as the EX90, the XC90 has a few glitches of its own that make it hard to recommend. Then it's time for a classic Nissan Pathfinder cow adventure. Thanks for listening!

Our hosts have plenty of energy and stuff to talk about following Benjamin's road-trip vacation. After Benjamin's discussion of hot dog prices and charitable clowns, this weeks show starts off with a review of the 2026 BMW iX xDrive60. With over 350 miles of range on tap, this EV should have been the perfect chariot for a road trip, but Benjamin did have a few issues along his trip. Additionally, the guys go into a deep discussion about carbon fiber, clamshell hoods, and other premium EVs. Then Sami goes nuts over news following this year's Monterey Car Week and Pebble Beach Concours. From Lexus to Infiniti to Nissan and BMW, there's all kinds of fun news to pour over, and laugh about. Thanks for listening!

Benjamin fires up the show with his take on the 2026 Cadillac Vistiq, an electric three-row crossover that seems to be replacing Caddy;s own XT6. With 102 kWh of battery on tap, and over 600 hp, this is a big player in the world of EVs, but what else makes it stand out? While the world of three-row EVs is relatively slim, Benjamin suggests that the Vistiq might have a chance to be the best in its class, if only GM could sort out some small teething issues first. Then the show turns towards plug-in hybrids, as Benjamin and Sami quickly discuss the 2025 Toyota Prius PHEV. Formerly crowned as car of the year, the guys pinpoint what makes this Prius special compared to previous ones, and whether this plug-in variant is one of the best commuter cars on the market. Thanks for listening!

This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast jams out with some subcompact crossovers. The show starts with Sami's review of the 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric, a perfectly fine EV that is a bit overshadowed by its market. With the competition offering better value, Sami and Benjamin argue that a used Hyundai Kona Electric is the smart choice for EV shoppers on a tight budget. Then the guys turn their focus to the 2026 Honda HR-V. Using Sami's previous experience as background information on his tester, Benjamin starts off thinking the Honda subcompact is pretty solid, but after spending more time with it, he wonders if there's a worse choice in the segment. Thanks for listening!

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast gets their hand on an iconic sports car and a sleek new EV this week. The show starts off with Sami's review of the 2025 Porsche 911 Carrera T, the only 911 with a manual transmission. That MT comes with a bunch of bits and bobs too, but there are 14 other 911 trims to choose from, with more power, more tech and more speed... what makes this one feel so good? Then Benjamin tackles a listener question about wagons by reviewing the 2025 Kia EV6, a long-roofed electric car, that may fit the bill as a wagon. However, this year, Kia made a huge change to the charging port of its mainstream EV, and it may ruffle a few feathers. Thanks for listening!

This week, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast discusses Benjamin's newest addition to his garage; a second-generation Nissan Pathfinder! Find out what led him to this Japanese SUV, and what makes it so interesting (hint, it has something to do with its transmission!) Then Benjamin shares how his latest trip to Canadian Tire Motorsports Park went as he towed his way to the track in a Silverado HD 2500. Hear answers to questions like "did it have adaptive cruise control?" and "how much worse was the fuel consumption while towing?" and "do you need all that truck to tow a car?" Thanks for listening!

Following our summer spin-off episodes, the show returns to its normal off the wall self, as our hosts catch up on what's been going on. First up, Benjamin shares his thoughts on the large and technically impressive 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ. His review covers both the good and the bad of this gargantuan EV. He also comments on Cadillac's approach of stuffing its large SUV with everything possible, and whether its a sensible, sustainable model of EV development. Benjamin then shares how the Cadillac IQ compares to the gas powered model, which is now only available with a thirsty V8, rather that the loveable diesel. While these two share a name, they seem wildly different, but a few important factors keep them so appealing. Thanks for listening!

As part of our fun, special summer episodes, the Unnamed Automotive Podcast plays a game of "Remembering Some Cars." Take a trip down short-term memory lane, and see what Benjamin remembers from cars he reviewed a short time ago. Does he know the names of the trims he tested? How much power those cars had? Whether he even liked them or not? Any funny experiences he had while testing those cars? Hear it all on today's show. Thanks for listening!

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast takes a look at some of the popular trends, and what happened to them. Dive deep into the world of T-tops, wood panelling, gesture controls, and more! And don't forget to tell us what you favorite dead trend is by heading over to our website or reaching out on social media.

How much should an optional extra cost? Paint, bedliner, safety features? Today's episode is the debut of our "Market Price" feature, where Sami quizzes Benjamin about various optional extras on a few popular cars, both mainstream and exotic. How much paint can adaptive cruise control cost? Why won't the guys discuss wheel pricing? What about center caps? How much is it all worth? Enjoy and thanks for listening.

The Unnamed Automotive Podcast jumps right into summer with a fun review of the 2025 Ford Mustang GT Convertible. A droptop with a V8? You got it! Benjamin details the ins and outs of this nearly-500-hp machine, and Sami questions him on the progress that Ford has made with its pony car over the past few decades. Then Sami recaps his thoughts on the 2025 BMW X3 M50, which boasts tons of power and a funky approach to interior design. It has Sami rethinking his entire thought process revolving the German automaker, and the hosts talk more about what that means. Then the guys give a short primer for what to expect in the next few episodes. Thanks for listening!

We can thank TECHNOLOGY for bringing us the Unnamed Automotive Podcast this week, but we can also BLAME it for making Sami's life difficult during his week-long test of the 2025 Volvo EX90 EV. With a huge battery, over 500-hp and plenty of driving range, the EX90 should be a slam dunk in the world of three-row EVs, but Sami shares the many frustrations he experienced while driving this vehicle. Most issues revolve around the infotainment system and a minimalist approach to controls, which makes usually easy tasks quite distracting. Then Benjamin shares his thoughts on the all-new, and finally available in the US, 2025 BMW M5 Touring (Wagon.) The big, plug-in hybrid, high-performance wagon shows it can be a bit of everything in one tidy package. Is that special enough? Why is Sami so over it already? The guys talk about their thoughts on this amazing BMW and figure out 'why now?" And finally, the hosts tackle some listener questions and comments about the Hyundai Santa Cruz, and the scary future of used car software. Thanks for listening!