Then Sami chimes in with his review of the 2026 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport. Armed with a six-speed manual transmission and little else, Sami wonders aloud, whats the big deal with the Taco? He discusses its impressive fuel economy, and its unimpressive stick-shift but comes to a lukewarm conclusion.

Finally our hosts tackle a listener question about the Audi five-cylinder turbocharged engine. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.
• Benjamin's new comic book, Dead Air #3, hits Kickstarter April 28 — Click the link to sign up to be notified when the campaign goes live! It gives us a big boost on Kickstarter, too.

Then Benjamin gives us a review of the 2025 Genesis GV80. Available in two or three row configurations (thanks for the brief confustion Sami) and in either a conventional body style or coupe-like profile, the GV80 has become a fully realized nameplate in the Korean automakers portfolio. Benjamin answers the question: does it matter which model you pick?

Then Benjamin gives us a quick followup review of the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid which he took for a long road trip, and finds some flaws in Sami's initial review of the crossover. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Benjamin grabs the keys to the 2025 Cadillac XT6, a premium three-row SUV that's honest, but high-end. You may have forgotten about it, but Benjamin is here to remind you that this Caddy feels just right among a sea of overly complicated and unnecessarily high-tech options. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Sami talks about his time in two new, but very similar Mazdas. The 2025 Mazda CX-70 and CX-90 are offered with the same powertrains, either a turbo six cylinder model or a plug-in hybrid, and both use the same platform, but are available in either a two or three-row setup. However, Sami points out that the five-seater CX-70 feels like a lackluster effort, and the automaker has a lot of other low points too, including the plug-in powertrain and cumbersome infotainment system. Is this the best Mazda can do?

Then the guys riff on a listener question before closing it up for the week. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

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 electric alternative to the many three-rows out there, but the rest of the package may be able to save that fact. On the other hand, Sami suggests that there may be too many compromises and very little substance to the new Mazda, and that has him worried about the future of the brand. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

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... Thanks for listening, and be sure to check in next week!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.
• Check Out Benjamin's New Comic Book On Kickstarter: Dead Air Issue #1-2 — Dead Air Issue #1-2 is LIVE on Kickstarter!

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.

Then the guys wrap up the episode responding to listener feedback. If you've got questions or comments to share, don't hesitate to visit the website: UnnamedAutomotivePodcast.com or reach out to use on social media. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then the guys talk about the weird 2025 Acura ZDX, and whether or not it carries the quirky nature of the brand and the history of the ZDX nameplate. Now an EV engineered by GM, will Acura be taking the zero-emissions mandate seriously?

Finally the guys discuss some listener comments about annoying overly nanny-ish features. Thanks for listening!

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Sami chimes in about his experience with the 2023 Mazda CX-50 Meridian Edition with the Apex Package. A stylish crossover with high-end, off-road aspirations, Sami and Benjamin seem a bit puzzled at its place in the lineup. Can it still be a success story despite awkward pricing, size, and infotainment?

Finally, Benjamin and Sami announce the winner of last month's contest! Be sure to listen, subscribe and review the podcast, and even consider tipping on Ko-Fi.

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then flyboy Sami talks about his bizarre mission from Europe, where he tested out the not-for-America 2023 Mazda CX-60. The CX-60 features the same platform and powertrain of the upcoming CX-90, just in a smaller package, so now Sami and you, our odeal listener, have an idea of what's going on behind the doors at Mazda. It's easy to forget that this automaker worked on such wild ideas as the compression ignition engine, rotary engine and DEF-less diesel engine, so what can go wrong with another weird change of pace? Benjamin also provides an interesting update on his Grand Wagoneer, and explains why he won't be towing with it anytime soon.

For more fun stuff like this weeks episode, head on over to unnamedautomotivepodcast.com, or engage with our guys (@huntingbenjamin and @Sami_HA) on your favorite social media platform."

Links:

• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Sami comes back from merry old England and the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which he described as a celebration of all things performance and speed. He talks about the new race cars, the hill climb and bowing to Dukes, because he was raised that way.

Listen, subscribe and don't forget to get in touch! The guys are always eager to hear from you.

Links:

• Review: 2023 Mazda CX-50 Is Aimed Squarely At Subaru's Off-Road Friendly SUVs—Or Is It? — Mazda's message about the CX-50's capabilities might be calling out to entirely the wrong group of buyers.
• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Then Benjamin gets ample time to chat about the one of best cars on the market for automotive enthusiasts: the 2022 Mazdza MX-5 Miata. He tested the SOLD OUT Club model, describes what's important about that model, and decides whether it's worth buying above the base edition. Of course he also brings up the Japanese automaker's new direction in the automotive industry, and whether the Miata will ever be this good again.

Thanks for listening, be sure to subscribe, and send us a review, or reach out to us on social media.

Links:

• Review: 2022 Mazda MX-5 Miata Still Delivers Sports Car Thrills In A World Gone Power Mad — The advent of turbocharging has made it easy to add big power to a small package simply by turning up the boost, leaving any automobile that chooses to walk a different path on the outside looking in when it comes to searing acceleration times and gym-bunny torque curves.
• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

The pair also review the book '1970 Maximum Muscle,' which dives deep into the pinnacle of muscle car power and pegs that particular year as the apex of big cubic inches.

Links:

• Check out Benjamin's Graphic Novel Code 45 — Dragons, drugs, and underground raves beneath the streets of Montreal. Launches June 1st on Kickstarter at www.code-45.com.
• 1970 Maximum Muscle: The Pinnacle of Muscle Car Power — In 1970, the American muscle car was as fast and outrageous as it would ever get. But the end was nigh, and 1970 Maximum Muscle dives head-first into the storm before the calm. ISBN 9780760366783
• Like what you hear? Tip us at Ko-Fi — Send a dollar our way using Ko-Fi to help support the Unnamed Automotive Podcast.

Next up are a pair of platform-mates from Mazda, the new 3 Turbo and the CX-30 SUV. Is Mazda's compact star a true luxury player now that it's left its MazdaSPEED days behind? Is there really any reason to choose the CX-30 over the almost-identical 3 hatchback?

Links:

• These Cars Were Set Up to Succeed But Failed Anyway — On paper, these eight cars should have been winners. They were not.

Also - Porsche book contest winners!

Links:

• A YEAR ON THE RACE TRACK IN A VINTAGE CAR: WHAT DID IT COST ME? — Four years later, almost all of the bugs have been worked out of my 1978 Datsun 280Z. A series of upgrades have left the engine largely untouched, but the driveline and the suspension have been built to withstand the perils of high performance driving. Now that I am past the stage of correcting the issues that crop up on any secondhand automobile (deferred maintenance, design defects), I thought it would be interesting to examine what it cost me, in terms of time, toil, and treasure, to keep a 41 year old automobile in fighting shape during a full summer of on-track abuse.
• 2019 Mazda MX-5 Review — The Mazda MX-5 adds horsepower for 2019, addressing one of the most common complaints from people who’ve never actually driven the car. Is the extra output more of a good thing, capable of pushing the world’s most popular roadster to the next level where it can better hang with the current crop of sports cars? Or is it too much sauce slathered on top of an already excellent recipe?

Links:

• First Drive: 2019 Toyota Corolla Hatchback — The conscious decoupling of Toyota and Scion after the latter brand’s demise resulted in a few awkward years for product planners at the parent company, who tried their best to cram leftovers (iM) and newly birthed orphans (CH-R) wherever they could into the behemoth’s North American showrooms. By now, however, the game of musical chairs is over, and there’s no longer any riff-raff hanging around to clutter up the playing field – which is why Toyota has introduced an all-new Corolla hatchback for 2019.

Links:

• Retro Rewind: Driving Mazda's RX-7 FD rotary wunderkind — How does “strange” hold up today in a world where turbos are now the norm and rotaries have been banished to the dust heap of history by emissions regs and warranty concerns? I spent some quality time with a 1993 Mazda RX-7 R1 borrowed from Mazda Canada’s classic collection to find out if an old favorite can still dance to modern music.
• Your definitive Mazda RX-7 FD buyer's guide — The third-generation Mazda RX-7—also known by its internal designation FD or FD3S—is one of the most arrestingly beautiful shapes to have ever escaped a Japanese design studio. When it went on sale in the early ’90s, its flowing lines stood in stark contrast not just to the more boxy wedge offered by the previous version of the car, but also the more aggressively linear look of rivals like the Acura NSX and the Mitsubishi 3000GT.

Links:

• 2018 Mercedes-AMG GT R - First Drive — I'm sitting in the driver seat of the GT R on Bilster Berg's pit row, listening to AMG Driving Academy chief instructor Reinhold Renger as he goes over the finer points of the bright green monster's high-tech wizardry. Although the R may share its basic shape with the street-oriented GT and GT S editions of the coupe, mechanically this most belligerent member of the AMG family is as different from the base car as a straight razor is from a Schick. Despite his willingness to demonstrate how I can dial in as much or as little traction control as I may desire using the dash-mounted knob, Renger helpfully suggests that, of the GT R's four drive modes, I stick with "Sport+" and avoid "Race" until I've had at least a few laps at speed under my belt. "You know, because, well, this is a lot of car," he says, looking me directly in the eye. A pause, and then he repeats this for a second time. "A lot of car."