Hyundai, AMG, and BMW Reviews Galore, Autotrader Best-Ofs

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Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, kicks off the show giving her review of the mind blowing 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited (seriously, where else can you get this much value for $35,000?), and Alan talks about his experience with the 2020 Kia Seltos. Up next, Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, gushes over his time with the 2020 BMW 840I Gran Coupe and the 2020 McLaren GT as we discuss the contradiction of calling four door vehicles coupes. Then, Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, and NACTOY Juror and Board Member, Karl Brauer, and Alan take turns reviewing the 2020 AMG C 63 S and 2020 AMG GLC 43 Coupe. While the GLC 43 wasn’t a big hit, Karl has nothing but praise for the C 63 S, claiming it has one of the best sounding V8 engines he’s heard. Wrapping up the show, Executive Editor for Autotrader, Brian Moody, chats with us about some of the best features of the Bronco and how its constant comparison to the Jeep Wrangler has given the first round of this war to the Wrangler. We also find out what the best compact SUVs of 2020 and the most popular vehicles on Autotrader are. Tune in to keep up with the ever changing auto industry.

·[00:00:00] Mind Blowing 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited

·[00:06:31] Sonata Limited, Worth More Than $35,000

·[00:12:30] 2020 Kia Selto is a Fantastic Bargain

·[00:19:51] 2020 McLaren GT: A Comfy Sporty Ride

·[00:28:13] Alan Drives 2020 BMW X5M Competition

·[00:35:52] BMW 840I Gran Coupe is a Four Door

·[00:42:13] Why Do They Call 4-Doors Coupes!?

·[00:48:24] 2020 AMG GLC 43 Coupe

·[00:54:45] 2020 AMG C 63 S – Best Sounding V8 Ever

·[01:02:06] Using Wrangler to Contextualize Bronco

·[01:10:41] Best Compact SUVs of 2020, and Hybrids

·[01:18:06] Most Popular Vehicles on Autotrader

[00:00:00] Mind Blowing 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited

Sedans may not be doing as well as SUVs lately, but they are still a respectable market. Whether its their ease of entry, private trunk, or style that capture you, they’re still great vehicles. Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, recently drove the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited and had a mind blowing experience. Tune in to learn more.

[00:06:31] Sonata Limited, Worth More Than $35,000

Hyundai has been a success story of the ages over the past few decades. Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, wraps up her review of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Limited, noting how much progress they’ve made on this vehicle over the last 20 years. When you see all of the features, experience the drive, and witness it’s beauty, you’d think this car would cost at least $50,000, but with the fully loaded model it only costs $35,000! Listen in to learn more about how far dollar gets you with the 2020 Hyundai Sonata.

[00:12:30] 2020 Kia Selto is a Fantastic Bargain

Speaking of value and Hyundai – Alan got to drive the new 2020 Kia Seltos recently and can’t believe what they pack into their vehicles. We all know the story of Alan’s long search for a Kia Telluride for his wife, but he may have just found the stand-in in lieu of the Telluride. Automotive Journalist and Voice of Reason, BJ Killeen, gives her thoughts on the Kia Seltos as we discuss this sub-compact SUV, and how it fits into Kia’s lineup. One thing is for sure, the 2020 Kia Seltos is a fantastic bargain for $27,000 fully loaded.

[00:19:51] 2020 McLaren GT: A Comfy Sporty Ride

You might think of McLarens as pedal-to-the-metal, all out sports cars, but they have a softer side too. Co-founder of Cartender, and Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, is test driving the $210,000 2020 McLaren GT, and is very impressed with it! The McLaren GT isn’t as hardcore as other cars in their lineup, but it still produces an extremely respectable 612 HP with its turbocharged 4L V8 and can do 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. This car is designed to be a super car that you can take on long road trips, with adequate trunk space, a more refined feel, and comfortable drive. Tune in to learn more.

[00:28:13] Alan Drives 2020 BMW X5M Competition

Keeping the test drives expensive this week, Alan chats with Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, about the 2020 BMW X5M Competition he’s been driving. This SUV, or ‘SAV’ as BMW calls them, starts out at $114,000 and makes it up to $126,295 with a few additional options. A 4.4L BMW M TwinPower Turbo V8 engine assures that you will be thrown back in your seat when you give the gas a pedal a good kick. George comments how BMW and McLaren are actually very related, due to McLaren having started off life using BMW engines. Listen in for more.

[00:35:52] BMW 840I Gran Coupe is a Four Door

When you hear ‘coupe’, you probably think of a sporty two-door car, right? Well, BMW doesn’t care about that! Freelance Automotive Journalist for CarGurus, Boston Globe, U.S. News & World Report, George Kennedy III, recently got to drive the BMW 840I Gran Coupe and he loves the car, but he is a firm believer that the word ‘coupe’ is meant to refer to a two door vehicle. Silly names aside, this delicious luxury vehicle has all of the accoutrements people have come to expect from BMW, and the price tag people have come to know as well. Starting at $85,000 and going up to $98,000 for George’s test model, the BMW 840I Gran Coupe is worth the price tag.

[00:42:13] Why Do They Call 4-Doors Coupes!?

Alan was recently driving the 2020 AMG GLC 43 Coupe – you know, the four door SUV. Alan thought it was a good vehicle and all, but he just can’t get over the fact that they’re calling these things coupes! Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, and NACTOY Juror and Board Member, Karl Brauer, also hates the idea of calling four door vehicles coupes. They do it because of the sloped back, but when you do this to an SUV, you eliminate the utilitarian aspect of the vehicle, and by its nature of being an SUV, it lacks a truly sporty aspect.

[00:48:24] 2020 AMG GLC 43 Coupe

They might not have nailed the naming convention, but damn if this 2020 AMG GLC 43 Coupe isn’t a great car! Alan continues reviewing the GLC 43 Coupe with Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, and NACTOY Juror and Board Member, Karl Brauer. It has a 3L V6 Bi-Turbo Engine that makes 385 HP and 348 lb-ft of torque mated with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT TCT 9-speed transmission. It looks great, but we’re still hung up on other vehicles that have done it better, like the Range Rover Velar SVAutobiography Dynamic Edition. Tune in to learn more.

[00:54:45] 2020 AMG C 63 S – Best Sounding V8 Ever

For someone like Automotive Industry Analyst, Forbes Autos Contributor, and NACTOY Juror and Board Member, Karl Brauer, to have something bad to say about an AMG, like the one Alan drove, is a rarity. Thankfully, Karl also got to test drive an AMG, the 2020 AMG C 63 S to be exact, and he loved it! 503 HP, 516 lb-ft of torque, and the most beautiful sounding V8 engine south of $200,000 that Karl has ever heard made him want to go out and get one right then and there. That wasn’t all there was to it, though, so listen in to get all the details.

[01:02:06] Using Wrangler to Contextualize Bronco

The new Ford Bronco has been big in the news, but we’ve noticed a pattern; everyone has been using the Jeep Wrangler to contextualize the Bronco. Executive Editor for Autotrader, Brian Moody, explains why he thinks the Jeep Wrangler already won round one in this war that’s brewing between Ford and Jeep. That’s not to say the Bronco doesn’t look amazing, Brian even put $100 down on one, but the Jeep Wrangler already has a lot going for it, like the newly announced V8 powered Wrangler. Do you think the Bronco is starting behind in this race?

[01:10:41] Best Compact SUVs of 2020, and Hybrids

SUVs are dominating right now, and of all the SUVs, the ones doing the best ar the compact SUVs. Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, gives us a list of the 12 best rated compact sports utility vehicles on Autotrader. The Toyota RAV4 and Honda CRV take top honors, and the Mazda CX5, Subaru Forester, and Kia Sportage make it in the top five. Other great vehicles worth mention are the Nissan Rogue, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain, Jeep Wrangler, Volkswagen Tiguan, Ford Escape, and Hyundai Tuscon. Most of these vehicles start at around $23,000, and go up in price with options. One of those options is a hybrid engine, which almost all of these have. Alan and Brian give their thoughts on hybrid engines. Are you a fan of hybrids?

[01:18:06] Most Popular Vehicles on Autotrader

It’s summer, which means its time to figure out what the hottest cars on Autotrader are. Autotrader Executive Editor, Brian Moody, brings us a list of the most searched vehicles on the site. The most coveted vehicle is apparently Ford F series trucks, followed closely by Jeep Wrangler, Chevrolet Silverado, Ford Mustang, and Chevrolet Corvette. A lot of people are searching for C7 Corvettes in hopes of getting them cheap, but many current owners are asking more for them than expected. To round out this top ten list, we have the RAM 1500, Toyota Tacoma, GMC Sierra, and more. It just goes to show how popular trucks are right now.

Explore More with Helpful Links:

·Contributor: BJ Killeen | Automotive Journalist, Voice of Reason

·Contributor: George Kennedy III | Co-founder, Cartender | Freelance Automotive Journalist, CarGurus/ Boston Globe/ U.S. News and World Report

·Contributor: Karl Brauer | Executive Publisher, Kelley Blue Book/ Autotrader/ Dealer.com

·Contributor: Brian Moody | Executive Editor, Autorader

Credits

Host: Alan Taylor
Producer: Dave Milligan
Audio Engineer: Dave Milligan
Copy Editor: Cody Castleberry
Contributor: BJ Killeen
Contributor: George Kennedy III
Contributor: Karl Brauer
Contributor: Brian Moody

Our Sponsors & Supported Charities:

·Austin Hatcher Foundation

·Brembo

·Dodge

·Foundation of Human Understanding

·Shell

·Subaru

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About THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor

THE DRIVE with Alan Taylor puts you in the driver’s seat for a unique, fast paced look at today’s automotive industry. This is your pedal-to-the-metal, two-hour thrill ride devoted to the latest car news and test-drive results, how-to tips, car maintenance tips, auto show coverage, expert insights and behind-the-scenes race day action. Don’t miss exclusive interviews with top auto executives, athletes, celebrities and prominent newsmakers from around the world.