Expect old days’ reminiscence as well as insight into future potentials.

The Carsguide Podcast is a Australian car news and reviews website’s production delivering plenty of insight with spirit. 

Hosted by motoring journalist James Cleary and involving a roster of special guests, this weekly has only recently resurrected after a year-long hiatus. I’m personally curious about its ultimate direction.

For all that it steers toward a home audience, and highlights ‘their’ differing approaches to emission standards, EV incentives and new vehicle offerings this pod is relevant to New Zealand, as it delivers broad and insightful coverage relevant to our country.

There are engaging retrospectives on iconic household names - yes, you’ll hear more about the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon - that seem to be a hot topic even though Australia’s car manufacturing industry has long gone. Cleary’s enduring passion for these brands offers a nostalgic road trip.

In a recent must-listen episode, the show explores the ever-increasing hype surrounding Kia's upcoming Tasman Ute, expected to challenge market stalwarts the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Mitsubishi Triton and Isuzu D-Max. 

The panel's discussion highlights potential market shifts and suggests Kia's diversified product lineup approach could unsettle competitors heavily reliant on a single model (no more so than Ford). Toyota's perceived delay in launching a new Hilux might open doors for the Seoul-headquartered automaker to nab a buyer or two.

The pod is no visual feast on the production front, with its basic YouTube presence resembling a Zoom call overlayed with the occasional informative graphic. Audio quality mirrors the production values, being reminiscent of AM radio.

However, the content makes up for the lack of high-definition fidelity, providing industry insight and entertainment to maintain engagement.

The Carsguide podcast homepage: https://open.spotify.com/show/