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Niel Stender on Muck Rack

Niel Stender

Verified
New Hampshire
As seen in: The Knocking Rod, MSN, Yahoo Life, Aol, Substack, Flipboard, BGR, SlashGear, CarBuzz, Carsforsale, Rova and
Covers:  Vehicle reviews, hands-on testing, and engineering explainers on everyday cars.

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Niel Stender’s Biography

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Niel Stender is an automotive journalist and mechanical engineer based in New Hampshire. He grew up wrenching on family cars, including a 1984 Golf, a 1989 Starion, and a 1990 Cherokee, and earned his mechanical engineering degree at the University of New Hampshire. His first job out of college was at Ford, working on the S197 GT500 with SVT.

Niel has been writing about cars for more than five years. His reviews and technical explainers have appeared in SlashGear, HotCars, and CarsForSale, and …

Niel Stender’s Journalist Portfolio

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A Trip To Destination Defender

A Trip To Destination Defender

Mud, Fun, and Massive Land Rover Enthusiasm

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The Top 10 Fastest Cannonball Run Records Ever Set - SlashGear

The Top 10 Fastest Cannonball Run Records Ever Set - SlashGear

The Cannonball Run is an unsanctioned race across America that has existed in one form or another since the 1…

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The 2025 Genesis G80 Is A Show Stopper

The 2025 Genesis G80 Is A Show Stopper

With head-turning good looks, all the power, and a heathy dose of luxury, the 2025 Genesis G80 is a sports se…

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Saleen Only Built 161 Of These RADwood-Ready Mustangs

Saleen Only Built 161 Of These RADwood-Ready Mustangs

Fans of RADwood culture will go weak in the knees looking over this ultra-rare Saleen Mustang.

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Ford's Wild New Mustang GTD

Ford's Wild New Mustang GTD

Every so often, a car comes along that defies description, and instead triggers a lizard brain response commo…

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Watch Out Germany, The All-New 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Is Here

Watch Out Germany, The All-New 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe Is Here

Forget the boring "regular" SUVs and get a load of the 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe with sleek raked lines and ALL…

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Articles

2026 Genesis GV80 Prestige Review

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By Niel Stender Verified, Tyler Stender
| theknockingrod.com
Set the Mood Curator dial to Care, be hypnotized by the flowing lavender on-screen animations, feel yourself pampered with a massaged pelvis, breathe in a diffused scent of The Great Outdoors, and stay present with a soothing soundscape humming in the background. In your 2026 Genesis GV80 Prestige, s’il vous plaît. Yes, it’s true, the current Genesis flagship SUV is a high-class spa on four wheels. It also happens to be a very good luxury SUV.
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5 old-school car trends that need to make a comeback

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By Niel Stender Verified
| MSN Verified
5 Old-School Car Trends That Need To Make A Comeback If you think modern cars are boring, you are not alone. The always colorful Reddit community is happy to share, in no uncertain terms, that today's automotive offerings stink. A common complaint centers around safety innovations removing the "feel" of a car. Then there is the crossover, a vehicle type that anyone can see has inundated American roadways.
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Hands on With the 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz

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By Niel Stender Verified
| Carsforsale
Bold Styling, Clever Cargo Bed 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz - photo courtesy of Tyler Stender Often compared with the Ford Maverick, the only other small pickup truck on the market, the Hyundai Santa Cruz skips the upright, squared-off style of traditional trucks in favor of bold SUV lines. That front end immediately calls to mind Boba Fett’s helmet, especially with the running lights at dusk. It’s cool.
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Interview

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What tools and software do you use to do your job?

Mainly Google search, my basic laptop, and as many phone calls with sources as possible.

Why did you become a journalist?

Because I loved reading Car and Driver as a kid (and today).

What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?

Don't give up. It takes time and effort, but it's worth staying the course.