Tyler Stender
Portland
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Articles by Tyler Stender
2026 Genesis GV80 Prestige Review
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.
Grand Junction to St. George: Road Trip Day 6
Leaving Colorado, we headed for Utah and another national park - Capitol Reef. The day started warm, flat, and straight, at least once we got off I-70 and onto Utah Route 24. It is here that you head for the enticingly named Goblin Valley State Park. For wide-open vistas as far as the eye can see, this spectacular desert-scape is hard to beat. Tempting as it was to hang a right on the Goblin Valley Highway, we stayed on the gas with our sights set on Capitol Reef.
Scout Motors Design Deep Dive
ICYMI, Scout is back. The old-school off-roaders known for raked-back lines and wild 70s-tastic graphics have returned. I’ve been loosely following the all-new Scout story since it started making headlines in late 2022, but I have to admit, I didn’t know all that much aside from assuming it was a Volkswagen-owned EV foil to Rivian. That’s not quite accurate, as I learned on a recent visit with the Scout Motors design team in Boston.
2027 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Review
Crossovers have taken over the auto industry. This is nothing new. I’ve been whining about it for a long time because I’m hard-pressed to find lines on most of these rigs that represent an improvement over a clean sedan or *be still my heart* a station wagon. But I’ll get over it, unless that is, you count children among the members of your family.
Fort Collins to Grand Junction: Cross-Country Road Trip Day 5
All photos by Tyler Stender On our way out of Fort Collins en route to Rocky Mountain National Park, Tyler and I stopped at Lima Coffee Roasters. Young Tyler has a knack for sniffing out the most excellent sources of caffeine, and this spot did not disappoint. Nice folks, tasty coffee drinks, and - as odd as it may sound - a berry and cream cheese scone that was incredible. With barista tips on the national park visit in hand, we hit the road…and nearly missed the untimed entry cutoff.
2026 Land Rover Defender 130 Review
I understand the need for more fuel-efficient cars and fully support it. When asked, a hybrid of some ilk is my go-to recommendation, should 100% battery power not be a palatable option. And I love a full-throated, gas-guzzling, internally combusted mill. Like, say, the 518-horsepower supercharged 5.0L V8 in the Land Rover Defender 130. The ruggedly handsome exterior of this square-jawed SUV offers no indication of what’s lurking under the hood. The refined ruffian. A velvet-gloved iron fist.
Iowa to Fort Collins: Cross-Country Road Trip Day 4
All photos by Tyler Stender The fastest way to Fort Collins from Des Moines is about 9 ½ hours of straight-line cruising for, oh, 650 miles. One could trim that timeline down to something like 8 hours with an 80 mph average. But when you’re pushing a fully laden Hyundai Santa Fe, replete with rooftop cargo box and 200 pounds of e-bike mass on the trailer hitch, a need for speed would seem unwise. To mix things up, Tyler and I tacked on more mileage via the Pawnee National Grassland.
2027 Ford Bronco Filson
Ford currently sells 7 different models of its Bronco off-roader, each with its merits. Regular powertrain choices include a 300-horse turbocharged four-cylinder or a 330-horse twin-turbo V6. There is a 3.0L twin-turbo V6 that produces 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, but this wicked mill is only paired with the range-topping, Baja 1000-ready Bronco Raptor. Until 2027 that is, as Ford is opening up the order books on an all-new Bronco special edition…the Filson.
Michigan to Des Moines: Cross-Country Road Trip Day 3
After our eventful night of unremarkable food and uninspired beer in Sarnia, Ontario, Tyler and I struck out for Des Moines, Iowa. We had a big beer plan this day - Michigan overfloweth with options - but alas, our early departure meant must-stops like Bells and Wax Wings were shuttered.
Vermont to Canada: Cross-Country Road Trip Day 2
Many moons ago, Tyler and I crossed Lake Champlain via quaint car ferry on our way from Burlington, VT to Niagara Falls. The ferry is still there, doing its quaint thing and we pulled aboard at the crack of dawn after driving through a full double rainbow in the farmy, rain-soaked Vermont countryside. Bucolic, you might say. On the other side of the pond, we spotted…a beaver! Yes, folks. A real, in-the-wild beaver shambling across the road. It was ludicrous.
2026 Honda Ridgeline TrailSport Review
It’s remarkable that, after 20 years, Honda remains the only automaker selling a unibody mid-size pickup truck in the U.S. Clearly, there’s a market for it. One that I found myself squarely within after driving a 2026 Ridgeline TrailSport for a week. Pickup trucks are cool, but are generally overkill pour moi. My towing needs don’t exceed an occasional trailer of yard debris to the recycling center, and I value a comfy ride - if only to keep my family of 5 content.
2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Review
One of my first cars was a Jeep. It was a 1989 Cherokee that came after my wacky Mitsubishi Starion gave up its electrified ghost. That Jeep was spartan with a couple seats, quarter-panel windows that spun in a circle, and a floor-mounted 5-speed with a lever approximately 18 feet long. That was the last time I spent significant time with a Jeep, one I absolutely adored.
2026 Genesis G80 3.5T Sport Prestige Review
Anyone in the market for a luxury sport sedan should visit a Genesis dealer. Yes, I know, this segment is the unloved, shrinking, red-headed stepchild to the almighty crossover. But if you actually enjoy driving and realize that automotive taste comes in flavors beyond bloated luxo-barges, get a load of the Genesis G80. In a segment long dominated by the Teutonic Trifecta, with an occasional contender thrown in the ring by Lexus, Genesis is to be applauded for shoving itself into the conversation.
2026 Honda Pilot Elite Review
Every family could use a Honda Pilot. Well, really, a Honda Odyssey - or any minivan - but I know the stigma of sliding doors is real. For those who can’t handle the idea of driving a minivan (this is ludicrous if you have children BTW), get a load of Honda’s Pilot. Everything about it is nice, comfortable, and intuitive. Even if your daily driver isn’t a Honda - mine’s not - the Pilot is an easy-going embrace of familiarity.
Road Trip Day 1
Cross-country road trip day 1 is in the books! Tyler picked me up in New Hampshire and we spent the night in Maine at his place. After some last-minute packing, we hit the road for Burlington, Vermont. Leaning on a huge Rand McNally atlas and a highlighter, we plotted the path for some analog navigating. Key stops included Schilling Brewery in Littleton, NH and The Alchemist in Stowe, VT.
2026 Subaru Uncharted Sport Review
As the North American auto industry generally plods about and fumbles for answers on the topic of EVs, Subaru has stepped forward as a purveyor of some seriously sweet battery-powered rides. I’ve driven the Solterra, a Lexusy compact crossover that does all the EV things well. I’ve gushed about the Trailseeker (née E-Outback). And now I’m zipping around in a 338-horsepower Habanero Orange Metallic dune buggy dubbed the Uncharted.
2026 Ford Expedition King Ranch Review
Excuse me while I nerd out on vehicular cabin flexibility, a subcategory of the car nerd subculture that draws me like a fly to, well, you know. It is an area that the latest generation Ford Expedition excels in, regardless of trimline - though the King Ranch variant I recently spent time with does so with a healthy dollop of southwest chutzpah. I am a highly regarded car packer of stuff when it comes to road trips, at least within my family.
2026 Subaru Trailseeker Premium Review
I wasn’t expecting a $41,000, relatively anonymously styled Subaru wagony-crossover to be the car that had my 13-year-old son learning about vehicle dynamics first-hand. But after his breathless “Why did the front of the car jump up so high!” exclamation during a launch event in the new Trailseeker, deep discussions on the topic ensued. This Subaru is crazy fast. However, I doubt that Subaru’s Venn diagram on the all-new 2026 Trailseeker saw Bonkers Acceleration at the center.
2026 Lexus RZ 450e Luxury Review
Lexus knows how to surprise and delight its customers. As evidence, I present the 2026 RZ 450e Luxury. A blue suede interior (okay, Thunderstorm Ultrasuede), radiant leg warmers, a glass roof that flips from transparent to opaque with the press of a button, cabin illumination that flickers across the door panels like a shimmering sea, and enough power to fling all my stuff off the center console. The cabin is whisper quiet and did I mention it runs on batteries? The Lexus RZ 450e isn’t perfect.
2026 Lexus NX350h F Sport Review
Lexus has an NX for everyone - ICE, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid variants with trim lines under each ranging from simply nice to the full-on luxury tour de force and a dash of sporty spice. For today’s NX review, we’re looking at the 2026 NX 350h F Sport. So, a luxury compact crossover, with a fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain, and F Sport aspirations. That’s a fairly broad Venn diagram for any vehicle to overlap with, and yet, I’d say this NX pulls it off. Luxury? Check. I mean, it IS a Lexus.
2026 Subaru Solterra Limited Review
I’m a big fan of internal combustion engines, manual transmissions, and maximum driver-car engagement. Which has led to a certain skepticism of electric vehicles and the seeming total lack of behind-the-wheel joy. Then I spent a week with the 2026 Subaru Solterra. It’s the first time I’ve had a chance to dive deep on an EV, and it’s changed my tune. We’re a family of 5 with 3 kids in the middle-high school range.
2026 Ford F-350 King Ranch Dually Review
500 horsepower is still a big number in the auto industry, one that suggests serious performance, and yet, it pales against 1,200. This is the level of torque Ford has brought to bear with the High Output variant of its 6.7L PowerStroke, a turbodiesel V8 that currently owns the torque crown among the heavy-duty pickup truck set. It’ll set you back a cool $13,495 when fitted to the 2026 F-350 King Ranch, but I have to tell you, after many days behind the wheel, it’s a worthwhile investment.
HeyBike Ranger 3.0 E-Bike Review
Last year, I was on a long bike ride - of the traditional pedal-powered variety - with my kids, and we found one of those signs on the road that notify drivers of their speed. So, naturally, we tried to see how fast we could go. I believe I hit 20 mph at full tilt and then promptly felt ready to pass out. Last week, I spun the throttle on an e-bike, the HeyBike Ranger 3.0 Pro to be specific. Transparency Note Some products featured in this article were provided by the manufacturer for evaluation.
Gearing Up For A Cross-Country Drive
Road trip prep begins! First up, a huge shout-out to Michelin for seeding us with a set of CrossClimate2 tires for the drive. Looking forward to sharing what we learn on this trip and beyond - they’re all-weathers :) Also, thank you to Tyler for throwing said tires at me.
2026 Kia K4 GT-Line Turbo Hatchback Review
We’re a Ford family for several reasons. My wife and I met in Dearborn after college, and both her parents spent decades-long careers with the automaker. There are a pair of Blue Oval-branded rigs in the driveway, a beloved Transit Connect dubbed the Cupcake Delivery Van, and a rather nice Explorer. But for years, I’ve been left impressed when writing about what Kia has been putting out.
2026 Range Rover Sport Review
The big question that follows every mention of driving a new Range Rover is, “Would you buy one?” The answer is, “Hell yeah!” (if spending $98,000 on a new car was in the cards pour moi…which it is not). But I have to tell you, for the folks who have those cards, this is an SUV worth your time. For starters, just look at the thing. It radiates fanciness. Everyone I talked to who laid eyes on it was left impressed with its style.
2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness
Subaru was one of the last mainstream station wagon holdouts here in the crossover-crazed USA, and I like wagons. There’s the recently departed Saab 9-5 Aero wagon, driving vintage wagons at Volvo HQ, a discussion with my mom and her long history with the station wagon, my thoughts on the dad dream wagon Golf Alltrack, and I haven’t even written yet about the 2006 Volvo V70R 6-speed I once owned. But you see my point.
2026 Toyota Sienna Platinum Review
Minivans have a reputation as lame soccer-mommobiles, having stolen Dorkiest Vehicle status from the station wagon circa 1984. It is a reputation that is both unfair and incorrect, at least from the 40-year-old dad perspective. This specimen of homo sapiens is often seen as the maximum of dorks, just watch one of those “Turning Into Your Parents” ads from Progressive for proof. I am from this demographic.
2026 Ram 1500 Warlock Debrief
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -9:51 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. Tyler and I discuss our time spent with the 2026 Ram 1500 Warlock. It’s a badass truck and one that has Tyler pining for his previous, and equally awesome, Ford F-150. We talk boosted Hurricanes, the return of a Dodge nameplate form the ‘70s, and my skills putting 20-year-old Tubbs snowshoes (from Caroline 20 years ago!) to the test.
2026 Ram 1500 Warlock Review
Warlock is a word that conjures images of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the Wizards & Warriors video game, and the “Adult Toys” collection of Dodge trucks and SUVs from the ‘70s with heavy levels of gold trim. Given my appreciation of all these things, I was pleased to see Ram (formerly Dodge) resurrect the Warlock moniker for its modern-day 1500 pickup. Getting behind the wheel of a 2026 Ram 1500 Warlock for a week left me doubly pleased.
20" Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2s: Part 2
Tires are the red-headed stepchild of the modern car. Largely ignored, definitely mistreated, and given the potentially high cost, sometimes unwanted. Which is a shame, as the technology baked into car tires is fairly staggering. And of course, there’s the fact that those circles of rubber are the last line of defense when it comes to keeping your car stuck to the road. As I learned earlier this winter in our 2019 Ford Explorer.
A Week With The 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
Big, three-row SUVs are a dime-a-dozen these days, with automakers clamoring to capitalize on this seemingly insatiable segment. Some look good and some look mediocre. But Hyundai has one that’s rocking a monochromatic finish, sweet 21” rims, miles of gadgetry, and a subtly luxurious vibe that belies its mainstream positioning. That being the all-new Palisade dolled up in Calligraphy trim. It’s a looker, which the tremendous-as-always shots taken by my brother, Tyler Stender, make obvious.
2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy Debrief
Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -9:42 Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. After a week spent with the all-new Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, Tyler and I discuss what we loved - all the tech - what we didn’t - speed of the seat adjustments - and where we net out on this range-topping Palisade. Thanks for reading The Knocking Rod! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.
Hands-Free in the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe
A funny thing happened while recently driving a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe - that my brother Tyler recently purchased…it drove itself. Our goal was to take the Santa Fe out and walk through how to use the adaptive cruise control (ACC). Having little experience with this system, I was immediately impressed - and a little unnerved - by how well ACC kept the Hyundai between the lane lines.
Disclosure: Some products featured in this article were provided by the manufacturer for evaluation. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. The manufacturer had no input on the editorial content. Based on marketing efforts and ski slope parking lots, you might think that a big SUV is the perfect family ski vehicle. But you would be wrong. As evidence, I present the Ford Transit Connect minivan.
A Short Drive In The 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
My brother, Tyler Stender, who is responsible for the lovely photos accompanying my weak attempt at prose, recently purchased a 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid Limited. As evidenced by his collection of crossovers - older Tucson surf vehicle, previous-gen Santa Fe, and this Ecotronic Gray unit - Hyundais are popular in the Maine Stender’s household.
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