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Spinny Seats

Spinny Seats

Charging Status | EV Podcast Apr 30, 2026 40 min
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About this episode

The hosts start with travel chatter, then dig into first impressions of a few EVs, led by the Hyundai IONIQ 9 and its unusual six-seat layout with spinning middle seats. They also weigh the Kia PV5’s surprisingly strong real-world range and frustrating wireless CarPlay, before broadening out to the fast-changing electric van market. Along the way, they compare lease deals, pricing, and upcoming models from brands like Renault, BYD, and Chery.

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Topic

Beijing Motor Show

"…seeing all sorts of things, the Beijing Motor Show, which would be amazing. ⁓ And all sorts of different things. I'm sure the schedule would change by the time I get there…"

The Beijing Motor Show is a big car event in China. Companies go there to show off new cars and big updates before they hit the market.

Topic

EVs

"…you'll love it… but some of the EVs you'll see on the road over there will melt your brain. And I can only imagine what you're going to see at the Beijing Motor Show…"

EVs are electric cars. Instead of relying on gasoline, they use battery power to run the car.

Brand

McDonald's

"I might find myself in McDonald's at some point. Sounds like a taste of home."

McDonald's is mentioned as a food stop while traveling in China. It’s not an automotive topic, but it’s a recognizable brand name used in the travel anecdote.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq

"...lly picked up this morning was the, uh, ginormous Hyundai IONIQ 9. Yeah. Um, and I've done 1200 miles of that in ..."

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an all-electric car, meaning it uses a battery instead of gasoline. It’s built as a crossover, so it has a higher seating position and more everyday space. It comes up in charging discussions because people use it for longer trips and need to plan charging stops.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 9

"Um, literally picked up this morning was the, uh, ginormous Hyundai IONIQ 9. Yeah. Um, and I've done 1200 miles of that in one week... I had the six seat version of the EV9, but I the seven seat version of the Bionic 9."

The Hyundai IONIQ 9 is an all-electric Hyundai with lots of seats. They’re talking about how efficient it feels to drive and how flexible the cabin is for passengers.

Car

Land Rover Defender

"We did a whole day of driving one of the new defenders off-road in the middle of nowhere. It was just... was incredible. And the guy that does the instruction ex-police officer really knew his stuff."

The Land Rover Defender is a tough SUV built for off-road driving. They’re describing a day where they drove it off-road with an instructor to show what it can do.

Car

Volkswagen up

"on pot. no. On the pot. Sorry? On the Volkswagen up or the... ⁓ no. Yeah, literally feet from the event."

The Volkswagen up is a small city car (a compact “A-segment” hatchback). It’s mentioned because a tire failure happened “on the Volkswagen up,” which is a practical reminder that even small cars can be affected by road hazards.

Car

Hyundai Santa Fe

"But yeah, and before that had the Santa Fe, which is an equally big car. So... I don't think anyone else on the road has ever seen a car like that..."

The Hyundai Santa Fe is a bigger family SUV. They’re mentioning it as another large car they had, and how people stare when it’s on the road.

Car

Chevrolet Spin

"...rsion. The seats in the middle, they can actually spin around like a van. Speaker 1: Yeah, so I had the ..."

The Chevrolet Spin is a multi-purpose vehicle meant for carrying passengers. A standout feature mentioned in the podcast is that the middle seats can turn around, which can make the cabin feel more flexible. It’s useful when you want different seating setups for passengers.

Car

Kia EV9

"I don't know if you knew, but I think you reviewed the seven seat version, but the six seat version. The seats in the middle, they can actually spin around like a van... so I had the six seat version of the EV9..."

The Kia EV9 is an electric family SUV with three rows. They’re comparing it to another EV and talking about how the middle seats can turn around for easier conversation or access.

Term

drag coefficient

"And Hyundai, or like a big thing with their EVs is always like drag coefficient, drag coefficient, which is why like the IONIQ 6 looks the way it does."

Drag coefficient is a number that describes how “slippery” a car is through the air. If it’s lower, the car wastes less energy fighting wind, so it can go farther on a charge.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq 6

"And Hyundai, or like a big thing with their EVs is always like drag coefficient, drag coefficient, which is why like the IONIQ 6 looks the way it does."

The Hyundai IONIQ 6 is an electric sedan. They’re talking about how its shape is designed to cut through the air more efficiently, which helps it use less energy.

Car

Xpeng G6

"So I've got the, at the moment I've got the Xpeng G6 in review. Um, hmm. Is what I'm going to say on that. Yeah. I don't know when the video is coming out..."

The Xpeng G6 is an electric vehicle that the host is testing. They’re giving their early impressions and saying they think it didn’t quite land as well as expected.

Brand

Aeon

"I've driven the new VW T-Rock. The Cherry Tigo 4, the Aeon V, which you've also driven this week, which is completely new brand to us here... If you don't know about Aeon, which we didn't until we got the invitations..."

Aeon is an EV brand the hosts hadn’t heard much about before getting invited to check it out. They’re explaining who it is and how it connects to Chinese manufacturing.

Topic

Munich Motor Show

"They were at the Munich Motor Show, so I had to poke around those to have a look."

The Munich Motor Show is a major car show in Germany. The speaker mentions it to explain where they first got to look at a brand.

Company

GAC

"...they're part of GAC and GAC in China makes the Chinese market Toyotas and Hondas. So from a manufacturing point of view, you know, they've sort of said because they're working with Toyota and Honda..."

GAC is a big Chinese auto company that’s connected to the brand being discussed. The host says it has partnerships that are supposed to help keep manufacturing quality high.

Term

Apple CarPlay

"If you don't have to go into menus or you have to like in that Xpeng G6 at the moment, if you go into Apple CarPlay, you lose everything else... Yeah, there was a bit of, some of it was a bit lacking to drive... but it had one big flaw and that was the Apple CarPlay."

Apple CarPlay is a way to connect your iPhone to the car so you can use apps like maps and music on the car’s screen. The hosts are saying it can be distracting because you may need to switch screens to get back to the car’s own controls.

Term

ride suppleness

"Yeah, I thought the ride was good, but the ride quality, they did stress that they've done a lot of work to make it better suited for our roads. And I thought the ride suppleness was quite good, but yeah, it's got, it's little bit of work, but it's, it should be okay."

Ride suppleness is how comfortably the suspension soaks up bumps. If it’s “supple,” the car feels smoother over rough roads instead of jarring you.

Term

wheels are easy to spin

"How many times did you spin the wheels? That was just getting out of the car park... Yeah, I thought the ride was good... Like the fact that the wheels are easy to spin. You know, that's something they can do with an over the air update..."

If the wheels are easy to spin, it means the tires aren’t gripping the road well when you accelerate. That can make the car feel less controlled and less efficient.

Car

Volkswagen Golf

"...t, they had that there parked. I didn't see it. A golf sort of size car. Oh, okay. So I love a hatchback..."

A Volkswagen Golf is a small car with a hatchback design, meaning the back door opens upward. It’s made for everyday driving and is usually easy to park and maneuver. People mention it a lot because it’s a common size for a practical family car.

Term

torque curve

"...that's something they can do with an over the air update, hopefully, you know, just a little bit of change to like the power delivery, the torque curve."

A torque curve is basically how the car delivers pulling force as you drive. If it’s tuned differently, the car can feel smoother and be less likely to spin its wheels when you accelerate.

Term

over the air update

"Like the fact that the wheels are easy to spin. You know, that's something they can do with an over the air update, hopefully, you know, just a little bit of change to like the power delivery, the torque curve."

An over-the-air update means the car can receive software changes wirelessly. Here, they’re saying the manufacturer might fix some driving quirks by updating the car’s software instead of changing hardware.

Term

power delivery

"...that's something they can do with an over the air update, hopefully, you know, just a little bit of change to like the power delivery, the torque curve."

Power delivery is how the car “hands out” its power when you press the accelerator. If it’s too aggressive, the wheels can spin; if it’s tuned better, it can grip more smoothly.

Term

WLTP

"Yeah, so that's, but you never know do you? Because some of these cars, you, when you charge them, they just show the WLTP and some will show you a figure based on how it's been driven."

WLTP is a standardized test that manufacturers use to estimate how far an EV can go on a full charge. The hosts are saying the number you see in the car might be the official test estimate (WLTP) or it might be a more personalized estimate based on your driving.

Term

range estimate

"Um, but I, I, I got the battery really low at one point. I got down to about 10 miles in it and it would have done 231 miles and I was at motorway speed. ... it was cold. So I had the heater on."

A range estimate is the car’s guess of how many miles you can drive before the battery runs out. The hosts are saying that this number can change a lot depending on how you drive and whether it’s cold.

Concept

wireless connection

"[1105.3s] Speaker 1: So on wireless connection, it was less than 50 % of the time that it would connect... [1124.5s] And then on a wired connection, it would connect about 90 % of the time."

A wireless connection means your phone connects to the car without plugging in. They’re saying it can be flaky—sometimes it takes a long time to connect or doesn’t connect at all.

Term

Google Maps

"[1124.5s] Speaker 1: ...on Google Maps, just every so often, it would go completely like the GPS side of it would go totally haywire... [1150.2s] Speaker 1: Yeah. And ⁓ I sort of had a quick look online..."

Google Maps is the navigation app. They’re saying the car’s navigation sometimes thinks you’re in the wrong place, then it fixes itself.

Term

GPS

"[1124.5s] Speaker 1: ...it would go completely like the GPS side of it would go totally haywire and it just suddenly doesn't know where you are... [1150.2s] Speaker 1: Yeah. And ⁓ I sort of had a quick look online..."

GPS is how your car figures out where you are. They’re saying it sometimes gets confused and shows the wrong location, then corrects itself.

Concept

wired connection

"[1105.3s] Speaker 1: ...And then after 15 minutes, suddenly CarPlay kicks in. [1124.5s] And then on a wired connection, it would connect about 90 % of the time."

A wired connection means plugging your phone into the car with a cable. They’re comparing it to wireless and saying the cable connection tends to work more consistently.

Concept

wireless charging pads

"[1197.4s] Speaker 1: Yeah. The thing I don't like about the Xpeng G6. The wireless charging pads can't charge a big iPhone. [1206.4s] Speaker 2: All right. Hmm. Was it his actual section not big enough or?"

Wireless charging pads charge your phone without a cable. The problem they’re talking about is that bigger phones may not sit correctly on the pad, so charging can fail.

Car

KGM Musso

"[1230.0s] Speaker 2: ...There's the brand new KGM Musso. So they've launched a brand new combustion version there next week. [1260.0s] Speaker 2: The EV version is getting significantly cheaper..."

KGM Musso is a new vehicle being talked about for the commercial-vehicle show. They’re saying there will be a regular gas version soon, and an electric version that’s expected to cost less.

Topic

CV show

"[1230.0s] Speaker 2: ...I want to talk some vans... I'm not making it to the CV show next week... [1452.2s] Speaker 2: ...The only really solid option at the moment is the Kia PV5."

The “CV show” is a show focused on commercial vehicles like vans and pickups. The hosts are talking about what new models might be shown there.

Car

Ssangyong Musso

"...s so much stuff coming. There's the brand new KGM Musso. So they've launched a brand new combustion versi..."

The Ssangyong Musso is a pickup truck, which is a type of vehicle with an open cargo bed. The podcast mentions a new combustion version, meaning it runs on fuel rather than electricity. Pickups are usually chosen for carrying things or towing.

Car

PV5 Kia Pv5

"[1230.0s] Speaker 2: ...last year was the Kia PV5 and that was about it really. This year, everyone seems to have pulled their socks up... [1452.2s] Speaker 2: ...The only really solid option at the moment is the Kia PV5."

Kia PV5 is an electric van. The hosts say it’s one of the better choices right now, but it may not be big enough for some work tasks.

Car

Renault electric vans

"[1260.0s] Speaker 2: Renault are going to show off their latest range of electric vans in full this time. were there last year. [1288.4s] Speaker 2: So back in the day Vox used to have the Corsa van..."

Renault is bringing new electric van options to the show. The hosts say last year they were only shown as mock-ups, but this time they’ll be fully revealed.

Car

Renault Grand Renault

"Speaker 2: ⁓ right. I want to talk some vans if that's okay with you, because I'm not making it to the CV show next week, which I'm a bit gutted about. I've been every year since 2023. I really enjoy it. ⁓ last year was the Kia PV5 and that was about it really. This year, everyone seems to have pulled their socks up and there's so much stuff coming. There's the brand new KGM Musso. So they've launched a brand new combustion version there next week. Speaker 2: The EV version is getting significantly cheaper, even though it hasn't even launched yet. It's below 40 grand. Renault are going to show off their latest range of electric vans in full this time. were there last year. They were there last time in like mock-up form. BYD are taking a ⁓ van version of the Dolphin as well, which is interesting. Speaker 2: So back in the day Vox used to have the Corsa van and the BT engineers would knock about in those, that's got a thousand litres of space and 350 miles of range. That could be really good. And I don't know if they're going to focus on vans as well. Not really much information on that."

The Renault Grand Scenic is a family car designed to carry people comfortably. It’s built more like a people-mover than a small hatchback, with extra space inside. It’s mentioned because it fits into the same “practical family vehicle” category as other larger options.

Car

Transit City

"...I'm not sure if they're going to announce the new Transit City there. It's probably a little bit too soon for th..."

“Transit City” sounds like a commercial vehicle concept aimed at city driving. The podcast suggests it might be announced soon, but the details aren’t confirmed yet. It’s being mentioned because it could change what businesses use for deliveries and local trips.

Car

Ford Explorer

"...also Ford are going to take the E. it called? The Explorer Cargo Van as well. I'm not sure if they're going ..."

The Ford Explorer is a bigger family vehicle, usually built for carrying people comfortably. In this discussion, it’s being talked about in a cargo-van direction, which means it would be set up more for carrying items than passengers. That kind of change matters if you’re thinking about work or delivery use.

Brand

Delivan

"[1373.0s] A bit cheaper hopefully. The big news is Delivan. It's a new brand from ⁓ Cherry. Yeah, so Cherry are known for JQ, La Paz, a Moda as well. [1393.4s] Speaker 1: got quite a few coming apparently."

Delivan is a new brand being launched by Cherry for commercial vehicles. The hosts see it as Cherry’s first real step into vans, and they’re curious how it will do.

Brand

Cherry

"[1373.0s] ...Delivan. It's a new brand from ⁓ Cherry. Yeah, so Cherry are known for JQ, La Paz, a Moda as well. [1393.4s] Speaker 1: got quite a few coming apparently."

Cherry is the brand behind the new Delivan van line. The hosts mention some of Cherry’s other car models to show what the brand is known for before moving into vans.

Term

lease deals

"...the lease deals on those PV5 cargoes have been incredible and the amount of people that have sent me messages saying I've just signed up to lease on one..."

A lease deal is when you pay each month to use a car or van for a fixed time, instead of buying it outright. The hosts are saying the monthly cost on some vans has been unusually low.

Car

VW ID buzz cargo

"But what you're seeing is those kit as being cheaper than a used transit quite often. VW have sort of fought back a little bit. They've done some lease deals on the ⁓ ID buzz cargo. in the last sort of month."

The Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo is an electric van variant of the ID Buzz platform. The hosts mention VW responding with lease deals, suggesting pricing and availability are being used to compete in the electric van market.

Car

Volkswagen Id Buzz

"...ittle bit. They've done some lease deals on the ⁓ ID buzz cargo. in the last sort of month. ⁓ And I guess t..."

The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is an electric van, so it runs on a battery. It’s designed to carry people or cargo depending on the version. The podcast mentions lease deals for a cargo setup, which is useful if you’re thinking about work-related driving.

Car

BYD dolphin

"...I'm really interested by that BYD though. That could be good... The range on that dolphin, 347 miles and yeah. Yeah. Could do you pretty well for them."

The BYD Dolphin is an electric car model. The hosts cite its claimed range of “347 miles,” using it as an example of how well it could meet everyday needs if priced right.

Car

Tesla Model 3

"...Obviously I've got that Tesla Model 3 at the moment, but I've only got that for another 11 months. And then I'm going to be without, and I need something."

The Tesla Model 3 is an electric sedan used here as the host’s current “spare car” (temporary ownership via a lease). The segment highlights how the host’s Model 3 lease end date affects what they need next.

Car

Tesla Model

"...y spare car, if you like. Obviously I've got that Tesla Model 3 at the moment, but I've only got that for anoth..."

The Tesla Model Y is an all-electric SUV, so it runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s designed for regular driving and family use, with space similar to other SUVs. People often talk about it because it’s part of Tesla’s EV lineup and uses Tesla’s charging ecosystem.

Car

Renault vans

"...Those Renault vans are quite interesting because... What's that? ...they're going to be the first commercial vehicles to be 800 volt..."

They’re talking about upcoming Renault vans. The big idea is that they’ll use newer EV tech (800-volt) and have user-friendly software, which should help people who are new to electric vans.

Term

800 volt

"...those Renault vans are quite interesting because... What's that? ...they're going to be the first commercial vehicles to be 800 volt, which yeah, that should be, that should move things on a bit, bit quick, bit quicker really."

“800 volt” refers to an electric vehicle’s high-voltage architecture. Higher voltage can enable faster charging (especially on compatible chargers) and can reduce current for the same power, which helps charging speed and efficiency.

Car

5 Renault 5

"...2: Yeah. And they've got the same software as the Renault 5. that's, I think for commercial vehicle owners, s..."

The Renault 5 E-Tech Electric is a small electric car, meaning it runs on a battery. The podcast mentions its software is similar to other versions, which can affect how the car handles features like charging and settings. It’s brought up because EV software and charging experience are closely linked.

Car

Renault 5

"...And they've got the same software as the Renault 5. that's, I think for commercial vehicle owners, sorry, fleet people that have electric vehicles for the first time..."

The Renault 5 is referenced as the software baseline for Renault’s upcoming commercial vans. The hosts imply the same infotainment/vehicle software approach will carry over, which matters for how easy the system is for fleet and first-time EV drivers to use.

Term

leasing deals

"Speaker 2: Yeah. I was going to ask, you've done quite a few videos lately on leasing deals. How do you, well, more than usual, how do you whittle down the list of, do you just go on the website and look at all the deals..."

Leasing is like renting a car for a few years. You pay a monthly amount, and there are rules like how many miles you can drive. When the lease ends, you usually give the car back (or sometimes buy it).

Term

AutoTrader

"Speaker 1: So I've been doing it for five and a half years, but I've done at least three a month... people often ask me this and they ask me about when I do those new car discounts as well on AutoTrader."

AutoTrader is a car listing marketplace where you can browse vehicles and deals from dealers and private sellers. In the context of this episode, it’s used as a research source to compare lease offers and pricing.

Term

filters

"Speaker 1: And the least deals videos, what I do on those is put in the filters for either the target that I'm going for in that video or just realistic type things."

Filters are the settings you choose on a website to narrow down the results. For car deals, that might mean choosing the lease length and mileage so you’re comparing similar offers.

Term

10,000 miles a year

"So some of them are quite formulaic. So I'll always do three months upfront, three year deals, 10,000 miles a year."

Lease mileage allowances set how far you can drive during the lease term (here, 10,000 miles per year). Exceeding the limit can trigger extra charges at the end, so mileage is a key variable when comparing lease deals.

Term

three months upfront

"So some of them are quite formulaic. So I'll always do three months upfront, three year deals, 10,000 miles a year."

“Upfront” in a lease context refers to money paid at the start of the contract, often expressed as the equivalent of several months of payments. Higher upfront usually lowers the monthly payment, but it increases the cash you must put down initially.

Car

Toyota Urban Cruiser

"... coming up in the next few weeks? ⁓ yeah. ⁓ cool. Urban Cruiser. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've got the GDX five in a few..."

The Toyota Urban Cruiser is a small crossover, which means it’s built for everyday driving with a bit more space than a basic hatchback. The podcast is mentioning it as a vehicle they’ll talk about soon. It’s the kind of car people consider for city-friendly practicality.

Term

locking diff

"I think we're doing some off-road stuff because that car's got a locking diff I believe. yeah? So yeah there's some off-road stuff we're doing..."

A locking diff helps the wheels keep traction when the ground is slippery. Instead of one wheel spinning uselessly, it helps both wheels work together to move the car.

Car

Genesis G80

"...ome of the random cars I review, like the Genesis G80 doesn't get 700 because. Yeah, exactly. But yeah,..."

The Genesis G80 is a luxury sedan, meaning it’s a more upscale car built for comfort. It’s designed for driving people around in a smooth, well-equipped way. The podcast mentions it because it’s part of the host’s review lineup.

Term

hybrid hatchback

"Published it a few days ago, so little hybrid hatchback. Not the most refined to drive because it's quite loud and quite moody, but it's a solid car and solid MPG."

A hybrid uses two types of power, usually a gas engine and an electric motor. A hatchback is a car shape where the back door opens upward, and this one is described as a small hybrid.

Term

MPG

"Published it a few days ago, so little hybrid hatchback... but it's a solid car and solid MPG. so it's going to be a good choice for a lot of people, I think."

MPG (miles per gallon) is a fuel-economy measure for vehicles that use gasoline. Even for hybrids, MPG is often used in marketing and comparisons to describe how efficiently they consume fuel.

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