Home Cars 30 Japanese Cars Auto Companies Messed Up Big Time

Cars

30 Japanese Cars Auto Companies Messed Up Big Time

Cameron Eittreim October 15, 2021

6: Infiniti G20

Is it possible to mess up a compact luxury sedan? Yes, it is – just ask Infiniti. The automotive brand messed up the G20. The compact G20 had an excellent design and a lot going for it, but the performance was lethargic. Nissan threw the worst engine they could into the G20, and consumers responded negatively (via Autoweek).

Given the fact that the G20 was competing head-on against the BMW 3-Series, there was no reason for it to be lacking in performance. Reliability was also shoddy, with the G20 suffering from transmission issues early on. The redesigned G20 that arrived in 1999 was no better, and the sales were some of the worst the brand has witnessed.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

5: Infiniti J30

The Infiniti J30 was another sedan that Infiniti rushed to the market. The problem with the J30 was that it was smaller than the competition. The cramped interior didn’t bode well with shoppers who were in the market for a luxury sedan. The single engine choice was also a drawback when there were smoother options on the road, like the ES300 (via Hooniverse).

Another problem with the J30 was the rear-end, which had a humped design. The end result was a sedan that lacked the cohesive styling you’d expect. Likewise, the performance of the J30 was also lacking. In the luxury car segment, performance is one of the main selling factors and the J30 was lacking.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

4: 2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R

In the mid-2000s, there were all-kind compact cars catering to the tuning market. Whether it was the Dodge Neon SRT or the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart. Nissan figured they’d throw their hat into the race. The Sentra SE-R had a good concept, but the end result was lacking in several areas (via Car and Driver).

For starters, the SE-R was more of an appearance package than anything. Nissan didn’t up the ante with any sort of performance enhancement. This meant that while the badge on the car read “SE-R”, there was no performance enhancement to speak of. The Sentra has never been considered a sports car, but Nissan missed the mark with this one.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

Nissan Cube Via Motor Trend — Photo Credit: Motor Trend

3: Nissan Cube

The thing with automotive design trends is that they don’t stick. Scion hit gold with the XB in 2004 but Nissan tried the same thing almost a decade later. The Cube didn’t connect with consumers on any level. Unlike the XB the Cube was just considered a knockoff of the earlier Scion car and no one went for it (via Axle Addict).

Nissan attempted to sell a couple of these horrible models to no avail. While the Cube had some unique dynamics the final product was lacking. The lethargic performance and lack of innovation left the Cube sitting on dealership lots. The car could have been so much more but Nissan dropped the ball on it.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

2: Nissan Murano Cabriolet

We have to give Nissan credit for pushing the envelope when it comes to design. The Murano Cabriolet was a unique-looking car. It wasn’t the first SUV to get a convertible top, but it was definitely the poorest selling. The egg-shaped design and the fact that it was a Nissan just didn’t sit well with consumers at all (via Jalopnik).

When you think of an SUV having a convertible top, this just isn’t the norm. Take the Jeep Wrangler, for instance, the removable top is like a badge of honor. On the Murano not so much, which meant that the sales were lackluster. The Murano Cabriolet will undoubtedly go down as one of the weirdest Nissan models.

<< Previous

NEXT >>

1: Nissan Juke

Finally, we’ve come to the Nissan Juke, a car that needs no introduction. The bug-eyed Nissan was supposed to reinvigorate the lineup but it didn’t do any such thing. The Juke was unlike anything else that was on the market at the time. The tiny styling of the car was reminiscent of a crossover SUV in a much smaller package (via EVO).

Nissan was attempting to attract a younger customer base with the Juke. Unlike the Kia Soul and other competitors, the Juke managed to cultivate a cult-like following. But as time went on, consumers moved onto other vehicles in the same segment. The Juke somehow continued on without a major refresh and it was ultimately discontinued.

<< Previous

30 Japanese Cars Auto Companies Messed Up Big Time

6: Infiniti G20

5: Infiniti J30

4: 2007 Nissan Sentra SE-R

3: Nissan Cube

2: Nissan Murano Cabriolet

1: Nissan Juke

POPULAR