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40 New Cars Serious Drivers Avoid In 2020

Cameron Eittreim August 25, 2020

15: Acura ILX

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The ILX is a lot like the other Acura models on the market; forgettable. There was a time when Acura was a unique slice of the foreign auto market. But now the cars are lost in a sea of comparable models that all offer the same thing. To make matters worse, the ILX is based on the Honda Civic, itself a compact car.

There is nothing that presents intrinsic value in the ILX, and you can do better with a used 3-Series in this class. Nevertheless, Honda persists on selling these questionable Acura models in the hopes of luring a younger demographic. Those wishing to look back on Acura fondly should avoid this without question.

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14: Chevrolet Spark

This is the final year for the Spark as GM is exiting the passenger car market for the most part. The company is instead moving in favor of crossovers and full-size pickup trucks. Chevy never fared very well in the compact market, but there was always a Chevy to choose from. The Spark is a subcompact car that is decently appointed for its size and price.

The main problem stems from a lack of refinement and performance. Naturally, you aren’t going to win the Daytona 500 in a Chevy Spark, but you at least want some sort of power. In terms of design, the Spark is a decent car, but the shortcomings just make it a vehicle to avoid altogether.

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13: Chrysler 300

The Chrysler 300 is an iconic car for several reasons, but in recent years it has fallen on obscurity. When the car first hit the market it was so different in its design that the general public went crazy for it. You couldn’t keep the 300C on dealership lots, and this was especially true when the Hemi SRT model came out. Now, the car has retained the same styling since the 2011 model year and people are ready for change.

We’re not sure what the future holds for the 300, but as of right now, the car is one to avoid. There are newer updated models in the sedan segment that offer more value for your money. Not to mention the fact that the blocky design of the 300 is reminiscent of an early 2000s Cadillac DTS.

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12: Kia Cadenza

Since as far back as the Amanti, Kia has been yearning to attract a more affluent buyer into their showrooms. While the Cadenza is a great try, the sedan still falls short in several aspects. The main problem here is the fact that the overall design is not high quality in a segment where price and quality are everything. Kia wants this car to be on the same scale as a Lexus or a Cadillac, but it just is not.

Headspace is tight and the overall design looks like a jazzed-up Kia Optima. Not to say that either car is a bad choice, but when you are eclipsing Camry price points, it’s time to take a second look. The Cadenza hasn’t been a sales success yet, and time will tell if Kia is going to be updating the sedan. If not, definitely one to avoid.

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11: Buick Encore GX

The compact and bubbly Encore has been a sales success for the brand. As with most automakers, it is time for the crossover to have a refresh. The dimensions of the Encore are going to be staying the same, other than the refreshed front fascia. That’s not to say that the Encore is a bad car because the overall design is quick appealing.

But the tight interior is tough on taller drivers and passenger legroom is at a minimum. Other features include more luxury options to help bump up the price tag. While the Encore is not an offroad beast, it does offer decent AWD traction. With the winter season coming up, this might be a good option for those that live in a snowy or icy climate. But if you’re just looking for another crossover, you should avoid this.

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10: Lexus LC 500 Convertible

The Lexus lineup has changed a lot over the past few decades, and the main thing you’ll notice is an increase in models. Lexus was never big in the convertible market, but the SC430 was a decent start. The Lexus LC 500 Convertible is a more mainstream vehicle that can appeal to a broader range of consumers.

The problem is that the build quality just isn’t there in a lot of aspects, and the car tries to be too technologically advanced. One of the plus sides of the LC 500 is the fact the convertible has rather smooth road manners. If you can put up with the questionable build quality of the first-generation car, the LC 500 Convertible might be worth looking into. The days of the convertible are numbered thanks to the rise of the crossover SUV, so this Lexus is another car to avoid.

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9: Hyundai Veloster

The Veloster is another car that’s now long in the tooth. The design was something rather unique when it hit the market, especially replacing the Tiburon. Performance-wise, the Veloster is vastly underpowered when you compare it to models that are on the market nowadays. Hyundai is working on a replacement model and that’s why the current Veloster is a car to avoid.

The turbocharged engine is fun to drive, but if you go for the base model you’ll be disappointed. Aside from that, the Veloster is a great concept when you look at it from the outside, yet the platform has become dated.

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8: Cadillac CT4 450T

Cadillac has never had much luck in the space of compact luxury cars, just look at the Cimmaron and the Catera of yesteryear. The CT4 is a new compact luxury sedan designed to take on foreign models once again, except it is based on the outgoing ATS. When you look at the exterior of the CT4, it’s not hard to miss the ATS origins.

While GM claims this is all-new sheet metal the car still looks eerily similar to the sedan drivers have seen for almost a decade. There’s no denying that Cadillac just doesn’t know how to create a compact luxury sedan. Since the original CTS, the brand hasn’t struck a hit with consumers. The CT4 is a compact sedan that’s worth avoiding if you’re in the market for this segment of vehicle.

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7: Kia Niro EV

The Niro is a hot-selling crossover for Kia, so it’s only natural that the company would market it as an EV. New for the 2020 model year, the EV version of the Niro is everything you’d find in the standard. The main issue here is the high price tag which is north of $40k, and that’s quite high for a compact Kia. The interior arrangement is an excellent assortment of tech features and comfort.

But there are much better EV offerings on the market in this price range, and sometimes even for less if you are willing to go for a used car. The Niro EV will appeal to some buyers, but for the most part, this is one crossover to avoid. Some drivers believe this is especially true with the Mustang Mach-E positioned to hit the market.

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6: Chevrolet Trailblazer

GM has renewed the Trailblazer name once again. The vehicle hasn’t been in GM showrooms since 2009. This time, it is making its return as a crossover. What makes the Trailblazer worth considering? Not much because the overall demeanor isn’t much different from the rest of the product line. GM has been slapping classic brand names like the Blazer on their new crossovers.

2020 TrailBlazer — via: Motor Illustrated

But the Trailblazer is nothing special. Performance is lethargic if you don’t step up to the 1.3-liter turbocharged engine. GM has done a lot to bolster the sales of the Trailblazer, but there are more appealing other options. The market for the crossover vehicle is flooded right now and the Trailblazer doesn’t stand out.

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5: Toyota Mirai

If you live in California there’s no doubt that you’ve seen the Mirai at one point or another. The car has been making waves as the vehicle of the future. But the Mirai is also sort of a science experiment, and not much is known about this type of vehicle yet. There are no trim levels to choose from and the only thing you can pick is the exterior color.

The Toyota Mirai is a great step into the future of getting away from fossil fuels. But the car isn’t enticing enough to just jump in. Instead, you get a car that is relatively unknown in terms of resale value, reliability, and maintenance. Toyota is taking a blind leap of faith with this car and the company expects drivers to also.

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4: Audi TT RS

The Audi TT is perhaps one of the most underrated sports cars still on the market. You’ve seen them in one form or another for decades. Traditionally, people that own these cars are long-term owners who tend to hold onto their vehicles. Performance-wise, the TT is an exhilarating vehicle with a lot going for it. The style has stayed the same for decades, but that also leads to a problem.

Other sports cars on the market have been updated and provide a better value overall. Sure, you get the joy of driving a TT, but you also have the drawbacks of an aged platform. The TT is expected to be redesigned soon, and the next generation will build on what makes the platform great. For now, the TT is worth avoiding just because of the aged platform and lack of refinement.

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3: Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi has been in a slump for the past decade. The company is trying to reposition itself as a crossover maker instead of the sports car company that it was. The Outlander has changed a lot since its inception as a Toyota Matrix lookalike. The current model has a decent-looking exterior, but the inside of the car is rather outdated. The third-row seat is very cramped, which is a major drawback.

Aside from that, the performance is also lackluster. The Outlander feels a lot heavier then it is. Road manners are clunky, to say the least, and this is a bit strange coming from a Mitsubishi model. If you’re in the market for a family-friendly crossover, it’s probably best to avoid this one.

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2: Lexus UX 250h

The Lexus brand hasn’t seen a small scale wagon since the IS300 in the early 2000s. The UX 250h is a rather unique-looking car from the outside. But the problem is that this car doesn’t warrant its Lexus branding. First and foremost, interior dimensions are quite cramped, and while the front seats aren’t bad, the passenger seating is tight. Lethargic performance is something that tends to make the car dreary to drive.

Nevertheless, the overall style of the car still looks fairly decent from an exterior perspective. When it comes to choosing a compact luxury type of hatchback, there aren’t many on the market. The small liftover and limited lift over height make loading cargo a problem. The Lexus 250h certainly doesn’t stand out at this point and other options offer more in terms of value and quality.

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1: Buick Regal TourX

Wagons are a dying species in today’s automotive market, but the Regal TourX is especially endangered. The wagon was designed to appeal to the same shoppers that would go onto a Volvo dealership lot. The result has been a wagon that was less than well-received. Styling is a mixed bag. The low ground clearance makes the car less versatile than a Subaru Outback, although interior dimensions are good.

The advanced safety aids are only available on top trim levels, which is a drawback in today’s automotive market. The low roofline does make it easier to load things onto the roof, but aside from that, the Buick Regal TourX is worth avoiding at this point. There are much better wagon options such as the Volkswagen Golf wagon.

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40 New Cars Serious Drivers Avoid In 2020

15: Acura ILX

14: Chevrolet Spark

13: Chrysler 300

12: Kia Cadenza

11: Buick Encore GX

10: Lexus LC 500 Convertible

9: Hyundai Veloster

8: Cadillac CT4 450T

7: Kia Niro EV

6: Chevrolet Trailblazer

5: Toyota Mirai

4: Audi TT RS

3: Mitsubishi Outlander

2: Lexus UX 250h

1: Buick Regal TourX

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