Home Cars 35 New Cars That Smart Drivers Avoid Like the Plague
Cars

35 New Cars That Smart Drivers Avoid Like the Plague

Cameron Eittreim January 31, 2022

Today’s automotive landscape has changed fundamentally over the last two decades. Cars and trucks are more reliable, safer, and offer better value than vehicles of the past. Most modern cars will easily make it well over 100,000 miles and modern auto advances also mean much safer cars. But that doesn’t mean every new automotive model entering the market is a real slam dunk. There are failures as well, whether it be from flawed design or just a lack of design sense from the automaker.

It doesn’t take a lot to make a potentially great car or truck a flop. Many times, an automaker will rush something onto the market. Drivers are seeing that with current Ford Bronco models, which have many build quality issues. We took a look at 35 of the newest car models that smart drivers should avoid. Whether it be from the lack of design or lack of value, these cars and trucks should be avoided altogether. Sometimes getting a great deal isn’t worth the headache you’ll have on your hands down the line.

Photo Credit: Automobile

35: Subaru WRX

Surprised to see this one? We aren’t. The WRX has been getting lackluster reliability ratings from Consumer Reports for years now. The general design of the car has grown long in the tooth and drivers can tell. The Impreza, which the WRX is based on, is one of the least-updated compact cars on the market. When drivers compare a car that is supposed to feel like a premium entry to other compacts on the market, they are left with a letdown (via CNET).

Photo Credit: Automobile

Couple that with the fact that the WRX is a pricey ride and you have something that just doesn’t add up. Subaru is working on a redesign of the WRX model, and it might be worth waiting for the updated model. Because the current WRX is just too outdated and lacking in drive quality to justify the high price tag.

Smart EQ ForTwo Via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

34: Smart EQ ForTwo

Another car that has been on the market way too long is the Smart ForTwo. Now in electric form, the car has been minimally updated for nearly a decade. The lackluster design of the car makes you feel like you’re taking your life into your hands on every drive. Sure, the car was a great concept when gas prices were soaring. But nowadays almost every new car on the market is gas-efficient and safer than the Smart EQ (via Electrifying).

Smart EQ ForTwo via Motor Trend
Smart EQ ForTwo via Motor Trend

Not to mention the fact that this variation of the SmartCar started its life as a Scion model until Toyota disbanded the brand altogether. This car and the rest of the Smart lineup have fallen on tough times in recent years and an electric engine probably won’t change the trajectory of the brand.

Photo Credit: Nissan

33: Nissan Titan XD

You have to give Nissan credit where it’s due. The Titan has had a tough road for the last decade. The truck just can’t seem to grasp a significant share of the domestic pickup truck market. That’s not to say the Titan is a bad offering because it’s a solid truck in many ways. But the domestic pickup trucks just have better brand loyalty, and when it comes to towing and payload, the Titan is beat every time (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Nissan

With the onslaught of new electric trucks coming to the market, the Titan will begin to seem even more outdated. Consumer Reports predict poor reliability when it comes to the Titan, and the platform sells in very minute numbers. This means fixing one of these trucks by yourself in the future is not going to be an easy task.

Photo Credit: Car Domain

32: Mitsubishi Mirage

The Mirage is a car that you get if you have no other choice in a new car. The styling and quality of the Mirage are lackluster at best. The design is so outdated when you compare it to anything else on the market that you’d think it’s all over 2010 again. The performance of the Mirage is paltry at best and you won’t be breaking any speed records in this thing. Mitsubishi has sold some form of the Mirage for decades and it’s always been a cheap car (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Car Domain

Consumer Reports has pegged the Mirage as the lowest-rated vehicle in its class, which isn’t saying much. These days, the subcompact segment has all but vanished as consumers move onto crossover vehicles. Needless to say, the Mirage is a car worth avoiding at all costs if you’re in the market for a new car.

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

31: Land Rover Discovery Sport

Few car makers are as notoriously unreliable as the Land Rover brand, but for the past few decades, Land Rovers have been a nightmare to repair. That same thing holds with the modern Discovery Sport. Consumer Reports gives it a relatively abysmal reliability rating, and the owner reviews of the SUV reflect that fact. When you buy a Land Rover, you know the repairs will not be cheap (via Consumer Reports).

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

But the build quality and reliability of these vehicles are still subpar at best. As the brand works to rebuild its tarnished image, the best option is to avoid the Discovery Sport altogether. There are better luxury SUVs on the market that will be more reliable and offer more bang for the buck.

Jeep Renegade Interior Via Car And Driver
Photo Credit: Car & Driver

30: Jeep Renegade

Jeep’s used to be some of the most reliable vehicles on the road, that wouldn’t be the case these days. Modern Jeep models have fallen victim to the quality issues many Fiat Chrysler vehicles have and that isn’t saying much. The Renegade was a good concept, a compact Jeep that offered great gas mileage and styling for urban dwellers. But the reality is that this is the furthest thing from an authentic Jeep model (via The Drive).

Jeep Renegade Via Car And Driver
Photo Credit: Car & Driver

Consumers haven’t been kind to the Renegade either, as reliability ratings for the car are below average at best. There is a trail-rated version of the Renegade, but the off-road capability of this tiny Jeep is best. When it comes to a new Jeep model, the Renegade is worth avoiding altogether if you can.

Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler

29: Fiat 500X

Another car that probably doesn’t register on anyone’s radar is the Fiat 500X. The Fiat 500X is a crossover vehicle that’s been on the market for a while. If the dimensions seem familiar, it’s because the car is the basis for the Jeep Renegade. Much of the same quality issues that plague the Renegade are still present with the 500X. The top-heavy design of the car coupled with the low ground clearance makes off-road capability questionable (via Edmunds).

Photo Credit: Fiat Chrysler

The lack of interior refinement leaves a bad taste in your mouth considering the relatively pricey sticker. Fiat has traditionally been a brand that was equated with quality, but the 500X seems like a car thrown together. There are better options in a crossover on the market that are far more reliable and well-put together.

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

28: Fiat 500L

The Fiat 500L has been around for a while now and is getting long in the tooth. With that said, you’d think the car would have been updated periodically, but that isn’t the case. Instead, the same design that has been around since around 2014 is still there. Sure, the car has gotten a refreshed front fascia and some new technology in the cabin, but that’s about it. If you want to feel like you’re driving a used car, just hop behind the wheel of a brand-new 500L (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

Consumer Reports gave the Fiat 500L its Worst Car of the Year award, and we think that award is well-deserved. Fiat Chrysler has neglected cars and the lack of quality here makes the car a no-go when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle.

Photo Credit: Dodge

27: Dodge Journey

You probably feel like you’ve been seeing the Journey on the roadways for a decade because well, you have. This is one of the longest-running automotive nameplates that hasn’t been redesigned. The Journey has been around for a long time, and the car is almost exactly as it was when it debuted. The Journey has been outclassed by just about everything else on the road including the Fiat 500L (via Consumer Reviews).

Photo Credit: Dodge

Sure, you can snatch one of these up for a great deal. But the headache of owning one isn’t worth the trouble. There are better options on the road that offer more value when it comes to a crossover vehicle. These SUVs are tailored towards families and the Journey is about the most lackluster option you can get.

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

26: Alfa Romeo Giulia

There was a lot of hoopla surrounding the return of the Alfa Romeo brand to the U.S. marketplace. The cars had always been a contender for performance and quality and the new models were no different. The Giulia is a beautiful-looking sport sedan that offers a compact body style similar to the early BMW 3-Series models. But when it comes to the characteristics of the brand, the build quality isn’t there (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

Consumer Reports has given the car a lackluster reliability rating, and that has followed the car since it was launched. There are much better options on the market when it comes to purchasing a sport sedan, even used models offer better reliability. Alfa Romeo is still a fairly new brand here stateside again, so time will tell if the quality improves.

Photo Credit: Acura

25: Acura RLX

The RLX is another luxury car that’s long in the tooth, riding on a platform shared with the Honda Accord. These days, the Acura brand is on the verge of obscurity, similar to what has happened to Infiniti. With a lack of consumer interest, the brand has to find other ways to target consumers. The playbook here is to provide a bargain-basement luxury experience with some excitement (via Car & Driver).

The problem is that Acura vehicles are anything but exciting these days and the RLX is the furthest thing from it. Consumer Reports scores the RLX below average in terms of ride handling and quality, and the JD Power rating is about the same. All-in-all, you can find a much better car than the RLX and spend a lot less too.

Photo Credit: GM

24: Cadillac ATS

Few cars are obscure as the Cadillac ATS is, this is a car that practically nobody pays attention to. Chances are you’ve run into the ATS at the airport. The car is a favorite of premium rental car fleets. It’s a Cadillac and should mean it’s the pinnacle of luxury, right? Wrong. The ATS is about as bland and basic as you can get and provides a lackluster driving experience as well (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: GM

The car has received minimal updates since it was released almost a decade ago, although Cadillac seems poised to finally cancel the model. You’ll likely find a lot on the ATS prices right now, but this is definitely a model that should be avoided at all costs. There are much better luxury cars that offer a plethora of better features.

Photo Credit: GM

23: Chevrolet Suburban

The Suburban has been riding high for decades thanks to a massive interior with stellar space. But times have changed and the competition for the Suburban is starting to heat up. Ford has completely redesigned the Expedition and it offers a much more compelling package for the price (via Road & Track).

Photo Credit: GM

The Suburban has also crept up into a higher price bracket than most consumers who purchased one of these want to pay. This SUV was never supposed to be an expensive premium offering, that was the place of the Yukon Denali. But nowadays, you can expect to spend close to $100,000 for a fully-loaded Suburban.

Q50 Via Car And Driver
Photo Credit: Car & Driver

22: Infiniti Q50

There was a time when the Infiniti brand was a major contender in the luxury car segment. Those days have long passed and the Q50 is a mere shadow of what it once was. No longer is the sedan a V8-powered beast with a unique personality. These days, the sedan is nothing more than a rebadged Nissan Maxima and feels every bit of that (via Car & Driver).

Q50
Photo Credit: Car & Driver

The sales numbers for Infiniti have dwindled to almost nothing and the future of the brand isn’t bright. Nevertheless, the company continues to sell the Q50 as an alternative to German sedans that have been on the market for decades. Buyers just don’t want the bread and butter Q50 and it is painfully obvious.

Photo Credit: Chrysler

21: Jeep Cherokee

The Cherokee was once the pinnacle of no-frills off-road capability and reliability. The nameplate was the sole reason for Chrysler Corporation’s purchase of AMC Motors. The current generation of the Cherokee, however, is a far from the original. Now the Cherokee is a crossover vehicle, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when you factor in the current quality issues with Chrysler vehicles and their lack of reliability, you’ll quickly find out what the problem is with the Cherokee (via Car & Driver).

Jeep Cherokee
Photo Credit: Jeep

There has also been an uptick in pricing for the Cherokee, which is close to the pricing of the Grand Cherokee. Consumers are a bit puzzled by this as it seems all Jeep models are getting more expensive with the day. Needless to say, the Cherokee is a much different vehicle than the boxy SUV that started it all.

Photo Credit: Jeep

20: Jeep Compass

Another Jeep on the market with a paltry design is the Compass. What was originally based on the Dodge Caliber compact car, the Compass has come a long way since then. But that doesn’t mean the model is any better than it used to be. The Compass still pales compared to the competition and this doesn’t bode well for consumer confidence (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Jeep

A quick look at any number of the online communities for Jeeps and you’ll see that the Compass has many reliability issues. While it’s nothing new for a Chrysler product to have questionable build quality, the Jeep brand is the pinnacle of the company’s portfolio right now. So naturally, you’d expect the Jeep products to be much more reliable than they currently are.

Photo Credit: Nissan

19: Nissan Pathfinder

There was a time when the Pathfinder was one of the most rugged SUV models on the road. But that has been a fall from grace like no other and now, the Pathfinder is a mere shadow of its former self. The crossover styling of the Pathfinder is in line with most of the automotive industry, but that’s a long way off from its rugged reputation of yesteryear (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Nissan

The original Pathfinder was one of the few SUV models that gave Jeep a legitimate run for their money. The current generation of the Pathfinder also has a questionable reputation in terms of quality. The CVT transmission has issues, and that is only compounded by a lack of build quality within the car itself.

Photo Credit: BMW

18: BMW 7 Series

Big, luxurious, and expensive. Those are the three attributes that come to mind when you think of the BMW 7-Series. The problem is that those attributes are not the most flattering qualities for a car and the 7-Series has lost popularity in recent years. One of the problems with the 7-Series is the complete lack of reliability that the car has experienced (via CNET).

Photo Credit: BMW

There was a time when the 7-Series was known for quality, but when the 2003 model hit, there was an abundance of electrical issues within the car. Since then, the 7-Series has been on the chopping block when it comes to consumer shopping lists. The lack of quality and the extremely high price tag just make the car a questionable decision for most people.

PHoto Credit: Motor Trend

17: Cadillac XTS

Alongside the lowly ATS model is the equally boring XTS. We’re not sure what has happened to the once-radical styling of Cadillac models, but it’s apparent that the XTS is also lacking in that department. With a high price tag and a perceived lack of quality, the XTS is about as boring as you can get. In recent years, Cadillac has tried to spruce the XTS model up to no avail (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Motor Trend

Consumers are generally discontent with what the Cadillac brand has to offer right now. Outside of the legendary V-Series cars, the standard Cadillac fare is bland and boring. There was a time when Cadillacs were the pinnacle of luxury, but that time has passed. The XTS is a prime example of a luxury car gone wrong.

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

16: Jeep Wrangler

We know this will catch a lot of flack, but the current generation of the Wrangler is outdated and overpriced. There was a time when Jeeps were no-frills off-road vehicles that could take you anywhere and do anything with. That couldn’t be further from the truth for the current Jeep models. What has become a status symbol is that Jeep is more or less a rich kids’ toy (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The reliability of Chrysler models is questionable and has only gotten worse in recent years. The Wrangler has scored low marks in terms of quality and reliability. The build quality of the Wrangler is also questionable at best. There are better equipped off-road vehicles that you can get, including older generations of the Wrangler.

Photo Credit: Lincoln

15: Lincoln Corsair

The Corsair SUV is essentially confirmation that Lincoln will never bring us a new Town Car. The brand has firmly cemented its future in the hands of the crossover SUV, and the Corsair is a small option. It’s luxurious but that luxury only goes so far and the car lacks a few key things (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Lincoln

Its performance is not bad but it also doesn’t eclipse other luxury crossover options. When it comes to it, the Corsair is more of a money grab for Ford than an authentic new model. Lincoln has struggled to regain market share for years and the Corsair is just another paltry attempt at that.

Photo Credit: Mitsubishi

14: Mitsubishi iMiEV

The iMiEV is a sad attempt to capture the electric car buyers flooding the automotive industry. The odd-shaped car only musters a measly 66 HP, and that lack of performance will not get you far. The iMiEV is a questionable little car that is almost exclusively suitable for city driving (via Consumer Reports).

Photo Credit: Mitsubishi

The iMiEV has the lowest sticker price of any EV on the market right now, which makes it a great way to get into an EV. But with that cheap price tag, you give up on many creature comforts and things that you might take for granted in another type of car. The iMiEV is a hard pass when it comes to a new vehicle purchase.

Photo Credit: Nissan

13: Nissan Armada

Although it’s not on anyone’s radar, Nissan has been selling a full-size SUV for the last decade. The Armada is based on the Titan pickup truck, and it offers a lot of versatility for the price, at least on paper. The fuel economy for the Armada is among the worst in the segment, and the SUV has traditionally scored the lowest in JD Power ratings (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Nissan

That’s not to say the Armada is horrid, but this design needs some improvement and Nissan isn’t in the position right now. When it comes to a full-size SUV purchase, the Armada has been off consumers radar for a long time. There are much better options on the market that will leave you far more satisfied.

Maserati Ghibli
Photo Credit: Maserati

12: Maserati Ghibli

Maserati is one of the premier luxury carmakers in the world and the brand has a secret you might not realize. A Ferrari engine powers most Maserati vehicles, which gives a superior performance than you’d expect. Now the bad part about the Maserati brand is because most vehicles have overstayed their welcome. The Ghibli is simply outdated when you compare it to other exotics on the market (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Maserati

The Ghibli has remained largely unchanged since its original introduction. Maserati has introduced an upgrade here and there, but for the most part the car is exactly as it was. Nowadays, the market for these exotic luxury cars is much fiercer than it once was, which means you can find a lot of great deals right now.

Photo Credit: Fiat

11: Fiat 500

The Fiat 500 has been around for a while now and by a while we mean three presidential terms ago. That means the Fiat 500 has some serious mileage under its belt, but the car has remained largely unchanged. Released around the same time as the Smart ForTwo, these two city cars were looking to captivate a new type of urban driver (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: SF Chronicle

The problem is that the small size of these cars makes them pretty much impossible for anything else. You won’t want to drive a car this small across the country and that’s the problem with the Fiat 500. Apart from the cute looks, the car won’t be a good purchase for most mainstream car shoppers.

Acura ILX Via Motor Trend
Photo Credit: Motor Trend

10: Acura ILX

If it looks like a Civic and talks like a Civic, chances are it is a Civic. That saying goes for the Acura ILX, which under its skin is nothing more than a fancier Honda Civic. That is not necessarily a bad thing, because the Honda Civic is still one of the best cars you can buy. But the problem is that the ILX is being sold as a premium luxury sedan and underneath the luxury just isn’t there (via Motor 1).

Photo Credit: Acura

When you get behind the wheel of the ILX, you’ll feel like you are in a Civic. There is not much done to hide the humble roots of the car. The ILX has a generally outdated design and a premium price tag because it is a Honda. You can find a better car for a lot less that will give you considerably better performance.

Photo Credit: Mitsubishi

9: Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

When the next generation Eclipse was announced, enthusiasts were excited, except for one problem. It turned out to be a crossover car instead of a sports car, which was what the Eclipse always was. The Eclipse Cross is a vehicle that doesn’t quite have an identity, albeit with a high price tag (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Mitsubishi

Ordinarily paying for quality isn’t a bad thing, but Mitsubishi cars have questionable reliability at best. The Eclipse brand name has been associated with a sports car for decades, and now this SUV is confusing to car shoppers. The crossover segment has become so crowded that there are so many great options to be had these days.

Mini Cooper
Photo Credit: Mini

8: Mini Cooper

The Mini Cooper has come a long way since it was introduced back to the market in 2002. At first, the car was a smash hit, obviously because of its styling. But that new car smell has worn off and the Mini Cooper is one of the least reliable cars on the road. You can expect to spend more time in the shop than on the road (via Car & Driver).

Mini Cooper
Photo Credit: Mini

Coupled with the fact that the Mini is being peddled as a premium entry, there is no reason why the reliability should be so bad. The styling of the car has also not changed much in the last two decades. You can find a used Mini that closely resembles any of the new ones collecting dust on the dealership lot.

Photo Credit: Toyota

7: Toyota Avalon

The Avalon has always been a confusing car because it slots above the Camry but offers less value. When you buy the Avalon, you pay a premium price, whereas a Camry is less. The Avalon doesn’t offer much value for the premium price tag you pay for it. The Avalon was a unique offering at one time, but these days the car has become anything but (via Car & Driver).

Avalon Hybrid Via Car And Driver
Photo Credit: Car & Driver

You aren’t getting a boost in performance and the sedan is not that much different from the Camry. This is the final year for the Avalon as it’s being discontinued.. But for now, the Avalon should be avoided as the car just doesn’t offer value for the high price.

Photo Credit: Car & Driver

6: Subaru Impreza

Much like the WRX we mentioned, the Impreza itself is outdated and sluggish. Subaru hasn’t updated the car in some time. The styling and driving characteristics of the car feel like something that would have been sold in 2014. Subaru does build a great car, but the Impreza feels like the forgotten part of the lineup (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Subaru

Subaru is working on an updated version of the Impreza, which will be coming to the market soon. In the meantime, this car is worth avoiding at all costs, because there are much better options on the market for the price. Even a used Impreza is more of a value than a brand new model would be right now.

Photo Credit: Nissan

5: Nissan Leaf

The Leaf was one of the first mass-produced EVs in the country and was also the first affordable model. The styling of the original Leaf was debatable, but the car was seemingly popular for what it offered. Fast-forward almost a decade later and the Leaf is still being sold, just in smaller numbers (via Driving Television).

Photo Credit: Nissan

The car isn’t the value it once was as there are so many other EV options on the market. The Leaf seems dated, even with all its new technology. You can find many other great EV models on the market so that the Leaf just doesn’t make sense. The price for the Leaf has also crept up higher in recent years.

Photo Credit: Chevy

4: Chevy Malibu

This will be a sad year for the Malibu as GM prepares to exit the passenger car segment to focus on crossover vehicles. The Malibu has never been a leader in its segment but each generation seemed to improve the quality. The current generation of the Malibu is a car that now seems outdated (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Chevy

In a segment where the competition always attempts to one-up you, the Malibu has remained largely unchanged. The styling of the car is okay but the price tag has remained high. The reliability of the Malibu has always been questionable and consumers are looking for quality and reliability in the segment.

Photo Credit: Car & Driver

3: Volkswagen Passat

The current generation of the Passat has grown long in the tooth and the lineup will be discontinued after 2022. The Passat has always been a sort of unique entry, because it is sold alongside the smaller Jetta model. But when you compare it to what else is on the market right now, the Passat seems outdated (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Car & Driver

The reliability of the Passat has always been a problem, and repairs on a Volkswagen vehicle are always much costlier than other makes. The Passat offers a great driving experience with the German quality that you’d expect. But a comfortable ride isn’t always the most important thing to consumers in this segment.

Photo Credit: Ford

2: Ford Edge

The Ford Edge is another vehicle on this list that hasn’t had a substantial update in years. The Edge’s styling has remained the same since it was originally launched. When you get behind the wheel, you’ll feel like you are in an older Ford model. The driving experience is much the same with a bit of pep but nothing amazing (via Edmunds).

Photo Credit: Ford

When it comes to a unique value, the Edge won’t amaze anyone with an extraordinary driving experience. In fact, there are better models that you can get for the money that will still provide driving thrills. Ford hasn’t done enough to make the Edge a compelling bargain in a world where there are so many crossover options.

Photo Credit: Infiniti

1: Infiniti Q60

The Infiniti Q60 is another car that has been around the block for some time now. Originally sold as the G37, the car was branded a few years ago as Infiniti tried to reposition the nameplate image. The Q60 is a sports car that hasn’t been updated much in the past few years. The driving experience is boring at best (via Car & Driver).

Photo Credit: Infiniti

The styling of the Q60 is definitely still attractive but you can tell that the car is long in the tooth. There are many options on the market that it is hard to justify the high price tag of the Q60. At the end of the day, the Q60 is an outdated sports car that will leave you unsatisfied with its driving experience.

Advertisement
Please wait 5 sec.