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The 20 Most “Unstealable” Cars — Because No One Wants Them Anyway

Cameron Eittreim July 27, 2025

While car theft remains a serious issue worldwide, not all vehicles are equally at risk. Some cars are so undesirable to both thieves and buyers that they’re practically “unstealable.” A lack of demand for parts, outdated technology, and unremarkable performance often make these models unattractive to criminals. Thieves typically target vehicles with high resale value or popular parts, but cars with dated features or a reputation for reliability over excitement are often ignored. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute notes that theft rates are closely tied to a model’s popularity and ease of resale. It’s ironic—sometimes the best anti-theft device is simply driving a car nobody wants.

1. Pontiac Aztek

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A bright yellow Pontiac Aztek sits in a parking lot, representing one of the most notoriously unpopular cars ever made. | Image from en.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Pontiac Aztek is infamous for its polarizing, awkward design—often topping lists of the “ugliest cars ever made.” Its clunky styling, uninspired performance, and unimpressive interior made it a commercial flop. As a result, there’s little demand for the Aztek or its parts on the used market, making it an unattractive target for thieves. Even though it gained some cult status thanks to TV fame, most criminals steer clear of the Aztek, as confirmed by its consistently low theft rates according to HotCars.

2. Saturn Ion

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A silver Saturn Ion sits among a lineup of old sedans, representing a bygone era of discontinued cars. | Image from en.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Saturn Ion stands out for its uninspired styling, dated technology, and underwhelming reliability. Once billed as an affordable compact, the Ion failed to capture much market excitement, and its discontinuation in 2007 only further diminished demand. With few parts worth salvaging and limited interest from collectors, the Ion rarely appears on thieves’ radar. As Edmunds notes, its lack of desirability and support in the aftermarket contribute to the Ion’s reputation as one of the most “unstealable” cars on the road.

3. Chrysler PT Cruiser

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A silver PT Cruiser parked on the street stands out among retro cars, embodying quirky style and divisive taste. | Image from www.infinitegarage.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Chrysler PT Cruiser is instantly recognizable for its retro-inspired yet divisive design. While some drivers appreciated its quirky charm, many found its appearance off-putting, and persistent mechanical issues didn’t help its case. As a result, the PT Cruiser failed to maintain lasting popularity, leading to little demand on the black market. According to MotorTrend, these factors combine to make the PT Cruiser an unappealing choice for thieves searching for quick profit or resale opportunities.

4. Chevrolet HHR

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A silver Chevrolet HHR hatchback sits parked among a line of unwanted cars, awaiting its next chapter. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Chevrolet HHR attempted to capture retro styling but largely missed the mark with its awkward proportions and dated features. Its unique look didn’t translate to lasting popularity or strong resale value, leaving little incentive for thieves or chop shops to covet this model. Low demand for parts and a tepid reputation in the used car market further cement the HHR’s position as a car few want to steal. Even Kelley Blue Book highlights its limited appeal and disappointing market performance.

5. Dodge Caliber

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A silver Dodge Caliber parked curbside, representing the unique style and modest resale value of compact cars. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Dodge Caliber is notorious for its subpar build quality and uninspired driving experience. With cheap interior materials and lackluster performance, the Caliber never gained much traction in the used car market. Its lack of desirability translates directly into low theft rates—thieves simply aren’t interested in a car with so little demand for parts or resale. According to Car and Driver, the Caliber’s forgettable reputation helps keep it safely off the radar of would-be criminals.

6. Suzuki Verona

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A rare Suzuki Verona sedan gleams under soft sunlight, standing out among a lineup of uncommon cars. | Image from realsandiegohotels.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Suzuki Verona is one of the most obscure sedans on the American road, thanks to its short production run and limited recognition. Its questionable reliability and lack of brand appeal make it a hard sell for both buyers and thieves alike. With little demand for its parts and even less interest from car enthusiasts, the Verona is virtually invisible to criminals. As Consumer Reports notes, its forgettable presence and inconsistent performance keep it off most thieves’ target lists.

7. Buick Rendezvous

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A silver Buick Rendezvous SUV sits parked on a quiet street, humorously touted as one of the world’s unstealable cars. | Image from en.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Buick Rendezvous never captured much attention with its uninspired, boxy design and lack of standout features. Its subdued appearance and reputation for being unremarkable have kept resale values low, making it unattractive to both buyers and thieves. With little demand for its parts and few drivers seeking it out, the Rendezvous rarely makes the list of stolen vehicles. According to U.S. News, its low desirability acts as a natural deterrent to criminal interest.

8. Nissan Cube

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A bright blue Nissan Cube stands out on the street, showcasing its unmistakably boxy and quirky design. | Image from www.uihere.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Nissan Cube is immediately recognizable for its offbeat, boxy shape and asymmetrical design. While it has a certain charm for those seeking something different, its quirky looks and niche appeal limit its mainstream popularity—and, by extension, its appeal to thieves. With a small and specific fan base, the Cube’s resale value and demand for parts remain modest. As Autotrader points out, the Cube’s uniqueness is precisely what keeps it off most criminals’ wish lists.

9. Smart Fortwo

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A sleek Smart Fortwo microcar stands out among a row of small cars parked along a bustling city street. | Image from www.publicdomainpictures.net (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Smart Fortwo is known for its ultra-compact size and minimalist approach to transportation. While it’s easy to park and maneuver in tight spaces, its limited utility and cargo space make it far from ideal for most drivers. These same features, along with its low resale value, make the Fortwo largely unappealing to car thieves. As The Drive explains, there’s little incentive for criminals to target a vehicle with such limited demand and practicality.

10. Lincoln Town Car (Late Models)

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A classic Lincoln Town Car sedan gleams under the sunlight, capturing the timeless elegance of old luxury cars. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Lincoln Town Car, especially in its later years, is synonymous with old-school luxury and a retiree vibe. Its dated design, massive proportions, and soft, floaty ride appeal to a very specific demographic, leaving little allure for young drivers or skilled thieves. There’s minimal demand for its parts, and the market for used Town Cars is shrinking. As Car and Driver notes, the Town Car’s reputation as a “grandparent’s car” keeps it safely off most criminals’ lists.

11. Kia Amanti

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A sleek Kia Amanti sedan stands parked curbside, a hidden gem among underappreciated cars in the city. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Kia Amanti is a sedan that never quite caught on in the U.S. market, largely due to its unremarkable styling and lack of brand recognition. Because of its obscurity and limited popularity, there’s almost no demand for used Amanti parts, discouraging both thieves and chop shops alike. The Amanti’s forgettable presence and minimal resale value keep it off the radar for most criminals. According to Edmunds, its low profile and lack of desirability make it one of the least likely vehicles to be stolen.

12. Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

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A rare Chevrolet Malibu Maxx hatchback stands out with its unique design, turning heads among a lineup of unusual cars. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Chevrolet Malibu Maxx is known for its unconventional hatchback-wagon design, which never gained much traction with American buyers. This awkward body style, combined with underwhelming performance and a lack of strong resale value, means there’s little incentive for car thieves to target this model. Parts demand is low, and few seek out the Malibu Maxx in the used market. As CarGurus points out, its limited appeal keeps it out of the crosshairs of most criminals.

13. Toyota Echo

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A silver Toyota Echo small sedan is parked on a city street, showcasing the charm of compact cars. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Toyota Echo is often overlooked due to its awkward, bubble-like styling and subcompact proportions. While it’s known for reliability and fuel efficiency, its bland appearance and minimal curb appeal make it an unlikely target for car thieves. The Echo’s tiny size limits its versatility, and used parts aren’t in high demand, further reducing its attractiveness to criminals. As Jalopnik highlights, it’s simply not a car that excites thieves—or much of anyone else.

14. Fiat 500L

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A Fiat 500L stands parked on a quiet street, representing one of Fiat’s more overlooked modern models. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Fiat 500L has gained notoriety for its persistent reliability issues and lackluster driving experience. Its reputation for frequent mechanical problems and disappointing resale value make it an unattractive proposition for both buyers and thieves. With so few people seeking out the 500L or its parts, there’s little incentive for criminals to target this quirky hatchback. According to Consumer Reports, the Fiat 500L’s poor reputation serves as its best anti-theft deterrent.

15. Mercury Grand Marquis (Late Models)

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A classic Mercury Grand Marquis sits parked on a quiet street, showcasing the timeless appeal of large, old sedans. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Mercury Grand Marquis, especially in its later years, embodies old-fashioned styling and a traditional, no-frills approach. Its boxy silhouette and lack of modern amenities don’t attract younger drivers or car thieves seeking valuable parts. With the discontinuation of Mercury and dwindling demand for Grand Marquis components, it’s rarely targeted for theft. As U.S. News highlights, the Grand Marquis’s outdated look and minimal market interest keep it safely off most criminals’ radars.

16. Mitsubishi Mirage

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A silver Mitsubishi Mirage subcompact sits parked alone, its faded paint hinting at a history of being unwanted. | Image from www.flickr.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Mitsubishi Mirage is notorious for its underpowered engine and barebones features, leading to an overall reputation for being uninspiring to drive. With sluggish acceleration and a spartan interior, the Mirage is often passed over by buyers seeking excitement or value. Low resale value and minimal demand for parts make it a rare target for car thieves. As MotorTrend notes, the Mirage’s lack of desirability is its greatest protection against theft.

17. Hyundai Veracruz

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A sleek Hyundai Veracruz SUV, once a popular family vehicle, stands parked—an appealing reminder of this discontinued model. | Image from fr.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Hyundai Veracruz was discontinued after a short production run, leaving it with limited recognition and market presence. With few people searching for used Veracruz SUVs or their parts, there’s little incentive for thieves to target this model. Its low resale value and lack of brand cachet further reduce its appeal on the black market. As Edmunds points out, the Veracruz’s discontinued status and limited demand combine to make it one of the least likely vehicles to be stolen.

18. Scion xB (2nd Generation)

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A classic Scion xB showcases its signature boxy silhouette, representing the bold design of early Scion models. | Image from en.m.wikipedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Scion xB (2nd Generation) is known for its boxy, unconventional design, which has always divided opinion. Its polarizing exterior appeals to a niche group of enthusiasts rather than the masses, resulting in limited market demand. With such a specific fanbase, the xB rarely attracts the interest of car thieves looking for quick resale or valuable parts. According to Car and Driver, the xB’s distinctive styling and limited mainstream appeal help keep it off most criminals’ radar.

19. Volkswagen Routan

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A sleek Volkswagen Routan minivan is parked curbside, showcasing Volkswagen’s stylish twist on family-friendly transportation. | Image from www.rawpixel.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Volkswagen Routan struggled to make an impact in the competitive minivan market, largely overshadowed by more established rivals. Its lack of widespread popularity, combined with a limited pool of interested buyers, keeps demand for both the vehicle and its parts extremely low. This lack of desirability makes the Routan one of the least stolen minivans on the road. As Kelley Blue Book notes, the Routan’s minimal parts value and tepid market presence serve as effective theft deterrents.

20. Subaru Baja

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A quirky Subaru Baja blends car comfort with truck utility, standing out among a lineup of oddball vehicles. | Image from commons.wikimedia.org (Creative Commons Licensed)

The Subaru Baja stands out for its quirky mashup of car and truck styling—a combination that never really found a broad audience. Its unconventional appearance and unclear market positioning resulted in low demand, both when new and in the used market. This lack of popularity, coupled with limited interest in Baja parts, makes it an unlikely target for car thieves. As Jalopnik notes, the Baja’s “car-truck for no one” status is its own best security system.

Unstealable for a Reason

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A row of sturdy old vehicles sits quietly in an empty parking lot, evoking memories of safer, simpler times. | Image from www.pickpik.com (Creative Commons Licensed)

In the ever-evolving world of car theft, these “unstealable” vehicles stand out—not for their advanced security, but for their sheer lack of appeal. Low resale values, outdated technology, and minimal demand for parts render them unattractive to criminals looking for quick profit. Ironically, it’s their mediocrity and forgettable presence that keeps them safe. If you drive one of these models, take comfort in the fact that sometimes, being overlooked is the greatest protection of all.
Curious about your car’s theft risk? Check resources like the National Insurance Crime Bureau to see where it ranks.

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