Source: Fiat
It may not be easy to pin down exactly what defines great value in an automobile, but knowing that standards typically rise along with price is a great place to start. But just when you begin thinking that luxury cars and SUVs have the toughest job of staying on top due to their hefty MSRP stickers, that suddenly turns out to be not entirely true, for no car is safe from the butcher’s ax when it comes time for Consumer Reports to release its dreaded “Not Top 10.”
From mid-size sedans with asinine ownership costs and low scoring pickup trucks, to cars with horrible fuel economy and abysmal reliability, there is something for everyone on this list, and nothing says “trouble” quite like a damning article from one of America’s most revered test specialists.
Now we aren’t insinuating that all of the vehicles on today’s cheat sheet are complete crap, as many of them have their merits, and even a select few offer some amazing perks that go unrecognized in said “audit.” But Consumer Reports doesn’t hold punches, and if word of rampant recalls or unsatisfied buyers reaches their ears, you bet your ass there is going to be an investigation and full write-up on the matter.
Consumer Reports is kind of like a buyer-based watchdog for the automotive industry, ever on alert for a crappy clunker to rear its ugly head, all while praising the best cars, thus making their style of review a “love it or hate it” kind of bag for auto manufacturers. So in the interest of giving you the facts (regardless of whether you like them or not), here are 10 vehicles that are the epitome of poor value, which surprisingly all come from extremely accomplished automakers.
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1. Lowest-Scoring Car: Mitsubishi Mirage (29/100 overall score)
Source: Mitsubishi
Oh Mitsubishi, wherever did you go wrong? You guys went from building amazing cars like the 3000GT VR4 and the turbocharged Eclipse, to… this. Scoring low points for everything from clumsy handling, noise, vibration, and acceleration, to feeling extremely “cheap and insubstantial,” the Mitsubishi Mirage lives up to its name and remains one of the cheapest cars on the market today for good reason. It may only cost $12,995 and get 37 miles-per gallon, but with words like “regrettable, slow, and noisy” playing crucial roles in the descriptor side of the equation, there is little doubt that this car fails where many others succeed.
Built completely in Thailand, and powered by a sewing machine-sized, three-cylinder that likes to vibrate uncontrollably when putting all 74 horses to the asphalt, the Mirage really doesn’t do itself any favors in the power department. Handling isn’t much better, with Consumer Reports saying that when driving the Mirage, it felt so clumsy that it “leans in corners like a drunken sailor.” Sure, it may have an impressive list of standard features to distract us with for a time, but a “Poor” rating by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) during a small-overlap crash test quickly negates these perks, thus putting the little subcompact back on the “not it list.” Check out Consumer Reports’ full road test to find out more.
2. Lowest-Scoring SUV: Jeep Compass (52/100 overall score)
Source: Jeep
Next up on our cheat sheet of cars you should not consider, is the overly unnecessary Jeep Compass. Dinged heavily for excessive engine noise, poor acceleration, lack of comfortable driving positions, crappy seat quality, and horrid rear visibility, this mid-size SUV is a disaster on wheels. Blend all that with repeated cornering failures, sloppy braking, and questionable reliability, and you’ve got a recipe for rampant recalls.
Sure, it may look like the Grand Cherokee we drove and liked so much, but Consumer Reports says that the Compass is nothing like the prior, with a cabin that feels “claustrophobic,” visibility that is “problematic,” and a tall sill that makes entering and exiting a pain in the arse. Scoring 52 out of 100 points after testing, the Compass scored so poorly that it even toppled the lowest ranked SUV of all time, the Jeep Wrangler. Here is the full report on what made this SUV so crap-tastic.
3. Lowest-Scoring Truck: Toyota Tacoma (49/100 overall score)
Source: Toyota
Hold the phone, Toyota has the worst truck?! Yes, it may come as a shock, but the outgoing generation of Tacoma did not do very well when Consumer Reports tested it back in the spring of 2014. While the redesigned 2016 model we drove this past summer is damn near fantastic, the lows found in its predecessor are shockingly bad. Poor ride, sloppy handling, runway-length stopping distances, uncomfortable driving positions, high step-in angles, and painfully low rear seats all damaged the second generation Tacoma’s chances of scoring big, with even more issues lurking beneath the surface.
Commuting is referred to as “painful” in the older Tacoma, as it offers a cabin that critics call “dated” and “uncomfortable.” With the handling prowess of a cinder block, and a ride best described as “fatiguing,” there is little joy to be had when bumping around the ‘burbs in one of these things. Toyota’s choice to incorporate a high floor and a low roof into the cabin hurts scores all the more, as accessing the truck is deemed “tricky,” and makes comfy driving positions virtually unattainable. Plus, optioning one out can easily drive the price well into full-sized truck territory, and while it may be more expensive, we strongly suggest spending the extra dough and getting the latest version instead of the outgoing model. For those of you wanting to find out more, here is the complete Toyota Tacoma road test.
4. Least Reliable: Fiat 500L
Source: Fiat
By now it is becoming pretty obvious that FCA has gotten off on the wrong foot, with four of its brands—Dodge, Ram, Jeep, and Fiat—populating Consumer Reports’ least-reliable rankings with multiple models. The Fiat 500L is no exception, and is currently the least reliable new car you can buy according to reports, with a “predicted reliability score” that is 219% worse than average. To put that into context, this little machine is prone to 16 times the amount of problems than the most reliable car will ever encounter, which just so happens to be the outgoing Scion xB.
Even though critics feel that the smaller Fiat 500 is a better car off the lot than the xB, it still scores quite poorly for reliability, and with an atrocious 50/100-point overall road test score on its roster, it is no wonder Fiat is struggling with sales here in the States. For more information on what makes this vehicle is so unreliable, be sure to check out the full review.
5. Lowest Owner Satisfaction: Jeep Compass
Source: Jeep
Back for a second helping of negativity, the Jeep Compass is the only vehicle to appear more than once on today’s cheat sheet, which stands as further proof that this SUV should either get scrapped completely, or be redesigned yet again. Calling it “outdated and uncompetitive,” Consumer Reports says that owners give the Compass the lowest satisfaction rating out of all modern cars on the market, with just 43% of people admitting that they would buy one again.
Comfort and fuel economy remain the Compass’ primary offenders, followed by sub-par driving experiences, lack of quality features, and crappy cargo space. (Are people not test driving cars before buying them anymore???) Also, it may have an affordable four-cylinder in it, but in real-world testing, performance proved to be far from stellar, as the SUV only averaged 22 miles-per gallon, and remained one of the slowest small SUVs. Consumer Reports says avoid this one like the plague, and with reviews like this we can see why.
6. Most Expensive Mid-Sized Sedan to Own: Volkswagen Passat (V6)
Source: Volkswagen
The Passat sedan really is a good car, what with its spacious interior, sharp handling, and controlled, quiet ride. While most buyers will opt for the basic 1.8-liter turbo version, a select few still insist upon Volkswagen’s powerful 3.6-liter V6, which according to Consumer Reports, may be an extremely costly mistake.
Ownership costs for the V6 version, including factoring depreciation, interest, insurance, sales tax, fuel, maintenance, and repairs, makes the Passat the most expensive mid-sized sedan to own in America, a fact that even surprised us. Costing a whopping $44,750 in ownership dues over the course of five years, this German sedan will run you $13,500 more in the long run than the best in the class Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, which in contrast, averages $31,250. Remember, buying a car is only half of the equation, properly maintaining it is the other. Check out Consumer Reports’ Passat review to see exactly why it scored so low.
7. Worst Value Mid-Sized Sedan: Nissan Altima (V6)
Source: Nissan
While the new Altima may look pretty damn sharp, and offers a roomy interior that is only bested by its excellent fuel economy, the V6 version ranks dead last among mid-sized sedans when it comes to overall value. In order to properly assess value, Consumer Reports has factored in overall road-test scores, predicted reliability, and five-year cost ownership. The result is a value score that remains relative to the average value found in all vehicles, while casting a strong contrasting light onto the best and worst in the car game.
Among all of today’s mid-sized sedans, the Altima V6 is the only vehicle that ranked below average. This means that Consumer Reports found that every single one of Nissan’s competitors offers more car for the money in this segment, leaving many wondering what the Japanese automaker will do to negate these setbacks going forward. The V6 version is also the only model in its class with “much-worse-than-average” predicted reliability, so potential buyers should be wary of that as well. Be sure to read the full review, as Consumer Reports offers a candid look at what else is undermining this restyled sedan.
8. Worst Value Small SUV: Jeep Cherokee
Source: Jeep
It may not be the smallest SUV on the market, but the Dodge Dart-based Cherokee (yeah, you read that right) brandishes a scarlet letter for being what Consumer Reports calls “underdeveloped and unrefined.” While critics reccomend that buyers opt for the 3.2-liter V6 version in Limited trim, as it has a much higher overall road test score, the four-banger model continues to get the shaft, rolling around at the bottom of the barrel in regards to overall value.
Unfortunately for FCA, the Cherokee isn’t alone, with the Jeep Patriot, V6 Cherokee, and Compass all receiving abysmally low scores. But back to the Cherokee four-cylinder, with its slow, gas-guzzling motor, 58-point test score, and atrocious predicted reliability. Sure, owner costs are better than average, but that’s probably because Consumer Reports predicts that problems will likely arise within the first two years of ownership, so fortunately warranties will offset any immediate expenses. Owners tend to agree with this statement as well, giving the Cherokee a below-average satisfaction score, as it fails numerous road tests along the way. Consumer Reports really did give the Cherokee a harsh critique, something which we will keep in mind when we get our hands on one later in the year.
9. Worst Fuel Economy: Nissan Armada (9/13 mpg avg.)
Source: Nissan
Like a flotilla on four wheels, the Nissan Armada rolls around, brandishing its name with wild abandon because it has the presence to do so. You know what else this SUV has? A 5.6-liter V8 that dates back to the Stone Age, and gets a 13/19 mile-per gallon rating from the EPA. Consumer Reports observed 9 and 13. Oof.
In what Consumer Reports calls “a singular mission to extract every last drop of dino juice from the ground,” the Armada has a thirst like no other, and its 28-gallon fuel tank only adds to the debacle, as a typical fill-up will run you well north of $70 at the pump currently. This translates to a typical driver buying 905 gallons a year just to get around town, and with a five-year ownership cost of $67,250, you may want to look elsewhere before buying one of these behemoths, and read Consumer Reports’ review first.
10. Worst Used Car: Mini Cooper S
Source: Mini
Our final fluke of the day comes to us courtesy of Mini, who outscores Fiat hands down when it comes to quality and value off the showroom floor, but drags itself through the mud in the long run, which earns it the title of “worst used car to own.” Sure, reliability cannot be guaranteed when buying a used car, but the Mini Cooper S still owns a track record for being the absolute worst out of all of the cars Consumer Reports has tested within the past decade.
It may be cute and carve corners better than grandpa with a Thanksgiving turkey, but among the seventeen trouble spots tracked (including major and minor engine issues, cooling, fuel systems, body integrity, and body hardware to name a few) the Mini Cooper S shows issue with all of these headaches like no other. Typically, Consumer Reports would recommend foregoing on the extended warranty, but in the case of the Mini Cooper S, they say go with the added insurance, as these little guys are quite expensive to fix. We aren’t saying all Minis are bad cars, we just think it might be best to read a review in order to see why this little machine might make a bad investment.
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