For car enthusiasts, the idea of owning a bad car is something that no one would ever consider. However, for the past 30 years, there have been a plethora of car models released that, for one reason or another, have appeared low in the market rankings.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the worst cars of the last 30 years. We’ll examine the various factors and aspects of each car model that have made them so unpopular and examine why they have been remembered so poorly in the annals of automotive history.
Let’s jump right in…
What Makes a Car a ‘Bad Car’?
Before we take a look at our list of ‘bad cars’ from the past 30 years, let’s first take a look at what makes a car bad.
It’s a subjective term but there are certain factors that can make a car a ‘bad car’, such as:
- Poor design and functionality.
- Poor performance on the road.
- Unreliability and a high rate of mechanical failure.
- Poor value for money.
These are just a few of the criteria that can lead to a car being branded as bad. Now let’s turn our attention to the specific cars from the past 30 years that have ended up near the bottom of the rankings based on these criteria.
Here are the Worst Cars of the Last 30 Years
- Chrysler PT Cruiser (2001-2010)
The Chrysler PT Cruiser quickly became a laughing stock when it was released in 2001. It featured a strange design, poor performance, and poor reliability. The build quality was also poor, meaning that it was likely to break down after short periods of time. All in all, the PT Cruiser was quickly forgotten by those in the market for a reliable and efficient car.
- Ford Fiesta (2012-2019)
The Ford Fiesta was released back in 2012 and made a big impact on the market. Unfortunately, it quickly dropped down in the rankings due to its poor reliability and weak powertrain. The in-car entertainment systems were also criticised as being outdated and lacklustre. All in all, it was a bad car that didn’t hold up as well as its competitors in the market.
- Toyota Echo (2000-2005)
The Toyota Echo was released in 2000 and was quickly forgotten by the majority of car buyers in the market. This was mainly down to its uncomfortable ride, poor performance, and terrible build quality. The only thing the Echo had going for it was its low price, but this still wasn’t enough to make up for its many flaws.
- Hyundai Tiburon (1996-2008)
The Hyundai Tiburon was a car that was released back in 1996 and quickly became known for its poor reliability, uncomfortable handling, bad design, and inferior performance. In fact, the Tiburon was so bad that it was quickly forgotten about in the market as soon as newer and better models were released.
- Kia Sephia (1992-2003)
The Kia Sephia was another car that didn’t measure up to its competitors in the market. It had a bad reputation for its low-quality build, poor performance, and lack of reliability. As a result, it was quickly forgotten about and ended up as one of the worst cars from the last 30 years.
- GMC Envoy (1998-2009)
The GMC Envoy was another car that quickly vanished from the market due to its poor performance and low-quality build. The car was also known for having a high rate of mechanical failure, meaning that it soon ended up at the bottom of the rankings. All in all, it was an ill-fated experiment from GMC that didn’t pan out well.
It’s easy to look back now and criticise these cars for their poor design, performance, and reliability. But why did they perform so poorly in the market?
The answer lies in the fact that, in many cases, these cars were simply rushed to market without having been fully tested and developed. This meant that they weren’t up to the standards of the market and ended up being hot potatoes for car buyers.
It’s always important for car buyers to do their research before jumping in and making a purchase. Looking at the reviews of a model and seeing how it compares to its competitors can help to make sure that you don’t end up with a lemon. Ultimately, it’s the only way to ensure that you don’t end up with the worst cars of the last 30 years.
