Most Disliked Cars of 2011

[Quattro Pete]

Not sure what the methodology was to arrive with this line-up, but here it is nonetheless... http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2011/autos/1112/gallery.most-disliked-cars.fortune/index.html One thing I've learned from this: Murano Cabriolet. I had no idea such a thing existed. What's next? A minivan convertible?

 

[Bill in Utah]

Except for the Civic I'd agree with the list. Most of them are on target. Bill

 

[RamFan]

I tend to agree with the list. However, the Jaguar I find to be absolutely beautiful and the Civic while I'm not a fan will live on the coattails of name recognition for years to come. Where's the Juke at?

 

[mcrn]

I can think of a lot of cars I like less than most of those? Im not sure how they came up with that list either. The civic definitely needs a refresh....along with every other Honda in my opinion. I was at a auto show recently and the Hondas felt very 90's compared to everything else.

 

[bmwjohn]

perhaps this is a list of what to buy used at an extra low price? save the print out and take it with you when you shop.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: bmwjohn

perhaps this is a list of what to buy used at an extra low price? save the print out and take it with you when you shop.

I was going to do that with the Aztec, but an ugliness discount never really appeared even in the used market. One of my neighbors has one in bright yellow and it actually seems to fit in now with all the odd shaped vehicles showing up.

 

[CivicFan]

I like all the cars on the list, especially the Murano convertible.

 

[Spazdog]

Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it. That's it in a nutshell. Good idea, badly executed.

 

[MrHorspwer]

From that list: I really like the XF. I think Jaguar hit it out of the park with the styling. Too bad it's not selling. The only other misgiving on the list in the Volt. Disliked? Hardly. It's been a mainstream media darling. Owners love the car and are pretty vocal about it. People who really have issue are the outliers. Many of them are politically motivated in their views or take issue with what the car *is* and not the actual car itself. Ultimately, GM will miss their modest sales target and I guess that puts it on the list. Even so, Toyota didn't do so hot with the first generation of Prius. Look where they're at with it now though...

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: RamFan

Where's the Juke at?

That's what I thought when I saw the Cube. But I guess the Juke is new enough that it's still on a sales upswing while the Cube is falling.

 

[sir1900]

Not surprised to see the Civic on the list, but the reality is (at least i this neck of the woods), they are in high demand. The local dealer here sells them as fast as they are bringing them in.

 

[kkreit01]

"Infinity Division"?! I agree that the Juke should be on the list -- to replace the Jag. Other than that -- yeah -- I wouldn't buy any of them.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

Honda upset the traditional pickup truck orthodoxy when it introduced the unibody Ridgeline in 2005. It may have been a good idea, but it failed to make many converts. The Ridgeline has staggered along since then, selling fewer than 1,000 units a month. There's probably a market out there for a truck that's lighter than traditional body-on-frame behemoths and gets better gas mileage, but this one hasn't found it. That's it in a nutshell. Good idea, badly executed.

I really like the Ridgeline, and I'd probably buy it just because I like the engine and how that platform handles. That said, it doesn't surprise me that they haven't sold more. To move a vehicle that large (our MDX is 4,500 pounds, I'm sure the Ridgeline is at least that much) with conventional NA engines, you just need a lot of fuel. Though Honda gets it done with a 3.5L V-6 instead of a medium-sized V-8, you don't really see much of a difference in fuel economy, especially around town. Factor in the fact that you can't tow an 8,000 pound trailer with a Ridgeline, nor can you put as much in the back as you can in a regular full-size pickup bed, it's clear that the Ridgeline is bound to niche vehicle status. It's not unlike the Dakota really...kind of stuck in the middle. Smaller than a full-size, but without a significant benefit in fuel economy or overall package size (for city parking or fitting into a smaller garage).

 

[Spazdog]

I like the Ridgeline. It's just the fuel economy. A 5.3 Silverado has virtually the same EPA rated fuel economy as the 3.5 Ridgeline. Ridgeline: 15 City, 17 Combined, 20 Highway Silverado K1500 4X4: 15 City, 17 Combined, 21 Highway It just has to be better. I think if they could have gotten closer to the Odyssey's 28 mpg highway rating, they would have sold a ton when gas prices were way up.

 

[hattaresguy]

Plus the Chevy has an actual frame and bed so you can throw a ton of concrete in the back, pop it in 4 wheel low and bounce over a rutted job site. Can't do that in the Honda.

 

[CBR.worm]

I like all the cars on the list except for the Civic and the Cube. I guess I am wierd. Infiniti does sell a niche product. The FX50S is 0-60 in 5 seconds, AWD and handles well. That's my kind of niche.

 

[oilmaven]

I had the misfortune of driving a Cube as a rental recently. Aside from the bread truck driving experience (there was at least a foot of room over my head and the nearly upright windshield is HUGE) the quality of the interior was atrocious. Cheap seat fabrics (over squishy seats) and Rubbermaid quality plastics were a laugh. The drivetrain wasn't bad and Nissan has their CVT's sorted out well even in this small displacement engine...it was reasonably peppy. Handling was soft and actual storage capacity behind the (equally large) rear seats is very small for such a "utility" vehicle. All in all it was not the greatest and I'd never buy one unless they sold it REAL cheap. I can't imagine that thing in a strong wind on the freeway. Another thing I noticed was the heater seemed weak (it was particularly cold and it takes awhile to heat all that space). If this vehicle and the univerally panned new Versa sedan (slow, loud, cheap and poor crash ratings) is what Nissan thinks the public wants, someone needs to be fired.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog

It just has to be better. I think if they could have gotten closer to the Odyssey's 28 mpg highway rating, they would have sold a ton when gas prices were way up.

I think Honda gave up on the Ridgeline long before now. Its powertrain hasn't changed at all since its 2006 debut, and the fuel economy numbers demonstrate that. While Honda has applied fuel-saving technology to most of its big vehicles (with VCM or 6-speed automatics), the Ridgeline chugs along with a 2006 powertrain combination. That's not the way to keep a particular model competitive.

 

[henni]

heh perhaps the "unpopularity" worked in my favor as I could not pass up on the honda price

 

[hardcore302]

Take the Jag off. That car is sexy.