Chevrolet is mostly known for making reliable and tough cars, but the Chevrolet Trax betrayed that reputation. The car has been consistently criticized by Edmunds for having a choppy ride quality on freeways, slow acceleration, an underpowered engine, high fuel consumption, and less cargo than expected. Blue Book’s expert review gave the Trax a 3.9 out of 5 ratings, while US News & World Report gave it a 7.2 out of 10.
Car review magazines were less thrilled about the car; Drive Magazine even gave it just a mere 2.5 out of 5.
1982 Cadillac Cimarron
Everyone loved 1982. Michael Jackson was ruling the music scene and radio with 'Thriller', which became the best-selling album of all time. We got to see E.T.'s phone home, and the first CD player was released by Sony! One thing that wasn't so great, was the Cadillac Cimarron. To this day, this car is considered the absolute lowest point in the company’s history, due to its low sales, poor performance, and ill-conceived badge engineering.
It was quickly discovered that the Cimarron was just a refurbished version of the Chevrolet Cavalier, with worse performance and a hideous all-around build. The car was quickly scratched and taken off production. But not before almost ruining the entire company’s brand, which had already established itself as one of America's premier luxury carmakers. I'd call that a fluke.
1957 King Midget Model III
The King Midget was a microcar produced between 1946 and 1970 by the Midget Motors Corporation. The car was mostly promoted through small ads in popular magazines with the slogan "500 lb. car for $500.00". King Midget I could only fit a single passenger inside it, although the next versions were slightly more accommodating of more people.
Fuel economy was on everyone's mind in the early 1950s, much as it is today, so King Midget’s claim to fame was its 50 mpg fuel consumption and ease of repairs. We don't know about you, but if our car was more like a huge Lego block than an actual vehicle - we'd probably prefer to get to our destination by taking the bus or going on a nice bicycle ride.
Lexus IS
Whenever we’re looking to improve our critical skills, Consumer Reports provides the best materials for becoming a harsh critique. In their review for the 2019 Lexus IS, the publication says: “Lexus built the IS sports sedan to challenge the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. But we’ll cut to the chase: Forget it.” Unfortunately for the Lexus IS, it just can't stand in a fight with the equivalent BMW and Mercedes models at the same price range, offering neither the performance nor the luxury feels that the famous German makers provide.
Anyone who sits in the Lexus IS will tell you it’s the opposite of relaxing and luxurious and feels a lot more like a cramped and uncomfortable experience. If you’re in the market for this type of vehicle at the $40,000 pricing area, we recommend not wasting a moment and going directly to where the fun is at. Of course, we’re talking about none other than the vicious Audi A4 and the awesome BMW 3-Series.
1981 DeLorean DMC-12
Despite being fondly remembered as the car Marty McFly used to travel back in time in the famous “Back to the Future” films, the real car was a horrible mess, both sales-wise and in-terms of performance. The car quickly became widely known for its disappointing lack of power and performance, which was very disappointing considering its high-price tag and Lamborghini style appearance. The car was only sold for about 3 years and sold less than 10,000 vehicles before production stopped.
The car suffered from many technical difficulties, one of which was the horrible battery. When driving the car with all lights and electrical options on, the battery wasn't able to supply enough power to charge the car, causing it to gradually discharge and eventually leaving the driver stranded on the road. The DeLorean has since gained a cult following, and to this day is considered one of the best cars of all time by some slightly obsessed individuals who appreciated its attempts to make you feel like you’re driving inside a spaceship.