The Worst-Rated Cars On The Market
The Car Connection also had it in for this Mitsubishi model, which it scored as the second worst midsize SUV of 20 models tested for 2021. The site gave the Outlander Sport a final grade of 4.5/10, which actually makes it sound like a rolling masterpiece compared to some of the other vehicles on this list (including another mid-size SUV made by the same company), but is still a very poor grade from that outlet. Its expert reviewer called the vehicle “sluggish and dated in most respects.”
When Consumer Reports put out its list of the 10 least reliable vehicles for the 2021 model year, the Chevy Colorado was one of only two pickup trucks on it. The publication gave the Colorado a grade of 44/100, which was the worst overall score any Chevy model got from them for the year. The review particularly slammed this truck for a lack of reliability, comfort and fuel economy. In the entire class of compact pickup trucks Consumer Reports tested, the slightly pricier Honda Ridgeline was the only one to get high marks across the board.
While the GMC Canyon is slightly pricier than the similar-sized Ford Ranger, its reviews are about the same. Consumer Reports gave the 2021 model a 44/100 and The Car Connection gave it a 4.8/10, showing both publications were underwhelmed. Consumer Reports admitted that the newest version was a slight improvement over previous years but slammed it for a “stiff and choppy” ride and uncomfortable driving position, as well as its predicted reliability. Given that the Canyon sells for up to $44,700 with all the offered extras, a full-size truck would likely be the more cost-effective option.
Yet another ride from Chevrolet that has gotten hammered in recent years by auto reviewers is the Spark. This small car starts at less than $14,000, making it tantalizing for shoppers on a budget, but virtually everyone agrees to spend that money elsewhere. The Car Connection called it one of the three worst models in the 2021 class of small cars — which included 37 different models — grading it a 4/10 and calling it “simple and uninspired.” Consumer Reports agreed with a 45/100 review, while older model years have appeared on U.S. News and World Report’s list of used cars to avoid.
Top automotive outlets were clearly not impressed with the offerings from Alfa Romeo in this past model year. The final model from that high-end Italian automaker to make our list is the Stelvio. The experts at The Car Connection were middling in their review of the 2020 edition but Consumer Reports was less impressed. That outlet gave the 2021 Stelvio a 45/100, including a 1/5 for predicted reliability and a 3/5 for owner satisfaction. That’s not what you’d hope for from a car that costs as much as $80,000 to take off the lot.
Consumer Reports is perhaps the most trusted source in America when it comes to unbiased car reviews. The publication tested out the 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia and was not impressed with the experience. This sedan, which ranges in cost from $39,500-$74,800, earned a grade of 43/100 from Consumer Reports, which was at the low end of all 15 of the luxury compact cars it tested last year. The Giulia actually scored high for performance and owner satisfaction but earned a horrible grade for predicted reliability, which tanked its overall mark.
In general, Kia vehicles have earned great marks in recent years despite being offered at very low price points but the Forte is an exception. While the grades for it aren’t as dismal as some others we’ve featured on this list, the 2021 model got a score of 43/100 from Consumer Reports. That was one of the worst scores the publication gave in the small car class for this model year, ranking far below similar rides like the Nissan Sentra and Toyota Corolla. It was described as uncomfortable, noisy and unreliable, which sounds disappointing even at its starting price of $17,890.
When you’re spending around six figures for a vehicle, you should expect perfection but the Maserati Ghibli apparently doesn’t deliver. Ranging from $72,190 to $109,890 for its suggested retail price, this is the most expensive car featured on our list. Consumer Reports gave it a 42/100, which was easily the lowest score of the 11 it has reviewed in the luxury midsize sedan class for 2021 so far. For comparison’s sake, it was one of only three in the class to score less than 74/100, with the best marks going to the Lexus GS and Lincoln MKZ, both of which are far cheaper.
In its own roundup of used cars to avoid, the Jeep Compass has been singled out by U.S. News and World Report. But if you’re thinking of trying a new one, plenty of other outlets will steer you clear of this compact SUV. Consumer Reports ranked it among the 10 least reliable cars for 2021 and gave that model year an overall grade of 39/100. The researchers at J.D. Power also ranked it as the least dependable in its class in a 2020 study of vehicles from the 2017 model year.
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