The Worst-Rated Cars On The Market
Just as pickup truck buyers should steer clear of the Chevy Colorado, it appears those in the market for a midsize car should avoid the 2021 Chevy Malibu. Consumer Reports graded it at the bottom of that class of vehicles, settling on a dismal overall grade of 45/100. It got respectable marks in the road test, as the publication praised its fuel economy and transmission performance, but it got a 1/5 for reliability, which should make any potential buyer nervous.
“Your $24,000 would be better spent on the Toyota Camry,” the publication argued.
In regards to full-size pickups, the GMC Sierra 1500 apparently isn’t the one to buy. While Consumer Reports didn’t give any model in that class a grade higher than 63/100 — which was shared by the Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra — the Sierra 1500 earned just a 45/100. The publication has also listed it as a used truck to avoid, noting that the 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 model years will likely bring headaches.
Like its arch-rival, Chevy, Ford has a number of current models that auto reviewers recommend you avoid. Chief among them is the Ford EcoSport, a subcompact SUV that starts at $19,995. Consumer Reports included the 2021 EcoSport among its 10 least reliable cars for the year and gave the model a grade of 45/100. The Car Connection gave it an even lower score at 3.5/10 and called it the worst small SUV on the market out of 16 models it tested.
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.
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