Consumer Reports Names Its 10 Lowest-Rated Vehicles of 2017
From compact cars to luxury SUVs, Consumer Reports names the 10 lowest-rated vehicles from each class in the industry
Automakers love it when their vehicles earn an award or title for being the best in the industry. However, those same automakers are understandably less thrilled when their vehicles end up on a list of the year’s worst models.
Nevertheless, that is exactly where 10 vehicles from a myriad of brands ended up in 2017. Every year, Consumer Reports assembles a list of the lowest-rated vehicles from 10 different automotive classes in the industry. This year’s list saw the addition of some unexpected entries, as well as vehicles that have already garnered quite the negative reputation.
[wptab name=”Mitsubishi Mirage”]
Lowest-Rated Subcompact Car: Mitsubishi Mirage
The Mitsubishi Mirage might seem like an appealing vehicle on the surface, with its average 37 mpg fuel economy. However, Consumer Reports felt that the great fuel efficiency was negated by the model’s sluggish three-cylinder engine. Combine that with a lackluster cabin, and you have a subcompact vehicle that fails to impress.
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[wptab name=”Mitsubishi i-MiEV”]
Lowest-Rated Compact Electric/Hybrid: Mitsubishi i-MiEV
Mitsubishi didn’t have much luck with its compact electric model, either. While Consumer Reports agreed that it was one of the cheapest all-electric vehicles on the market, the group was less than impressed with the model’s powertrain. Additionally, the i-MiEV’s cabin was not well received when compared to other models in its class, like the Nissan Leaf.
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[wptab name=”Fiat 500L”]
Lowest-Rated Compact Car: Fiat 500L
Consumer Reports found the Fiat 500L had a roomy cabin and a precise response. So where do the issues with the hatchback lie? In its safety. The Fiat compact vehicle scored a Poor rating during the Insurance Institue for Highway Safety’s small-overlap frontal test, one of the most important safety tests for any vehicle to pass.
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[wptab name=”Chrysler 200″]
Lowest-Rated Midsized Sedan: Chrysler 200
If the Chrysler 200 was hoping for a swan song on its way out of production, then it certainly shouldn’t look toward Consumer Reports. The organization felt that the vehicle’s handling was clumsy and that its performance was underwhelming. The Chrysler 200’s controversial transmission only further hurt the vehicle’s score.
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[wptab name=”Mercedes-Benz CLA”]
Lowest-Rated Entry-Level Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA
The Mercedes-Benz CLA was not all that well-received for one main reason; namely, drivers have to pay extra if they want the luxury features that they have come to expect from Mercedes-Benz. However, that’s not the model’s only problem. Consumer Reports found the interior to be cramped, as well as extremely noisy on the road.
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[wptab name=”Maserati Ghibli”]
Lowest-Rated Luxury Midsized Sedan: Maserati Ghibli
In many ways, the Maserati Ghibli is far from a bad vehicle. Even Consumer Reports admitted that it was fun to drive and stunning to look at. However, the model’s Achilles Heel was its fuel economy. In an industry where even performance vehicles are becoming more efficient, the Ghibli offered an average 19 mpg.
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[wptab name=”Dodge Journey”]
Lowest-Rated Midsized SUV: Dodge Journey
Fuel efficiency was a major issue with the Dodge Journey as well. The Midsized SUV had the worst fuel economy in its class, with an average 16 mpg. Safety also suffered with the Dodge Journey, as the SUV received poor performance ratings in its IIHS small-overlap frontal crash tests.
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[wptab name=”Land Rover Discovery Sport”]
Lowest-Rated Luxury Compact SUV: Land Rover Discovery Sport
According to Consumer Reports, the Land Rover Discovery Sport not only pales in comparison to other luxury SUV models. It also pales in comparison to most mass-market SUV models. Surprisingly, Consumer Reports found that the Discovery Sport performed better off-road than it did on the road, likely due to its unresponsive transmission.
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[wptab name=”Cadillac Escalade”]
Lowest-Rated Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade
It’s a bit surprising to find a Cadillac on this list, as the brand is pretty renowned for quality. Nevertheless, Consumer Reports was less than impressed with the Cadillac Escalade. With a second row that was too low and a third row that was too cramped, nobody was able to ride comfortably inside of this luxury vehicle.
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[wptab name=”Toyota Tacoma”]
Lowest-Rated Compact Pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Easily the most surprising entry on the list from Consumer Reports is the Toyota Tacoma. For years, the Tacoma was considered one of the most reliable pickup trucks on the road. However, whereas other companies worked to improve their pickup vehicles, the Toyota Tacoma’s progress remained relatively stagnant. As a result of resting on its laurels, the Toyota Tacoma feels like a much older truck than it actually is. In past years, the Tacoma might have been listed as the best compact pickup, rather than the worst.
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Source: Consumer Reports
Zachary Berry currently resides in the Dayton, Ohio area. However, he enjoys traveling from place to place, as he was born in Oklahoma City and has also lived in Albuquerque and Orlando (such is the life of a military brat). Zachary graduated from Ohio University with a major in Strategic Communication, which is fancy talk for advertising and public relations. Beginning his career at The News Wheel as a lowly intern, he was able to climb his way to the top, eventually claiming his place within the last cubicle on the left. Other jobs that Zachary has held include driving around a safari truck at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. When he’s not putting his nose to the grindstone, Zachary enjoys watching and critiquing movies and television. See more articles by Zachary.