25 Most Hated Cars of All Time
Americans love their cars, and that love might sometimes seem unconditional.
If you ever check the sales charts, you’ll be surprised to see poorly reviewed vehicles logging tens of thousands of sales in a year. No matter how many problems a car has, the sheer volume of the U.S. market can keep it afloat.
Even with that built-in advantage, there are many cars that wear out their welcome. American consumers will turn on ugly cars quickly, but an attractive ride that’s dangerous to drive could take years to expose. However, you can rest assured a lemon will show its true colors eventually.
In some cases, the love affair is short and not sweet. Let’s take a quick look at the 5 most hated cars of all time, including the worst ownership experience of the century (No. 11).
1. Saturn Ion
The 2007 Saturn Ion. | Saturn
Saturn may have started out as an ambitious concept from GM executives, but cars like Ion ensured it would not stick around for long. Ion’s dull looks were nothing compared to the grating driving experience or countless quality issues. Among the many stupid things found in an Ion, the speedometer’s spot above the center console really stands out. It forced you to look about 18 inches to the right to see how fast you were going.
Ion’s unforgivable interior design. | Saturn
2. Dodge Omni
The 1978 Dodge Omni. | Dodge
As with any hated car, the Dodge Omni had some fans, and the debut model sold well as Chrysler teetered on the brink of bankruptcy. However, once people settled into their Omnis, they began seeing the econo-box’s many weaknesses. Consumer Reports slammed it for terrible build quality and frighteningly low safety standards, making Omni one of its worst-rated cars of all time. Millions learned to hate this car through the 1980s, and we suggest running away in the unlikely event you see one on the street.
3. Hummer H2
The 2008 HUMMER H2. | General Motors
If a Most Hated Hall of Fame ever opens, a Hummer H2 would be the perfect vehicle for shuttling visitors between exhibits. It’s amazing how people shudder at the sight of this monstrosity, and the loathing seems to be universal. There are so many reasons to hate Hummers: their fuel economy, the space they take up, the insecurity their owners project, the list goes on. All you have to do is pick one.
4. Isuzu Axiom
Before fleeing the U.S. market in 2009, Isuzu built some junk masterpieces for American consumers, and Axiom was among them. At one of the all-time peaks of auto sales, no one would buy this car. It barely lasted two years (2002-04) before Isuzu pulled the plug and looked in other directions. For a hint of Axiom’s reception, we cite a contemporary Car and Driver reviewthat guessed Isuzu was “downloading design suggestions from the Klingon Empire.”
5. Kia Rio
When you search for rental cars using the “lowest price” filter, Kia Rio pops up first. The reason is no one can drive this car for more than a few days before walking away in anger. Many years ago, Rio cooked up the formula of cheap, boring, lackluster on the highway, and insanely dangerous. Not much has changed since. Maybe the 2018 model that appeared at the New York Auto Show will shift the narrative, but for the time being this car is as unpopular as they come.
