Let’s talk about all the worst cars made in the 2000s! It’s going to be a good one, I promise!
While everyone is looking for different features when it comes to the perfect car, there are a couple of things we all want: power, comfort, durability, fuel efficiency, and most importantly, safety. Today we have a plethora of vehicles to choose from and you can get a lot for your price (if you know what to look out for and how to negotiate the price, of course), but a few decades ago, things were different.
As experts say, the failures have pilled up for the years, or over the first quarter of the 21st century, to be more precise, and we’re here to talk about all of your favorites. So, without further ado, here are the most popular worst cars made in the 2000s:
1. Ford Excursion (2000)
Was the Ford Excursion one of the worst cars made in the 2000s? Let’s find out. While GM had its H2, our popular Ford had the Excursion, a good-looking vehicle similar in size to a Mount Rushmore, based on the company’s Super Duty truck platform. Our star, which the Sierra Club dubbed the “Valdez,” was an enormous passenger car, weighing no less than 7,000 lbs, measuring almost 19 ft. long, and standing 6.5 ft. tall.
When asked why they came up with such a massive vehicle, Ford said that many of its customers—farmers, ranchers, and tugboat lovers—needed a big car with over 10,000 lb. towing capacity. Maybe that was true, but many people had trouble managing such a huge vehicle.
Speaking of its enormous size, this was one of the main reasons why it’s considered one of the worst cars of the decade. Besides that, low fuel efficiency and environmental effects drew criticism from a lot of people. Being one of the biggest SUVs ever produced, it was challenging to drive, especially in crowded areas. Just imagine trying to park this baby at the mall. But that’s not all: due to its large size and poor fuel efficiency, it was unpopular and impractical among drivers who cared about the environment.
2. Pontiac Aztek (2001)
One of my friends was in the audience at the beautiful Detroit auto show the day M showed the audience the Pontiac Aztek. He said he can’t ever forget the gasps from the crowd. It was bad! Like very bad! It seemed that nobody liked it. If this vehicle were an apple tree dressed as a Christmas tree, it couldn’t have been disliked any quicker.
Later interviews with GM designers revealed that the previously robust and cool-looking Aztek design had been turned into a massive, plastic-clad monstrosity after being fussed over, cost-shaved, and otherwise compromised.
Its peculiar look is one of the main reasons people considered the 2001 Pontiac Aztek to be among the worst cars ever produced. Unfortunately, its unique qualities were eclipsed by its futuristic and very simple design. Other than that, its position as a huge failure in automotive history was further confirmed by poor sales, disappointing build quality, and unimpressive performance.
3. BMW 7-series (2002)
The flagship sedan produced by the Munich business embodied all of the company’s knowledge—and that knowledge was considerable. The large, elegant 7-series was exquisitely built, incredibly quick, and completely packed with technology.
However, it had two shortcomings. The first was a device dubbed iDrive, a rotary dial/joystick controller mounted on the center console that allowed drivers to customize several vehicle settings, including the audio system, climate, navigation, and door chime.
Moreover, BMW introduced iDrive to reduce the number of buttons and switches in the car by controlling everything through one system. While it seemed like a good idea, it turned out to be extremely difficult to use, especially while driving. Simple tasks like adjusting the air conditioning or adding radio presets took too long and distracted the driver from the road. Despite customer complaints, BMW engineers insisted that “the system works perfectly.”
4. Kia Amanti (2003)
Did you know that the Kia Amanti is among the worst cars of the 2000s? While the company wanted to mimic luxury sedans, their expectations differed from reality. They ended up with a heavy automobile that, according to buyers, was ugly and had cheap interior materials.
Another thing that disappointed people was its sluggish V6 engine and poor fuel efficiency. Buyers also said that handling and ride quality felt unrefined compared to other vehicles. Even though it was budget-friendly, Amanti failed to meet the expectations of drivers seeking a comfortable, reliable, and stylish mid-size sedan, which made them consider it one of the worst cars of the decade.
5. PT Cruiser Convertible (2004)
PT Cruiser Convertible wasn’t what customers wanted either. Its awkward design, lackluster driving experience, and poor performance quickly turned it into one of the worst cars in the 2000s. As people said, the retro yet bulky style didn’t fit well with a convertible, which led to weird looks and rear visibility issues.
Moreover, buyers complained about the fact that it wasn’t exciting to drive and the interior style made the space look cramped, especially in the back seats. Other than that, the design wasn’t well integrated, which led to noise and insulation issues.
Even though the PT Cruiser Convertible was meant to be a funny and quirky vehicle, it ended up being one of the worst cars of the decade.
6. Hummer H3 (2006)
While the Hummer H3 had fantastic off-roading ability, people complained about visibility issues, ride comfort, fuel economy, on-road handling, acceleration, and reliability. Since it had a bulky design, it was pretty hard to maneuver in the city, and besides that, its cramped interior didn’t offer passengers much space.
One of the main things that gave it this bad reputation was the poor fuel economy, especially during a time of rising gas prices. Unfortunately, this car didn’t manage to exceed the capability or comfort expected of an SUV, and it disappointed many buyers. No wonder why it was discontinued after the 2010 model.
…Psst: If you want to make your car smell like a billion bucks, here’s an amazing freshener!
7. Lexus HS 250h (2009)
Even though Lexus HS 250h was a luxury vehicle that promised to bring a lot to the table, expectations were again different from reality. According to people, it has an unfortunate design, a terrible performance, and poor value for a luxury hybrid.
While Lexus is known as a luxury brand, the HS 250h model lacked the opulent appeal, styling, and refinement. As buyers say, the fuel economy was pretty good, but it wasn’t hybrid level. Moreover, its handling and ride quality weren’t that great either. To sum it up, the uninteresting design, high price, and lackluster driving experience led to its disappointment among many luxury hybrid buyers, earning it the title of one of the worst cars of the decade.
What do you think about these vehicles? Have you ever driven any of them? Whether you believe they’re some of the worst cars of the 2000s or not, let us know in the comments below, because we’d love to know what your thoughts are.
Until next time, here’s another great post from Urban Cars Blog to check out: 9 Unmistakable Signs Your Exhaust System Needs Repair
