Despite manufacturers' best intentions, some awesome cars are stuck with unfortunate reputations. No thanks to a variety of issues, some cars on this list deserve their negative reputation. Others, unfortunately, are mere victims of public opinion. One little styling element that looks right to the designers and management could be the thin line between a sales success or failure.
A couple of cars got here for problems that were blown out of proportion by the media. Even when the problems were fixed, the negative stereotype refused to go away. Two were branded ugly, and despite being cool in other areas, they failed to attract buyers. All the cars here are great cars that are, deservedly or not, plagued by a bad name. A buyer that looks beyond the obvious will be rewarded with a car that satisfies in many ways. So, in an industry with no shortage of awesome cars, here are ten models that suffer from an unfortunate reputation.
10 2003-2012 Maserati Quattroporte
Currently in its sixth generation, the Maserati Quattroporte has been in production since 1963. It is one of Maserati's most successful models. When it arrived for the fifth generation in 2003, it rode the then-new M139 platform and sported improved styling.
Buyers had the choice of two powerful Ferrari V8 engines. However, like most Maserati cars, the Quattroporte has many reliability issues. Furthermore, the engines it ran on also posed a different kind of problem. Being Ferrari-sourced units, replacement parts are not only hard to find but are also quite expensive.
9 2012 Range Rover HSE
Range Rover, available since 1969, is undoubtedly one of the best luxury SUVs on the market. The British marquee combines practicality, luxury, and off-road capability in a well-designed package. All those good qualities come at a steep price, though as the Range Rover suffers from high depreciation costs. Owners of the 2012 model should expect to part with $1,298 every year for maintenance.
The high maintenance and repair costs are the reason it loses value so fast. Build quality issues with some key components merely add to this luxury SUV's poor reputation.
8 2001-2008 BMW 7 Series
As BMW's flagship car, the 7 Series traditionally receives new technologies and design themes before the rest of the pack. When the fourth-generation 7 Series arrived in 2002, it carried the then-new iDrive infotainment system and was probably the world's most technologically advanced passenger car.
Unfortunately, it also earned a reputation for unreliability. The 2006 model has been especially culpable, with seven recalls and a legion of issues against its name. Although it was derided for its outrageous styling, the fourth generation was a huge success in terms of sales.
7 2014 Jaguar F-Type
Arriving in 2013 as a 2014 model, the Jaguar F-Type was built on a shortened version of its predecessor's (the XK) platform. It is the E-Type's spiritual successor. Available as a coupe or a convertible, it impresses with thrilling driving dynamics and powerful engines under the hood.
The interior is cozy and well-equipped with user-friendly features. Sadly though, like many other Jaguars, it also has a bad reputation in the area of reliability. But unlike its iconic spiritual predecessor, the F-Type depreciates at an above-average rate.
6 Nissan 350Z
The Nissan 350Z was manufactured from 2002 until 2009 as the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car and was offered in coupe and convertible body styles. Riding the Nissan FM platform, it had a near-perfect front-rear weight bias, a high level of rigidity, and a driver-oriented cabin.
As a sports car, the 350Z had it all: power, grip, balance, top-notch handling, and stunning good looks to top it off. Unfortunately, it has an unenviable reputation as one of the deadliest cars in the US. That is the reward for 143 driver deaths per million registrations.
5 Nissan Juke
The Nissan Juke is a subcompact crossover SUV that was marketed in the US from the 2011 model year until 2017. It came in several trim levels featuring a front-wheel drivetrain as a standard offering while all-wheel drive was optional. This was a solidly built car that boasted great reliability and was fun to push around.
Under the hood, it sported a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that produced enough power to motivate the Juke. However, it failed miserably in the looks department. With its confusing design, almost everyone disliked the Juke.
4 Toyota Celica
The Celica entered production as a 1971 model coupe sharing a chassis and mechanicals with the Toyota Carina. For most of its seven-generation lifespan, it has been a fun little sports car to drive. It had a well-balanced chassis and boasted a decent power-to-weight ratio in a relatively-affordable package.
Furthermore, there was an AWD turbo version that dialed up the performance to exhilarating heights. At various times, however, it was tagged, albeit unfairly, as the poor person's Supra, a wannabe sports car, and a "ricer".
3 Chevrolet Corvair
The unfortunate casualty of a political agenda, the Corvair had a turbulent 2-generation production run. While it is true that the first-generation (1960-1964) Corvairs had handling issues, those issues were resolved in the second-generation cars. On arrival, the 1965 model was well received by the motoring public. Over 200,000 Corvairs left dealerships for new homes in 1965. Unfortunately, Ralph Nader's book – Unsafe at Any Speed – where he targeted the Corvair's handling woes, also landed in 1965. From then, the Corvair's image was marred forever, and sales entered a free fall that climaxed with the Corvair's demise in 1969.
2 Audi 5000
Riding on the back of the new aerodynamic 5000, Audi was enjoying massive sales in the US. The 5000 was sufficiently powered, and boasting a drag coefficient of 0.30, it was fuel efficient too. However, the 5000's hard-earned reputation was soiled by the CBS TV program, "60 Minutes," in 1986.
A driverless Audi 5000 was shown to accelerate on its own. What the public didn't know was that the show car was expertly rigged for the performance. Proof that the "sudden unintended acceleration" was caused by drivers' error did little for the brand's image.
1 Pontiac Aztek
Released as a 2001 model and produced until 2005, the Pontiac Aztek was a spectacular sales failure. Its controversial styling has earned it a place as one of the least attractive cars ever. However, beneath the ugly exterior lies a practical and competent crossover SUV that has several good qualities.
Fitted with a 3.4-liter V6 engine, it delivers decent performance and sports a comfortable and spacious cabin. The list of equipment includes a head-up display, headphones, and the optional Camping Lifestyle Package – a full complement of camping gear.