The 2022 car industry was a rough one for automakers. In a year full of huge changes, like the introduction of new emissions laws and a shift towards electric vehicles, car companies also had to scramble to keep up with the rising consumer demand for new technologies. And they had to keep up with the times to try to make exciting new cars.
Despite all these adjustments, there were some big hits in the automotive world from this year, including the good-looking Kia K5, the fun GR86 from Toyota, and the epic Ford Mustang GT500. However, because you can't always get what you want, there are some disappointments, so we've made this list of top ten cars. The cars on this list either left us wanting more from their manufacturers or left us confused as to where they belong in the automotive world.
10 2022 Honda CR-V
Nobody expected the 2022 Honda CR-V to be a disappointment. It's not a bad car, really—it's just that it's not much of an update to the CR-V that we've all been driving for the past 5 to 10 years. Seeing it was like opening a box of new Nike shoes, only to find an old pair with new fabric stitched on.
This isn't to say that the CR-V was ever a super exciting vehicle. But if you're going to release a new version of something that's not very good, you might as well go all the way with it. Honda didn't—they just replaced the old parts with "newish" parts, put it in a new box, and said here you go.
9 2022 BMW X4 M
In contrast, BMW has had a reputation for building high-performance cars for years now, especially in its M division. But the newest X4 M just doesn't live up to the M reputation.
It has 473 horsepower on paper and feels like it should be able to perform better than it does. In reality? It's slow and under powered for its class. It can't even compete with other small sports SUVs, most of which are cheaper, faster, better equipped and more exciting. According to Car And Driver, the base price of the X4 M is $74,595 and at that cost, there is a whole market flooded with performance SUVs that would leave the M SUV in the dust.
8 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross
This car is a sorry disappointment because it has an identity crisis. The Corolla Cross is a crossover SUV, which is weird because you'd think that anything named Corolla would be a hatchback.
It's also not an SUV; it's just a regular old crossover with a raised roofline and some plastic body cladding to make it look like an SUV. In fact, this "SUV" looks more like a hatchback than anything else. But, the main problem we have is that it doesn't fit the Corolla name and is not worthy of wearing it.
7 2022 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is one of those cars that has been around for so long, we can't even remember what life was like before it. But unfortunately, the 2022 Accord isn't living up to expectations.
The new Accord is a half-baked effort to bring the car into the future. It's got some cool new features, but when you look at it on paper and in real life, there's nothing really exciting about it. The other issue here is that this segment is slowly dying, and small sporty SUVs are taking over. So, cars like the Accord look outdated and unless they get some major updates, they will remain a disappointment.
6 2022 Honda Passport Trailsport
Honda is a company that's been on a roll lately (apart from the cars on this list). The brand has found success by releasing an SUV for every occasion, and it's been making some of the most exciting vehicles on the market. But when it comes to the 2022 Honda Passport Trailsport, things didn't go as planned.
We were hoping for a real improvement in this model since its initial release. Instead, we got more of the same bland design with slight exterior touches that make it look like an off-roader. They have done nothing for its 4×4 performance, and that makes us wonder where this car fits in.
5 2022 Toyota bZ4X
It's no secret that the Toyota bZ4X has been a huge disappointment. It started out with a lot of hype and potential, but then when they launched it, we realized that it was just too complicated, boring and failed to meet its claimed range.
There are better competitors on the market today that offer something more exciting and user-friendly, as well as capable of going further.
4 2022 Subaru Solterra
Like its twin, the Toyota bZ4X, this car is also too complicated for its own good. The Subaru Solterra had some amazing features that made us think it would be one of the best cars ever made. But then again, so did the Toyota bZ4X.
Unfortunately, they both turned out to be too complicated and not very exciting after all. We'll have to wait until later this year for another chance at greatness from these two companies.
3 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe
In 2022, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was a car that had so much potential. But it was disappointing because it's just too rough. It's got a 2.0-liter engine with a hybrid system, but it's jerky and loud, so you can't really enjoy your $60k ride.
If you're looking for something more peaceful, then you should consider another SUV.
2 2022 GMC Terrain
They advertised this crossover SUV as being an off-road/city champ, but its 1.5-liter turbo engine proved otherwise. This little turbo engine and the transmission seem to have come from someone who has never driven before.
The lack of torque makes it feel like driving through molasses, and the transmission shifts at such a leisurely pace that you could practically see it happening in slow motion with your own eyes.
1 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS
We tried to love the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox RS. We really did. But the fact is, it's just not that good. It's heavy—way too heavy for a car that's supposed to be sporty and fun to drive. And the 1.5-liter turbo-four cylinder puts out 170 horsepower and 203 lb-ft of torque, making it unsurprisingly slow.
The suspension isn't tuned well either, it doesn't ride like a car that is fun to drive, it rides like a van. The only thing we really like about this car is its infotainment system—but even that has its drawbacks. We wish we loved the Equinox RS more than we do, but we don't think there's much love for this disappointment anymore.