The worth of a car is a subjective thing: after all, what one driver might think are desirable attributes might be terrible for another driver. Still, there are a few cars out there that most car fans can agree are overpriced. Their price on the market right now is either sky-high or just too much for the product that customers are getting.
It's a problem that stretches right across the price spectrum, with everything from superminis to supercars featuring among the worst offenders. It's also a problem no buyer ever wants to get caught out by, no matter what price bracket they're shopping in. Let's take a look at ten cars on the market right now that just can't justify the MSRPs they're asking.
10 Maserati Ghibli
The Ghibli is Maserati's attempt at taking on the BMW 3 and 5 Series, cars that have long dominated the executive sedan sector. It does look the part, but it struggles in almost every other respect.
The Ghibli can't match its German rivals in handling, engine, or comfort, so buyers are really just paying for the Italian badge. With an MSRP of up to $83,790, it's way overpriced for what it offers, considering a BMW 535d is better in nearly every way and costs around $20,000 less.
9 Cadillac Escalade
Underneath its plush interior and chrome accents, the Cadillac Escalade is essentially a Chevy Tahoe. It shares the same architecture and powertrain and as a result, has very similar driving characteristics.
The main difference apart from the exterior styling is the cabin, which admittedly is a lot more luxurious than in the Tahoe. But, with a premium of over $28,000 over the Tahoe, the Escalade is still very much overpriced considering the relatively minor (and inexpensive) changes between both SUVs.
8 Tesla Model X
Tesla's Model X used to be in a class of its own, as they're just weren't any other long-range electric SUVs on the market. But, in 2021 the brand's rivals have finally caught up and now there's a variety of EV SUV offerings, like the Mercedes-Benz EQC and Audi E-Tron.
The main issue with the Tesla is its inconsistent build quality, which has been well documented across all of Tesla's models. With many buyers paying over $100,000 for their new Model X, having quality issues like that is just inexcusable, especially when there are now comparatively-priced rivals out there that don't have those issues.
7 Toyota Mirai
In the race to find the fuel of the future, a variety of proposals were made. Today electric power is seen as the way forward, but at one point hydrogen was seriously considered. The idea has mostly fizzled out, but Toyota continues to develop its own hydrogen model, the Mirai.
It's understandable why the Mirai costs as much as it does since Toyota needs to claw back some of their R&D money. But, it's way too impractical to justify its $52,399 price tag. Hydrogen fuel stations are so difficult to find that in many places it's impossible to actually drive the car, and it's not even like the car is particularly impressive to drive when it can be used either.
6 Bollinger B2
One of several new EV truck startups, Bollinger hasn't delivered a single vehicle yet but still has thousands of customer reservations. The model starts at a hefty $125,000, and for that, buyers get a tough-but-rugged electric truck.
The issue is that those who can justify spending $125,000 on a work truck will probably need it to go more remote places than current electric infrastructure allows, and those who just want to spend that amount on a fancy truck could find a lot better value for money. The hype around the brand may have convinced a few customers to cough up some cash, but really the B2 can't justify its sky-high MSRP.
5 Bugatti Divo
Calling an ultra-exclusive hypercar overpriced might seem like stating the obvious, but even by Bugatti's standards, the Divo costs a fortune. It's based on the underpinnings of the Chiron, but the brand's designers reworked it for maximum track performance.
That means it's no longer road legal, so the only place the Divo will ever be driven is on a circuit. For comparison, a Chiron is still way faster than a driver will ever be able to use, it's road legal and it costs around $2 million less than a Divo. In that context, it's hard to argue the Divo isn't massively overpriced.
4 Smart Fortwo
The cheapest overpriced car on this list, the Smart Fortwo can be had for as little as $14,650, although most buyers will want to add extra options. That doesn't sound too bad, except that the Smart is essentially a motorcycle with four wheels and a roof.
It's no more powerful than a well-specced bike, no more practical, and not any more stylish either. A new motorcycle can be picked up for thousands less than the Smart, but most buyers would just prefer buying a used example of a bigger car. Either way, this shopping-cart-with-an-engine is not worth close to $15,000.
3 Maserati GranTurismo
The aging GranTurismo has been sold since 2007, and it certainly looks like it. Production ceased in 2019 in preparation for a new model, but there are still a few examples sitting on dealer lots across the country.
It comes with an MSRP of $151,720, which is over $30,000 more than the starting price of a Mercedes-AMG GT. That car outclasses the Maserati in both performance and design, so it's a mystery why the GranTurismo is sold for such an unreasonably high price.
2 Jaguar XF
The main issue with the Jaguar XF is that its rivals can offer so much more in both features and performance. Most reviewers agree the Jag is a decent car, but for nearly $60,000 there's a lot of better cars out there.
The Germans have the executive sector nailed, with Mercedes, BMW, and Audi all making similar but better cars. The Alfa Romeo Guilia is more powerful, and a Lexus is more reliable. In short, the XF sits at the back of its class in many ways but still asks for a similar price to its rivals. Really, it's just not enough value for money.
1 Fiat 500L
Let's get one thing clear: the Fiat 500L is just downright ugly. Not in an exotic, it's-probably-fast kind of way, but just dumpy and bulbous. The interior feels a bit cheap, the seats are uncomfortable, and the visibility is terrible.
It also fares badly in the performance department, with Bloomberg reporting that the car suffers noticeable turbo lag and vague steering. The Lounge trim of the 500L starts at $24,395, and why anyone would pay that much to drive this thing is a mystery. In fact, given its ugly looks and disappointing drive, many car fans wouldn't even drive the 500L for free.