Good Brands Gone Bad
Oftentimes, the weight of expectations from past successes only makes future failures inevitable. Even the most respected car manufacturers have their missteps—especially when they go outside the box and try something new. Although we love these brands and everything they've given us over the years, it's also fun to look back on the times when they missed the mark. Here are 20 notable examples of prestigious brands that released vehicles that epically dropped the ball.
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1. Mercedes-Benz 190D BlueEfficiency (2011-2015)
It’s a rare miss from Mercedes-Benz. This entry-level luxury sedan suffered from poor build quality, underpowered engines, and an interior that felt distinctly un-Mercedes-like. The brand's intention, which was to capture younger buyers, resulted in compromising their core values.
2. Aston Martin Cygnet (2011-2013)
Aston Martin Cygnet was a rebadged Toyota iQ with luxury trim. It was a city car created solely to meet European fleet emissions requirements. Priced at nearly $50,000, it remains one of the most embarrassing episodes in Aston Martin's history.
3. Porsche 924 (1976-1988)
Porsche purists dismissed this model as not being a "real" Porsche, which damaged the brand's credentials among sports car enthusiasts. The 924, originally designed for Volkswagen, was an entry-level Porsche that used a modified VW/Audi engine and was considered severely underpowered by drivers.
4. Lexus HS 250h (2009-2012)
Lexus's first dedicated hybrid model was essentially a fancy Toyota Prius that cost significantly more than it should. There were reports of poor handling and mediocre fuel economy, and it even had a cramped interior that led to its quick discontinuation in North America.
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5. BMW 5 Series GT (2009-2017)
BMW’s effort to blend a sedan, SUV, and hatchback into one vehicle led to a clunky design that failed to impress anyone. The controversial styling and compromised practicality of the BMW 5 Series GT made it a sales disappointment and damaged BMW's design reputation.
6. Jaguar X-Type (2001-2009)
Poor reliability and underwhelming performance of this model almost tarnished Jaguar's luxury image. The Jaguar X-Type was built on a modified Ford Mondeo platform. The brand attempted to create a beginner model, which gave us a car that felt more like a Ford than a Jaguar.
7. Cadillac Cimarron (1982-1988)
Cadillac Cimarron is perhaps the most notorious example of badge engineering gone wrong. The car looked like a dressed-up Chevrolet Cavalier with a Cadillac price tag that nobody wanted to buy. This model severely damaged Cadillac's prestigious reputation for several years.
8. Ferrari Mondial (1980-1993)
While not a terrible car in absolute terms, many drivers considered the Ferrari Mondial as underpowered and poorly styled for a Ferrari. The brand tried to market it as the "affordable Ferrari," but the car eventually ended up being the black sheep of the Ferrari family.
9. Lincoln Blackwood (2002)
This “luxury” pickup truck lasted just one year in North America. The Blackwood had an impractically small carpeted bed with a power tonneau cover that couldn't be removed. Moreover, there was an astronomical price tag and rear-wheel-drive-only configuration—not good for its target market of affluent truck buyers.
10. Infiniti Q45t (2002-2006)
The second-generation Q45 abandoned the original's muscular performance and distinctive styling for a bland, conservative design. Plus, a downsized engine and softened suspension completely departed from the bold character that had initially distinguished Infiniti's flagship sedan.
11. Maserati Biturbo (1981-1994)
Biturbo was plagued by catastrophic build quality issues and an engine that was prone to spectacular failures. Reliability problems and expensive maintenance requirements of this car nearly drove Maserati into bankruptcy. It damaged the brand's prestigious reputation for almost two decades.
12. Volvo 262C (1977-1981)
The car's excessive price tag and identity crisis made it a commercial failure in most markets. The made-in-Italy model, Volvo 262C, featured a controversially chopped roof, thick vinyl top, and unusual proportions that completely contradicted Volvo's conservative, safety-first image.
13. Lotus Elite (1974-1982)
While technically innovative with its fiberglass construction and overhead cam engine, this four-seat Lotus was plagued by its devastating build quality and controversial shooting brake styling. Also, numerous mechanical failures and high maintenance costs were associated with this model.
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14. Acura ZDX (2010-2013)
The Acura ZDX was an ambitious but fundamentally flawed attempt to create a four-door luxury sports coupe with SUV ride height. It resulted in a vehicle that excelled at nothing. The ZDX's dramatically sloped roofline severely compromised rear headroom and cargo space.
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15. Rolls-Royce Camargue (1975-1986)
Camargue’s price tag made it the most expensive production car in the world at launch. However, the car was universally criticized for its ungainly proportions, dated styling, and questionable durability. It was a commercial failure that had a lukewarm reception, which damaged RR’s reputation.
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16. Land Rover Discovery Sport (2015-2019)
The first-generation Discovery Sport suffered from a punishingly harsh ride and persistent reliability issues that fell well below Land Rover's premium positioning. Outdated platforms and unrefined powertrains made it one of the least competitive vehicles in its segment.
17. Porsche Cayenne (First Generation, 2002-2010)
While ultimately proving commercially successful, the original Cayenne faced intense criticism due to its controversial styling, given Porsche's sports car heritage. Early models looked quite disconnected from Porsche's core values. So, it took years for the brand to overcome the effects.
18. Mercedes-Benz R-Class (2006-2012)
Mercedes-Benz R-Class is a confused luxury minivan/crossover hybrid that struggled to find its market niche. Combining premium pricing with poor fuel efficiency and compromised practicality, the R-Class failed to attract either traditional Mercedes-Benz customers or practical-minded luxury family buyers.
19. BMW X6 (First Generation, 2008-2014)
Though it spawned numerous imitators, the original X6's lacked practicality and suffered from limited visibility. The high center of gravity and substantial weight negatively impacted handling, while the sloped roofline severely restricted cargo capacity and rear headroom in the BMW X6.
20. Audi A2 (1999-2005)
Yes, the Audi A2 had a solid aluminum construction and remarkable fuel efficiency for its time. However, it proved far too expensive to produce profitably and too avant-garde for contemporary buyers. Since the sales figures were poor, the Audi A2 was discontinued by the brand.
