At Autocar we pride ourselves on knowing what makes a really good car. We also know what makes a bad one, and these cars have elements in them which just don't make the grade. Here is our guide to the cars that we can't recommend:
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Audi Q3
Getting about as old as Methuselah – and wasn’t much to drive when new. Has had some styling updates of late, but still overdue a replacement, which will arrive in showrooms in November.
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DS4 Crossback
Few family cars these days threaten to injure you – but, with its super-pointy rear doors, the DS4 could. Navigate those and you’ll find the rear windows don’t even open.
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Alfa Romeo Mito
After a decade on sale, Alfa’s Mini-rival has just gone out of production. If you rush, you could probably still buy a new one. But don’t: it’s pretty terrible.
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Smart Fortwo ED
What use is a two-seater, 80-mile electric car that doesn’t have DC rapid charging support, and that costs almost as much as a Renault Zoe? We’ll let you work it out.
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Maserati Ghibli Diesel
The 271bhp, ‘VM Motori’ diesel engine in this otherwise appealing Italian saloon feels deeply unworthy of it. And amazingly, the Italian market gets an even less powerful one.
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Nissan Pulsar
The automotive equivalent of your washing day underpants. Roomy, sensible and utterly plain – both to look at and to drive.
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Skoda Rapid
If Skoda’s so keen to convince us that it’s not a budget brand anymore, it really ought to bury this functional but awkward liftback at least six feet under.
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Mitsubishi Mirage
A repeat offender as far as this ‘bottom 10’ chart is concerned and it’s little better to drive now that it was the last time it figured. Avoid.
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Range Rover Evoque Convertible
Heavier, slower, less practical, more expensive Range Rover Evoque cabrio isn’t somewhere the Land Rover brand ought ever to have gone.
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Ford EcoSport
A far cry from the risible effort introduced in 2013, but also still a far cry from good. Drive this after a new Fiesta and you won’t believe they’re built by the same company.
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