The Subaru 360, particularly its North American version, has often been labeled one of the worst cars ever made. Debuting in the U.S. market in 1968, this compact car from the Japanese automaker Subaru was marketed as a low-cost vehicle with high fuel efficiency. Unfortunately, it fell far short of expectations. Its two-stroke, 25-horsepower engine was woefully underpowered, leading to sluggish performance and safety concerns, especially on U.S. highways where speeds regularly exceeded the vehicle's capabilities. Furthermore, its fuel efficiency claims were exaggerated, and the car was exempted from safety and emission standards, casting doubt on its overall quality. The lack of power, combined with questionable safety and misleading marketing practices, make the Subaru 360 a standout in automotive infamy.

15 Of The Worst Cars Ever Made, Ranked In Order

Here is a list of the 15 worst cars ever made, ranked from bad to absolute worst. These models are infamous for their lackluster design, poor performance, and safety issues.

Triumph Mayflower

Triumph Mayflower
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The Triumph Mayflower was a car produced by the British company Triumph in 1949 for the American market. However, due to its underpowered engine and unconventional design, it gained a reputation as one of the worst cars ever made and production stopped in 1953.

Nash/Austin Metropolitan

Nash/Austin Metropolitan
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The Nash/Austin Metropolitan launched in 1954 as America’s first subcompact car, had a memorable design but was plagued with reliability issues, an underpowered engine, and an ineffective heating system. It is often listed among the worst cars ever made.

Renault Dauphine (North American Version)

Renault Dauphine (North American Version)
Image Credit: Daniel Spases from pixels Via Canva

The Renault Dauphine, the North American version, is often considered one of the most poorly designed cars ever made. It was introduced in the U.S. in 1956 as a compact, economical vehicle but was plagued by severe deficiencies.

Its weak, rear-mounted engine provided slow acceleration, and its poor weight distribution made it unstable and prone to rollovers. The Dauphine was also notorious for its poor reliability and safety concerns, making it one of the worst vehicles of its time.

Trabant

The Trabant, manufactured in East Germany during the Cold War era, has often been criticized as one of the worst cars ever produced. It was built with an underpowered, smoky two-stroke engine and a body made of Duroplast, a hard plastic composed of cotton waste and phenol resins. The car's poor performance, high pollution emissions, and comically austere design, combined with an astonishingly long wait time for delivery (sometimes up to a decade), have contributed to its notorious reputation. Despite its status as an icon of the former East Germany, the Trabant is invariably viewed as a symbol of the failings of centralized planning and the inefficiencies of the Communist system.
Image Credit: comtechsys from Pixabay Via Canva

The Trabant, manufactured in East Germany during the Cold War era, is viewed as one of the worst cars ever produced due to its underpowered engine, high pollution emissions, comically austere design, and long wait time for delivery.

Despite its status as an icon of the former East Germany, it is seen as a symbol of the inefficiencies of the Communist system.

Edsel

Edsel
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The Edsel, manufactured by Ford in the 1950s, was a commercial failure. Its unconventional grille design, high price tag, and lack of distinctive features disappointed consumers and led to widespread ridicule.

The name Edsel became synonymous with a product that failed to meet expectations despite heavy promotion.

Chevrolet Corvair

Chevrolet Corvair
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The Chevrolet Corvair, manufactured from 1960 to 1969, was criticized for its dangerous handling issues. Its swing axle rear suspension caused rollovers during sharp turns, leading to its poor reputation as a textbook example of poor car design.

Hillman Imp

Hillman Imp
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The Hillman Imp, a compact car produced by the British Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976, is considered one of the worst cars in history due to its initial reliability problems. The car’s unconventional rear-engine layout and cooling system often resulted in overheating and mechanical breakdowns.

Despite its innovative features like the all-aluminum engine, the Hillman Imp earned its place in the annals of automotive infamy.

Subaru360 (North American Version)

subaru360
Image Credit: Mike Birds from pixel Via Canva

The Subaru 360, a compact car from the Japanese automaker, was marketed in the U.S. as a low-cost vehicle with high fuel efficiency. However, its two-stroke, 25-horsepower engine was underpowered, leading to safety concerns.

Its fuel efficiency claims were also exaggerated, and it was exempted from safety and emission standards. These factors make the Subaru 360 one of the worst cars ever made.

VAZ-2101/Lada Vida/Zighuli

The VAZ-2101, also known as Lada Vida or Zighuli, has often been branded as one of the worst cars ever made. This infamous reputation is largely due to its lack of innovation and technical sophistication. The car was initially designed in the 1960s and continued to be produced with minimal updates for nearly four decades. Its outdated technology, coupled with poor quality control and a lack of comfort features, led to a driving experience that left much to be desired. The engine was underpowered, and the car was notorious for its unreliability and frequent mechanical problems. These factors contributed to the VAZ-2101's dismal reputation in the automotive world.
Image Credit: dendoktoor from Pixabay Via Canva

The VAZ-2101, also known as Lada Vida or Zighuli, is considered one of the worst cars ever made due to its lack of innovation and technical sophistication. It was produced for nearly four decades with minimal updates, and its outdated technology, poor quality control, and lack of comfort features made for an underpowered, unreliable driving experience.

AMC Gremlin

AMC Gremlin
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The AMC Gremlin, launched in the 1970s, is often cited as one of the worst cars ever produced due to its unusual design, lackluster performance, questionable reliability, and cramped interior.

Despite its affordable price tag and reasonable fuel efficiency, its eccentric aesthetics failed to resonate with consumers seeking style and comfort, making it a misstep in automotive history.

Chevrolet Vega

Chevrolet  Vega
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The Chevrolet Vega, introduced in the 1970s by General Motors as a compact car, gained infamy due to its shoddy build quality, questionable reliability, and tendency to rust. Despite some design improvements, the damage to the Vega’s reputation was already done, and it became a symbol of the decline of the American auto industry.

Ford Pinto

Ford Pinto
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The Ford Pinto, produced from 1971 to 1980, is known for its notorious safety record due to a design flaw that made the fuel tank susceptible to rupturing during rear-end collisions. Ford’s cost-cutting measures and negligence to rectify the flaw led to a major scandal. The Pinto’s safety issues and corporate irresponsibility damaged the company’s reputation.

Morris Marina

Morris Morina
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The Morris Marina, produced by British Leyland in 1971, is considered one of the worst cars ever made. It had a dated design, poor handling, and was notorious for its lack of reliability. Its legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing quality and innovation over cost-cutting and short-term profitability.

Vauxhall HC Viva “Firenza”(Canada)

Vauxhall HC Viva "Firenza"(Canada)
Image Credit: forley Via Canva

The Vauxhall HC Viva “Firenza” had quality control issues that led to its notorious reputation. Its unique ‘droop snoot’ design was met with a mixed response, diminishing its popularity. Ultimately, it failed to make a positive impact and earned a place in the annals of poorly designed cars.

Lancia Beta

The Lancia Beta, manufactured by the renowned Italian automaker Lancia between 1972 and 1984, has been widely regarded as one of the worst cars ever produced. Despite its sleek design and powerful engine that initially captured the interest of many car enthusiasts, the Beta was infamous for its debilitating rust problem. Many owners reported that the vehicle started showing signs of severe corrosion within a year of purchase, even in the absence of harsh weather conditions. This issue, coupled with frequent mechanical failures, severely tarnished the car's reputation and resulted in a huge blow to the brand's image from which it never fully recovered.
Image Credit: sarah2 Via Canva

The Lancia Beta, produced by Italian automaker Lancia between 1972 and 1984, is notorious for being one of the worst cars ever made. The car’s sleek design and powerful engine initially attracted car enthusiasts, but severe rust problems and frequent mechanical failures plagued it. These issues severely damaged the car’s reputation and impacted the brand’s image.

Source:10 of the Worst Cars Ever Made

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    with a foundation in pure physics, he brings a unique perspective to the Frenz Hub writing team. His dedication to reading and research underpins his meticulous approach to writing.

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