In a recent CarInsurance.com
survey, 1,500 licensed drivers were asked to look at photos of 12
vehicles made in the last decade and decide if they would be embarrassed
to be seen in them. Then they were asked to rank the three most
cringe-worthy.
The cars they singled out as the most
embarrassing were, well, not that surprising. Almost all of the vehicles
on this list employ some pretty strange exterior aesthetics or come
with a well-known and negative stereotype -- some much more than others.
The company then gave the cars a "Cringe Score," which represents the
relative weight of all votes cast for a particular vehicle, based on a 1
to 10 scale. A single vote meant the person would be embarrassed to
drive the car.
“All these cars are bold statements. You either love them or hate them,” said
CarInsurance.com managing editor Des Toups.
Click through to see the cars that people actively avoid driving. Is yours on the list?
12. Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Cringe Score: 0.3
The
Murano CrossCabriolet
is ambitious, but it doesn't work. It looks ridiculous, is far too
expensive and just doesn't make any sense. We've only ever seen a couple
on the road (and we think those were owned or at least driven by
Nissan employees). It's not surprising that people found this undesirable.
11. Chevrolet HHR
Cringe Score: 0.7
With a similar body style to the Chrysler PT Cruiser (yes, that's on the list, too), the
Chevrolet HHR was either loved or hated before it was discontinued after the
2011 model year.
Its plasticky look coupled with round lines and cheap-looking paint
made it look like more of a toy than a legitimate vehicle.
10. Honda Element
Cringe Score: 0.9
Boxy and covered in plastic, it's not too shocking that people said they'd be embarrassed to drive the
Honda Element.
Although it's a highly versatile vehicle, especially for pet owners,
there's just no getting past the fact that it looks pretty goofy. The
Element was discontinued after the
2011 model year.
9. Chrysler PT Cruiser
Cringe Score: 1.0
The
Chrysler PT Cruiser achieved
infamy through its ability to wedge even the closest of friends and
families apart with its odd retro design. Although many said they'd be
embarrassed to drive it, the
hatchback enjoyed a surprisingly long life and
Chrysler sold more than a million of them. The Cruiser was scrapped in 2010, replaced by the Fiat 500 when the Italian company took over.
8. Pontiac Aztek
Cringe Score: 1.4
This is one of the
ugliest cars ever
made, plain and simple. In fact, we're surprised this isn't up higher
on the list of cars people would be embarrassed to drive. Just look at
it: Its bizarre headlights, awkward rear end and gag-inducing paint job
combine to create a Frankenstein's Monster of a vehicle.
Unsurprisingly, the Aztek only lasted from 2001 to 2005.
7. Lincoln Town Car
Cringe Score: 1.6
Although it's a classic luxury vehicle, the
Lincoln Town Car just
screams "senior citizen," which factors in greatly in its place on the
list of cars people would be embarrassed to drive. The
Town Car may
be one of the most comfortable cars on the planet, but it's
understandable that not many people want to be associated with its
reputation.
The Town Car was discontinued after the 2011 model year.
6. Subaru Baja
Cringe Score: 1.6
The
Subaru Baja is pretty weird. Half-pickup, half-car, it looks like someone took a chainsaw to the back of an
Outback. There's no question that it's a useful piece of machinery, but
Baja owners should prepare to be subject to some pointing and laughing.
5. Volkswagen New Beetle
Cringe Score: 1.9
Volkswagen reintroduced the iconic
Beetle in
1997, and it had a pretty good run, winning some awards and becoming
one of the most recognizable cars on the road. The main problem was, and
continues to be, the fact that many see it as being feminine, even in
darker and more neutral colors. The
redesigned Volkswagen Beetle has addressed these concerns, employing a much more aggressive look.
4. Chevrolet SSR
Cringe Score: 2.1
The
Chevrolet SSR, which was discontinued back in 2006, is an open-top, hot rod
truck that
employs a giant 6.0L V8 engine along with some truly bizarre
aesthetics. Sure, it's fast, but with a front end that looks like the
face of an offended robot, it's easy to see that people would be
embarrassed to drive it.
3. Hummer H2
Cringe Score: 3.5
The Hummer
H2 is
likely unloved due to the fact that it portrays a couple of undesirable
qualities: disregard for the environment and, um, overcompensation.
According to the survey, the H2 scored especially bad with women, likely
because of its ludicrously overblown masculine design.
2. Nissan Cube
Cringe Score: 3.6
The
Nissan Cube
is pretty weird, and it's not surprising to see it on this list. What
is surprising, however, is that the older you are, the less likely you
are to consider it embarrassing to drive one, according to the study.
That's bad news for Nissan, as the Japanese automaker designed and
marketed this car for a younger generation.
1. smart fortwo
Cringe Score: 7.6
The poor
smart fortwo can't
get any love. Although it's a pretty good car in the city, it's really
not well-suited to much else, including looking cool on the road.
Participants in the survey thought the
fortwo made drivers look "like they couldn't afford a full-size car," also calling the car "dorky" and "ugly." Apparently, the
smart fortwo is the most embarrassing car to drive.
