[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/worst-cars-2017\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/worst-cars-2017\/","headline":"Worst cars of 2017","name":"Worst cars of 2017","description":"They say you don\u2019t get bad cars anymore, just uncompetitive ones, and that\u2019s the truth. The amount of time and money spent researching and developing new car models these days means that any potential clunkers are swiftly disregarded or whipped into more saleable shape. Long gone are the days of the tragic Yugo, a car so bobbins it was once labelled the Mona Lisa of bad cars. Instead, we have cars that just aren\u2019t up to standard, be it in […]","datePublished":"2017-12-18","dateModified":"2017-12-18","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Maserati-Levante.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/Maserati-Levante.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/worst-cars-2017\/","about":["BLOG"],"wordCount":681,"keywords":["BMW M240i","Fiat 500L","Maserati Levante","MG ZS","mini clubman","Mitsubishi Mirage","Worst cars"],"articleBody":"They say you don\u2019t get bad cars anymore, just uncompetitive ones, and that\u2019s the truth.The amount of time and money spent researching and developing new car models these days means that any potential clunkers are swiftly disregarded or whipped into more saleable shape.Long gone are the days of the tragic Yugo, a car so bobbins it was once labelled the Mona Lisa of bad cars.Instead, we have cars that just aren\u2019t up to standard, be it in terms of build quality, styling, handling, or more pressingly in recent times, emissions and environmental credentials.While there aren\u2019t any out-and-out fails here, these cars just weren\u2019t up to scratch in 2017.Maserati LevanteWith so many new SUVs emerging in recent years, not all of them can be decent and Maserati\u2019s debut off-roader is one of few new SUVs that falls short of expectations.Going off the badge and brash styling, you\u2019d expect great things, but an unrefined diesel engine, stodgy handling and a bumpy ride spoil the party. Spend your \u00a356k elsewhere.MG ZSMG closed its last remaining UK-based factory last year, so there\u2019s the consolation that nobody in this country is responsible for the poor quality of the ZS crossover.Naff engines, a woeful auto gearbox, a complete absence of any active safety equipment and a \u2018me too\u2019 approach to design make this one of the most forgettable new cars to arrive in 2017.Mitsubishi MirageThis pitiful city car is often the target of ridicule at Motor-Vision; we wanted to throw it on a bonfire in 2016, again in 2017, and we were convinced the car would be dropped from the Mitsubishi range such was its hopelessness.So it was to everyone\u2019s surprise that a revised version toddled along in 2017.It\u2019s still mind-numbingly slow, it still feels like the interior was kitted out by Poundland and despite its tiny size, it isn\u2019t very efficient either. Oh and it looks like the design team fell asleep halfway through the job.A car so bad you\u2019ll wish it lived up to its name. Head over here to see our favourite cars of 2017\u00a0BMW M240iWhaa\u2019?! What\u2019s a BMW hot hatch doing in here? Describing this souped-up 2 Series as rubbish would be harsh as much as inaccurate. But we\u2019re including it here because it just doesn\u2019t deliver the sensation you\u2019d expect – nay, demand – from a sporty BMW.It doesn\u2019t get the blood pumping and it\u2019s, dare we say it, kinda boring. A very sanitised experience. Shame.Fiat 500LPeter Kay may be a big fan after racking up a three, maybe four-figure mileage in one while filming BBC\u2019s Car Share, but even having the blessing of one of Britain\u2019s greatest ever comedic talents can\u2019t get us to like the Fiat 500L.The idea of pumping steroids into Fiat\u2019s cutesy 500 reads bad on paper and it\u2019s even worse in practice, with below average reliability, a poor crash test rating and lumpy lifeless handling.Chuck it off the top of Blackpool Tower.Mini Cooper Clubman ALL4The regular Mini Cooper Hatch receives plenty of love from the Motor-Vision team. Almost two decades on from its reinvention under BMW ownership, the cheeky runaround continues to surprise and delight with each iteration.Not the Clubman though. Like the 500L, the Clubman looks and feels uncomfortable in its own skin, as if an evil scientist took a tiny rabbit and made it 1,000ft tall. That lopped-eared furball doesn\u2019t know what\u2019s going on and this bloated, cheap-feeling monstrosity must be thinking the same.Its convoluted and unnecessarily complicated sat-nav system is one of the worst you\u2019ll find in any new car right now, and charging almost \u00a330k before extras verges on criminal.Mini says the Clubman is \u2018designed to stand out from any crowd\u2019, but we\u2019d rather it just sit down and shut up.Which cars triggered your hate this year? Let us know down there in the comments section. "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Worst cars of 2017","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/worst-cars-2017\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]