The Truth About Cars: Ten Worst Automobiles 2007

The fat lady has finally sung. The Truth About Cars (TTAC) and its faithful readers have identified the Ten Worst cars for sale in America in 2007. We began with a list of 136 reader-nominated vehicles. Our writers narrowed the field of bad dreams down to 20 finalists. By popular vote, you selected the ten most odious automobiles. And the winners are… after the jump (we need the page views).

10. Saturn ION – The lame duck ION waddles off the field of battle without achieving any glory whatsoever. From its Frankensteinian proportions and ditchwater dull detailing, to misaligned panel gaps visible from low earth orbit, to a Playskool-inspired dash made of recycled plastic swords, to engines so coarse they might as well been stickered “for agricultural use only,” the ION was a born loser. If only Saturn has followed its own advice to “re-think American.” – SM

9. Chrysler Aspen – Its OK love your SUV. Just not this one. The Chrysler Aspen is a cynical repackaging of the Pleistocene-era Dodge Durango, complete with an arthritic suspension and interior appointments you’re best advised not keep. It’s ugly, slow (even with a Hemi underhood) and badly built. It’s no wonder Aspen customers are lined-up none deep. – SM

8. Chevrolet TrailBlazer / GMC Envoy / Isuzu Ascender / Saab 9-7X – These four remaining examples of the GMT-360 platform are old school SUVs in strictest sense of the term; anyone whose education involved spending endless hours at a desk nailed to the floor in a drafty, cheerless classroom will know what I mean. We’re talking Trabant-class fit and finish and Yugo-compatible interior design. Although there may be a good reason to buy one, you can hear the competition singing “anything you can do I can do better.” And by God, they’re right. – AD

7. Hummer H2 – According to its detractors, the H2 represents everything that’s wrong with SUVs. We agree. The H2’s immense charisma has vanished as quickly as hopes for rapid fire nation building you-know-where. All that's left (automotively speaking) is a huge, slow, thirsty, ungainly five-year-old truck based on an eight-year-old platform. Sure, the H2 is great off road– as long it’s a double wide path. Meanwhile, you might as wear a freshly-bludgeoned baby seal as drive this big rig. How great is that? – JB

6. Hummer H3 – The H3 is a 4700lbs. truck with a 220 horsepower five-cylinder engine. For those of you who don’t count rivets for fun, the H2’s baby brother is thirstier than Lindsay Lohan fresh out of rehab, slower than continental drift and rougher than Class VI rapids. Its gangsta style portals severely limit visibility and the back seat is adult aversive. Hell, it’s not even available in Jackass Yellow. No, you take it off-road. I’m buying a Grand Cherokee. – JB

5. Chevrolet Uplander – Last year’s worst of the worst is finally making its exit. Good riddance to bad rubbish. Chevy's dead van walking never fooled anyone with its SUV-wannabe styling and piss-poor platform. The only remnant of GM’s po-faced assault on the minivan market can't hit the ash can of automotive history soon enough. – FW

4. Dodge Nitro – The Nitro is the answer to a question nobody asked: who wants a rough-running, gas-guzzling, hard-shifting, sloppy handling, cheaply adorned, pavement bound, neutered Jeep? Comic book styling can’t overcome the Nitro’s fundamental lack of fundamentals. It’s a four-wheeled testament to Chrysler’s brand mismanagement and thoroughly inept product development. – WM

3. Chevrolet Aveo – From its tinny-sounding doors to its penalty box interior, the Aveo screams cheap more loudly (and persistently) than an amphetamine-crazed parrot. Normally slow means frugal. Not here. So… what’s the point? Now that GM has proven they can’t build a decent small car in the U.S., perhaps they’re trying to demonstrate that they can’t build one in Korea either. Done. – FW

2. Chrysler Sebring – The Sebring is a born rental car. It’s hideous in a deeply bland sort of way. Its cabin, handling, acceleration, and ride quality (or complete lack thereof) are to driving pleasure what hair shirts are to eczema sufferers. The fact that Chrysler is contemplating killing the Sebring less than a year after its launch confirms it: this is an automobile even its mother can’t love. – RF

1. Jeep Compass – Jeep’s recipe for disaster is both simple and comprehensive: laughable aesthetics, second-rate road manners, poky performance and interior materials pulled from the bottom drawer of Chrysler’s parts bin. But the Compass’ mortal sin-– for which we’ve slated it before, from which it can never be redeemed-– is the fact that this re-skinned all wheel-drive Dodge Caliber wears the storied Jeep badge. For shame. – WM

And there you have it: ignominy on wheels. With your help we’ve named and shamed the Ten Worst cars sold in America in 2007. Here’s hoping their manufacturers appreciate a little TTAC tough love. If not, well, there’s always next year!

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