TTAC Staff Thoughts on the Best and Worst Cars of 2018

Tim Healey
by Tim Healey

A little over a month ago, we ran the results of our best/ worst cars of 2018 poll. At the end of each post, I reflected a bit on the results, but I wanted to dig a bit deeper.

While I had hoped to do this a bit sooner, other work got in the way. So Steph and I decided it would be a good way to close out the year.

I already established in the final thoughts for each piece that if we’d averaged things out, as opposed to simply tallying first-place votes, things may have played out differently. As mentioned previously, certain vehicles proved very, very polarizing – the Tesla Model 3 garnered many first-place votes for Best Car, but also saw many 20th-place rankings, while the Jeep Wrangler was heavily nominated for both categories (and entered the Best-Car race due to the adjusted scoring).

So I won’t repeat myself here. What I wanted to do, though, is provide more detail on OUR thoughts. We let you have your say first, keeping our reasoning internal, in order to not influence the voting, but now it can be told.

(We’re not going to mark down every staffer’s every thought – some were more loquacious than others, and you’re busy, anyway, but here’s a sample of what we were thinking:)

Like those in B & B land, the Ford Mustang ranks high among our staff. As Chris Tonn wrote, it’s the “best budget performance car on the market, as long as you don’t get carried away with the options list.”

I’m inclined to agree (full disclosure, I’ve always been a Mustang fan) – Ford continues to make a Mustang that’s a blast to drive and relatively affordable (although all three American pony/muscle cars are no longer as affordable, relative to the overall market, as they once were. Especially if you want V8 power). It’s not perfect, and it gets pricey quick, but it’s a hard car not to love.

Other cars on our best-of list include the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Mazda Miata, Mazda CX-5, and the Honda Civic/Civic Type-R. Add in trucks like the Ford F-Series/F-150 and Ram 1500, as well.

Moderator Adam suggested the two trucks, and I won’t argue with him — much. Having just tested the Ram in Longhorn trim with the 5.7-liter Hemi V8, I loved everything except the gaudy interior stitching. Adam chimes in: “The RAM 1500 is the most refined full sized truck ever. The interior is fantastic and the exterior is still good.”

I’m less enamored of the F-150, but I get why it’s beloved. It’s aged well, the interior is nice, and the engine offerings are solid.

Chris and I also agree on the Honda Civic Type-R, although, in the end, we grouped trim levels together to keep things simple. As such, the Type-R ended up being counted in with all Civics.

Which is fine, were up to me – I like the entire Civic lineup, odd styling aside. The availability of a bargain Si trim doesn’t hurt. As for the Type-R, Chris writes: “While the styling is not attractive, it’s an incredible feat of engineering – and considering the performance, an incredible value. Assuming you can buy one at sticker.”

My take on the Type-R is similar. It’s no looker, but it’s damn near perfect when it comes to driving dynamics. I’d live with that stupid wing just to drive one daily.

Type-R aside, count Steph as another Civic fan: “The Civic represents one of the last opportunities for entry-level car buyers to get what they desire. It’s a trim and bodystyle buffet. Enviable gas mileage, generous room, attractive styling (hatch excluded), engaging road manners even in base trim, the availability of a manual transmission throughout the range, and multiple opportunities to pour on extra power makes it a standout in both the segment and industry.”

Matt, too: “The Civic’s styling is the automotive equivalent of a Michael Bay film. But it’s a fine car.”

My personal tastes run similar to you folks out there – I, too, enjoy sporty compacts like the Volkswagen Golf family, and I also dig fun-to-drive sedans like the Mazda 6. You’ll get no argument from me when it comes to Miatas. Not to mention, the Chevrolet Corvette remains a bargain for a car of its ilk. I’d buy one, if I had the cheddar.

Regrettably, I haven’t yet driven the Model 3 — the vehicle which took the crown. I did enjoy the new Accord, however, and I think Kia’s Stinger is a good first effort. Corey agrees with that latter assessment: “Kia revealed the Stinger concept art, and everyone said ‘Yeah right.’ Then they built it. Affordable, rear-drive, V6. It’s what the American companies won’t build.”

Our staff opinions on the worst cars of 2018 are interesting. Chris pans the Mitsubishi Mirage (your worst overall) as being subpar compared to a 1990 Hyundai Excel, and while it’s been a while since I’ve piloted one, I get the sentiment. As for me, I’d rate the Ford EcoSport as one of the worst vehicles on sale these days – Ford didn’t bother to really try to adjust it for our market. Oddly, the EcoSport still isn’t the worst car in its segment. That honor, in my opinion, goes to the Chevrolet Trax. Slow, cheap, and ugly is no way to go through life, son.

Adam backs me on the EcoSport pick, and he riffs on another product that’s under Ford’s umbrella: The Lincoln MKC. Quoth the mod: “The MKC is a subcompact sized crossover that gets real world gas mileage on par with the largest vehicles Lincoln makes. It is everything that is wrong with crossovers taking over the market. When adjusting for the quality of vehicles being made during various eras, it is the worst Lincoln ever made.”

Corey, too, loathes the EcoSport. It’s actually impressive how much the EcoSport unites us in hate: “An old CUV which was developed for third-world countries, now being sold in the US at first-world pricing. I hate everything about it, and Ford should feel bad,” writes our Rare Ride czar.

Chris adds another Mitsubishi to the list: The Outlander. That’s because both of us experienced flexing seats on our test cars, which presumably were different units. Like me, Chris also dings the Toyota C-HR over looks and comfort, but unlike me, he also penalizes the Alfa Romeo Giulia due to its reputation for reliability, or lack thereof. I’d have placed the Giulia on a best-cars list, simply because I am a sucker for temperamental beauty.

The Fiat 500L made your list and several of ours. It’s a rolling bubble of boredom, and I hope Fiat Chrysler replaces it soon.

Acura’s ILX hit at least one staffer’s list while also making yours, because being a “warmed-over 2012 Civic,” as Chris says, isn’t enough. The Nissan Titan also made Chris’s list for being old, while Corey dinged the brand’s 370Z for the same reason.

As for my personal list, I’m once again more in line with you guys than not, though there’s a few cars that didn’t make the final list that should have. I don’t understand the existence of Buick’s Cascada – it’s laziness personified to just sell a droptop Opel here, hoping for fleet sales in the Sun Belt. Most of my beefs with the Trax extend to Buick’s similar Encore, though I give it credit for being a bit more upmarket and actually boasting reasonable styling.

I also have hate for the Outlander and Outlander Sport – it shows that Mitsubishi is barely hanging on. Nissan’s Sentra is a clinic in how NOT to do a small car. And I too am annoyed that the ILX isn’t the sporty entry-lux car it could be, especially since Acura could move it to the current-gen Civic platform.

What’s interesting is that, with a few exceptions on both sides of the ledger, TTAC staff are more in agreement than not with each other — as well as you, dear reader. Whether that’s a sign of groupthink among car enthusiasts or not, I’ll let you debate. Personally, I don’t think it’s mindless groupthink – we know the good and bad when we see it, we know why a given vehicle is good or bad, and we know which ones fit which criteria – but rather, legit consensus among those who know their way around the industry.

There you have it folks. TTAC’s staff’s thoughts on the best and worst cars of 2018. Have a happy new year, all.

[Images: Acura, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi, Tesla]

Tim Healey
Tim Healey

Tim Healey grew up around the auto-parts business and has always had a love for cars — his parents joke his first word was “‘Vette”. Despite this, he wanted to pursue a career in sports writing but he ended up falling semi-accidentally into the automotive-journalism industry, first at Consumer Guide Automotive and later at Web2Carz.com. He also worked as an industry analyst at Mintel Group and freelanced for About.com, CarFax, Vehix.com, High Gear Media, Torque News, FutureCar.com, Cars.com, among others, and of course Vertical Scope sites such as AutoGuide.com, Off-Road.com, and HybridCars.com. He’s an urbanite and as such, doesn’t need a daily driver, but if he had one, it would be compact, sporty, and have a manual transmission.

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  • Slavuta Slavuta on Dec 29, 2018

    I don't get phrase for Civics. They are so basic in their base trims. To get split folding rear seat and variable intermittent wipers you need to climb trim ladder. Once you do this, you are really in a price range where you can get bigger car with more options. Then I drove Si, Sport Hatch - nothing special. Many complain about exteriors - I don't like the interiors.

  • MBella MBella on Dec 30, 2018

    I'm going to criticize the lovefest for the Ram. It might be as good as you can get as a car, but they're not good as trucks. As people here claim to be about practicality, the Ram is bad at being a truck. With any kind of real load, it chugs fuel like crazy. Before I got my Silverado, I narrowed my colleague's Ram to tow my utility trailer and pick up some firewood. It did absolutely awful. The amount my 4X8 trailer bogged down the truck was amazing. This was with a Hemi and tow package. On my 5.3 Silverado, unloaded it might not be a race car, but with a bed full of soil, or my heavily loaded utility trailer, its performance loss isn't really noticable. I also trust leaf springs more than coils for actual truck use. The Ram is real only good for the urban cowboy crowd that will never use their truck for work. If you're daily driving one, the F-150 seems to be the best compromise. It rides nice, but is still tough enough to be a real truck.

    • See 3 previous
    • Adam Tonge Adam Tonge on Dec 31, 2018

      I like the interior. I think it is excellent. I think the exterior looks great as well. However, I would buy an F150. I really like the STX package. It's my perfect truck. Everything I want on a truck, and nothing I don't.

  • The Oracle Well, we’re 3-4 years in with the Telluride and right around the time the long term durability issues start to really take hold. This is sad.
  • CoastieLenn No idea why, but nothing about a 4Runner excites me post-2004. To me, they're peak "try-hard", even above the Wrangler and Gladiator.
  • AZFelix A well earned anniversary.Can they also attend to the Mach-E?
  • Jalop1991 The intermediate shaft and right front driveshaft may not be fully engaged due to suspected improper assembly by the supplier. Over time, partial engagement can cause damage to the intermediate shaft splines. Damaged shaft splines may result in unintended vehicle movement while in Park if the parking brake is not engagedGee, my Chrysler van automatically engages the parking brake when we put it in Park. Do you mean to tell me that the idjits at Kia, and the idjit buyers, couldn't figure out wanting this in THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE VEHICLE????
  • Dukeisduke I've been waiting to see if they were going to do something special for the 60th Anniversary. I was four years old when the Mustang was introduced. I can remember that one of our neighbors bought a '65 coupe (they were all titled as '65 models, even the '64-1/2 cars), and it's the first one I can remember seeing. In the '90s I knew an older gentleman that owned a '64-1/2 model coupe with the 260 V8.
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