Auto Countdown: Worst Cars I Drove In 2013

In 2011, I focused on the cars I saw at the various Houston auto events. In 2012, I started test driving cars, 16 test drives in all. In 2013, I test drove over 100 cars, most of them coming during the five days of the Houston Auto Show. So, why not start off with the worst cars that I drove. So here are the worst cars I drove in 2013. Also, one car per brand.

Dishonorable mentions: Buick Encore, Honda Insight, Lexus IS 250, Scion xB, Toyota Prius V, Toyota RAV4, Volvo XC60



10. Cadillac CTS

Out of all eight Cadillacs I drove, this one was the worst. This was the only Cadillac that was uncomfortable to sit in. It is not bad in the performance category with its 3.6L V6 that puts out 318 hp. But if I am not comfortable in a car, then what is the point. The Cadillac CTS has been redesigned for 2014. It is on my list of cars to test drive along with Alfa Romeo 4C and 2015 Chrsyler 200, which is based on an Alfa Romeo.


9. GMC Sierra

Let me get this out of the way, this car has a great interior. It is comfortable and roomy. It does come with a 6.2L V8 that gets over 400 hp. Here is why it is on this list. One, I could notice that there is low power output at low RPMs. You have to get into the higher RPMs to feel the power of the V8. Also, the steering could be much better. I had to work the steering wheel just to get the vehicle to turn left or right. If I were to spend the money on a high end truck, I would want responsive steering and good power throughout the entire RPM range.

8. Volkswagen Tiguan

This was a hard one to pick. I also was not impressed with the Passat, Beetle Turbo, or the CC. But I limited myself to one car per brand and I felt that the Tiguan was the least impressive vehicle out of all the Volkswagen I have driven. First, I felt there was some lag from the 2.0L turbocharged engine. Also, the Tiguan has a rough ride quality. And for a SUV, I did not feel like I had a lot of space. I was disappointed with the Tiguan after I drove it. But at least it was quiet inside while I was driving it, keeping it from being in the bottom seven (this is a worst of list, not a best of list.)

7. Kia Soul

The Kia Soul was one of the first test drives I did at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. Now, the box shape styling gives it some popularity with younger drivers. The interior does feature some interesting items. The version I drove came with a 2.0L I4 engine that produces 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. That is impressive compared to later entries on this list. What hurts this vehicle is ride quality. It is not the most responsive when it comes to handling. The big issue I had with this vehicle is the rough ride. I could feel every bump on the road when I was behind the wheel. If it were not for poor ride quality, the Soul would not have even been considered for this list.


6. Mini Cooper Countryman

I was not impressed when I sat in a Mini Cooper Countryman at the 2011 Houston Auto Show. I did not like having the speedometer on the center console. And after test driving it, I was really not impressed. Remember, this is not the Countryman S, this is the standard Countryman with a 1.6L I4 engine that produces 121 hp and 114 lb-ft of torque. This is the same engine found on the Mini Cooper Hardtop, but the added weight hurts this vehicle's performance. Plus I felt cramped and uncomfortable behind the wheel. On the plus side, at least it competent when it comes to handling.

5. Scion iQ

Scion markets the iQ as the smallest four seater. That is nothing to brag about because I felt cramped behind the wheel. Unless you have short people in the driver and passenger seats, there is no legroom for rear passengers. Also, the iQ gets 94 hp and 89 lb-ft of torque from its 1.3L I4 engine. And I felt there was a delay in shifting with the CVT transmission. Plus, it is noisy behind the wheel. But I will give it this, it has a smoother ride and handles better than some of the later entries on this list. Plus, the interior does not feel as cheap as the next vehicle on this list.

4. Nissan Versa

One word to describe this vehicle is cheap. The Versa is the least expensive cars you can bay in the United States. The interior just feels cheap. There is nothing special or interesting about the interior of the Versa. Powering this cheap car is a 1.6L I4 engine that produces 109 hp and 107 lb-ft of torque. That is just underpowered. You do not get much for $11,999. Plus there are much better looking cars on the road today than the Versa. It is cheap, underpowered, and ugly. 

3. Smart ForTwo

I have seen less Smart ForTwos on the road, and for good reasons. This is the smallest car you can buy in the United States. It also has small wheels and a very short wheelbase. I could feel the wind push this car around while on the freeway. Not to mention it only gets 70 hp from a 1.0L I3 engine, the smallest and least powerful engine you can get in any new car in the United States. But even with those flaws, it was not as noisy or as unresponsive as the two worst cars I drove in 2013.

2. Hyundai Veloster

The only good thing about the Veloster is the design. It does have a sleek coupe design, but I also like how the single rear door has been integrated into the design. Now for where it fails. It only gets 138 hp from a 1.6L I4 engine. There is a turbo version of the Veloster, but I consider that a different car. The Veloster Turbo gets power and performance from its turbocharged 1.6L I4 engine and has decent handling. The Veloster has horrible steering wheel response. I really had to turn the wheel just for the car to slightly turn. That is bad, especially for a small sports car. This is just a failed attempt at a sports car. It is underpowered and has unresponsive steering. Two things that should not be on a sports car. At least Hyundai got it right with the Genesis Coupe. Just avoid the standard Veloster and go with the Veloster Turbo.


1. Toyota Prius C

The Prius C is just bad. If you know me, you know that I dislike the Prius. I found it slow, boring, and just ugly. But one thing the Prius had was a quiet ride. The Toyota Prius C is just bad. It only gets 99 hp from its hybrid drivetrain. That is just low, especially when this car has a curb weight of 2,500 lbs. It has poor acceleration. But the worst part of all, why is it so noisy inside. There is no need for this car to be so noisy, especially with a 1.5L I4 engine as part of the hybrid drive train. Also, I find this car to be ugly. The standard Prius is better looking than this car. It is very underpowered, noisy, cramped, and is just ugly. And for those reasons, this is the worst car I drove in 2013.

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Auto Countdown: Cars That Were A Pleasant Surprise To Drive 2013 Edition

In 2013, I test drove over 100 cars, trucks, minivans, and SUVS. I have already covered the ten worst I test drove in 2013. It is time to cover those that were better than expected. There is no order. I am going by alphabetical order by brand.



2013 Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave is not the best looking vehicle. It is a big three-row SUV. This is a family vehicle, something that I normally do not cover. But it made the list for one reason. At the 2013 Houston Auto Show, I outran a Ford Mustang 5.0. That should not happen, but I outran a modern muscle car in a large SUV.


2013 Chevrolet Spark

The Chevrolet Spark is a vehicle I should hate. It is small, underpowered, and slow. It only gets 84 hp and 83 lb-ft of torque from a 1.2L I4 engine. The one I drove at the 2013 Houston Auto Show was pink. But it does have some things going for it. First, it may be a city car, but it has plenty of room for four adult passengers. It has good legroom for rear passengers, compared to other city cars like the Scion iQ. I also like the gauge cluster styling. Plus it has a good infotainment system with MyLink. Also, it is not as boring to drive as some of the other cars in its class. I actually had some fun behind the wheel of the Spark, and that is always a plus. 

2014 Fiat 500L 

 

Fiat needed to bring a second vehicle over to the United States, preferably one with four doors and larger than the Fiat 500. What we got is the Fiat 500L, a four door vehicle. One thing I feared when I first saw this at the 2013 Houston Auto Show was that Fiat would use the 1.4L I4 engine found in the Fiat 500 that produces 101 hp. Luckily, the 500L has the Abarth engine, a turbocharged 1.4L I4 engine that produces 160 hp. That is enough power to get this vehicle going. The 500L has a stylish interior with plenty of legroom and headroom. Plus it is just fun to drive.

2013 Ford C-Max

I really should hate this car. It is a hybrid after all. If you have read some of my previous year end Auto Countdowns, you would know that I despise the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius, both hybrids. Plus, the C-Max has a minivan feel with the gear select lever on the dashboard and not on either the steering wheel column nor the center console. Yet, I felt that the C-Max has decent acceleration when I test drove it. Something I cannot say about the Volt, the Prius, or the Honda Insight. Also going in the C-Max's favor is space. I felt cramped in the Prius, but not in the C-Max. This is one hybrid that avoids my wrath.

2013 Nissan Altima V6

The Nissan Altima is a great example of why mid-size sedans need a V6 option. Many manufacturers are replacing V6 engines with turbocharged 4-cylinder engines or just eliminate the V6 option altogether. Thankfully, Nissan kept the V6 option in the Altima. I was impressed with the Altima I drove at the 2013 Houston Auto Show. It was very responsive when I turned the steering wheel. It may be just a mid-size sedan from Japan, but I had some behind the wheel. 

2013 RAM 1500

I maybe from Texas, but I am not a big truck guy. I never grew up around them. My parents never owned trucks. Yet, there is one truck I actually like, the RAM 1500. Compared to the other trucks, it has the best steering response. Plus it got good power throughout the entire RPM spectrum with the 5.7L Hemi V8. Plus it also has a very smooth ride. This was a contender for the best cars I drove list, but it just missed out. The RAM 1500 is a very good truck and deserved being named MotorTrend's 2013 Truck of the Year. It won that distinction again in 2014. 

2013 Volkswagen Eos

If there is one brand that I was not impressed with, it would be Volkswagen. I found most of the VWs I drove to be lackluster. But there is one that I had some fun in, the VW Eos. This a hard top convertible gets 210 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque from a turbocharged 2.0L I4 engine. Plus, the Eos does not look that bad with the top down. The Eos is my favorite VW I drove in 2013, that includes the VW Golf GTi.


2013 Volvo C30

Talk about a fun car to drive. The Volvo C30 just goes when I press the accelerator. This three door hatchback is powered by a turbocharged 2.5L I5 engine that produces 227 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. This car has great pickup plus it is just a blast to drive. It is a shame that Volvo discontinued this vehicle. This was another vehicle that came close to making the best cars I drove in 2013 list.

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Auto Countdown: Top 10 Cars I drove in 2013

In 2012, I did sixteen test drives. In 2013, I test drove over 100 vehicles, including 70 during the 2013 Houston Auto Show. I have already covered the worst and the pleasant surprises. Now it is time to cover the best. To prevent this list by a particular brand, the one vehicle per brand rule is in effect.

10. Toyota Avalon

I have not been impressed with Toyota lately, especially with the new Toyota RAV4. The Toyota Camry maybe one of the best selling car in America, but it is so boring. I was not impressed with the Tundra.  But there is one Toyota I was impressed with, the Avalon. I just love the styling of the Avalon. Plus it has a smooth, comfortable ride. The Avalon is easily the best Toyota I drove in 2013 and earns a spot on this list.

9. Hyundai Equus

The Hyundai Equus makes this list for one reason, its very comfortable ride. It is so soft. It is like driving a cloud it is so soft. It ends up at the 9 spot because the very soft ride takes you out of the driving experience. The very luxury quality of the Equus puts it on the list. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe was in contention, but there were better sports cars I drove in 2013.

8. Nissan 370Z

The Nissan 370Z continues the Nissan lineage of affordable sports car. The 370Z has a stiff ride, but handles nicely. It is a two-door sports car, so it is not that practical compared to other sport coupes. But it does handle nicely plus it gets good power from its 3.7L V6. But it is too uncomfortable to be any higher than the eighth spot on this list. It has better driver interactive than the Avalon and the Equus.

7. Chevrolet Camaro SS

Nothing says American muscle like the Chevrolet Camaro SS. Powering this brute is a 6.2L V8 that produces 426 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, topping the Mustang 5.0 and Challenger R/T is power. This is a fun car to drive, but it does have a few issues. The design of the windshield makes it hard to see, plus it is plagued with blind spots. It is hard to enjoy driving this car with the visibility issues.

6. Ford Mustang 5.0

The Camaro may have more power, but the Ford Mustang 5.0 provides a better driving experience. The Mustang has a great sporty styling to it. While it does have some blind spots, it has better visibility than the Camaro. Plus the interior of the Mustang is nicer than the Camaro. The Mustang is an American icon and the modern Mustangs hold true to the Mustang lineage. While the live axle setup is very outdated, it adds to the experience of driving a Mustang. This is a fun car to drive. Since it is a sports coupe, it is not that practical, so it misses the top five.

5. Dodge Charger R/T Max

I could have easily put the Dodge Challenger SRT or the Dodge Charger SRT, but both of those vehicles cost over $50,000 when nicely equipped. The Charger R/T Max may not get the performance, but it has great features to it. To start off, heated and cooled front seats plus heated and cooled front cup holders. Not to mention available blind spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and forward collision warning to aid in safety. Powering the Charger R/T Max is a 5.7L Hemi V8 that gets 375 hp. Plus it has a good ride quality. All this for around $40,000. For the price and the features, the Charger R/T Max makes its way into the top five.

4. Subaru Legacy 3.6R Limited

With all the sports cars I drove this year, none of them do what the Subaru Legacy can do. Subaru greatly improved the styling of the Legacy compared to previous generations. Plus, it has Subaru's AWD system. Add in a 3.6L H6 engine and you got a vehicle that has very good handling. It also have a very comfortable ride. Add in leather seats, reverse camera, safety features like lane departure warning and Subaru's Eyesight system, navigation, and a moonroof for around $30,000, and it is hard to beat that value. The Legacy is the best mid-size vehicle I drove in 2013. And for its value alone, it ends up at the four spot on this list.

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT

Right of the bat, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best SUV I drove in 2013. Helping with the drive quality is an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Uconnect system is very user-friendly. Now to take the Grand Cherokee to the extreme, the SRT version. Powering this SUV is a 6.4L Hemi V8 that produces 470 hp. Add in launch control and you get a one of a kind experience with the Grand Cherokee SRT. This may look like an SUV, but it is a muscle car.

2. Chrysler 300 SRT

If there is any company that has greatly improved its quality lately, it is Chrysler. The Chrysler 300 has a very smooth ride and luxury feel to it. Plus it uses Chrysler's Uconnect system, which is very easy to use. Now add a 6.4L Hemi V8 engine that produces 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, and you got something special. This was a very fun car to drive. This was so close to topping to list, but there is one car that outperforms the 300 SRT. 

1. Cadillac CTS-V Family

This should come to no surprise. The Cadillac CTS-V line is the best line of cars I have drive in 2013. The CTS-Vs are the fastest, most powerful cars I drove in 2013. Powering these cars is a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine that produces 556 hp and 551 lb-ft of torque. Plus, these will go from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.0 seconds. On top of the power and performance, the CTS-Vs have an exceptional drive/ride quality. I was very comfortable sitting in the Recaro racing seats that adjust 14 ways. Cadillac and General Motors did an excellent job making a quiet interior. I could not hear the engine when inside the CTS-Vs. Driving a Cadillac CTS-V is an experience everyone should do. If you can afford to spend between $65,000 and $75,000, here is a great line of cars.

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