From the clunky and unreliable cars of the past to today’s meticulously crafted machines, the automotive landscape has transformed dramatically
Are there still any truly bad cars? That’s the question we tackled in a recent podcast with my former motoring Middle East buddy, who was in town. Catching up with him was an absolute joy, and naturally, we ended up doing a little podcast together. One of the topics we discussed was whether there are any car reviews anymore or if it’s all just fluff and advertorials.
He reckoned latter, and he had a valid point, but I countered with my long-held belief: there are no bad cars anymore. This is something I’ve been saying for about a decade, and I think it’s time to examine this concept more closely.
The Evolution of Car Quality
I’ve been reviewing cars for 35 years now, having started back in 1989. There was a time when it was easy to categorise cars as brilliant, okay, or downright junk.
I remember driving cars where I genuinely wondered why anyone would spend money on them. Some were so poorly set-up in terms of ride and handling, particularly in the wet, I thought they would kill me!
“There are no bad cars anymore because manufacturers know exactly what consumers want and how to deliver it.”
Even as recently as a decade and a half ago, I encountered vehicles that were utterly dreadful. For instance, during my stint as the Editor of the Middle East edition of Car Magazine, we tested early Chinese cars entering the UAE market. One was so bad that I refused to drive it after a cursory inspection.
Fast forward to today, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Chinese cars, which once evoked skepticism, have made significant strides. The MG Cyberster, an electric vehicle from a Chinese manufacturer, is one of the cars I was most looking forward to driving this year. The transformation is nothing short of astonishing.
What Makes a Bad Car?
To understand why there are no bad cars anymore, we need to define what we mean by a “bad car”. It’s not about personal preferences or brand biases. As a motoring journalist, I must evaluate cars in context: who will buy them, at what price point, and for what purpose? A car might seem plain or ordinary, but if it meets the criteria of its target market and performs safely and efficiently, it’s a good car.
“The amount of engineering expertise, consumer feedback, and data analysis that goes into modern car production is staggering.”
On Facebook, I asked my followers what they considered a bad car. Responses ranged from electric vehicles to anything with a Chinese badge. However, these opinions were based more on personal biases than objective criteria. Even when people mentioned brands like Tesla, it was about perceived quality issues rather than the cars being inherently bad.
On the other hand, historical examples, like the Russian-built Lada Niva, might have been clunky and unsophisticated, but they had their own charm and rugged durability.
The Industry’s Transformation
The car industry has been around for over 130 years, and in that time, manufacturers have honed their craft to perfection. The amount of engineering expertise, consumer feedback, and data analysis that goes into modern car production is staggering. It’s almost impossible to make a bad car today because manufacturers know exactly what consumers want and how to deliver it.
Japanese and Korean brands, once considered underdogs, now lead the pack in many markets. Their cars are consistently excellent, and even the Chinese are producing vehicles that are turning heads and changing minds. This evolution is driven by global competition, technological advancements, and a relentless focus on quality and customer satisfaction.
“Even brands that were once considered inferior have stepped up their game, making it almost impossible to find a genuinely bad car on the market today.”
So, are there still bad cars? Based on my extensive experience and the current state of the industry, I’d argue that there aren’t. Just about any new car, at the very least, is a competent vehicle.
This doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement or that every car is perfect, but the days of truly dreadful cars are behind us. Or should they not be? Maybe we need bad cars to give our motoring landscape personality quirks and some charisma. Something to talk about. Maybe we need cars so bad, that they end up being good – like the AMC Pacer!
What do you think? Do you agree that the era of bad cars is over, or do you have examples that challenge this view? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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