Worst Car Models Of 2019: Comparing Fuel Economy, Comfort, Safety, Reliability, And More

When it comes to owning a car, 2019 proved to be a year with several winners as well as losers. The auto industry as a whole made its shift towards full electrification, with more models in the category to be released in 2020. But for this year, there were several cars that came up short despite the best efforts of automakers. Here’s a look at the worst cars of 2019 – some of which may surprise consumers.

Fuel Economy

When it comes to driving, many car owners look for a vehicle that has better fuel economy than their last. While this category has continually improved over the years, some car models fell short when it came to providing economic miles per gallon.

Ranking at the bottom of the category for fuel efficiency was the Kia Niro EX with an overall fuel economy of 43 mpg, according to Consumer Reports. The car does get 52 mpg on the highway but only 33 mpg in the city. The news outlet also ranked the Toyota Prius C Two, Hyundai Ioniq SEL, and Toyota Prius Three in the worst car category for fuel efficiency with overall mpg at 43, 52 and 43, respectively.

Reliability

Reliability is another factor that car owners look for in a vehicle as no one wants to get stranded or pay costly maintenance expenses to stay on the road. The Dodge Ram 3500 sits at the top of the list for 2019’s worst vehicle for reliability, scoring only a 9% out of 100% satisfaction rating, according to the news outlet. The 3500 reportedly has been plagued with fuel system, suspension, transmission, drive system, and body problems, causing owners to give the truck a low rating for reliability.

Other cars that have been labeled with a low-reliability rating, according to Consumer Reports, include the Tesla Model X, Cadillac, ATS, Honda Clarity, and Chevy Traverse.

Safety

Safety is often the No. 1 reason that a car buyer purchases a vehicle as they look to keep their family safe when on the road. But some cars have a less than stellar safety rating that has caused some owners to balk at their ability to keep them safe when driving. The Mitsubishi Mirage is one of these vehicles as it was rated the least safe subcompact by the news outlet despite its low entry price and 37 mpg fuel economy. Reportedly the car was wrought with safety problems including engine vibration, sluggish acceleration, and brakes that stick, which was further complicated by its cramped interior.

The Mirage was not the only car that got low marks for safety as the Fiat 500L, Chrysler 200, Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, Lincoln MKS, Dodge Journey, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Cadillac Escalade, Chrysler Town & Country, and Mitsubishi i-MiEV models all made the news outlet’s list.

Comfort

With the amount of time that is spent driving in your car, comfort is a top priority for vehicle owners. Unfortunately, not all cars are created equal, and some vehicles just don’t make the cut when it comes to overall comfort. According to SmarTechMoney, the Land Rover Discovery, Hyundai Santa Fe XL, and Audi Q7 all come in last for vehicle comfort. These car models are short on space for both the passengers and cargo, leading them into the worst category for comfort.