Skip advert
Advertisement

Ten worst cars tested: The ten worst cars we've ever tested

You’ve read about the greatest icons from the last 100 issues. Here are the dogs

Which car was so embarrassing to be seen in thaat no-one would drive it? Which long-termer was so bad we sent it back? Which car was so ugly we refused to feature it? The answers lie below.

Cars that don’t quite make the top ten of awfulness include the Invicta S1, which even John ‘It’s got four wheels, so it must be at least four stars’ Simister couldn’t bring himself to love, the not-a-patch-on-its- predecessor Peugeot 206 GTI, and the Lexus GS430, of which Harry wrote, ‘I simply have no desire to drive the GS430 ever again’.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Hayman wanted to nominate 'every single non-exotic car that has a semi-automatic gearbox. Also, every “fast” Saab we ever tested.’

Then there's the Grinnall Scorpion IV – 'Loads of power that it couldn’t cope with and it felt like you were going to fall out of it through the turns’ according to Roger Green – and the current Mazda MX-5, saved from inclusion by the lingering suspicion that we’re still yet to drive a properly set-up example.And finally, a special mention for the one car that we refused even to feature in the mag, simply because it looked so goddamn awful. Who could forget – and God knows we’ve tried – the FBS Census? (Not pictured - ever).

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Car emissions consultation ends soon, with UK's tuned and modified vehicles targeted
Aventador exhausts
News

Car emissions consultation ends soon, with UK's tuned and modified vehicles targeted

Consultation ends next week on rule changes that will fine drivers who have modified emission-control devices on their cars, but what does it actually…
30 Aug 2026
BMW M240i v Audi RS3 – 400bhp German stars fight it out
Audi RS3 and BMW M240
Group tests

BMW M240i v Audi RS3 – 400bhp German stars fight it out

BMW's M240i is one of the best value performance cars on the market. But is it worth the saving over an RS3?
30 Aug 2026
Government goes undercover to clamp down on loud car exhausts, not just emissions
Exhaust
News

Government goes undercover to clamp down on loud car exhausts, not just emissions

As the government explores new legislation to keep emissions in check, the DVSA has fined a firm for creating loud exhausts 
1 Sep 2026