Vehicle manufacturers don’t always get everything right, especially after a major redesign or when introducing a whole new model. As with the prediction for the best 2020 models, the other side of the spectrum exists too.
Not all of these vehicles are actually bad. Some will find it hard to compete because they are just solid yet need to be so much more to be successful. Some just don’t provide enough at their price point to justify purchasing over other competitors. Some are based off of similar vehicles that traditionally haven’t performed well.
Whatever the case may be, every model on this list does have the potential to be really good, despite some of their criticisms. Hindsight is always 20/20, and we won’t truly know what any new model brings to the table until it proves itself – or fails – in the real world.
Here are The Unlimited Driver’s picks for the worst 2020 model year vehicles:
Volkswagen Passat:
The Passat has been around for years and is actually one of the top 10 best-selling cars of all time. This year, it was redesigned. It looks mostly the same as it did before with some minor cosmetic upgrades, improved technology, more standard features, and still a lot of passenger and cargo space compared to others in its class.
The Passat has never really been a bad car, and it continues to soldier on doing the same thing it has done in the past. And that’s the problem. It has never really broken out of the mold and become a standout in any significant area. With some pretty stiff competition from the stellar Camry, trendy Accord, and newly-redesigned Sonata, it needs to be better to keep up.
Porsche Taycan:
The Taycan has gotten some serious attention recently. It hasn’t risen to C8 Corvette or Toyota Supra levels, but it is a brand new car – and an electric one at that. On top of all that, it looks really cool, and people who have tried it out seem to like it so far. It’s not a Tesla, but it is actually Tesla that is going to make the Taycan seem not so special in the EV world where Tesla already has the new Porsche beaten badly.
Top trim level Taycan models cost upward of $180,000 and don’t have an electric range that can even remotely touch Tesla’s models. It will sell because it is an electric vehicle, it is a Porsche, and it is a performance monster, but with battery technology improving as quickly as it has, Porsche needs to really step up their game just to get on board, let alone truly compete with other EVs.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe:
The Cayenne has be a staple in the mid-size luxury SUV segment since 2003. Most consider it to be a pretty good SUV, and for many, it has proven to provide reliable transportation while sporting a prestigious badge with great motorsport history. The new Porsche Cayenne Coupe will undoubtedly provide the same thing the regular Cayenne has provided, albeit in a smaller package.
As everyone knows all too well, the SUV market has exploded, and automakers are rushing to find holes that exist in the market, sometimes filling holes that aren’t really there. The Cayenne Coupe is yet another edition to the growing list of SUVs that are trying to be something they are not. The Cayenne is neither a car, nor a two-door vehicle. While it does have a sloping rear hatchback, the continued effort to create a sports-car SUV remains futile. The Cayenne Coupe will doubtless provide great performance like its Cayenne sibling, but the fact remains that calling it a coupe will not really make it more like a car.
BMW 7 Series:
The 2020 BMW 7 Series is a fine automobile. As with many redesigns, improvements in styling, features, and safety are usually in order. The same goes for the 7 Series. You get the typical BMW luxury features that you would expect on a high-end vehicle today with upgraded standard safety tech. Styling is subjective, and you can decide if you like the larger grille and new headlights.
The problem with the 7 Series isn’t actually the 7 Series itself. The real problem is the 8 Series. The 8 Series is new, and though it doesn’t offer the overall practicality of the 7 Series, it looks better, costs about the same, and comes in a coupe, sedan, or convertible option. Being a new model just introduced last year – the Gran Coupe four-door is the last of the three versions coming to market as a 2020 model – the 8 Series also has some momentum to back it up as it comes to market.
Buick Encore GX:
Like the Cayenne Coupe, the Encore GX is actually sized differently than the base Encore. Further complicating things, the Encore GX is built on a completely different platform than the actual Encore: It is larger and comes with all-new three-cylinder engine options. It is still considered a small SUV, but an all-new design, including all-new smaller engines, could prove problematic.
Despite these potential concerns, the Encore GX has its all-new vehicle status on which it can ride into the market. Like the Passat, however, it just doesn’t seem to go above-and-beyond in a segment where that is necessary to achieve success. With so many other options available to the consumer, it’s just hard to see how the new Encore GX will stand out. Even if it turns out to be pretty good, the saturated SUV market just won’t allow “pretty good” to cut it anymore.
