GCBC’s The Bad 8 For 2016

In 2016, for a second consecutive year, GCBC’s The Bad 8 features only two new nameplates. Six contestants remain from last year, as an insufficient number of new vehicles have been awful enough to replace them. As was the case last year, these are the vehicles that would be least welcomed in GCBC Towers’ driveway, definitely rejected for the long-term even if welcomed briefly.

Let’s put it this way: Do you want to get us something for Christmas? Please don’t get us any of these vehicles.

They’re listed here for a number of reasons, some for just one reason. Whatever the reason, it’s bad enough to cause your sales analyst of choice to reject the car so completely that I’d prefer to own anything else on the market; to reject the car so completely that you, too, should strongly consider avoiding it at all costs.

One key premise behind modern car reviewing suggests that, in 2016, there’s no such thing as a bad car. That’s not completely true, but even if it was, that doesn’t mean you can’t do better. In the case of these eight cars, you can definitely do better. It’s not purely about reliability or durability or outright performance – it’s about desirability, and the point at which desirability lines up with perceived value. These eight vehicles have their pluses, but the minuses – however few or however many – far outweigh the positive side of the ledger.

Click any of the images to be taken to the model’s Sales Stats page. Don’t forget to check out GCBC’s The Good 12, the list of vehicles you should definitely park in GCBC Towers’ driveway on Christmas morning.

	Acura RLX The RLX is a fine car. But in execution, all its rivals do every little thing a little bit better. Cumulatively, that’s a lot of things. A lot of things multiplied by a little bit equals a whole lot better. Alternative: Cadillac CTS
	BMW X4 In a sense, the X4 is everything the X3 is, only with less space, less style, and more cost. What’s worse, the X4 is here as a representative of a whole class: BMW X4, BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. Alternative: BMW X3
	Buick Encore The Buick Encore doesn’t like to accelerate. The seating position will make some people think Buick is playing a cruel joke. It’s expensive, painfully cutesy, and pointless. Alternative: Mazda CX-3
	Fiat 500L It would be one thing for the 500L to be awkward, or painful to drive, or unreliable. But the 500L is all three. Alternative: Kia Soul
	Jeep Renegade Limited Not all Renegades are awful. But when you start luxing up a Renegade, it gets very sketchy. The price reaches into territory no car with NVH this awful deserves to inhabit. At this price point, buy something properly refined and roomy. Alternative: Kia Sorento
	Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Convertible This is just silly. And silly is acceptable. Sometimes. But not when the sand is going to be blown back into the cabin. Alternative: Porsche Macan S
	Mitsubishi Mirage The Mirage is actually being restyled for model year 2016. It’s still ghastly. And styling aside, the car still feels like a third-world city car attempt. There’s simply no need. Alternative: Nissan Micra
	Nissan Versa Sedan This problem has been resolved. In part. The Versa sedan is no longer on sale in Canada. Americans, however, must turn away from this stain on automotive design. It’s not as though there are other redeeming qualities. Alternative: Honda Fit