It happens every day on the road. Vehicle-shaped appliances pass by in the other lanes, or perhaps cross an intersection in front of you. You don’t take notice, because they’re the same ovoid or trapezoidal shape as the rest of the Frost Beige blobs on your thrilling commute to the cubicle farm.
But focus your eyes and clear the fog for a moment, because I want to ask you something.
The average driver is surrounded by hundreds of other cars during their commute, or really any journey of any length through a populated area. But which among those vehicles do you never seem to notice, or forget exist? It’s easy to direct your gaze to the single bright yellow Aventador, which may or may not be on fire. It’s much harder to notice eight copies of a bland four-cylinder sedan. It’s the latter that I want you to ponder. What car do you always fail to notice because it’s that generic?
There’s more than one way to approach today’s inquiry. Perhaps forgettable means you never specifically notice your pick on the road, as it’s just too boring, too anonymous. Or perhaps it means you do notice it but forget it almost immediately as it makes no mental/visual/emotional impact whatsoever. Maybe it’s forgettable in that it’s still on sale today, but you never consider it and thought it died years ago.
I’ll leave you with no specific answer from me, all anonymous-like, and just one rule: Make your pick something that’s sold new in 2017. There are plenty of Millennium Green Vulcan Taurii running around being all oval-y and bland, but none of those are made today.
Show me how generic we can be.
I’d have to go with the Corolla. Camrys may be the ultimate in generic transportation, but they’re also hideously overstyled, and hideously-overstyled sticks out. Accords are generic transportation but are kind of interesting. Civics definitely stick out. Elantras and Sonatas and Optimas have something going for them. Fortes are… uncommon, though they might be in with a shout.
Corollas are just… eh? They’re just there. Sure, the newest ones have got that gaping maw at the front, but you only really notice it from certain angles, and at *every other angle* they just disappear.
Corolla.
Anything Toyota outside of the Taco and 4Runner. Same for Lexus (until they came out with that godawful grill..its not generic, but it is FUGLY)
I’d expand it to say any Japanese sedan. Since the 1980s, they’ve alll tended to look very much alike.
Many Corollas are aggressively driven and that makes them stand out. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been tailgated or cut off by one of these things, and I drive relatively fast.
I would give it to any one of a number of the premium CUVs out there. Those just kinda melt into the landscape, and they all look similar to each other.
$_CROSSOVER
the worst word ever
I’m going to say the Genesis. Not that it isn’t any good and I would happily own one. It is generic in the way those early LS400’s were. Again, not bad but versus the league it wants to play in it may as well be a Town Car.
Model 3.
When’s the last time anyone noticed one?
Considering only proto and pre production are on the road… not many.
Sentra – mine was either called a Hyundai or Toyota.
Mitsu CUV’s look like everything else.
The Taurus..its sticks out but it doesnt.
Newer Taurus, Explorers, Chargers – anything that looks like a cop car definitely sticks out.
Corolla, Focus, Cruze, Elantra, Sonata, Rogue, Escape, CRV, Rav4, F150, Silverado, etc. (all high selling vehicles) melt into the background because there are so many on the road.
If anything, Tauruses (Taurii?), Explorers and Chargers stand out to be *because* they could be undercover police cars. I’m always looking out for weird antennas, spotlights or hidden flashers.
And the car with perhaps the most anodyne styling this side of 2010, the Caprice PPV, stands out like a sore thumb because it was *only* sold as a PPV.
re PPV: how about that shifter and its housing – is there anything else that is so completely non-styled and absolutely functional?
I can’t remember which car is most forgettable to me.
hehe
I was specifically looking for the first variation of this joke.
Thank you.
I think that is the MOST CORRECT answer, since everybody else can name a forgettable vehicle.
Based on looks alone… Any silver/grey Volkswagen Sedan. I don’t really notice them, until I really see the VW logo, and realize it is a VW. Add the black and white Audi sedans here too, except the A8. I love the A8, they always catch my eyes.
Around here, I think any grey Hyundai/Kia crossover qualifies. They all look vaguely like other brands’ designs, and they only seem to sell in shades of grey. The only exception is the Soul, which comes in colors.
VWs look like VWs. People may not know a Passat from a Jetta, or an A4 from an A6, but they can tell that it’s a VW or an Audi. Not so with Kia/Hyundai.
+1 on the H/K crossovers. I can identify 99.5% of the vehicles on the road from a distance, but don’t ask me to distinguish between a Tucson or Santa Fe or Sorento if the badge isn’t visible.
I actually think almost all recent crossovers meet this description. They’re even worse than mid-sized sedans in this regard. Kudos to Nissan, though: They’ve managed to make their vehicles ugly, generic and forgettable at the same time.
What about a grey VW wagon, like mine? P.S…I wanted the cerulean-blue color, but couldn’t find one.
‘But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean. And you’re also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent… wasn’t it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.
The Devil Wears Prada.
I struggle with the Infiniti and Acura lines. I can name a MDX when I see one, other than that they just exist for me.
I do notice the big Armada Infiniti SUV which too me is trying too hard to be an Escalade. Many here don’t like the Cadillac due to its overt ostentatious styling but I tend to give Cadillac the nod for being first and staying true to the styling. Where as the Infiniti is like the weirdo friend trying to emulate the cool guy at school with a flat billed hat.
The local Infiniti dealer seems to make money hand over fist, selling those bloated whale QX80 SUVs to uppity people around here. I think they look hideous.
The QX80 is now -entirely- overpriced, given the presence of the new Armada which is the same car with a more dignified face on it.
$44,000-60,000 for the Armada
$63,000-89,000 for the QX80
Seriously.
I just detailed a first gen QX56. Oh it took forever. It is a hideous vehicle no matter where outside you look at it.
The Armada’s arching doors, especially those goofy rear door handles, are awful. But, the melted and stretched generic-every-Infiniti-since-the-G35 front end treatment is the worst.
Any pickup truck.
“Any pickup truck”-dougjp
This, x 1000. I would also throw in any silver CUV/SUV, regardless of make.
Speaking of trucks, I wonder if there proliferation on the roads have had some impact on people moving to CUV/SUV so they can better see around them. Around here, trucks are everywhere. And when I am in the Avalon, seeing around these things is a pain in the ass.
Any pickup truck – YOU WIN.
Yes, the prestigious Brown Manual Diesel Wagon “BMDW” award.
Honorable mention for the Car/Badge Snob award.
I was thinking any sedan.
Each to their own.
Minus the GTI, anything coming from VW is pretty forgettable. The Touareg looks like it came straight outta 2002.
List of forgettable autos: Mazda3
Toyota Camry
Buick Regal
VW Jetta
Honda Accord
Majority of Infiniti products.
You answer any question with Infiniti, so you must not forget them that much.
I mention Infinti for good reason. Infiniti sedans for the most part are generic and not to many people keep up with the naming schemes. QX series as well. They are all getting outdated.
Having said that the 2017 Q60 coupe is simply beautiful. Probably one of the best looking coupes in the past 20 years for any auto brand.
Mazda3? – good try
Mazda 3? Absolutely should be on the unforgettable list. Generic little car especially the sedan. Neighbor has a 2016 base model sedan. From the outside it looks like a no name generic auto. And it certainly does not looked like a new car. For the average person it looks more generic than a Sentra .
You know, I had one in mind and just saw it today, but it was so generic that I forgot all about it.
I did that yesterday evening – I had my pick ready for today. Then I forgot about it until a moment ago.
Sorry, dudes, for better or worse, Camrys have been quite uniquely styled for the last three generations now. Just because something is common, yes, that can make it less noticeable, but not to the level of, say, the Jetta/Passat. Zero character there. Same goes for the Sentra.
Would also have to go with the (previous gen) Sentra. And sadly for me now (owning a previous gen 2013 model), the new Cruze looks like just about every other compact car out there. I see too much Hyundai/Kia/etc…in the side profile.
Within any category most vehicles look pretty similar, so for me it’s hard to think of individual vehicles that are generic/forgettable (when most are). Ironically, the recent Civic Type R article was followed by lots of negative comments re: the styling. So here we have a car that’s not generic/forgettable (and is geared to enthusiasts, has an MT, etc.), and it’s criticized. I can hear the “but it’s ugly” responses, but we have to consider to what extent “ugly” is an objective response to the styling merits vs. what we have been trained to view as acceptable by what we’ve become accustomed to. I recall when the Ford Taurus came out years ago that it was considered ugly because of its (then) futuristic styling. But a few years later everything looked like that and we were trained visually to accept it. Face it – we’re sheep. ;)
Not that its styling is ‘bad’ but when was the last time that anyone noticed a Malibu, of any generation?
I owned one and it was a good value but totally blended in to traffic.
I notice the current one. I like the overall shape, it carries the Chrysler 200 torch forward, and the LED jowls are distinctive if unfortunate.
Chrysler 200. You’d swear it was a Fusion.
I suppose that won’t be a problem much longer.
Usually if I notice a vehicle it is due to “rarity” (when’s the last time I saw a late 90s Kia?) or blingyness (Arggggggg! The grille on that Terrain Denali is blinding!) or I own one and can’t help but pick them out in traffic (I swear there are more 2nd gen Highlanders on the road now than when they were in production.)
I’d say the “same sausage different lengths” school of design has made cars more forgettable. Some of the manufacturers have a sub-compact, compact, midsize, and full-size sedan that all look the same except for wheelbase and exterior dimensions. That makes their vehicles eminently more forgettable.
Vehicles would be less forgettable if color palettes weren’t so limited. Everything is just a sea of silver/gray/white/black.
A ’72 Valiant isn’t so generic when you have 18 different colors to choose from.
[Holds up BMW brochure.]
“It’s offered in black, silver, silver, or black.”
I think you may have answered this question perhaps best of all. When virtually everything on the road is either black, white, silver, gray or beige it’s hard to notice differences. You do see a few blues or reds. Orange or yellow is pretty rare. And these days green seems to also be very rare, as is brown. And purple is quite rare, too.
Jetta, Passat, Audi A4. Very conservative and generic designs, but at least they are tasteful, well-proportioned, and have some upscale details.
For a bland forgettable design with no such redeeming subtleties: Hyundai Sonata
For an entire class of vehicle that is too generic, too common, too uninteresting to register: CUV. This despite automakers’ efforts to put many lines, many creases, many shapes on them.
I think the best looking small-mid CUV entrant is the XC60. I still notice them, even though the design is older now. They look pretty sharp, and the design doesn’t have all the flim-flam of other CUVs.
I agree on the XC60, if they updated the dashboard I could see that design looking fresh for another 5 years. I like the design language Volvo brought in the early 2000s, I still notice 15-year old S60s much more than brand new ones.
Yeah, the S60 went wrong (for 2010) when they hiked up the front end and made it round. It used to look like a larger car because it had those nice, straight lines.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Y8gMkAf0Pao/maxresdefault.jpg
Looks like a Sonata now.
http://images.gtcarlot.com/pictures/108228794.jpg
I agree about the XC60, although the new Jaguar F-Pace gives it a run for its money, especially given the latter’s RWD proportions. However, the F-Pace is considerably dearer in price.
The other day I saw an F-Pace in flat white, and I realized then the F-Pace only works in certain colors. White isn’t one of them.
Interesting. There’s a bright red one around my workplace with a new tag, and it definitely works. And I saw a silver-ish one that looked good, too. I would not buy a white Jaguar, though. Then again, I wouldn’t have bought a Jaguar SUV five years ago, because such a thing seemed like an oxymoron.
Dark green! That’s the place to be on the F-Pace.
As with any Jaguar. Their dark green is beautiful.
GM has had several beautiful dark greens, too. They had one for the Corvette (fitting, since it’s made in a town called Bowling Green), but I think it got discontinued. You could also get a nice metallic green on the previous Cruze. And the green color that I’ve seen on the current K2XX-based Silverado harkens back to the very rectilinear GMT400 trucks and SUVs of the 90s, which were quite often sold in green with beige lower cladding. My grandfather had a ’98 Tahoe 2-door in green / beige, with beige leather.
Not dark green, with any Jaguar coupe you want British Racing Green with a tan leather interior.
Anything else is just declasse.
Nissan Rogue– cover up the logo and it could be made by anyone. And they’re absolutely everywhere.
Agreed. Small CUV’s are as generic as it gets.
When I first saw a Nissan Rogue, I was amused at the sheer audacity of naming such an unbelievably bland and forgettable vehicle “Rogue”. It’s like Nissan’s marketing folks were asked to come up with the least appropriate possible name. It’s the most generic member of s generic class of vehicle.
I know, the first gen was just…nothing. No style. It was not trucky, it was not sleek. It was not handsome and reserved like some VWs who may seem bland to some, it genuinely IS bland. Almost on purpose one would think.
The new one is just ugly, but at least it has some sort of style attempt.
Chevy Trax
Chevy Equinox
Kia Rio
Nissan Rogue
Nissan Sentra
I’d say it’s the Kia Forte. It has the generic tadpole shape that so many other compact cars have, and no real brand recognition outside of a certain, credit-challenged demographic.
The 5-door SX, I’m told, is a treat, but I would still probably pass on it just because it’s a Forte.
Other cars that come to mind are larger but nevertheless ubiquitous wares like the Taurus, the MKS, the previous-generation LaCrosse, the previous Maxima and the current Altima. If they last, these will be the pennies-on-the-dollar cash-car cockroaches of the future, taking the torch from GM H/G-bodies and W-bodies of the 90s and early ’00s.
My sister has a Forte (think it’s a 14) and really likes it. She hit a deer, and after she got it repaired I say “Hey, maybe an opportunity to get something else, eh?”
Nope.
Right? The other day, on my commute home, I saw a newish Forte driven off into a ditch on the side of the highway, with an orange violation sticker on the side window that suggested it had been there a while.
At the dealership I worked for, they used to scare people with the base-model Rio…so they could be relieved when they got approved for a base-model Forte at 18% APR, never mind that it wasn’t much of an improvement and they’d never be able to get rid of it once their credit *did* go back up.
Corey, I test drove a 2014 Forte sedan 3 years ago. What was weird was I neither disliked it nor did I really like it. The driving experience, that is. While I basically liked the size and looks of it, there was nothing wrong or bad I could complain about, yet it didn’t elicit any really positive feelings either. But, admittedly it was a brief test drive. A year or two later I talked to somebody who owns a new one and that guy said he really likes it. OK, the other issue is were I to get one, it would be with a manual transmission, and the one I test drove was an automatic.
Lexus CT 200h
It’s not forgettable to me, because it’s hideous. That C-pillar treatment makes me want to weep. Nevertheless, it seems most of Lexus’ customers walk right past it on their way to the ES or IS, which are both vastly better cars, IMO.
I forgot they made the CT 200h. My boss bought a new one and I assumed that it was just a 2014.
Lol. My boss drives a de-badged 2016 Golf R with an APR tune.
We get along really well.
My boss has the CT 200h and a Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. She drives a ton and was using more fuel than a small African country. Hence the CT 200h.
I cannot imagine the power disparity in alternating between an SRT and a Prius-engined Lexus as your daily drivers.
Too weird to be forgettable.
By the way, since you’re here, Adam… how has your MKT ownership experience been after a few years? Seriously thinking of picking up a 2014-15 model with captain’s chairs. We have several road trips coming up and the LS is going to be a big packing challenge now that we have two kids with big car seats.
Overall, it has been very good. I have a 2013 with captain’s chairs.
Our previous MkT was a 2010. The only issue I had with that one was with the PTU. And that was because the dealership that I took it too, not the one I bought it from, didn’t change the PTU fluid like I requested. The previous owner towed something with it, because it had a dealer installed hitch. They were supposed to change both the transmission and PTU/diff fluid. They did not. The PTU eventually went bad because it sludged up. Lincoln and the dealership was going to split the cost of the replacement, but I traded it in, got some cash from Lincoln for my trouble, and bought another MkT.
This current version has been flawless. I would recommend buying anything 2013 or newer (14-15 is good). The 2013 MkT was a serious refresh. It took lessons learned from the early Flex/MkT plus incorporated things front the 2011+ Explorer.
The weak point will always be the PTU/diff. This little box of voodoo is responsible for transferring power from the output shaft of the transmission to the front wheels and also to the rear drive shaft. It only holds about a pop bottle’s worth of fluid. Despite what Ford/Lincoln says, it is not lifetime fill. Get it changed every 40K or 60K miles, and you should be fine.
I would also suggest finding a CPO version. They aren’t any more expensive and the Lincoln warranty is very good. It is Ford/Lincoln’s PremiumCare warranty added on to the factory warranty.
We had an Expedition recently, and I don’t think my wife would trade her MkT for an Expedition. The MkT is extremely good at eating up highway miles while keeping you and your family in comfort. The extended wheelbase gives everyone a lot of room.
Are there any specific concerns you have or just looking for how I feel about ownership so far?
Thanks — that’s really helpful. I asked because (PTU aside — that issue is well documented for the early cars) I haven’t been able to find a lot of mechanical complaints, to a degree that makes me suspicious I’m not looking in the right places. Just from reading the forums it seems that with the exception of the PTU it’s a very reliable vehicle, even with the suspicious combination of a powerful turbo engine and a Ford FWD auto trans.
The aesthetic challenges may explain why they’re so cheap. Nothing else you can get for the money can do what a lightly used MKT can. I’m finding ~30k mile cars for mid- to high 20s, although there’s clearly higher demand and a premium for captain’s chairs. Even a Flex is significantly more expensive.
Most mechanical things are related to early cars. The door blend actuators sometimes failed, early 6F55 transmissions had some drivability TSBs, and the rear extractor vents (which are behind the bumper) sometimes got crushed and didn’t fuction properly.
The two biggest things that you’ll have to worry about are the PTU. which we talked about, and a water pump failure. Water pumps aren’t failing at a prodigious rate, but it is a 21 hour book time job or something ridiculous.
Those two things are why I’m big on the CPO. For a nominal cost (the dealership I buy from CPOs every used Lincoln that qualifies and doesn’t mark them up), you don’t have to worry about the two big ticket repairs for at least a few years.
21 hours for a water pump? Holy smokes. You must have to dismantle the whole engine to find it.
How have you found the MyLincoln Touch volume control? Is it usable at all, or do you just have to use the wheel controls? That’s really the only aspect of the interior that makes me nervous.
CPO is a great idea if I can find the right car. Elite package and captain’s chairs are musts, and I’d really like to have the power sunroof and tech package too. The 20s look far better than the 19s. I’m agnostic on the fridge console; it’s a neat feature and looks upscale but access to the third row is better without it.
The water pump resides in V6 valley. On some applications you have to drop the front suspension to do it. I think the Flex/MkT book time is actually 12 hours, but I know of Flex water pump replacements that took a day and a half (18-22 hours). The previous gen MKZ/Fusion Sport may have the longest book time for that specific procedure.
As far as MyLincolnTouch goes, it’s fine. We have both gotten used to the volume slider. It isn’t as easy as the knob on the 2010, but it is better than CUE. My wife uses the wheel buttons for most things anyway.
We don’t have the fridge, and I think it’s better that way. Even though we rarely raise the third row, the space between the two seats is an awesome place to put a cooler, kids bag, something oblong that is in the trunk (IKEA stuff), or even a roadside emergency kit.
If the Ford executive that originally leased mine didn’t need the fridge, I don’t either.
Dal must have missed my sermon on Ford Cyclone family water pumps.
I googled “’28 Cars Later’ cyclone ‘water pump ‘” and got some interesting results. Thank you.
That’s interesting because I don’t get much back.
This was the most useful thing I could find searching for my name with dashes, water pump, and the website name:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/11/hammer-time-whatever-happened-black-friday/#comment-6821185
More info here too:
https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2015/11/hammer-time-whatever-happened-black-friday/#comment-6825217
I thought the 3.7L had an external water pump. At least it seems to on the Mustang.
If so, a FWD 3.7L MKT would avoid the two biggest potential issues on the mutant hearse-van.
Read my second link.
That was one of two, and it was helpful. I haven’t previously studied these Cyclone engines in depth and I didn’t realize they had a water pump in the vee until you and Adam said so.
That said, I doubt I will have a problem. I’m looking for cars under about 35k-40kmi and, if I actually buy, won’t put huge numbers of miles on. Probably a bit more than my LS has accumulated (just 5k/year, mostly road trips) but little enough that the car will be gone before 100,000 miles.
I’ll make sure to change the PTU/diff oil at around 50k together with the trans fluid and will otherwise expect trouble-free blown family hauling.
ajla, I’d rather own any number of other products before a FWD 3.7 MKT. The blown engine is what distinguishes it from the rest of the segment. Especially because most of my long-distance driving involves high altitudes. That, and the captain’s chairs — without which it’s just another CUV, but uglier — are only available with the turbos.
That’s an interesting mash-up image at the top. If someone made that car with a RWD turbo-4 and manual trans it would sell.
Agree on the Rogue, and would also add the Titan to the list. For cars I would say the Cruze.
The Yaris iA sedan. Canada is suppose to get the Toyota version of the Scion of the Mazda 2… but even though I see it listed on Toyota.ca, I have not seen ANY in the flesh.
Chevy CUVs (all)
Hyundai/Kia small sedans
I tend to notice the make, model and approximate year of EVERYTHING, from an E-Series to a Rav4. I can’t shut my mind off, it recognizes them even if I TRY to ignore them.
I sold a car for someome, and the buyer was driving me home. He asked where to turn.
“Up there where that Fusion is turning”
“HOW did you know THAT’S a Fusion?”
lol how can you not? He’s lucky I didn’t say “first gen Fusion SEL” like my brain did when I saw it.
Same here. It really freaks people out when you can recognize headlight or tail-light signatures at night and know the make and model of the car…or recognizing motifs and typefaces and being able to tell someone what kind of car they have because their selfie includes a minute part of the car’s interior.
As far as Hyundais and Kias, I really think their lowered prices (which aren’t that low these days) are really offset by the cliff-like depreciation versus that of other badges, and the fact that they don’t seem to hold up as well fit-and-finish wise after about 60K miles. I am particularly not impressed with my mother’s 2012 Sonata Limited, which now has 88,000 miles or so, but looks worse than a 150K-mile Toyota.
Yes, Kyree, a few years back I messaged someone and ended up asking about the Chevy Avalanche and Pontiac G6 folding hardtop in the background. He was dumbfounded that I got the models right when you could only see a tiny bit of the Pontiac’s 1/4 panel and the Chevy’s tailgate. That was more than enough to recognize em.
I’m still thinking of an Amanti for Uber, but I agree, Hyundai/Kia products tend to look beyond their years, even when not owned by someone who trashes it.
I can only do this with cars from the 60s and 70s. I’ll be driving with my wife and catch a partial glimpse of a tail light 4 lanes over and blurt out the year make and model. She’s never impressed by this.
“She’s never impressed by this.”
Nobody ever is. Try pointing out a special model Tempo. Lol
Where!?!
John, I’ve come to suspect that you must be the old poster over at Jalopnik formerly known as FordTempoFinatic. Am I right? Sure seems like it because you know so much about those cars. I always enjoyed reading your posts, as I recognized back then that you’re a true enthusiast.
Rav4.
ANY Nissan [except Armada].
I never *see* a Rav4 – I only see an obstacle in my road. Seriously.
I see them (Rav4, also Prius, Corolla, Altima), but subconsciously, my attention immediately focuses on something else.
Not that I’ll run into it, just that I see what it is and then try my best to not study it or really look look at it if I can avoid it.
Definitely agreed about Nissans- they’ve become the new Toyota circa 1994 minus the quality.
You can pretty much get any Subaru and forget it immediately because they are so generic-looking.
I like the Legacy. The basic design is generic, but it stands out in my mind for having handsome proportions and well-executed details.
Agreed. The Legacy is both essentially generic and quite handsome at the same time. I wouldn’t mind having one, either. I drove one and found it to be thoughly pleasant and competent in every way. I’m reasonably sure deals can be found on them as well. Subarus are selling like hotcakes, but the ratio of Legacys to Imprezas, Foresters and Outbacks in the wild seems out of proportion. Probably just the market for mid-size sedans these days.
Its funny Subaru is mentioned, particularly the Legacy, when Hyundai pretty much copied their design language with their redesigned Sonata. Subaru got it first. So if Subaru is generic, then what is Hyundai for the OP?
Well, I pointed out long time ago that some Ford, Subaru and Hyundai models do look like each other. But Hyundai has pretty sharp designs even if they can be blamed that they look alike in the model lineup. While Suraru designs as whole just look generic. There are lights, roof, hood, ets., and there is nothing special about any of it, save for WRX
It might stands out in your mind, but if you read what QOTD was, it is generic
But Subarus are different enough under the skin to be less forgettable, with the longitudinal layout and boxer engine.
yea, I can’t forget their engine issues either. But the QOTD was of looks specifically.
I always notice Subarus because they are always in the fast lane going 10MPH below what everybody else wants to do (WRXs excluded).
Mitsubishi G4
…bet most folks aren’t even aware that it exists, let alone notice it when one drives past…
Kia Forte LX sedan w/wheel covers
Nissan Versa and Versa Note
Those are cars for people who have given up on life.
The Versa sedan is impossible for me to not notice from the front. Those headlights are freakishly large and remind me of some big-eyed cartoon animal.
I have a good friend with a Versa Note. He’s a very interesting guy but is simply too frugal and disinterested in cars to plunk down for something more.
OH THANK GOD. HERE I THOUGHT I WAS DEPRESSED AND GIVING UP ON LIFE. LOOKS LIKE I HAVE MORE ROOM TO FINALLY HIT ROCK BOTTOM AND MAKE MA AND PA PROUD
Your avatar suites your persona. LOL
You can do it! We believe in you.
I always notice the Note from behind. Its so upright, its the one quality of the car I find appealing, styling wise.
I see the rest, but its terrible. Less terrible than 1st gen, but the Note from the back is the ONLY favorable impression I have of the car. That and impressive room for its size but personally I’d give up that room in a heartbeat for a Cube that’s unique but still roomy, a Fiesta that’s fun to drive, or a Toyota that’s better automagically because, duh, 3 door!
GOOD NEWS, everyone, I have actually found a FWD 2017 USDM Toyota I’d seriously consider:
https://www.loditoyota.com/showroom/2017/Toyota/Yaris/Hatchback.htm
^Dead sexy next to any Versa.
I mean, unless the 1.0L EcoBoost Fiesta burns my legs with scalding engine coolant and strangles me with the seatbelt on the test drive, then I’d probably buy it instead.
I also feel the same way about a Prius C that I do about the Versa Note. A§§ ain’t half bad. I know its based on the Yaris, throw in a 3 door and a manual and that’s a Toyota Prius (“family member”) I’d like to see and drive.
What is really my choice for a small cheap hatch (5 door) is RHD only and carries a dear old name: https://www.datsun.co.in/vehicles/new-vehicles/redi-go.html
If they could LHD it, stuff it with airbags and crash beams, call it the Datsun 110, and still sell it in North America for $8999 through Nissan dealers, I bet it’d be a hit. A fairly minor hit, probably once the novelty wore off, but maybe it would be a starting off point for a revival.
Painted interior surfaces in non-touch areas like the upper interior pillars? I know. it would be a big gamble in a coddled market like ours.
But it might keep some from going to a “program” Versa ex-rental that somebody beat the crap out of every time that is also out of warranty.
Its a new, high MPG and roomy car with a warranty significantly cheaper than the next step up. It isn’t a Tata Nano, but it is more akin to the types of cars Datsun last sold here (extremely cheap and basic, high MPG).
Acura NSX. Where are they and who is buying them? What does it even look like?
I think press people just drive them. The NSX exists only in that world.
The race car is pretty good and fast.
Fusion- Sonata- Legacy- 200- Altima. I always keep confusing the Sonata for the Legacy and the Fusion for a 200 or Altima. Now the current Malibu looks similar and if it weren’t for the fish eyed lenticular side swooshes I would confuse it too for those cars.
That picture doesn’t look…too terribly bad, actually. The front end could use some work, but the rest seems nice enough.
BMW and Audi are vying for the premium generic segment…that is for certain. Go ahead…just look at the offerings. There’s tall, grande and venti (for you Starbucks aficionados) sizes of every sedan and coupe they make.
Outside of the Escalade, every Cadillac made for the past 20 years has been forgettable. I don’t even think any V-Series will fetch anything good at a Barret-Jackson auto auction in 20-30 years either. Sorry if I am stealing any of DW’s thunder here, I’m sure he’d agree.
F150. Where I am about half the vehicles on the road seem to be F series trucks.
If I was going to commit a crime and wanted a get-away vehicle that would blend in, it would be a white or silver F150. Or BMW.
Right now I have a loaner Acura TLX. I know a lot of folks here don’t like it. I still think it’s a nice enough car if a little confusing to this luddite. Even the transmission is shifting fine.
Agreed with the commenter above who said Nissan Rogue. The compact CUV is currently the most generic segment. The Rogue is the most generic entry in the segment, with the RAV4 close behind.
the most generic car that you immediately start to notice is …. Chevy SS. Yea!
yup.
Almost anything Mercedes or Toyota outside of the Prius.
Buick Envision. I mean, try to “Envision” one! Almost impossible, is it not?
These all fit my idea of a generic blend-in car in California. There are common cars that actually look smart and appealing, but these are just…….cars. Objects to be used as appliances and not to be thought of in any fond way.
Toyota Corolla
Toyota Camry
Toyota Sienna
Toyota Highlander (I’ll give the RAV4 a pass due to the new aggro-postal front clip)
Honda Pilot
Honda CR-V
Lexus ES350 or ES300h (I was a fan of the previous gen)
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai Genesis / “Genesis G80”
Kia Sorento
Kia Forte
Kia Rio
Chevrolet Spark
Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Passat (NMS)
Audi A3
Audi A4
Toyota family sedan.
Almost any midsizer sedan or related to the family.
Had a ‘bu as a rental. Walked out of hotel and pushing unlock button over and over again, standing next to a Mazda6.
D’oh!
Stopped at a place to eat, mother starts walking to another generic sedan, no mom, the ‘bu is here.
Got rid of ‘bu due to rental car issues. Got a Nissan Maxima.
Next morning left hotel room, walked up to same Mazda6 again parked to Nissan.
They’re all derivative in part to boring styling and regulations that has killed auto design.
I’ll give my answers now, after careful consideration.
For small generic blob, the Nissan Versa. It is a shape without meaning, and something with very few defining characteristics. Most people would describe it as “a small car.”
For larger/midsize blob, the current Jetta. It’s neither offensive nor beautiful. It’s not too small or large. It isn’t expensive or too cheap. It’s not so much designed but shaped by an accountant to a precise measure. It is car.
The current Jetta is definitely my vote. It looks like a mid to late 90’s slightly stretched and badge engineered Toyota Corolla/Chevy Prism. Zero emotion, maximum blend into the ether design.
Now we need a “Least visually generic, most memorable car in production” list to get started …
Most forgettable car on the market today…
I’d probably have to go with virtually any Mazda product, especially the unsightly CX-5 or even worse the CX-3. Minus Mazda though, the HR-V is probably the car I want to forget about the quickest!
other honorees: Mazda 3, Chevy Trax, and Honda Fit.
How do these carmakers make 2017 models look like ’07’s?
I was going to say “any pickup truck” but reading through the comments someone reminded me of Volkswagen. Jetta, Passat, the little crossover thing. I guess that is the point of this exercise, so beige you forget about it unless it’s parked right in front of you, you are tied to a chair with your eyelids taped open and blinders on. So boring, I could never consider owning one. It’s as if the were purposefully designed with number one goal being create a shape that will not be offensive ANYONE. So, I guess if I picked one it be the Jetta. Melbatoast.
Within the past week or so, my first impression of a nearby car on the road was it’s a VW Jetta. Until I took a closer look at the badge on the deck lid which read PASSAT. D’ohhhh.
The obvious answer are the Corolla, Sonata, Camry, 200 crop of sedans. But I have to say it’s the Subaru Legacy because they seem to have attempted to make it an even more boring amalgamation of every other mainstream sedan on the market.
Fusion. Taurus. Fiesta. Mustang.
Don’t worry. Still the best selling brand, so you’ll have many more to pretend to ignore.
;)
Where was it mentioned we had to take sales into account? But since you mentioned sales, January 2017 sales of the Fusion were DOWN 22%. Sales of the Taurus were DOWN almost 10%. Sales of the Mustang were DOWN over 33%.
And that was after all Ford car models were down 14% in 2016.
In today’s topic: Cars I do not like.
The Kia K900. Just a rip off of actual luxury cars like Lexus, BMW, Audi etc. Looks like something you would find on the Chinese grey market like a knock off designer hand bag. The Kia Amati was worse. That thing looked like a grey market Jaguar S-type, but with more atrocious styling and lack of any proportion.