The Best and Most Disappointing Car List by the U.S. Motor Trend

The Best and Most Disappointing Car List by the U.S. Motor Trend. It was selected by reporters who participated in the test drive, which is different from the four "high performance cars of the year" (high performance, passenger cars, SUVs, and trucks) chosen annually. For reference, the Toyota Prius went up for the Car of the Year in 2024, and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class in 2025.

First of all, the best car list is as follows.

- 2025 Toyota Camry
- 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser
-           Ferrari 296 GTB
- 2025 Rivian R1S Quad Motor
- 2024 Porsche 911 Dakar
- 2025 Honda Civic Sports Touring Hybrid
- 2025 Honda Civic Sports 2.0 L
- 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5N
-           Modern RN24

There's a reason for each, and the Camry is a hybrid powertrain completion that offsets the high price with a light run. It's beyond the easiest tool to buy and ride, which means a mid-size sedan in the United States. The Land Cruiser isn't the best running car, but it makes you smile when you're driving on a classic exterior, etc. This is important if you're not a volume model.

The Rivian R1S quad motor will give a new experience to those who believe that electric cars will become a "soulless mode of transportation." I rode a dual-motor model this year, and it was impressive that the car itself was good. I found the Honda Civic interesting in choosing not only hybrids but also regular internal combustion locomotives.

Hyundai Motor's Ioniq 5N is the car that led to the "democratization of high-performance electric vehicles," and its concept car, the RN24, can become like the Ken Block, and even the most stubborn critics of electric vehicles can be a believer. I'm so proud of myself for no reason…

Here's the list of disappointing cars.

- 2025 Kia K5
- 2023 Nissan Ariya
- 2024 Ineos Grenade
- 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray
-           Fisker Ocean
-           MG Cyberster
- 2024 Toyota Tacoma

The K5 received a bad evaluation among competitors such as Sonata, Camry and Accord because of its running performance, which does not suit the sportiest appearance even in its class. Nissan Arya is an electric car, but its disadvantages are unclear braking feeling, regenerative braking method, suspension that does not filter out road shocks and charging speed of up to 130 kW.

Ineos Grenadier is good for saving the old Defender, but its disadvantages are its rolling comfort, stiff steering and ridiculously large turning radius. Even if it's an off-roader, big contenders such as Wrangler, Bronco, and Land Cruiser have a good ride.

The hybrid version of the Corvette e-ray is the most disappointed car in the C8 Corvette, which has changed to the Midship. They also point out that it doesn't have much difference in all-wheel drive with a motor, and it's not PHEV like other hypercars.

Fisker Ocean said the car itself was fine, but the problem was an unresolved software defect. Should I say it showed all the problems that could arise with electric cars and SDVs.

MG Cyberster from Shanghai Automotive Group (SAIC) seems to have had a test drive in China. Expectations for roadsters in Europe and the U.K., especially for sports cars themselves, are not very high. The key is that it seems to be controlled by an XBOX controller that has already lost its taste.

The name of the most popular Toyota Tacoma in its class was unexpected. FYI, the Ram 1500 is up for Truck of the Year 2025. Tacoma is still like an old truck, with new chassis, new powertrain and rear axle with new coil springs added. I don't understand the narrow rear seats yet.

I wish our country had something like this. "Car of the Year" is good, but also talking about cars that are disappointed among the cars that have been driven. Someone has to say something they don't like, which helps actual car buyers. It's also nice to end the year like this.

#Motor trend #Car of the Year #DisappointedCar #Good #CarColumnist Lee Donghee