3 of the Worst Honda Cars of All Time
Honda is among the world’s most popular car brands. It has earned a reputation for quality because it has produced some of the most iconic vehicles. They include the Civic, Accord, CR-V, and Odyssey. However, like most automakers, Honda has produced a few stinkers. Luckily, it has far more hits than misses, and even the most flawed models have loyal fans. Here’s a look at three of the worst Honda cars of all time.
The Crosstour was Honda’s failed attempt at turning the Accord into an SUV
This pick might be controversial because some owners swear by the ugly yet versatile Honda Crosstour. Spanning the 2010 to 2015 model years, Honda Crosstours still cruise the roads. However, it’s arguably one of the worst Honda cars. Among its drawbacks is its dramatically sloping rear roof line. This design feature makes it look more like a car than a crossover SUV. We get that Honda wanted to be daring, but the Crosstour is unattractive.
Another reason the Crosstour is among the worst Honda models is its performance. Though not necessarily weak, it suffers from slow acceleration. This is especially the case for the earlier models; for instance, the 2010 Honda Crosstour took 7.3 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. However, later models were slightly more powerful and faster.
By the end of its production run, the Crosstour included more engine options, including a 3.5-liter V6. According to Edmunds, the final model featured a standard 2.4-liter inline-four producing 192 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. It had front- and all-wheel drive options and a five-speed automatic transmission. But the more potent 3.5-liter V6 harnessed 278 hp and 252 lb-ft of torque.
Additionally, various Crosstour models have experienced excessive oil usage. Not only that, but owners have reported engine problems. For those reasons, the Crosstour is among the worst Honda models.
The Element is 1 of the worst Honda models
The Honda Element is among the worst vehicles by the Japanese automaker because it’s also one of the most hated by owners. Perhaps the biggest reason for its unfavorable reputation is because of its appearance. Unfortunately, many observers think this foxy crossover SUV looks too much like a toaster. However, one of the most egregious offenses of the Element, which lasted on the market from 2003 until 2011, is its weak performance.
The 2003 Element packs a 2.4-liter inline-four engine with a maximum output of 160 hp. This front-wheel-drive SUV has either a five-speed manual transmission or a four-speed automatic. Regarding speed, it takes this toaster of an SUV 8.4 seconds to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph.
By the end of the Element’s run, the SUV retained the 2.4-liter engine. Unfortunately, the maximum output only increased by 6 hp. However, the newer models were a tad faster, though not enough to save this car from being among Honda’s worst.
Honda missed the mark with the FCX
Despite being economical, the FCX is one of the worst cars Honda has ever built. Born out of the idea that hydrogen cars would have a near-future life, the Honda FCX series was one of the automaker’s biggest failures. Not only did the automaker fail to predict the future, but it also designed a car that few people found aesthetically pleasing. However, one bragging right for the FCX is that it was the government’s first certified commercial hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.
The official demise of the FCX came in 2014 when the automaker ended production on the Honda FCX Clarity. However, the company rebranded the car as the Honda Clarity, a battery-electric vehicle. Still, the Clarity had a bland, uninspired look that never caught on with consumers.
