These Vehicles From Abroad Failed to Make an Impact in the U. S. Market
The US is known for being truck mad and very patriotic. That's probably why these foreign cars didn't stand much of a chance when they were imported to America. They were flops of epic proportions and here we'll look at why they flopped. Keep reading to find out which was the worst of the bunch.
Nissan Titan
If there's one thing you can say about American drivers, it's that they love their trucks - pickups, compacts, you name it, there's at least one Joe out there who loves what you're selling. The Titan's failure is, therefore, even more baffling - Nissan should have knocked it out of the park. Instead, what they delivered was a truck that handled poorly, was terribly plain, and provided almost no utility.
Jaguar X-Type
Jaguar has produced some incredible vehicles over the years, many of which have been wholeheartedly embraced by Americans all over the country. The company quickly became synonymous with British sophistication and aesthetic excellence... which made the X-Type that much more disappointing. It was nothing more than a rebadged Ford Mondeo.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
You'd expect the guys who gave us such luxurious classics as the S-Class, the C-Class, and the W123 would be able to deliver something that had, well, class. Instead, the GLA was a reminder that the badge a car wears can't cover up shoddy craftsmanship and engineering. It was an overpriced matchbox on wheels with a cramped cabin and poor visibility.
Volkswagen Fox
In fairness to VW, the Fox was never really meant to win over US interests. Catered specifically to Brazilian drivers, it was designed to be both practical and highly adaptable in a small package; however, North American consumers couldn't help but feel that the vehicle was lacking in features and refinement.
Fiat Strada
Combining Italian flair with more American-minded practicality, the Strada was Fiat's attempt to carve out a small but profitable niche in the pickup market. And while its nimble handling and smaller proportions were great for urban drivers, the Strada simply wasn't up to the task when it came to doing... well, everything else you'd expect a pickup to do.
Kia Sportage
The Sportage was originally introduced in the 90s and has continued to endure to this day... which is baffling since most agree that the vehicle is underwhelming at best and downright inexcusable at worst. It's sluggish, small, and doesn't even handle as well as some of its more modest competitors. It is cheap, however...
Chevrolet Aveo
Remember Daewoo? Though never a strong competitor in the US, Chevrolet clearly saw something in the company that led to their collaboration on the Aveo. The result? Pretty much exactly what you'd expect: cheap construction, boring design, and underwhelming performance. Go figure.
Mercedes-Benz CLA
Really, making a Mercedes and profiting from its success should be the easiest thing in the world - just copy and paste what worked before. Unfortunately, while the CLA had premium finishes, those weren't enough to distract people from the vehicle's tiny cabin, sluggish performance, and general unreliability.
Toyota Tacoma
Toyota has pretty much built its brand on bland practicality and reliability, a combination that works just good enough for most people. The Tacoma, therefore, stands out for its sheer lack of reliability, not to mention its shoddy ride and uncomfortable interior.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
As kings - nay, titans - of the off-road, it's pretty difficult for Land Rover to shoot their shot and miss, but when they do, they miss by a country mile. The Discovery Sport was bland, painfully unfun to drive, and could hardly handle the most well-trod of dirt roads.
Morris Marina
Morris Motors may have never established a firm foothold in the US, but there was a time when nearly everyone in Britain was driving one of their cars. The Marina was likely intended to secure more interest in the brand among American drivers, but its British sensibilities often got in the way, and the vehicle's construction quality left much to be desired.
Skoda Estelle
It's likely that you've never heard of the Skoda Estelle before. It's something of a relic from Poland's Communist era, a quirky little sedan infamous for its rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout that turned quick trips to the grocery store into no-holds-barred, adrenaline-filled thrill rides. Needless to say, it was bad, but at least it was also kind of entertaining.
Fiat 500E
You know the car you made is bad when even your company's own CEO wants nothing to do with it. Intended to secure Fiat's place in the growing electric market, the 500E likely turned more drivers away than it gained, mostly due to its shoddy construction that completely buckled in even the lightest of collisions.
Subaru WRX
Subaru is hardly the most popular brand in the US, but it's still carved out a secure spot for itself in the market. The WRX, therefore, wasn't doing them any favors when it was released. It was surprisingly expensive for a vehicle of its class and didn't offer much justification for its price tag.
Mini Cooper Clubman
The original Mini Cooper is not without its flaws, but its pint-sized sophistication gave it a unique charm that won everyone over. So, what happens when you take away one of the Mini's most defining qualities? You get the Clubman, essentially the same vehicle stretched out to accommodate an extra set of doors, and without any of the original's charisma.
SsangYong Rodius
SsangYong's bold attempt to revitalize the MPV segment was a swing and a miss. The Rodius was practical, sure, and spacious to boot, but folks just couldn't get over its "unconventional" (see also: hideous) styling, even if it was competitively priced.
Daewoo Lanos
Say what you will about Daewoo, but you couldn't fault them for lack of ambition. Intended to take the international market by storm, the Lanos was less of a tempest and more of a light drizzle. It found a small niche of budget-conscious buyers, but it didn't offer anything else to sway larger crowds.
Volkswagen Touareg
In the early 2000s, sedans were out and SUVs were in, ushering in a wave of new vehicles, not all of which met their mark. Take the Touareg, for example, whose powerful engine necessitated an overly complicated layout—and overly expensive repairs.
Fiat 500L
Many of the 500E's problems were inherited from its big brother, the 500L, including subpar construction, unreliable brakes, a bevy of electrical gremlins, and shoddy mechanics. It's safe to say that Fiat is hardly America's favorite foreign baby.
Austin Allegro
The Austin Allegro was a huge hit in 70s Britain, but once it crossed the pond, it quickly fell apart - quite literally. It didn't help that its uniquely British sense of style was polarizing, too.
Hyundai Excel
The Excel was Hyundai's first entry into the international market, and while it certainly won its share of fans over with its cheap price and solid reliability, it didn't exactly set the standard for South Korean automotive excellence with its basic design and lack of features.
Chery QQ3
Chery's entire schtick is making cars as cheaply as possible. So, while the QQ3 is easily one of the most wallet-friendly vehicles ever, its actual quality is shoddy at best. In fact, "shoddy" might be too nice a word.
Citroën C3 Pluriel
Our last entry is probably our weirdest one, too. The C3 Pluriel sought to combine elements of sedans, hatchbacks, and coupes into one package. The result was a baffling mess that, while ambitious, left many drivers scratching their heads and opting for more practical vehicles instead.
Lada Riva
American drivers have proven time and again that they'll drive any foreign car, so long as it's well-made and has at least a modicum of style. The Lada Riva, therefore, is proof that even if the Russians were trying to infiltrate the country, they're not doing a very good job of it.
Mazda RX-8
Despite potentially being the best-looking vehicle on this list, the Mazda RX-8's rotary engine became its Achilles' heel due to how quickly its seals wore out, effectively tanking any hype the vehicle may have generated.
