You Either Love Them or Hate Them: 7 Controversial Cars from Recent History

You’ve probably heard someone say that there are no bad cars anymore, and while that might largely be true, there are still a few designs that maybe should have spent more time in the autoclave before being unleashed on the public.

The vehicles on this list aren’t necessarily bad, ugly, or poor performers. At the very least, they’re polarizing, and all of them share one thing in common: controversy. Each of these vehicles came with a mother lode of criticism (good and bad), internet memes, and just plain mockery.

Sometimes controversy can be a good thing, signifying that the vehicle in question might be ahead of its time. In other cases, it can ruin a brand’s reputation.

We haven’t gone too far back in time to pick cars for this list, sticking to the better part of the past 20 years with cars most of us actually remember. And if any one of these was on your dream car list, don’t worry, we won’t hold it against you.

Tesla Cybertruck

We’re starting this list with an easy one: the Tesla Cybertruck. With a profile that could have been penned by a 3-year-old, the Cybertruck sucked up all the internet’s oxygen when it was first revealed as a concept in 2019, and it continues to dominate the automotive news cycle today. 

The Cybertruck moved the needle forward with innovations like a steer-by-wire system with no mechanical connection to the wheels, a 48-volt electrical system, and what Tesla calls an exoskeleton, giving the truck incredible dent resistance. Say what you will about its design, but at the very least, it’s incredibly unique.

The Cybertruck resembles something we might be driving in a post-apocalyptic future, but many argue the world doesn’t need another oversized pickup truck to make roads less safe for those who drive smaller and more practical vehicles. The sharply creased bodywork doesn’t exactly bode well for pedestrian safety either. 

Besides its divisive looks, the truck has also become wildly politicized and has been recalled multiple times for quality issues despite being touted by the brand as “durable.”

Jaguar’s Type 00 Concept

The Type 00 Concept is still in the conceptual stages, but Jaguar is making a production version that’s already been spied with the same proportions. Jaguar, which is known for designing some of the most beautiful cars in history, was met with widespread criticism when the Type 00 Concept debuted. Critics said the concept betrayed the company’s rich heritage and that it looked like a cheap knock-off from a video game.

The recent rebranding of the storied British brand was one of the strangest media spectacles the automotive world has seen in a long time. It wasn’t clear if we were looking at a psychotropic music video or Balenciaga's new fall collection, but the iconic leaping cat or any references to cars were nowhere to be found.

The concept itself is as polarizing as they come, but there’s an understated beauty to the monolithic sheet metal and it did instill some much-needed life into an ailing brand. 

BMW XM

Perhaps the most obnoxious of all the new BMW designs, the XM is the company’s first attempt at capturing the ultra-luxury SUV market populated by marques like Bentley and Lamborghini. With its price tag nearing $300,000 in Canada, however, it opened the door to extremely high standards and a wave of harsh criticism.

This plug-in hybrid “super SUV” was the first vehicle designed entirely from the ground up by the M department, BMW’s high-performance arm, and a big, heavy SUV isn’t exactly the best poster child for performance.

With its sky-high price, the XM was criticized for trying to balance performance and luxury but not being particularly good at either. As BMW’s most expensive model, it didn’t yet have the right audience, and as a result, XM sales have been underwhelming. It doesn’t help that the XM looks the way it does with its giant snout and odd, bulky proportions.

In its Label trim, it makes over 700 hp from its plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and it actually drives impressively well for what it is, but so do the much less expensive X5M and X6M.  Let’s hope the next vehicle designed by the M department is better looking, more focused, and more successful.

Hummer EV

Electric cars are a marvel of efficiency, converting nearly all energy stored in the battery to drive the wheels. One issue, however, is the weight of the battery packs. The heavier a vehicle, the more power is required to move it, which directly affects efficiency. 

On average, an electric sedan or SUV has a battery that weighs 400 to 500 kg. General Motors’ gigantic Hummer EV has a battery that’s more than double that size, weighing in at a whopping 1,315 kg or nearly 3,000 lbs. That’s the weight of a Honda Civic. Despite this massive battery, its maximum range is barely over 500 km, or about the same as the company’s Equinox EV, which is a fraction of the price of a Hummer EV.

The Hummer EV is the antithesis of efficient electric transportation, and driving one is akin to lighting a barrel of gasoline on fire to roast a marshmallow. While it’s packed with interesting features and is pretty capable, many have called the Hummer EV a gimmick and have accused GM of “greenwashing” because its inefficiency is counterproductive to the entire environmental ethos of EVs. Besides that, the Hummer EV is expensive, costing over six figures in Canada. Its only saving grace is that the company probably won’t make very many of them.

Pontiac Aztek

Ten years ago, the Aztek would have been the top contender on this list, but it’s been overshadowed many times over by some of the other entries here like the Cybertruck and the Hummer EV.

Get past its looks, and the Aztek wasn’t a bad vehicle: it was practical and designed with a specific type of adventurous (but not too adventurous) driver in mind. Its style was extremely polarizing, but it was truly ahead of its time because many of today’s crossovers don’t look too different. There was even a version of the Aztek with a tent and inflatable mattress that turned it into a camper. It was a car marketed to outdoor enthusiasts long before the trend took hold and became what it is today.

The SUV was only sold for five years before it was discontinued. Fast forward five more years and the brand Pontiac was shelved as well.

Aston Martin Cygnet

In one of the strangest collaborations in automotive history, Aston Martin took a Toyota/Scion IQ, a tiny city car not too different in size than a Smart Car, and stuck its famous grille on it. Aston said it was building a luxury car for urban dwellers, but it actually built the car to comply with the European Union’s new emissions regulations. As a luxury sports car brand, all its vehicles were powered by thirsty V8 or even V12 engines, so the brand needed something efficient to bring its fleet-wide average down to avoid hefty fines. 

The Cygnet had a more luxurious interior and a few styling details along with the all-important Aston Martin badges, but it was still powered by a measly 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine that didn’t even make 100 hp. It was nearly double the price of the Toyota it was based on, and it didn’t sell very well, so it was discontinued after just two years.

Mercedes-Benz EQS

Rather than just make an electric S-Class, Mercedes decided to build an entirely new line of EVs adjacent to its gasoline models. The EQS was the flagship, an electric S-Class if you will, but the reception was lukewarm. Mercedes has already reversed course on the idea of a dedicated line of EVs.

The EQS has been widely criticized as looking like a deformed egg or bar of soap. It doesn’t have the same presence or driving experience as an S-Class. The EV felt unfinished, with grabby brakes and inconsistent power delivery when it first came out. The EQS and EQE sedans and SUVs are still on sale, but with the company planning on integrating EVs into its existing lineup, they might not be around for much longer.