10 cars that disappointed in 2023

Experts from one of the most popular online automotive publications in America, Driving.ca, shared their thoughts about the cars that have become their main disappointment in the past year.

Cadillac Lyriq, 2023.

Stephanie Wallcraft: - God knows, I wanted to love the Cadillac Lyriq. When it was ready to go into production, everything indicated that it would be a great electric car - stylish, advanced and relatively affordable. The Lyriq is still worth the investment, with a starting price of just $69,798 and an impressive range of up to 502 km.

But in testing, we found build quality issues that make this car difficult to recommend, at least in the short term. 

Misaligned interior panels, a loose steering column cover, a stuck center console lid insert, a left rear door that rattles when it opens and closes as if something is stuck between the panels—the list of problems is too long to overlook.

However, build quality problems are often temporary. Once those are resolved, we'll test the Lyriq again and evaluate its merits.

Kia Carnival, 2024.

Matthew Guy: – Let the guys from Kia forgive me, but their Carnival minivan managed to lose to its competitors in a bunch of parameters, succeeding only in a few ones.

While the Chrysler Pacifica has second-row seats hidden in the floor, the Carnival makes do with a bulky back-and-forth sliding system. The large rear seat anchors remain exposed after the (clumsy) third row had been folded. 

The transmission isn't particularly efficient either, especially compared to the gas-powered Toyota Sienna. 

Well, at least the price is right.

Hyundai Ioniq 6, 2023

Graham Fletcher: – I want to say right away that the Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a good car in terms of power, handling and comfort. The anomalies are related to its internal layout. 

All the controls that are usually located on the driver's door - the electric lock, window buttons and mirror settings - have been poorly relocated.

For example, the controls for the power mirrors are now located at the driver's knee. He has to reach for them. As a result, adjusting the mirrors correctly becomes a difficult task. The power windows and locking functions are also located in an exotic location in the middle of the car. 

I think in the modern era (with the exception of the Jeep Wrangler where the doors can be removed so moving the buttons is a must) there is no good reason for such impromptu designs.

You say it's a little thing? But it influences the choice. I would love to have the Ioniq 6 if all the controls were in the right place!

Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV, 2024.

Andrew McCready: – I must warn you: although I was somewhat disappointed with the 2024 Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV, this is more due to high expectations. 

I'm not an Alfa fan (in fact, I can't remember the last time I drove one), so it took me a while to get comfortable with its features - the dashboard interface and controls.

I knew that Alfa Romeo are dynamic cars and I really enjoyed driving the Tonale in all-electric mode. But I was disappointed with how the petrol engine performed when reaching 70 km/h. Many new PHEVs can operate in all-electric mode until the speed limit is reached... Not the Alfa Romeo Tonale PHEV!

The noise of the gasoline engine seemed too intrusive to me. I also didn't like how the car accelerated. The automatic gear shift wasn't as smooth as I expected. 

I used e-Save mode to conserve battery power while driving on the highway - a great feature. But I would have liked to have an EV mode button instead of having the car itself determine when to go all-electric. 

Yes, and one more thing. Tonale reminds you of the need to fasten your seat belt with a loud and unpleasant sound. Do something with this squeaker!

Honda Odyssey, 2023.

Renita Narain: – I love minivans. But the minivan market in America has seriously declined, although it once flourished. Perhaps the reason is the conservatism of engineers, their reluctance to look for new solutions.

Honda Odyssey still has the strengths that make it a good, practical family carrier. But my 2014 Odyssey is not much different from the 2023 model. That's the whole point.

Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic, 2023.

Brian Harper: - Mercedes-AMG C 43 4Matic, 2023, I recently drove is a beast of a beast. AMG managed to produce decent power - 402 hp. - from a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine thanks to some manipulation of F1 technology. 

Impressive acceleration is complemented by excellent handling (thanks to the ability to steer the rear wheels). The sporty interior of the car will surely bring a blissful smile to GTA V fans. 

Just a single “but” is the ease of use of the C43 in everyday life. Or rather, inconvenience. The suspension is stiff even in comfort mode and provides a rumbling and shaking ride. The transmission doesn't like to sit back, especially in traffic. It switches to a higher gear early, can randomly go through 1-2-3 - up and down. 

Of course, on a smooth and deserted road you will be able to appreciate the top speed of the engine, the quality of the brakes and effectively dive into a turn. But you expect something more from a $90,000 sports sedan than just these tricks. 

Genesis GV60 2023 г. и Polestar 2, 2024.

Gil McIntosh: - Nothing I've ever driven has turned into, "Oh my god, this evil can't be redeemed!" But several cars made me say: “Do you really have to be superhuman to notice this outrage?”

Door handles on electric cars have irritated me before. Most ones are flush-mounted for improved aerodynamics and extend when the driver approaches the vehicle. 

But those handles that come with the Genesis GV60 are simply a fiasco: long, narrow, they pop out to the side, so you kind of grab the rounded end of a stick. If this happens on a snowy day when the handles are wet, it will take several attempts to open the damn door.

I was driving a Polestar 2 on a sunny day in Colorado with co-driver Brian Harper, and we were both having vision problems. Because the massive, lightly tinted sunroof had no shade. Polestar is already aware of the problem and will probably come up with something soon. Hopefully not a sheet that will cover the windshield of a $60,000+ car.  

Toyota Sienna, 2023

Jonathan Yarkoni: – Some people will kill me for this, but perhaps the most disappointing car of the past year is the Toyota Sienna. Don't get me wrong, this is a very good car. It's super practical, comfortable, efficient, and reasonably priced when you compare its price tag to the Chrysler Pacifica or Honda Odyssey.

I thought the Sienna combined these qualities with tolerable handling, but I was wrong. Both the Kia Carnival and Chrysler Pacifica show that minivans can be handled better. In addition, the car is noisy to such an extent that it constantly irritated me; the infotainment system is not even one generation behind, but two generations behind. 

Overall, I think Toyota could and should do better with this hybrid transmission, vaunted all-wheel drive and electronics.

Kia EV6 GT, 2023

Brendan McAleer: – Most of the cars I drove this year were at least average. Of course, there were complaints about each of them, but none of them stood up to being considered deal breakers. Still, there was one unexpected disappointment, the essence of which was not in technical parameters, but in sensations.

Kia EV6 is a great car overall. But the EV6 GT left me indifferent. Yes, it's fast, but unleashing all of its 576 hp. not easy in a city environment.  In addition, the vehicle had a shorter range than other models.

You can see why Kia created this trim, and it's certainly competitive in its segment. But it doesn't make driving fun. 

However, the closely related Ioniq 5 N is on the horizon. Let's see if Hyundai specialists will be able to hone the advantages of this platform.

Sources: Driving.ca, Motortrend.com.