Nothing is more satisfying than driving a cool car. However, there’s nothing more frustrating than being the only person who believes your car is cool.
In the present automobile landscape, many car manufacturers are making significant strides in making their vehicles better than ever – even manufacturers who have historically had a reputation for being a “cheap” brand. According to enthusiasts in a popular online car forum, these seriously cool cars are held back by one thing: their badge.
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Mazda CX-90
There isn’t a more polarizing car on the market than the Mazda CX-90. It’s a car that people seem to love or hate, with no in-between. Recently introduced to take a big bite out of the SUV market share dominated by manufacturers like Toyota, many car enthusiasts have accused Mazda of making a luxury SUV that isn’t worthy of their brand. Many agree the CX-90 is worthy of a luxury car brand – just not Mazda!
Toyota Highlander
Toyota’s centerpiece of their SUV offerings has undergone impressive overhauls in recent model years. Buyers believe the only thing holding the vehicle back is that it’s a Toyota, which isn’t synonymous with luxury and quality.
One owner reveals, “My Highlander has all of the luxury features I would care about from another brand (which is heated and cooled leather seats, radar cruise, and a bunch of USB ports), v6, naturally aspirated, looks nice, 300hp, reliable, seven seats, AWD, doesn’t cost me much to run.”
Hyundai Tucson
Hyundai has come a long way from being the “budget brand” of cars. However, their latest Tucson offering shows that Hyundai is serious in its attempt to disrupt the automobile industry.
With a striking and unique exterior design, a modern interior with plenty of user-friendly tech features, and a price that can’t be beaten, countless drivers have admitted that the Hyundai nameplate is the only thing keeping them from buying one.
Toyota Prius
The Prius has been the laughingstock of the car world due to its uninspired design, despite being one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. Even though the upcoming model of the Prius is arguably the most attractive version yet, many drivers think the Prius name is permanently tainted.
Toyota’s best move may be to abandon the Prius name entirely and start from scratch because the sad reality is that Prius is not associated with “cool” at all, but many secretly admit it is.
Buick Regal
It may be time for Buick to face the facts: they have lost all semblance of prestige. The Buick Regal is low-key one of the best cars money can buy, but there are too many people unwilling to part with their hard-earned money because nobody wants to be caught driving a Buick in the first place. “The last-gen Regal would have sold much better with almost any other GM badge on it,” confesses one driver.
Kia Stinger
Signaling a renaissance for Kia when it was first released in 2017, the Stinger was the Korean car manufacturer announcing to the world that they would no longer be accountable to the budget automobile market. Not surprisingly, true fans of the car agree.
“The Kia Stinger is notoriously overlooked. It’s not only a beautiful car; it also has the performance chops to back it,” says one satisfied owner. Many believe the car would be an overwhelming best-seller if an established brand manufactured it instead.
Mitsubishi Outlander
As one of the most affordable SUVs on the market, the complete lack of interest in the Mitsubishi brand overshadows the advanced technology the car employs – not to mention safety features that punch well above the car’s weight. Of course, we wouldn’t mind owning the Outlander at all. Still, many drivers are turned off because it’s built by Mitsubishi, a brand known for building inferior vehicles for decades.
Genesis GV80
Created as a spin-off brand from Hyundai, Genesis is slowly making its way towards respectability with each solid car offering. However, many drivers agree that Genesis just isn’t there yet.
The company’s Hyundai roots still put a sour taste in many car enthusiasts’ mouths, and it will take many years until this upstart luxury brand has the name recognition that Lexus and BMW enjoy. Don’t get it twisted, though: the Genesis GV80 is a serious contender in the luxury vehicle space.
Nissan Leaf
Like the Prius, the Nissan Leaf has earned a reputation for being boring. Although the Leaf employs a fully-electric powertrain, the excitement stops in many people’s eyes. Nissan has made a name for itself by building quality gas-powered vehicles with engines that last forever.
As a result, car shoppers have been wary about trusting Nissan in the electric vehicle space. That being said, the Leaf, built by any other car manufacturer like Tesla, would be an unbridled success.
Lincoln Corsair
By any metric, the Lincoln Corsair is a winner. From its turbocharged engine to its ultra-modern interior, it’s one of the most remarkable compact SUVs on the market.
But, according to many car buyers, there’s just one problem: it’s a Lincoln. A sub-brand of Ford, Lincoln’s reputation for building uninspired and plain vehicles for the past few decades is hurting its present-day sales, even though they’ve done a masterful job rebuilding its image.
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This article originally appeared on MyCarMakesNoise.
