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Consumer Reports lists the worst cars for 2016

Rick Massimo | rmassimo@wtop.com

March 17, 2016, 10:36 AM

The Lowest-Rated Subcompact: The Mitsubishi Mirage Consumer Reports called this a "tiny, tinny car," adding that the "weak, vibrating three-cylinder engine" delivers "sluggish acceleration and a raspy chorus of lament." (Mitsubishi)
The Lowest-Rated Subcompact: The Mitsubishi Mirage Consumer Reports called this a “tiny, tinny car,” adding that the “weak, vibrating three-cylinder engine” delivers “sluggish acceleration and a raspy chorus of lament.” (Courtesy Mitsubishi)
Courtesy Mitsubishi
Lowest-rated Compact: The Fiat 500L The Fiat had the straight-up lowest reliability rating of Consumer Reports' latest survey of more than 740,000 vehicles. Owner satisfaction is below average, meaning more people than usual who own this car wish they didn't. (Fiat)
Lowest-rated Compact: The Fiat 500L The Fiat had the straight-up lowest reliability rating of Consumer Reports’ latest survey of more than 740,000 vehicles. Owner satisfaction is below average, meaning more people than usual who own this car wish they didn’t. (Courtesy Fiat)
Courtesy Fiat
The Lowest-rated Midsized Sedan: The Chrysler 200 “A mediocre car in a category overflowing with competent, and even excellent, alternatives,” Consumer Reports calls the 200. (Courtesy Fiat Chrysler)
Courtesy Fiat Chrysler
Lowest-rated Compact Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA250 "At times the powertrain feels unresponsive, and while the car is agile, the ride is punishingly stiff," Consumer Reports says. (Mercedes-Benz)
Lowest-rated Compact Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA250 “At times the powertrain feels unresponsive, and while the car is agile, the ride is punishingly stiff,” Consumer Reports says. (Courtesy Mercedes-Benz)
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz
Lowest-Rated Midsized Luxury Car: Lincoln MKS "This large, Ford Taurus-based sedan is outdated and outclassed," Consumer Reports says. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Midsized Luxury Car: Lincoln MKS “This large, Ford Taurus-based sedan is outdated and outclassed,” Consumer Reports says. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Lowest-Rated Family SUV: Dodge Journey The Journey is late in its model run, Consumer Reprots says, so discounts and rebates abound. "But don’t be tempted. This crossover is a poor value anywhere outside of an airport rental lot." (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
Lowest-rated Family SUV: Dodge Journey The Journey is late in its model run, Consumer Reports says, so discounts and rebates abound. “But don’t be tempted. This crossover is a poor value anywhere outside of an airport rental lot.” (Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images
Lowest-Rated Luxury Compact SUV: Land Rover Discovery Sport The Land Rover "struggles in comparisons against even mass-market small SUVs," Consumer Reports says. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Luxury Compact SUV: Land Rover Discovery Sport The Land Rover “struggles in comparisons against even mass-market small SUVs,” Consumer Reports says. (Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Jan Kruger/Getty Images
Lowest-Rated Large Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade The Cadillac "falls down on the fundamentals as a luxury SUV," Consumer Reports says; "It rides too stiffly and can't stop or handle with the grace of its peers." Worse yet, "the Escalade simply floundered in our tests. Despite casting a massive shadow, the hulking Cadillac is not even that roomy inside." (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Large Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade The Cadillac “falls down on the fundamentals as a luxury SUV,” Consumer Reports says; “It rides too stiffly and can’t stop or handle with the grace of its peers.” Worse yet, “the Escalade simply floundered in our tests. Despite casting a massive shadow, the hulking Cadillac is not even that roomy inside.” (David McNew/Getty Images)
David McNew/Getty Images
Lowest-Rated Minivan: Chrysler Town & Country This and the related Dodge Caravan are being discontinued. Consumer Reports says not to be swayed by the offers you’ll probably get: This doesn’t even score high for interior room and fuel economy, two of the things you’d think a family minivan would do well. (Courtesy Fiat Chrysler)
Courtesy Fiat Chrysler
Lowest-Rated Green Car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV "This half-step up from a golf cart is slow, clumsy, and stiff riding," Consumer Reports says. (Mitsubishi)
Lowest-Rated Green Car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV “This half-step up from a golf cart is slow, clumsy, and stiff riding,” Consumer Reports says. (Courtesy Mitsubishi)
Courtesy Mitsubishi
(1/10)
The Lowest-Rated Subcompact: The Mitsubishi Mirage Consumer Reports called this a "tiny, tinny car," adding that the "weak, vibrating three-cylinder engine" delivers "sluggish acceleration and a raspy chorus of lament." (Mitsubishi)
Lowest-rated Compact: The Fiat 500L The Fiat had the straight-up lowest reliability rating of Consumer Reports' latest survey of more than 740,000 vehicles. Owner satisfaction is below average, meaning more people than usual who own this car wish they didn't. (Fiat)
Lowest-rated Compact Luxury Car: Mercedes-Benz CLA250 "At times the powertrain feels unresponsive, and while the car is agile, the ride is punishingly stiff," Consumer Reports says. (Mercedes-Benz)
Lowest-Rated Midsized Luxury Car: Lincoln MKS "This large, Ford Taurus-based sedan is outdated and outclassed," Consumer Reports says. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Family SUV: Dodge Journey The Journey is late in its model run, Consumer Reprots says, so discounts and rebates abound. "But don’t be tempted. This crossover is a poor value anywhere outside of an airport rental lot." (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Luxury Compact SUV: Land Rover Discovery Sport The Land Rover "struggles in comparisons against even mass-market small SUVs," Consumer Reports says. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Large Luxury SUV: Cadillac Escalade The Cadillac "falls down on the fundamentals as a luxury SUV," Consumer Reports says; "It rides too stiffly and can't stop or handle with the grace of its peers." Worse yet, "the Escalade simply floundered in our tests. Despite casting a massive shadow, the hulking Cadillac is not even that roomy inside." (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Lowest-Rated Green Car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV "This half-step up from a golf cart is slow, clumsy, and stiff riding," Consumer Reports says. (Mitsubishi)

WASHINGTON — The best cars on the market? That’s a tough question — and one for another day. This list is about the worst rides on the road.

Consumer Reports’ list of the Bottom Picks for 2016 compiles the worst cars in 10 categories, according to an overall score that combines the results of the magazine’s road test with reliability, owner satisfaction and safety, including the results of crash tests conducted by the government and the insurance industry.

The magazine warns that a lot of these cars are seriously marked down, since they’re headed for replacement this year. Don’t fall for it, they advise: “falling for a smooth sales pitch and a swell cash-back offer could lead you to suffering years of buyer’s remorse.”

Rick Massimo

Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival."

rmassimo@wtop.com

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