When we mention iconic cars, the first few names that immediately come to mind are Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Mercedes. These brands possess the type of reputation and marketing capabilities that can be considered household names. But what of those cars that never won the limelight? The ones that silently do something good, or work, or look good without the hype?
This article is about the underestimated cars in the world that should be respected. Others had been dwarfed by their glitzier competitors, others had the bad label of wrong, and others just were age-ahead. However, here the fact is that so many of these machines are of amazing value and driving pleasure.
So strap on board, we are going to take a closer look at 15 underrated cars that are actually pretty brilliant.
Why aren’t all Cars overvalued?
Not all good cars do not sell as best-sellers. In some cases, a vehicle is subdued due to its brand not being a scream of prestige. At other moments, it is not on the radar of buyers due to a lack of marketing or a weird design. And not to mention car fashions change quick. What was not understood in its day may become the secret treasure of a car.
And that is the charm of underdog cars:
- They usually offer excellence in performance at a low cost.
- They possess characters, which are missing in mainstream, cookie-cutter models.
Some of them end up being the favorites of collectors several years down the road.
With that in mind, the following are 15 cars which deserved much more acclaim than they received.
15 Brilliant Underrated Cars in the World That Deserve Respect
1. Mazda MX-5: Miata the Pure Fun Machine
And you don’t need to be told why the Miata is here if you have already driven one. It is wholesome, airy, and simple to enjoy. It has no Ferrari level of horsepower, sure, but that is not the point. The Miata is the pinnacle of driving pleasure, its manual transmission simply screaming to be shifted and its handling making winding roads impossible to resist.
Why does it belong to the underestimated category?
It is mistaken by too many of us as a cute little car. It is actually one of the most involving sports cars you can purchase at any price.
2. Volvo S60: Safe is not Boring
Volvo has always been the safety poster boy, but the S60 has shown it can offer more than just safety to the passenger. The S60 is as sophisticated as a BMW 3 series or a Mercedes C-Class with its elegant Scandinavian style, plush interior, and powerful options under the hood. The problem? Volvo is a car that most individuals would not think about when buying a sporty luxury sedan.
Why is it underestimated?
It is an almost perfect combination of comfort, safety, and style, but consumers still turn to German competitors instead.
3. Honda Prelude: The forgotten lives of an icon in the 1990s
The Honda Prelude of the 1980s and 1990s was a special thing. It was smooth, technologically advanced, with four-wheel steering, and VTEC motors that wailed at top speed. To car lovers, it was a fantasy couple. However, when Honda began concentrating on Civics and Accords, the Prelude began fading quietly out of the limelight.
Why is it underestimated?
Lost with the times, but one of the best performance cars that Honda ever built.
4. Kia Stinger: Evidence That Kia Can Perform
One had anticipated Kia getting rid of the Stinger when it came. Has a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan with an optional twin-turbo? From Kia? That raised eyebrows. However, the skeptics felt better once they were in charge of the wheel and found that it was capable of competing with the BMW and Audi. The problem? The badge. Kia did not really performance pedigree in the first place, and that was alienating the buyers.
The reason it is underestimated
It provides the thrill of a luxury sedan but at a price that is lower than that of luxury sedans, yet most prospective buyers won’t consider a nameplate.
5. Subaru Legacy GT: The Other Subaru You Don’t Remember
The WRX and STI are familiar to us all, but the Legacy GT was serving the same kind of fun in a more adult platform. It was the ideal sleeper sedan with all-wheel drive, turbocharged power, and the comfort and practicality of everyday life. And unfortunately, it never received the kindly treatment its rally-inspired brothers did.
Why is it underestimated?
It was eclipsed by the WRX, despite being equally competent as a daily driver.
6. Saab 9-3: Quirky but Brilliant
Saab did it differently, and the 9-3 is evidence IT IS. It was unlike the sedans of its era, with its turbocharged engines, aviation-themed dashboard, and Swedish appearance. It was unfortunate that Saab’s financial problems eclipsed the brand, and the 9-3 never received the honor it deserved.
Why was it underestimated?
Buyers avoided it due to the fall of Saab, rather than there being anything wrong with the car itself.
7. Toyota MR2: Exotic Design, Everyday Price
Mid-engine vehicles are typically only used in exotics such as Ferrari and Lotus. The MR2 transformed Toyota as it offered fans a lightweight, nimble, and fairly affordable mid-engine sports car. But it did not get mainstream.
Why was it underestimated?
The fact that it was powered by a Toyota badge, despite sports-car DNA, was not taken seriously.
8. Mitsubishi Gallant VR-4: Rally Sedan No One Is Talking About
The Galant VR-4 was the predecessor of the Lancer Evolution before the latter claimed all the rallying action. It had crammed a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, and rally-built technology into a family car. Sounds awesome, right? It is unfortunate that almost no one remembers it.
Why is it underrated?
It was overshadowed by the Evo, but it was equally exciting on its own.
9. Lexus GS: The Quiet Performer
Lexus GS did not simply do luxury; it also handled sportily, as well as had good V6 and V8 engines. It was fast, comfortable, and reliable. However, as Lexus is deemed to be more comfortable than fast, the GS was skipped against German competitors.
The reason why it is underrated
It had the performance of a BMW and the reliability of a Lexus, yet it never received the recognition that it deserved.
10. Ford Taurus SHO: FAMS A Family Sedan with Muscle
The exterior of the Ford Taurus SHO resembled any other family car. Below the bonnet, it was an animal. Certainly a serious performer it was, with a Yamaha-designed V6 (and a V8 of later models). The SHO was the embodiment of a sleeper dainty outside, riotous inside.
Why does it deserve an underdog title
Most customers never thought that a boring Taurus could swing so hard.
11. Alfa Romeo Giulia: daring becomes discreet
Wrapped in unmistakable Italian style, the Alfa Romeo Giulia is one of the sharpest handling sedans on the market. However, the customers are reluctant due to the reliability problems Alfa has. It is sad, since there is no better driving experience that Giulia offers than its rivals.
Why is it underestimated?
People are too afraid of old clichés about Alfa reliability and think that it is a good machine.
12. Chevrolet SS: The V8 You had no idea about
Unless you are a car enthusiast, you probably have not heard anything about the Chevy SS. The lack of marketing awareness meant that not many people knew that Chevy was selling a four-door sedan, complete with a V8 under the hood that shared its origins with the Corvette. To those who did, it was one of the finest sleeper cars that money could purchase.
Why was it underestimated?
It was a simple-looking piece, yet armed to the teeth, and hardly anybody saw it.
13.Nissan 300ZX: A Forgotten ’90s Hero
The Nissan 300ZX was truly a wonder back then, having a futuristic appearance and a twin-turbo engine. It was a rival to the Supra, RX-7, or Skyline, but never that famous. It is not valued today as much as its performance record is.
Why is it underrated?
Sales were discouraged by the high maintenance costs, yet fans realized it was an amazing vehicle.
14. Peugeot 508: The French Style without being noticed
Outside of Europe, Peugeot is not a household name, and that is part of the problem. The 508 is stylish, comfortable, and efficient, but it is not a car many people choose to consider in the same light as the German sedans.
Why do people underestimate it?
No international footprint has made it remain under the radar, as it is a very good all-rounder.
15. Acura TL: Type-S The Ideal Compromise
In between the legendary reliability of Honda and the comfort of its luxury sedans came the Acura TL Type-S. It should have been a fantastic alternative to more expensive European cars with a powerful V6 and a sportier appeal over that of most of its competitors. Unfortunately, it was very easily dismissed, as Acura was not as prestigious.
Why hasn’t it been hyped?
It never received the accolade as a real sports-luxury sedan when it perfected the formula.
The Finding Purple: What Is So Special about These Cars?
Scanning the list, some trends are discernible:
Most of these vehicles have been negated in favor of flashier models.
- They had features and performance at a low cost.
- Others possessed quirky, idiosyncratic personalities that, to mainstream shoppers, were unfamiliar at the time.
Now, the majority of them are like treasures of the experts or people who have such items in their collection.
Why Hobbiests need to know about Underdog Cars.
It is easy to follow the trends, but the true happiness that many car enthusiasts are pursuing is the unexpected. That is where underestimated vehicles shine. They can usually be less expensive to purchase, play with, and are unique enough to be believed in.
More to the point, they also help us to remember that greatness does not necessarily go hand in hand with a big name or glitzy reputation. The car no one has ever given a second look at is sometimes the best car you will ever drive.
Conclusion
With the agile Mazda MX-5 Miata and the beefy Chevrolet SS, and the classy Volvo S60, the automobile world is full of cars that are worthy of much more respect than they have gotten. These vehicles demonstrate that underrated does not imply unworthy and, as a matter of fact, it usually entails the opposite.
The next time you are daydreaming about cars, though, you should not only be thinking about the usual suspects. Consider the underdogs, the forgotten artistes, and the weird misfits. And all this is not to drive the underrated car but to enjoy a story that the world has long since ignored.
Which of these underrated vehicles would you love to park in your garage? Share your pick in the comments below.
