The WORST New Cars of The Year (My Honest Review)

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Transcript:

What Are the Worst New Cars of the Year?

That’s what we’re going to find out.

Welcome to Car Help Corner. I test-drive a lot of new cars for this channel, and today I’m sharing the worst new vehicles I drove in the past year—cars that were complete disappointments and, in my opinion, among the worst new cars you can buy.

While a lot of YouTubers are afraid to criticize these vehicles and upset automakers, I’m going to tell you exactly how it is and give you my honest thoughts. If you don’t want to waste your money, stay away from these.

Chevrolet Equinox (2025)

The first major disappointment I tested this past year was the Chevrolet Equinox. The gas-powered Equinox was redesigned for 2025, but based on the result, it feels like GM didn’t put much effort into it.

It still uses the same weak powertrain: a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s noisy, underpowered, and doesn’t even deliver impressive fuel economy. There’s no hybrid option and no more powerful engine available—what you get is what you get.

The interior is the bright spot. It has decent tech and features, but it’s nowhere near enough to make up for the shortcomings elsewhere—especially at its price point. The Equinox isn’t cheaper than stronger competitors, and once you factor in weak resale value and a questionable reliability reputation, there just aren’t many redeeming qualities here.

GMC Terrain

It’s a very similar story with the GMC Terrain, which is essentially a GMC-flavored version of the Equinox—and it shares the same weaknesses.

If anything, it’s worse because the pricing is even more ridiculous. Paying $45,000 USD (or $54,000 CAD) for a Terrain Denali is insanity, especially when many superior SUVs in this class can be had for less money. GM really needs to rethink its strategy with these two vehicles.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz

Next up is the Volkswagen ID. Buzz, and it’s unfortunate this one was such a letdown, because it’s genuinely interesting and unique—and yes, it’s practical.

It drives nicely, has plenty of features, and works as a spacious three-row people-mover. The problem is the EV side of the equation: real-world range is disappointing, sitting at just over 200 miles (about 350 km). And then there’s the pricing, which is absolutely absurd—upwards of $70,000 USD or $90,000 CAD.

That combination has turned the ID. Buzz into a bit of a dud. Volkswagen has been resorting to big rebates to move them, and because sales have been so poor, VW has reportedly decided not to offer it for the 2026 model year. This vehicle might have had real potential with a regular gas engine and a price that was 30% lower, but as it stands, it’s a tough sell.

Honda Prologue

The next disappointment is another EV: the Honda Prologue.

On the surface, it’s a nicely designed and practical SUV. It drives well, the interior is decent, and it’s roomy. But the same issues come up again: not enough range, it’s too expensive—especially without rebates—and then there’s the biggest issue of all:

It isn’t really a Honda.

The Prologue is essentially a rebodied version of the Chevy Blazer EV, and that’s a problem. GM’s EV platform has had quality and reliability issues, and the Prologue inherits them. Now add in the fact that Honda has said it plans to build its own EVs and eventually move on from its partnership with GM, and anyone who buys a Prologue could be stuck with a servicing headache. If dealers don’t know how to properly support it long-term, it becomes an overpriced problem waiting to happen.

Bottom line: stay away.

BMW X3 (Redesign)

Next is our first luxury vehicle: the BMW X3.

This one was a real letdown because it feels like BMW took a step backward in several areas. The styling is awkward, and the interior feels cheap for the price—too much hard plastic, too few physical controls, and a heavy reliance on screens and ambient lighting to give the impression of luxury.

Yes, it’s still a nice-driving SUV. It offers excellent powertrains—BMW’s strong four- and six-cylinder engines paired with the ZF 8-speed automatic and xDrive all-wheel drive. But it’s not enough to justify the shortcomings, especially when you look at how aggressively BMW is pricing it.

Audi Q5 (Redesign)

I had almost the exact same reaction to the Audi Q5, also redesigned for 2025.

It’s a well-designed SUV with a good driving experience and solid powertrains, but it’s a letdown in too many other areas. The interior feels cheap, there’s too much plastic, and the screen-heavy interface—without real physical controls—can be frustrating.

What makes it worse is that you can get a very similar experience for a lot less money: the Volkswagen Tiguan. Mechanically, the two are closely related, and you could argue the Tiguan is actually the better vehicle for the money. Same basic platform and powertrain, arguably a nicer-finished interior, and a lower price. It really highlights how lazy some brands have become with their so-called “luxury” models.

Acura ADX

That brings us to one of the clearest examples of “badge engineering” on the list: the Acura ADX.

This is Acura’s new smaller, “more affordable” SUV, but it’s difficult to ignore what it really is: a lightly dressed-up Honda HR-V with different headlights, taillights, and grille—sold for a much higher price.

Yes, it adds a few extra features inside, but the two vehicles are still very similar. In some ways, the ADX is arguably worse because it trades the HR-V’s durable 2.0-liter engine for Honda’s 1.5-liter turbo, which has a reputation for issues like head gasket problems in certain applications.

And Acura expects you to pay a huge premium for that. No thanks. If you want an Acura, buy one they actually put real effort into—like the RDX.

Volvo EX90

Finally, we have the most expensive vehicle on this list: the Volvo EX90—a six-figure electric SUV, which makes the disappointment even worse.

On paper, it looks compelling: attractive styling, a beautiful interior, and lots of high-end features. The problems show up when you live with it—and they get worse the longer you do.

Many of the flashy features, like the LiDAR system and digital key, reportedly don’t function properly or don’t work at all. Other systems are difficult to use, glitchy, or constantly failing. Owner complaints have piled up, with vehicles breaking down and some units reportedly sitting at dealers for weeks waiting on repairs.

The launch has been a disaster. The EX90 feels like an unfinished vehicle that Volvo released expecting early buyers to be guinea pigs. Volvo now faces class action lawsuits, and for 2026 the company has reportedly had to rework the vehicle with new computers and software to control the damage.

Bottom line: the EX90 is a dud and should be avoided.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it—my worst test drives from the past year. I’m looking forward to testing the new vehicles coming in 2026, and as always, I’ll give you honest reviews and tell you exactly how it is.

If you enjoyed this video, make sure to like, subscribe, and hit the Hype button.

And if you’re planning to purchase a vehicle in Ontario, OMVIC is the vehicle sales regulator responsible for administering and enforcing the rules dealerships must follow. To learn more about your consumer protection rights, visit OMVIC’s website. And if you need more car-buying advice, recommendations, or help getting a great deal on your next vehicle, visit carhelpcan.com.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you next time.

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