Five new cars you shouldn't buy

‘There’s no such thing as a bad car anymore’ has become an accepted mantra of motoring journalism.

But it is the sheer competence of modern cars which causes those at the lower end of the scale to stand out. Let’s not call them ‘bad’, as such, let’s go with ‘extremely mediocre’.

Ford EcoSport
When Ford’s smallest SUV was a newcomer to the market, it ranked third in a motoring.com.au comparison test. In hindsight, Ford was fortunate there, as not only was the EcoSport slower than the other three vehicles, its fuel consumption matched the Holden Trax for worst on test.

And let’s not forget the EcoSport’s hard, unappealing plastics, a tailgate which opened from the wrong side (in a car developed for India where, like Australia, cars are right-hand drive), lack of an automatic transmission, reversing camera and satellite navigation, plus unfathomable ergonomics and questionable fit and finish.

Since the arrival of the EcoSport in Australia, Mazda has introduced the CX-3 and Honda has launched the HR-V. Even the Trax is improved. But the EcoSport in 2017 is a case of time marching ever onward – without Ford.

RedBook trade-in value, 2013 EcoSport Ambiente auto, 60,000km: $9700 ($22,790 new, 42.6% retained)

Holden Captiva
People buy the Captiva for one reason: it’s cheap. In our seven-seat SUV comparison last year, the petrol V6 Captiva LT was a distant third to the Kia Sorento and Mazda CX-9. Writer Bruce Newton was blunt: “Forget the Holden. It’s old, tired and has too many shortcomings, even at its cheaper price.”

A year earlier, Ken Gratton dispatched the Captiva 7 LTZ to the boundary, observing it was clunky and full of rattles, uncomfortable and not especially capable off-road. A score of 56 points out of 100 summed it up. During the same year Tim Britten, also tested the LTZ, took aim at the dashboard ergonomics and granted it just one point more – 57.

RedBook trade-in value, 2014 Captiva 7 LTZ V6, 45,000km: $22,200 ($40,490 new, 54.8% retained)

Infiniti QX80
When you’re in the same market sector as the Range Rover Sport and Mercedes GLS, driving dynamics, comfort and visual presence cannot be underdone. The last-named is an aspect overlooked by Infiniti’s designers when they put pen to paper for the QX80.

Admittedly the Y62 Nissan Patrol didn’t provide a ravishing starting point, but the Infiniti interpretation is even more beastly. While the QX80 is not actually a bad vehicle as such, and its 5.6-litre petrol V8 is pretty smooth and responsive, the rest of the giant SUV is gaudy, yet overpriced, hard-riding and yet poor handling. Infiniti sold 61 QX80s last year and is on track to sell more this year, with 35 already finding a home. Dealer principals upgrading?

RedBook trade-in value, 2015 Infiniti QX80, 30,000km: $66,500 ($110,900 new, 60% retained)

Mahindra XUV500
Despite picking up an optional six-speed automatic transmission option last year, the unusually styled Mahindra XUV500 has hardly ignited the sales charts. Mahindra dealers certainly aren’t seeking budget-busting prices for the mid-sized SUV – one with diesel pulling power, for that matter. But what price refinement…or safety?

The Mahindra is noisy, particularly at idle, and the steering delivers the worst kick-back and rack rattle of any vehicle sold in Australia over the past decade. And it’s an understeerer with a capital ‘U’. Interior panel gaps are among the worst we’ve seen... ever.

Even though it’s now 2017, the XUV500 is rated just four stars by ANCAP…from five years ago. That’s no recommendation.

RedBook trade-in value, 2016 Mahindra XUV500 auto, 15,000km: $16,200 ($31,900 new, 50.8% retained)

Mitsubishi Mirage
If you see a Mitsubishi Mirage on the road, chances are you’re not hallucinating; it’s probably a rental car. Because private buyers are more astute in their purchase decisions.

In a comparison test earlier this year when measured against the three others cars tested, the Mirage scored few hits with our judges.

Despite offering the best warranty and cheapest purchase price, the Mirage still languished near the bottom of the heap.

The Mirage is a tired design, it’s noisy, hard riding and dynamically unrewarding. Mitsubishi needs a new challenger in the segment if it’s to be taken seriously.

And that new Mirage needs to bin the grumbling three-cylinder engine and droning CVT transmission which delivers straight line performance which is strong enough, but lacks even the slightest hint of aural quality.

RedBook trade-in value, 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage LS, 30,000km: $7800 ($14,990 new, 52.0% retained)