Cars
The Acura ZDX, like most Acuras and many other luxury cars available today, has a really stupid name. ZDX means nothing. We can't really hold this against the ZDX because, as mentioned before, even some Good 12 winners have stupid names. It's still worth pointing out, however, that this stupid vehicle uses unspeakably misaligned nomenclature.
Far worse than the ZDX's tri-lettered name is its design. Acura made the ZDX bulbous where it shouldn't have been, concave where it should have been convex, and angular where smoothness was e-freaking-ssential. See how high the hood curves from one fender to the other with its highest peak right at the base of a steeply raked windshield? This is hard to accomplish on any vehicle, let alone a low-slung, high-riding crossover/SUV. The acres of space between the rear wheel and greenhouse is probably the worst slab-sided piece of metal on any current car; creating this weird optical illusion which causes the rear wheel to appear smaller than the front.
Acura continues this assault on the eyes. The ZDX's grille is just like the grille on other Acuras, but of course it looks worse here because the disgusting face is joined to a thoroughly awkward body. Those twin inlets beneath the grille are intended to mimic the shape of the headlights. Instead, they make the Acura ZDX look like a cross-eyed kid with a runny nose.
Is style the Acura ZDX's only problem? No, not in the least. The ZDX costs more than the roomier, better-looking Acura MDX. Much of what's good about the MDX is taken away, and Acura expects you to pay for the restrictions they've placed on the ZDX. No thanks.
Alternatives: Audi Q5, Acura MDX, picking your nose in public, or wearing leather pants.
Base USD/CAD Price: $45,495 / $55,990
Improvements Required: Not every SUV/CUV needs to be capacious. The ZDX can stay small inside and still make gains in desirability. But the ZDX is most nonsensical because it's ugly, small, and expensive. How 'bout maintaining the small, keeping the sportyishness, and making the price justifiable by building a beautiful 2012 Acura ZDX?
Historical Significance: The Acura ZDX is not as bad as the Pontiac Aztek.
The Good 12
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Now with a longstanding tradition of badness, the Nissan Versa sedan is in its fourth year as a member of The Bad 8. "Hear the engine drone," was the text in 2008. "It's as dull as December 27th local news," 2009's Bad 8 said....
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 6 - Lincoln Mkt
LINCOLN MKT The Lincoln MKT is one of the planet's only vehicles, if not the only vehicle, with a cold. You know the kind: gradually appearing symptoms, sore throat, mild chest discomfort, plenty of sneezing, a batch of sinus pain, and a terrible...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 5 - Lexus Hs250h
LEXUS HS250h Absurdly popular, the Toyota Corolla is not one of GoodCarBadCar.net's favourite cars. Corollas are vanilla, and not the scrumptuous Cows kind of vanilla many hold dear. There's nothing exciting about the Corolla; nothing attractive...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 3 - Bmw X6
BMW X6 If there is a symbol for everything that's wrong about excess in the automotive world, the BMW X6 is it. The BMW X6 is an overweight machine with overwrought styling and an overeagerness to be "sporty". Why go ugly and impractical...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 2 - Bmw 5-series Gt
BMW 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO Did we ask for this? Were letters secretly sent to BMW by citizens unwilling to publicize their desires? Are there people who have a fetish for awkwardly-shaped, overweight BMWs? GoodCarBadCar.net tries not to disparage vehicles...
Cars
The Bad 8 v4.0 Part 1 - Acura ZDX
ACURA ZDX
The Acura ZDX, like most Acuras and many other luxury cars available today, has a really stupid name. ZDX means nothing. We can't really hold this against the ZDX because, as mentioned before, even some Good 12 winners have stupid names. It's still worth pointing out, however, that this stupid vehicle uses unspeakably misaligned nomenclature.
Acura continues this assault on the eyes. The ZDX's grille is just like the grille on other Acuras, but of course it looks worse here because the disgusting face is joined to a thoroughly awkward body. Those twin inlets beneath the grille are intended to mimic the shape of the headlights. Instead, they make the Acura ZDX look like a cross-eyed kid with a runny nose.
Is style the Acura ZDX's only problem? No, not in the least. The ZDX costs more than the roomier, better-looking Acura MDX. Much of what's good about the MDX is taken away, and Acura expects you to pay for the restrictions they've placed on the ZDX. No thanks.
-----
Alternatives: Audi Q5, Acura MDX, picking your nose in public, or wearing leather pants.
Base USD/CAD Price: $45,495 / $55,990
Improvements Required: Not every SUV/CUV needs to be capacious. The ZDX can stay small inside and still make gains in desirability. But the ZDX is most nonsensical because it's ugly, small, and expensive. How 'bout maintaining the small, keeping the sportyishness, and making the price justifiable by building a beautiful 2012 Acura ZDX?
Historical Significance: The Acura ZDX is not as bad as the Pontiac Aztek.
The Bad 8
BMW 5-Series GT- BMW X6
Honda Accord Crosstour - Lexus HS250h
Lincoln MKT - Nissan Leaf - Nissan Versa Sedan
The Good 12
Audi Q5 - Buick Enclave - Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Fiat 500 - Ford F-150 - Ford Mustang V6 - Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler - Nissan Juke - Porsche Boxster Spyder
Porsche Cayenne - Toyota Venza
Rules & Nominees
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 8 - Nissan Versa Sedan
NISSAN VERSA SEDAN Now with a longstanding tradition of badness, the Nissan Versa sedan is in its fourth year as a member of The Bad 8. "Hear the engine drone," was the text in 2008. "It's as dull as December 27th local news," 2009's Bad 8 said....
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 6 - Lincoln Mkt
LINCOLN MKT The Lincoln MKT is one of the planet's only vehicles, if not the only vehicle, with a cold. You know the kind: gradually appearing symptoms, sore throat, mild chest discomfort, plenty of sneezing, a batch of sinus pain, and a terrible...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 5 - Lexus Hs250h
LEXUS HS250h Absurdly popular, the Toyota Corolla is not one of GoodCarBadCar.net's favourite cars. Corollas are vanilla, and not the scrumptuous Cows kind of vanilla many hold dear. There's nothing exciting about the Corolla; nothing attractive...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 3 - Bmw X6
BMW X6 If there is a symbol for everything that's wrong about excess in the automotive world, the BMW X6 is it. The BMW X6 is an overweight machine with overwrought styling and an overeagerness to be "sporty". Why go ugly and impractical...
- The Bad 8 V4.0 Part 2 - Bmw 5-series Gt
BMW 5-SERIES GRAN TURISMO Did we ask for this? Were letters secretly sent to BMW by citizens unwilling to publicize their desires? Are there people who have a fetish for awkwardly-shaped, overweight BMWs? GoodCarBadCar.net tries not to disparage vehicles...