The Worst SUVs Are A Vehicle Buyer’s Bad Dream
Sport utility vehicles are some of the most popular automobiles on the road. Perfect for families and commuters, buying one can be a life-defining moment. Not every SUV is created equal, however. Some have reputations to fail at the worst time, while others just aren't equipped to really be called SUVs.
If you are in the market for a new or used car, make sure to go through this list to avoid buying a car that could potentially be a lemon or unsafe for you and your family. Here is the list of the worst SUVs of all time.
Toyota 4Runner
Around since 1983, the Toyota 4Runner is a compact SUV and mid-size SUV. Known as the Toyota Hilux in some parts of the world, the 4Runner was designed to be a family car.
Outside of some more advanced technological features in the newer models, the 4Runner isn't incredibly unique nor does it offer anything special to buyers that they couldn’t find elsewhere. If you aren’t searching for an off-roading average-sized SUV, then there are plenty of other options to choose from.
Dodge Durango
Based on the Dodge Dakota, the Dodge Durango is a mid-size SUV that was originally marketed as a large truck-based SUV that was capable of holding up to 7 passengers and over time, Dodge molded out the image to something softer and not nearly as rugged.
Dodge ended up having to recall and fix tens of thousands of Durangos due to a defect that may have caused the airbags not to deploy in a collision.
GMC Acadia
A mid-size crossover that was manufactured and sold by General Motors, the GMC Acadia was designed off of the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.
The GMC Acadia was GMC's first front-wheel-drive passenger vehicle but outside of that, the Acadia didn’t have many other grand features to interest buyers. Going into its 2nd generation of Acadia’s, sales for the SUV have gone down in recent years with a 30,000 unit drop from 2017 to 2018.
Dodge Journey
Resembling a smaller minivan, the Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured under the FCA company. Though it was intended to be an entirely new model and different from the other vehicles on Dodge's lineup, it isn’t much different from the Dodge Durango.
In 2014, Fiat decided to go a different route with its models and launched the Journey Crossroad. Sales for the Journey have fluctuated since 2007, but have been on a downward trend since.
Subaru B9 Tribeca
Named after the New York upscale neighborhood, the Subaru B9 Tribeca was a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Subaru from 2006 to 2007. Initially, the Subaru B9 Tribeca faced public scrutiny and criticism and Subaru decided because of the backlash to change the B9's name to simply the Subaru Tribeca.
If that wasn't bad enough, Subaru discontinued making the Tribeca in 2015 after slowed sales; in its 10-year production run, less than 84,000 units were sold.
Hyundai Santa Fe
The first SUV released by the manufacturer Hyundai, the Santa Fe is a mid-size crossover SUV that has been in production since 2000. Since then, the Santa Fe has gone through four generations and is currently on its 4th generation which is expected to run from 2018-2024.
With a lack of options for buyers and little changes from generation to generation as well as long-time spans before any upgrades are made, Santa Fe sales have lessened over the years.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
Ending up being replaced by the Chevrolet Traverse in 2009, the Chevrolet Trailblazer used to be the face of mid-size SUVs for the Chevrolet car brand from 2001-2008. While production in the U.S. ended, it is still being produced in other parts of the world including some parts of Asia and Brazil.
The Chevrolet Trailblazer ranked low in rollover safety after being tested thoroughly and annual sales have dropped dramatically since 2001 when it was first launched.
Mitsubishi Outlander
Originally known as the Mitsubishi Airtrek, the Mitsubishi Outlander is a 5-door compact crossover SUV manufactured by Mitsubishi Motors since 2001 and is currently available today.
Named the Outlander, Mitsubishi wanted the driver to feel that every time they drove the car, they felt like they were going on another adventure. Sadly, the car was far from impressive. Buyers interested in the Mitsubishi Outlander had the option to buy the plug-in hybrid model starting in 2018.
Chevrolet Traverse
Sold as either a full or mid-size SUV, the Chevrolet Traverse was built on the same body and frame as the Buick Enclave. It has been in production since 2008 with the most recent generation having started in 2018.
Some early critics labeled the Chevrolet Traverse odd-shaped due to its egg-like body style which Chevrolet has since abandoned for a more natural truck-like appearance. Though the launch of the second generation of Traverse's brought a lot of significant changes to the exterior and interior appearance of the SUV, no noticeable changes have been made since 2018.
Kia Sorento
Based on Kia's past SUV and larger pickup truck frames, the Kia Sorento is a compact to mid-size SUV produced by the brand since 2002 that is currently going into its third generation.
The Kia Sorento got poor safety ratings after it was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, also known as IIHS. Sales for the Kia Sorento have gone down sharply in most recent years; dropping over 15,000 units from 2016 to 2017.
Honda Element
Manufactured by Honda from 2002 to 2011, the Honda Element was a 4-door boxy compact crossover SUV. Its body style design was based on a lifeguard station and its roof was purposely curved and arched to look like a surfboard.
The Honda Element was discontinued in 2011. The last generation of the vehicle came with a new feature that Honda prided itself on. A dog-friendly package that cost an extra $1,000 was offered to help boost flagging sales.
Jeep Compass
The 4-door compact crossover SUV, the Jeep Compass was a part of the first crossover SUVs alongside the Jeep Patriot.
Targeted towards drivers who prefer on-road driving versus the off-roading vehicles that Jeep is known for, the Compass did not brandish the "Trail Rated" badge that other popular Jeep models like the Wrangler or the Grand Cherokee had. Though the Compass is still in production, overall sales of the SUV continue to drop year after year.
Lexus LX570
A full-size luxury SUV based on the Toyota Land Cruiser SUV, the Lexus LX570 is basically an exact replica of the Land Cruiser with a Lexus logo on the front of it.
The LX in the name of the car stands for "Luxury Crossover" and while there are a few minor tweaks to the LX line, there aren't any glaring features that help it stand out against other luxury SUVs in its class. Sales for the Lexus LX570 have fluctuated since 2007 but the automaker has never sold more than 8,000 units in one year.
Acura ZDX
Produced and marketed as a mid-size luxury crossover from the automotive company Acura, the ZDX blurs the lines between a sedan, SUV and coupe which can explain the ZDX's unique look.
This combination of inspiration caused audiences to formulate mixed ideas on what to expect from the ZDX and that confusion showed in the sales of the vehicle. Its production time ran from 2009-2013 and in that 4 year span just over 5,000 units were sold.
Isuzu VehiCROSS
The Isuzu VehiCROSS is a compact SUV made from Isuzu from 1997-2001. Designed for both on the road and off-road driving, the Vehicross had mixed reviews when it was introduced at the Tokyo International Auto Show.
In the Isuzu VehiCROSS' four year span, Isuzu made minimal interior and body upgrades to the VehiCROSS to excite and retain their buyer base. As a result, it was eventually discontinued in 2001 due to a defect and a decrease in sales.
Suzuki X-90
The Suzuki X-90 is a subcompact SUV that looks and resembles a car and a pickup truck. Introduced as a concept car in 1993, the X-90 wasn't launched and manufactured until 1995 where it ran for two years until its discontinuation in 1997.
In its two year cycle, less than 6,000 models were sold and it was even named "One of The Worst Cars Ever Made" by Top Gear in 2013 for its lack of features and unappealing appearance.
Infiniti QX56
Essentially the same thing as a luxury Nissan Patrol, the Infiniti QX56 was a full-size luxury SUV that was designed as a performance competitor. Infiniti decided after 2013 that they would rename the QX56 to the QX80.
The names of the SUVs come from the engine displacement and as the name would go, the QX56 came with a standard 5.6 liter. Sadly, being a non-upgraded version of a non-luxury vehicle spelled doom for the Infiniti QX56.
Lincoln MKT
As the 2nd largest SUV produced and marketed by Ford Motor Company, the Lincoln MKT is a full-size luxury crossover SUV sandwiched between the Lincoln MKX and Lincoln Navigator.
It ran production for a span of 9 years between 2010-2019 though it sold under 30,000 units in that time frame. Lincoln originally made it to compete with the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, and Mercedes-Benz R Class - though those models performed better than the MKT.
Land Rover Discovery
Launched originally in 1989, the Land Rover Discovery is part of a mid-sized series coming from the Land Rover manufacturing company. Altogether there are five series of Discovery SUVs that have been separately sold and are scattered across the globe.
Though the Discovery initially had a lot of traction, sales of the Land Rover model have started to decrease in the past few years. Although it may look tough, it is expensive to maintain and generally unreliable.
Nissan Juke
Sold and marketed under the Nissan brand since 2010, the Nissan Juke is a sub compact crossover SUV whose name means to "change directions demonstrating agility" which was the design theme that the engineers were going for.
The Juke's overall curvy body was meant to resemble a coke bottle although it performs overall weak compared to its competition. The Juke's popularity peaked in 2013 and since then the sales for the Juke have gone down.
Chrysler Aspen
A large Hemi powered 5-door SUV, the Chrysler Aspen was a luxury SUV that was originally based on the Dodge Durango. One of the first truck-based SUV's for the brand, Chrysler wanted to offer an entry to the SUV market to compete with other manufacturers, but the Aspen missed the mark.
Not well received by the public, who stayed away from dealers, the Aspen was discontinued in 2010 with only 30 units sold in its last year of production.
Pontiac Aztek
A mid-size crossover SUV, the Pontiac Aztek wasn't a far cry from the Buick Rendezvous as they were both made under the manufacturer, General Motors, and resembled each other in body and style. The Aztek came standard with conventional features like a swing-open trunk door and a sliding cargo door for grocery shopping.
For a short time period, there was a sharp rise in the Aztek’s popularity because of it appearing in the show Breaking Bad. After a small boost in sales, its popularity faded and the line was discontinued.
Jeep Wrangler
Even the prospective buyers of Jeep Wranglers that are already aware of the vehicle's poor gas mileage are shocked at just how bad it is, once they hit the road. Many even bring it to a mechanic, to see what's wrong.
Owners of the model have taken to Wrangler Forum online to discuss gas mileage, with many of them wondering what's wrong with their vehicle because it's that bad. Those who answer blame their "heavy foot" on the poor performance while other realists explain, "I mean welcome to the world of Jeep man, tune-ups will help but everyone dreams of 15 mpg..."
Fiat 500X
A subcompact SUV, the Fiat 500X is a complement to the Fiat 500, and while it is an SUV, the Fiat 500X still is limited in room and space like its smaller counterpart.
Closely related to the Jeep Renegade, the Fiat 500X and Renegade share the same manufacturers, though the Fiat 500X is mostly made in Italy. Buyers interested in the 500X in the US have 5 base trim levels to pick from, the Pop, Pop Star, Lounge, Cross and Cross Plus.
Volvo XC90
A mid-size luxury crossover, the Volvo XC90 is a mid-size luxury SUV going into its second generation. It has been around since 2002 after being shown as a concept car in 2001.
Labeled as a practical SUV, if you plan on driving around your pets or children, then the Volvo could be a potential option. On the other hand, if you have a desire to drive around a clunky gas guzzler, then this SUV takes the cake.
Range Rover Evoque
The Range Rover Evoque is a sub compact luxury crossover SUV manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover since 2011 with new models still made and available today.
Initially, the Evoque was offered to buyers in a three or five door model and allowed the buyers the option to choose between two-wheel or four-wheel drive. In 2015, Land Rover had to recall over 60,000 cars due to a defect that would unlatch the car doors without notifying the driver.
Mercedes-Benz GLA
Considered a sports car SUV, the Mercedes-Benz GLA was initially designed to compete with the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3. The car's body is based on a Nissan QX30 and outside of some label changes, the SUVs are almost identical to one another.
To market the GLA, Mercedes-Benz partnered with Nintendo and created an ad that showed Mario driving one of the GLAs on television. While the marketing was creative, sales for the GLA models have been stagnant for the past few years without much increase or improvement.
Chevrolet Suburban
Historically one of Chevrolet's best selling vehicles, the Chevrolet Suburban is a full-size SUV that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1934 - though it has gone through a lot of name and body changes since then.
The Chevrolet Suburban started off as a station wagon before it was placed on a full pick-up truck frame and slowly started to look like the SUV we know today. While it was a huge moneymaker for Chevrolet over the years, Suburban sales have gone down recently.
Nissan Murano Cross Cabriolet
The Nissan Murano Crosscabriolet was the world's first all-wheel-drive crossover convertible and it proved to us that we don’t need something like that on the market.
Not only was the CrossCabriolet impractical to drive with family or pets, but Nissan also limited the options that buyers had when getting the SUV. The SUV only came standard with the same features and engine as the base Nissan Murano giving the buyer little room to personalize.
Lamborghini LM002
A 4-door sport SUV, the Lamborghini LM002 was the first SUV pick up designed by the luxury sports car brand. Based on its looks and usability, it's clear that they took some risks with the design and build of the LM002.
Since 1986 when the Lamborghini LM002 was first produced, only 328 have been made. Dubbed the "Rambo Lambo", this SUV proves that not all luxury sport SUV's are made equal and not all are wanted or needed.
Buick Rendezvous
The entry midsize crossover SUV for General Motors, the Buick Rendezvous was built on the same body and platform as the Pontiac Montana and Chevrolet Venture.
Buick had stayed away from making larger vehicles since the early 1920s and wanted to build an automobile that had the best qualities of a minivan with truck styling and the option for buyers to have all-wheel drive. Discontinued in 2007, the Buick Rendezvous sales dropped substantially to under 20,000 in its final year.
GMC Envoy
The GMC Envoy was a mid-size SUV that was canceled after its first-generation and then revamped and brought back a few years later, the GMC Envoy was incredibly similar to the Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Jimmy with a few more features and options to separate it from being an extra copy.
General Motors had to recall more than 250,000 Envoys in 2012 due to short circuits in the doors and windows that could cause fires.
Dodge Nitro
Sold between 2006 to 2011, the Dodge Nitro was a square compact SUV manufactured and sold by Dodge and Chrysler. Initially upon release, the Dodge Nitro came standard with towing capacity, as well as extended safety features such as traction control and side airbags.
Dodge eventually decided to introduce the Dodge Journey, another crossover SUV to the public in 2009 and the Nitro was discontinued a few years after due to declining sales and poor performance.
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a compact to mid-size SUV manufactured by Nissan and going on its fourth generation. When Nissan first introduced the Pathfinder to the public, the SUV was a 2-door and based heavily on the frame of the Nissan Hardbody Truck.
In Japan, the Nissan Pathfinder was known as an off-road luxury vehicle and went under the name Terrano. Sales in the United States for the Nissan Pathfinder have gone down by almost 15,000 units.
Mitsubishi RVR
Initially classified as an MPV which stands for "multi-purpose vehicle,' the RVR was a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured by Mitsubishi from 1991 with new models still available today.
Its passenger side includes a sliding door and it was made to resemble a more aggressive off-road vehicle. The first model of the RVR sold poorly and Mitsubishi discontinued it and in reintroduced it in 2002 to compete with the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Subaru Forester.
Jeep Renegade
An off-road subcompact crossover SUV produced by Jeep, the Jeep Renegade, which was launched to the public in 2014, has seen a decrease in sales in the last few years.
Sold globally, the Renegade was meant as an option to buyers who wanted a smaller and more affordable entry-level Jeep with some of the same features and a similar appearance to the Jeep Wrangler. At the time it was designed to replace the Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot.
Suzuki XL-7
The Suzuki XL-7 was a mid-size SUV manufactured under Suzuki and General Motors from 1998 to 2009. Built on the frame of a Grand Vitara, the XL-7 had little to offer buyers and came with minimal features to stay affordable.
Though it ended up being the least expensive SUV on the market at its height in popularity, sales for the XL-7 slowed until it was discontinued after selling less than 12,000 units in its last year.
Honda Passport
Essentially a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, the Honda Passport was a mid-size SUV sold between 1993 and 2002 and was re-introduced to the market in 2018.
Slotted between the Honda CR-V and the Honda Pilot, the Passport was discontinued originally in 2002 due to the reconstruction of Isuzu, Honda's company partner at the time. The new resurgence of the Honda Passport starting in 2018 brings the same outer body with a refreshed face with new features and buyer options.
Bentley Bentayga
A full size, 5-door luxury SUV, the Bentley Bentayga makes the mark as Bentley's first SUV. The name Bentayga comes highland rocks in the Canary Islands and the world’s largest snow forest.
Buyers were given the option to buy the Bentayga as a diesel, a V8, or a hybrid though Bentley prides itself on the luxury experience over the performance of their vehicles. In 2018, Bentley released a more aggressive Bentayga body style as well as a coupe version.
Chevrolet Trax
The Chevrolet Trax is a subcompact crossover SUV manufactured by General Motors and based on the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Encore. Launched in 2012, the Trax had a bumpy start after it was unveiled at the Paris International Motor Show and wouldn't go on to be sold internationally until a few years later.
Intended to compete with the Jeep Renegade, the Trax 2020 model is not going to have any changes made to it to appeal to existing or new buyers.
Suzuki Samurai/Jimmy
An off the road mini-SUV, the Suzuki Samurai also went by the name Suzuki Jimmy and has been manufactured under Suzuki since 1970. Originally designed in Japan, the idea for the Samurai came from the Japanese automaker wanting to create an-off road vehicle that was small and efficient.
Currently, the Samurai is on its 4th generation and Suzuki decided to make the newest models more retro-styled with a boxy rectangular body shape reminiscent of its first-generation predecessor.
Ford F-150
One of the most popular vehicles in America is the Ford F-150. Just because it sells like hotcakes doesn't mean it is without problems. Owners who bought model years 2004 and 2005 F-150s were not happy about their purchases.
In those specific models, owners complained about the windows and, more importantly, failed transmissions. Those problems, among others, led to massive recalls, making this one of the biggest mistakes in Ford's history.
RAM 1500
Joining the list of RAM trucks you want to avoid at all costs in the RAM 1500. The 1500 preceded the 3500 and set the tone of just how bad this line of pickups was going to be.
Owners of RAM 1500s cited transmission failures, engine failures, and oil sludge build up as consistent issues. They also noted the truck was poorly built and it wasn't uncommon for dashboards to crack or interior electronics to fail.
Ford Explorer Sport Trac
We still aren't sure what the point of the Ford Explorer Sport Trac was. It was only produced for four years, which felt like four years too many. To manufacture the Sport Trac, Ford took one of their most popular SUVs and modified it into a pickup truck.
The truck's flat bed was too small, and Ford tried to charge an arm and a leg with an MSRP sticker price that customers weren't interested in.
GMC Canyon
The GMC Canyon was built as an upscale pickup truck that would last for the rest of your life. Of course, that's not true or it wouldn't be on this list. Consumers reported problems with the fuel system, cabin electronics, and transmission.
To help compete against its rivals, GMC offered the Canyon in a variety of colors and sizes. In the case of this truck, customers preferred quality over quantity.
1997 Ford Ranger
Ford has always been known for producing some of the best pickup trucks you can buy, which made the misstep of the 1997 Ranger very strange. The biggest mistake Ford made with the Ranger was including a transmission that was anything but reliable.
Reported problems for the failed transmission included: gear slipping, solenoid failure, delayed gear shift response, upshift failure, loss of gears, and loss of reverse gear. It's hard to find success if your product barely works!
Chevy Avalanche
The Chevy Avalanche was in production from 2001 until 2013. During that time, two generations of the pickup truck were produced. Even though the truck stayed in production for over a decade, there's a reason you can only find it on the secondary market today.
Consumers who owned the Avalanche complained about speedometer malfunctions, which led to being pulled over and getting tickets. Other problems were the vehicle's excessive oil consumption and questionable transmission.
2006 Nissan Frontier
As much as we would like to forget about the 2006 Nissan Frontier, it's impossible. The pickup truck was noted for having awful transmission issues. And did we mention there were seven factory recalls?
Three of those recalls turned out to be big problems for Nissan. They involved the vehicle's suspension, fuel system, and engine, all of which had failures linked to crashes. If you see one of these on the secondary market, now you know why.
1976 Dodge Ramcharger
The Dodge Ramcharger was first released in 1974, but it's the 1976 model year that really missed the mark. Originally known as the "Rhino," the Ramcharger was filled with odd quirks, including a passenger seat that was optional and not standard.
The driver's seat, of course, came standard, but if you preferred to drive in solitude that was more than possible. While getting rid of the passenger seat increased the carrying room, customers just weren't impressed. Pictured here is a Ramcharger with the flat hard top option.
2009 Hummer H3T
The Hummer is famous for being a military vehicle that became in such high demand by non-military personnel that it eventually was redesigned and released to the public. For years it sat at the top of the market — then the 2009 H3T model was released.
The H3T was expensive and featured a terrible miles-per-gallon fuel efficiency rating. As gas prices rose, consumers wanted smaller cars that could push 30 to 40 miles per gallon, effectively turning the H3T into a mistake that nearly killed the brand.
1978 Subaru BRAT
Subaru has a reputation for releasing some of the best vehicles on the market. From sedans to SUVs to everything but trucks, Subaru makes excellent vehicles. The BRAT was a truck, a market the brand has never been able to corner.
The big issue is a misunderstanding of what makes a pickup truck an actual truck. The BRAT was a sedan that was rebranded as a compact truck, which was not good. Oddly enough, the BRAT stayed popular for two decades and has a surprising secondary market value today. It made our list because, again, it's not a truck!
RAM Rumble Bee
The RAM Rumble Bee has one of the most ridiculous names on this list. What exactly was Dodge thinking when they made a bumblebee yellow pickup truck and added it to their lineup?
Dodge released the Rumble Bee in 2004, trying to jump on the success of Super Bee muscle cars. Aside from the paint job and decals, there was nothing under the hood that could separate this truck from the rest of its class.
Lincoln Blackwood
The Lincoln Blackwood wasn't just one of the worst pickup trucks ever released, it was also one of the strangest. Known for their luxury, Lincoln created pickup with an undersized bed and an underpowered engine.
The Blackwood, aside from being oddly shaped, was also unreliable. Blue collar workers stayed away, and so did Lincoln's core consumer base. At the end of the day, the Blackwood only lasted one generation before Lincoln discontinued production altogether.
1999 Chevy Silverado
The Chevy Silverado is an iconic pickup that almost missed the mark entirely. When it was first introduced in 1999, it was a release nightmare that Chevy barely woke up from.
Chevy put one of the worst engines on the market in the Silverado, which seems like an odd choice for what was intended to be a new flagship vehicle. The lack of power made the pickup truck slow and unreliable, a mistake the automaker quickly remedied with the next generation.
Chevrolet Colorado
In theory, the idea of a compact pickup truck makes sense. In practice, they are rarely hits with consumers, and the Chevy Colorado was no different. It was fuel-efficient and easy to drive, but also received poor reliability ratings.
Most of the problems look to be put in the past by Chevy, as the 2019 Colorado has received mostly positive remarks. So, if you're looking for a compact truck, go for the 2019 model year or later.
2006 Dodge Dakota
Dodge completely redesigned the Dakota for 2006, an idea which turned out to be a huge misstep for the automaker. The new model stayed on the market for five years, when Dodge discontinued the Dakota entirely.
What was so disastrous about the 2006 Dakota? While it was a reasonably priced pickup truck, consumers reported it broke down constantly. The cost of repairs quickly added up, turning a modest initial investment into a bank account nightmare.
Nissan Titan
The Nissan Titan undeniably looks like an incredible truck. It's big and has aggressive styling that instantly catches the eye. It's also one of the worst-performing pickup trucks on the market.
Most of the truck's problems can be attributed to the pulleys, mounts, and belts. Some owners have also experienced cracks in the body and fluid leaks. None of that adds up to a truck that is worth the money, which explains why it can often be found at discounted prices.
Ram 3500
According to Consumer Reports, the Ram 3500 is the "least reliable vehicle you can buy." While it looks like it can take a beating and keep on keeping on the outside, anyone foolish enough to buy one learned how big of a mistake they made.
The biggest reported issues with the 3500 were the vehicle's steering, transmission, fuel system, and suspension. All of those components are kind of important when it comes to driving.
2018 Mercedes Benz X-Class
When Mercedes released the X-Class, they billed it as the first true luxury pickup truck experience. Sadly, despite coming out in 2018, the truck is already proving to be a mistake by the usually reliable German automaker.
When Top Gear reviewed the X-Class, it was called, "meh." The highly respected auto program also noted, "kick down accounts for a two-elephant count before anything happens, and even then you aren't exactly subjected to forceful acceleration."
1957 Ford Ranchero
In 1957, Ford tried to fool consumers with the Ranchero. A wolf in sheep's clothing, the Ranchero was essentially a sedan with a truck bed. Ford sold the auto as a pickup truck, though, and consumers picked up and took their business elsewhere.
By 1960, Ford realized they made a mistake. The company created a smaller more compact Ranchero and marketed it to consumers as a car this time, not a pickup truck.
