The most disappointing cars of 2022

We could do a "worst cars" of 2022 list, but honestly, people get all cheesed off when we do such things. This usually comes from people alive in the 1970s who remember when cars routinely wouldn't start, rusted to dust or just caught on fire. Nothing for sale today is "worst" like that, and as such, you often hear the phrase, "There are no bad cars anymore." To that I say, "Hogwash." That's like saying, "Things are going pretty well in the world right now because we have running water and antibiotics. You want to talk about 'bad,' try living in 1534!" The scale moves with time and progress. There are cars that do their intended jobs better than others and therefore there are cars that do their intended jobs worse than others.

But whatever, we're not doing that list. This list is about "disappointing," which is kind of like the worst cars we drove, but ultimately can be about expectations. We were expecting X and we got Y. We figured Z would make yet another hit, but no, they whiffed this time. We were expecting something that cost $150,000 to be great, but it just seemed like a giant waste of money. Basically, there's lots of room for interpretation.

So, here are the cars, SUVs and trucks that most disappointed us in 2022. And yeah, there are a lot of Toyotas. On the flip side, the GR Corolla and the Prius surprised the hell out of everyone in a very good way. — Senior Editor James Riswick

2022 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro

Consumer Editor Jeremy Korzeniewski: There are a lot of good reasons to buy a Toyota Tacoma. Excellent predicted reliability and resale value are both top of mind, for instance. Another positive: In TRD Pro guise, as my test truck came packaged, it can tackle some legitimately challenging off-road terrain. The big problem is that it's not enjoyable to drive anywhere else. The powertrain makes as much noise as it does horsepower, a fact exacerbated by a transmission that downshifts at the mere suggestion of an incline, the ride both feels too stiff and too wallowy, and the interior that was merely acceptable when the truck was last redesigned for the 2016 model year is now simply worst-in-class.

Perhaps most irritating of all, though, is the Tacoma's ridiculous seating position. The bottom of the front seats are mounted so low to the floor that my legs are splayed out forward at an uncomfortable angle. Despite that glaring problem, my head is still uncomfortably close to the ceiling. All of this leads to an awkward driving position that simply cannot be rectified no matter how I adjust the seat or steering wheel. It's terrible.

It's worth mentioning that some of my biggest complaints are leveled specifically at the top-shelf TRD Pro. In more sedate trim levels, the Tacoma's positives may well outweigh its negatives. And, as I mentioned at the outset, I wouldn't fault anyone for buying the Tacoma solely due to its reputation for reliability and resale value. For me, though, driving the thing just isn't a pleasant experience.

2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB 350

Road Test Editor Zac Palmer: How do you turn a great, affordable luxury vehicle — the GLB 250 — into something you don’t want? The EQB is a great formula to follow. At its approximately $40,000 starting price, the GLB is a superb value and lovely entry-level option from Mercedes-Benz. I’d go so far as saying it’s one of my favorite Benz products. Period. Meanwhile, the EQB 350 I drove this year costs just shy of $60,000, and all you have to show for the extra $20,000 is a lackluster electric powertrain.

It’s not that the EQB 350 is a poor driving vehicle by any means. The cabin is quiet; there’s a respectable amount of pep off the line for most folks, and it still looks cute. However, that electric powertrain just doesn’t come anywhere close to making you feel like the extra $20,000 over the GLB 250 was worth it. The charging tech is already outdated versus other Benz products, too. I’d be just as happy wringing out the boosted four-cylinder in the GLB. And sadly, the EQB doesn’t come loaded with a bunch of equipment that might justify its added cost. Instead, it’s equipped just like the $20,000 cheaper GLB 250. If you want basic luxuries like heated seats, keyless entry, adaptive cruise control and more, you need to get checking boxes. Before you know it, the EQB 350 is over $70,000.

Even at its base price, other EVs are shockingly more compelling. A Genesis GV60, Volvo XC40 Recharge or Cadillac Lyriq are all obvious choices over the EQB. They’re better equipped, similarly priced, are way more fun to drive and feature notably advanced EV charging/battery tech. If it were priced at $45,000, the EQB would be an acceptable EV. The $60,000 (or more with necessary options) price tag turns it into the most disappointing vehicle I’ve driven this year.