These Cars Have The Dumbest Names

The Story

None of you seem to like random combinations of numbers and letters, or extra-long car names, and you really seem to hate EVs that use muscle car names.

Ford Add Jalopnik on Google: Preferred Source Google Discover Oftentimes, a car’s name is the first impression we get of it. Long before its body takes shape or its specs are released to the public, we learn what an automaker is going to call its latest creation. Like personal first impressions, the names that automakers pick can be very important — and they can really miss the mark in some cases. That idea is what led me to the question I asked you all last week.

I wanted to know about the names that missed the mark — the dumbest names ever given to a particular car. Luckily for me, you folks delivered, though not in the way I initially thought might happen. See, when I first posed this question, I assumed most of you were going to name cars you thought carried dumb names, and some of you did. There are plenty of cars with dumb names on our list (looking at you, Ford Mustang Mach-E), but a great many of you instead took the time to lay out your grievances with various naming conventions throughout the industry. I can’t say I agree with all of your takes, but at the very least, I respect your tenacity.

That’s enough from me. How about you all head on down below and check out what cars your fellow Jalops think have been saddled with the dumbest names?. Is your least-favorite car name on the list?. Might I suggest spending your evening de-badging it?. I think it’s your only option at this point, unfortunately.

Dodge Dodge Avenger Sedan. The Avenger name itself is excellent. Dare I claim it’s one of the best car names of all time. The original FWD Avenger Coupe in 1995 was certainly a handsome little devil. Performance wise, the Avenger Coupe was ‘meh’, just like most FWD coupes of the 90s. (163hp from the optional V6. Eesh.). But I’d like to think the nice lines on the original Avenger Coupe motivated some sales. And then the 2008 Avenger Sedan happened. It just looked. Awful. Just plain awful. The Avenger Sedan was a combination of multiple design departments that never met prior to the vehicle launch. Nevermind Dodge’s primary objective to make every single part as cheap as possible. The sedan version destroyed any cachet (I’m being generous here) the Avenger brand might have previously offered.

Ford I know it’s pedantic, but I always hated the Ford Expedition since expedition means a long journey by foot. Mercedes-Benz Cars with absurdly long names. They all have a first, second, third and fourth and fifth name. For my example I’ll pick on Porsche with the Panamera Sport Turismo Turbo S E-Hybrid. BMW comes in a close second with their super long names.

Every car with a name longer than a single word. Super long names are the worst. Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI GSR Tommi Mäkinen Edition (Special Colour Package) Yes, those are all official names.

Chevrolet The retro-inspired cars that had alphabetic names. The names “PT Cruiser,” “SSR,” and “HHR” do not have the flow and aspirational quality as the names for cars that inspired these designs.

Why It Matters

Dodge Dodge Avenger Sedan.

CarMotion Daily’s Take

How about you all head on down below and check out what cars your fellow Jalops think have been saddled with the dumbest names?. The detail bears tracking. Supply chains, regulations, and consumer demand are reshaping the playbook faster than five-year plans can keep up. Dealer networks and service capacity will need to evolve alongside whatever the headline announcement implies. Regulatory filings, supplier contracts, and any production-volume adjustments usually trail the headline by a quarter or two. Stock price moves and dealer council chatter are leading indicators worth monitoring.