Jake PopistSometimes there’s no rhyme or reason as to why a specific car barely sells. Other cars with similar specs may sell through the roof, while that one make or model may barely move from the showroom. There’s really no way to know how the public will take to a vehicle, or keep taking to one year after year.
Here are a few of those cars that were underrated enough in 2016 to have astonishingly low sales for reasons mostly unknown. Some may be more surprising than others, but we’re surprised that any of these vehicles are on this list.
BMW i3
The i3 is BMW’s electric car that’s supposed to give the Tesla a run for its money by being a more affordable and sporty option. However, people are opting not to give the i3 a chance. It hasn’t been a hit when it comes to handling as the stability control and lower horsepower make it a little less fun to drive than BMW drivers expect. It also hasn’t gotten high fanfare on its looks. The modern design does show off BMW’s high-tech styling, but isn’t as appealing as BMW had hoped. In 2016, only about 7,600 were sold. Maybe with some aesthetic improvements and more popularity of electric vehicles the i3 will turn into a better seller since this vehicle has all the luxury you’d expect from a BMW with the modern touches that the vehicles of the future will surely hold
Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta was actually Europe’s best-selling car in 2016, but that isn’t the case with this small sedan in America. In 2016, Ford sold only about 49,000 Fiesta’s. While that number doesn’t sound so low on its own, it does when you compare it to the over-60,000 Fiesta’s that were sold in 2015. Americans do seem to favor larger vehicles, and the sales record of the Fiesta helps prove that. This ultra-affordable car is surprisingly roomy inside, has an excellent mpg, low cost maintenance, and the trusted Ford name behind it, so it’s a surprise that more people aren’t picking up this one.
Alfa Romeo Giulia
2016 was the first year in over 20 years that the Alfa Romeo Giulia was sold in the United States. Even with this long-time deprivation of this luxury sedan, only 36 were sold. Sales didn’t start until almost halfway through the year, so that may have something to do with it. But those numbers are still so surprisingly low for this stylish ride. Don’t expect to see this car on the most underrated list of 2017 because as of January 2017, 52 Giulia’s were sold.
Mini Cooper
Mini’s are dropping in sales pretty consistently over the last few years, and at a pretty significant rate. Each year, about 50% less Coopers are sold than the previous year, with 2016 sales being just above 39,000. This small, Euro-inspired vehicle definitely has a cult following, but it just doesn’t seem to be catching on beyond that too much. There was an issue regarding their safety for awhile, but that still doesn’t quite explain why people just don’t seem so impressed with the Mini.
Jake Popist
