Based on the Golf Mark 2 and fitted with VW’s Syncro 4x4 system, it was one of the biggest selling flops in the company’s history.  Only produced from 1990-1991, built at Steyr-Daimler-Puch (today: Magna) in Graz, Austria, the body was raised 12cm compared to the standard Golf. The necessary rear differential caused the boot to shrink considerably compared to standard Golf models. It sold only 7700 units.  

The Golf Country however was, together with the AMC Eagle, one of the first “soft-roaders” on the market – a concept later adopted by many car makers, above all Toyota, marking a major success with its RAV4. And above all, it was the third product in the Golf line-up (besides the Jetta and Convertible).

We say: HERO

Ssangyong Actyon

Ssangyong went bankrupt in early 2009 – after looking at this car, someone wonder why?? Produced since 2006, perhaps the Actyon was ahead of its time…so far ahead, time simply couldn’t catch up with it anymore. It probably never would have caught up anyway.

We say: ZER00

GMC Envoy XUV

We say: ZER0

Suzuki X-90 4x4

Probably one of the – excuse the expression – shittiest looking 4x4’s of all times. If you google “ugly car/flop”, this car always comes up together with the Pontiac Aztec (see below). Production came to a hault after only two years in 1998. Now, tastes may differ, but sales numbers don’t lie...neither do our collegues from Top Gear: the  U.K. magazine called the X-90 the worst car of all time. But that alone makes this car legendary.  

We say: HERO 

Pontiac Aztek

The Pontiac Aztek was a mid-size crossover produced by the General Motors brand Pontiac from 2001 to 2005— the first crossover offered by General Motors. The Aztek was heavily criticized on its exterior styling, with Time magazine in 2007 calling the Aztek one of the worst cars of all time, and a poll in The Daily Telegraph in 2008 placing the Aztek at number one of "The 100 ugliest cars" of all time. There were some cool features however – unfortunately, they were put in the wrong car: the Aztec had a center console that doubled as a removable cooler, and a tent/inflatable mattress package that along with a built-in air compressor allowed the Aztek to double as a camper.

We say: ZER0

Jeep Compass 

What were they thinking?? That’s brand dilution at its highest level! We understand that Jeep wanted to extend its customer base – but wouldn’t the Patriot have done the trick by itself? No further discussion here…

We say: ZER000

Lamborghini LM002 

In 1980, Lamborghini decided to dust off the “Cheetah files” (the Cheetah was an offroader presented to public at the 1977 Genève auto show) and put forward a single goal: to build the world’s fastest offroader (perhaps a contradiction in itself – why would anyone need a fast offroader?!). The developers at Lamborghini took the engine from the Countach (V12, 450hp), which allowed the car a top speed of 210km/h (quite a lot at that time!).  

However, the LM002 did not quite sell as well as forecasted. One of the reasons was the for Saudi oil sheikhs unacceptable range, although the LM002 was fitted with a 290 litre (!) tank – during the first years of production, the engine consumed a phenomenal 30-100l/100km. Penetrating smell of gasoline in the cabin, oil leaks as well as cracks in the engine block and electrical problems rounded off the troublesome picture the Sheiks had of the LM002. Production finished in 1992 with only 301 units produced. Nowadays, this car is one of the great pieces of automotive history - simply cult! 

We say: HERO

JMC Landwind  

We say: ZER000

Talbot Matra-Simca Rancho 

The Talbot Matra Rancho was a leisure activity vehicle created by the French engineering group Matra in cooperation with the automaker Simca to capitalize on the “off-road trend”, by providing the "off-road look" at a lower price. But strictly speaking, this car doesn’t belong in this list. It’s a kind of Discovery knock-off but was only available with front-wheel drive – so no 4x4 here. Talk about pseudo 4x4…this is as pseudo as it gets! 

We don’t know why, but this car seems like Don Quixote fighting the windmills in La Mancha…a losing battle (especially with 2wd), but still…an ideal car for your French vineyard estate in your pension…plus, you simply have to like a car with three different brand names! It’s so zero that it has to be called a hero…

We say: HERO

Saab 9-2X  

We say: ZER00