Which cars are underrated according to Consumer Reports?
CR described the Toyota Avalon as a mainstream car with luxury leanings. Generous legroom, agile handling, and a CR Green Choice badge weren’t enough to impress consumers. Only 18,421 Avalon automobiles were sold in 2020.
CR noted that sales for the Audi A4 have "dropped precipitously" since the mid-2000s. The A4 is a high-powered, nimble luxury sedan that sold a mere 18,342 units in 2020. Similarly, the Infiniti Q50 had a 50% drop in sales since 2014 and fewer than 17,000 units were sold last year.
The BMW 2 Series ranks the highest as a car that CR thinks more people should buy. Performance-wise, the BMW 2 Series rated five out of five for acceleration, transmission, braking, and emergency handling. This sporty luxury car ranked five out of five for front-seat comfort.
A brief history of the BMW 2 Series
First produced in 2013, the BMW 2 Series replaced the 1 Series with sporty two-door coupes that came with plenty of standard features. The BMW 2 Series was upgraded with additional storage space in the door bins and between the front seats. These cars also feature a roomier backseat with a central armrest that vastly improved passenger comfort.
In 2017, BMW refreshed the 2 Series with LED headlights, a revamped instrument panel, a more spacious cockpit, and new cloth or leather seat variants.
Why isn’t the BMW 2 Series more popular?
CR said the BMW 2 Series strikes an ideal balance between livability and performance while offering an agile drive and a punchy powertrain. The fuel economy of the BMW 2 Series could be better. CR got around 25 mpg overall in their road tests of the vehicle.
The reason the BMW 2 Series is tanking with consumers might be because the automaker increased luxury, comfort, and technology at the expense of performance. In this model, the razor-sharp handling that was once a hallmark of the BMW brand is missing. Nonetheless, CR thinks it’s a great car that more people should buy and drive.