5 Cars that Get Overlooked But Are Actually Great Buys
Lisa Steuer McArdle
· 4 min read
Consumer Reports recently released a list of cars and SUVs that get overlooked at dealerships, but that may actually be worth considering if you’re
buying a car
. The top car that made the list was the 2021 BMW 2 Series, which received an impressive overall score of 88 out of 100 from Consumer Reports and earned one of the highest Road Test scores they ever gave a vehicle. But like many of the cars on the list, sales of the 2021 BMW 2 Series were not too impressive last year. In fact, only 14,616 cars sold in 2020—but despite that, it’s still a solid option among small sedans.
If you’re in the market for buying a car, here are five other vehicles that made
Consumer Reports’
list of hidden gems.
2021 Toyota Avalon
While Toyota only sold 18,421 Avalons in 2020, the sedan got top ratings from owners for comfort and driving experience.
The 2021 Toyota Avalon has an overall score from Consumer Reports of 88. It scored high on its Road Test at 93 out of 100, and also received a Predicted Owner Satisfaction rating of 5 out of 5. It also ranks reasonably high for Predicted Reliability at 3 out of 5.
If you’re looking for a more reasonable alternative to higher priced luxury cars, the 2021 Toyota Avalon is a great pick. The car offers a plush ride with agile handling, and can be a great option for longer
road trips
. It also earned the Consumer Reports’ Green Choice badge for its low tailpipe emissions. Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
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2021 Audi A4
Since the mid-2000s, sales of the A4 have decreased. Before then, almost 50,000 units of the sporty sedan sold each year. But that has dropped dramatically, as last year Audi only sold 18,342.
But car buyers who are looking for a nimble all-wheel drive vehicle might find exactly what they are looking for in the A4, as Consumer Reports rates it as one of the best compact luxury sedans. The car’s responsive handling and quiet interior add to its appeal.
The 2021 Audi A4 has an overall score of 87, a Road Test score of 88, and a Predicted Owner Satisfaction rating of 3 out of 5. It also received a perfect score on Predicted Reliability at 5 out of 5.
2021 Infiniti Q50
This is an interesting pick from Consumer Reports because it has high praise and rankings in certain categories, it only received a 1 out of 5 Predicted Owner Satisfaction rating. In 2020, Infiniti sold only 16,533 of its sedans, which is a more than 50% decrease from 2014.
But Consumer Reports says the 2021 Infiniti Q50 mostly benefits from staying power. With a standard V6 engine, the Q50 is still seen as one of the most reliable luxury sedans on the market.
It received an 85 on its Road Test, and perfect Predicted Reliability rating at 5 out of 5. It also has an overall score of 85.
The car is also described as one of Nissan’s better models, and as a sports sedan that is enjoyable to drive.
2021 Volkswagen Arteon
This car is pretty low on the popularity list, considering only about 3,600 people bought it in 2020. Consumer Reports believes that might be because people aren’t sure if the car is a sedan or an outback, and that a well-equipped version costs almost as much as a comparable Audi.
But the 2021 Volkswagen Arteon is worth considering as your next car purchase. While some are confused by what exactly the car is, it can be described as a hatchback with sporty handling, and plenty of cargo room with a sedan-like outside profile.
It also has pretty good ratings from Consumer Reports. It received an overall score of 81, a Road Test score of 91, and a Predicted Reliability of 3 out of 5.
Despite its low sales number, the people who did purchase it are fairly satisfied, as the car has a Predicted Owner Satisfaction of 3 out of 5.
