There’s no doubt that Toyota makes some of the best cars and SUVs to buy. They’re reliable, some are affordable, and Toyota does a great job of including solid technology in its base vehicles. Still, even a legendary automaker like Toyota can sometimes get it wrong. This doesn’t mean Toyota’s “bad cars” require expensive trips to auto mechanics. Instead, some of these nameplates were simply undesired by buyers. This includes used versions of the Toyota Venza.  

The C-HR is among the worst Toyota vehicles

Many people are looking for the best SUVs to buy, and Toyota vehicles have space on that list. However, most drivers will agree that the Toyota C-HR is probably one of the automaker’s biggest mistakes. Looks are subjective, but most buyers don’t think the C-HR has an exterior worthy of bearing the Toyota emblem. It’s clear the design team was going for something experimental, which it succeeded with, but the result just isn’t desirable. 

Drivers also like Toyota vehicles because they offer pretty decent performance. However, that’s not the case with the C-HR. Instead, it has a reputation for being underpowered. According to Edmunds, the final version of the subcompact SUV uses a 2.0-liter inline-four that makes 144 horsepower with a torque of 139 lb-ft. The vehicle also needs more than 10 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour. Still, like most Toyota vehicles, this one has high-reliability ratings. The automaker discontinued the C-HR in 2022 due to low sales. 

Used Toyota Vena models aren’t great

Some people looking for the best SUVs to buy may be tempted to try a used Toyota Venza. Sadly, the Toyota Venza is also one of the automaker’s worst cars. In many ways, this midsize SUV reminds drivers of the much more popular Toyota RAV4. Additionally, this isn’t a small SUV, but it doesn’t offer the same storage capacity as other options in its class. 

Still, people looking for Toyota vehicles should know that the Venza has pretty high scores. The 2024 model, which is the last, has an overall 81 out of 100 from J.D. Power. The marketing research firm gave it an 81 out of 100 for quality and reliability. Regarding performance, it has a 2.5-liter hybrid setup that makes 219 horsepower. Toyota discontinued the hybrid SUV due to low sales, which isn’t surprising as you hardly see them on the street.

Toyota Yaris

Even some of Toyota’s worst vehicles become icons. This reputation is the case with the Toyota Yaris. It’s not a particularly popular nameplate, but it has been talked about quite a bit throughout the years. In most cases, people disliked the Yaris because it was underwhelming. This disdain includes the engine, lack of passenger space, and its exterior. 

Regarding power, the 2020 Toyota Yaris uses a 1.5-liter engine that has a maximum output of 106 horsepower and 103 lb-ft of torque. It needs 9.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour. Still, it has respectable ratings from J.D. Power. 

Though these aren’t Toyota’s best vehicles, none will require extensive visits to auto mechanics.