Well there are a lot of ways to measure the “worstness” when it comes to cars… but ultimately this subjective question is fully answered by the 1986 Hyundai Excel.

Performance – With a Mitsubishi-sourced 1.5 liter carbureted engine, you’d be lucky to get from 0-60mph in 15 seconds in this thing.

Reliability – Generally the words “deteriorated parts in the engine could cause exhaust gases to melt the air filter and the smoldering plastic could then cause an engine compartment fire” aren’t great to hear about your new Korean car.

Safety – If you were a passenger in the front seat of a 1986 Excel, NHTSA testing said you were in the single most dangerous vehicle for injuries to your noggin.

Value – Yep, they were cheap. Less than $5k, unless you wanted the luxury of A/C. But they generally didn’t last past 50-75k miles before a component such as the carburetor, transmission, or engine completely failed, costing more than the value of the car to repair it. Off to the crusher you go, Hyundai!

Overall Ownership Experience– I lived through the 1980s, and I never can remember anyone saying they enjoyed their Hyundai until the Sonata came out in the 90s. Yep, this car tortured its owners with broken parts, terrible build quality, and a dealership network not yet ready for primetime.