When MotorTrend compares cars, we’re sometimes impressed by how good cars are today, even the ones that finish closer to last. And then there are times when the loser is more obvious. In MotorTrend’s Ultimate Car Rankings, you’d be surprised how often a former favorite falls into the midpack of a segment or lower because it hasn’t kept up.

Is one of your favorite cars or brands on the list? Find out the biggest rankings losers for 2024, below.

Oh, and a quick note about why you can trust our rankings system: We expertly combine subjective evaluations such as engine refinement and technology with objective data points including MotorTrend test numbers and safety scores to deliver rankings that can help empower you to make smarter buying decisions. View SUV, sedan, and electric car rankings here.

$20,000 Car Buyers

This story bears repeating: Fewer sub-$20,000 new car options exist today than ever before. We had to remove a segment from our rankings because the Mitsubishi Mirage was the only subcompact hatchback left. Even then, the Mirage, which is also sold as a sedan, is ending production after the 2024 model year.

The Mitsubishi isn’t the only low-priced car around with a “1” as the first digit in its MSRP; the Nissan Versa continues for the 2025 model year. In fact, the 2025 Versa is better than before, with LED headlights now standard versus halogens on two of three trims for the 2024 model year.

Ford F-150

Just last year the popular Ford pickup earned a spot on our rankings winners list, but that changes for 2024. Thanks to an effective refresh, the 2025 Ram 1500 is on top of rankings and, in case you hadn’t heard, is our 2025 Truck of the Year.

Both trucks are solid options, but only one—the Ram—offers what one editor called the best sound system in any truck, ever. Even buyers who don’t find themselves in a luxury trim can appreciate the Hurricane I-6 powerplants, which make the Ram quicker than you expect and make the nose feel lighter, as well.

The Ford-Ram rivalry for the top spot in rankings is far from over, and we can’t wait to see Ford’s next moves with the F-150.

Subaru

Subaru has often fared well in rankings, which makes sense as you can generally trust its products to perform well. That’s still true, but lately we’ve seen a slipping trend in rankings with Subarus. While the Outback clings to number one in the highly competitive midsize SUV space, the Crosstrek was knocked out of first by the Hyundai Kona, and neither the compact Forester nor the three-row Ascent manages a top-three position finish.

We’ll still recommend the brand’s cars to the right buyers, but it’s just a reminder that not all solid products manage to rise to the very top in competitive segments.

Lincoln Corsair

As the midsize Lincoln Nautilus grabs our 2025 SUV of the Year title and the top spot in the midsize luxury SUV segment, the compact Corsair falls into the midpack of its segment. We love the updated SUV’s application of BlueCruise, the semi-autonomous highway driving feature, but the rest of the package is a mixed bag. Add to that picture just-average value, efficiency, and safety scores, and you have an SUV that once earned a podium spot now a bit lower.

Contrast that with the Genesis GV70, our 2022 SUV of the Year and currently the number-one-ranked model in the same segment. Newness isn’t always a requirement to be the best in MotorTrend’s rankings, but all-around consistently great performance is.

Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista

The Buick Envista is one of the most intriguing SUVs you’ve probably never heard of. Usually, a fastback SUV design like this would cost a fortune, but not with this Buick. Inside the Buick and the Chevy Trax it’s based on, you find a surprisingly spacious interior.

The reimagined Chevy is one of the most affordable new SUVs on the market today and also one of the most appealing in the mid-$25,000 range. We liked the FWD-only Trax so much we made it a finalist in our 2024 SUV of the Year competition.

A few factors conspire to land both models in the lower half of rankings for the subcompact SUV segment. The 2025 Trax and Envista both get a four-star overall rating from NHTSA in a segment where some models get five stars. Over at IIHS, the 2024 Trax and Envista don’t qualify for safety awards (competing SUVs from Hyundai, Honda, and Mazda do) because a few individual safety tests fall below the required level for awards.

Rankings Losers for 2024

• $20,000 Car Buyers
• Ford F-150
• Subaru
• Lincoln Corsair
• Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista

See 2023’s losers here.