When the First Impression Doesn't Last
With the right badge and styling, some cars know exactly how to make a strong entrance. Then you climb inside, start touching the plastics, press a few buttons, and are immediately reminded that looks are only a small fraction of the story. These 20 cars have visual appeal, but certain materials, controls, noises, or driving characteristics have a way of reminding you where corners were cut.
1. Chrysler 300
Few affordable sedans have ever carried themselves quite like the Chrysler 300, especially with its broad grille, long hood, and imposing proportions. From across the parking lot, it can easily give off much more expensive luxury-sedan energy. Get inside, though, and you'll find plenty of ordinary plastics, aging switchgear, and trim that doesn't feel nearly as upscale as you'd expect from the exterior.
2. Maserati Ghibli
The Ghibli has everything you'd expect from an exotic Italian luxury sedan at first glance, including that trident badge and a seriously stylish shape. Unfortunately, earlier examples became notorious for interior controls and switches that felt suspiciously similar to those found in much cheaper Stellantis products. It's hard to feel especially exclusive when the cabin details don't live up to the glamorous bodywork outside.
3. Cadillac ATS
People have come to expect a certain level of refinement from the Cadillac badge, and on the surface, the ATS, with its sharp lines and long hood, seems like it won't disappoint. While its handling can also be genuinely impressive, the interior isn't always as convincing. Glossy touch-sensitive controls, inconsistent materials, and some surprisingly plain surfaces makes the cabin feel less expensive than the car appears from the curb.
4. Mercedes-Benz CLA
With its frameless doors, swooping roofline, and prominent three-pointed star, the CLA certainly knows how to look expensive. The entry-level Mercedes experience becomes a little more obvious once you start poking around the cabin, where harder plastics and lighter-feeling components can turn up. It still carries plenty of visual prestige, but you may notice the cost-cutting much sooner than you would in the brand's pricier sedans.
5. Infiniti Q50
The Q50 has the proportions of a proper luxury sports sedan, particularly when it's sitting on a good set of wheels. Its cabin initially looks suitably upscale too, but closer inspection reveals plenty of trim that doesn't feel particularly special. Infiniti kept the model around for a long time, and toward the end, its dated technology made the experience feel noticeably cheaper than the exterior promised.
6. Buick Cascada
A sleek four-seat convertible with a Buick badge sounds like it should deliver a pretty upscale experience. The Cascada certainly looked classy with its roof folded down, but its European economy-car roots became more apparent from behind the wheel. Some cabin materials and controls felt more mainstream than luxurious, which could make the stylish exterior seem a little optimistic.
7. Range Rover Evoque
The Evoque has always been one of the more fashion-conscious compact SUVs, with styling that immediately identifies it as something premium. Depending on the model year and trim, though, certain cabin plastics and controls can feel less substantial than you'd expect from something wearing a Range Rover badge.
8. Lincoln MKZ
The MKZ's flowing shape and distinctive Lincoln grille helped it stand apart from the average family sedan. Inside, however, you didn't have to look very far to find pieces that revealed its connection to more ordinary Ford products. The cabin could be comfortable and well-equipped, but a few familiar switches and less-than-lavish materials kept it from feeling as special as its styling suggested.
9. Volkswagen Arteon
There's something undeniably upscale about the Arteon's low roofline, wide stance, and elegant fastback body. Volkswagen gave it the kind of styling that wouldn't look out of place alongside much pricier European models. The cabin is sensible and nicely assembled, but its conservative dashboard and familiar Volkswagen controls don't always deliver the same sense of occasion as the exterior.
10. Genesis Coupe
Even years after its introduction, the Genesis Coupe still has the shape of a considerably more expensive rear-wheel-drive sports car. The long hood and muscular rear quarters make it look serious, particularly in later versions. Inside, though, harder plastics and fairly basic trim remind you that Hyundai was still finding its footing in the premium space when the car was developed.
11. Cadillac ELR
You'd never guess from looking at the ELR that so much of its underlying technology was related to the much less expensive Chevrolet Volt. Cadillac wrapped that hardware in a genuinely striking coupe body with a futuristic-looking interior. The problem was that certain controls and details didn't always feel sophisticated enough for the lofty price tag attached to it.
12. Infiniti QX30
With its curvy bodywork and Infiniti badge, the QX30 looked every bit like a fashionable little luxury crossover. Underneath, it shared a great deal with the Mercedes-Benz GLA, which wasn't necessarily a bad starting point. Still, the tight cabin, some unimpressive materials, and rather ordinary controls could leave you wondering where all that visual sophistication went once you climbed inside.
13. Chevrolet Camaro
There's nothing subtle about a modern Camaro, especially one with an aggressive appearance package. Its enormous hood, tiny windows, and wide stance give it the presence of a much more exotic performance machine. The interior has improved dramatically over the generations, but some versions still feature hard plastics and basic materials that don't quite match the drama happening outside.
14. Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet
Very few vehicles look as unusual or potentially expensive as a large two-door convertible crossover. The Murano CrossCabriolet certainly had novelty on its side, and its rarity can make it seem exclusive. Once you're inside, however, the familiar Nissan dashboard pieces and mainstream materials bring it back into ordinary territory.
15. Mercedes-Benz GLA
Put the right wheels and AMG-style trim on a GLA and it can look surprisingly expensive for one of Mercedes' smallest crossovers. Earlier generations weren't always as impressive from the driver's seat, particularly in lower trims. Hard surfaces, a relatively basic layout, and a firm ride could make the experience feel closer to a dressed-up compact car than a miniature luxury SUV.
16. Jaguar XE
The XE has all the right ingredients visually, from its elegant proportions to the Jaguar badge on the grille. It was supposed to battle the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class, so expectations for the cabin were understandably high. Unfortunately, though, some cheap-feeling plastics, dated infotainment, and fairly plain detailing made it feel less luxurious than their graceful exterior suggested.
17. Acura ILX
A crisp suit of Acura styling helped the ILX appear more upscale than the humble compact sedan underneath it. There were certainly premium touches inside, but the cabin architecture and materials didn't always disguise its close relationship with the Honda Civic. You got the prestigious badge and sharper presentation, but the overall experience could still feel decidedly mainstream.
18. Buick Regal Sportback
The Regal Sportback had a clean European design that made it look far more expensive than many people expected from a Buick. Its frameless-looking profile and sleek hatchback shape gave it genuine showroom appeal. The cabin, while perfectly functional, didn't always match that exterior sophistication, with a fairly ordinary dashboard and several materials that felt more practical than premium.
19. Fisker Karma
The Fisker Karma remains one of those cars that can make people stop and stare even if they have no idea what it is. Its huge wheels, low roof, and striking proportions look thoroughly exotic, and it wasn't cheap either. However, the interior quality could be inconsistent, while awkward controls and early-production issues sometimes made the glamorous plug-in sedan feel less polished than its looks deserved.
20. Chrysler Crossfire
With its long hood, short rear deck, and unusual fastback shape, the Crossfire looked like Chrysler had suddenly entered the exotic sports-car business. Its Mercedes-derived mechanical components gave it some genuine European credentials as well. Inside, however, expanses of silver plastic and relatively inexpensive-feeling trim made it clear that the visual drama hadn't been matched with an equally lavish cabin.
