The Cars That Get an Instant Eye Roll
Every generation has a few cars that make it wonder what on earth the younger crowd sees in them. For many baby boomers, certain modern vehicles can seem unnecessarily expensive, oddly styled, impractical, or simply too different from the cars they grew up driving. That doesn't mean these vehicles are bad, of course, and plenty of younger drivers love them for exactly the qualities older generations question.
1. Tesla Model 3
The Tesla Model 3 isn’t necessarily polarizing by design, but many boomers will have a hard time wrapping their heads around it because it’s so different from what they’re used to driving. From the sparse interior and giant touchscreen to the whisper-quiet all-electric powertrain, it just doesn’t feel like a traditional car.
2. Tesla Model Y
The Model Y is basically the Tesla Model 3 with a crossover body on top. As such, it has many of the same features that will leave traditional crossover fans scratching their heads. Why doesn’t it look more rugged? What happened to all the buttons?
Tesla Fans Schweiz on Unsplash
3. Toyota Prius
Granted, the Prius isn’t the most polarizing hybrid ever made, but its longstanding association with green drivers will always rub some boomers the wrong way. The Toyota Prius has never hidden the fact it values efficiency over outright performance and clever styling over flash.
The Transport Enthusiast DC on Unsplash
4. Ford Mustang Mach-E
You knew putting the Mustang badge on an electric crossover would stir things up. Traditionalists likely view the Mustang Mach-E as too far of a departure from what they consider an actual Mustang. Sure, it looks nothing like a traditional pony car, but that doesn’t matter to people who grew up with Mustangs in lowrider magazines.
5. Ford Bronco Sport
Remember how we mentioned the Mustang stirred up some controversy? The Ford Bronco brand comes with centuries' worth of off-road prestige behind it. Expectations are exceptionally high for anything badged a Bronco, which is why something like the compact Bronco Sport can feel like a letdown.
6. Jeep Renegade
Jeep. Ever heard of it? Just because you see recognizable Jeep styling sprinkled on the Renegade doesn’t mean old-school Jeep fans will approve of its overall package. Drivers who came of age when Jeeps were about toughness above everything else will be turned off by a tiny crossover hiding under the Jeep nameplate.
7. Honda Civic Type R
Honda Civics have become synonymous with bland transportation, so throwing “Type R” on the end of one is bound to upset some people. Forget about traditional drivers who grew up thinking of Civics as inexpensive daily drivers. The Civic Type R’s giant rear wing, wild styling, and focus on performance looks absolutely bonkers to them.
8. Hyundai Ioniq 5
Its exterior will catch people off guard simply because it doesn’t adhere to traditional car design practices. Add in the electric powertrain and spacious cabin, and you’ll get strange reactions from boomers who drove minuscule cars with barely usable interiors back in the day. You see innovation and vision. They see a needless expense.
9. Kia EV6
Kia's EV6 doesn't try particularly hard to resemble a conventional gasoline-powered car. Its low roofline, dramatic exterior design, and fully electric powertrain give it an identity that can be difficult for traditional drivers to categorize. For younger buyers, that futuristic approach can be exactly what makes it appealing. Someone accustomed to large V8 sedans might need a little convincing.
10. Chevrolet Bolt EV
Chevrolet’s compact Bolt EV sacrifices nothing in terms of efficiency and electric range. But it won’t win any awards for its curb appeal among drivers who favor classic American iron. There’s no growling engine and commanding presence that comes with Chevy cars from generations past.
Mariordo (Mario Roberto Durán Ortiz) on Wikimedia
11. Rivian R1T
Pickup trucks are meant to work a certain way. They have substantial beds, large tires, gasoline engines, and plenty of chrome details to remind you just how truck-y they are. The Rivian R1T is a pickup truck, but bro shake off Chacos doesn’t recognize it as such.
12. Rivian R1S
Speaking of the Rivian R1S, giant camping truck isn’t going to compute with old-school truck lovers either. Three rows of passenger seating, sharp exterior design, and easy-to-live-with interior won’t do it for them. They want V8 engines, big boats for beds, and traditional suspensions. Rivian basically rewrote the playbook on what a large SUV can be
13. Hyundai Santa Cruz
When many boomers were shopping for their first cars, there wasn’t really a vehicle category that matched the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Sure, there were trucks, but they were so large they needed two hands to count how many doors they had. The Santa Cruz is essentially a pickup in name only.
14. Ford Maverick
The Maverick became popular for many of the same reasons as the Hyundai Santa Cruz. Both trucks offer traditional pickup utility in a smaller, more manageable package. The problem is you can’t exactly show up to the classic truck lover’s house with a Maverick and think they’re going to get it.
15. Subaru Solterra
Here’s another automotive oddity SUV lovers will either hate or adore. Like the Toyota bZ4X, the Subaru Solterra is completely rear-wheel drive and 100 percent electrically powered. If you believe traditional SUVs need gigantic engines, miles of chrome, and V8 growls to truly feel like SUVs, Subaru’s new EV crossover won’t make much sense to you.
Tokumeigakarinoaoshima on Wikimedia
16. Nissan Ariya
The Nissan Ariya drives and looks like a traditional SUV in some ways, but just enough details will throw off drivers who expect SUVs to look a certain way. Everything about the Ariya is pretty minimal by traditional SUV standards. From its quiet powertrain to its sleek appearance and lack of physical buttons.
17. BMW iX
The BMW iX is almost guaranteed to generate strong opinions because its exterior design is difficult to ignore. Traditional BMW enthusiasts may find its styling surprisingly far removed from the brand's classic sedans and coupes. Inside, technology is abundant, while the electric powertrain changes the driving experience in ways that don't match older BMW expectations.
18. Cadillac Lyriq
Cadillac loves big cars. Huge engines, luxuriously padded cabins, wide bodies that take up an entire parking space; Cadillac built its entire luxury brand around these traits for decades. The Lyriq changes everything Cadillac once stood for. It’s still luxurious, but where’s the powerful engine? Where’s the gigantic Cadillac headroom you grew accustomed to?
19. Toyota GR Corolla
The GR Corolla takes an ordinary-looking compact hatchback and turns it into a serious performance machine. Older drivers who associate Toyota with reliability and sensible commuting may be surprised by its aggressive styling, turbocharged engine, all-wheel-drive system, and enthusiast-focused character. It's still practical enough to use every day, which makes the whole concept even more unusual.
20. Hyundai Elantra N
The Hyundai Elantra N might cause similar controversy to Toyota’s GR Corolla because it spoils the humble and affordable image of the regular Elantra nameplate. Just like the Corolla, Hyundai didn’t make their Elantra affordable and boring in the trunk. Nope, they decided to add power, sportier suspension tuning, upgraded aesthetics, and performance-first tech features instead.
