HomeUnderrated cars that deserve a better reputation

Underrated cars that deserve a better reputation

From the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow to the Austin Maxi (yes, really), here are 20 cars that are better than perceived wisdom might suggest.

February 6, 2026

Better than you think
© Vauxhall
Those internet lists of the ‘best cars’ are perfectly acceptable, but what about the cars that fly under the radar? Those that deserve greater recognition and some time in the limelight? Here are 20 of our favourite underrated cars, but there could have been many more.
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
© Rolls-Royce
Unveiled in 1965, the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was arguably the best car in the world. A combined total of 40,556 Silver Shadow and Bentley T-series variants made it the most successful Rolls-Royce ever produced. And yet, thanks to a combination of over-supply and a questionable image, it hasn’t got the best reputation. On the plus side, that means you can buy a good one for around £15,000.
Citroen GS
© Citroen
While British Leyland was unveiling the Morris Marina and preparing to underwhelm us with the Austin Allegro, Citroen was launching the GS. Designed to fill a gap between the 2CV and its derivatives on the one hand, and the D series and SM on the other, the GS was good enough to win the 1971 European Car of the Year award. In some ways, it was a Citroen DS for the common man, featuring the likes of hydropneumatic suspension, disc brakes, advanced aerodynamics and steel monocoque construction.
Lancia Montecarlo
© Lancia
The Lancia Montecarlo has all the appeal of an Italian thoroughbred from the 1970s, but without the associated price tag. Find a well-sorted example and you’ll feel like a million lira, without spending a fortune. A Montecarlo appeared in the series finale of The Grand Tour, with Jeremy Clarkson choosing one for his journey through Zimbabwe. The Lancia Montecarlo Consortium reported a rise in interest following the episode.
Porsche 924
© Porsche
For years, enthusiasts looked down on the 924 as a poor man’s Porsche, pointing to its genesis as a Volkswagen sports car, along with its front-engined, water-cooled configuration. Launched in 1975, in some ways the 924 was the Boxster of its day, providing Porsche punters with an affordable way into the brand. Its success also ensured that Porsche could carry on developing the 911.
Peugeot 309 GTI
© Newspress
All of the performance of the 205 GTI in a more sombre suit. For years, the Peugeot 309 GTI lived in the shadow of its illustrious sibling, but the market is waking up. Buy one now and watch it appreciate in value as you appreciate its superb handling. That’s if you can find one; according to the How Many Left website, there are around 100 examples on the road.
BMW 8 Series
© BMW
The E31-generation 8 Series arrived in 1989 as a replacement for the E24 6 Series. On paper, the BMW 8 Series had everything: advanced aerodynamics, a seemingly bottomless pit of money for development, computer-aided design, several world-firsts and an all-aluminium V12 engine under the bonnet (the lower-priced V8 arrived later). Unfortunately, it wasn’t exciting enough and the recession resulted in slow sales, but the 840 and 850 remain fabulous grand tourers.
Porsche 911 (996)
© Porsche
The 996 is typically seen as the least desirable Porsche 911, not helped by the fact that it was the first of the water-cooled cars. Other criticisms included the fact that the styling was too ‘safe’ and that it shared too many bits with the Boxster. However, time is a great healer, and the 996’s stock has been rising for many years. That said, it’s still possible to buy a great example for £15,000.
Honda Accord Type R
© Motoring Research
Not only is the Honda Accord Type R the most underrated Type R model, it’s also one of the most underrated performance cars of the modern era. ‘Just’ 212hp from a 2.2-litre four-pot engine might not seem like a big deal in 2024, but when the VTEC kicks in (yo) at around 5,000rpm, this four-door saloon turns into a hooligan, its additional thrust accompanied by a thunderous soundtrack. A brilliant car.
Vauxhall VX220
© Vauxhall
It’s one of the best sports cars of the new millennium and yet values are well short of an equivalent Lotus Elise. Sure, the Vauxhall badge doesn’t help, but when 2.2-litre versions are selling for just £12,000 and 2.0-litre Turbo models fetch upwards of £16,000, who cares what it says on the front? The exhilarating VX220 Turbo might grab the headlines, but the 2.2-litre version is a featherlight gem.
Suzuki Kizashi
© Suzuki
Prior to the UK launch of the Kizashi, Suzuki GB canvassed the opinions of motoring journalists, dealers and customers to decide which, if any, models it should import. The general consensus was that front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox was the best combination, but Suzuki opted for four-wheel drive with a CVT. That said, this remains a highly appealing, comfortable and spacious four-door saloon, with excellent all-weather capability.
Vauxhall Insignia
© Vauxhall
It would be easy to dismiss the second-generation Vauxhall Insignia. It is, after all, just a boring car designed for fleet managers and company car drivers. But here’s the thing: the Insignia is a thoroughly good workhorse that’s more comfortable than many of its rivals and incredibly cheap to run, especially if you choose one of the diesel engines. As well as saloon and hatchback variants, there’s a spacious estate version and, if you want to go faster, a seriously rapid Insignia VXR.
Ford Mondeo
© Ford
The Insignia’s biggest problem was always the Mondeo. It looked better, had a slightly better image and, perhaps crucially, it was more involving to drive. Like the Insignia, there are thousands to choose from on the second-hand market and, thanks to the rise of the SUV, prices are significantly lower than they should be. Every generation of the Mondeo is a gem, with the Mk1 viewed as a future classic.
Skoda Superb
© Skoda
The Superb name was first used by Skoda in the 1930s for a car powered by a range of six- and eight-cylinder engines. It thus seemed fitting for a new breed of large executive cars, launched in 2001 when the idea of a superb Skoda was, for many people, still an oxymoron. Nearly half a century on, the Skoda Superb has forged a reputation as one of the world’s most comfortable and spacious cars, not to mention a bit of a bargain.
Hyundai i30 N
© Hyundai
We’re big fans of the Hyundai i30 N. It was developed by Albert Biermann of BMW M car fame, who used the Nürburging circuit in Germany to fine-tune the i30 N’s handling. Power is sourced from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine. At launch in 2018, this served up 250hp or, if you opted for the Performance Pack, 275hp. Most buyers chose the latter.
MG ZS 180
© MG Rover
The MG ZS was revealed alongside the ZR and ZT in January 2001. Like the other two, the ZS was based on a humble Rover, in this case the 45, a car that could be best described as ‘dull but worthy’. This made the brilliance of the ZS all the more surprising, especially if you chose the ZS 180. Its 2.5-litre KV6 engine delivered excellent performance accompanied by a snarling soundtrack, while the 2004 facelift added more aggressive styling inspired by the MG XPower SV sports car.
Chevrolet Corvair
© Chevrolet
Don’t believe everything you read. While the Chevrolet Corvair’s handling could be wayward, particularly if the driver had failed to inflate the tyres to the recommended pressures, it doesn’t deserve the ‘unsafe at any speed’ tag it has been lumbered with since the 1960s. Indeed, not only was it truly pioneering – with all-independent suspension and a rear-mounted flat-six engine – it was also sweet to drive and offered exceptional value for money. It also looks great.
Cadillac Allanté
© Cadillac
The Cadillac Allanté was the result of a hugely ambitious project involving the world’s longest assembly line, Boeing 747s, production facilities in Detroit and Turin, Pininfarina and several other European companies. At the time, the idea of an American car costing $50,000 was about as unlikely as Cadillac building a genuine rival to the Mercedes-Benz SL. However, while sales fell short of expectations, it did evolve into an excellent car, especially following the arrival of the Northstar V8 engine.
Citroen ZX
© Citroen
Citroen purists look away now, because while the ZX doesn’t deserve to be held aloft alongside the likes of the Traction Avant, 2CV, DS, CX and GS as a true great, it was remarkably good at what it set out to do. That’s to say it was far better than many of its rivals at delivering good value for money, space and practicality. It was also a rare example of a car that was both comfortable and good to drive.
Vauxhall Calibra
© Vauxhall
The Vauxhall Calibra is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2024, but aside from a few features in the classic car press, the aerodynamic wonder has received little in the way of fanfare. Which is odd, because although its Cavalier underpinnings meant that it couldn’t live up to its stunning styling, it sold in huge numbers and was, in entry-level eight-valve guise, the world’s most aerodynamic car.
Austin Maxi
© Austin
We thought about ending this list with the Morris Marina because, despite the negative press, BL’s family car for the 1970s did sell a million and provided motoring for the masses. But we’d struggle to call it ‘great’, which is why we’re celebrating the Austin Maxi. It launched in 1969 before the world had woken up to the benefits of the family hatchback, although the brilliant Renault 16 had arrived four years earlier.