This century's duds: Disappointing replacements for the Ford Territory, Nissan Pulsar, Suzuki Swift, Holden Barina, Jeep XJ and others that dropped the ball | Opinion

So much to unpack here.

The Endura, a second-gen Edge large SUV from Canada, was perceived as the replacement for the iconic, Australian-made Territory. No pressure there, then.

That assumption followed Ford’s showcasing of a prototype just weeks after announcing its local-manufacturing exodus in mid-2013. This was at a ‘we’re here for the long run with exciting product’ shindig in Sydney.

Five-plus years later in late 2018, Endura finally landed with BMW pricing, a lack of third-row seating, a puny four-pot diesel and no petrol alternative. Everything the best-selling Territory wasn’t, in other words.

Even in 2016, after 12 successful years, the Territory still found around 750 buyers – against the newcomer’s sub-150 average – every month.

Imports ended by 2020. If ever a car lived less up to its name, Endura was it.

Car companies need to be more protective of their intellectual property when they put a respected name on something unworthy.

Exhibit A: the Mirage. Not a Californian hotel resort, but a cheap and charmless city car with no spirit or pizazz. Even new at $13K, drive-away.

In contrast, its 1996-2003 namesake was the polar opposite, adding style, performance, economy and refinement to a mix that still looks good now.

Available in dreary hatch or dumpy sedan – with no folding rear seat to at least add a semblance of cargo practicality – badged Attrage abroad (for Attractive Mirage!), the last Mirage is likely the worst Mitsubishi ever sold in Australia. Cheapness was its sole virtue.

The first four generations of Honda Odyssey were based on the Accord sedan, with the third and fourth iterations from 2004 and 2009 respectively adopting a daring, elongated wagon design that was big on style.

All were highly-engineered, next-level quality, award-winning grand tourers worthy of the Honda badge… unlike 2013’s Odyssey number five, which turned into a kid-focused family van with sliding doors, tons of headroom and space for an ottoman.

The previous slick handling and comfortable dynamics were diluted as the suspension went from double wishbones to low-cost torsion beams in the back, rendering the O-5 a dreary drive as well as a fatiguing ride. And as for the awkward styling…

Cheap, tinny and not particularly durable on Australian roads, it’s no surprise that the series no longer exists outside of the (completely different) North American market model. At least the last Odyssey remained reliable. But what a fall from grace.

Lexus ruled the 1990s, creating a benchmark for quality, reliability, refinement and aftersales care that remains second-to-none.

But there were (and perhaps still are, though with different models nowadays) two Lexus streams – the engineering-focused rear-drive cars, led mainly by the LS limousine, GS mid-sizer and IS sports sedan that went after the BMW 7, 5 and 3 Series respectively; and the front-drive and 4WD Toyotas in glorious drag – including ES (Camry), RX (Kluger), NX (RAV4), GX (Prado) and LX (LandCruiser).

In the latter category came the CT (short for Creative Touring), Lexus’ Corolla.

And what a drag. Based on the 11^th-generation Toyota small car, twinned with the European-market Auris (complete with a multi-link rear suspension set-up) and aimed squarely at the successful Audi A3, the CT200h looked promising on paper. Especially considering the proven petrol-electric hybrid efficiency, solid build, high equipment levels, slick overall presentation and guaranteed reliability. How could Lexus lose?

Here’s how. The gawky styling, raucous powertrain, dull handling, stiff ride, tight interior space, odd ergonomic issues and tiny boot made this feel less Coco Chanel and more undercooked. Sales were always slow and the model was withdrawn (shockingly, later than expected) during 2021.

A Japanese A3? More like an over-entitled Corolla. It is difficult to recall another premium luxury car that is so far away from that definition.

The UX replacement is much, much better at behaving like a Lexus.