The Coolest and Cringiest Cars, According to Generation Z

Every generation has its lineup of cool cars, but for Generation Z, it’s complicated. As many of them reach an age where they are buying their first car, the costs have skyrocketed, and the market has diversified substantially, even beyond electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids.

At Lemon Law Experts, we know a thing or two about buying cars, and while reliability is the main focus for used car shoppers, we also know the parameters for Gen Zers include a bit more. To understand the preferences of the younger generation, we surveyed Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 and asked their opinions on a variety of cars.

Using these responses, we then ranked the cars and brands Gen Zers think are coolest and cringiest. In addition to our overall ranking, we collected data on the most common cars Generation Z is driving, which aspects of cars are red flags, and more. Read on to learn more about our findings.

Key Takeaways

• The Porsche 911, BMW 3-Series, and Chevrolet Corvette are the coolest cars, according to Gen Zers.
• The Tesla Cybertruck, PT Cruiser, and Kia Soul are the cringiest cars, according to Gen Zers.
• Gen Zers consider loud exhaust and oversized wheels to be the biggest car red flags.
• 1 in 4 Gen Zers say they would not date someone who had a cringe car.
• The Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Corolla are the most popular cars among Gen Zers.
• Toyota, Honda, and Ford are the most popular car brands among Gen Zers.

The Top Cars Gen Zers Would Drive and Avoid

Car preferences vary from one person to another, but when it comes to Generation Z, the focus appears to be on sporty and luxury vehicles. Topping the rankings for the coolest car according to Gen Zers is the Porsche 911 (70%). With a typical price tag of more than $100,000, this sports car comes in a variety of models and has been in production since 1963. While some pre-owned models offer a slightly more affordable option, sometimes an older car is categorized as a classic, making an already pricey vehicle that much more expensive.

Another trend we discovered when viewing the coolest cars was that Gen Zers appear to be drawn to German-made vehicles as they make up 6 of the top 10. Like Porsche, our second-place car is also made in Germany — the BMW 3-series had 69% of respondents dubbing this car as “cool.”

Recent studies have shown that one important factor for this young generation when purchasing a car is technology integration. This comes as no surprise, however, as Gen Zers have grown up in a rapidly developing tech world. A desire to have features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are crucial to ensuring that even when behind the wheel, technology remains at their fingertips. Perhaps this is one reason the generation ranks the BMW 3-series so highly as it’s described to have “innovative technology and intelligent driver assistance systems.”

Up next, ranking third for coolest cars, is the Chevrolet Corvette, our first American-made vehicle in this ranking. Once again, we find a sports car among the favorites for Gen Zers with a car that has been in production for more than 70 years. While the look of the Corvette has changed throughout history, it still manages to capture the attention of young drivers.

While Generation Z, like many Americans, are drawn to sporty and luxury vehicles, it doesn’t mean that’s the type of car they actually own. We found the Honda Civic, Toyota Camry, and Toyota Corolla are the top three most common cars Gen Zers are currently driving.

In addition to our coolest cars ranking, we also wanted to uncover the cars Gen Zers despise seeing on the road. Up first, with 74% of respondents reporting it as a cringe car is the Tesla Cybertruck. First unveiled in 2019, the Cybertruck has received very mixed reviews with some Americans loving the unique design and others hating it.

In addition to the different design, many people’s hate for the vehicle is linked to a dislike of the Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. It is possible this same reason is why the Tesla Model Y ranks fourth for the cringiest cars, according to Gen Z.

Coming in second place on our ranking is a car that stopped production in 2010 but can still be seen on roads across America — the Chrysler PT Cruiser. With 53% of respondents deeming the car cringe, the PT Cruiser is likely to stay on used car lots when this younger generation begins browsing for a new car.

Up next is another discontinued car, the Kia Soul, which stopped production in October 2025. Across our top-three cringe cars, we see a trend of instantly recognizable silhouettes. While some people have enjoyed these unique designs over the years, it appears Gen Zers want a less quirky car for themselves.

Overall, we discovered that Gen Zers’ opinions of cars extend beyond what they would personally want or not want, as nearly 1 in 5 respondents say they would avoid riding in a vehicle they considered cringe. Additionally, 1 in 4 Gen Zers say they would not date someone with a certain car they considered to be cringey, while nearly 1 in 5 report they wouldn’t sleep with someone if they didn’t like their car.

How Gen Zers View Different Types of Cars

After learning about the specific makes and models that capture Generation Z’s attention, we wanted to gain insight into how they view different types of cars. To do this, we asked them to select from a list of descriptive words to best describe everything from SUVs to electric vehicles (EVs).

When it comes to your everyday sedans like the Honda Civic and Toyota Camry, 89% of respondents considered them to be “reliable.” For luxury models like the Cadillac Escalade and Mercedes G-Wagon, “stylish” was the top descriptor, with 66% of people noting it. For 41% of people, however, these vehicles are considered to be “excessive.”

“Fun” (62%) and “stylish” (58%) were the top two terms used by Generation Z to describe sports cars like the Ford Mustang and Porsche 911. Trucks are considered “rugged” (60%), while EVs, crossovers, and SUVs are dubbed “reliable.”

Although sports cars and trucks received relatively positive descriptions by most, 1 in 4 people felt sports cars are best described as “try-hard,” while nearly a third of Gen Zers say the same about trucks.

With so many Gen Zers expressing concern for cringey cars, we wanted to dive into the aspects of a vehicle, other than its make and model, that respondents consider to be red flags. Leading the way with 66% of Gen Zers reporting it is loud exhaust. While some vehicles are inherently louder than others, some drivers make modifications to their cars to make their exhaust even louder.

Next up is another common upgrade people make to their vehicles that Generation Z dislikes — oversized wheels (55%). This is followed by truck nuts, a novelty accessory that truck owners hang from the tow hitch or bumper of a truck, designed to look like a pair of dangling testicles. While some drivers consider the accessory humorous, others consider it to be crude, including 52% of Gen Zers.

In fourth place are street racing modifications (47%), followed by lots of bumper stickers (43%) and lift kits (38%) in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Rounding out our list of red flags on cars, according to Generation Z, are dark-tinted windows, which nearly 1 in 3 respondents report.

Conclusion

While visual appeal is an important part of car shopping, you have many other aspects to consider as well. Especially when purchasing a used car, factors like mileage and accident history are important to ensure you are getting a car that will last, rather than one that will continuously require repairs.

Sometimes even after doing your best to select the right car, you can find yourself stuck with a lemon. If this is the case for you and you find yourself with a car that is constantly in need of repeat repairs, the team at Lemon Law Experts is here to help.

We understand that having reliable transportation is important, and that’s why we pride ourselves on finding economic and expeditious solutions for our clients. Get started today by learning how to file a lemon law claim or contact our attorneys and receive a free case evaluation.

Methodology

In this study, we set out to learn which cars are most popular among Generation Z. To do this, we surveyed Americans who are 30 years old and younger and asked their opinion on a variety of cars, what aspects they consider “red flags” on a car, how they would describe different types of cars and more. We then ranked the coolest and cringiest cars based on the percentage of respondents who labeled the car as such.