The world's least cool cars revealed - including Tesla, Kia and Subaru

A major new international survey has revealed the car brands that command the most respect worldwide, as well as those considered the "least cool" by fellow drivers.

The research, conducted by MoneySuperMarket for its Road Reputations Report, asked nearly 5,000 motorists across 20 countries which car makes they considered the coolest and least cool. The findings paint a fascinating picture of how different brands are perceived globally.

The study found that Mercedes-Benz narrowly came out on top as the world's coolest car brand, just edging out its long-standing rival BMW. Audi, Tesla and Volkswagen followed closely behind, making up the top five.

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Mercedes claimed the coolness crown in 16 of the 20 countries surveyed, while BMW took the crown in Brazil, India, Italy and Japan. Previous MoneySuperMarket research also found Mercedes-Benz to be the most popular first car among wealthy influencers — a factor which may well have helped to further bolster its image.

When it comes to the least cool brands, Tesla proved to be the most polarising manufacturer in the industry. It secured top spot, with 31 per cent of those surveyed voting for it, making Tesla the uncoolest car brand in the world — one would guess in no small part thanks to its CEO.

Amazingly, Tesla also sits in fourth place among the coolest brands, with 45 per cent of respondents backing it. This makes Tesla the only brand to feature on both lists.

Kia follows in second place with with 27 per cent — its drivers apparently have a reputation for being too slow on the road. The brand's affordability makes it popular among younger motorists and older drivers seeking practical, low-cost transportation, yet these very factors also contribute to its uncool image.

Subaru was seen as lacking coolness by 24 per cent of respondents, putting it in third place. Nissan registered 22 per cent to rank fourth, with BYD following up in fifth with 19 per cent.

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Dacia struggled in the rankings too, unable to shake off its budget-friendly reputation. However, one brand that has avoided the negative stigma is Skoda, which has undergone a successful image makeover and was barely mentioned among the uncool group.

Coolest car brands globally

• Mercedes-Benz – 76%
• BMW – 72%
• Audi – 69%
• Tesla – 45%
• Volkswagen – 38%

Least cool car brands globally

• Tesla – 31%
• Kia – 27%
• Subaru – 24%
• Nissan – 22%
• BYD – 19%

Overall, the survey reflects how much car branding shapes perceptions beyond performance and reliability. While Mercedes-Benz has claimed top spot in the global coolness rankings, BMW remains a close competitor.

At the same time, Tesla has emerged as a truly divisive brand, celebrated by some and denigrated by others — somehow earning the mixed honours of being the fourth coolest and least cool manufacturer in the world simultaneously.

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