Naming cars is an incredibly intricate science. Automakers invest huge sums of money into it—funds that might otherwise go toward improving things like steering and suspension.
While it may seem easy to dismiss the efforts of these automotive naming specialists as frivolous, their missteps have proven disastrous for some vehicles. These cars are prime examples of how things can go terribly wrong.
1. Tata Buzzard
When the Buzzard was first revealed at the 2019 Geneva Auto Show, it immediately piqued our interest—mostly because of its name.
The Buzzard is the seven-seat European variation of another Tata SUV with a similarly odd name, the Harrier.
Despite their unusual monikers, both the Buzzard and the Harrier are well-designed vehicles with attractive interiors and exteriors.
In India, however, the Buzzard is known by a much more serious name: Gravitas. Meanwhile, when the Harrier is marketed in Europe (where its name could potentially trigger other associations), it will be rebranded as Buzzard Sport.
2. Honda That’s
We’ve always had a strong appreciation for proper grammar, and That’s is the kind of name that satisfies our inner grammar enthusiasts. This particular That’s was one of Honda’s kei cars intended for its home market between 2004 and 2006.
The thought of being able to walk into a Honda dealership in Tokyo and declare, “I’ll buy that That’s! That’s the That’s I want!” is an odd but nostalgic one. Sadly, this is no longer an option.
On a brighter note, Honda has since adopted the similarly quirky (but capitalized with much more flair) name N-BOX SLASH for its current-generation boxy micro-wagon. This name has the same playful sound, as if it were destined to be the name of Microsoft’s next-generation gaming console.
3. Ford Probe
Not all strange car names originate overseas. Take Ford’s choice of Probe as the name for its sports car—one that invokes uncomfortable imagery, whether you’re thinking of medical examinations or alien abduction.
Ford developed a series of four concept cars under this name between 1979 and 1984.
By 1989, they launched the production model: a well-executed, Mazda-based coupe that almost replaced the iconic Mustang.
Despite its competence, the Probe ultimately had a short life span. After two generations, it was discontinued, and we’re not all that surprised the name never made a comeback.
4. Daihatsu Applause
The Applause was a goofy little sedan with an equally goofy name, but it actually had a clever design twist. While it resembled a sedan from the side view, it was technically a hatchback—a cool trick, though perhaps a bit pointless.
When I worked for a British car magazine in the early 1990s, testing one of these cars naturally led to its own nickname: the Clap. (The ensuing office banter was predictable. “Have you got the Clap?” “No, I gave the Clap to Graham yesterday.”)
The Applause was produced from 1989 until 2000, at which point it was succeeded by a Toyota Camry clone called the Altis.
5. Kia Bongo III
If you visit South Korea, you’ll encounter countless streets filled with these practical little utility trucks, as well as their close twin with the more sensible name, the Hyundai Porter.
The Bongo III—despite its Roman numeral—is actually the fourth-generation model. Previous versions of this truck were called the Bongo Frontier and the Bongo Wide.
The name Bongo originates from the Mazda van on which it was originally based. The Mazda Bongo itself has given rise to several derivatives, including the Bongo Brawny and Bongo Friendee.
6. Mitsubishi Toppo BJ
The Toppo BJ was Mitsubishi’s kei-class microvan, and BJ supposedly stands for Big Joy. Yes, that’s what it stands for—nothing else to it.
Mitsubishi has a history of releasing quirky and unusual names over the years, with notable examples like Minica Lettuce, Town Box, Town Bee, Mirage Dingo, Grunder, and Space Star.
7. Suzuki Celerio
How many cars can you think of that are almost named after extremely low-calorie vegetables? Enter the Celerio. This super-mini car was primarily designed for markets like India and Thailand but is also sold in Pakistan under the name Cultus, which is almost as amusing.
We can’t help but wonder: does driving the Celerio somehow burn fewer calories than other cars?
Suzuki has given us some great names over the years, including Every Plus, Super Carry, Mighty Boy, XBee, and Fun. And let’s not forget the name Kizashi. Gesundheit.
8. Daihatsu Naked
It should come as no surprise that the company that brought us the Clap—err, Applause—also produced a car called the Naked.
This micro-mini featured exposed hinges and bolts on its exterior, a design choice that would likely lead to issues with parts theft in other countries outside Japan (which is largely crime-free).
Daihatsu, much like Suzuki, has provided a goldmine of bizarre names over the years. Some of their more unusual creations include Move Latte, Wake, Coo, Fellow Max, and Rugger. And, of course, there’s the well-known Charade.
9. Perodua Kancil
When we first encountered the name Kancil from the Malaysian automaker Perodua, we couldn’t quite figure out what it meant.
A quick translation revealed that Kancil means Mouse-deer in Malay. And while that’s not much better as a car name, at least it isn’t obscure or alarming.
When it was introduced back in 1994, the Kancil earned the title of the least-expensive car in Malaysia—and even held that title in Britain, where the car was marketed as the Nippa. The Nippa name was deemed a better choice than anything that sounded like a dreaded disease.
Unfortunately, if you’re interested in buying a Kancil these days, you’re out of luck. Perodua discontinued production of this model in 2009, replacing it with the Perodua Alza. Be careful not to confuse it with the Perodua Bezza.
10. Kia K9
One can only imagine the tense and uncomfortable discussions that Kia’s U.S. team must have had with their South Korean leadership when they explained why the name K9 would not work in English-speaking countries. Despite those explanations, the K9 is known in the United States as the K900.
South Korea has a strong preference for alphanumeric names. This can be seen in their naming conventions for other vehicles: the Forte is referred to as the K3 in its home market, the Optima is the K5, and the Cadenza goes by the name K7.
11. Nissan DAYZ ROOX
Japan’s kei-class micro-cars are charming in every sense, including the quirky names they are given. The DAYZ is Nissan’s current kei car offering, and its taller, van-like counterpart is the DAYZ ROOX.
Oh, we definitely want one—though not just the base model. No, we’ve got our sights set on the range-topping DAYZ ROOX Highway STAR X. But let’s be honest: the DAYZ ROOX Rider is also incredibly tempting.
We couldn’t possibly ask for more, except maybe for the DAYZ product planner to contact the Help Desk and let them know their Caps Lock key appears to be stuck.
12. Troller Pantanal
We absolutely love the idea of a vehicle made by a company named Troller, and no, it has nothing to do with our favorite social media activity.
Troller is a Brazilian automaker, and Pantanal translates from Portuguese to mean wetlands—a fitting name for an off-road pickup truck, though it does sound more like the name of a cigar or perhaps a particularly stylish pair of trousers.
The Pantanal even has styling that resembles the PT Cruiser, which makes its name seem even sillier. Its history is also notable for its oddity: only 77 units of the Pantanal were built between 2006 and 2008.
Ford acquired Troller in 2007, and a year later had to buy back every single Pantanal because of cracking frames. For more on what Ford and Troller have been working on recently, take a look at the TX4 SUV.
13. Volkswagen Gol
No, this isn’t a Golf with a disintegrating badge. The Gol is a product of Volkswagen do Brasil, and it is an entry-level car that has proven a strong seller in Brazil and Argentina since it was first introduced in 1980.
Yes, there was a sportier variant called the Gol GTI. You may have even driven one without realizing it—the Gol was sold in the United States during the late 1980s and early 1990s under the name Volkswagen Fox.
It’s worth noting that the U.S.-specific Fox may have been the result of a design choice; the trunk lid likely wasn’t large enough to accommodate a nameplate longer than three characters.
14. Kia Granbird Silkroad
Okay, this isn’t technically a car—it’s a bus. But it represents the very top tier of Kia’s Granbird lineup. Think it’s too fancy? Perhaps you’d prefer a Granbird Sunshine, Granbird Blue Sky, Granbird Parkway, or Granbird Greenfield.
Let’s not forget that there are competitors in the high-capacity bus market, such as the Hyundai Universe Noble and Daewoo’s impressive lineup, which includes the BX212 Royal Hi-Decker, FX120 Cruising Star, and BH120 Royal Economic II.
15. Hyundai Xcient
While we’re focusing on commercial vehicles, we must give a nod to Hyundai’s heavy-duty Xcient. The Xcient is part of their impressive lineup of medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
Amusingly, Hyundai also has a medium-duty workhorse called the Mega Truck. However, what really piques our interest is the Xcient. The name itself is a mix of XC (which could stand for Cross Country or perhaps even a measurement of capacitive resistance—who knows?) and efficient.
We think it sounds like an efficient contraction of the word excellent, and we’re tempted to start using it in our everyday conversations.
The Xcient is an absolute powerhouse, available with a 12.7-liter diesel engine capable of producing 1,844 lb-ft of torque through a ZF 16-speed manual transmission. We’d love the opportunity to try one out for ourselves.
Finally, just to avoid confusion: the Hyundai Xcient is not the same as the Hyundai XCENT, which is a smaller sedan specifically designed and marketed in India.
16. Dodge Ram
The Dodge Ram pickups and vans were such a staple of the American automotive landscape for so long that it’s easy to overlook just how utterly ridiculous their name is. Seriously, who would want to drive a vehicle called a Ram?
More specifically, who would want to drive in front of or beside something called a Ram? You have to wonder whether that name is a car model or a clear statement of intent. Our vote goes to the latter, especially when you consider the evidence: a bold instruction to Dodge emblazoned right on the front.
17. Toyota Vellfire
There’s just something about the name Vellfire that we absolutely love. It sounds like a threat that wouldn’t offend religious individuals: “You will suffer in eternal VELLFIRE!”
Or maybe it’s the name of an ultra-hot chicken wing? (Pair it with a Suzuki Celerio for a complete meal experience!)
The Vellfire is the sportier version of Toyota’s Japanese-market minivan lineup, while the standard version carries the almost comically straightforward name Alphard.
Previously, Toyota had a minivan called the Noah—a perfect choice if you ever needed to transport your family during a rainstorm—and a small delivery van that went by the name Deliboy.
18. Huanghai Landscape F1
The Chinese auto market is a bit of a puzzle for many outsiders, but one thing is clear: Chinese automakers love alphanumeric names.
The current Huanghai lineup (at least as far as we can determine) includes models with designations like N1, N1S, N2, N2S, and N3. We have to wonder: where is N3S? Probably undergoing some kind of re-education program.
When Chinese automakers decide to use actual names instead of alphanumerics, they tend to come up with some interesting ones. Examples include Steed and Plutus. As for the Landscape F1—well, we can’t quite figure out what its F1 suffix is referencing. Perhaps it has something to do with racing?
The Landscape F1 is a family-sized SUV that strongly resembles a knockoff of the first-generation Kia Sorento. Not that we would ever dare accuse Chinese automakers of borrowing intellectual property.
19. BYD Song Max
BYD is a well-known Chinese vehicle manufacturer that has already managed to make inroads into the U.S. market. While they did sell electric buses to Albuquerque, New Mexico, that later became the subject of a lawsuit, BYD’s cars have made appearances at various domestic auto shows.
Despite their U.S. presence, we’re fairly certain the charmingly named Song Max won’t make its way to American shores anytime soon. However, there’s hope we might eventually get the popular Tang SUV from BYD.
Interestingly, the name Tang has space exploration connotations—didn’t the Apollo astronauts take one of those into space?
20. Hummer
General Motors management tends to skew towards conservative and traditional, so perhaps it’s not surprising that they weren’t aware of what the word hummer could imply.
And yet, you’d think at least one employee under the age of 30 would have taken the time to introduce them to the Urban Dictionary. Apparently, that hasn’t happened yet because Hummer made its return as an electric vehicle (EV) with the same name—and yes, it doesn’t suck.