Not all vehicles are created equal and when it comes to visibility, many envy the Subaru models, great champions in this field. It has to be said that some automakers place far more emphasis on design at the expense of practical considerations – the classic case of form-trumping function.
The size, height and inclination of the windows and roof pillars are important for good visibility. When there are too many obstacles, it becomes difficult to see the outside environment and other road users, let alone pedestrians and cyclists.
Consumer Reports previously published a list of vehicles with the best and worst driver visibility in various categories (except for minivans and large SUVs, where there isn’t a sufficient difference). Here we focus on rear vision, which is often the biggest weak point.
If you’re looking for a safe used car, stay away from these five models that don’t let you see much behind and have big blind spots (we’ve rounded up different types of vehicles and not just sports coupes!) :
Chevy Camaro
The Camaro is the enemy of claustrophobia. The windshield and windows are tiny and their angles don’t help. Even with the side mirrors, it’s a challenge to see what’s going on behind the car and to the sides.
Toyota FJ Cruiser
The width of all of the FJ Cruiser’s pillars restricts visibility, particularly the rear pillars, which is a real handicap. And as if that wasn’t enough, Toyota grabbed the spare tire on the tailgate and hacked into the rear window. Luckily, the wing mirrors are a pretty good size and save the day a bit.
Kia Stinger
The Stinger is a capable sport sedan that’s fun to drive, but rear visibility is abysmal with a narrow rear window and three large headrests that block everything else, even when fully lowered. It’s even worse in winter without tailgate wipers.
Mercedes Benz CLA
As a small luxury car with a coupé-like silhouette, the CLA pays the price with poor rear visibility. The feet are extremely wide and the steeply sloping bezel doesn’t cover much height.
Nissan Murano
The current Murano has been around since 2015 and the designers have mainly focused on its looks. Of all SUVs, it’s definitely one of the worst for rear visibility, especially at three-quarter angles.