James R. Healey and Fred Meier

USA TODAY

Consumer Reports' annual auto report doesn't just recommend the best new cars to buy, based on its data. It also tells you the new cars it thinks you should avoid — no matter the deal or the bit of styling that appeals to you.

And it's perhaps a more interesting list than the menu of good cars. At least it can be a good place to start an argument.

Here are the cars to avoid, by category, with some of CR's comments on why they rejected them:

Subcompact cars

Smart ForTwo (tiny, two-passenger cabin, a herky-jerky transmission, an under-powered engine ... a dumb choice)

Scion iQ (rear seat is awful, the cabin is loud, acceleration is molasses-like)

Chevrolet Spark (ride is stiff, the dinky 1.2-liter engine is slow, and handling is lackluster)

Compact cars

Scion tC (lack of driving enjoyment, hard ride)

Mitsubishi Lancer (under-powered engine, noisy interior)

Dodge Dart (unrefined ... more expensive than most competitors)

Midsize sedans

Chrysler 200/Dodge Avenger (corporate cousins ... plenty of them on dealers' lots at a discount. Don't be tempted.)

Large sedans

Ford Taurus (ridiculously cramped for such a large car ... controls for its MyFord Touch infotainment system are complicated and distracting ... reliability has been sub-par)

Luxury sedans

Lexus IS (falls short — very short)

Lincoln MKS (doesn't cut it as a luxury sedan)

BMW 7-Series (a ponderous, technology-laden vehicle with ... ungainly handling)

Wagons & minivans

Honda Crosstour (ungainly handling ... unintuitive and complex touch-screen radio system)

Small SUVs

Jeep Compass (2.4-liter engine is rough and sluggish ... cabin is cramped, cheaply trimmed)

Jeep Patriot (compliant ride and mostly simple controls. But little else stands out.)

Jeep Cherokee with 2.4-liter engine (half-baked ... under-powered and not very fuel-efficient, and the nine-speed automatic transmission is unrefined and unresponsive)

Mitsubishi Outlander (handles clumsily, the ride is fairly stiff, and the interior feels cheap)

Midsize & large SUVs

Ford Edge (unrefined powertrain ... ride is jittery and road noise invades the cabin. And the MyFord Touch system is convoluted to use)

Nissan Armada (overall fuel economy of 13 mpg is abysmal, reliability is poor and ownership costs are the worst in the category)

Dodge Journey (below-average reliability ... lack of agility ... transmission is reluctant to downshift)

Luxury SUVs