This category covers this year's new car releases that most of us had high expectations from, but failed to deliver.

2nd Runner-Up :
Nissan Altima SE-R
Everyone had high hopes for the Altima SE-R. The first car to were the SE-R badge outside of the Sentra range, Nissan promised a stiffly-sprung midsizer with gobs of horsepower. In actuality, it is a warmed-over V6 Altima with a little more juice, somewhat tighter suspension, a light body kit, aftermarket-style exhaust and fancy rims. It would be fine with us were it not for the price. At close to 30 grand, it ends up being more expensive than the Maxima. For that kind of cash, we would rather have the rear-wheel-drive G35 from neighbors Infiniti.

1st Runner-Up :
Chevrolet Cobalt SS
We are not talking about the likeable supercharged SS here. What we are disappointed by is the regular SS. With no body styling help that the supercharged version receives, the 170 hp SS is as boring to look at as the Cavalier it replaces. Also notice that the car has enough ground clearance to run with Hummers. While the performance truly is satisfactory for the market segment it plans to play in, it ends up looking like a Civic from the front while trying to emulate a Corvette at the back. The Japanese are in no danger from this one.