We all know speed is the holy grail of driving, from the days of yore when Ford and Chevrolet ruled the roads to today’s lightning-fast machines. But have you ever stopped to wonder: what’s the turtle of the car world? That’s right. We’re talking about the slowest car in the world. So, let’s crawl into a snail-paced quest to discover which cars are the slowest!
In a world where everyone’s obsessed with speed and acceleration, it’s time to shout out to the automotive world’s unsung heroes – the beauties that don’t go fast but still steal our hearts.
Now, I know you’re all dying to hear about the Aixam Coupe or the Chevrolet CMV, right? Or maybe the Hindustan Ambassador or Smart’s Fortwo CDL? If you’re an electric lover, you might be thinking about the Mia Electric or the Renault Twizy. And, for all you classic car buffs out there, the BMW Isetta probably springs to mind.
Drumroll, please – the slowest car in the world is none other than the Peel P50. Wait, what? Never heard of it? Don’t worry; you’re not alone.
So today, we at Way.com are putting our love for fast cars aside to dive into the world of sluggish speed demons. Sure, we’re known for being the go-to app for comparing car insurance rates at lightning speed, but we’re also here to give you the lowdown on the Peel P50 and all its sloth-like friends. So, buckle up and get ready to learn about the cars that are slower than a tortoise trundling through peanut butter.
Slowest cars in the world
Peel P50
The Peel P50 holds the Guinness World Record for being the slowest car ever built. And while “world’s slowest car” might not sound like the most prestigious title, it’s a unique and rare find that any car collector would be proud to have in their garage.
This pint-sized ride is the smallest production car ever made and the slowest car ever made. Its top speed is a whopping 38 mph, which means it’s slower than a tortoise with a hangover. But don’t let its size fool you. This baby packs a punch with its 3-horsepower engine. That’s right, 3 whole horses. It’s basically a glorified lawnmower on wheels.
And speaking of wheels, the P50 is only 54 inches long and 39 inches wide. It’s so small that it doesn’t even have a rear gear. Instead, it has a handle on the back to pull it around manually. How’s that for low-tech?
If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of the 50 originals, you’ll be the envy of all your friends. But if not, you can buy a new P50 from Peel Engineering for a mere $18,000 approx. Sure, it only has one seat and one door, but it’s small enough to fit into spaces that other cars wouldn’t even dream of.
And if fuel efficiency is your thing, you’ll be pleased to know that the original P50 exceeded 100 mpg, and a fully electric version is available now. So, if you’re in the market for a slow, small, and expensive car, the Peel P50 is the ride for you.
Axiam Coupe
Get ready to rev your engines or not because we’re about to talk about the Aixam Coupe, the slowest car in the world! With a top speed of 30mph and a measly 5.6hp engine, this little quadricycle is like a turtle in a race with rabbits.
JoachimKohlerBremen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The upside? You don’t need a license to drive it in some places, so go ahead and let your 16-year-old take the wheel after passing a moped test. But don’t be fooled; the Axiam Coupe is perfect for navigating the narrow streets of crowded European cities where big cars fear to tread. Just don’t expect to impress any speed demons.
Renault Twizy
The Renault Twizy is what happens when a golf cart and a smartphone have a baby. This electric quadricycle is perfect for city driving, with 17 horsepower and a top speed of 28 mph. It may not be the fastest car on the road, but it’s perfect for people who like to take their time…like really take their time.
And if you’re driving it in the winter, bring a plug-in electric blanket because the Twizy has all the insulation of a cardboard box. But on the bright side, it’s cheap! Just around $7,500!
Fiat Qubo
The Fiat Qubo Natural Power 1.4 is so slow that you could probably outrun it with a pair of flip-flops on. Its 76 horsepower engine seems to be taking a nap most of the time, and it takes a whopping 17.7 seconds just to reach 60 mph. If you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, you might want to pack a lunch and a good book for the ride.
On the plus side, the Qubo is spacious enough to carry all your cargo, assuming you haven’t fallen asleep waiting for it to pick up speed. And hey, it runs on gasoline, which may as well be liquid gold these days
MIA electric car
The MIA electric car might have taken a break, but it’s not like it went MIA for real (get it? Hahaha?). This three-door hatchback/van was built in France from 2011 until 2013 but didn’t catch on. Even the French, famous for their love of weird cars, didn’t want it. And who can blame them?
The MIA could barely outrun a determined snail, taking a whopping 30 seconds to reach 60 mph. But hey, at least it looked cool on the outside. Unfortunately, the MIA is unlikely to come back from the dead like some sort of zombie car, but we’ll always have fond memories of its epic slowness.
BMW Isetta
Didn’t expect to see a BMW here, did you? But the Isetta is a rare masterpiece that’s already made it to our ugliest car list and is now on this one too! Â With a top speed of 53 mph and a whopping 9.5 horsepower, it’s like a snail on four wheels. Sure, it was the first car to get an impressive fuel economy rating, but it’s not like you will be winning any drag races.
And let’s be real; people only know about it nowadays because it’s weird and retro. It’s like the automotive equivalent of a hipster with a handlebar mustache. But hey, if you can find one that’s not a total rust bucket, it’ll probably cost you an arm and a leg. Or at least $30,000-$50,000!
Tata Nano
You’ve heard of the Tata Nano, the world’s cheapest car! At around $2500, It’s cheap, yes, but it’s also powered by a tiny 0.624-liter two-cylinder engine with 37 horsepower and 38 lb-ft of torque. It may not be the quickest car out there, but it’s one of the slowest. In fact, it takes a whopping 29.4 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph.
Tata Motors had high hopes for this microcar when it launched in 2008. The company believed that India needed an affordable mode of transportation for its growing middle class. Unfortunately, the Nano wasn’t the roaring success they had hoped for, and after just one generation, production ceased earlier this year. Tata cited poor market demand as the reason for its discontinuation.
The Nano has a special talent. It can (barely) beat the MIA electric car in a drag race. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to race an MIA, you know what to do.
Hindustan Ambassador
The Hindustan Ambassador might not be a familiar name to everyone, but it’s been a beloved icon for decades in India. Based on the Morris Oxford Series III from the UK, this Indian classic was produced from 1958 to 2014. With various engines offered over the years, one of the slowest was the 2.0-liter diesel that only managed to produce 52 hp and 78 lb-ft of torque.
Don’t expect a speedy getaway; the 0-60 mph time is a whopping 28 seconds. But who needs speed when you’ve got retro style? And don’t even get us started about its resilience. This guy could take quite the walloping and turn up for more!
Maruti Suzuki Omni
The Maruti Suzuki Omni may not be the fastest car on the block, but it’s one of the most utilitarian. It’s essentially a microvan commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a 0.8-liter inline-3 engine that’ll take you up to 60 mph.
While that may not sound like much, at least you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the view as you putt-putt along. Plus, it’s incredibly reliable – you’ll still see plenty of these little guys zipping around in India and other parts of Asia. Don’t expect to find one at your local dealership unless you plan a trip to the subcontinent.
Smart ForTwo CDI
Are you feeling smug in your Smart ForTwo CDI? Well, you might want to think again because this microcar is about as quick as an office worker on a Monday morning. With a measly 45 horsepower and a zero-to-60 time of 19.5 seconds, you’d be better off hitching a ride with a tortoise.
Sure, it can hit a top speed of 84 mph, but not really all that impressive now, is it? On the plus side, it was built with US drivers in mind. But it’s no match for newer, high-efficiency hybrids and EVs. At least you can park in the smallest of spots, right?
Don’t get left in the dust: Find cheap car insurance in seconds
Looking for cheap car insurance can feel like driving a clunker – slow and frustrating. But fear not – because the Way app is here to help you zoom through the process way (pun totally intended) faster than a Peel P50. And even better, you won’t have to deal with annoying sales calls or paperwork.
