REDMOND, Wash. -

In the spirit of families and friends gathering around the table tomorrow for Thanksgiving, MSN Autos has offered some “automotive turkeys” that may cause more yawning than tryptophan — the chemical in turkey that makes people sleepy.

So, as car shoppers hit the lots this weekend — bellies full of the pilgrims’ favorite poultry — here are some top cars to avoid, at least according to MSN Autos.

Or, as Sam Smith of MSN Autos put it, “the cars that, for one reason or another, just plain missed the mark.”

The variety of "turkey cars" were as diverse as a Thanksgiving spread, ranging from domestics to imports, luxury to mainstream models and small passenger cars to big trucks.

“Some are unpleasant, others are atrocious. Still others are flat-out intolerable, the kind of thing we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies,” said Smith, who authored the report.

Here is what else Smith had to say about the models making the list:

2012 Fiat 500C
Saying the Fiat 500’s convertible edition is a pricier variety of the traditional model “without much gain,” Smith called the retractable top “essentially a large cloth sunroof."

He suggested that although it does make the car more charming, “it does so at a remarkable cost.”

Smith continued: “On average, the folding-roof 500 runs about $4,000 more than the fixed-roof version. Add desirable options and you can easily have a $27,000 economy car, and one that isn’t a convertible by any standard definition. Call it a great car ruined by sticker shock.”

2011 Ford Explorer 2.0L EcoBoost
“On paper, the Ford Explorer 2.0-liter EcoBoost makes a lot of sense. Here we have a cleanly styled crossover that offers ample room and a host of technological goodies, including a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine,” Smith said.

“The result should be an efficient, desirable family truckster. Unfortunately, it’s not. The 4,550-pound Explorer’s problems — road feel borrowed from the Queen Mary and the intensely frustrating MyFord Touch system — are compounded by the engine’s inability to deal with the vehicle’s heft,” he continued, comparing the model to a modern-day 1955 Chevrolet minus the “pizzazz.”

Rather than going with this model, Smith recommends those interested in an Explorer buy the V6 variety.

2012 Honda Civic Si
“Turkeys don’t always have to drive poorly. Sometimes, they gain their turkeydom by simply following a strong act,” Smith wrote.

That’s the issue with this model as it fills the shoes of 2006 to 2011 edition that was “fast, sounded and looked great, revved to 8,000 rpm and had gobs of personality,” Smith said. What’s more, it was essentially revered across the board.

“The 2012 Si — well, it’s still kind of fast. And it sounds OK, but nowhere near as ominous as the car it replaces. But in the interest of fuel economy and torque, the Si’s engine has been neutered, revving only to 7,200 rpm but producing 20 percent more grunt. This isn’t a bad car, but man, do we miss the one that preceded it," he wrote.

2011 Lexus CT 200h
“Let’s dream up a car, shall we? Start with a hybrid; for instance, the Toyota Prius or Lexus HS 250h. Then make that hybrid look sporty by packaging its driveline into a sleek hatchback form. Market it as something of a sports car, despite the fact that it takes 9.8 seconds to hit 60 mph,” he said.

“Then stiffen the suspension so that the heavy machine handles decently. Predictably, this will ruin ride quality. And finally, against all logic, give this vehicle — ostensibly a luxury car — an interior that could live in a Toyota Camry. This is the Lexus CT 200h. Excited yet? Neither are we,” Smith added.

2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport
“The 2013 Lexus GS 350 F Sport is the exception on this list, in that we haven’t driven it yet, but frankly, we don’t need to. Look at that face. It looks like the alien from the "Predator" movies. Big mandibles, sharp teeth, a gaping maw — and then you have the rest of the car, which is just run-of-the-mill sport sedan,” he shared.

2012 Nissan Versa
Though the Versa comes with a low price tag of $10,990, it’s not necessarily a bargain, Smith argues.

“The Versa’s 109-horsepower four-cylinder engine is uninspiring, and it’s paired to a continuously variable transmission that amplifies its weaknesses to the point of torture. The brake pedal is mushy, and the suspension dishes up nauseating body roll and head toss in spades,” he said.

“The interior is filled with shiny, hard plastic. The styling reminds you of a house cat in heat, with preposterously high flanks and a dorky, come-hither face. Sure, it’s inexpensive, but it’s definitely an example of you get what you pay for,” Smith added.

2011 Mini Countryman
“Here’s an idea: Let’s take everything good and loved about a Mini Cooper — diminutive size, clever packaging, subtle style, light weight — and throw all that out the window,” Smith wrote.

“Then replace it all with a big, flexible chassis, cartoonish styling and an optional all-wheel-drive system that provides good traction but that also increases weight and hurts the Mini’s respectable fuel economy — that’s the Countryman in a nutshell,” he added.

Smith adds that it offers OK handling and driving, this “SUV” doesn’t bring much more to the table as compared to a traditional Mini model.

“Good car? Yes. A necessary one? Not so much,” he shared.

2011 Saab 9-4X Aero
Commiserating the immensely difficult year that Saab has had trying to stay afloat, Smith wrote: “The 9-4X Aero is a remnant of when Saab was owned by General Motors; it’s essentially a badge-swapped version of the impressive Cadillac SRX, sharing that car’s chassis and drivetrain. It’s even built by GM. But Saab is now on death row, and it doesn’t need a rebadged Cadillac. It needs distinctive cars. This one’s a turkey by association.”

2012 Scion iQ
“Much like the smart fortwo, the Scion is small and intended primarily for city use. Much unlike the smart, the Scion features a usable back seat and cool looks. So what’s the problem? Simple: The iQ is deeply disappointing, a potentially good car let down by details,” he wrote.

“Firstly, its 1.3-liter 94-horsepower engine is bolted to a continuously variable transmission that kills any fun the pint-size chassis and low curb weight might provide,” Smith added.

Additionally, its price tag ($15,995) is heftier than cars like the Honda Fit, Ford and Kia Soul that have similar fuel efficiencies but, according to Smith, offer “more fun” and more room.

“What good is a small car if it’s not cheap and entertaining?” he noted.

2011 smart fortwo Electric Drive
“With electric cars, there are machines that were designed to take electric power from the start and machines that weren’t. The former are usually intelligent compromises, balancing acts between crippling weight — battery weight affects both handling and efficiency — and the range-heavy needs of real drivers. The latter are often deeply flawed,” Smith contends.

“On that note, meet the smart fortwo ED,” he added, rattling off the model’s top speed of 63 miles per hour and range of 63 miles. He also mentioned that it takes 23 seconds to hit that maximum speed in the fortwo ED, which is pricier than the rival Nissan Leaf.

“The Leaf has a back seat and resembles a real automobile. This doesn’t. Shame on you, smart,” he added.

For the complete story, visit http://editorial.autos.msn.com/top-10-automotive-turkeys-of-2011#1.