Answer:
There are worse cars out there. The Hyundai Excel was just as bad if not worse, and a couple of cars made today are far worse, being the Hyundai Accident and the Chevrolet Aveo for example.
The reasoning is simple -- components worked like they were supposed to in a Yugo, that is, until they broke.
For example, in cars like the Aveo, the front defroster blows more in my face than on the front window, and it needs to be on with the fan on 3 or 4 even in clear weather because the windows fog up so terribly in that car. Plus the fact that they want over $5k for one brand new with all the options is just ridiculous. There is no reason for the car to exist when you can buy a 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity for $300 that is rusted out that will still last you longer and be a much nicer car even with all the rust.