Today’s new cars just aren’t what they used to be, and we mean that positively. That’s because it’s become increasingly difficult to find a truly and terrifically bad car, truck, or crossover sitting on a dealer’s showroom floor. Gone are the days of monumental mechanical calamities, finger-sized fit-and-finish gaps, uneven trim, and overall shoddy workmanship. While no vehicle is perfect, the average model today performs at a higher level, is safer, offers more amenities, is built better, and is much more durable than at any time in motoring history.
And yet the proverbial cream still rises to the top. Some models lead while other lag with regard to their designs, measurable performance attributes, and the degree to which their buyers are ultimately satisfied. Some are plagued by questionable reliability and/or poor resale values, while others are saddled with dated designs and/or technology. Certainly with the average vehicle selling for $33,871 (according to Kelley Blue Book), astute car buyers should ensure they’re getting the most for their hard-earned money.
To that end we spent considerable time wading deep into assorted data from various sources to put together a baker’s dozen list of cars, crossovers, and SUVs that, while many possess positive qualities, remain also-rans in a highly competitive marketplace.
Acura RLX
While the midsize RLX luxury sedan is likeable enough, it lags behind the segment leaders in terms of performance, accommodations, and brand cachet. What’s more, its lofty sticker price prevents it from being a bargain-priced alternative. With an overall score of 59 (out of a possible 100) and a reliability rating of minus-68 (out of a possible plus-100), Consumer Reports liked the RLX’s spacious interior and standard safety systems, but felt its ride was choppy and it’s handling ungainly, and overall found it to be a poor value. It scored below average in the JD Power Initial Quality study and is expected to hold onto just 47% of its original value after three years and 30% after five years.
Cadillac ATS
Likeable enough in many regards, the compact ATS luxury/sports sedan is neither as sporty as the BMW 3 Series it targets, nor is it as luxurious as the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. With an overall score of 57 and a reliability rating of minus-120, Consumer Reports appreciated the ATS’ driving dynamics and exterior/interior styling, but was less enamored of its gruff and under-powered turbocharged engine, very cramped seat and trunk, difficult entry and exiting, and its confounding controls. It scored below average in all three of the JD Power studies (Initial Quality, Dependability, and Design/Performance), and is expected to hold onto just 43% of its original value after three years and 31% after five years.
Chrysler 200
We had high hopes for the good-looking 200 midsize sedan when it debuted, but it’s ultimately outranked in a crowded and competitive market segment. With an overall score of 51-53 and a reliability rating of minus-46, Consumer Reports liked the 200’s styling, available features, and its optional V6 engine, but found its interior room and design to be lacking, the standard four-cylinder engine to be under-powered and unrefined, and its automatic transmission to be fussy. It scored below average in all three of the JD Power studies (Initial Quality, Dependability, and Design/Performance), and is expected to hold onto just 41% of its original value after three years and 29% after five years.
Chrysler 200
We had high hopes for the good-looking 200 midsize sedan when it debuted, but it’s ultimately outranked in a crowded and competitive market segment. With an overall score of 51-53 and a reliability rating of minus-46, Consumer Reports liked the 200’s styling, available features, and its optional V6 engine, but found its interior room and design to be lacking, the standard four-cylinder engine to be under-powered and unrefined, and its automatic transmission to be fussy. It scored below average in all three of the JD Power studies (Initial Quality, Dependability, and Design/Performance), and is expected to hold onto just 41% of its original value after three years and 29% after five years.
Chevrolet Suburban
The full-size Suburban SUV is as purposeful a vehicle as there is, built for large families and/or those who require the ability to tow a large boat or trailer. In truth, for this type of vehicle it’s hard to beat. But beware that it’s big and ungainly, and is sheer vehicular overkill in absence of such special needs. With an overall score of 54 and a reliability rating of minus-154, Consumer Reports liked many of the Suburban’s attributes, but found it under-powered, hard to maneuver and park, difficult to load with cargo, and overpriced. It scored below average in all three of the JD Power studies (Initial Quality, Dependability, and Design/Performance), and is expected to hold onto just 47% of its original value after three years and 32% after five years. It’s substantively similar to the GMC Yukon XL, and the somewhat smaller Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon models, which tend to score somewhat higher.
Dodge Journey
The midsize Journey crossover SUV is slated to undergo a complete redesign next year, and it couldn’t come soon enough to cure its inherent ills. With an overall score of 45 and a reliability rating of minus-79, Consumer Reports liked the Journey’s ride quality, quietness, and cabin storage, but otherwise called out its poor handling, unresponsive transmission, fuel economy, rear visibility, tiny third-row seat, and its poor small-overlap frontal crash test rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It scored below average in the JD Power Dependability study and is expected to hold onto just 38% of its original value after three years and 24% after five years.
Ford Fiesta
Like many subcompacts, Ford’s smallest car tends to compete with larger late-model used cars on price, and doesn’t necessarily succeed in that regard. With an overall score of 44 and a dismal reliability rating of minus-267, Consumer Reports thought the Fiesta sedan/hatchback felt substantial, with good fuel economy and ride and handling qualities, but found the car to overpriced, with very tight rear seat room, and featured poorly designed controls; it also found the available three-cylinder engine to be lacking. (The sporty ST version fares better, but is costly.) It scored below average in the JD Power Dependability study, and is expected to hold onto just 44% of its original value after three years and 29% after five years.
Ford Focus
The compact car market is traditionally one of the industry’s most cutthroat segments, and it takes a lot more than the Focus can muster to stand out in a crowded field. With an overall score of 54 and a reliability rating of minus-118, Consumer Reports gave the Focus sedan/hatchback good marks for its ride, handling and fuel economy, but criticized it for its awkward controls, a too-cramped rear seat, and its poor reliability.
Dodge Dart
Another compact car that misses the mark, the Dart sedan receives an overall score of 53 and a reliability rating of minus-81 from Consumer Reports. CR liked the Dart’s solid and substantial feel and rear seat room, but found its engine choices to be lackluster, with unimpressive fuel economy and uncomfortable seats. It scored below average in the JD Power Initial Quality and Dependability studies and is expected to hold onto just 42% of its original value after three years and 28% after five years.
Infiniti Q50
Another also-ran within the European-dominated compact luxury sedan segment, Consumer Reports gives the Q50 an overall score of 57 and a reliability rating of minus-64. CR liked the compact Q50 luxury sedan’s acceleration, outward visibility and roomy interior, but criticized its unrefined power-train, fuel economy, ride and handling, controls, and front seat comfort. It scored below average in the JD Power Design/Performance study, and is expected to hold onto just 46% of its original value after three years and 32% after five years.
Jeep Cherokee
More stylish than the norm among compact crossover SUVs, the Cherokee–unlike most competitors– is able to venture off road when properly (and expensively) equipped. Consumer Reports gives the Cherokee an overall score of 40-47 and a “poor” reliability rating. CR found it to be solid and quiet, and gave high marks to its infotainment system, V6 towing capacity and off-road abilities; however, it criticized the standard four-cylinder engine, nine-speed automatic transmission, entry/exiting, cargo space, front-seat comfort, and forward visibility. It scored below average in the JD Power Initial Quality study and is expected to hold onto just 45% of its original value after three years and 33% after five years.
Jeep Compass
Here’s another crossover SUV that’s gone for far too long without a full redesign, and it was never exactly class-leading in the first place. With an overall score of 43 and a “poor” reliability rating, Consumer Reports found little to like about the compact Compass, other than its controls and fuel economy; it received low marks for engine noise, acceleration, seat comfort, rear visibility, cornering, and braking. It scored below average in the JD Power design/performance study and is expected to hold onto just 36% of its original value after three years and 26% after five years.
Jeep Patriot
Mechanically identical to the Jeep Compass, but with a more traditional Jeep-like look, the dated Patriot hardly warrants a salute. With an overall score of 40 and a reliability rating of minus-45, Consumer Reports noted zero “pros,” but had a long list of “cons,” including engine noise, acceleration, driving position, seat comfort, a too-complicated optional radio, and a poor small-overlap frontal crash test score. It scored below average in the JD Power design/performance study and is expected to hold onto just 37% of its original value after three years and 27% after five years.
Nissan Pathfinder
Originally a burly truck-based SUV but now a more passive midsize crossover, the Pathfinder falters in what’s become the most competitive market segment. With an overall score of 53 and a reliability rating of minus-126,Consumer Reports liked the Pathfinder’s spacious interior, easy access, and handy second-row seat, but determined it otherwise had no exceptional abilities, with poor acceleration, clumsy handling, and a cheaply finished interior. It scored below average in the JD Power Dependability study and is expected to hold onto just 44% of its original value after three years and 28% after five years.
In case you haven’t noticed, crossover SUVs are on a path to dethrone traditional passenger cars as America’s primary mode of transportation. Sales of four-door sedans are plummeting, while demand for small and midsize crossovers is heading in the opposite direction.
According to Motor Intelligence, crossover sales were up by a healthy 8.0% over the first nine months of 2016, while passenger car deliveries dropped by 8.2%. The genre currently accounts for eight out of the 20 most popular vehicles, with the compact Honda CR-V being the fourth best-selling ride in the U.S. last month, surpassed only by the Ford F-150, Ram 1500, and Chevrolet Silverado full-size pickup trucks.
Thus, in the spirit of “give the public what they want,” we’re highlighting 15 of the best leasing deals on compact and midsize crossover SUVs. Best of all, these are all fresh 2017 models, not clearance deals left over from 2016 in odd colors and/or configurations that might be left lingering in dealers’ lots.
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