In the Market for a New Ride? Cars to Avoid in 2024

Advances in the automotive industry are rapidly evolving. Despite this, some vehicles still lack features and can’t justify their hefty price tags. More importantly, many lack reliability. Avoid these vehicles in 2024.

20. Ford F-150 Hybrid: $38,565 – $84,495

The Ford F-150 is America’s most popular pickup truck, and a hybrid version might seem like the perfect combo. The truck features a 400-hp powertrain, powered by an electric motor and a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine. However, the F-150 Hybrid is plagued by numerous problems in a range of areas and is the third-least reliable vehicle in 2024.

19. Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid: $54,825 – $63,555

Consumer Reports crowned the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid as the least reliable vehicle of 2024. This hybrid SUV features a 3.6-liter V6 engine and two electric motors backed by a 16.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It delivers 260 horsepower. However, the Pacifica falls short in reliability. Common issues are the battery, electric charging, electric motors, and in-vehicle electronics.

18. Volkswagen Taos: $25,420 – $34,940

According to Consumer Reports, the Volkswagen Taos is the second-least reliable vehicle of 2024. Common issues are its brakes, transmission, engine, and in-car electronics. The Volkswagen Taos also falls short on its interior quality and driving dynamics. On the positive side, the Taos boasts excellent fuel efficiency, and a spacious trunk and cabin.

17. Mini Cooper Electric: $31,895 – $36,700

Featuring the iconic styling cherished worldwide, the Mini Cooper Electric has switched out the traditional three-cylinder engine for an electric powertrain. Where this electric falls short is range. It features a 28.9 kWh battery pack that only offers a meager 110 miles on a full charge. Its rivals can go almost twice that far on a single charge.

16. Toyota Mirai: $51,215 – $68,180

The Toyota Mirai features a stunning design and luxurious interior, and it boasts a zero-carbon footprint. But for all these advances it has one major limitation. It uses hydrogen fuel cells. With less than 100 hydrogen refueling stations in the US, mostly in major California cities, it restricts the use of the Mirai to a limited area within one state.

15. Mitsubishi Mirage G4: $19,055 – $20,855

The Mitsubishi Mirage G4 is one of the least expensive cars on the market. It boasts an impressive fuel economy of 35/41 mpg on city/highway. Unfortunately, price is its best feature. The 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine is noisy and only delivers a modest 78 horsepower. The interior materials are cheap. The build of this vehicle is subpar and reliability is poor.

14. Toyota bZ4X: $44,420 – $48,530

There’s a lot of buzz about Toyota’s first electric vehicle, the bZ4X. It boasts agile acceleration, a spacious interior, and a comfortable ride. However, its range is disappointing, offering only 228 miles with all-wheel drive (or dual motors), and 252 miles with front-wheel drive (single motor). It also charges slower than most rivals.

13. Rivian R1T: $80,800 – $82,850

There’s a lot of excitement around Rivian’s electric trucks. The Rivian R1T especially, with its robust off-road capabilities, unrivaled speed, and impressive towing power. However, it scored among the worst on Consumer Reports’ reliability scale due to issues numerous issues including its drive system, body hardware, and climate control. Despite the hefty price tag, it falls short in several areas.

12. Nissan Pathfinder: $37,470 – $50,440

This popular mid-size SUV features a practical cabin design making it an excellent family hauler, and it features impressive towing prowess. Unfortunately, the higher-trim versions are pricier compared to rivals with similar specs. Where it falls short is its off-road capabilities. Even the Rock Creek Edition is lacking. If you’re serious about off-roading, look elsewhere.

11. Nissan Leaf: $29,280 – $37,330

The Nissan Leaf is an affordable electric vehicle. The car features ample cabin space and comes with either a 147 or 214-hp electric motor. However, compared to the competition, both models have a short range and DC fast-charging is limited to only 50 kW. The Hyundai Kona Electric and Chevrolet Bolt offer better range at a similar price point.

10. Volkswagen Jetta: $22,660 – $30,050

The popular Volkswagen Jetta is affordable, offers ample space for passengers and cargo, and boasts impressive fuel economy. However, the Volkswagen Jetta ranked among the worst of the least-reliable vehicles as reviewed by Consumer Reports. Common problems are brakes, electrical accessories, climate control system, and in-car electronics.

9. Jeep Grand Cherokee L: $43,830 – $74,835

The three-row Jeep Grand Cherokee features options of a 290-horsepower V6 or a 357-horsepower V8, and rear- or all-wheel drive configuration. All feature an eight-speed automatic transmission. Performance on all options is stellar. However, they rated among the worst in Consumer Reports’ reliability study. With higher-end luxurious trims, the Cherokee L carries a hefty price tag.

8. Chevrolet Malibu: $26,195 – $32,595

The Chevrolet Malibu offers an appealing design, a comfortable ride, and a nimble chassis. It comes standard with a 160-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Unfortunately, its other standard features are quite limited. Many materials are subpar. The Malibu is easily outclassed by several rivals.

7. Ford Explorer: $38,455 – $57,310

The Ford Explorer is highly popular for its spacious cabin, quick acceleration, and nimble handling. With its excellent safety features, it’s one of the best-selling SUVs today. However, it’s not without numerous red flags. Its interior feels cheap with its abundant hard plastics. Worse, the Explorer is plagued by reliability issues affecting the engine, transmission, interior electronics, and power equipment.

6. Cadillac XT4: $39,090 – $43,190

Cadillac was once a name synonymous with luxury and quality. To that end, the Cadillac XT4 features appealing aesthetics, a spacious interior, and generous tech features. Unfortunately, this subcompact luxury SUV has a disappointing interior and lacks the premium feel of similarly priced rivals such as Lexus, BMW, and Genesis. If you’re seeking luxury, there are several better alternatives.

5. Nissan Frontier: $31,540 – $42,095

The Nissan Frontier has rugged aesthetics and decent value within its price range among midsize pickup trucks. The 2024 frontier shows improvements over its predecessors. However, these gains are offset by the Nissan Frontier scoring among the worst in Consumer Reports’ reliability study. Trouble spots include its transmission, body hardware, and electrical accessories.

4. Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: $25,305 – $30,310

The best features of the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport are its appealing exterior, impressive warranty offer, and price. Beyond that, it’s massively underpowered. Despite standard all-wheel drive, the 148-hp 2.0-liter or optional 168-hp 2.4-liter powertrains are disappointing. All feature subpar interior materials and abundant black plastic, even on the higher trim levels.

3. Nissan Sentra: $22,030 – $25,120

With an affordable price tag, the Nissan Sentra boasts an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, a well-crafted interior, and comfortable seating. Unfortunately, it falls short in performance due to its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine which generates a limited 149 horsepower. The result is sluggish acceleration and poor handling. Additionally, the rear headroom is insufficient for taller passengers.

2. Nissan Titan: $48,050 – $61,720

The Nissan Titan features a potent V-8 engine that generates 400 horsepower and 413 lb-ft of torque. Its other strength is its comfort. However, in the competitive field of full-size pickups, the Titan falls behind in all other areas including tow rating, luxury, and available technology. The Titan is easily bested by Chevy, Ford, and RAM.

1. Lexus LX600: $93,915 – $134,490

The Lexus LX600 is a luxury SUV featuring four-wheel drive, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a lavish cabin, and robust off-road capabilities. However, third-row space for passengers is limited, as is luggage space behind the third row. Considering this high price point, you’ll find many more attractive features from this vehicle’s rivals.