When most SUV buyers consider a luxury SUV, they imagine an automotive that delivers on more than just the basic. For the most part, this includes superior comfort levels, more creative designs, and power, topped by a touch of opulence. However, while some of these models check all the ticks with critics like Consumer Reports, they sometimes fail to impress the actual owners.

Based on predicted customer satisfaction and actual vehicle owner satisfaction, here are 11 luxury SUVs that performed well with Consumer Reports but underwhelmed their owners.

1. 2022 Buick Encore

In essence, the 2022 Buick Encore takes the form of a subcompact luxury SUV. It occupies a relatively smaller footprint than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4, allowing easier maneuverability. It also boasts a generally quiet cabin with a comfortable ride experience. However, judging by the less than average Consumer Reports’ Owner Satisfaction score, the Buick Encore still leaves much to be desired.

According to the initial Predicted Customer Satisfaction scores by Consumer Reports, everything from the driving experience to comfort, value, and styling of the Buick Encore outperformed the final customer experience. It also had a near-perfect predicted reliability score and a notably higher overall predicted customer satisfaction rating. Ultimately, the SUV ranked behind other models like the mini cooper countryman Lexus UX, BMW X1, and Volvo XC40 in the category and just above the Mercedes-Benz GLA.

2. Buick Encore GX 2022

The Buick Encore GX is not too different from its predecessor, the Buick Encore. While it has a sportier and sleeker appeal, its only major perks are that it is compact and easy to park, with little hints of luxury dotted. Regarding the overall owner satisfaction, Consumer Reports showed that its slightly above-average score only outperformed the Buick Encore by a tiny margin.

Consumer Reports also noted a higher Predicted Owner Satisfaction score than the Buick Encore in all the four primary categories, including driving experience, comfort, styling, and value, ending up with an equally standard ultimate overall score.

3. 2022 Audi Q3

If Audi did anything right by the 2022 Audi Q3, it was to package its signature style, practicality, and luxury in a compact vehicle. According to Consumer Reports, it still affords a meticulous interior design with solid handling, agility, and feel. Yet despite this, it still resulted in a surprisingly low Owner Satisfaction score. This puts it behind the Buick Encore and Mercedes-Benz GLA. 

However, considering the initial tests and predictions by Consumer Reports, the Audi is still a force to reckon with. It butchered its immediate counterparts in almost all the four major categories, including driver experience, comfort, value, and styling, ultimately ending up with a decent Overall Predicted Owner Satisfaction score.

4. BMW X2

Like the Audi Q3, you can tell the BMW leaned more on style than outward visibility and cabin room with its BMW X2. As per Consumer Reports, this compact luxury SUV boasts a curvier body and feels more ‘car-like’ because it’s lower to the ground. You can also expect stellar handling capabilities, an excellent fit and finish, comfortable faux leather front seating, and an above-average response on the engine and transmission.

However, despite all the X2’s encouraging Consumer Reports reviews, the vehicle performed just a little above average on the Consumer Satisfaction score, coming on top of the Jaguar E-pace and the Buick Encore GX. While the margin is not too great, the score was still slightly lower than the Consumer Reports Predicted Overall Owner Satisfaction score.

5. BMW X1

The 2022 BMW X1 comes as a second-generation X1 model. Much like the BMW X2, it is a compact BMW model with a stylish exterior and luxurious feel. However, its Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction score was still lower than expected compared to its relatively high Consumer Reports Overall Predicted Owner Satisfaction score.

The core was based on categories such as the driving experience, comfort, value, and styling, where it also performed relatively well. Also notable, despite being lower priced, it is tied with the BMW X2 in owner satisfaction (perhaps owing to the bit of extra cargo room you get with the X1).

6. Mercedes-Benz GLA

The Mercedes-Benz GLA is basically a smaller, sportier version of the Mercedes-Benz GLB. Unlike its first-generation version, the GLA features a more spacious, fuel-efficient ride. As you may expect from Mercedes-Benz, the vehicle features a rich, high-end feeling interior. Still, when it comes to Consumer Owner Satisfaction, it ended up with a relatively low score, securing a spot between the Buick Encore and Audi Q3.

7. Mercedes-Benz GLC 

With a taller, more aggressive SUV-esque design, the Mercedes-Benz GLC deserves a higher spot on the list of small luxury SUVs. As per Consumer Reports, the vehicle offers that luxurious leather-lined cabin and a sophisticated yet tranquil driving experience expected of a Mercedes vehicle. Yet, despite this, it still sits pretty low on the list regarding Customer Owner Satisfaction. With an above-average score, it comes on top of the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the Mercedes-Benz GLB.

Per the Consumer Reports’ original Predicted Owner Satisfaction, the Mercedes Benz GLC naturally performed well when factors such as driving experience, comfort, value, and styling were considered. It also impressed Consumer Reports on most other factors, resulting in a rather impressive overall score.

8. Infiniti QX50 

The infinity QX50 is, by all means, a well-designed luxury SUV. Besides its roomy, well-furnished interior, it is fitted with an innovative engine, which promises a healthy performance. However, its low Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction scores show that car owners were still not too pleased.

Compared to the Land Rover Discovery Sport and the Jaguar F-Pace, it featured last after the Acura RDX. At the same time, the Consumer Reports Predicted Owner Satisfaction score wasn’t too high either. It got pretty basic scores based on the key elements, driving experience, comfort, value, and styling. Ultimately it had a little higher than average overall score. 

9. Acura RDX

Based solely on its design, you’d expect the 2022 Acura RDX to please a fair share of buyers. Consumer Reports drivers reported that the vehicle had a powerful turbocharged engine, agile handling, and modern interior. However, with its disappointingly low Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction score, it would seem that the ultimate car owner was not too impressed with this one either. 

The figure fell severely short of the Overall Predicted Customer Reports Owner Satisfaction score, where it performed relatively well based on driving experience, comfort, value, and styling.

10. Acura MDX

Like the Acura RDX, the 2022 Acura MDX possesses many traits that make for a luxury SUV. It stands out with its impeccably finished cabin and a pretty potent power train. However, like other culprits on our list, its Ultimate Owner Satisfaction score was way lower than the Consumer Reports Predicted Owner Satisfaction score.

When judged against the main factors, the car performed exceptionally well. This includes driving experience, comfort, value, and styling, resulting in an equally impressive overall Consumer Reports score. Of course, this might appear even more impressive because it was ranked against high-end SUVs like the Porche Cayenne, which topped the chart.

11. Cadillac XT6

Despite its grand appeal and generous cabin, the Cadillac XT6 falls short compared to close rivals such as the Audi Q7 or Lexus RX. According to Consumer Reports, the brand reliability was low enough from the start to damage the vehicles’ expected score. So it should come as no surprise that it came last in its Consumer Reports Owner Satisfaction list, with its equally disappointing score. This put it behind the Acura MDX and the Land Rover Discovery.

Per the Predicted Owner Satisfaction scores, it performed impressively based on driving experience, comfort, value, and styling. All factors considered, it achieved a well above average score.