Looking for a new SUV that offers a more stress-free ownership experience? Consumer Reports’ least satisfying SUVs are over $30,000 but fall short in drivers’ eyes. When automakers don’t deliver on promises, these sport utility vehicles ranked at the bottom of the 2022 Owner Satisfaction surveys. The good news is these options from Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Infiniti still plenty of new technology and features.

Consumer Reports’ least satisfying SUVs include the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport

When Consumer Reports asked owners about the best cars, trucks, and SUVs, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport came up short again. While the Atlas Cross Sport is still a brand-new SUV with plenty of features, it feels like Volkswagen tried to do too many things. The Volkswagen SUV doesn’t excel at space as it only has room for five, but it uses many of the features in its large SUV. It falls short on cargo space and space for passengers.

While Consumer Reports found it pleasant enough, without too many glaring issues, Volkswagen’s SUV ranges from $34,360 to $51,625, making it suitable for some budgets. It gets 276 hp and returned about 21 mpg overall during testing. While forward collision and blind-spot warnings are standard, many other systems are optional.

The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport received the lowest scores from owners in Consumer Reports 2022 Owner Satisfaction Survey. That means that many of the promises made by the automaker fell short.

The Mercedes-Benz GLB made Consumer Reports least satisfying SUVs list

Unfortunately for the brand, the Mercedes-Benz GLB stays on this list. Entry-level luxury SUVs are some of the least satisfying, making owners think twice about buying the same vehicle again. The GLB and the GLA both made Consumer Reports’ least satisfying SUVs list and have many times in recent years.

The GLB sits between the GLA and GLC in size but lacks some of the refinement consumers are looking for. These in-between models are usually lackluster, cutting essential features from the bigger versions to fit into a more compact body (and budget). With a range of $39,800 to $51,500, there might be better options out there.

Owners report not liking the Mercedes-Benz infotainment system, noting it was hard to use and slow to respond to. Consumer Reports says these smaller SUVs don’t perform better than similar non-luxury versions despite luxury badges.

Entry-level or not, the Infiniti QX50 fell short

Another semi-entry-level luxury SUV, the Infiniti QX50, failed to impress owners. Consumer Reports says it is roomy and quiet inside the QX50 but falls short on performance and fuel economy. Inside, the controls are confusing, and the infotainment system is hard to navigate. With a range from $40,300 to $57,350, the Infiniti is still in the luxury range.

Infiniti included many standard safety features on the QX50, like forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and rear cross-traffic warning. This is one of Infiniti’s smaller SUVs in the lineup but also one of the least popular among drivers. It was one of the only Infiniti vehicles on Consumer Reports’ least satisfying SUVs list but didn’t make the cut for most satisfying.

At the end of the day, reports from owners offer insight into what driving one of these SUVs is like. Not everyone will have the same opinion, but these entry-level options might be worth skipping over for some.