Americans have made it abundantly clear that SUVs take priority over trucks, sedans, and sports cars. As it turns out, the covered cargo space, higher ride height, and comfort take precedence. For a while there, the best-selling SUVs were the large, luxurious ones. Now, experts are noticing buyers leaning towards compact or mid-sized SUVs instead.

A large reason for that is the cost. The smaller the car, the less it tends to cost (depending on the manufacturer, of course). It’s also easier to fit in a driveway, garage, or public street. Unless you’re driving around a soccer team or regularly moving, you don’t need a Ford Expedition.

However, a higher demand for SUVs meant manufacturers were under the gun to offer more options. Therefore, some models were carefully engineered, while others… Weren’t.

Mechanics spoke with experts at GoBankingRates to make a list of SUVs that should be avoided, no matter how popular they are.

The Volkswagen Taos is the first SUV named

The Taos is everything VW lovers want in a compact SUV. It’s the perfect size, has a respectable range, and a moderate entry price. However, even with only one model year, it’s been named as the second most unreliable car by Consumer Reports. The only one below it was the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid.

For a modern car, it didn’t score stellar safety ratings, either. The IIHS gave it a score of four out of five starts, with an “acceptable” rating for the small overlap front passenger’s side test and the head restraints and seats.

It also got a poor rating for front crash prevention, and seat belt reminders. The safety cage and structural integrity of the Taos were “marginal,” too.

Two large Jeep SUVs made the list, too

The Grand Cherokee and the third-row variant, the Grand Cherokee L, have been under the gun for a while. In 2024, Jeep was at the very bottom of Consumer Report’s most reliable car brands, and rated the least popular out of the 15 most popular brands.

The Grand Cherokee has a lot to offer if you’re into off-roading, but comes short when it comes to things that matter, like mileage and maintenance. The Grand Cherokee does have a PHEV version, the 4xe, but even the combined mileage isn’t overwhelming. Especially for the price.

When it’s stacked against its competitors, like the Toyota 4Runner or Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Santa Fe, you have to be a SERIOUS Jeep fan to choose the Cherokee over everything else.

Unsurprisingly, Land Rover is listed

Land Rover never had a reputation for longevity or reliability—just off-road capabilities and lavish interior quality. So, it’s not shocking to read that mechanics urge people to avoid the Discovery SUV like the plague.

Because Land Rover is a luxury brand, the cost of maintenance is a lot higher than most SUVs. And because it’s a Land Rover, it needs a lot more maintenance than most SUVs. Parts and labor cost a lot more than most, too.

So, unless you’re super rich and don’t mind the elevated cost of upkeep, avoid any Land Rover.

A PHEV from Volvo was named

The Swedish automaker has a fairly long list of reliable cars sold in America. The XC60 PHEV, however, is not one of them. Consumer Reports gave it a cringe-worthy reliability score of 21 out of 100 last year, citing issues with the EV battery, charging, electrical accessory issues, and climate control.

The 2025 model year, however, has received excellent reviews, so maybe Volvo took negative reviews seriously.

America’s favorite off-roader isn’t reliable on-road

The Jeep Wrangler, while being incredibly capable off-road, isn’t the best choice for a daily driver. And that’s due to low-reliability scores and unimpressive safety ratings. The Wrangler’s most prominent issues are with the steering and suspension (Death Wobble, anyone?), and issues with the electrical system, engine, and transmission.

You know, the most important components that make it run and drive safely.

If you don’t plan to put thousands of modifications to it to make it ready for rock crawling, shop used when it comes to Wranglers. Particularly the ones with 4.0-liter inline six.

The Hyundai Tuscon is bad if you’re shopping used

Hyundai has been working hard to rebrand itself after the whole “Kia Boyz” drama, and the Tuscon is a great example of how well a manufacturer can grow if they listen to customer feedback. The hybrid, in particular, is excellent.

However, if you’re looking for a cheap and reliable used SUV, older models (like 2011-2012 or 2015-2017), mechanics say the South Korean SUV should be avoided. Some research would reveal they were prone to engine and transmission failures.

Modern Tucson models, though, don’t suffer from the same issues.