As the market of new cars stabilized in years of disturbance, purchasing has become wise buyers. As much as SUVs remain the most chosen vehicles due to flexibility and design, not all of them merit an investment. There is undeniable certainty from specialists about five particular autos to stay away from in 2025. Below are some of these vehicles outlined by GoBankingRates and why you shouldn’t be taking them home, The automotive experts differentiated the following automobiles.
Volkswagen Taos: Why reliability and value do not make the equation
For the Volkswagen Taos, reliability has remained a concern. Consumer Reports has recently ranked it among the least reliable cars for 2024, just outscoring the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Currently, in its 2025 model, the Taos reverted its design with an enhanced 174-hp engine, but problems in handling have lessened the car’s appeal to American drivers.
Yes, the new 2025 Taos has some improvements, which include a standard 8-inch infotainment touch screen, depending on the trim level, yet it is $1000 more expensive than the 2024 Taos, which makes it a big no. Unfortunately, for many customers, the increased price does not compensate for the unreliable performance seen in other benchmarks in 2025.
Ford Explorer: Terrifying leasing stories and pricey ownership sorted.
The Ford Explorer has fallen foul of negative criticism regarding leasing arrangements. CarsDirect lists the 2025 Explorer at the bottom of the list as one of the worst SUVs for leasing now, featuring current offers. This makes it less attractive for those who want to own a new car and then lease the next new car. As the above reveals, people rent their vehicles and then sell and lease the next one.
According to RepairPal, the fix and maintenance costs are still average; however, the reliability of the Explorer is quite low, ranking 19 out of 26 mid-size SUVs. Alongside its unattractive leasing offers, this model is an SUV that consumers should consider twice in 2025.
Jeep Grand Cherokee: Lack of reliability and low fuel economy appear together
Jeep has also received a poor reliability rating compared to the previous years. Just this January, Consumer Reports gave Jeep the lowest reputation score on the dependability of car brands. Subpar reliability also impacts those models: they are both the regular Grand Cherokee and its larger, three-row sibling, the Grand Cherokee L, which received low scores in all categories.
Worsening the situation, these models lack efficiency in fuel consumption as the Grand Cherokee uses about 20 miles per gallon. At the same time, the Grand Cherokee L is slightly even worse, at 19 miles per gallon. When the vehicles have reliability problems and questionable fuel economy, these SUVs will become unattractive family cars in 2025.
Land Rover Discovery: High costs of maintenance and difficulties that arise when operating on city roads
The off-roader car is comfortable with modern interior trims and fashion and performs excellently like a Land Rover Discovery. However, these technologically rich features are not cheap to produce or make available in a vehicle. JustAnswer self-driving mechanic Chris Pyle has pointed out that the Discovery model fleets are relatively costly in terms of the price of parts and required services.
Not surprisingly, the discovery is far from being comfortable off-roading only; however, on the roads, it does rather poorly for a car intended for the concrete jungle nonetheless. To those who mostly drive in the city, this high cost and below-average mpg make this SUV unattractive to them in 2025.
Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid: This promising technology has been marred by the following reliability issues that will be discussed in detail.
Experts from Edmunds and MotorTrend have appreciated the design and features of the Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid. However, Consumer Reports has raised reliability issues; the publication assigned its 2024 model a dismal reliability of 21 out of 100. Some problems observed include the EV battery issue, the issue with electrical accessories, and the in-car electronics issue.
Potential buyers should be careful as the expectations are pinned to the 2025 model. Its high price may not be related to the performance and reliability problems noted in previous models; it is doubtful that a consumer can justify the expense for a consistently good hybrid car.
When considering car purchases in 2025, looking at expert opinions and the history of each car on the road becomes necessary. Many vehicles, including Volkswagen Taos, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Land Rover Discovery, and Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid, have been warned for flaws with poor reliability scores and expensive ownership costs. Avoiding these options will help you make a better purchase decision, delivering more value, reliability, and satisfaction.
