6 popular cars you actually shouldn’t buy, according to Consumer Reports — and the 6 to buy instead

[Pelican Press 0]

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

6 popular cars you actually shouldn’t buy, according to Consumer Reports — and the 6 to buy instead

Car shopping means sorting through endless choices, reviews, and specs. But not all best-sellers earn their popularity – something

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

discovered in their latest testing of 2024 models.

“Consumers tell us they prioritize factors such as reliability and safety when shopping for a car, but when it comes time to buy, very often a car’s styling or its image tips the decision,” Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports, said.

Before you head to the dealership, here’s what Consumer Reports says to skip – and what to consider instead.

Avoid: Ford Escape

Photo: Ford

Consumer Reports says the regular version of this popular compact SUV is unreliable. It has a laggy technology with limited seat movement and often makes a tinny sound. It scored a 59/100 on CR’s scale.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: Honda CR-V

Photo: Honda

Check out the Honda (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) CR-V if you’re looking for a compact SUV. It has secure handling, roomy seats, a lot of cargo room, and easy-to-use infotainment and controls.

Avoid: Jeep Grand Cherokee

Photo: Jeep

The Jeep (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) Grand Cherokee is a popular option for a midsize 3-row SUV, but Consumer Reports gave it a low score of 51/100. It says the car has lacking fuel efficiency, slow acceleration, and a noisy engine.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Photo: Toyota

For a similar price — and depending on the model, even less than the Jeep — Consumer Reports suggests checking out the Toyota (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) Highlander Hybrid. It gets 35 miles to the gallon and has a comfortable interior.

Avoid: Volvo XC60

Photo: Volvo

The Volvo (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) XC60 is a popular luxury 2-row SUV, but Consumer Reports was unimpressed by it. It scored a 60/100, with below-average reliability and a weird-sounding engine. Its ride felt stiff and the fuel efficiency wasn’t great.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: Lexus NX Hybrid

Photo: Lexus

Consumer Reports suggests the Lexus NX Hybrid instead, which scored an 83/100. “It returns 38 mpg overall compared with 23 mpg,” CR said. “Responsive steering, eager handling, and a well-finished cabin are among its other strengths.”

Avoid: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

Photo: Chrysler

The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid is a popular minivan, but it wouldn’t be if Consumer Reports had its way. It only scored a 53/100 for its lack of reliability and low average owner satisfaction.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: Kia Carnival

Photo: Kia

Consumer Reports ranks the Kia (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) Carnival as the #1 option for a 3-row minivan, saying it is “roomy, comfortable, and defined.” It gave the car an 82 out of 100, lauding its smooth-shifting transmission and secure handling, as well as strong reliability.

Avoid: Volkwagen Jetta

Photo: Volkswagen

The Volkswagen (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) Jetta is a popular small car, but it’s not a recommended Consumer Reports pick. While it is a top-performing small car, it does poorly in CR’s annual auto surveys, with well-below-average owner satisfaction.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: Mazda 3

Photo: Mazda

A better option is the Mazda (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) 3, according to Consumer Reports. “The Mazda 3 is almost what the Jetta used to be,” CR said. “It has nimble handling, an impressively finished interior, a firm but absorbent ride, and short stopping distances.”

Avoid: Mercedes C-Class

Photo: Anadolu (Getty Images)

If you’re in the market for a luxury sedan, Consumer Reports says skip over the Mercedes-Benz (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) C-Class, which it ranked second-to-last among compact luxury cars for its “stiff ride, long stopping distances, and overly complicated controls.” It got an underwhelming 49/100 score from CR, and its survey showed that most buyers wouldn’t purchase the car again.

Check out what to get instead on the next slide.

Consider: BMW 3 Series

Photo: BMW

Instead of a C-Class, Consumer Reports suggests checking out the BMW (

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

) 3 Series, which it says is a thrill to drive and has impressive finishes with a comfortable interior.

For the latest news,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

,

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

and

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

.

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

#popular #cars #shouldnt #buy #Consumer #Reports #buy

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up

This is the hidden content, please

• Sign In
• or
• Sign Up