Cars, Trucks, And SUVs That Aren’t Worth The Hype
It can be hard to maintain a long term relationship with a vehicle, especially if you haven't done your research. Many car owners (and leasers) suffer fro buyer's remorse due to factors such as high ownership costs, reliability issues or maybe the vehicle just didn't live up to the hype. Many car owners end up parting ways with their four-wheeled purchase less than one year into ownership.
Here are cars, trucks, and SUVs that people trade-in or sell before their first year of ownership is complete. Maybe you'll have better luck with a different car model.
The Mercedes-Benz GLA Is Smaller Than It Looks
The Mercedes-Benz GLA comes with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This car is easy to drive, sporty looking, and tons of fun. So why do owners part ways with it within a year?
That has a lot to do with the interior of the SUV. Many people who have owned the GLA complained about cramped back seats and a small cargo area. Its small size makes it efficient and fast, but people with larger families need a car that's a bit roomier. 8.% of people who purchased the GLA returned it in less than a year.
The Jaguar XF Has A Huge Cost Of Ownership
The Jaguar XF looks stylish enough. This car also has one of the best ride qualities of any four-door sedan.
This sleek car suffers from some glaring issues, though. The XF suffers from underwhelming performance, minor interior quality issues, reliability issues, and perhaps most problematic of all, a huge cost of ownership. Many owners of this vehicle, 8.8% of buyers, in fact, found issues with the model and traded it in before a year was up.
The Nissan Titan Isn't As Refined As Its Competitors
Nissan's take on the pickup truck just doesn't measure up to other pickup trucks on the market. This vehicle has a lower than average payload and towing ratings. The engine inside this truck just doesn't pack the same punch as the engine in an F150, Silverado or Ram.
This truck was built for off-roading, and most people who use a pickup truck for work aren't doing aa ton of off-roading. Of people who bought the Nissan Titan, 7.6% traded the car in within a year.
The Porsche Cayenne Costs Too Much
If you have a lot of money and you're looking for a luxury SUV, the Porsche Cayenne might just be the car for you. This German car is vailable in a wide variety of trims and with several different engines. It has very high ratings and many experts consider it to be one of the best luxury SUVs on the market.
The problem is, this car is very expensive to maintain. Given the high cost of ownership, I8.7% of buyers regretted their purchase within the first year of ownership.
The BMW X3 Isn't As Desirable As Its Siblings
BMW has released a bunch of SUVs, and thanks to their convenient naming system, we know where each of their SUVs stands. These cars are numbered X1 through X7. The mid-sized X3 just isn't as powerful as the X2, and it isn't as roomy as the X4.
Even though the X3 comes with excellent handling, and an available 355-horsepower turbocharged six-cylinder engine, 9.0% of owners got rid of this car within one year of ownership.
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class Has A High Return Rate
Even though the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an upscale appearance and features, a lot of people find this car impossible to hold onto. A staggering 12.4% of buyers part ways with this handsome sedan before one year of ownership is up. This is likely due to the high maintenance costs and insurance costs that come along with owning a car of this caliber.
Many owners found that this vehicle just wasn't worth the upkeep, which is understandable.
The BMW 3-Series Isn't All It's Cracked Up To Be
At first glance, BMW's 3-Series is everything you could ever want ina sports sedan. This car is smooth, powerful, sleek, and stylish. It comes equipped with a powerful six-cylinder engine smooth handling, and a gorgeous leather interior.
Many other car manufacturers measure their success against this particular model. This SUV strikes the perfect balance between canyon-carving ability and everyday practicality. Unfortunately, 11.8% of buyers sent the mid-size SUV back within the first year of ownership, mostly due to high maintenance costs.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport Is More Expensive Than Expected
Hold onto your return policies, folks, because the Land Rover Discovery has a few surprises up its... wheels. If you're planning on driving off the beaten path, then this SUV might be the car for you. Just don't forget that a car this size and with this much power can be quite expensive to maintain.
This model is one of the few that's as well suited to off-roading as it is to city driving, but 11.8% of owners still decided to say goodbye to this vehicle within one year of ownership.
The Land Rover Evoque Wasn't Worth It
The Land Rover Evoque, one of Land Rover's smallest SUVs, was very popular when it first hit the market it 2011. This compact SUV was great for off-roading, and it came with a super stylish design. It's one of the few times a compact version of a larger vehicle actually measured up to the full-size version.
This car may be small, but it certainly is mighty. Unfortunately, high ownership costs, high insurance costs, and reliability issues contributed to 10.9% of buyers parting ways with the Evoque within one year.
The Porsche 911 Just Didn't Stick
There are few sports cars more iconic than the Porsche 911. This car is the envy of car enthusiasts everywhere. The experience of driving one of these vehicles is unparalleled.
There are a whole bunch of different models of the 911, and each one comes with a unique set of features. Carmakers are inspired by the way this thing looks, moves, and feels. All that being said, 7.1 % of new buyers just didn't want to hold onto this car for more than a year.
The BMW X1 Wasn't Good Enough
The X1 is BMW's smallest crossover, but also one of their best. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine has enough punch to make the X1 move at a good pace and the sharp handling makes it one of the most fun crossovers to drive.
As you'd expect from a BMW, the X1 is full of high-quality materials and the fit and finish is top-notch. However, drivers report that the little Bimmer is loud on the freeway and the ride can be jarring over rough roads. This led 10.4% of buyers to decide that the X1 wasn't good enough to keep around more than a year.
The Nissan Versa Note Is Too Basic
Nissan's entry-level Versa Note is a pretty basic car. It certainly has better styling than the Versa sedan, but many of its competitors from other manufacturers offer more features, better value, and a better overall driving experience.
On the upside, the Note is relatively inexpensive, making it a good option if your vehicle requirements are simply getting from point A to point B and saving money. Nissan designed the Note to be as affordable and reliable as possible, but being basic can have its drawbacks. 9.0% of buyers got rid of the little Note within the first year.
The Nissan Versa Wasn't Too Exciting
The Nissan Versa is basic, entry-level transportation. It's supremely affordable and very reliable but it lacks a lot of features that are standard in competitor cars. With its bland styling and bare-bones build, many buyers may grow weary living with less.
The Versa does its job well, just without anything that could be misconstrued as exciting or fun. Perhaps that is why 8.7% of buyers said "farewell" to the Versa in their first year of ownership. Basic is good, but sometimes being too basic can get tedious.
The Nissan Rogue Sport Is Too Slow
The Nissan Rogue Sport has a naming problem. Adding "Sport" to the name of any vehicle denotes performance, speed, fun-to-drive, and crisp handling. Unfortunately, the Rogue Sport lacks sportiness.
The Rogue Comfort would be a more accurate name, and that's where Nissan's SUV excels. The Rogue is spacious, comfortable and extremely composed on the road, but with only 141 horsepower and a CVT transmission, it is very slow. Despite the naming error, the Rogue Sport is a solid pick for an everyday SUV. However, 8.1% of buyers said "Sayonara" to the Nissan in under twelve months of ownership.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class Isn't Fuel Efficient
The G-Class or G-Wagon is Mercedes-Benz's top-of-the-line SUV that rivals anything made by Land Rover for outright off-road ability. The big and brutish G63 AMG typically gets most of the headlines with its enormous horsepower, but it's the G550 that is the off-road star, and one of the best off-road orientated luxury trucks ever built.
With 416 horsepower from a twin-turbo V8 and a starting price of $124,000, it's capable of draining fuel tanks and wallets at the same time. Power and prestige come at a price, and that may have been too much for the 8.1% of buyers who got rid of the big Benz within the first year.
The Nissan Titan XD Doesn't Live Up To The Competition
The Nissan Titan XD is the heavy-duty version of the Titan pickup truck and you can spec it with a Cummins diesel engine and the Pro 4X off-road package. Despite the diesel power and the off-roading capabilities, the Titan XD lags behind its competitors in towing capacity and payload rating.
Owners have noted that the ride is less refined than trucks offered by Ford, Chevrolet, and Ram, but does offer ridiculously comfortable "Zero Gravity" front seats. In the ultra-competitive truck market, the Titan, unfortunately, is behind the game and 7.9% of buyers of rid themselves of Nissan's big truck within a year.
The Nissan 370Z Isn't Modern Enough
The 370Z has largely gone unchanged for over a decade, and in that time its competitors have caught, passed and leveled-up on Nissan's rear-wheel-drive sports car. A lack of attention from Nissan can, and usually does, mean declining sales and disinterest. That's not to say that the 370Z is a bad car, it's just starting to show it's age; especially when compared against much more modern sports cars.
There's still a lot to like from the 332-horsepower V6 and rear-wheel-drive chassis, but it's just not as sharp and toss-able as others, leading 7.8% of new buyers to get rid of it within a year.
The Chevrolet Corvette Is Too Flashy
The Chevrolet Corvette is America's sports car king. In its current C7-generation, it's a V8 powerhouse that can go toe-to-toe with much more expensive supercars from Europe and Japan. The base Stingray is a great car and the GrandSport version ratchets up the performance. Taking it a step further, the Z06 and ZR1 Corvettes are track-day monsters that have performance powers capable of warping space and time.
Regardless of the model, fun, speed and that great V8 rumble are at the core of what a Corvette is all about, 6.4% of new buyers didn't see their ownership experience that way and gave them back within a year.
The MINI Clubman Didn't Have The Best Driving Experience
The Clubman is a stretched version of MINI's Cooper hatchback. The first generation had smaller suicide rear doors, giving access to the rear seats and the second generation got full-size doors. Technically, the Clubman is a station wagon, but the proportions on a stretched MINI Cooper have always been slightly "off."
The visual style and driving dynamics of the bigger Clubman have been the subject of a lot of panning by automotive journalists. Poor reviews, high maintenance costs and a driving experience that doesn't live up to the hype likely influenced the 10.7% of buyers who gave the Clubman the heave-ho in ownership year one.
The Dodge Challenger Didn't Meet Expectations
The Dodge Challenger doesn't pretend to be anything more than a fast and fun muscle car. Currently, there are nine-models of the Challenger beginning with the V6 powered SXT and ending with the insane Hellcat Redeye Widebody. Each one has presence for days and is a portable burn-out machine.
Despite the pavement warping power and aggressive stare, the Challenger is an aging beast that's been drag racing between stoplights since 2008. At the end of the road, 6.4% of Challenger owners thought the car couldn't live up to its billing and got rid of them within a year of purchase.
The Nissan Frontier Has A Bad Fuel Economy
Next up we have the Nissan Frontier. It's surprising that so many people give up on Nissan's so quickly. The top three light duty pickup tucks people give up on the first year are all Nissans; the Titan XD, Titan, and Frontier.
For all three, the inability to be a working vehicle is cited by owners the most, "The compact Frontier has the same shortcomings for hauling and towing while also having the worst fuel economy in its class."
The Ford Mustang Isn't Good On Gas
Another surprising entry on this list in the Ford Mustang, a staple in the company's lineup. Since it was introduced, the Mustang has helped define American muscle culture. The question is, why is culture now shifting away from it.
The Mustang still maintains a modern retro look and has all the power consumers have to expect. If there is any downfall, it must be the miles per gallon, although if you own a sports car, we doubt that would be your first concern.
The Chevrolet Camaro Doesn't Hold Its Value
There's just something about sports cars. In total, 6.1 percent of sports cars are given up by owns every year. The reason vary, but the end result is the same; the cars finds a new home on the used lot.
If you're shopping for a sports car, the used market is actually the best place to look. Few cars depreciate in value as much as sports cars in the first year, which might be another reason why they tend to be returned so often.
The Porsche Macan Isn't Always The Dream Car
Despite stellar reviews, the Porshce Macan is returned by first year buyers at a clip of 6.3 percent. While that number is better than the Porsche Cayenne, it still cant make the German auto maker very happy.
Just like with sports cars, luxury cars tend to depreciate heavily in the first year. Perhaps buyers are learning that looking for the dream car on the secondary market is a better way to buy. Then again, maybe the Macan just isn't the car they thought it was.
The Mazda CX-3 Is Expensive To Maintain
The Mazda CX-3 is returned at the same percentage as the Porsche Macan. Overall, the CX-3 is more affordable and family-friendly SUV but still misses the mark for man consumers.
A brand new, standard CX-3 will set you back around $20,000 and comes equipped with 148 horsepower. As you upgrade, the Mazda becomes much more expensive. Modest reviews seem to be the reason for the returns on this one. While it's very affordable, it's lacking in other areas.
The GMC Canyon Just Didn't Live Up To The Hype
The GMC Canyon is the next car on our list and is returned as a relatively lower 4.8 percent rate. That number, however, is high enough to make it the fourth most returned light-duty pickup truck.
The Canyon starts at $22,000 and boasts incredible MPG. It will take you 30 miles per gallon the highway, and 20 miles per gallon in the city. It is also extremely customizable and reliable. The reason for most of the first year returns were not listed in the study we used.
The Toyota Tundra Has Good Reviews
Coming in as the tenth most returned light duty pickup truck in the first year is the Toyota Tundra, which is given back at a 3.9 percentage clip. Oddly enough, 3.9 percent is the average return rate for all light duty pickup trucks.
With such a normal number for returns, there is not much bad that can be said about the Tundra. Toyota has a strong reputation for quality, and the Tundra has stellar reviews.
The Toyota Tacoma Has A High Return Rate
The Toyota Tacoma is returned at a slightly higher clip than the Tundra. Coming in our list with a 4.7 percent return rate, this light-duty pickup just isn't provided consumers with the experience they want.
To help combat the higher than normal return rate, Toyota is planning to release a brand new, completely redesigned Tacoma model for 2020. They also have a Back to the Future concept that has been in the works since 2015, but is yet to gain real momentum.
The Ram Pickup 1500 Doesn't Have Enough Driver Assist Features
The Ram Pickup pulls up to our stable next, and it leaves at a rate of 4.1 percent. That number isn't too bad considering the normal average, but it's still a concern for the Dodge owned company.
The year 2019 saw a redesign for the Ram 1500, which turned into mostly good review. The truck was praised for its quiet and spacious cabin, while it was critiqued for a lack of driver assist features on the base model.
The GMC Sierra 1500 Lacks Space
The GMC Sierra 1500 is returned at a rate of 4.8 percent, almost an entire point above the average. Considering the moderate reviews that point several poor areas, it's no surprise drivers are generally disappointed with this truck.
The biggest complaints about the GMC Sierra 1500 is the rough ride it provides. The cabin doesn't look modern either, and there is a general lack of space for the driver and passenger. Knowing this, we're surprised this truck isn't returned more often!
The Chevrolet Colorado Is Too Short
Placing eight for most returned light duty pickup trucks is the Chevy Colorado, which is given back at a 4.1 percent rate. While noted for having a good engine, gas mileage, and comfortable cabin, there are several complaints.
The biggest complaint about the Colorado is by far the cabin size, which was deemed too small for tall people. You'd think this wouldn't be a problem for a truck, but it turned into the biggest setback for new Colorado owners.
The BMW Is Often Returned
For all vehicles among all brands, there is a 3.4 percent rate on first year vehicles. Not all brands were created equal however, meaning one company has the most returned vehicles in year one.
That company is BMW, who has 7.9 percent of their luxury automobiles returned or resold. That doesn't mean BMW is a bad auto maker. The truth is actually the opposite. As you'll see from the following brands, luxury cars just have worse luck in their first year than non-luxury brands.
Porsche Has A High Return Rate
In 2018, Porsche had 7.6 percent of first year vehicles returned or resold. While there could be many reasons for this, we want to point one one very clear one; the cost of maintenance.
When you purchase a luxury car, you must be aware of what the cost to maintain the vehicle will be. That $40,000 or more you paid for the vehicle will only grow and repairs stack up. And as you know, while that happens, your car will depreciate by around half its value.
People Give Back Their Mercedes-Benz
Are you sensing a trend yet? Not only are luxury brands heavily returned by first year owners, but German manufacturers are especially hard hit. Mercedes comes in third for this, seeing a 7.4 percent rate.
Like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz has a reputation for making high quality cars with even higher maintenance costs. If you fail to take proper care of your care, its health bill will set you back more than a pretty penny. Perhaps this realization is causing buyers remorse so quickly.
Land Rovers Aren't All They're Cracked Up To Be
Moving onto the next brand we have Land Rover. In 2018, the company that produces several iconic cars saw 6.5 percent of them returned or resold. This wouldn't be so shocking if Land Rover produced SUVs for a broader market.
The luxury SUV built its reputation on off terrain driving with a smooth ride. You can take these cars anywhere roads weren't built to go. Keeping them on the freeway, though, has proven to be easier said than done.
Jaguars Don't Always Meet Expectations
Continuing our luxury theme is Jaguar, who sees 6.4 percent of new vehicles returned or resold in the first year. Like so many brands, the reasons are mostly unclear. Aside from the already listed maintenance costs, luxury cars tend to be well made and reliable vehicles.
Jaguar is also one of the most fun luxury cars to drive. If you've ever been behind the wheel of one on the freeway you can attest to this.
The MINI Can Be Too Mini
MINI has been around a very long time, building it's business around one small auto model. In recent years, however, the brand has brought new, larger models to the world, and it is these models that are leading to so many first year returns.
The Clubman was earlier on this list, and it is the main reason MINI sees a 6.2 percent return rate. It seems that although consumers think they might want a larger MINI, the novelty of the car is lost with time.
The FIAT Isn't As Powerful As People Would Like
An auto brand that has seen a resurgence in the United States recently is also one of the most returned first year automobiles. FIAT, for as fun as their cars are to drive, may have rushed their product to the market.
The major complaint about is the cars unreliability, "As a brand, FIATs are plagued by the reputation of being unreliable and the FIAT 500 has been a mainstay on unreliable vehicle lists by JD Power and Consumer Reports."
Audi Can Be Expensive
Audi makes seven of the top eight most returned vehicles luxury brands, with all of them coming from Europe. We guarantee the next car on the list is neither of those things.
Audi, like it's European counterparts, is noted for having a high depreciation value and high cost of maintenance. Personally, neither of those things sound a like good recipe to create customer loyalty. Proof of our theory lies in the 5.1 percent return rate for Audi in the United States.
Nissan Can Be Boring
The first true consumer brand on this section of the list is Nissan. Known in the United States as a reliable foreign car, the facts show a much different story. Nissan's are surprisingly unreliable, which surprised us!
According to JD Power and Consumer Reports, "Nissan regularly finishes near the bottom for Consumer Reports brand reliability rankings and models like the Pathfinder and the Sentra consistently earn the lowest possible scores for owner satisfaction ratings." Oops!
