Purchasing a sports utility vehicle, better known as an SUV, is a major investment, as these kinds of cars do not come cheap. Perhaps you are on a tight budget but need a whole car for the family, which is why you want something that is rugged, durable and going to last. Unfortunately, not all SUVs are made equally with the price point of the driver in mind.
“When it comes to SUVs that tend to cost more money over time, several models come to mind due to their high maintenance costs, frequent repairs and rapid depreciation,” said Geoff Cudd, founder of FindTheBestCarPrice.
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GOBankingRates got firsthand tips from car experts on what SUVs not to buy because they will cost you money over time.
Land Rover Range Rover
After spending all your money to get an SUV, you probably are not looking forward to dumping more money into the car to fix and maintain it. Unfortunately, owning a Land Rover Range Rover may mean tossing a lot of good money after bad money to keep it in tip-top condition.
“The Land Rover Range Rover is notorious for its high repair costs and frequent mechanical issues,” Cudd said.
Owners and drivers of Range Rovers frequently report the SUV’s brakes wearing out prematurely, water leaking through the windshield, the suspension light coming on unnecessarily and the braking system malfunctioning.
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Chevrolet Blazer
When buying an SUV, safety concerns should be considered as well as cost, according to Thom Pryor of Lawsuit Legal. The fact that an SUV could be considered dangerous is a threat not only to bodily harm or even death, but also financially if you are to take into account potential medical bills, legal fees and repair costs.
“While SUVs are relatively safe vehicles in a crash, on average safer than smaller passenger vehicles, some models have survivability concerns in the case of a wreck,” Pryor said, noting that the Chevrolet Blazer fits this bill.
“The Chevrolet Blazer, for example, is among the most dangerous SUVs when reviewing survivability across accident data,” Pryor said.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Taking an SUV on the open highway for a long road trip or onto the top of a mountain for a camping excursion means that it needs to have one quality above all else: reliability. Sadly, Jeep, which is a pioneer in the SUV game, cannot guarantee a reliable drive in models like the Grand Cherokee or the Renegade.
“[The] Jeep Grand Cherokee, while popular, often faces reliability issues that lead to expensive repairs,” Cudd said.
Pryor agreed, stating that the Cherokee is “subject to a relatively high fatality rate across registered vehicles, among the highest of SUVs according to the IIHS.”
BMW X5
The BMW X5 is another high-end SUV that is eye-popping and will turn heads — as well as turn your wallet out over time. That’s due to the enormous bill that comes with parts and labor, not just for the basics of your car but for all the bells and whistles you are paying for up top.
“Some BMW X5 models stalled at low speeds, which frequently happened at low accelerations, even though the vehicle could stall at much higher accelerations. Either way, if the car shuts off while driving but turns back on, it’s a stressful experience for most drivers on the road, to say the least,” according to ReRev.
“The BMW X5, though luxurious, has high maintenance costs and complex electronics that can be costly to fix,” Cudd said.
Ford Explorer
Ford paved the way for the SUV to become a household name at the end of the 20th century, with its Ford Explorer finding its way into many suburban homes and becoming an affordable family car.
Now models as new as 2022 are being recalled by Ford due to bad fuel systems, power trains, engine structures, backover prevention, parking brakes and electrical systems.
“The Ford Explorer has had issues with transmission and engine reliability,” Cudd explained, highlighting that the Explorer is not the SUV you want to have if you are on a tight budget and need a vehicle that you can depend upon running.
Dodge Journey
“The Dodge Journey is another SUV that tends to depreciate quickly and has reported mechanical problems,” Cudd said. This is because a lot of Journeys from 2009 to 2018 have overheating issues.
“If your Dodge Journey was made between 2009 and 2018, you may have issues with your engine overheating. It seems the problem can occur at anytime during the Journey’s existence. Vehicles with as low as 20,000 miles have experienced this issue as well as Journeys with well over 100,000 miles too. Usually, it needs [to be] diagnosed by a Dodge mechanic. But, there are easy solutions to prevent this problem from happening again,” Motor and Wheels reported.
Mercedes-Benz SUVs
While originally built with the off-roading, camping and hiking crew in mind, high-end SUVs have been on the market for decades, though they are not quite worth their price tag, especially as the miles and years add up. That includes luxurious brands, such as Mercedes-Benz, according to Ben Michael, the director of auto at Michael & Associates.
“Most high-end luxury SUVs, like Mercedes-Benz SUVs, get you into the territory where not only are they extremely expensive to buy, but expensive to maintain as well,” Michael said.
“You’ll need to find a shop or dealership that will service them, you’ll need proprietary parts, tools and even fluids, and you’ll also be taking your luxury car to the shop far more often than lesser vehicles, sometimes every few hundred or thousand miles,” Michael explained.
“These vehicles often require more frequent servicing and parts replacement, making them less economical choices in the long run. Consumers should carefully consider these factors before making a purchase decision,” Cudd said.
“These are amazing vehicles by many standards, but nobody plans for an auto accident. When the unthinkable happens, you will be grateful you put safety first over cost,” Pryor said.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Car Experts Say Don’t Buy These 7 SUVs That Cost the Most Money Over Time
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