20 Cars To Avoid Buying In 2022
The auto market today has no room for mediocre entrants. Cars that are boring to drive, look too cheap to justify their price tags, or deviate only so much as to use a complicated digital gauge, are rejected in a flash.
Despite such a competitive market, we see automakers roll out disappointing vehicles every now and then. Let’s have a look at 40 such vehicles, along with the reasons that make them the worst cars to buy in 2022!
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer might be a household name, but the 2022 iteration has several red flags according to Consumer Reports. During the last 4 years, the Explorer has shown problems in transmission, drive system, and power equipment. The interior electronics and outside paint have also had issues.
Unfortunately, the 2022 Explorer won't be much different, with CR giving it a predicted reliability of 1/5. In fact, CR has branded it the second least reliable car of 2022 with an overall reliability score of 8/100. In addition to that, insufficient legroom in the 3rd row, poor fuel economy, and an unimpressive 8-inch standard infotainment system make the Explorer one of the worst cars to buy in 2022.
Infiniti QX80
The 2022 Infiniti QX80 has an attractive exterior, an upscale interior, a powerful engine, and a smooth ride. Still, this 3-row luxury SUV is one of the cars you must avoid in 2022. Why? Well, you could get the exact same vehicle, minus the chrome grille and the Infinity badge, at a discount of $22,000.
You guessed it right, I'm talking about the Nissan Armada - the QX80's mechanically identical albeit less swanky sibling. Yes, you will lose a handful of pretentious features, but you'll get the same vehicle, a better fuel economy, and $22,000 in savings!
Chrysler 300
No, we haven't added the photo of the 2011 Chrysler 300, this is how the 2022 version looks like. Looks pretty outdated, huh? Wait until you see the interior! It's even worse, thanks to plenty of cheap materials and a lack of standard tech features.
Besides its awful looks, decades-old headlights, and cheap interior, the performance and handling of the 2022 Chrysler 300 are also not at par with both the muscle cars and full-size sedans offered by rivals. It's just a huge waste of money and probably the worst car of 2022!
Ford Ecosport
Ford has decided to discontinue the Ecosport, so the 2022 model will be the last one. Just having a look at this absurd car is enough to guess why it has been a disastrous failure.
While Ford brands the Ecosport as a subcompact SUV, it practically lacks everything one might want from a crossover. A poor fuel economy, a dull ride, a brazen lack of safety features, and an outdated standard infotainment system make the Ecosport one of the worst SUVs to buy in 2022.
Kia Telluride
The largest vehicle from Kia, the 2022 Telluride is the gold standard of the 3-row mid-size crossover segment. At an extremely affordable price, the Telluride has a formidable exterior, a surprisingly luxurious interior, a thrilling performance, and (simply put) unrivaled value.
Wondering why buying the Telluride is a bad choice when it's so good? Well, that's exactly what the problem is! It's so good that dealers are selling it at a market-adjusted price of between $15,000 to $18,000 over the original MSRP due to an extremely limited availability caused by its skyrocketing popularity. So, just hold on a bit and don't throw your money on such absurd markup!
Maserati Ghibli
Not all luxury sedans are created equal, even if they cost the same! And that's exactly how the 2022 Maserati Ghibli can be summed up! With a price tag that goes as high as $115,795 (and that too, without any optional extras), the 2022 Ghibli comes in way below what almost all other mid-size luxury sedans have to offer.
Whether it be cabin space or in-car amenities, the 2022 Ghibli doesn't take the cake in anything when compared to its rivals. The base GT trim is underpowered even compared to a Kia Stinger - that costs $23K less-- You can buy a whole new SUV with just the difference. Simply put, an unjustifiable price tag makes the Ghibli one of the worst luxury cars to buy in 2022.
Mitsubishi Mirage G4
The 2022 Mitsubishi Mirage G4 has a combined mileage of 37 mpg with a base price far below the average. But the list of its pros stops just right there!
The subcompact sedan has a grossly underpowered 3-cylinder engine that barely manages 78 hp. Not only is the engine noisy, but the car also has awful soundproofing. The interior is full of all kinds of cheap materials and the build quality is below average. Worst of all, it has got a terrible predicted reliability rating.
Mercedes-Benz GLE
According to Consumer Reports, the Mercedes-Benz GLE is the least reliable vehicle of 2022. The GLE got a score of 5/100 for overall reliability and a 1/5 for predicted reliability. Problems with engine, electrical and climate systems, in-car electronics, and body integrity caused the decline in GLE's reliability over the years.
But that's not all. There are several other factors that make the GLE one of the worst cars to buy in 2022. For starters, it has a complicated infotainment system, finicky steering controls, and a not-so-smooth shifting. In short, you're better off without a GLE in 2022!
Toyota Mirai
The 2022 Mirai has got sick looks, stellar performance, a luxurious interior, and a zero-carbon print. Still, it is one of the worst cars to buy in 2022. Why? Well, it's a hydrogen-powered vehicle and way too ahead of its time!
As of now, the US has less than a hundred hydrogen fuel stations, almost all of which are clustered around the major cities of California. It means you can use this car in just one state, and within that is even a very restricted area!
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
The Chevrolet Silverado has repeatedly been branded among the worst trucks by Consumer Reports. This time, CR ranked it among the 10 worst cars of 2022 in terms of reliability. With a reliability score of 11/100, the Silverado 1500 was the only pickup to make it to the list.
The owner reported surveys revealed several problems with the Silverado engine, transmission, drive system, in-car electronics, and power equipment. An outdated interior with the usage of cheap materials and harsh ride quality are some other factors that make the Silverado 1500 one of the worst pickup trucks of 2022.
GMC Acadia
The 2022 GMC Acadia has stunning looks but you had better not fall for them! The reason it's present in the list of the worst cars of 2022 is how little it offers as compared to its rival mid-size SUVs.
The interior of the 2022 Acadia simply doesn't live up to its hefty price tag that can reach up to $47,745. While the front two rows are adequately spacious, the 3rd row is grossly cramped. The fuel efficiency, cargo space, and driving dynamics are also inferior compared to its rivals.
Nissan Sentra
The 2022 Nissan Sentra would've been a great hauler - that is if it were the only car in the compact sedan segment. But unluckily for the Sentra, Mazda and Honda offer better cars at similar price points.
Even though the Sentra comes with a lot of standard tech features and is comfortable too, it lacks performance. It struggles to give you a decent highway ride and is also very dull in handling. A small trunk and finicky infotainment further worsen things for the Sentra, making it one of the cars to avoid in 2022.
Lexus GX
The 2022 Lexus GX has a great off-roading capability, but it comes with more than just one compromise! For starters, you have to deal with a clumsy, outdated design. And when you move inside this luxury mid-size SUV, you hardly find any amenities that could justify an (estimated) price tag of $55,000.
Another reason why the GX is one the worst SUVs of 2022 is that it's a gas hog with an abysmal combined mileage of 16 mpg. Rivals offer more comfort, more storage, and more fuel economy.
Infiniti Q50
The 2022 Infiniti Q50 hasn't been an impressive offering from Nissan's luxury division. While it aims to take down rivals like Mercedes C Class and BMW 3 Series, the truth is it leaves a lot to be desired and is, in fact, one of the worst cars to buy in 2022.
For starters, both the exterior and interior of this luxury sedan are pretty outdated, with an irksome dual-touchscreen infotainment further complicating things. While its overall reliability is average at best, the fuel economy is below average. Worst of all, it doesn't even deliver on its much-hyped sporty credentials.
Chevrolet Trax
While the Chevrolet brands the 2022 Trax as "a small SUV that's larger than life," it is, in fact, a really small SUV that's unimpressive, impractical, underpower, and not "larger" than anything!
The Trax has an outdated exterior and an equally dated interior with limited driver-assistance features and a measly 7-inch touchscreen. Simply put, it provides a poor value for money, despite bearing an affordable price tag. The presence of up-to-date rivals with better everything makes the Trax one of the cars you should avoid in 2022.
Volvo XC90
With a reliability score of 17/100, Consumer Reports ranked the Volvo XC90 among the ten least reliable cars to buy in 2022. Users have faced issues with the brakes, drive system, body hardware, and climate system of the luxury SUV over the last few years.
Some other areas where the XC90 lacks include off-road capabilities, an inconvenient touchscreen, and a confusing climate control system in the rear. While this Volvo SUV received poor user reviews, CR recommends the XC40 and the XC60 instead.
Subaru Impreza
The 2022 Subaru Impreza has everything you don't want in your car - an underpowered engine with sluggish acceleration, a lousy fuel economy, and a cheap interior. Even the exterior is outdated.
Although the Impreza has an affordable price point that starts around $20,000, the list of reasons why you shouldn't consider buying it in 2022 is quite long. Rivals like the Volkswagen Jetta and the Hyundai Elantra offer much better value in a comparable price range.
Nissan Titan
The 2022 Nissan Titan offers a poor ride quality, thanks to its blunt steering and lousy handling. Its maximum towing capacity of 9,660 lb is the lowest in the light-duty class.
But the single greatest factor why the Titan is one of the worst pickups of 2022 is that it offers just one powertrain option - a 400hp 5.6L V8 engine paired with nine-speed automatic transmission - which greatly limits user configurability and gives a massive edge to practically all competitors.
Lexus LC
The Lexus LC has a smooth ride, a lavish interior filled with upscale material, comfortable front seats, and stunning exterior looks. It's just short on one thing - a sporty performance!
Since the LC is a sports car and is meant to deliver the sharpness of one, lagging in that single aspect pushes it to the bottom of its class. The Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing, the BMW M5, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic, the Audi S7 - almost all sports cars you can think of are better than the 2022 Lexus LC.
Nissan Altima
The 2022 Nissan Altima has dashing looks and a comfortable interior - no one can take that away. But that's pretty much all about this middle child of Nissan's sedan family, caught between the full-size Maxima and the compact Sentra.
All engine options fail to deliver an exciting performance. Even the AWD option doesn't make up for the dent caused by its dull handling and underpowered engines. The base trim doesn't even have Android Auto and Apple Carplay, despite a hefty price tag of $25,525!
Fiat 500X
The Fiat 500X is a small SUV, though it looks more like a hatchback than a crossover. But that's not the only problem with this car. It has a cramped cabin, a small trunk, limited driving aids, and a tiny 7-inch touchscreen.
When it comes to off-roading and practicality, the car doesn't even come near its rivals like the Mazda CX-30, the Hyundai Kona, and the Kia Seltos. Oh, and it's also way too overpriced with a starting tag of $28,125.
Jeep Renegade
The 2022 Renegade is an entry point to the world of rugged off-roading as the most affordable Jeep out there. But it's still one of the worst SUVs you can buy in 2022.
All Renegades come with two unimpressive powertrains and a mediocre cabin that fails to upgrade across all of its five trims. And that's not all! A lethargic acceleration, lack of storage solutions, mediocre fuel economy, and poor noise insulation make the 2022 Renegade a car worth avoiding.
Dodge Challenger
The 2022 Dodge Challenger looks just the same as it did a decade ago. While some people love the old-school vibes associated with the car's exterior, most despise the fact that it hasn't evolved in years. But that's not the worst thing about this car!
What really landed this car on this list is how its interior is plagued by low-end materials despite a price point that goes as high as $50,000! The base V6 spitting out 305hp fails to satisfy thrill-seekers and the bigger, badder option is way too overpriced!
Tesla Model Y
The Tesla Model Y has had more than one recall. Owners have faced several issues with the 7-seater all-electric SUV, most notably with its body integrity, in-car electronics, and climate system. Considering that the Model Y was introduced just a couple of years ago, it's unlikely that the SUV gets any major updates soon.
Maybe that's why Consumer Reports has given it predicted reliability of 1/5 and an overall score of 18/100, making it one of the least reliable cars to buy in 2022. In addition to that, the Model Y also lacks Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Mini Cooper Countryman
The Mini Cooper Countryman is one of the most overpriced cars of 2022. It's probably the worst-driving vehicle from the British automaker, thanks to an absurdly uneven ride. But that's not all!
The base trim has a feeble 134-hp 3-cylinder engine, little to no active safety features, and a tiny 6.5-inch infotainment system devoid of both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - despite an astounding $30,000 tag. The higher trims do get quick and offer Apple CarPlay compatibility, but Android Auto still remains missing and the cost jumps to over $42,000!
Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang is a beloved muscle car, but the 2022 version isn't a recommended option. Based on the user-reported data from 2019 and 2021 models, Consumer Reports predict that the 2022 Ford Mustang will be much less reliable than the average new car.
With a reliability score of 9/100, CR has ranked the Mustang as the 3rd least reliable car of 2022, considering that the issues with engine and transmission reported by owners of previous models are likely to persist.
Honda HR-V
The HR-V, Honda's smallest SUV, lags behind rivals in every aspect. Be it drive-assist features, interior comfort, or even exterior design, it doesn't lead in anything. The HR-V's underpowered engine is probably its biggest flaw.
The 141hp 4-cylinder engine is not just slow, but also very noisy. Combine that with a flaccid chassis and an AWD terrain, and you'll take a sluggish 9.5 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph from a standing position. The Kia Seltos, the Mazda CX-30, the Hyundai Kona - all provide a better ride experience.
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport's
The Mitsubishi Outlander Sport struggles to stand out. Picking between its two powertrains is like Sophie's choice. You can either choose a grossly underpower standard 148-hp 2-liter 4-cylinder engine with sluggish performance or the more powerful 168-hp 2.4-liter option, that performs well but is too overpriced and delivers bad fuel economy!
The ride quality, the tech features, the driver aids, the inside of the cabin - all are inferior to rivals like the Hyundai Kona and the Mazda CX-30, making the Outlander Sport one of the worst crossovers to buy in 2022.
Kia Forte
You might be surprised to see a Kia sedan on this list, but the 2022 Kia Forte (much like its predecessor) isn't up to the mark with the rest of the sedans from the South Korean automaker.
Part of the reason why the Forte is one of the worst cars of 2022 is its poorly optimized transmission that's way too noisy. A lethargic acceleration further reduces its odds to stand up to performance sedans like the Volkswagen Jetta GLI, the Honda Civic Si, or the Mazda 3.
Hyundai Nexo
The hydrogen-powered Hyundai Nexo has landed on this list due to the same reason as that of the Toyota Mirai. The single, most-important downside of this vehicle, like the Mirai, is the lack of hydrogen refueling stations - something that greatly restricts its market.
As of now, Hyundai sells this vehicle only in California. Another reason why the Nexo is a car to avoid in 2022 is that it's twice the price of a gas-powered SUV with similar size, performance, and amenities.
Chrysler Pacifica
The 2022 Chrysler Pacifica might seem a great family hauler, but that's until you do your research. Based on data from 2019, 2020, and 2021 models, Consumer Reports has predicted that the 2022 Pacifica will be less reliable than the average new car.
The Pacifica has had all kinds of transmission problems in the past, ranging from fluid leaks and abnormal noises to stalling and total failure. And that's why CR has ranked it among the 10 least reliable cars to buy with a score of 18/100.
Land Rover Discovery Sport
Land Rover has been one of the most popular luxury SUV manufacturers, but not all its vehicles are worth spending your hard-earned cash on. At least, the 2022 Discovery Sport is not.
A disappointing fuel economy, a lethargic powertrain, an irksome transmission, a poor reliability score, and an unjustified starting price of over $44,000 are just some of the reasons why this vehicle is one of the worst compact SUVs you can buy in 2022.
Chevrolet Corvette
The 2022 Chevrolet Corvette got 5th rank in Consumer Reports' countdown of the 10 worst cars of 2022 in reliability. According to user reviews, most of which centered around the Tremec transmission leaking, the Corvette could only manage a score of 17/100.
Besides the reliability factor, the other major downside of owning this budget supercar - starting from $62,195 MSRP - is its appalling inability to tackle roads with potholes or rough surfaces. To be honest, you can get a LOT of practical options packed with all luxuries at this price point!
Lincoln Nautilus
The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus line-up subjects customers to a bizarre dilemma. While the base variant with an underpowered 2-liter engine offers way too little, the top-of-the-line Black Label trim costs too much (around $23,000 more than the base variant).
Even with more power, the Black Label trim doesn't excite and leaves much to desire when compared with rivals like the Maserati Levante, the Porsche Cayenne, or the Audi SQ8. Simply put, the Nautilus is one of the SUVs you should avoid buying in 2022!
Chevrolet Malibu
A practical design, a strong build quality, and an athletic drive are considered the hallmarks of any good sedan today. The 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is not any of these!
A pathetic base engine, an outdated interior, and a lack of standard driver-assistance features make the 2022 Malibu one of the cars to avoid in 2022! While the interior of the base trim looks like a cheap rental car, the top-of-the-line Premier variant, with an asking price of $35k, is just a blatant cash grab!
Subaru Ascent
While Subaru is generally considered a reliable brand, its largest SUV isn’t. The Japanese automaker had to issue a recall for the 2019 model and, unfortunately, little is changed for the 2022 version. Consumer Reports say that the 2022 Ascent is one of the least reliable cars you can buy today.
With a reliability score of 18/100 and predicted reliability of 1/5, CR ranked the three-row family hauler as the 10th least reliable car to buy in 2022. According to CR, the reason for this poor score is the vehicle’s problems with the transmission, power equipment, climate system, in-car electronics, and even brakes.
Chevrolet Trailblazer
The 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer is average at best. While both powertrain options fail to move the subcompact SUV at eager speeds, quick steering controls allow for better handling. The interior is also pretty decent.
What makes the Trailblazer a car to avoid in 2022 is the high markup rates dealers are charging due to the limited availability of the vehicle. To be honest, there's nothing so special about this vehicle that should make you pay a staggering 18% over its MSRP.
BMW M3
The 2022 BMW M3 is offered in two trim levels, with 473hp and 503hp engine options. Though the performance of both trims is great, neither is at par with other major sports rivals.
Besides that, the M3 has complicated digital gauges with excessive drive-mode adjustments that are kind of a buzzkill. Worst of all, it has a poor reliability rating, which makes it lag far behind rivals like the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing or the Mercedes-AMG C63.
Volkswagen Tiguan
The 2022 Volkswagen Tiguan has good looks and a formidable presence, but there's a red flag - and a big one! Consumer Reports has ranked it among the 10 least reliable cars to buy in 2022 with an overall reliability score of 17/100 and predicted reliability of 1/5.
Over the last few years, the Tiguan has had problems with body integrity, power equipment, and even the brakes. Besides that, it lacks performance, is definitely not good for towing, and has a cramped third-row - all of which combine to make it one of the worst cars of 2022.
Cadillac XT5
The 2022 Cadillac XT5 comes with two engine options; a standard 4-cylinder turbocharged and an optional V6. Unfortunately, both of them fail to excite.
Combine that with a stiff ride, an unimpressive handling, a mediocre interior, and a dated exterior, and you get a recipe of failure. That's exactly what the XT5 is. This compact luxury SUV fails to outshine rivals like the Genesis GV70 or the BMW X3 and is simply a car you're better off without in 2022.
