10 Cars to Avoid Buying in 2021

10-cars-to-avoid-buying

Buying a new car is a significant investment, so it’s important to find one that will be dependable and last a long time. We always recommend that people read up on the least reliable cars, so they know which ones to avoid. When it comes to ranking the most and least reliable car brands, Consumer Reports is widely recognized as one of the leading sources for useful information. As 2020 came to a close, they reported on the most and least reliable cars for 2021. Take a look at the list below to get an idea of what you should avoid wasting your money on, then learn about some of the more reliable vehicles you can count on for years to come.

1 – 2021 Subaru Ascent

Subaru has built its brand around reliability, often advertising that its vehicles are very safe and reliable. That makes it all the more impressive that the 2021 Ascent is rated among the most unreliable cars released this year. That could simply be because this model is a relatively new endeavor for the Japanese brand, so they haven’t had as long to perfect their design yet.

At any rate, this vehicle should be avoided. It also got low marks from some reviewers because of its weak, noisy engine and small third row. You can do much better in the competitive three-row crossover segment than this. Choose something with more space, power, and reliability ratings.

2 – GMC Sierra

The GMC Sierra occasionally gets mentioned alongside some of the more legendary American pickup trucks, but that might not be the case this year. This truck comes with some good, strong engine options, but Consumer Reports has listed it among the least reliable vehicles for 2021. Some reviewers have also noted that the interior lacks quality, especially when you compare it to some of the best trucks on the market. Between an interior that won’t make you as comfortable as you should be and a predicted reliability rating that won’t make you as confident as you should be, it’s probably best to steer clear of this truck and choose something else.

3 – Volkswagen Atlas

In one of the most famous car ads ever printed, the Volkswagen “Lemon” ad talked at great length about how every one of their vehicles was inspected meticulously to ensure top quality. However, in more recent years, this brand has run into some serious problems with reliability, dependability, and trustworthiness. The 2021 Volkswagen Atlas is more expensive than some of its competitors in the segment, and it’s also predicted to be unreliable, according to Consumer Reports. When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. When carmakers hand you lemons, buy something else.

4 – Jeep Compass

The Jeep brand is known for making vehicles for the military. These off-road machines were intended to motor through dust, climb over rocks, and generally conquer any terrain. That prestigious history seems very distant when you look at the 2021 Jeep Compass, and Consumer Reports seems to think this is one of the least reliable car brands for the coming year. Inferior materials throughout the vehicle, a powertrain that doesn’t inspire confidence, and a lack of dependability define this vehicle.

5 – Volvo XC90

The Volvo XC90 has a lot of good things going for it. For a midsize SUV, it gets very responsible gas mileage. It also comes with a good deal of standard safety features, and the inside is spacious both in terms of seating and cargo space. Unfortunately, some gripes have been about the ride quality, especially when you equip it with larger wheels. Most importantly, this car has a low predicted reliability rating. Even with the nice interior and excellent safety features, it’s hard to feel very comfortable in a vehicle you can’t depend on.

6 – GMC Canyon

At times, GMC has earned a reputation for making great pickup trucks, so maybe they’re just having an off-year. The GMC Canyon is regularly rated among the worst new pickup trucks for a variety of reasons:

    • Few bed features
    • Mediocre interior quality
    • Bad predicted reliability rating

It does have the adequate towing capacity and nice handling for its size, but people who count on their trucks just can’t risk having such an unreliable vehicle.

7 – Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S was arguably the vehicle that made electric cars cool. They’re known for being attractive and fun to drive. This vehicle also offers an extended range for electric vehicles, as it’s estimated to be either 348 miles or 520 miles depending on the specific trim you choose (though there has been some feedback that those estimates are difficult to achieve in reality). Unfortunately for Tesla, it’s starting to see a lot of competition from other great EVs. That makes this an especially bad time for the Model S to be named among the most unreliable cars for 2021.

8 – Jeep Wrangler

The Wrangler lives up to its reputation for off-roading abilities, but this vehicle seriously drops the ball in a few other categories. For one thing, it’s been known to deliver a bumpy ride and return dismal gas mileage, which isn’t ideal if you’ll be using this car for regular driving in addition to any off-road adventures. Even worse, it receives poor safety scores and the worst predicted reliability rating possible.

9 – Ford EcoSport

The 2021 Ford EcoSport is reasonably affordable, but that’s one of the only nice things we can say about it. Sometimes you get what you pay for, and in this case, you’re getting a cheap vehicle. The interior feels cramped, and the materials are unimpressive. The performance is just as disappointing, both in weak acceleration and wasteful gas mileage. As if all of that isn’t bad enough, this car has been named one of the least dependable vehicles for the coming year. Even for such a low price, this vehicle doesn’t seem like it’s worth the money at all.

10 – Volvo XC60

Like the other Volvo on this list, the XC60 has received glowing reviews from some car experts. The reason so many people love this vehicle is that it proves that true beauty lies within. In the case of the 2021 Volvo XC60, that beauty comes in the form of thoughtful design. The interior is attractive and spacious.

Volvo prides itself on safety, and this vehicle certainly contains great standard safety technology. Unfortunately, all of that luxury is overshadowed by what Consumer Reports calls a lack of reliability. There’s absolutely nothing swanky about getting yourself stranded on the side of the road.

Test Drive a Reliable Chevy

Reviewing this list of the least reliable cars from the least reliable car brands may have shaken your faith in the automotive industry as a whole. The good news is that there are still plenty of reliable options out there.

Since its inception, Chevrolet has been known for producing dependable vehicles you can count on ever since its inception when it matters most. Find your nearest Preferred Chevy Dealer and stop by for a test drive today.

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