The sticker price of any vehicle is only the starting point of what you’ll pay to own a vehicle. Unfortunately, these eight American luxury SUVs cost the most.
Once you choose the vehicle that fits in your price range, you’ve got to make sure you can afford the maintenance, fuel mileage, and insurance of that vehicle. These are added costs that are an important part of owning your ride. It’s easy to understand that some luxury vehicles will cost more than others to maintain, but when you buy one that costs the most, you might have buyer’s remorse.
Americans spend a lot on cars
The average American spends $8,849 per year on their cars. This could be a hard pill to swallow for some, but when you consider the vehicle’s price, car insurance, maintenance, and fuel, it all adds up. If you want to reduce this cost and enjoy a vehicle that doesn’t cost as much as some, you’ll want to avoid these American luxury SUVs. These models have the worst total cost of ownership.
Let’s dig in and see which luxury SUVs should be on your “do not buy” list unless you absolutely must have one of these models. In that case, understand you’ll be paying a lot more for these models than most others.
The 2019 Cadillac XT4 is known for engine issues
The Cadillac XT4 appears to be a luxury SUV that should be affordable and easy to drive, but it has been hit with problems with the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. Unfortunately, one of the most expensive parts of any vehicle to replace is the engine. Many owners report the check engine light illuminating at 2,500 miles. That’s not where the trouble ends. At nearly 7,050 miles, some XT4 owners report excessive oil consumption. Avoid this model of the Cadillac XT4 if you’re looking for a great luxury SUV.
The 2020 Cadillac XT5 has buggy in-car electronics
The Cadillac XT5 replaced the ever-popular SRX, and it’s been a pretty good SUV overall. The 2020 model has suffered five recalls, which is a lot considering the 2017 version only had one recall. This makes the XT5 one of the American luxury SUVs you want to avoid. While there aren’t any engine issues reported for this XT5, it does have problems with the in-car electronics, which make it hard to love this luxury SUV as much as owners should be able to.
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator suffers from problems in the transmission/drive system
The 2020 Lincoln Aviator hit many of the right notes for most drivers. This impressive SUV brings two powertrains, one of which is a PHEV that makes driving more efficient. Unfortunately, the Aviator suffers from 13 recalls. The in-car electronics are troublesome, but the worst part is found in the drivetrain, that can fail and cause drivers to feel like they’ve bought a lemon. If you’re looking at the Aviator, forget the 2020 model and move on to another model year for this SUV.
The 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E has powertrain issues
The Ford Mustang Mach-E might not be technically a luxury SUV, but it is priced like one. This electric crossover has problems in the drivetrain system, which can make it hard to understand why this electric SUV can be such a problem. This could be one of the American luxury SUVs you want to avoid. The Mach-E is still relatively new in the market, which means it could be a better choice for you to wait a few years and see if Ford can fix the problems. One problem is found in the charging system, which can leave you at home or stuck at a public charging station.
The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer has poor predicted reliability scores
There’s a lot of new and unknown about the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. These two big, powerful, luxurious, and impressive Jeep SUVs come with a new engine and a lot of concerns. The fact that we don’t have a track record to rely on is troublesome. So far, these SUVs only have 2 out of 5 predicted reliability scores with Consumer Reports, which doesn’t show much confidence in these massive Jeeps.
The 2021 Lincoln Aviator has a troublesome drive system
If the 2020 model year wasn’t bad enough, the 2021 model isn’t much better. This American luxury SUV faces nine recalls due to many safety issues, including the drivetrain and suspension system. This is the primary reliability problem. The trouble with this area comes from an incorrectly installed rear suspension module that can impact the handling, ride height, and braking, which increases the risk of a crash. The Lincoln Aviator is an attractive SUV, but it’s one you want to avoid when you’re looking for a reliable SUV that doesn’t cost you thousands of extra dollars every year.
The 2019 Lincoln Nautilus has unreliable in-car electronics
The Lincoln Nautilus is an attractive, posh, upscale luxury SUV that should be an absolute joy to drive. This SUV is comfortable, smooth, elegant, and sophisticated, but it’s one of the top eight when it comes to the total cost of ownership. The 2019 model year shows up with serious problems with the in-car electronics that aren’t useful or reliable at all. Thankfully, this is one of the few problem areas for this SUV. The Nautilus does have an impressive powertrain system that works very well.
The 2017 Cadillac XT5 suffers from poor engine cooling
The 2017 Cadillac XT5 is one of the American luxury SUVs with the highest total cost of ownership. This means the XT5 is expensive to own long-term. This SUV has only suffered one recall, but the cooling for the C5 engine is one of the worst problems for this SUV. This problem impacts the radiator, water pump, and thermostat. This SUV can suffer from antifreeze leaks and overheating. You should avoid this SUV if you want to keep your ownership costs down.
Will you stay away from these American luxury SUVs or take your chances? There are several other models and model years you can choose from that aren’t as problematic as these eight SUVs.
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