SUVs to Avoid in 2025 Guide
s the way other people send memes. So when I say there are SUVs you should seriously think twice about in 2025, it’s coming from a mix of hands-on testing, deep dives into data, and a few painful personal mistakes.
This isn’t a hit piece on specific brands. Every automaker has a swing-and-miss model year. The goal here is simple: help you avoid SUVs that are likely to drain your wallet, your patience, or both.
I’ll walk through categories of SUVs I’d personally avoid or scrutinize heavily in 2025, with real examples and what I’ve seen in the wild.
1. Brand‑New Redesigns with Zero Track Record
When I tested a freshly redesigned midsize SUV in late 2023, the infotainment crashed three times before I even left the dealer’s lot. The product specialist just shrugged and said, “Yeah, we’re still getting software updates.”
That moment pretty much sums up why I’m cautious about first‑model‑year or full‑redesign SUVs.
Why they’re risky
Automakers love to launch big redesigns with:
- All‑new platforms
- All‑new engines or hybrid systems
- All‑new software stacks
From an engineering standpoint, that’s three major failure points rolled into one. Early adopters are effectively beta testers at $40–60k a pop.
Consumer Reports has consistently shown that first model years of new or redesigned vehicles tend to have lower predicted reliability. Their 2023 auto reliability survey highlighted that new tech, especially infotainment and driver-assistance systems, is a major source of early issues.
2025 examples I’d be very cautious about
I’m not saying “never buy these,” but I wouldn’t buy them in year one without a lease safety net or extended warranty:
- All‑new or fully redesigned electric SUVs (especially from brands on their first or second EV attempt)
- All‑new 3‑row SUVs on new platforms with turbocharged or plug‑in hybrid powertrains
Before pulling the trigger, I always:
- Wait for at least 6–12 months of owner feedback on forums and Reddit.
- Check NHTSA’s site for early recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs).
- See what independent shops are saying; I’ve had techs quietly tell me, “Yeah, we’re seeing a lot of these come back for [x] issue.”
If you want to avoid headaches in 2025, be very skeptical of the first year of anything “all-new”, unless you’re comfortable living on the bleeding edge.
2. Budget SUVs with Fake “Luxury” Pricing
I recently drove a compact SUV that started at a reasonable price… and then I built the “premium” AWD trim with a panoramic roof, fake wood, and a giant screen. Suddenly I was staring at a sticker price that was grazing entry‑luxury brands.
The kicker? The cabin still rattled over potholes and the door panels felt like Tupperware.
The trap
Some mainstream brands are loading budget platforms with:
- Massive touchscreens
- Ambient lighting
- Quilted seats
- “Sport” appearance packages
But under the gloss, it’s still:
- A basic torsion beam rear suspension in some cases
- Thin sound insulation
- Carry‑over CVTs or small turbo engines working way too hard
These SUVs might look fancy in photos, but in my experience they can feel cheap and overworked after a year or two.
Red flags I watch for
- A compact SUV with a price over $40k but the same basic drivetrain as the $28k base model
- Lots of talk about screens and styling, very little about chassis, suspension, or NVH (noise, vibration, harshness)
- Heavily marketed “sport” trims that don’t actually change brakes, suspension, or tires
I’ve driven a few of these “premium” trims back‑to‑back with entry‑level luxury models (think base Audi/BMW/Acura), and the difference in ride, refinement, and long‑trip comfort is night and day.
If you’re spending serious money in 2025, I’d avoid overpriced dress‑up trims built on budget bones and either:
- Buy a well‑equipped mid‑trim of a solid mainstream SUV, or
- Cross‑shop certified pre‑owned luxury SUVs instead.
3. Overstressed Small Turbos in Big, Heavy SUVs
I still remember testing a 3‑row SUV with a tiny turbo four‑cylinder. On paper the numbers looked great: decent horsepower, good torque, solid EPA fuel economy. But loaded with four adults and gear, the thing constantly hunted for gears and the turbo whined like it was begging for mercy.
The technical problem
To hit emissions and fuel targets, some manufacturers are stuffing 1.5L–2.0L turbo engines into relatively heavy SUVs and promising “V6 power with 4‑cylinder efficiency.”
In reality, real‑world owner reports and my own highway tests often show:
- Fuel economy dropping sharply when loaded or driven at 75+ mph
- Higher thermal stress on small displacement engines
- Complaints of carbon buildup and long‑term reliability concerns
Studies and teardown evaluations (for instance, analysis discussed by engineering outlets and reliability experts in recent years) have raised questions about how these downsized, heavily boosted engines will age past 100k–150k miles, especially if oil changes are stretched.
How I decide whether to avoid
I’m especially wary when I see:
- A 3‑row SUV with only a small turbo‑four and no optional V6 or hybrid
- Towing ratings that look optimistic relative to engine size
- Owner complaints about turbo lag, knocking, or frequent transmission downshifts
If you tow, carry a full family regularly, or keep vehicles long term, I’d be very careful with the smallest turbo engines in the biggest SUVs in 2025. Either step up to a more robust powertrain or choose a model with proven naturally aspirated or well‑sorted hybrid options.
4. First‑Wave Electric SUVs from Inexperienced Brands
I’m a huge EV fan. I daily‑drove an electric crossover for six months and absolutely loved never visiting a gas station. But not all EV SUVs are created equal, and some of the first‑gen models scare me a bit.
Where I’ve seen issues
When I’ve tested early EV SUVs from legacy brands just dipping their toes into electrification, the problems usually fall into three buckets:
- Charging performance: The spec sheet might say “up to 150 kW,” but real‑world testing and independent reviews show them stuck at much lower rates or throttling quickly.
- Software and UX: Frozen screens, glitchy apps, driver‑assist features randomly dropping out. I’ve personally had navigation crash mid‑trip in a new EV SUV demo car—twice.
- Thermal management: Poor battery cooling/warming leads to reduced range in cold/hot climates and faster degradation over time.
We’ve already seen high‑profile recalls on EV SUVs over battery fires and software bugs, including from major automakers that rushed the technology.
2025 buying strategy for EV SUVs
In 2025, I’d be cautious about:
- Brand‑new EV SUVs on unproven platforms from companies with little EV track record
- Models with very limited DC fast‑charging data available from independent testers
I feel much more confident when:
- There’s at least 2–3 years of field data from global markets
- The brand has clearly addressed early recall and battery issues via software/firmware updates
- Charging curves have been tested by outlets like EV‑focused YouTube channels or publications and not just quoted from marketing slides
If you like being an early adopter, that’s fine—just go in eyes open. If you want a low‑stress ownership experience, avoid first‑wave EV SUVs and stick to more mature platforms.
5. SUVs with Ugly Reliability Records and Shrugging Automakers
One of the sneakiest traps I see: SUVs with known chronic issues that everyone in the owner community talks about, but the manufacturer never really fixes—just quietly updates parts in later years.
How I vet reliability now
After getting burned by a transmission problem years ago, I changed how I shop. Before I’d consider any SUV, I:
- Check Consumer Reports and J.D. Power reliability ratings by model year
- Dig into NHTSA complaint data and recall history
- Read long‑term owner threads on forums and subreddits (this is where the real dirt lives)
When you see repeated patterns like:
- Transmission replacements at 60–80k miles
- Infotainment units failing out of warranty
- Premature suspension or steering component wear
…I move that SUV into my mental “probably avoid” bucket for 2025, especially if the current model is just a lightly refreshed version of the old one.
Warning signs from the brand
I get uneasy when a manufacturer:
- Blames “driving conditions” instead of acknowledging patterns
- Only offers short goodwill warranties that don’t truly cover the life of the vehicle
- Issues multiple small recalls instead of a comprehensive fix
If an SUV has a history of costly failures and the brand’s response has been lukewarm, I’m not rewarding them with a 2025 sale.
How to Build Your Own “Avoid” List for 2025
Rather than just handing you a blacklist, I’d rather show you how I build mine. When I’m helping friends shop, we literally sit down with coffee and run through this mini‑checklist:
- Check recall and complaint history
Go to NHTSA’s site and look up the model. Lots of serious safety recalls or clustered complaints about engines/transmissions? Big warning.
- Look at multiple years of reliability data
If a model has 3–4 consecutive years of poor scores for the same systems (like powertrain or electronics), I treat the 2025 version very skeptically.
- Test drive in ugly conditions
I always insist on a route with rough pavement and highway speeds. That’s where cheap suspension, bad sound insulation, and weak drivetrains expose themselves.
- Talk to a trusted independent mechanic
Some of the best intel I’ve gotten is from techs who see the same SUVs come in over and over.
- Filter out the hype
I ignore most influencer reviews that only get a car for a day on a perfect press route. Long‑term tests, fleet data, and owner reports matter way more.
Honest Bottom Line
I’m not saying you should never buy a 2025 SUV that’s new, turbo’d, electric, or fancy. I’m saying you should be very skeptical of:
- First‑year redesigns with no track record
- Budget SUVs pretending to be luxury via screens and stitching
- Undersized turbo engines in heavy 3‑row bodies
- Early‑generation EV SUVs from brands still figuring out batteries and software
- Models with years of ugly reliability data and half‑hearted fixes
When I help people shop, the SUVs we “avoid” usually aren’t terrible; they’re just too risky for the price. With 2025 pricing, you deserve more than a rolling experiment.
Take an extra weekend, dig into the data, and don’t be afraid to walk away from something that looks shiny on the lot but sketchy on the spreadsheet. Your future self, stuck in traffic with a full car and no warning lights on, will thank you.
Sources
- Consumer Reports – Car Reliability Rankings – Ongoing survey data on vehicle reliability by model and year.
- NHTSA – Vehicle Recalls – Official U.S. government database for safety recalls and complaints.
- J.D. Power – U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study – Industry study on long‑term dependability trends.
- U.S. Department of Energy – Fueleconomy.gov – Official fuel economy and energy usage data, including for SUVs and EVs.
- Edmunds – Car Reviews & Ratings – Independent test data, long‑term reviews, and owner feedback on SUVs.
