There Is a Noticeable Absence in the Least Satisfying Cars
EVs and hybrids are apparently giving their owners what they want. What newer vehicles didn’t keep up with expectations?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Buying a new car can be tough—especially today. More than ever, it’s important to find out how other drivers felt about the potential models on your list before heading out to the dealerships.
Thankfully, the Annual Auto Survey from Consumer Reports (CR) compiles a hefty amount of that kind of data and offers it in a nice, neat package.This year’s results reveal a particular truth: that owner satisfaction primarily relies on
car brands
delivering on driver’s expectations. For electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, the news is good. No EVs or hybrids ended up in the list of least satisfying cars while six were among the 10 most satisfying models.
Jerry
took a closer look at the survey’s results to see what separated the wheat from the chaff.The least satisfying cars from the last three years
SUVs have taken over the whole auto industry, and the bottom of the barrel is no exception. In
CR’s survey
, every model among the 10 least satisfying vehicles were of the SUV or crossover breed except one, the Infinit Q50.A recurring problem with these vehicles is that drivers didn’t feel like they were as-advertised. Owners complained that their Ford EcoSports, Jeep Renegades, and Nissan Rogue Sports didn’t offer the sportiness or ruggedness their names’ suggest.
Another common problem was mediocre-to-embarrassing fuel economy. Among the 10 poorest performing models in the survey, only one—the Toyota C-HR—could be considered fuel efficient. It lost its points for being unbearably slow.
MORE: 3 Subcompact SUVs That Totally Flunked Consumer Reports’ Road Test
Let Jerry find your price in only 45 seconds
No spam · No long forms · No fees
The most satisfying cars from the last three years
Fuel prices and environmental impact is clearly on the minds of drivers. While some buyers were unimpressed with the weak fuel economy of some models, others were highly satisfied by EVs and hybrids.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E, Volkswagen ID.4, and Tesla’s Model S and Model 3 all made the Top-10 list with their fully electric powertrains while the Toyota RAV4 Prime and Hyundai Tuscon made the list with their plug-in hybrid system (the former) and hybrid option (the latter).
But low fuel costs weren’t the only thing consumers wanted. Sports cars like the Chevy Corvette, Ford Mustang, and Mazda MX-5 Miata also managed to make their new owners happy.
Really, it all came down to whether drivers felt they got what they paid for.
Does owner satisfaction affect insurance rates?
MORE: Not All EVs Are Created Equal: Which Ones Are the Most Efficient?
While there isn’t any direct correlation between owner satisfaction and
car insurance
, the two factors share a thing or two. People tend to be happier with their vehicles the safer and more dependable they are, and these factors can also help keep premiums down.But the best way to save on car insurance is to shop around before choosing a buyer. That’s why it’s always a good idea to use
Jerry
. Jerry is your ultra-talented car insurance broker for life. No need to sit across from him at a desk—Jerry is an app!
It takes less than a minute to sign up and you’ll be presented with competitive rates sourced from more than 50 top providers.
And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price.
4.7
