Used luxury SUVs can seem like a smart way to score premium features for less, but they often come with problems. Between high maintenance, complex systems and expensive parts, these vehicles can quickly turn into money pits.
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If you’re middle class and weighing your options, these are the used luxury SUVs that would be best to avoid.
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2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class
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Suggested Price: $44,900
Don’t let the classy interior of this small luxury SUV fool you, customers and Consumer Reports both have unfavorable reviews when it comes to driving, acceleration and the transmission of the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Consumer Reports’ road test report on the 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC Class discusses problems with a mushy brake-pedal feel, a delay of power taking off from a stop, bumpy downshifting, a too-firm ride quality and overly pronounced bumps while driving.
One Edmunds customer review of the Mercedes-Benz GLC Class mentions problems with acceleration for the 2024 Turbo gas/electric mild hybrid model, including the vehicle lacking power when starting in first gear, and that sometimes, the transmission felt confused, shaking and bucking, especially before the car was up to operating temperature.
Another customer review referred to issues with software messages about the steering wheel, and even after replacing the steering wheel, the customer still received the same messages. When Mercedes had replaced the same customer’s 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLC with another, they still had the same problem with the steering wheel.
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2024 Genesis GV70
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Suggested Price: $42,995 to $55,998
Hyundai’s section of the Genesis brand has a 2024 Genesis GV70 compact luxury SUV, but some trouble spots definitely need to be addressed.
Looking at the road test report for the 2024 Genesis GV70 by Consumer Reports shows problems with the engine stop-and-start, the fuel-saving feature having a shudder when re-engaging, bigger than normal rear blind spots due to the slope of the roofline and thicker pillars on the sides of rear windows, and when accelerating from a rolling stop there is some turbo lag.
Edmunds’ customer reviews included one customer stating a need for new brake calipers at 3,000 miles, and a leak in the transfer case at 10,000 miles.
Yet another customer touched on a possible wiring issue when dealing with all the electronic features malfunctioning, no signal for the navigation system, and not being able to see the speed or the turn signal when driving.
2024 Audi Q5
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Suggested Price: $37,827 to $45,984
The 2024 Audi Q5 is known as a competent and refined luxury SUV, but the Q5 Premium Plus S model does not sit well with customers or Consumer Reports.
The reliability of the Audi Q5 is questioned by Consumer Reports based on the following four recalls:
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Electrical system fire risk issues due to a possible high-voltage battery
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Outlets or charging cables overheating, causing a fire risk
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Deactivated front passenger airbag not deploying during a crash
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Engine screws loosening causing oil leaks and possible risks for fire
Edmunds’ customer reviews of the Q5 Premium Plus S model had problems with the adaptive cruise, auto braking and auto start/stop, resulting in the dealer’s advice to turn off or disable these safety features and the transmission slipping and also stuttering when in drive.
2024 Volvo XC60
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Suggested Price: $40,765 to $47,000
Volvo’s 2024 XC60 has an elegant interior design, advanced safety features and optional Pilot Assist for drivers, but performance and driver safety when navigating the phone controls, climate control, and audio are just a few of the problems that could cause drivers to be wary of this luxury SUV.
Consumer Reports mentions the following issues with the Volvo XC60:
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Stiff suspension causes a bumpy feeling when turning corners
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Stiff downshifting and experiencing bumps when trying to relaunch the car from a rolling stop
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Start/stop feature turns off frequently, which could be a problem for drivers who try to navigate how to deactivate this feature while driving and navigating through several screens of phone controls
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Climate control and audio that are not as simple as they could be, leaving the question of the driver’s safety when performing the actions of navigating through screens to correct.
Edmunds’ customer reviews include a critical charge alert of the 12-volt battery that resulted in a visit to the dealership, and then afterwards, having two separate incidents two weeks apart, of an alert for a system update and a total recharge of the battery.
Other Edmunds’ reviews mention that to use the infotainment system, there are a lot of screens that have to be navigated, and that the parking button was not easy to engage and sometimes failed after the first press.
Editor Notes: Suggested prices for 2024 luxury SUVs are listed on Cars.com and are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Bad Investment for the Middle Class
