New-car buyers who chose certain models are expressing sharp dissatisfaction, with Consumer Reports data showing that fewer than half of owners of the lowest-ranked vehicles would purchase the same car again. The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport sits at the bottom of that list, and Stellantis nameplates, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, appear repeatedly among the most regretted purchases. Edmunds reinforced the pattern after operating a 2023 Grand Cherokee 4xe for roughly 18 months and 24,000 miles, concluding that its testers would not buy the vehicle again following three separate strandings and significant depreciation.
Why owner regret is spiking for specific new-car models
The tension behind these rankings is straightforward: buyers are spending record-high transaction prices on new vehicles and then discovering reliability or satisfaction problems within the first two years of ownership. Consumer Reports measures this friction through a “would buy again” metric, surveying owners on whether they would choose the same vehicle if given a second chance. The resulting model-by-model percentages function as a direct regret index. When a vehicle lands below 50 percent on that scale, it means most of its own buyers wish they had picked something else.
Coverage of the latest survey shows that the Atlas Cross Sport ranked last among all models evaluated, topping the list of least satisfying new cars to own. Several other entries from Stellantis and other manufacturers clustered nearby, creating a concentrated zone of buyer disappointment. For shoppers still weighing these models, the data offers a clear warning: a significant share of people who already own them would choose differently.
A working hypothesis connects this dissatisfaction to a measurable pattern. Models that generate above-average complaint volume with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in their first 24 months on the road, and that also accumulate documented recall campaigns during that window, appear likely to post buy-again rates below 45 percent in future Consumer Reports surveys. The NHTSA complaints database provides the raw material to test that link, cataloging owner-reported problems by make, model, and year. Recall activity for these same vehicles is tracked through NHTSA’s investigations and recalls records. The correlation between early complaint surges and low satisfaction scores has not been formally modeled in a published study, but the directional evidence from both data streams points the same way.
Price pressure compounds the frustration. New-vehicle transaction prices have climbed over the past several years, driven by higher MSRPs, expensive technology packages, and lingering supply constraints. When buyers stretch budgets or take on longer loans to secure a new SUV or truck, they implicitly expect a trouble-free ownership experience. Discovering repeated defects, software glitches, or unplanned service visits within the warranty period can feel like a breach of that expectation, even when repairs are covered.
Some of the least satisfying models also layer complex powertrains and electronics onto platforms that were already challenging to engineer. Plug-in hybrids, for example, combine internal-combustion hardware with high-voltage battery packs, charging systems, and multiple drive modes. That complexity can deliver impressive efficiency on paper but also introduces more potential failure points, particularly if the software coordinating the systems is still being refined in the first model years.
Edmunds’ 18-month test and the Grand Cherokee 4xe breakdown log
The most detailed ownership record available for any vehicle on this list comes from Edmunds, which purchased a 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe and subjected it to a long-term evaluation covering approximately 18 months of use and 24,000 miles. The plug-in hybrid SUV left testers stranded three times due to specific mechanical and electrical failures. Edmunds obtained an appraisal at the end of the test to quantify how much value the vehicle had lost, and the depreciation figure added financial pain to the reliability frustrations.
The outlet’s verdict was blunt. Edmunds stated that its staff “wouldn’t buy ours again,” a conclusion that mirrors the broader Consumer Reports owner-satisfaction data for this nameplate. That kind of direct, documented ownership experience carries weight because it is not an anonymous survey response. It is a purchase receipt, a service log, and a resale appraisal all pointing in the same direction. For prospective buyers considering a Grand Cherokee 4xe, the Edmunds test translates abstract satisfaction percentages into concrete repair bills and roadside breakdowns.
The Consumer Reports satisfaction rankings and the Edmunds long-term test reinforce each other without relying on the same methodology. One is a large-scale owner survey measuring sentiment across thousands of respondents. The other is a single-vehicle endurance test with granular documentation. When both reach the same negative conclusion about the same model, the signal is harder to dismiss as statistical noise or individual bad luck.
That said, even a well-documented long-term test has limits. Edmunds evaluated one example of the Grand Cherokee 4xe, spec’d in a particular trim and used in a specific mix of commuting, road trips, and charging scenarios. Another owner with different driving patterns might experience fewer problems or place a higher value on the vehicle’s electric-only capability. The Consumer Reports survey helps smooth out those individual variations by aggregating many owners’ experiences, but it, too, can be influenced by expectations, dealer service quality, and regional conditions.
Gaps in the data and what buyers should watch next
Several questions remain open. A summary from Kelley Blue Book notes that the Consumer Reports list provides model-level percentages, but the underlying survey methodology, sample sizes per model, and confidence intervals are not fully visible in the secondary reporting that has circulated. Direct owner interviews or sworn statements confirming the survey results do not appear in the public record. The satisfaction figures are credible given Consumer Reports’ track record, but readers should understand they are summary statistics rather than individually verified accounts.
Comparable primary service records for the other vehicles on the regret list do not exist in the same detail as the Edmunds Grand Cherokee 4xe log. Without equivalent long-term tests for the Atlas Cross Sport and the remaining low-ranked models, the specific failure modes driving dissatisfaction with those vehicles are less well documented. NHTSA complaint data could fill part of that gap, but model-specific complaint counts and trend analyses for these exact vehicles are not yet synthesized into a single, public-facing study that ties early defect patterns directly to later “would buy again” scores.
For shoppers, that uncertainty argues for a layered approach rather than relying on any one metric. Start with satisfaction rankings to identify models that raise red flags. Then cross-check those candidates against recall histories, complaint volumes, and independent long-term tests where available. If a vehicle appears repeatedly in negative contexts-poor survey scores, frequent service bulletins, and documented breakdowns in real-world evaluations-that pattern is more meaningful than any isolated data point.
It is also worth considering how you plan to use the vehicle. Owners who tow frequently, commute long distances, or depend on their SUV for remote travel may want to prioritize proven reliability over cutting-edge features or marginal fuel-economy gains. In contrast, a buyer with a short urban commute and ready access to charging may be more willing to accept teething issues in a plug-in hybrid if the electric capability aligns closely with daily needs.
Ultimately, the spike in owner regret for specific models reflects a mismatch between rising prices and uneven execution. Shoppers are paying premium money and reasonably expecting premium durability and ease of ownership. When that promise breaks down, so does brand loyalty. Until manufacturers close that gap with more robust testing and faster responses to early defects, the most powerful tool buyers have is careful research that blends survey data, official records, and real-world experience into a clearer picture of what living with a given vehicle is actually like.
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*This article was researched with the help of AI, with human editors creating the final content.
