SUVS

3 SUVs That Got a Failing Grade From U.S. News

There are many new cars on the market and it can be difficult for car buyers to choose between them. This is especially true for the segment, as many new SUV models enter the market every year. That said, it can be helpful to know SUVs that car buyers do, so here’s a look at three SUVs that flunked their recent US News reviews.

1. The 2023 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport

reviewed over 80 different crossover SUVs in the American auto market, and the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport received one of the lowest overall scores. The automotive critic gave the Mitsubishi SUV an overall score of 6.3 out of 10, and there were several reasons for that poor rating. The Outlander Sport is a subcompact crossover that starts at around $23,000, and that price doesn’t give drivers a great driving experience.

. Standard is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 148 hp, and there’s an optional 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 168 hp. Both engines are sluggish and lackluster, and the SUV’s handling isn’t great either. Also, the ride quality is “twitchy.” Instead of buying an Outlander Sport, drivers should look at the Mazda CX-30. It’s a subcompact SUV that also costs $23,000 but received an overall score of 8.6 out of 10.

2. The 2022 Ford EcoSport

2022 Ford EcoSport | The Ford Motor Company

The 2022 model year of the EcoSport is the last model year of the subcompact SUV, and for good reason. It has an overall score of just 5.8 out of 10 from US News, reflecting its few pros and many cons. It’s another budget SUV, as it starts at around $22,000. Ford only offered the EcoSport one engine option for this model year, and it’s a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that gets 166 hp.

That engine offers weak acceleration, requiring the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph. Its ride quality was described as “stiff” and its cabin was also not great. Ford used a lot of cheap materials to build the cabin, and the automaker also gave it few standard features. A much better subcompact SUV is the Hyundai Kona. It also costs $22,000, but has an overall score of 8.4 out of 10.

3. The 2023 Fiat 500X

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The not-yet-dead Fiat 500X offers absolutely nothing new for its model year 2023

Finally, there’s the Fiat 500X, the worst SUV available on the American auto market, according to US News. Like the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport and Ford EcoSport, the 500X is a subcompact SUV. However, since it’s a Fiat, it costs around $29,000. Despite the high price, the car critic only gave it an overall score of 5.4 out of 10.

The Fiat SUV has a negative rating because it has more problems than positives. The automaker gave it an engine option: a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder that gets 177 bhp. That’s decent power for a small city car, but the engine feels weak when the car is going at highway speeds. Additionally, that engine is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission described as “slow shifting.”

Despite the SUV’s small size and relatively small engine, Fiat is also fuel-efficient for the segment. It gets 24 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, for a combined 27 mpg. The 500X also has a small cargo area compared to other compact SUVs. To top it off, its ride quality is also below average.

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