9 New Cars That Will Disappoint You, According to Doug DeMuro
Car prices are rising a lot faster than wages are.
The average new car price has just surpassed the $50,000 mark, according to Kelley Blue Book. That's a hefty chunk of cash. If you're willing (and able) to spend that kind of money, the last thing you want is to end up with a vehicle that doesn't justify the price.
In a recent YouTube video, car expert Doug DeMuro spoke on nine new cars that could be much better than they are. In no particular order, here are those cars and DeMuro's reasons for putting them on this list.
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1. Chevy Blazer
Starting MSRP: $34,300
The new Blazer is a front-wheel drive (FWD) crossover that's surprisingly affordable. But DeMuro said it could've been way cooler and that it's the perfect example of "business reluctance." Basically, it's Chevy's attempt at jumping on a trend but being too afraid to commit much money in case that trend dies. As a result, the Blazer is likely to be relegated to rental or leasing status.
2. Dodge Charger
Starting MSRP: $49,995
Dodge discontinued the Charger after 2023 and instead opted for an all-electric model with "fake engine sounds." Not only does he call this decision a big mistake, but he also says it's a joke.
EVs do have their merits. They save money on gas and cut down on carbon emissions, for one thing. But even though the Charger looks cool, DeMuro believes the electric component was poorly thought out. That Dodge decided to put it on the market right when the $7,500 federal EV credit expired was also poor timing on their part.
The good news for enthusiasts is that Dodge has announced its plans to put a gas engine back into its models. This should improve its odds of adoption going forward.
3. Lamborghini Urus
Starting MSRP: $252,000
Lamborghini is one of the most well-known names in the world of luxury sports cars. But DeMuro said the Urus, while a huge success that performs well and is fun to drive, could have been much better.
Specifically, he thinks it should've been designed with more off-roading capabilities like the Huracán Sterrato. If there's already a sports car with off-roading capabilities, why not make an SUV in the same vein? Even something as simple as a trim level change, like wide fender flares, could go a long way to improving it.
4. Honda Passport
Starting MSRP: $44,950
Honda usually excels when it comes to its vehicles. The Accord and HR-V, for instance, are top in their segments.
But DeMuro said Honda hasn't done nearly as well with the Passport, calling it another example of business reluctance. Right now, off-roaders are popular in the market. But the Passport doesn't have the capabilities needed to compete with other vehicles like the Honda Pilot, which has a $42,195 starting MSRP.
5. Honda Prelude
Starting MSRP: $42,000
The Honda Prelude was a compact car popular in the 1980s and 1990s. It wasn't high-powered or FWD, but it was a sporty coupe that people loved to drive. It was a fun car.
DeMuro said that Honda brought the Prelude back, but the way they went about it "makes absolutely no sense." Why?
It's because while the Prelude still has cool styling and steers better than the Civic hybrid, it's way more expensive — too expensive to justify the price when you can just get the Civic instead. For reference the Civic Hybrid's starting MSRP is just $24,695.
DeMuro added that other options, like the Subaru BRZ ($33,210 starting MSRP) or the Mazda MX-5 Miata ($30,430 starting MSRP), are more worth their respective price tags.
6. Subaru WRX
Starting MSRP: $33,690
The Subaru WRX first came to the market years ago. DeMuro said he loves practically everything about the latest model and that on the surface it couldn't be any better. But he also believes the lineup could've been better.
Subau sells a hatchback version of the WRX overseas (the Levorg), but it's not available in the USA. Because of this, U.S. buyers only get the sedan version, which DeMuro says is "a shame."
He also said it's a shame that Subaru hasn't come out with an STI version of the WRX, as he believes this could have improved the WRX in every way.
7. Volkswagen ID Buzz
Starting MSRP: $61,545
According to DeMuro, Volkswagen has a tendency to overthink its every decision when it comes to the U.S. market. Over in Europe, it sells an ID Buzz with a short wheelbase and small engine that would probably cost around $50,000 in the States. But instead of bringing that to the US, Volkswagen decided to go with a "full fat, big-boy ID Buzz." The result is a vehicle that's practical and powerful, but also overpriced.
It's still a head-turner, but minivan enthusiasts are more likely to go with more competent options like the Chrysler Pacifica ($46,385 starting MSRP) or Kia Carnival ($38,935 starting MSRP) instead.
8. Toyota Land Cruiser
Starting MSRP: $57,600
The Toyota Land Cruiser has always been a major hit with enthusiasts. After all, it's large enough to carry plenty of passengers and drives effortlessly. But DeMuro says the modern version is disappointing as it carries the same name, but not much else.
He calls the current model "second-rate." You still get the name recognition, but it's a smaller, more demanding version of what you'd expect.
9. BMW XM
Starting MSRP: $161,150
DeMuro called the BMW XM "one of the biggest automotive disappointments of the last decade."
As a whole, DeMuro thinks the BMW brand is doing a lot of things right. But when it comes to the XM, he calls it, "Wrong, wrong, wrong."
He thinks what happened here is that BMW wanted to try to compete with the Mercedes G-wagon and created the XM, but the problem is that the G-Class works because of Mercedes-Benz's long history of producing vehicles with off-roading capabilities. BMW doesn't have that, and erroneously created an overpriced SUV that falls short in performance.
What BMW should've done, according to DeMuro, is create a halo sports car instead.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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