6 car brands to avoid if you’re renting a car during a summer trip – even if they’re cheap

If waiting for Ubers and learning a new city’s transit system isn’t in the cards for your 2024 summer travels, there’s good news. Rental fleets are full and you will have many options of cars to rent. Just make sure you choose one from a brand with a reputation for making easy-to-use, feature-rich and economical models – but whichever automaker you choose, make sure it’s not one of those.

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Chrysler

Twenty-five years ago, in 1999, Edmunds.com hosted a chat thread titled “Has Chrysler Reliability Improved?”

He chronicled the nameplate’s “very, very poor” overall reliability record and presented dozens of disappointing first-person accounts of problems with the brand’s vehicles.

In the mid-2000s, Consumer Reports ranked all of Fiat Chrysler’s brands in the bottom third of its reliability surveys, forcing the automaker’s vice president of quality to resign.

This year, the decades-long trend continued, with Consumer Reports giving popular models like the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid “less reliable than average” ratings. RepairPal puts the brand in double-digit segment reliability ratings and claims it has “above average costs of ownership.”

“Chrysler is a popular car brand among rental companies, but it has reliability issues,” said Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert at Chrysler. AutoInsurance.org. “Not just one thing tends to go wrong. There is often a risk of many different things going wrong. The Pacifica Hybrid isn’t especially reliable. While some hybrids provide excellent fuel economy, the Pacifica does not.”

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Volkswagen

RepairPal ranks VW 12th out of 32 car brands for reliability. For context, Chrysler ranks 11th.

“Volkswagen is a budget car rental brand, but you should stay away unless you are prepared to deal with the issues,” said Musson. “They are one of the least reliable vehicle brands and their design and passenger comfort leave a lot to be desired.”

Fiat

A multinational company called Stellantis owns Chrysler and 13 other automotive brands. At the top are Alpha Romeo and Maserati. At the low end are Chrysler and Fiat.

People rent Fiats because they’re adorable and have a quirky European look, but they’re notorious for creating headaches among drivers. RepairPal ranks the brand a dismal 18th out of 32 automakers.

“While often affordable, Fiat vehicles are known for their below-average reliability and higher maintenance costs, which can lead to problems during the rental period,” said automotive expert Rob Dillan, founder of EVhype.

The story continues

Jeep

Jeepers love their Jeeps to the point of adoring them – they even wave to each other on the road and do the whole rubber duck thing.

But that doesn’t mean they make good rentals.

“Despite their popularity, many Jeep models, such as the Cherokee, have been reported to have frequent mechanical problems and lower fuel efficiency, making them less ideal for summer rentals,” Dillan said.

RepairPal ranks Jeep – which joins Chrysler and Fiat among Stellantis’ holdings – as the 15th most trusted brand among 32 automakers.

Land Rover

If you’re willing to spend a little more, renting a car gives you the chance to see life through the eyes of people who drive prestigious license plate status symbol vehicles – but not all luxury brands offer a payment system for what you pay. -for user experience.

“Known for their luxury and off-road capability, Land Rovers are also notorious for their high maintenance costs and reliability issues, which can cause headaches for renters,” said Dillan.

According to car subscription service FINN, “Range Rover SUVs struggle with their reputation for reliability,” citing “electrical problems, premature failure of advanced suspension components, and a tendency to spend more time in the shop than other forgiving vehicles.” ”.

Tesla

So, you’ve never driven an electric car – in fact, you’ve never been in one. What better time to dive in than during an extended test drive with a rental car – and if you’re going to do that, it has to be a Tesla, right?

Just make sure you’re ready for unfamiliar controls and performance — not to mention range anxiety, since you won’t be plugged in at home like most EV owners.

“You probably won’t find a Tesla that’s cheap to rent,” Musson said. “But even if it does, you should avoid it unless you are used to driving an electric car. Charging stations in some parts of the country are few and far between. For example, if you are planning to drive through Yellowstone National Park in an EV, you have a high chance of getting stuck because your battery will run out.”

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