When SUVs first hit the market, many buyers saw them as nothing more than pickup trucks with seven seats and an enclosed cargo area. The distinction between the two was minimal.
Both could tackle the same rugged terrain, achieve similar performance figures, and, when pushed too aggressively around a corner, had an unfortunate tendency to tip over.
However, as profit margins for SUVs began to climb in the 1990s, automakers shifted their focus to what had previously been a stagnant segment of the industry.
This led to the rise of luxury and urban SUVs, giving consumers the option of owning a vehicle that could dominate off-road conditions while still providing a smooth and comfortable ride in city environments.
Today, the numbers tell a compelling story. Yet, consistently replicating that success has proven to be a significant challenge.
As demonstrated by the following 10 SUVs, meeting every expectation of the modern consumer is no easy feat for most manufacturers.
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10. 2001 Pontiac Aztek
The Pontiac Aztek has frequently been ranked among the worst SUVs ever built. Its design was so polarizing that even Hollywood depicted it as the perfect vehicle for a high school chemistry teacher turned drug dealer.
Pontiac took a bold and unconventional approach with the Aztek’s styling, but that wasn’t its only drawback. Its performance left much to be desired.
Equipped with a V6 engine, the 2001 Pontiac Aztek managed to produce only 185 horsepower.
Its inefficient powertrain resulted in sluggish acceleration so slow that a New York subway car emptying out might feel like a quicker process than the Aztek’s 0-60 mph sprint.
9. 2002 Hummer H2
The Hummer H1 was an absolute sensation. Hardcore automotive enthusiasts finally had access to the SUV of their dreams one that could handle combat zones, serve as the ultimate date-night ride, and tow a caravan to any off-road adventure destination with ease.
However, the same could not be said for its successor, the Hummer H2.
Often labeled as one of the worst vehicles ever made, the Hummer H2 failed to live up to the rugged military-inspired legacy its predecessor had established.
Instead of being the ultimate off-road warrior that enthusiasts anticipated, it turned out to be a lackluster imitation boasting a subpar suspension, a rough-shifting transmission, and an illusion of toughness. In reality, it struggled to even manage its own weight.
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8. 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander
The Mitsubishi Outlander has endured the test of time to become a well-regarded crossover that SUV buyers should seriously consider.
However, the 2003 Outlander nearly sent the nameplate to an early grave in the annals of automotive history.
Designed as a replacement for the rugged and highly capable Montero SUV, this model fell drastically short of expectations. It lacked resilience, featured an unappealing design, and suffered from a severe power deficit.
Under the hood, its engine could muster only 140 horsepower. To make matters worse, this feeble powertrain was unbearably noisy.
Inside the cabin, passengers were forced to endure its high-pitched whining, while the surrounding panels rattled uncontrollably as the struggling engine fought to generate enough torque to clear even the smallest bumps.
7. 2006 Saab 9-7x
The 2006 Saab 9-7x sounds like a model with an unsolved mathematical equation in its name. Well, if you break it down, 9-7x essentially equals Trailblazer.
This American-Swedish creation was nothing more than a rebadged Chevrolet Trailblazer, manufactured on the same soil where Chevy builds its vehicles.
The Saab 9-7x came into existence during the period when Chevrolet owned Saab, making history as the only Saab vehicle ever assembled in the United States.
However, despite its heritage, it was nothing more than a leaner, weaker version of the already unpopular Trailblazer from which it borrowed most of its design and mechanical components.
6. 2007 Jeep Compass
Critics were at a loss for words when they first laid eyes on the 2007 Jeep Compass. The vehicle seemed to lack any sense of direction both in terms of design and purpose, inside and out.
From the exterior, the Jeep Compass resembled a cheaply made plastic appliance something a shopper might impulsively buy late in the day, only to immediately regret the purchase and banish it to the pantry, never to be used again.
But the disappointment didn’t stop there. The 2007 Jeep Compass had no real off-road capabilities, betraying the rugged reputation of the Jeep brand.
Even on paved roads, where it was expected to perform better, it delivered a shockingly poor driving experience.
5. 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP
This might just be the most uninspired and awkward-looking crossover ever made. Once again, Pontiac managed to stun the world by producing an SUV so unattractive that Walter White would likely choose his Aztek over this eyesore.
And as if the design wasn’t bad enough, Pontiac seemed equally unconcerned with durability making even the smallest pebble a potential roadblock.
The 2008 Pontiac Torrent GXP suffered from an overly stiff suspension, turning every bump into a jarring experience.
To make matters worse, Pontiac equipped it with an underwhelming Suzuki V6 engine that struggled to propel the vehicle to 60 mph in anything less than an eternity.
Capping off this disaster, the engineers wrapped the whole thing in subpar finishing and sent it off to unsuspecting buyers.
4. Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid
There was a time when the word “hybrid” felt like a threat to the American way of life. The very notion of a vehicle that didn’t guzzle gas left die-hard, baseball-loving petrolheads in the West utterly baffled.
It was during this era that Chevy introduced the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid a well-intentioned but poorly timed attempt at compromise.
On paper, the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid checked all the right boxes for SUV enthusiasts. It boasted four-wheel drive, seating for up to eight passengers, an impressive 8,200-pound towing capacity, and a 6.0L V8 under the hood.
However, when put to the test, it fell short of expectations. It couldn’t match the raw towing power of its gasoline-only counterpart, and to make matters worse, it carried an additional 350 pounds of weight diminishing its overall performance.
3. Chrysler Aspen Hybrid
The Chrysler Aspen Hybrid was essentially just a Dodge Durango Hybrid with a different badge. From the moment it hit the market, it was doomed.
It shared everything with the second-generation Dodge Durango a model that no true petrolhead wanted anything to do with.
Chrysler’s attempt with the Aspen Hybrid was nothing more than a desperate effort to rekindle interest in the Durango, dressing it up with fake wood trim and plastic chrome accents.
However, the effort proved futile, as the model disappeared from the market in just two months. To make matters even worse, Chrysler was selling it at a loss just as it was with the other hybrid models in its lineup at the time.
2. GMC Envoy XUV
In the early days, SUVs were essentially born from pickup trucks. Over time, both vehicle types evolved into distinct segments with their own unique identities.
But GMC had other ideas. On paper, the company’s vision seemed brilliant integrating a retractable roof with a moveable, watertight partition into the rear half of the vehicle.
This design allowed drivers to switch effortlessly from a secure, enclosed cargo space to an open truck bed perfect for hauling Christmas trees or oversized items.
Unfortunately, this pickup-SUV hybrid concept failed to resonate with buyers, much like the Chevrolet Avalanche before it.
1. Hyundai Terracan
Launched in India in 2003, the Hyundai Terracan quickly became one of the brand’s most regrettable SUV ventures.
Unlike Hyundai’s usual compact offerings, this was a full-size SUV with massive proportions something completely uncharacteristic for the company at the time.
Powering the Terracan was a 2.9L CRDi diesel engine, producing 148 horsepower and 343Nm of torque.
Unfortunately, despite its size, its performance and design failed to measure up against more established competitors like the Mitsubishi Pajero and Ford Endeavor, both of which delivered a far superior full-size SUV experience.