Most Expensive 2022 Vehicles That Aren’t Worth Your Money

When shopping for a vehicle, expensive doesn’t always mean good. Whether due to poor base equipment offerings, cramped interiors or technology that’s not intuitive or easy to use, some of this year’s models aren’t up to snuff. This guide reviews some of the more expensive vehicles available in 2022 that don’t offer enough value to justify their hefty price tags.

Toyota Mirai

The 2022 Toyota Mirai starts at $49,500, but you need to pay $66,000 to get the best features. While the Mirai offers much to love, there isn’t enough infrastructure to support fuel-cell vehicles. The Mirai is only viable in large cities in California that have hydrogen refueling stations, and if you need to travel outside the state, you’re out of luck.

The Mirai is a ground-breaking vehicle otherwise. It offers amazing fuel economy, sporty performance and numerous amenities. A lack of interest in hydrogen fuel could spell doom for this nameplate, however.

Toyota

Cadillac CT4

The 2022 Cadillac CT4 is meant to replace the now-discontinued ATS. It has an enticing base price of just $33,695, but the base model doesn’t come well-equipped by any means. Expect to pay at least $56,370 for this to feel like a real luxury vehicle. The performance and mileage don’t compete well with other luxury sedans on the market, either.

The CT4 only offers 310 horsepower when you pay extra for the upgraded 2.7-liter engine. You get about 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, which isn’t that impressive.

Source: Cadillac

Land Rover Discovery

The 2022 Land Rover Discovery turned a lot of heads with a spacious and comfortable interior, but it’s not much different from the 2021 Discovery. It starts at $58,400 and comes with three rows, plenty of luxury options and off-road capability. However, it only offers 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway, making it more expensive to own than its competitors.

Customers have begun to turn their backs on the Discovery because Land Rover hasn’t disclosed important safety and reliability data. This makes some consumers feel there’s something to hide.

Tesla Model Y

The 2022 Tesla Model Y is popular and innovative, but Tesla didn’t finish the job. The vehicle starts at $65,990 and you can save money with tax rebates and incentives, but it doesn’t offer enough value to justify the price tag.

Customers have reported numerous problems with the Model Y’s electrical systems, it has an infotainment system that’s difficult to use and it doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto functionality. These flaws are enough to dissuade many people in the market for a luxury SUV to look somewhere else.

Source: Tesla

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz G-Class starts at $139,900 and could cost up to $179,000, depending on how you equip it. The price is up over $9,000 from last year and Mercedes-Benz hasn’t added any new features to justify the increase. Performance ratings are critical of the vehicle’s steering resistance and, even though it has a comfortable and spacious interior, it doesn’t have enough amenities to be worth the money.

To make things even worse, the G-Class only offers 14 mpg in the city and 17 mpg on the highway. Buyers worried about their carbon footprints may be deterred by this gas guzzler.

Source: Mercedes

Jaguar XE

The 2022 Jaguar XE falls short of its rivals with substandard interior quality and an infotainment system that leaves much to be desired. Its base price of $69,990 makes it more expensive than other luxury cars that have more comfortable interiors and better performance metrics.

The final drawback to the Jaguar XE is suboptimal fuel economy. It only delivers 24 mpg on the highway, while some of its peers offer between 30 and 40 mpg. Hybrids and electric vehicles blow these mileage numbers away, so its range is poor no matter how you cut it.

Source: Jaguar

Infiniti Q50

The 2022 Infiniti Q50 is wonderful to look at, but its performance doesn’t match its appearance. It has decent acceleration, but many customers complain that it has poor handling and a rough ride. The sedan could also offer a more spacious and comfortable interior to compete better with its rivals.

The Infiniti Q50 starts at $42,650, but you need to pay extra for most of its best features. Expect to pay closer to $56,500 if you want the upgraded engine and brakes, but even then, these upgrades aren’t worth it due to the handling issues.

Source: Infiniti

Maserati Ghibli

The 2022 Maserati Ghibli comes with a starting price of $85,300. Unfortunately, you don’t get the 572 horsepower V8 engine or advanced driver assistance features unless you’re willing to pay much more. The base model comes with a much less impressive 345 horsepower engine and lacks many of the features other luxury sedans offer in their base packages.

If you want to experience the best this vehicle has to offer, you can easily pay more than $115,000 and many of the additional features you need to pay for are standard on other luxury sedans.

Source: Maserati

Tesla Model X

The 2022 Tesla Model X has a massive starting price tag at $120,990. It’s an impressive electric vehicle that puts out over 1,020 horsepower, but customers typically care more about their driving experience than hitting 60 mph in 2.5 seconds from a stop. Many people have reported electrical issues with the vehicle, and its infotainment system is less than appealing.

Tesla doesn’t offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto capability on the Model X, and drivers need to get creative with workarounds if they want to use those services.

Tesla

Lexus GX

The 2022 Lexus GX starts at $56,125. It’s a great choice for people who need off-road capability, but a lot of people aren’t impressed with the lack of updates for this year and a design that lacks visual appeal. It only comes with a single engine option and it’s lackluster at best. The 4.6 liter V8 only provides 301 horsepower.

The Lexus GX isn’t helping anyone reduce their carbon footprints with 15 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway. The last time the GX was redesigned was back in 2010, so it’s time for a change.

Source: Lexus

Mercedes-Benz GLE

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLE has a base MSRP of $58,650. On the surface, it’s a great vehicle because it has a spacious, quiet and comfortable interior, advanced driver-assistive technologies, a safety package and a powerful engine. However, Mercedes-Benz GLE owners are frustrated by the 11 recalls the model has experienced recently.

The recalls raise concerns over engine performance, how well the body absorbs energy in a crash and the electrical system. It may be a good idea to let Mercedes-Benz work these issues out before considering the GLE.

Source: Mercedes

Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade has a reputation for luxury. It’s a family vehicle that can be configured in three rows with tons of space, self-driving capability and plenty of utility. It’s also notorious for poor fuel economy and an insanely high cost of ownership. Not only will you pay more money at the pump, but parts and repairs are also more expensive when you own a Cadillac Escalade.

The Escalade has a base price of $79,795 but you can easily pay more than $100,000 for one.

Source: Cadillac

Volvo XC90

The 2022 Volvo XC90 starts at $56,000 and has a great reputation for quality and reliability. This year’s model has issues with handling and technology features that are difficult to use, however. The infotainment system isn’t user-friendly and the suspension leaves much to be desired. This is disappointing when considering its points for style and fuel economy.

Volvo is attempting to address these issues in the 2023 model, which also comes with a hybrid engine option.

Source: Volvo