2025 Cars to Skip: The Inside Scoop on the Worst Vehicles, Trucks & SUVs

8.Ford Explorer

The Ford Explorer may have a sleek design, but when it comes to cost of ownership, it doesn’t measure up well against some of its competitors. With maintenance costs comparable to luxury German vehicles (around $10,000 over a decade), the Explorer is expensive to keep up with. According to CarEdge, it also has a 5% higher chance of requiring a major repair in the first 10 years compared to similar vehicles.

Additionally, fuel efficiency isn’t one of its strong points, with an EPA rating of just 21 MPG. Overall, the cost of ownership for the Explorer in the first five years is estimated to exceed $43,000. Given that amount, you might want to consider investing in a more refined luxury vehicle for a similar price.