4 Cars To Avoid If You Live in a Small Town

Even when you live in a small town, it’s still generally best to get a car with good gas mileage. That way, you won’t have to fill up at the pump all that often.

Considering local towns often have higher gas prices, this is definitely the more economical option. But you might also want to consider getting a practical vehicle — one with off-roading capabilities that doesn’t empty your wallet or cause financial strain every month. You need something that’s both reliable and affordable.

With that said, there are also some vehicles you should consider avoiding if you live in a small town.

• Starting Price: $248,086

Sleek and eye-catching with its low-slung body and amazing performance, you’re probably better off avoiding luxury vehicles like the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 if you live in a small town.

This vehicle has a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 capable of producing 671 horsepower. It’s the “Super Tourer” of Aston Martins because it can reach up to 202 MPH. Moreover, it can reach 60 MPH in as little as 3.3 seconds.

But just because you might have stopped to watch that 2024 Aston Martin DB12 as it passed through your town doesn’t mean it’s worth getting if you live there. It’s hard to take advantage of such high speeds when there are crosswalks and stop signs at every corner. Plus, this vehicle only gets about 14 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway — not the best fuel economy.

One other reason to avoid luxury vehicles like this one is because there’s a higher chance of something happening to it — either a scratched side or theft. Unless you’re just looking for a joyride and have the funds for it, we recommend you skip it.

• Starting Price: $105,550

This electric luxury sedan comes with some standout features, like its 56-inch glass panel Hyperscreen, multiple USB ports and wireless charging pads, and other technologies. There are also several version of it, each with its own specs.

For example, the EQS450+ has a single motor on the rear axle. It’s capable of producing 419 pound-feet of torque and has 335 horsepower. The EQS450+, meanwhile, claims to get over 95 MPGe in the city and 98 MPGe on the highway. It can even drive up to 352 miles on a single charge.

The reason you might want to avoid this vehicle is twofold. For one, it has a high starting price and might be a bit overkill in a small town. If you live in a very rural area that doesn’t have charging stations, you could also be out of luck when the time comes to charge it — though installing an at-home station could fix that problem.

*Pictured: 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS Sedan

• Starting Price: $159,995

The 2024 Maserati GranTurismo is peak luxury. It has an elegant, modern aesthetic and a topnotch luxury cabin. It also comes with 483 horsepower — though you can upgrade it to the Trofeo. The base version can hit 60 MPH in around 3.7 seconds. The Trofeo model can do it in 3.2.

Besides the high price, where this car falls short is its mileage. It gets 18 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway.

You also might not want to take it off road, simply because of its high price point and the cost of fixing it up if something goes wrong. Depending on where you live, it could be a rather impractical — though still beautiful — vehicle to drive around town.

• Starting Price: $608,358

The 2024 Lamborghini Revuelto is often considered the peak of luxury, but it’s not the most practical for small towns — again, unless you have the cash to spare.

This vehicle has a mid-mounted 814-hp 6.5-liter V-12 that can deliver up to 9,500 rotations per minute. It can reach 60 MPH in about 2.3 seconds and has a top speed of 218 MPH.

In terms of gas efficiency, this one does fall short. While it’s too new to have precise numbers, the EPA estimates that it gets about 9 MPG in the city and 16 MPG on the highway.

It also only comes with two seats, limiting for those who might need to carry more things — or more passengers — while driving. Then again, if luxury is more your speed, then this could be worth checking out.

If you really want a Lamborghini, consider the 2024 Huracan Sterrato. It was designed with off-roading in mind, which could be better if you live in a small town with uneven roads.

Starting price sourced via Car and Driver and accurate as of August 8, 2024.