11 Worst Cars To Buy When Inflation Is High, According to Money Expert Rachel Cruze

The U.S. inflation rate reached a 40-year high of over 8% in 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Though it has decreased significantly since then, it’s still hitting shoppers hard.

After housing, transportation is typically a household’s largest expense, as reported by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Consumers trying to save money during high inflationary periods need to be careful which vehicles they buy or those transportation costs can get out of control.

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In a recent YouTube video , personal finance author and influencer Rachel Cruze weighed in on the cars you should avoid during high inflation. She shared her picks for the worst cars to have when inflation is high, based on a study from Consumer Reports .

Also see what cars quickly rising in price you may not be able to afford in less than a year.

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Criteria for Determining the Worst Cars During High Inflation

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline nationwide is $3.41. Cruze pointed out that while every vehicle has advantages and disadvantages, “gas is always a consistent part of the equation.”

She said you should try to avoid vehicles with high fuel costs, especially when inflation is high. Higher gas prices will be more noticeable if you drive a vehicle that’s expensive to fuel. These are the 11 most expensive vehicles to fill up with gas, from lowest to highest cost per fill-up.

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11. Toyota Sequoia

The Toyota Sequoia is a full-size SUV with a gas tank that can hold up to 22.5 gallons. Thanks to its hybrid setup, the 2025 Sequoia gets between 21 and 24 miles per gallon in the rear-wheel-drive models.

Based on the tank size and average cost per gallon, you’d have to pay approximately $77 to fuel up the Sequoia from empty. Those fuel costs will add up quickly, especially if you frequently drive long distances.

The 2025 Sequoia starts at $64,000 and, in the highest trim, can reach around $82,000.

10. Chevrolet Tahoe

The next most expensive vehicle to fuel is another full-size SUV: Chevy Tahoe, which has a tank capacity of 24 gallons. At the current average gas price, you’d pay approximately $82 to fill the tank.

With the Tahoe’s standard 5.3-liter V-8 engine, expect to get around 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2025 model’s pricing starts at $59,000 and goes up to around $79,000 for the High Country trim.

9. Chevrolet Silverado

The Silverado is another Chevrolet that’s quite expensive in fuel costs. It can hold up to 24 gallons of gas, like the Tahoe. Your fill-up costs would be the same, approximately $82.

The diesel Silverado is the most fuel-efficient, but the gas four-wheel-drive version gets up to 22 miles per gallon on the highway.

However, these high fuel costs aren’t stopping people from buying the Silverado. It’s consistently one of the most popular vehicles in the United States, coming in second in 2023 with over 500,000 units sold. Pricing starts at $47,645 for the 2025 Silverado 1500.

8. Cadillac Escalade

Like the Silverado and Tahoe, the Cadillac Escalade has a fuel tank that holds up to 24 gallons of gas. If you got to the gas station right on empty, you’d have to pay approximately $82 to fill up the tank at the current average gas prices.

The Escalade comes standard with rear-wheel drive and a V-8 engine that gets 19 miles per gallon on the highway. Pricing for the 2025 Escalade starts at $85,000 and can reach around $155,000.

7. Ram 1500

The Ram 1500 is another full-size pickup truck that can drive your fuel costs sky-high thanks to its 26-gallon gas tank. Currently, you’d pay approximately $89 to fuel up.

This pickup truck is more fuel-efficient than some of its competitors, though. Depending on the engine you choose, the 1500 gets between 21 and 25 miles per gallon on the highway. Prices for the 2025 Ram 1500 start at $42,270.

6. Nissan Titan

The Nissan Titan also holds up to 26 gallons of gas. At current gas prices, a full fill-up would cost approximately $89.

The pickup truck’s 400-horsepower V-8 engine gets up to 21 miles per gallon on the highway. Prices start at $48,700 for the 2025 Titan.

5. Infiniti QX80

The Infiniti QX80 is a big, bold SUV with some big fuel bills, too. Its gas tank has a capacity of 26 gallons, meaning a fill-up will cost you approximately $89.

In terms of fuel economy, the rear-wheel-drive QX80 gets up to 20 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2025 model starts at $84,445 and can reach $122,000 for the Autograph trim.

4. Nissan Armada

The Armada is Nissan’s largest SUV, and its poor fuel economy is one of its biggest drawbacks. It holds up to 26 gallons of gas, so at current average prices, you’d need to pay nearly $90 to fill it up.

With the four-wheel-drive version of the Armada’s V-8 engine, drivers only get 18 miles per gallon on the highway. Prices start at $58,530 for the 2024 model.

3. Ford Expedition

The Expedition is a large Ford SUV that holds up to 27.8 gallons of gas. As Cruze said, “that’s a lot” and its fuel bills reflect that. To fill the Expedition up at current gas prices, you’d pay almost $95.

All-wheel-drive Expedition models get up to 22 miles per gallon on the highway. The 2024 base model starts at $57,625.

2. Chevrolet Suburban

The Suburban is the third Chevrolet vehicle on this list and one of the worst in terms of cost to fill up your tank. It holds 28 gallons of fuel, so you’d pay approximately $96 for a full fill-up at today’s gas prices.

Luckily, the Suburban’s fuel economy is fairly strong for an SUV. Expect to get up to 27 miles per gallon on the highway with the rear-wheel-drive version. The 2025 Suburban starts at $62,000 and goes up to around $82,000 for the High Country trim.

1. Toyota Tundra

Finally, the most expensive vehicle to fill up at the gas station is the Toyota Tundra at over $100. Cruze said, “This is what my husband has, so I’m like ‘Oh, no, we made a mistake.'”

The Tundra holds 32 gallons of gas, meaning a fill-up would cost approximately $109 at current prices. In two-wheel drive, it gets up to 24 miles per gallon on the highway. Prices start at $42,000 for the 2025 model.

Cruze further explained, “I know there are a lot of factors that go into buying a car, and you got to do what makes sense for your family.” If you have a large family, you may need a larger vehicle like the ones on this list. She advised viewers to consider fuel costs when selecting a vehicle. The best choice is one that fits your needs and your budget.

Cruze’s Tips for Saving on Vehicles

Cruze also offered some tips on how to save money on your vehicle. Try these tips to bring down your transportation costs.

Buy Used Vehicles Until You Can Afford New Ones

Cars can drop up to 20% in value over the first year, according to car insurance company Progressive. Buying used vehicles is a great way to save money by taking advantage of that depreciation.

Cruze recommended buying a car that’s a few years old and cleaning it up if necessary. She said, “If you have a $1 million net worth, that’s when we always say that you can then go buy a brand new car off the lot because, at that point, you can take the hit of the depreciation.” Since most people don’t have a net worth that high, buying a used car may be the better financial decision.

Pay Cash

Cruze’s next piece of advice is to buy your vehicle in cash instead of taking out a loan. “A car payment is one the worst things that you can have in your financial life because you are taking out a loan and paying interest on something that’s going down in value.”

You may not be able to afford a great, beautiful car that way, but Cruze said it is worth it to avoid a car payment. She advised saving up until you can buy a vehicle in cash.

Never Let Your Car Value Exceed 50% of Your Annual Household Income

There are a lot of appealing, expensive cars out there you may be tempted to buy that would put a strain on your budget. Cruze offered a guideline for selecting a car you can comfortably afford: Choose one worth 50% of your annual household income or less. For example, if you and your spouse make $100,000 annually, then you should only buy a car worth $50,000 or less.

This guideline will help ensure you don’t overspend on your vehicle.

^{Car details were sourced from CarandDriver.com and fuel data was sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.}

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 11 Worst Cars To Buy When Inflation Is High, According to Money Expert Rachel Cruze