Engine auto start-stop is a hot topic for many car owners and manufacturers.
It is designed to automatically shut off the engine when the car comes to a stop and idles for more than a few seconds.
While some regard this feature as excellent for its fuel-saving abilities, others slate the technology altogether, citing engine and battery problems and general inconvenience.
If you’re in the market for an SUV without auto start-stop, this article is for you.
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#1: 2021 Nissan Rogue
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is one of a few SUVs that does not have start-stop technology.
Largely due to a microchip shortage, the 2021 Rogue rolled off the production line sans this safety technology that would shut down the engine while the car was idling.
While auto start-stop is said to boost the fuel economy of an SUV or sedan, the Nissan Rogue is reported to have great fuel economy without it, making it a feature that not many have missed out on.
One of the biggest downsides of auto start-stop is the apparent wear and tear on the engine and the decrease in battery life of the vehicles, which the Rogue was free from – until recently.
Nissan would only introduce their Idle Stop Start feature in 2023, with remote start added to the already impressive safety and tech features that make it a popular choice for Nissan fans worldwide.
While this feature is standard on all modern SUV’s, it can be disabled on the Rogue.
#2: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep only introduced auto start stop in the 2022 model of the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Previously seen as an unnecessary, expensive feature to add their vehicles, the manufacturer made the move to add start stop technology to their vehicles to decrease fuel consumption and make driving this SUV a breeze in traffic.
Whether this was a good move by the manufacturer remains to be seen, as many Jeep owners have found various ways to disable the feature on their cars, citing an increase in fuel consumption and increased wear on their engines as a direct result of the start stop system.
Jeep is known for its impeccable performance both on and off-road, which made the move to include start stop technology in its Grand Cherokee and other SUVs a bit confusing.
Known to cause jerks and vibrations, the technology saw Jeep take a small step backward in terms of reliability and noise-free drive.
#3: 2020 Toyota Rav 4
Japanese car-makers Toyota introduced start stop technology to its popular RAV4 in 2021.
With previous models boasting incredible fuel-saving rates, fans of the SUV were baffled to understand why Toyota would make a change to their design which resulted in several reported problems that would come from the introduction of this feature although mostly just an annoyance.
Sadly, it seems that this technology is here to stay, and both the 2022 and new 2023 models have included start stop technology features to improve overall fuel efficiency.
It is, however, worth mentioning that the start-stop system in the newer models can be disabled.
#4: 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
Chevrolet was one of a handful of SUVs released in 2021 with start stop technology. A press release by GM cited an ongoing microchip shortage as the reason behind the exclusion, listing the Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, and several other SUVs for that year being released without this feature.
Auto start stop is known to reduce the fuel consumption of a vehicle, and while the American car-maker was forced to release their 2021 Tahoe without the technology, it was once again re-introduced on the 2022 model of the popular SUV with one minor adjustment – a disable function.
While start stop technology has not been reported to cause any major issues to the performance and longevity of the Tahoe, a disabling feature has been included in newer models of the SUV, giving owners the choice to use this feature or disable it temporarily.
#5: 2019 Lexus RX350
Japanese luxury car maker Lexus released the only Lexus RX350 (in recent times) without auto start-stop in 2019.
This move was a direct result of the widespread microchip shortage that most car manufacturers were faced with that year, making the 2019 a slightly unique model.
Read any Lexus owner’s forum and you will see that more than one found the start stop feature a pain to manage, with some going so far as saying they disabled it soon after purchasing their Lexus RX350.
Once again reintroduced in 2020, the carmaker made the decision to include a disable feature, allowing the driver to choose whether to use this feature.
With its main function to boost fuel economy while the car is idling, the manufacturer has left it to the discretion of owners as to whether or not they want to use the function that is standard across the Lexus fleet.
#6: 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
Much like the Tahoe, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban was manufactured sans the start stop feature that has become popular for the American vehicle manufacturer.
Now with a disable function, the start stop technology was reintroduced in 2022 once microchips became more freely available, allowing Chevrolet to once again include this fuel-boosting tech in their vehicles.
While no major issues have been reported from the addition of auto start stop, it can be a bit of a pain to manage when doing inner-city driving or driving in areas where you would find yourself idling for long periods of time.
Car owner forums have hinted at jerky starts, a drain on the battery, and additional wear and tear on the engine of the vehicle, but no such problems have been widely reported.
The Chevrolet Suburban is a popular choice for soccer moms, people who need additional cargo space, and those who enjoy the comfort and space that the vehicle brings. And while some might choose to disable the start stop technology, there are those who cannot do without it.
#7: 2021 Honda CRV
The 2021 model of the popular Honda CRV would be one of the few Honda SUVs to be manufactured without the contentious auto start stop.
Facing a microchip shortage, manufacturers released the 2021 model of the nifty CRV sans start stop, giving vehicle owners a reprieve from the frustration of a number of widely-reported issues stemming from the system.
Honda is known for its comfort efficiency, and incredible performance, which begs the question as to why they would make use of technology that does not have the best reputation for reliability. Start stop technology has been known to cause jerky pull-offs, making for a rather uncomfortable and somewhat noisy drive that owners of the 2021 CRV did not experience.
