Top 10 Reliable SUVs

The Top 10 Most Reliable SUVs

SUVs have grown in popularity in recent years due to their safety, handling, size, and comfort, and with so many to choose from these days, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. We're here to make sure you find the right SUV for you, with a particular focus on reliability, because let's face it, there's no point having a car if it won't go!

So, what do we mean by reliability? The short answer is: it won't break down. But this isn't always easy to spot when you're buying, so how can you make sure you're getting a quality car?

Top reliable SUVs

To help guide you on your journey, here is our list of top 10 SUVs we believe are reliable and will serve you well!

Volvo XC40

The Volvo XC40 was introduced in 2017 and has since become known for its reliability. Not only has it scored 98% for reliability, but it was also named What Car's Car of the Year in 2018. The Volvo is also highly rated on its safety, with a 5-star rating from its Euro NCAP test and scores that make it the safest small SUV.

Since its launch, the Swedish XC40 has only seen a rather small 10-16% of owners report an issue in their first year of ownership. These faults tended to be small niggles such as problems with the sat-nav which are quickly remedied, rather than costly and inconvenient engine repairs.

 

Toyota RAV4

Toyota's largest SUV - the RAV4 - scored an impressive What Car? Reliability Rating of 99.5%. There is no real surprise there as the Japanese manufacturer and its hybrid powertrains have long been known for their reliability. Amongst those RAV4 owners surveyed, only 3% reported a problem but these issues were entirely confined to non-engine electrics, and all were repaired in less than a week.

The RAV4 achieved the full five stars in the Euro NCAP testing, and the fifth-generation (2018 onwards) benefits from an improved autonomous emergency braking system and improved cruise control.

Peugeot 3008

The Peugeot 3008, first released in 2008 and updated in 2017, scored highly for reliability with an average rating of 97% and is also ranked well for its build quality and styling

Those owners who did report snags with their 3008 mentioned recall work, suggesting this was a precautionary move by Peugeot across all models rather than problems with individual cars. The 3008 comes with, as standard, electronic stability control, ISOFIX child-seat mounts, a tyre-pressure warning system and a camera that scans for road signs. The upgraded 3008 was awarded European Car of the Year in 2017 and was awarded the full 5 stars on the Euro NCAP test.

Mazda CX-5

The CX-5 is a strong entrant from the Japanese auto manufacturer, with an average reliability score of 96%. Debuting in 2013 as a compact crossover SUV, the car has evolved into a great-looking SUV that ranks highly for build quality, interior and comfort.

The second-generation (2017 onwards) models benefit from a redesigned exterior and additional features following feedback on the initial design, including a stiffer body structure, remote-operated tailgate and more supportive seats.

  

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-v is a dependable car, with a WhatCar? reliability rating of 97.4%. According to Honda, CR-V is short for "Comfortable Runabout Vehicle", but also republished an article that used the term "Compact Recreational Vehicle". Either way, owners rate its engine, gearbox, safety features and interiors highly, along with the simple joy of how it drives.

Many of the newer models (2017 onwards) benefit from the Honda Sending package which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking and Lane Keeping Assist. The CR-V also scored 5 stars on the Euro NCAP safety tests.

 

Kia Sportage

All Kia's come with impressive 7-year warranties, not that you'll need to use it often. Kia has a strong brand for reliability and the 2015-generation Sportage topped the Whatcar? 2020 list for reliable family SUVs.

The Sportage comes with strong build quality, plenty of interior space and is fun to drive, particularly on corners. The Kia Sportage was also named Used Car of the Year at the Automotive Management Awards 2021.

Volkswagen T-Roc

German car manufacturer Volkswagen has been in business since 1937, releasing numerous styles of vehicles across the years. The T-Roc SUV launched in 2017 and comes in with a reliability ranking of 95.02%.

The T-Roc strikes a good balance between comfort, responsiveness and acceleration. It's available in several engine varieties, but for a good blend of performance and running costs the 1.0 litre TSI petrol holds great value. Laden with features including adaptive cruise control, front-assist braking and lane assist, this SUV also scored 5 stars on the Euro NCAP tests.

  

Toyota C-HR

First released in 2016, the C-HR benefits from Toyota's reputation for being reliable - finishing 3^rd out of 31 manufacturers in the Whatcar? reliability survey.

Available in petrol and hybrid options, the C-HR comes with a 5 year / 100,000-mile basic warranty, surpassed only by Kia's 7-year warranty. The C-HR also benefits from all the battery and electric motor knowledge Toyota gained with the Prius. This Toyota is sharply styled and has aesthetic hints of a coupe, with plenty of features including Smart Entry & Push-button Start, automatic wipers and headlights, parking sensors, Lane Departure Alert and Road Sign Assist.

  

SEAT Arona

First released in 2017, the Arona is the smallest crossover SUV from Spanish SEAT. Whatcar? data shows a respectable reliability rating of 95.2% in 2021.

The Arona benefits from SEAT being part of the VW Group, and the compact SUV includes technology such as autonomous emergency braking, driver tiredness and additional airbags. It's also proven well in independent crash-testing and scores 5 starts on the Euro NCAP tests.

  

Renault Captur

Renault claims that the Captur is one of the safest cars in it's class due to a raft of driver assistance systems installed as standard.

This Renault performs particularly well with its generous safety kit, scoring 5 stars on the Euro NCAP tests. The many advanced driver assistance systems include emergency brake assistance with pedestrian, vehicle and cyclist recognition, lane centring, distance warning alert, and more.

 

How do I know if a car will be reliable?

This is a hard question, and one without a simple answer! It's tough to know how reliable a car will be as each vehicle will be treated differently by the owner, including driving style and amount of usage. When starting to look for your next SUV, key things to consider include driver reviews and the car's mileage, age and service history.

Also, take a look at some consumer reports - the likes of Which?, What Car? and Consumer Reports are great places to start, as well as looking online for reviews from real people who've owned and driven whichever car(s) you're considering. A simple search in your favourite search engine for " reviews" will show plenty of user reviews, stats and videos.

Remember to weigh up all your options and do your own research - don't always believe what the marketing tells you!

Verdict

The growth of the SUV market has caused manufacturers to develop their own offering to keep them top of the list, so there are plenty of great, reliable SUVs on the market. Here at Carbase, we put every used car through a thorough testing process, so you know you're getting a quality used car. Pop into one of our dealerships or get in touch today.