These are the most reliable used SUVs to buy in 2026

The used SUV market solves a problem the new-car market has made increasingly acute: the price of a new vehicle. Average transaction prices for new SUVs have risen well above what most household budgets accommodate without significant financial strain, and the used market gives buyers access to vehicles whose mechanical reliability is now measurable and documented, not speculative. A used SUV with a J.D. Power reliability score in the 88-91 range is not a gamble. It is a vehicle whose ownership history across a large population of buyers has produced a quantifiable answer to the question of how often it will need unscheduled repairs.

The scoring system that produced this list uses J.D. Power reliability scores as the primary ranking criterion, with a score of 91-100 rated Best, 81-90 rated Great, and 70-80 rated Average. Five-year average ownership costs, which account for maintenance, repairs, insurance, and fuel, serve as the tiebreaker. The combination gives a complete picture of what the vehicle will cost to keep on the road beyond the purchase price, which is the calculation that matters most for the buyer whose goal is dependable transportation at a reasonable total cost.

The 10 SUVs below appear in U.S. News and World Report, ranked by J.D. Power reliability score with ownership cost as the tiebreaker. The list spans full-size and subcompact SUVs, luxury and mainstream segments, and model years from 2018 through 2023. J.D. Power reliability scores are based on survey responses from owners in their first few years of ownership, which means the scores reflect actual experience across a large sample, not engineering predictions, and a high score indicates that a meaningful number of real owners have confirmed the vehicle’s dependability through the accumulated record of their own experience.

Credit: Nissan

The 2020 Nissan Armada has a J.D. Power reliability score of 91 out of 100, tying it with the 2018 Lexus GX at the top of this list. The Armada wins the tiebreaker on ownership costs, with a five-year cost score of 7.5 out of 10 compared to the Lexus’s 6.9. The 91 score is worth contextualizing: the J.D. Power scale ranges from 0 to 100, but scores above 92 are exceptionally rare in practice, which puts the Armada at the functional ceiling of what the scale produces in the real-world vehicle population.

The V8 engine gives the Armada more horsepower than most full-size SUV rivals, and the powertrain delivers confident performance in both city and highway driving. The towing capacity of 8,500 pounds gives it a practical utility that the crossover-based full-size alternatives do not match: a trailer, a boat, or a camper within that weight range is within the Armada’s capability without supplemental equipment. The tradeoff is fuel economy, which trails the class average by a meaningful margin and will affect the five-year ownership cost calculation for buyers who put significant annual mileage on their vehicles.

The cabin seats up to eight people across three rows, with adult-friendly room in all three rows, which gives the Armada a passenger capacity that three-row crossovers in the same price range deliver with less interior space per occupant. The cargo room behind the third row is the Armada’s main interior compromise, running smaller than some competing full-size SUVs. The buyer who prioritizes reliability and towing at the lowest available ownership cost among full-size used SUVs will find the 2020 Armada the most complete option currently on the used market. The Armada’s truck-based body-on-frame construction gives it a durability advantage in high-load situations over the unibody crossovers that dominate the full-size segment, and the full-time four-wheel drive available on upper trims gives the towing capacity and off-pavement capability additional operational depth in adverse conditions.

Credit: Buick

The 2018 Buick Envision has a J.D. Power reliability score of 90 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.3 out of 10, making it the highest-rated vehicle on this list. The Envision’s case rests on qualities the luxury compact SUV segment does not consistently deliver at this price point: genuine reliability, a serene cabin with minimal road noise, rear seats that slide and recline for added passenger comfort, and a fuel efficiency rating that leads its segment class.

The interior does not match the lavishness of the top luxury compact SUVs, but it provides the quiet, well-insulated driving environment that Buick has built its brand identity around, and the rear seat adjustability gives it a practicality advantage over competitors whose rear bench is fixed. The base engine is notably underpowered and worth avoiding. Finding a used Envision with the optional turbocharged engine upgrade is the specific search parameter that makes the difference between a satisfying purchase and a frustrating one. The turbo variant gives the Envision enough power to manage highway merging and passing without the hesitation that the base engine produces under load.

The Envision’s fuel efficiency gives it a running cost advantage over the segment average that compounds over the ownership period: a luxury compact SUV that consistently delivers better-than-average fuel economy reduces the ownership cost gap between the luxury and mainstream segments. For the buyer who wants a luxury cabin experience at a mainstream price with documented reliability, the 2018 Envision is the most cost-efficient path to that outcome on this list. The used market pricing for 2018 model year luxury compact SUVs gives the Envision a specific acquisition cost advantage over its German luxury competitors in the same segment: Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz vehicles of the same vintage carry higher used prices, higher maintenance costs, and in many cases lower reliability scores, making the Envision the most rational economic choice in the luxury compact used SUV category.

Credit: Kia

The 2020 Kia Soul has a J.D. Power reliability score of 89 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.5 out of 10, tying it with the 2018 Toyota $TM RAV4 for the lowest average ownership cost on this list. The Soul’s case is straightforward: it is one of the highest-rated subcompact SUVs in its model year, it costs significantly less to purchase used than almost every other vehicle on this list, and its ownership cost profile makes it the cheapest option to maintain over a five-year period. The U.S. News 2020 Best Subcompact SUV for the Money award reflects this value calculation precisely.

The boxy exterior design is a functional choice that pays dividends inside: the squared-off roofline and vertical rear glass give the Soul an airy cabin with headroom that the sloping-roofline crossover designs sacrifice for visual appeal. The second row accommodates adults without the cramping that subcompact dimensions typically impose, and the cargo hold is large relative to the vehicle’s footprint. Standard features include Apple $AAPL CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 7-inch touchscreen, which gives the base trim a technology baseline that was optional equipment in many competing vehicles at the Soul’s original price point.

The ride quality is relaxed, which makes the Soul a more comfortable daily commuter than its small dimensions suggest, and its reliability score of 89 puts it in the Great tier on J.D. Power’s scale. The buyer who needs dependable transportation with the lowest possible purchase price and the lowest ongoing ownership cost will find no better answer on this list than the 2020 Kia Soul. The Soul’s subcompact dimensions keep insurance, tire, and fuel costs at the low end of the SUV category, which is the operational dimension the five-year ownership cost score captures, and the larger vehicles on this list cannot match, regardless of their per-mile reliability. Small vehicle, small costs, high reliability: the value calculation is as simple as it appears.

Credit: Lexus

The 2018 Lexus GX ties the Nissan Armada for the highest reliability score on this list at 91 out of 100, and its five-year ownership cost score of 6.9 is why it ranks fourth, not first: the Armada’s lower costs take the tiebreaker. The GX’s ownership costs reflect its status as a luxury midsize SUV with a body-on-frame construction platform, which means the maintenance and fuel costs of a truck-based vehicle in a luxury segment run higher than those of a car-based crossover in the mainstream segment, and the GX’s score reflects that reality.

The body-on-frame platform that makes the GX more expensive to own is also the source of its most distinctive capability: genuine off-road performance that unibody luxury crossovers in this segment cannot replicate. Steep trails, mud, and unpaved roads that would challenge or damage a car-based luxury SUV are within the GX’s operating range, and the crawl control and locking center differential supported by the platform give it off-road credentials specific to this construction type. The cabin is posh by any standard, with Lexus’s characteristic attention to interior finish quality.

The seating accommodates seven across three rows, with cramped conditions in the third row that adult passengers will find tolerable only for short trips. The first two rows provide generous space. Towing capacity reaches 6,500 pounds, giving the GX a utility dimension that most luxury crossovers in the segment do not offer at the same rating. The fuel economy trails the field, and the cargo space is below class average, two compromises that the GX’s off-road capability and reliability score are the appropriate trade-offs against. The used market pricing for an 8-year-old Lexus with a 91 reliability score gives the GX one of the most favorable quality-per-dollar ratios on this list: the buyer who needs a luxury-grade interior, genuine trail capability, and 6,500 pounds of towing, and who can accept the higher fuel and maintenance costs, will find the 2018 GX’s used price a genuine bargain against new equivalents.

Credit: Buick

The 2022 Buick Encore GX has a J.D. Power reliability score of 90 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.4, ranking second among the 90-rated vehicles. The Encore GX’s defining practical quality is its compact footprint: the small exterior dimensions make it highly maneuverable in parking garages, narrow city streets, and dense urban environments where the larger SUVs on this list impose real spatial challenges. The reliability score at 90 places it in the Great tier with a documented ownership record that the buyer can verify, not merely estimate.

The cabin delivers a roomier back seat than the vehicle’s small footprint suggests, which is the Encore GX’s most consistent surprise for first-time buyers. The 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet with the second row folded give the cargo program numbers that exceed the vehicle’s visual impression from the outside. The front passenger seat folds flat to accommodate longer items, extending the cargo versatility without requiring a vehicle of larger external dimensions.

The safety rating is strong, which gives the ownership profile a quality dimension beyond the reliability score itself: a vehicle that avoids accidents and mechanical failures produces a lower total cost of ownership than the repair-cost scoring alone captures. The Encore GX is the right vehicle for the urban buyer who needs a documented, reliable SUV in the smallest possible package, and the ownership cost score confirms that the reliability advantage does not come at a premium maintenance burden. The vehicle’s small exterior footprint also means lower tire costs, easier parking, and better fuel economy than the larger SUVs on this list, all of which reduce the running costs that the 8.4 ownership score captures. For buyers who primarily use their SUV in dense urban or suburban environments and do not need towing or significant cargo capacity, the Encore GX delivers more value per dollar than anything larger.

Credit: Chevrolet

The 2023 Chevrolet Equinox carries a J.D. Power reliability score of 90 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.1. The Equinox’s case as a used SUV purchase is stronger than its case as a new one: the source notes it is tough to recommend over some new competitors at full price, but the used market’s lower acquisition cost changes the calculation in favor of the Equinox, where its reliability and low ownership costs become the primary argument, not features and refinement comparisons with fresher alternatives.

The cabin materials are uneven, which is the interior’s primary weakness, but the build quality is solid, and the seats provide comfortable support for both rows. The smooth ride is the Equinox’s strongest experiential quality: the suspension tuning absorbs road imperfections in a way that makes the daily commute genuinely more comfortable than the segment average, and the infotainment system is straightforward to operate without the learning curve that more complex and visually busy systems impose on new owners during the first weeks of ownership.

The base engine lacks the power that some highway driving situations demand, and the cargo room is smaller than that of some compact SUV competitors, with the rear cargo area measuring below the class average. The strengths, documented reliability, low ownership costs, smooth ride, and easy-to-use technology, are the qualities that commuter buyers weigh most heavily, and the 2023 model year’s recency gives the used Equinox purchase a longer viable ownership window than the older model years on this list. The recency advantage is meaningful for the used buyer who plans to hold the vehicle for seven to ten years: a 2023 Equinox purchased today has fewer accumulated miles and more remaining service life than a 2018 or 2019 model year vehicle at the same purchase price, and the documented 90 reliability score means the quality holds across the expected ownership period and does not decline as the vehicle ages past its initial years on the road.

Credit: Nissan

The 2022 Nissan Murano carries a J.D. Power reliability score of 90 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.0. The Murano occupies a specific position in the used SUV market, as the source describes it: a dependable daily driver without frills or fuss. The vehicle does not attempt to be the most athletic, the most capable, or the most luxuriously appointed option in its segment. It aims to be comfortable and reliable, and the documented ownership record confirms that it meets both criteria.

The ride quality is smooth,, even over rough pavement, which gives the Murano a daily commuting quality that SUVs tuned for handling sharpness sacrifice in pursuit of sportier dynamics. The front seats are generously cushioned, and every seat in the vehicle reclines, which gives all passengers a level of adjustability that the segment does not universally provide. The second row accommodates adults without difficulty, and the cabin’s interior design, while dated by current standards, gives the materials a premium feel that the mainstream pricing does not fully suggest.

The cargo capacity runs below the class average, which is the Murano’s clearest utility limitation. The buyer whose SUV is used for frequent large cargo loads will find the available volume insufficient for that purpose. The buyer whose primary SUV use is comfortable daily transportation with documented reliability and moderate ownership costs will find the 2022 Murano exactly calibrated to those priorities, and the five-year cost score of 8.0 confirms that the comfort-focused design does not come with a disproportionate or unexpected maintenance burden compared to the segment average. The V6 engine that comes standard in the Murano gives the powertrain adequate power for all normal driving situations without the fuel economy penalty of a larger displacement engine, and the continuously variable transmission that pairs with it gives highway driving a smooth, uninterrupted power delivery that buyers transitioning from conventional automatic transmissions find comfortable after a brief adjustment period on familiar routes.

Credit: BMW

The 2020 BMW X6 has a J.D. Power reliability score of 90 and a five-year ownership cost score of 4.7, the lowest on this list by a significant margin. The X6 belongs on a reliability list because the 90 score confirms it will not break down more than average, but the ownership cost score makes clear that keeping it on the road costs substantially more than any other vehicle here. The BMW’s position on this list is conditional: it is a reliable vehicle in terms of mechanical dependability, but the cost of maintaining that reliability is high relative to the alternatives.

The case for the X6 is elsewhere: a posh, roomy interior and muscular engine options that deliver acceleration the other SUVs on this list do not approach. Every model comes standard with navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitoring. The driving dynamics give the X6 a character that the comfort-focused and utility-focused competitors on this list do not attempt to replicate, and the reliability score means the buyer can pursue that character without the ownership anxiety that a poorly rated luxury SUV would impose.

The cargo room is below average for the luxury midsize SUV class, and the operating costs are, in the source’s own characterization, genuinely bad. The buyer who chooses the 2020 X6 from this list is making a specific trade: the highest-performing and most dynamic used SUV with a verified reliability score in the Great tier, in exchange for the highest ongoing cost of ownership on the list. That trade makes sense for a specific type of buyer, and for that buyer, the X6’s position here validates the purchase against the reliability concern that luxury German SUVs historically generate. The X6’s standard amenity package, including navigation, dual-zone automatic climate control, and blind-spot monitoring, gives the luxury baseline a completeness that the entry trim level of many competitors achieves only through optional packaging.

Credit: BMW

The 2021 BMW X4 has a J.D. Power reliability score of 89 and a five-year ownership cost score of 6.3, putting it above the mainstream options on this list but below the X6 above it. The X4 shares the X6’s performance orientation, quick acceleration, potent powertrain options, and standard all-wheel drive, in a more compact package that occupies a smaller footprint and costs less to purchase on the used market. The source describes it as the smaller sibling of the X6, and the performance character it shares with that vehicle is available at a price reduction appropriate to the size difference.

The base engine delivers strong fuel economy by BMW standards, but the higher-performance variants significantly reduce it, and the choice of powertrain has a meaningful effect on the five-year ownership cost calculation. The cabin features premium materials and an elegant interior design, giving the X4 the luxury interior quality that BMW’s standard competes with. The sloping roofline that gives the X4 its coupe-like visual profile reduces rear headroom, though the second row still accommodates adults, and cargo space is adequate for the vehicle’s size classification.

The all-wheel-drive standard across all trims gives the X4 winter weather and light off-road capability that rear-wheel-drive luxury vehicles require an upgrade to achieve. The buyer who found the X6’s ownership costs prohibitive but wants the BMW performance and interior quality profile in a smaller, more affordable form will find the 2021 X4 the most direct available path to that outcome on this list. The ownership cost score of 6.3 is higher than the mainstream SUVs on this list but meaningfully lower than the X6’s 4.7, which represents a substantial reduction in running costs for a vehicle that shares the same fundamental performance identity. The five-year cost gap between the X4 and the X6 compounds across the ownership period into a difference that justifies the size and price reduction for the cost-conscious performance buyer.

Credit: Toyota

The 2018 Toyota $TM RAV4 carries a J.D. Power reliability score of 88 and a five-year ownership cost score of 8.5, tying the 2020 Kia Soul for the lowest ownership cost on the list. The RAV4’s claim on the used market is the same claim it has maintained across its entire production history: it gives buyers the features they need, space, reliability, safety, and reasonable fuel economy, at a price and ownership cost that the segment’s most aspirational competitors cannot match. The RAV4 did not become one of the best-selling SUVs in the world by accident, and the 88 reliability score confirms that the reputation is documented, not merely inherited.

The cabin materials are a known limitation: the interior plastics and surface finishes are functional, not premium, and the buyer who prioritizes cabin quality will find the RAV4’s interior disappointing relative to its price. The functional dimensions compensate: 38.4 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with those seats folded give the RAV4 a cargo capacity that exceeds most compact SUV competitors and serves the practical hauling needs that the cabin’s visual quality undersells.

The RAV4 Hybrid variant, available across the 2018 model year’s trim range, delivers 34 miles per gallon in the city and 30 on the highway, which ranks among the best efficiency ratings in the compact hybrid SUV category. The buyer who expects to hold the vehicle for a full five-year ownership period and wants the lowest total cost of ownership in a compact SUV with documented reliability will find the 2018 RAV4, specifically the Hybrid variant, to be the most complete value proposition on this list. The RAV4’s resale value, which holds higher than most compact SUV competitors across the five-year ownership window, gives the buyer an exit option whose value partially offsets the acquisition cost, and the Hybrid’s fuel economy advantage compounds across the annual mileage into a running cost reduction that the non-hybrid variant cannot match.