Crossovers and SUVs accounted for about 53% of passenger car sales in the United States in 2022. That equates to around 7.3 million SUVs sold in a single year, which is greater than the combined sales of sedans, hatchbacks, and pickup trucks.
Monocoque crossovers and body-on-frame SUVs combine the benefits of sedans and tiny pickup trucks. Some crossover SUVs, for example, provide passenger comfort and mobility equivalent to some family sedans. Furthermore, similar SUVs may have higher ground clearance, more luggage and passenger capacity, higher tow ratings, and better road visibility than certain compact or midsize pickup trucks. Finally, research on vehicular accidents has found that in frontal collisions, occupants of crossovers and SUVs are generally better protected than those in sedans and hatchbacks.
Crossovers and SUVs are frequently more expensive than the usual family sedan or work vehicle due to their size, adaptability, and popularity. To avoid overpaying at the dealership, many Americans turn to the used automobile market to get the greatest bargains on used SUVs for sale.
When deciding between used SUVs for sale, it’s critical to consider automotive reliability as a selection factor. The most dependable car, SUV, or truck will save you money on unanticipated repair and maintenance bills in the future. However, although it’s simple to notice rusty patches on an SUV or hear squeaky springs and hinges, it’s more difficult to pinpoint engine problems unless you’ve driven the vehicle in a variety of situations for some time. This is when expert dependability ratings and customer feedback come into play.
Based on cross-referenced dependability, vehicle evaluations, and pricing data from Consumer Reports (CR), J.D. Power, and Kelley Blue Book (KBB), here are 10 affordable, used SUVs with the most dependable internal combustion engines (ICE) that are all under $15,000 in price.
The 2017 GMC Terrain Is Powered By A Proven Engine.
The 2017 GMC Terrain is the final model year of the nameplate’s first generation, which was formerly categorized as a midsize crossover (it was reclassified as a small in 2018). For 2017, the Terrain comes standard with a 2.4-liter I-4 engine (182 horsepower, 172 lb-ft torque) and an optional 3.6-liter V6 engine (301 hp, 272 lb-ft torque).
The 2017 GMC Terrain, being the eighth iteration of the pioneer generation, has already addressed the majority of the dependability issues of previous versions. The 2017 Terrain received a 5/5 reliability rating from CR in the “engine major” and “engine cooling” categories, indicating that its main engine components (engine block, intake/exhaust manifolds, timing chain, turbocharger, etc.) and cooling system (radiator, coolant lines, water pump, etc.) were extremely dependable. The 2017 Terrain also earned a 4/5 for “engine minor,” indicating that there were some concerns with the engine’s minor components (such as engine mounts, oil seals, pulleys, ECU, and so on). Despite this, Consumer Reports gave the 2017 GMC Terrain a 5/5 overall dependability rating, and J.D. Power agreed with a “great” quality and reliability rating of 87/100.
In the used automobile market, the 2017 GMC Terrain costs between $13,950 and $18,475 USD.
The 2014 Honda Pilot is powered by a strong six-cylinder engine.
The Honda Pilot is the Japanese manufacturer’s biggest SUV vehicle. For 2014, the midsize Honda Pilot had a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 250 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque (very conservative for its displacement).
Due to an isolated event that necessitated an engine rebuild, CR assigned the 2014 Pilot a 4/5 dependability rating in the engine main category. Aside from this occurrence, CR granted the 2014 Pilot immaculate 5/5 reliability ratings in the engine minor and cooling categories, as well as a respectable 4/5 overall dependability grade. J.D. Power also rated this midsize Honda crossover a high 84/100 quality and dependability grade, which helps it retain a resale value of $13,225 – $16,525 today.
The Mazda CX-5 2016 has a stalwart Skyactiv mill.
The Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover powered by Mazda’s sporty yet fuel-efficient Skyactiv engines. The CX-5 had two engine options for 2016: a 2.0-liter I-4 engine (155 horsepower and 150 lb-ft of torque) and a 2.5-liter I-4 mill (184 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque).
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 received a 5/5 dependability rating from CR in the engine main and cooling areas. However, the 2016 CX-5 only achieved a 4/5 dependability score for the engine minor category due to a few customer-reported issues with oil leaks and the engine control unit (ECU). Despite this, CR gave the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a 5/5 overall dependability rating, which is surprisingly impressive for a 7-year-old compact crossover that presently sells for $14,100 to $16,275 on the used vehicle market.
The 2016 Honda CR-V has VTEC certification.
The 2016 Honda CR-V earned KBB’s Best Buy Award for compact SUVs, and with good reason. The 2016 CR-V was also the final model year of the car’s fourth generation, and it was more dependable than previous model years in its batch. Honda equipped the CR-V with a 2.4-liter I-4 VTEC engine that generated 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque for the 2016 model year.
The 2016 CR-V received a 5/5 rating from CR in the engine main and cooling areas. Leaking timing chain covers, on the other hand, resulting in a 4/5 dependability rating for the engine’s minor category. Overall, the 2016 Honda CR-V is a dependable small crossover, as seen by CR’s 5/5 overall dependability rating and J.D. Power’s 83/100 quality and reliability score. A used 2016 Honda CR-V costs between $16,275 and $20,675.
The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has a strong six-cylinder engine.-Banger
The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox is a reasonably priced yet capable small crossover. For the 2017 model year, the Chevrolet Equinox was available with two engines: a standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine (182 horsepower, 174 lb-ft) and a powerful 3.6-liter V6 engine (301 hp, 272 lb-ft).
The 2017 Chevy Equinox received a 5/5 rating from CR in the engine main and engine coolant reliability categories, as well as overall dependability. A used 2017 Chevy Equinox costs between $13,200 and $16,475 now.
The 2015 Nissan Rogue is powered by a reliable four-cylinder engine.
The Nissan Rogue, also known as the X-Trail in some areas, is a big 5-seat compact SUV with an available third-row seating layout for little people. The 2015 Nissan Rogue is powered by a 2.5-liter I-4 engine with 175 horsepower and 170 pound-feet of torque.
CR gave the 2015 Nissan Rogue 5/5 dependability ratings in all three engine-related areas. However, because of certain concerns concerning noisy body parts and defective power equipment, CR only gave the 2015 Rogue a 4/5 overall dependability rating. Nonetheless, this is a fantastic overall score, bolstered by J.D. Power’s “excellent” 82/100 quality and dependability rating. A used 2015 Nissan Rogue may be yours for $10,925 to $13,575.
The VVT-i Mill in the 2014 Toyota RAV4 has been tested for reliability.
The Toyota RAV4, the world’s best-selling SUV in 2022, made this list of SUVs with the most dependable engines. The ICE Toyota RAV4 was equipped with a 2.5-liter engine that produced 176 horsepower and 172 lb-ft of torque for the 2014 model year.
The engine of the 2014 RAV4 received a 5/5 dependability rating from CR in all main and minor categories. Unfortunately, various water pump problems led to a 4/5 engine cooling dependability rating. Despite this, CR rated the 2014 Toyota RAV4 a 5/5 overall dependability rating, while J.D. Power gave it a “average” reliability rating of 79/100 (2 points shy of a “great” rating of 81-90). A used 2014 Toyota RAV4 may still be had for $14,250 to $16,425.
The Lexus RX 2012 is powered by six reliable cylinders.
The Lexus RX was the best-selling luxury car in America in 2022. For the 2012 model year, this premium crossover SUV was equipped with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine that generated 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque in the pure ICE edition. The hybrid Lexus RX utilized the same V6 engine and combined it with an electric motor to achieve 295 hp total system output.
The 2012 Lexus RX achieved a 5/5 rating for engine major and cooling dependability, as well as a 4/5 rating for engine minor reliability due to several recorded oil leaks. Despite this, CR gave the 2012 Lexus RX a 5/5 overall dependability rating, while J.D. Power agreed with an 89/100 quality and reliability rating. With such high marks, it’s no surprise that this 11-year-old midsize SUV is still selling for $14,725 to $15,775 on the used auto market.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander has an unrivaled inline-4 engine.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander is a midsize family SUV with seven seats that debuted with three engine options: two gas engines and one hybrid powertrain. The standard I-4 engine generated 187 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-liter V6 engine produced 270 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. The 2011 Highlander hybrid produced 270 horsepower with a 3.3-liter V6 engine supplemented by two electric motors.
The 2011 Toyota Highlander had a 5/5 reliability rating in the engine major and cooling categories, while oil leak concerns resulted in a 4/5 dependability rating in the engine minor area. Overall, the 2011 Highlander is still quite reliable, earning a 5/5 overall dependability rating from Consumer Reports and an 81/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power. In today’s used automobile market, this midsize family SUV still sells for $11,475 to $14,225.
The Toyota 4Runner 2008 use blameless blocks.
Another Toyota, unsurprisingly, rounds off this list of used SUVs with long-lasting engines. The 2008 Toyota 4Runner was the nameplate’s last model year of its fourth generation (2002–2009). The body-on-frame, off-roading midsize Toyota SUV retained its 4.7-liter V8 engine for 2008, producing 260 horsepower and 306 lb-ft of torque. For the 2008 4Runner, a smaller V6 developed 236 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque.
The 2008 Toyota 4Runner received a flawless 5/5 rating from CR in all three engine reliability categories, as well as an overall reliability rating of 5/5. J.D. Power also reported an outstanding 87/100 quality and dependability rating. A used 2008 Toyota 4Runner may still be had for $11,400 to $13,600 today.
