Most Reliable Used Compact SUVs — Ranked by Data
43 compact suvs ranked on complaint severity, repair costs, recall impact, and issue diversity — each one normalized by sales volume. The 2022 Mazda CX-5 tops our rankings with a score of 87/100.
Last updated: 2026-10-10
Most Reliable Used Compact SUVs Rankings
| # | Vehicle | Best Year | Score | Rating | Recalls | Complaints / 10k | Maint. Rating | Est. Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-5 | 2022 | 87/100 | Excellent | 0 | 3.3 | 4.5 | |
| 2 | Lexus UX | 2020 | 84/100 | Excellent | 0 | 0.0 | 4 | |
| 3 | Nissan Kicks | 2022 | 82/100 | Excellent | 0 | 3.5 | 4 | |
| 4 | Nissan Murano | 2018 | 82/100 | Excellent | 0 | — | 3.5 | |
| 5 | Lexus NX | 2021 | 82/100 | Excellent | 0 | 5.1 | 4 | |
| 6 | Acura RDX | 2023 | 82/100 | Excellent | 1 | 4.1 | 4.5 | |
| 7 | Toyota C-HR | 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent | 0 | 1.6 | 4 | |
| 8 | Jeep Compass | 2021 | 80/100 | Excellent | 0 | 9.3 | 4 | |
| 9 | Buick Encore | 2021 | 80/100 | Excellent | 0 | 4.5 | 4 | |
| 10 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent | 2 | 6.5 | 4.5 | |
| 11 | Toyota RAV4 | 2023 | 80/100 | Excellent | 6 | 3.4 | 4 | |
| 12 | Buick Encore GX | 2023 | 79/100 | Good | 0 | 3.6 | 3.5 | |
| 13 | Subaru Forester | 2023 | 79/100 | Good | 1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | |
| 14 | Kia Sportage | 2022 | 79/100 | Good | 1 | 3.1 | 4 | |
| 15 | Nissan Rogue | 2020 | 79/100 | Good | 2 | 8.1 | 4 | |
| 16 | Kia Soul | 2022 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 13.7 | 4.5 | |
| 17 | Hyundai Tucson | 2021 | 78/100 | Good | 1 | 4.1 | 4 | |
| 18 | Jeep Renegade | 2023 | 77/100 | Good | 2 | 7.7 | 4 | |
| 19 | Honda CR-V | 2021 | 77/100 | Good | 3 | 6.7 | 4.5 | |
| 20 | Chevrolet Trailblazer | 2023 | 76/100 | Good | 0 | 5.6 | 3 | |
| 21 | Chevrolet Equinox | 2023 | 76/100 | Good | 3 | 3.3 | 3.5 | |
| 22 | Jeep Cherokee | 2020 | 76/100 | Good | 5 | — | 4 | |
| 23 | Cadillac XT4 | 2023 | 75/100 | Good | 0 | 5.3 | 3 | |
| 24 | BMW X1 | 2021 | 75/100 | Good | 1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | |
| 25 | GMC Terrain | 2023 | 75/100 | Good | 2 | 2.9 | 3.5 | |
| 26 | Volvo XC60 | 2021 | 75/100 | Good | 5 | 7.5 | 4 | |
| 27 | Audi Q3 | 2023 | 74/100 | Good | 1 | 0.5 | 3.5 | |
| 28 | Ford EcoSport | 2022 | 74/100 | Good | 2 | 3.4 | 3.5 | |
| 29 | Volkswagen Taos | 2023 | 73/100 | Good | 0 | 2.6 | 2 | |
| 30 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 2023 | 73/100 | Good | 1 | 6.4 | 3 | |
| 31 | Mercedes-Benz GLC | 2022 | 73/100 | Good | 2 | 7.8 | 3.5 | |
| 32 | Kia Seltos | 2022 | 72/100 | Good | 1 | 15.4 | 3.5 | |
| 33 | Ford Escape | 2023 | 72/100 | Good | 13 | 7.6 | 4 | |
| 34 | Volvo XC40 | 2020 | 71/100 | Good | 1 | — | 3 | |
| 35 | Hyundai Kona | 2018 | 69/100 | Good | 0 | 14.0 | 2.5 | |
| 36 | Mazda CX-30 | 2023 | 68/100 | Good | 1 | 2.6 | 2 | |
| 37 | BMW X3 | 2023 | 67/100 | Good | 4 | 1.9 | 2.5 | |
| 38 | Porsche Macan | 2023 | 66/100 | Good | 0 | 2.2 | 1.5 | |
| 39 | Chevrolet Bolt | 2023 | 64/100 | Good | 3 | 23.5 | 3 | |
| 40 | Dodge Hornet | 2023 | 59/100 | Mixed | 4 | 26.8 | 2 | |
| 41 | Tesla Model Y | 2023 | 53/100 | Mixed | 15 | 25.8 | 2 | |
| 42 | Kia EV6 | 2023 | 52/100 | Mixed | 3 | 51.9 | 1.5 | |
| 43 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 2023 | 50/100 | Mixed | 3 | 91.7 | 2 |
Score Comparison
Visual comparison of reliability scores. Longer bars indicate higher reliability.
Model Highlights
1. 2022 Mazda CX-5 — 87/100
Excellent reliability puts this compact SUV well above other SUVs, and 2022 is the best used buy, with few complaints and no recalls. Skip 2018, where cracked cylinder heads leak oil onto the exhaust and cause burning smells, smoke, and fumes in the cabin. Touchscreen ghost touch is the most common electrical complaint across years.
Best year: 2022 (score: 87/100, 0 recalls, 50 complaints). Average score across all years: 81/100.
2. 2020 Lexus UX — 84/100
Reliability is excellent, well above the average for SUVs on the site, and owner complaints are scarce in every model year. The 2020 is the pick, with no recalls and no complaints on file. Only 2019 and 2025 carry a recall, and their few complaints touch the power train, so check those two years more closely. Newer years have had less time to collect problems.
Best year: 2020 (score: 84/100, 0 recalls, 0 complaints). Average score across all years: 80/100.
3. 2022 Nissan Kicks — 82/100
Engine stalls with a cluster of warning lights, plus ABS faults, are the main risk in the 2018 and 2019 model years of this compact SUV, which otherwise rates good and above average among SUVs on the site. The 2022 is the year to buy, with no recalls and few complaints. Even there, some owners report steering wander in crosswinds.
Best year: 2022 (score: 82/100, 0 recalls, 19 complaints). Average score across all years: 77/100.
4. 2018 Nissan Murano — 82/100
Reliability is good for a compact SUV, and yearly repair costs run slightly under the class average. Favor 2023, and watch 2020 and 2025, which fall well below the rest of the lineup. The complaint that matters most is the forward collision system, which can shut itself off or brake hard with nothing ahead.
Best year: 2018 (score: 82/100, 0 recalls, 14 complaints). Average score across all years: 80/100.
5. 2021 Lexus NX — 82/100
Used NX models hold up well and rank well above average among compact SUVs, with 2021 the year to pick. The most serious owner reports involve fuel pump failures that stall the engine without warning, and sudden acceleration where the brakes do not stop the car. Check 2024 closely, since it draws far more complaints than any other year.
Best year: 2021 (score: 82/100, 0 recalls, 30 complaints). Average score across all years: 79/100.
Found Your Next Car? Check Its History
Before you buy, a VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the most reliable used compact suvs?
- Based on our data, the 2022 Mazda CX-5 is the most reliable with a score of 87/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and 50 owner complaints.
- How many compact suvs did we analyze?
- We analyzed 43 models in this category. The average reliability score is 74/100.
- How are reliability scores calculated?
- Every 0–100 score blends complaint severity (35%), repair costs (30%), recall impact (20%), and issue diversity (15%). Complaints are weighted by component type — powertrain and safety issues count more than cosmetic ones — and normalized by sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases via vehicles.dev. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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