We reveal the most and least reliable used SUVs

If you need to buy a bigger car due to family requirements, a need for more luggage space, or simply because you want an increased feeling of safety and security, you’re likely to be in the market for an SUV.

However, with new prices for these in-demand high-riding vehicles relatively steep –  and concerns of rapid new car depreciation rife – many will be turning to the second-hand market to save money.

Buyers need to tread carefully, though, as there is a big difference between the most and least reliable – and which are likely to see owners slapped with huge repair bills.

With the help of used car warranty provider, Warrantywise, This is Money has revealed the best and worst rated SUVs for second-hand buyers…

While reliability surveys tend to be based on vehicle samples of between 20,000 and 50,000 motors, Warrantywise has a database of more than 750,000 customers who have taken out cover on their older cars since 2015.

The figures provided are for vehicles aged between three years – which is when most conventional new car warranties expire – and eight years old. 

The firm’s Reliability Index is calculated using a formula which takes into account the number of factors.

This includes the frequency of claims in the last five years, repair costs, time spent in the garage being fixed and the average age and mileage of models to provide an overall score out of 100.

Here’s a countdown of the 10 most reliable used SUV models, according to the data, followed by the list of the least dependable 4X4s using the Warrantywise rating system.

MOST RELIABLE USED SUVS

10. Mercedes GLE Class

Reliability score: 83.2%

There don’t tend to be many issues with the big Mercedes, with very few warranty claims made by owners – fewer than 2 per cent, in fact.

What weighs its score down a little is longer repair times, which take an average of three days, and a high average claim amount of almost £900. Both factors suggest the small volume of issues could be serious faults.

9. Toyota Land Cruiser

Reliability score: 85.7%

Toyota is synonymous with reliability, especially their big rugged off roaders. Which makes the Land Cruiser’s inclusion here somewhat expected.

Of all the cars listed in the top 10 most reliable, its average repair cost is the highest. However, just one in 20 owners had to make a warranty claim at all in the last half decade.

8. Suzuki Jimny

Reliability score: 86.3%

A new Suzuki Jimny was launched just a couple of years ago, though it has been removed from UK showrooms having failed to meet emissions standards.

The previous-generation car makes for a robust second-hand buy. It’s compact and durable, though Warrantywise said there has been a high volume of claims for gearbox repairs.

7. Dacia Duster

Reliability score: 87.6%

If you’re looking for a cheap and cheerful SUV, the Dacia Duster is the UK’s most affordable new model on the market. But just because it’s budget-friendly, it doesn’t make it unreliable.

On the contrary, just 5.5 per cent of owners had to make a warranty claim for their cars, with average repair bills ringing in relatively low. 

6. Suzuki SX4

Reliability score: 88.2%

The SX4 (now sold under the S-Cross name) is a road-bias SUV, with a lower ride height than you traditionally get with 4X4 models. That said, it is spacious.

Suspension issues are the most common of all, which can be expensive to repair. However, average claim costs are pretty low at £409, and usually completed in one and half days.

5. Lexus RX

Reliability score: 88.2%

Like its parent company Toyota, Lexus prides itself on very strong reliability ratings, often topping owner surveys for how well they stand up to the test of time.

The RX is no small SUV, which makes its appearance in this list commendable. Radiator issues are most common, though repair costs on average are pretty low and only 5 per cent of owners with extended warranties have had to use them in the last half decade.

4. Renault Captur

Reliability score: 90.1%

Unlike the Lexus RX, the Captur is a small crossover SUV based on the Renault Clio. 

Around one in 20 owners had to make a claim for repairs in the last five years, with drive shafts being a common problem. Despite this, average claims amounts are very low, which contribute to an overall reliability score in excess of 90 per cent.

3. Mitsubishi ASX

Reliability score: 90.7%

The ASX is an often overlooked compact SUV, mainly because it has remained on the market for so long with upgrades being few and far between in that time. 

While it might lack the style and modern features of the latest models, it is at least durable. Average claim amounts are relatively high, though only a few owners experience problems, based on Warrantywise’s data.

2. Ford EcoSport

Reliability score: 93.2%

Ford’s EcoSport hasn’t proved all that popular in the UK, but buyers who are tempted by a used one are likely to enjoy relatively headache-free ownership, the figure suggest.

Just 4 per cent had repair bills so high that drivers deemed they should make a warranty claim, though the average amount paid out was just £135 – the lowest of all the vehicles here.

1. Renault Kadjar

Reliability score: 95.7%

This is a turn up for the books; a model from a French brand topping the used reliability standings for one of the least dependable car categories.

The Kadjar takes top spot, praised for having very short repair times and relatively low claim amounts, given it’s a mid-size SUV. Few owners had to call the warranty provider to cover costs of garage bills.

LEAST RELIABLE USED SUVS

10. BMW X5

Reliability score: 47.2%

Tenth in the list of least reliable SUVs is BMW’s large premium X5.

Almost a third of owners who are customers of Warrantywise have had to claim in the last half decade, and repairs weren’t cheap. That’s because the most common problem is with the suspension, which for a large 4X4 like this is costly to fix.

9. Land Rover Discovery Sport

Reliability score: 46.0%

Land Rover is a brand that doesn’t have a particularly strong reliability track record, so you might not be surprised to see the Discovery Sport feature in this list.

The most common issues are electrical gremlins, though average warranty claims amount to an excess of £1,300, which suggests they are difficult to rectify. A high volume of customers who own this particular model have had to use their extended warranties – around one in six.

8. Range Rover Evoque

Reliability score: 42.3%

The Range Rover Evoque places just ahead of the Land Rover Discovery Sport, which shouldn’t come as a shock as the two SUVs sharing the same platform.

Like the Discovery equivalent, electrical woes are most common, according to the Warrantywise information. However, more owners have had to use their cover, with over a quarter of Evoque-driving customers making a claim. Though average costs are lower than the sister car. 

7. Audi Q7

Reliability score: 32.3%

If you’re looking for a very big SUV with lots of premium feel, the Q7 is likely on your shopping list. However, Warrantywise data suggests used buyers need to purchase with care.

That’s because almost a third of owners on its books have made a claim for repairs in the last five years. Average claims are almost £1,250, with electrical issues being the most common problem. Buyers, check for warning lights on dashboards.

6. Range Rover

Reliability score: 29.2%

The Range Rover, similar to the Audi Q7, is a huge SUV with lots of premium features. But with luxury cars comes lavish repair bills, with owners of older models likely to need to spend in excess of £1,000 if something does go wrong.

And almost two in five Warrantywise customers with this vehicle have had to make a claim in the last half decade, which in total amounted to a massive £1.6million collectively. Suspension issues are most prevalent. 

5. Chevrolet Captiva

Reliability score: 28.0%

While other models in the least reliable SUVs list are large and expensive to buy, the Captiva isn’t that big or pricey. Which makes Warrantywise’s data incredibly worrying for owners.

More than half of customers with this model have made a claim in five years, and the repair costs average over £1,000. Wheel bearing issues are common. 

4.  Range Rover Sport

Reliability score: 26.1% 

The Range Rover Sport is another unsurprising addition, given that Which? recently announced it as one of the least dependable cars on sale. 

In the last five years, over £2.2million in claims have been made by Warrantywise customers who own of this model. Average claims are £1,264 and the most common problem is with suspension, which explains the high repair costs. 

3. Porsche Cayenne

Reliability score: 25.5% 

The Cayenne is Porsche’s answer to a large family SUV.  Like other rivals listed here, the repair costs have been pretty high for owners of older versions, averaging over £1,500, based on warranty claims.

This is a surprise inclusion on the list, as Porsche has a reputation for reliability, however, the cost of repairs are likely to be expensive hence its position. 

The most common problem lies with electrical gremlins. And almost a third of customers with extended warranties have had to use them in the last five years. 

2. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class

Reliability score: 22.4%

Almost half of Mercedes GL-driving Warrantywise customers have made a claim for repairs on their car in the last half a decade – and they’ve not been cheap.

The average payout is for £1,300, with suspension problems being a consistent headache for owners. On average, they’re taking around four days to repair, which is why it sits seconds in our list.

1. BMW X6

Reliability score: 20.6%

BMW’s largest coupe SUV is causing plenty of woes for owners when manufacturer warranties expire. Most of the problems raised by Warrantywise customers have been related to gearbox faults.

As a result, repair bills are particularly steep. The average cost to fix them is almost £1,900. And with more than a third of customers with these cars and an extended warranty having to make a claim in the last five years, it takes a worthy top (or bottom) spot in the least reliable SUV rankings.

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk