The Most Reliable Used SUVs to Buy in 2026

New SUV prices have climbed to a point where many household budgets simply can't stretch to cover them without real financial pressure. The used market offers a way around that problem, and unlike buying new, it comes with a track record: reliability data collected from thousands of real owners rather than projections from an automaker's engineering team.

This list ranks vehicles using J.D. Power reliability scores as the primary factor. Scores of 91-100 are rated "Best," 81-90 are "Great," and 70-80 are "Average." When two vehicles land close together, five-year ownership cost — covering maintenance, repairs, insurance, and fuel — breaks the tie. Together, these two numbers paint a fuller picture of what a vehicle actually costs to keep running, which matters more to most buyers than the sticker price alone.

The ten SUVs featured here, drawn from U.S. News & World Report rankings, cover everything from subcompact crossovers to full-size, luxury-badged trucks, spanning model years 2018 through 2023. Because J.D. Power's scores come from surveys of actual owners in their early years of ownership, a high number reflects lived experience across a large group of drivers rather than a manufacturer's promise.

1. 2020 Nissan Armada — 91 Reliability Score, 8,500-lb Towing

The Armada shares the top reliability score on this list, a 91, with the 2018 Lexus GX, but it edges ahead in the rankings thanks to a stronger five-year cost score (7.5 versus the GX's 6.9). A score this high is rare across the used vehicle population as a whole, effectively putting the Armada near the top of what real-world reliability data ever produces.

Its V8 outmuscles most full-size SUV rivals and feels confident whether you're merging onto a highway or crawling through city traffic. An 8,500-pound tow rating means boats, trailers, and campers within that range are within reach without any extra equipment — something the crossover-based SUVs in this class can't match. The tradeoff is at the pump: fuel economy lags the class average, which will show up in real dollars for high-mileage owners.

Inside, the Armada seats up to eight across three rows with genuinely adult-friendly space throughout, though cargo room behind the third row runs on the smaller side for the segment. Its body-on-frame construction — a trait shared with the GX — gives it an edge in durability under heavy loads compared with unibody competitors, and four-wheel drive on upper trims adds extra confidence when towing off pavement. For anyone who wants proven reliability and serious towing capability at the lowest ownership cost in the full-size class, the Armada is hard to beat right now.

2. 2018 Buick Envision — 90 Reliability Score, Best-in-Class Value

The Envision posts a 90 reliability score and the best five-year cost score of any vehicle on this list, an 8.3. Its strongest selling points are the ones the luxury compact SUV class doesn't always deliver together: dependable mechanicals, a hushed and comfortable cabin, rear seats that slide and recline, and fuel economy that beats most rivals in its class.

It won't out-luxury the priciest names in the segment, but Buick's brand has long been built around a quiet, well-insulated ride, and the adjustable rear seats add a practicality edge over competitors with fixed rear benches. One important caveat: skip the base engine, which is underpowered. Shop specifically for a used Envision with the optional turbocharged engine, since that's what gives it enough muscle for confident highway merging and passing.

Its above-average fuel efficiency also chips away at one of the biggest downsides of buying luxury — the ongoing cost gap between luxury and mainstream vehicles shrinks considerably here. And on price, the Envision undercuts its German rivals of the same age, which tend to cost more to buy, more to maintain, and in many cases score lower on reliability. For buyers chasing a luxury-feeling cabin without the luxury price tag or luxury headaches, this is one of the smartest picks on the list.

3. 2020 Kia Soul — Tied for Lowest Ownership Cost

The Soul scores 89 on reliability and ties the 2018 Toyota RAV4 for the cheapest five-year ownership cost on this list, an 8.5. It's also simply one of the least expensive vehicles here to buy used in the first place, which made it U.S. News's 2020 pick for Best Subcompact SUV for the Money.

Its boxy shape isn't just a style choice — the upright roofline and near-vertical rear glass translate into a surprisingly airy cabin with more headroom than sloped-roof rivals offer. Rear-seat passengers get real legroom rather than the cramped quarters typical of subcompacts, and cargo space is generous relative to the car's small footprint. Even the base trim comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 7-inch touchscreen — features that were optional add-ons on many competitors when the Soul was new.

Ride quality leans relaxed and comfortable, making it a pleasant daily driver despite its compact size. Because it's small, everything that scales with size — insurance, tires, fuel — stays cheap too, which is exactly what the ownership-cost score is measuring. For buyers who want the lowest possible purchase price and the lowest ongoing costs without sacrificing reliability, the Soul is tough to top.

4. 2018 Lexus GX — 91 Reliability Score, Genuine Off-Road Chops

The GX ties the Armada atop the reliability rankings with a 91, but a lower five-year cost score (6.9) pushes it to fourth place. That cost gap comes down to what the GX is: a body-on-frame luxury midsize SUV, a combination that inherently costs more to fuel and maintain than a car-based crossover.

That same truck-based platform, though, is what gives the GX real off-road ability that most unibody luxury SUVs simply can't match — steep, muddy, or unpaved terrain that would rattle a typical luxury crossover is well within its comfort zone, aided by crawl control and a locking center differential. The cabin lives up to Lexus's reputation for finish quality, with generous space in the first two rows; the third row is best reserved for short trips with kids rather than adults on a long haul.

Towing tops out at 6,500 pounds, more than most luxury crossovers in its class offer. Fuel economy and cargo space both trail the field, but for a buyer who wants a genuinely luxurious cabin, real trail capability, and strong towing — and doesn't mind paying more at the pump — an 8-year-old Lexus with a 91 reliability score represents excellent value against anything comparable being sold new.

5. 2022 Buick Encore GX — 90 Reliability Score in a Small Footprint

The Encore GX matches the Envision's 90 reliability score and posts an 8.4 ownership cost score, putting it just behind the Envision among the vehicles rated 90. Its biggest advantage is simply its size: compact exterior dimensions make it easy to park, maneuver, and live with in dense city environments where the bigger SUVs on this list start to feel unwieldy.

Despite the small footprint, the back seat offers more room than the exterior suggests — usually the first thing that surprises new owners. Cargo space measures 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expands to 50.2 cubic feet with them folded down, and a front passenger seat that folds flat adds extra versatility for longer cargo.

Strong safety ratings add another layer of value beyond the reliability number alone — a vehicle that avoids crashes as well as breakdowns costs less to own in ways the repair-focused scoring doesn't fully capture. Add in lower tire costs, easier parking, and better fuel economy than the larger SUVs on this list, and the Encore GX becomes the clear choice for urban and suburban buyers who don't need to tow or haul large cargo.