SUVs are the perfect vehicles for off-road driving or transporting a large family. Thanks to their excellent ground clearance and powerful drivetrains. Whether you’re off-roading or carting your family around town, safety and reliability are important factors to consider when choosing an SUV.
Based on most safety and reliability ratings, the safest and most reliable SUVs on the market are the Lexus NX, Honda CR-V, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, Chevrolet Equinox, Kia Soul, Buick Encore, and Mazda CX-5. Besides being reliable, these cars also comfortable and carry both people and cargo.
Lexus NX
The Lexus NX is one of the most beautiful and high-performing compact SUV models on this list. Apart from being very reliable, this SUV received a perfect rating in terms of crash tests from both the IIHS and NHTSA. This is an indication that it’s safe. A new Lexus NX goes for around $38,600.
Some of the safety features that the Lexus NX boasts of are lane keep assist, blind-spot warning, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic-high-beam headlights, pre-collision warning, and much more. The car is also spacious and fuel-efficient compared to other cars in its class.
Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid
Subaru is among the most reliable and safest car brands on the market and the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid is the most reliable Subaru SUV. It has an average annual repair cost of about $600, which is average for SUVs. The Crosstrek is safe and comes with some of the best safety features.
This plug-in hybrid SUV boasts features like blind-spot monitoring, reverse automatic braking, pedestrian detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and much more. What makes it even safer is that it’s equipped with Subaru’s EyeSight suite that contains functions like collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning.
Honda CR-V
Honda has been long known for its safe and reliable cars. The Honda CR-V comes standard with features like dual-zone climate control, blind-spot monitoring, heated front seats, and a 7.0-inch touchscreen.
With a base price of about $28,000, this model is the perfect family car as it’s also spacious and comfortable. And with an AWD system, you won’t have trouble cruising off-road. The small SUV is also fuel-efficient, which is important if you want to save some extra coins.
Apart from the Honda CR-V, the Honda HR-V is another safe and reliable SUV.
Toyota RAV-4
Toyota RAV-4 is very popular among young families and drivers. The main reason behind this is its safety and reliability ratings. According to the IIHS, this small SUV received good grades for its crash tests. Thanks to its exceptional safety features such as blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alert, brake assist, and lane-keeping assist.
Mazda CX-5
Another subcompact SUV with excellent safety and reliability ratings is the Mazda CX-5. As handsome as this SUV looks, it also comes with better handling capabilities and a comfortable interior. It has some of the best safety features in its class which include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and lane-keep assist.
Nissan Rogue
If you’re a new driver and want one of the safest SUVs on the market, then Nissan Rogue is an excellent choice. With a base price of $33,400, this 5-seater comes with tons of safety features that will keep the driver and pedestrians safe. Thanks to features such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and blind-spot warning.
Kia Soul
Kia Soul provides buyers with great value. It’s also one of the most reliable and safest SUVs on the market with an excellent base price of $22,900. Apart from its unique design, buyers can rely on this car as it offers a ton of safety features such as rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot collision warning.
Buick Encore
Buick Encore is not only uniquely designed, but it also provides comfort and space to users. It has a maximum of 48.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is exceptional. Additionally, it’s very safe as it’s fitted with several safety features like automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, and following distance indicator.
Chevrolet Equinox
It doesn’t come as a surprise that there are few American cars on this list. However, Chevrolet Equinox is one of them. It’s one of the safest and most reliable compact SUVs on this list. With a base price of $24,000, you get lots of safety features that include forward collision warning and pedestrian detection.
Volvo XC60
Volvo builds some of the safest and most reliable luxury cars on the market. Many Volvo owners have high praise for different Volvo models with the Volvo XC60 standing out. This model has passed many crash tests and is highly rated by Consumer reports.
Some of the safety features that the Volvo XC60 boasts of are blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and road departure mitigation. It also has a luxurious and spacious interior for offering comfort.
FAQ
What SUV has the fewest issues?
Toyota 4Runner is one of the SUVs with the fewest problems reported. According to many users, they applaud this SUV for having few issues to worry about over its lifespan. This car is followed closely by the Lexus RX, and Subaru Forester.
What to look for in an SUV
Apart from safety and reliability, you also have to consider gas mileage, drivetrain system, handling, performance, and cargo space. Mileage is very important, especially if you intend to go off-road. Finally, you should also consider comfort as not all SUVs are spacious.
What’s the difference between a compact and subcompact SUV?
A subcompact SUV is smaller than a compact SUV. It sacrifices cargo space, seating space, engine power, and features lesser features than a compact SUV. However, subcompact SUVs are cheaper and more fuel-efficient than compact SUVs.
Which car brands top the list of the most reliable and safest cars?
The car brands that consumers have a lot of trust in when it comes to reliability and safety are Toyota, Subaru, and Honda. Lexus, which is owned by Toyota, tops the list when it comes to the safest and most reliable luxury car brand.
Plenty of safe SUV options
With thousands of SUVs on the market, finding the best SUV is never an easy thing. There are many SUVs with high-tech and advanced features. However, not all of them are safe and reliable. But the models we’ve highlighted are reliable and proven.
