Compare the most reliable SUVs
High quality reliable SUVs from rated and reviewed dealers
Last updated May 19, 2024 by
Darren Cassey
Best reliable SUVs of 2024
The SUVs have officially taken over. No other type of car — be it hatchback, saloon, or estate — is selling better in the UK right now than an SUV. We have become entirely wedded to the idea of sitting up high and at the very least looking like we can go anywhere.
SUVs are often bought as family cars, and so they’ll need to be reliable and solidly built. No-one wants to miss a school run or have to cancel that holiday ferry booking because the family car has to go to the garage.
With that in mind, we’ve picked the 15 new SUVs most likely to provide solidly reliable driving, based on MOT reports, reliability surveys (including the Auto Express Driver Power ratings) and our own reviews team’s expertise.
2024
Car Of The Year Award
Battery range up to 295 miles
What's good
What’s not so good
Volvo’s newest model, the all-electric EX30, is one of the highest-rated cars we’ve ever reviewed here at Carwow, and it’s not hard to see why. The EX30 looks great, is exceptionally well-priced, and has decent real world electric range. It’s nice to drive, and has a cracking interior. Okay, so space in the back isn’t the roomiest out there, but other than that this is a true star car. Its reliability prospects look great too — Volvo doesn’t tend to make cars that aren’t exceptionally solid, and the basic model’s lithium-iron phosphate battery will be more robust than most others.
Battery range up to 349 miles
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What’s not so good
Kia’s big new electric SUV is one of the coolest-looking cars ever to come out of Korea. Half Range Rover and half Starship Enterprise in appearance, it’s a seriously large car (mind the gaps in town…) but that size pays off on the inside with plenty of space for six or seven people (you can choose the number of seats you want, and in the six-seat version, the ones in the middle can spin through 360-degrees. It’s a very smooth, comfy car to drive, and the rear-wheel drive model can put some serious distance between charges. As for reliability, Kia simply doesn’t make unreliable cars and backs that up with its famous seven-year warranty. In fact, Kia finished sixth in the 2023 Auto Express Driver Power ratings, beating out the big German brands in quality terms.
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What's good
What’s not so good
The Karoq will not go down as an all-time brilliant Skoda design when it comes to thrilling styling, but what it does very well is all the stuff you actually need. It’s massive inside, with plenty of space for five people, and the cabin is really well put-together too. Practicality is the Karoq’s game, with a massive boot and oodles of storage space for everyone inside. It’s an older design, so there’s no plug-in hybrid nor electric version, but the 1.5 turbo petrol engine is both sweet and economical and the diesel version will run forever. Skoda’s strong on reliability too, with a top-20 Driver Power finish, beating the likes of BMW, Suzuki, and even its owner, Volkswagen.
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Just like its parent company Toyota, Lexus has developed an enviable reputation for reliability thanks to products like the Lexus NX, a stylish SUV that is packed with tech and can offer incredible fuel economy if you go for the plug-in hybrid model. A three-year/60,000-mile warranty comes standard, but increases at each annual service up to a total of 10 years and 100,000 miles. Hybrid components are covered for five years/60,000-miles, and are known for their dependability.
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This mid-sized SUV is sporty, fun to drive and it’s packed with tech, although the boot is a bit tight and top trims can get pricey. Running costs can be kept down thanks to a range of efficient engines, like the 150hp diesel which delivers up to 50mpg. You’ll also benefit from Mazda’s impressive reliability record, though at three years/60,000-miles the warranty isn’t brilliant.
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The Kia Sportage is a sharply-styled family SUV with all the tech you could need and a well-built cabin. The sporty ride may be a bit uncomfortable for some, but it remains an impressive vehicle that should continue the outgoing model’s great reliability record. Kia’s belief in the reliability of its cars is underlined by its brilliant seven-year/100,000-mile warranty.
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The current-generation BMW X1 has just been replaced by a brand-new model, however it should continue to offer a similarly reliable driving experience just with the latest tech and design features the marque has to offer. Aside from the impressive new infotainment system and selection of efficient petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines, you also get a three-year/unlimited-mileage warranty as standard.
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The Lexus RX is a luxurious SUV with a sharp-looking exterior as well as a posh and spacious cabin. All versions come with a petrol-electric hybrid system of one kind or another, while the top trims are truly decadent. The RX range starts with the 350h, which is a standard hybrid with 250hp. Next up is the 309hp plug-in hybrid 450h+, which can officially cover around 40 miles on a single charge. Then, at the top of the tree is the 371hp 500h, which is also a self-charging (not plug-in) hybrid, and is aimed at driving enthusiasts. It has a conventional automatic gearbox rather than the CVT unit that is a hallmark of Lexus and Toyota hybrids. You also benefit from Lexus’s impressive warranty which starts off with basic three-year/60,000-mile coverage but extends with each annual service up to 10 years and 100,000 miles. Impressive.
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Toyota’s new C-HR picks up where the old one left off in offering really sharp styling — it’s properly space-age on the outside now — with familiar values of frugal hybrid engines and typical Toyota build quality. It’s not the roomiest car you can buy, so it’s more for downsizers than people with growing families, but it’s sharp to drive and capable of averaging better than 60mpg. And it’s a Toyota, so you won’t be bringing it back to the dealer with broken bits very much.
2024
Adventurer's Choice Award
Highly Commended
What's good
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There's less to go wrong with simple cars, and the Dacia Sandero Stepway is about as straightforward as they come. Essentially a raised version of the Sandero hatchback, the Stepway is one of the cheapest cars on sale in its most basic form, though we'd recommend 'stepping up' to mid-level Expression trim, as this brings full smartphone integration plus reversing sensors. Unusually, the Sandero Stepway can be had with conventional petrol engines or with a 'bi-fuel' setup that allows it to run petrol or liquified petroleum gas (LPG), which is significantly cheaper than petrol. Only a poor two-star NCAP safety rating spoils the show slightly, though this is partly due to a lack of electronic driver aids, with the Sandero scoring reasonably well for crash protection.
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While some will still have to ask exactly what a Cupra is, the Spanish brand (once part of Seat, now its own thing) is rapidly building a reputation for itself as a maker of quick, nice-to-drive, and certainly good-looking cars. This Formentor is a perfect case in point. It’s one of the lowest-slung SUVs out there, yet it’s still reasonably spacious inside, and it picks up Seat’s good reputation for making reliable and solid cars. It’s also fun to drive, especially the 310hp four-wheel drive model.
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The Toyota RAV4 has evolved over the years into a very capable family-friendly SUV with a spacious and practical cabin, and offers a range of self-charging and plug-in hybrid engines that promise low running costs. The CVT automatic gearbox may not suit everyone, but the warranty definitely will. As with the other Toyota models, the potential for 10 years/100,000 miles of warranty is a major selling point.
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Honda’s latest CR-V is a big, almost American-style SUV with square-edged styling and lots of space in the cabin. It’s a typical Honda product, with tremendous quality and the likelihood of long and faultless service, and the plug-in hybrid engine means that you can rack up some serious electric mileage if you’re diligent about keeping it plugged in. It is very expensive, though.
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The Honda HR-V is another new model which hasn’t had a chance to prove its long-term reliability yet, but so far it has proven to be a solid product and Honda as a brand always does very well in customer surveys. The outgoing HR-V was reliable too, and the new one has better tech, great efficiency and comes with a three-year/90,000-mile warranty. Hybrid parts get their own eight-year/100,000-mile cover.
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Another Japanese SUV with a strong reputation for reliability, the Suzuki Vitara may not have the most exciting cabin in the world, but it's a durable, affordable thing. The Vitara also comes with a decent amount of standard equipment, with all cars getting adaptive cruise control, plus full smartphone integration. Choose from the full hybrid self-charging version or the mild hybrid system - which is really just a sophisticated stop-start system.
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