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Jun 04, 2023

10 Cheap SUVs With The Most Durable Engines

Looking for an affordable, used SUV for sale? Make sure it has a reliable engine, just like the ones in these SUVs. Crossovers and SUVs made up almost 53% of passenger vehicle sales in the US last

Looking for an affordable, used SUV for sale? Make sure it has a reliable engine, just like the ones in these SUVs.

Crossovers and SUVs made up almost 53% of passenger vehicle sales in the US last 2022. That's roughly 7.3 million SUVs sold in just one year – more than the combined sales of sedans, hatchbacks, and pickup trucks.

Monocoque crossovers and body-on-frame SUVs offer the advantages of sedans and compact pickup trucks in one package. For instance, some crossover SUVs have passenger comfort and maneuverability that are comparable to those of some family sedans. In addition, the same SUVs may also have higher ground clearance, larger cargo and passenger capacity, higher tow ratings, and better road visibility than you can find in some compact or midsize pickup trucks. Finally, studies about vehicular accidents have concluded that during frontal crashes, crossover and SUV occupants are often better protected than those inside sedans and hatchbacks.

Because of the size, versatility, and popularity of crossovers and SUVs, they are often more expensive than the average family sedan or work truck. To avoid shelling out too much at the dealerships, many Americans flock to the used car market to get the best deals on used SUVs for sale.

When choosing among used SUVs for sale, it's important to prioritize car reliability as a criterion for selection. The most reliable car, SUV, or truck will spare you from expensive and unplanned repair and maintenance costs in the future. Take note, however, that while it's easy to see an SUV's rusty spots or hear its squeaky springs and hinges, it's not that simple to determine the engine's issues until you've driven the vehicle under varying conditions for some time. This is where expert reliability ratings and consumer reviews come in.

Based on cross-referenced reliability, vehicle review, and pricing data from Consumer Reports (CR), J.D. Power, and Kelley Blue Book (KBB), here are 10 cheap, used SUVs – all under $15,000 – with the most reliable internal combustion engines (ICE).

The 2017 GMC Terrain is the last model year of the nameplate's 1st generation, which used to be classified under the midsize crossover size class (it shifted to the compact size class in 2018). For 2017, the Terrain came with a base 2.4-liter I-4 engine (182 hp, 172 lb-ft of torque) and an optional 3.6-liter V6 powerplant (301 hp, 272 lb-ft).

As the 8th installment of the pioneer generation, the 2017 GMC Terrain had already overcome most of the reliability problems of the earlier models. CR gave the 2017 Terrain a 5/5 reliability rating for the "engine major" and "engine cooling" categories, meaning that its main engine components (engine block, intake/exhaust manifolds, timing chain, turbocharger, etc.) and cooling system (radiator, coolant lines, water pump, etc.) were very reliable. The 2017 Terrain also received a 4/5 score for "engine minor", meaning that there were some issues with the engine's minor components (e.g. engine mounts, oil seals, pulleys, ECU, etc.). Nevertheless, CR still gave the 2017 GMC Terrain a 5/5 overall reliability score, and J.D. Power echoed it with a "great" quality and reliability rating of 87/100.

The 2017 GMC Terrain currently sells for $13,950 to $18,475 in the used car market.

The Honda Pilot is the Japanese brand's largest model in the SUV segment. For 2014, the 7-to-8-seater midsize Honda Pilot used a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivered 250 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque (quite conservative for its displacement).

CR gave the 2014 Pilot a 4/5 reliability score for the engine major category due to an isolated incident that needed an engine rebuild. This incident aside; however, CR gave the 2014 Pilot perfect 5/5 reliability scores for the engine minor and cooling categories and a decent 4/5 overall reliability rating. J.D. Power also gave a great 84/100 quality and reliability score, which helps this midsize Honda crossover maintain a resale value of $13,225 - $16,525 today.

The Mazda CX-5 is a compact crossover that uses the Japanese automaker's sporty yet fuel-efficient Skyactiv engines. For 2016, the CX-5 came with two engine choices – a 2.0-liter I-4 engine (155 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque) and a 2.5-liter I-4 mill (184 hp and 185 lb-ft).

CR gave the 2016 Mazda CX-5 a reliability rating of 5/5 for the engine major and cooling categories. However, due to a few customer-reported problems with oil leaks and the engine control unit (ECU), the 2016 CX-5 only received a 4/5 reliability score for the engine minor category. Nevertheless, CR still gave the 2016 Mazda CX-5 an overall reliability rating of 5/5, which is quite good for a 7-year-old compact crossover that currently fetches $14,100 to $16,275 in the used car market.

The 2016 Honda CR-V won KBB's Best Buy Award for the small SUV group, and with good reason. The 2016 CR-V was also the last installment of the model's 4th generation, and it was more reliable than the earlier model years of its batch. For the 2016 model year, Honda gave the CR-V a 2.4-liter I-4 VTEC engine that produced 185 hp and 181 lb-ft of twist.

CR gave the 2016 CR-V a 5/5 rating for the engine major and cooling categories. Incidents of leaking timing chain covers; however, resulted in a 4/5 reliability rating for the engine minor category. All things considered, the 2016 Honda CR-V is a pretty reliable compact crossover – proven by CR's 5/5 overall reliability rating and J.D. Power's 83/100 quality and reliability score. A pre-owned 2016 Honda CR-V currently sells for $16,275 to $20,675.

The 2017 Chevy Equinox is an affordable but powerful compact crossover. For the 2017 model year, the Chevrolet Equinox came with a base 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine (182 hp, 174 lb-ft) and a formidable 3.6-liter V6 powerplant (301 hp, 272 lb-ft).

CR gave the 2017 Chevy Equinox a 5/5 score for the engine major and engine cooling reliability categories, as well as for overall reliability. A used 2017 Chevy Equinox still sells for $13,200 to $16,475 today.

RELATED: 10 Worst SUVs With The Highest Repair Costs

The Nissan Rogue – also known as the X-Trail in certain markets – is a relatively large 5-seater compact SUV, with an optional 3rd-row seating configuration for small passengers. Powering the 2015 Nissan Rogue is a 2.5-liter I-4 engine rated at 175 hp and 170 lb-ft of torque.

The 2015 Nissan Rogue received perfect 5/5 reliability scores from CR for all three engine-related categories. However, CR only gave the 2015 Rogue a 4/5 overall reliability rating due to some complaints about squeaky body parts and faulty power equipment problems. Nevertheless, this is still a great overall score, complemented by J.D. Power's "great" 82/100 quality and reliability rating. You can drive home a used 2015 Nissan Rogue today for $10,925 to $13,575.

The Toyota RAV4 – the world's best-selling SUV for 2022 – made this list of SUVs with the most reliable engines. For the 2014 model year, the ICE Toyota RAV4 came with a 2.5-liter engine that produces 176 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque.

CR gave the 2014 RAV4 a 5/5 reliability rating for the engine in major and minor categories. Unfortunately, some water pump issues resulted in a 4/5 engine cooling reliability score. Nevertheless, CR still gave the 2014 Toyota RAV4 a 5/5 overall reliability rating, and J.D. Power chimed in with an "average" reliability score of 79/100 (2 points away from a "great" score of 81-90). Today, a used 2014 Toyota RAV4 can still fetch $14,250 to $16,425.

RELATED: 10 Best SUVs That Combine Performance With Reliability

The Lexus RX was America's best-selling luxury vehicle for 2022. For the 2012 model year, this luxury crossover SUV came with a standard 3.5-liter V6 engine that produced 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque for the pure ICE variant. The hybrid Lexus RX used the same V6 and paired it with an electric motor to produce a total system output of 295 hp.

The 2012 Lexus RX received a 5/5 reliability rating for the engine major and cooling categories, as well as a 4/5 score for the engine minor category due to some reported oil leaks. Nevertheless, CR still awarded the 2012 Lexus RX a 5/5 overall reliability score, and J.D. Power joined in praise with an 89/100 quality and reliability rating. With these great scores, it's no wonder that this 11-year-old midsize SUV still sells for $14,725 to $15,775 in the used car market.

The 2011 Toyota Highlander is a 7-seater, midsize family SUV that entered the market with three engine options – two gas mills and one hybrid powerplant. The base I-4 engine produced 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque, while the 3.5-liter V6 option could pump out 270 hp and 248 lb-ft of twist. The 2011 Highlander hybrid was also rated for 270 hp using a 3.3-liter V6 that was augmented by two electric motors.

CR gave the 2011 Toyota Highlander a 5/5 reliability score for the engine major and cooling categories, but some oil leak issues resulted in a 4/5 reliability score for the engine minor category. Overall, the 2011 Highlander is still very trustworthy, as it received a 5/5 overall reliability rating from CR and an 81/100 quality and reliability score from J.D. Power. This midsize family SUV still sells for $11,475 to $14,225 in today's used car market.

RELATED: 10 Luxury SUVs That Are Actually Cheap To Maintain

Unsurprisingly, completing this list of used SUVs with durable engines is another Toyota. The 2008 Toyota 4Runner was the penultimate model year of the nameplate's 4th generation (2002 to 2009). For 2008, the body-on-frame, off-roading midsize Toyota SUV still used a 4.7-liter V8 engine that produced 260 hp and 306 lb-ft of torque. A smaller V6 alternative produced 236 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque for the 2008 4Runner.

CR gave the 2008 Toyota 4Runner a 5/5 score for all three engine reliability categories, as well as a perfect 5/5 overall reliability rating. J.D. Power also reported a great 87/100 quality and reliability score. Today, a used 2008 Toyota 4Runner can still fetch $11,400 to $13,600.

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Ron has worked in the strategy and marketing departments of a few automotive brands. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to analyze auto industry data to share with fellow enthusiasts.. or his pet dogs.