For used-SUV shoppers comparing estimated annual repair costs, the Honda CR-V leads this shortlist at $407, followed by the Hyundai Tucson at $426 and Toyota RAV4 at $429. These are RepairPal estimates for unscheduled repairs and maintenance—not guarantees, routine-service budgets, or predictions for a specific vehicle. Pair them with model-year reliability guidance and a careful inspection before buying.
What “low maintenance cost” means for these used SUVs
RepairPal’s 2026 compact- and midsize-SUV pages estimate annual unscheduled repair and maintenance costs by model. The figures aggregate across model years and are useful for comparing broad patterns, but they do not estimate the next bill for a particular listing. The underlying reliability ratings cover 2010–2019 model years; RepairPal says its rating combines repair cost, frequency, and severity. Its definition of a severe repair is a repair costing three times the average annual repair cost across all models. RepairPal’s compact-SUV methodology and estimates and its midsize-SUV estimates explain the scope.
Consumer Reports’ 2026 used-SUV guide provides a separate lens: it identifies selected 2015–2024 model years with above-average reliability and shows used-price bands. Its CR Recommended marker identifies models that stood out in testing and had multiple years of better-than-average reliability. These are year-specific recommendations, not endorsements of every year in a model’s generation. See Consumer Reports’ 2026 Buying Guide, “Reliable Used Cars for Every Budget,” pages 127–129.
10 used SUVs to consider for lower repair costs
The list is organized by vehicle type, not as a definitive ranking of the best individual used vehicles. RepairPal’s figures below are its 2026 annual estimates for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. Consumer Reports’ year ranges indicate selected years shown as above-average in its 2026 guide; they do not mean every intervening year qualifies.
#1 Best Overall
| SUV | Type | RepairPal annual estimate | Selected years in Consumer Reports’ 2026 guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Compact | $407 | 2015–16, 2019, 2020–22, 2024 |
| Toyota RAV4 | Compact | $429 | Selected years from 2015 through 2024 |
| Toyota Venza | Midsize | $444 | 2015, 2021–24 |
| Mazda CX-5 | Midsize | $447 | Selected years from 2016 through 2024 |
| Hyundai Tucson | Compact | $426 | 2020–21 |
| Kia Sportage | Compact | $462 | 2020–24 |
| Toyota Highlander | Midsize | $489 | Selected years from 2015 through 2022, including selected Highlander Hybrid years |
| Subaru Crosstrek | Compact | $492 | 2020–24 |
| Toyota 4Runner | Midsize | $514 | Selected years from 2015 through 2022 |
| Honda HR-V | Compact | not stated for this model in the cited RepairPal pages | 2018, 2020–24 |
For the CR-V, RAV4, Tucson, Sportage, Crosstrek, and HR-V, consult RepairPal’s compact-SUV estimates. For the Venza, CX-5, Highlander, and 4Runner, consult its midsize-SUV estimates. RepairPal’s compact-class average is $521 per year, and its midsize-class average is $573 per year, on those 2026 pages. These averages give context to the model estimates, but do not establish what any one used SUV will cost to maintain.
Compact SUVs
Honda CR-V: Its $407 estimate is the lowest among the ten candidates. Consumer Reports lists selected years—2015–16, 2019, 2020–22, and 2024—so use the guide to narrow a search to a supported year rather than assuming every CR-V is equally reliable.
Toyota RAV4: RepairPal estimates $429 annually, while Consumer Reports lists selected years from 2015 through 2024. The two sources support considering multiple generations, but the exact model year and the condition of the specific vehicle still matter.
Hyundai Tucson: Its $426 estimate is below RepairPal’s compact-SUV average. Consumer Reports’ guide identifies 2020–21, so shoppers should not extend that recommendation automatically to other Tucson years.
Kia Sportage: RepairPal estimates $462 per year, and Consumer Reports includes selected 2020–24 years. This makes the specific year a meaningful part of the comparison.
Subaru Crosstrek: Its estimated $492 is still below the compact-class average. RepairPal places it first in its compact-SUV reliability list, and Consumer Reports lists selected 2020–24 years; the RepairPal position reflects its reliability rating, not a claim that it has the lowest annual cost.
Rank #4
Honda HR-V: Consumer Reports lists selected 2018 and 2020–24 model years. RepairPal’s older overall reliability page says the HR-V led its 2019 reliability rating, but that is not a current model-year repair-cost estimate, so no comparable annual figure is supplied here. CarEdge’s brand-level maintenance estimates should not be used to fill that gap: they are for brands over 10 years, not this SUV model.
Midsize SUVs
Toyota Venza: RepairPal estimates $444 per year, and Consumer Reports lists 2015 and 2021–24 model years. The gap between those year groups makes checking the exact year especially important.
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Mazda CX-5: The $447 estimate is below RepairPal’s midsize-class average. Consumer Reports lists selected years from 2016 through 2024, rather than giving blanket approval to the full range.
Toyota Highlander: RepairPal estimates $489 annually. Consumer Reports lists selected 2015–22 years and selected Highlander Hybrid years; check the guide’s year and powertrain details rather than assuming the standard and hybrid versions have identical evidence.
Toyota 4Runner: Its $514 estimate is below RepairPal’s midsize-SUV average, and Consumer Reports lists selected 2015–22 years. The estimate does not include the cost of fuel, insurance, purchase price, or a specific vehicle’s condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are Toyota RAV4s or Honda CR-Vs cheaper to maintain?
On RepairPal’s 2026 model estimates, the CR-V is lower: $407 per year versus $429 for the RAV4, a $22 difference in the estimates. Both models appear in Consumer Reports’ 2026 guide across selected years from 2015 through 2024. That comparison is useful as a starting point, not a verdict on two individual listings: the figures aggregate across model years and do not account for maintenance history, mileage, local labor rates, or repairs coming due.
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- Choose the size and capability you need. Compare compact and midsize space, passenger and cargo needs, and any capability requirements before focusing on a small difference in estimated repair cost.
- Check the exact model year. Use Consumer Reports’ year-specific chart; a favorable year does not establish reliability for every year in the same generation.
- Compare the full cost of ownership. RepairPal’s estimate is not a routine-service schedule or a total-ownership figure. Separately consider the local asking price, scheduled service, fuel economy, insurance, and depreciation.
- Review the vehicle’s records and condition. Check its history and maintenance documentation, then arrange an independent pre-purchase inspection. A model-level reliability estimate cannot reveal prior damage, deferred service, worn tires or brakes, or the next repair needed on that vehicle.
- Compare actual candidates on equal terms. If two listings are close, compare year, mileage, service history, inspection findings, equipment, and price. A well-maintained example of a model with a higher estimate can be a better buy than a neglected example with a lower one.
How to interpret brand-level maintenance estimates
CarEdge estimates 10-year accumulated brand maintenance costs of $5,470 for Toyota, $6,799 for Honda, and $7,381 for Mazda; the page does not specify an estimate year. These are brand-level figures, not SUV-specific estimates, and they use a different time span and measure than RepairPal’s annual model-level unscheduled repair estimates. They cannot establish whether a particular RAV4 costs less to maintain than a particular CR-V or CX-5.
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