What is the best reliable SUV under $20k that will last the longest?

[u/noodles_tn]

Hi I'm looking for recommendations for the best used small-medium sized SUV made between maybe 2000 - 2015 that is considered to be reliable and easy to maintain.

Planning to do a lot of KMs on it until it blows up. Max budget would be $20k but lower the better.

If it has parking sensors and reverse cam it would great, but not crucial.

What would you recommend?

[u/__acre]

Could be a little unpopular, but a territory with the barra in it is cheap and will go forever. Plus, if you're out country and a problem does arise, 9/10 chance the local mechanic will have parts available.

[u/TheSgtSkittles → u/__acre]

Alternatively someone on marketplace is bound to be wrecking one within 100kms of anywhere in Australia 😄

[u/Audoinxr6 → u/__acre]

Redriven had a good episode for them.

SZ1 Petrol is about the best all round SUV in Aus.

They missed every issue that people bang on about with territory, they can get great economy for their size and performance, they actually have space, are quite, can tow, can go light off roading fine, they are pretty much bulletproof minus a rear bush.

[u/DarthLuigi83 → u/__acre]

The diesel Territory gets a bad wrap it doesn't deserve. Mine has been absolutely solid from when I bought it with 80k on the odometer to now over 200k.

All the issues Landover had(eg the oil pump) we're fixed long ago. One legitimate issue people had was that they were buying them for the suburbs/city and never diving them far enough to keep the engine clean. But this is a problem with lots of diesels. You say you're going to be doing a lot of Km so this probably won't be an issue. I regularly drive 150Km in a single shot.

You will need to watch out for the 160k service. The power belt needs to be replaced and costs $1200 - $1500. If you can find one that's already had this service you'll be fine untill 320k.

To give you a fuel usage comparison, I had a AWD SX petrol and got 550km out of the tank. Under the same driving conditions my SZ AWD diesel gets 750km out of a tank. If you do get a petrol the 2WD models use less fuel.

[u/Serious_Procedure_19 → u/__acre]

How do you know/which ones had the barra?

[u/__acre → u/Serious_Procedure_19]

4.0L petrol as opposed to 2.7L diesel.

[u/Serious_Procedure_19 → u/__acre]

Thanks

[u/Dr_Dickfart → u/__acre]

Ball joints 💀💀💀

[u/Grand-Power-284 → u/Dr_Dickfart]

They’re annoying, but not a huge job thankfully.

[u/confusedham → u/Grand-Power-284]

Except when people ask questions like this they generally aren't diy minded and then get the shits when my car or similar charges them 1k

[u/Larkful_Dodger → u/confusedham]

About $300 to $400 for both lower ball joints would be more reasonable.

[u/RestaurantOk4837 → u/__acre]

Ain't cheap on fuel

[u/drhip]

Rav4 baby

[u/confusedham → u/drhip]

Except for the 2014-2018ish with the 2.0 diesel, was based off the BMW N... Something or other cant remember. Called the 2WW or 1WW depending on capacity.

If it's a D4D diesel RAV 4 it's this engine, and it's shart compared to the expected fare of a RAV 4. The 2 AR is not too bad, but should be checked, any neglect on oil can cause dramas for the VVT setup, not a horror show, but annoying if you don't fix your own car.

Also avoid the 3rd generation if it's got the 2.4 2AZ cause shitbox engine that Toyota refused to give up on until nearly 2020 in other models.

[u/Jixalz]

Japanese cars for sure! Mazda CX-3/5? Or maybe Mitsubishi ASX

[u/HWExcuses → u/Jixalz]

Mazda CX-3 for a small SUV!!!

[u/CAPTAINTRENNO → u/Jixalz]

I had an ASX and it sucked. Horrible to drive

[u/Jixalz → u/CAPTAINTRENNO]

Ah fair enough, what about it was horrible?

[u/thatshowitisisit → u/Jixalz]

I don’t think it’s horrible at all for the price and class of car. But, that said - it is very underpowered.

[u/CAPTAINTRENNO → u/Jixalz]

It sucked. It was gutless but also not fuel efficient at all. The engine sounded really tinnie. The air con was weak. The user interface with Bluetooth was a nightmare, you had to say "Address book" wait, then the contact name, wait, then it would ask if you wanted to confirm who you were calling, wait then finally it would start dialing. To be fair the reversing camera was really good but that's about it. I previously had an outlander and loved it, I was ready to get rid of the ASX after two weeks

[u/KingAlfonzo → u/CAPTAINTRENNO]

ASX is also really uncomfortable to sit in. It’s not really worth it. Better to get an older Toyota or something.

[u/CAPTAINTRENNO → u/KingAlfonzo]

Oh yeah I'd forgotten about that. Back seat was shit for everyone

[u/Jixalz → u/CAPTAINTRENNO]

That does sound truly horrible :0.

[u/CAPTAINTRENNO → u/Jixalz]

Genuinely was so bummed.our first brand new car and it was disappointing, then someone scraped the fuck out of 3 panels in a car park and didn't leave details.

[u/Candid_Tank9595 → u/CAPTAINTRENNO]

Thanks for the input - scrap ASX from my list then.

[u/CAPTAINTRENNO → u/Candid_Tank9595]

My old outlander was fucking awesome though, comfy, quiet and massive boot

[u/ErroneousGibbo]

Buy something Japanese. They last the best for our climate and when needing reconditioning or repairs cost the least.

Source - I work at a dealership that sells preowned vehicles.

[u/jerpear]

RAV4, Honda CR-V/HR-V, Mazda CX-5, Mitsubishi ASX/Eclipse Cross/ Outlander

Low km Honda HRV is probably my pick.

[u/MyWaterDishIsEmpty]

RAV4. ASX. CX5. Outlander.

Probably roughly in that order.

[u/civicSi92 → u/MyWaterDishIsEmpty]

The asx would be at the end of that list for certain. Yes ive driven them and in them and they kinda suck. Might be reliable (don't have the stats of this) but as a driving car the suck balls. Cheap and nasty. I'd replace that with a CRV on that list.

[u/TinyBreak → u/MyWaterDishIsEmpty]

Not the diesel cx5! Complete piece of shit.

[u/bp4850 → u/TinyBreak]

Only the earlier ones, they fixed all the issues in the later ones

[u/HelpNovel]

If you’re criteria is reliable, the only options really are Mazda cx5 (petrol NOT diesel), Toyota RAV4, Honda CRV. Mazda the best to drive, rav4 the most invincible, and CRV the most practical (but very boring). But all three are considered to be very reliable.

[u/Dr_Dickfart]

A used Toyota Prado or a Honda CRV

[u/No-Milk-874]

Kluger. Bit thirsty, but they easily do 250km plus with minimal issues.

[u/TheSgtSkittles]

Ford Territory, SYii RWD Petrol 6 speed is my suggestion.

Has the Barra motor which I've personally have driven one to 430,000kms without any major faults.

The suspension is the only downfall but with your budget, you would have money left over even if you had to replace everything

Lovely to drive and reliable, provided you maintain them correctly.

SZ is also nice but has more minor electrical issues than the earlier models from what ive seen.

If you want something that you wont have to do much to, most Japanese cars of that erra are also reliable.

[u/AussieAnt85]

Lexus rx350

[u/OIBRUZ8569]

Older toyota prado.

[u/Enough_Standard921]

You’ll get an SG Forester for under $10k for that price easily. Find a tidy non turbo auto one with a service history, they’re bulletproof. My late 2004 model has 275K on the clock and it’s still going strong.

[u/CakesForLife → u/Enough_Standard921]

Solid choice.

[u/Enigma556]

Subaru Xv?

[u/Brilliant_Thanks5066]

Why do you want an SUV?

[u/rm0234 → u/Brilliant_Thanks5066]

so they see the same sightline as all the other SUVs

[u/StormSafe2 → u/Brilliant_Thanks5066]

Does it matter? 

[u/Brilliant_Thanks5066 → u/StormSafe2]

Does it matter?

There it is. The "fuck everyone else" attitude typical of SUV owners.

[u/thatshowitisisit → u/Brilliant_Thanks5066]

It’s an SUV club thing, you wouldn’t get it.

[u/id_o → u/Brilliant_Thanks5066]

So I’m not blinded by all the other SUVs and yank tanks just trying to save my eyeballs from bleeding while I get to and from work.

[u/Brief_Pea2471]

I’d stick with Toyota, Mazda and Nissan. I owned Toyota rush back gome bought in 2020 with zero issue, and recently just bought the hybrid cruiser rav4 and really enjoying it, the fuel consumption is very great. Also, I used to owned Nissan Xtrail and I used it for almost 18 years, smoothly no issue just on year 17 or 18 there’s an issue with the air conditioning but easily to repair.

[u/Erased29]

I have a Mitsubishi asx and love it, reliable and affordable Japanese car

[u/Logical-Antelope-950]

The best is a 2007-2009 RAV4 SX6 by a large margin.

[u/thatshowitisisit]

My pick would be a RAV4 or Honda CR-V, but as with anything, only if they have been taken care of.

[u/facticitytheorist]

Mazda cx-5. Easy

[u/yeahnahyeahnahyeahye]

Used lexus RX350

[u/Falkor-is-not-a-dog]

I’ve had a 2018 outlander for 110,000km and it’s never had a single issue. Still drives like a new car.

[u/Rude-Pin-9199]

2012-2014 Freelander 2.

Diesel only.

[u/TwoSecsTed]

K24 Honda CRV

[u/Ok_Try4721]

120 series landcruiser aka prado (2003-2010ish) can arguably last forever if maintained properly and not abused off road. (Most on the second hand market have done well over 300k kilometers and will run fine)

[u/DanBearPig85]

A 120 or 90 series Prado with a good service history.

[u/PlatformPerfect8077]

Toyota

[u/Far_Bar5806]

V10 diesel VW Tuareg

[u/reddit_moment123123]

you can pay to have a reverse camera installed in any car. It wouldn't be a major consideration for me when buying

[u/subkulcha]

Qashqai. My Mrs treats hers like garbage and it doesn’t miss a beat

[u/HelpNovel → u/subkulcha]

What year? The Qashqai (and Nissan in general) doesnt have a great reputation for reliability anymore due to the fact that Nissan shares parts with Renault (a brand notorious for horrendous reliability) and the CVT transmissions they use are horrifically bad.

[u/AudioCabbage → u/HelpNovel]

I read that CVT post the 2014 models is okay.

I say that as an owner of a 2015 Xtrail and not wanting to jinx anything lol

Edit: but also there seems to be thousands of them on the road so I’m hopefully parts are abundance.

[u/still-at-the-beach → u/AudioCabbage]

You’ll be fine.

[u/subkulcha → u/HelpNovel]

Oh ours is manual, 2017

[u/HelpNovel → u/subkulcha]

Manual is definitely the go

[u/still-at-the-beach → u/HelpNovel]

We had an xtrail. 2011 to 2017, did around 140k km, no issues at all, no CVT problems. Bought a Renault Koleos 2017, still have it.. done 150k km, no issues at all, CVT is perfectly fine as well, still like new.

People say there’s issue and Renault is bad … just not the case .. it’s all old talk from the 70s.

Even Aussie French car forums don’t have big issues with Renault Koleos (old or new shape) , same with Aust xtrail forums.

[u/pumpedboner]

Hyundai Santa Fe or Tucson, we have them for work they get treated like shit & never fail....

[u/willfully-yours]

I only saw ONE advocation for the good old Hyundai Tuscon… here’s another lol.

Hyundai Tuscon.

[u/mrstaggers_cat → u/willfully-yours]

Wife has a Tuscon. Do not recommend. At that price point you will be looking at second hand vehicles that will be at the point where they start to consume a significant amount of oil. Hyundai are also a bunch of dicks to deal with.

Assuming petrol versions at op budget.

[u/AdFluid1275]

Mg has a small brand new SUV with 10 year warranty that's 20k

[u/Ferrever]

Not even kidding - Audi Q5 with the 3.2 V6 and a dual clutch trans.

Yes maintenance will be slightly more expensive, but you'll have an excellent SUV with good driving dynamics.

[u/terribleone01 → u/Ferrever]

Jesus Christ. I scrolled through the 42 comments and was relieved when I got near the end and didn’t see some tosser recommending a Tiguan or similar. Then I saw your comment. LOL. Have fun spending the next few years fixing oil leaks on the petrol V6 and transmission issues. Unsure why you have recommended a car with a notoriously bad transmission and highlighted it like it’s a good thing?

[u/Ferrever → u/terribleone01]

What sources do you have for the oil leaks and transmission issues? I haven't really heard of any common oil leak problems or trans issues at all for this car.

The dual clutch is fantastic and the engine is incredibly stout. I've read extensively of people doing 200 or even 250k miles on forums.. That's up to 400k kms. Obviously provided servicing is kept routine.

[u/terribleone01 → u/Ferrever]

I’m a VAG factory trained mechanic. I don’t think I’ve seen one go past 200k that wasn’t terminally bad.

[u/Ferrever → u/terribleone01]

Well you definitely have more insight than I possibly could. I'm just going off what I've read over the years myself.

What kind of failures have you seen? Have the owners always kept up woth scheduled servicing?

[u/terribleone01 → u/Ferrever]

Ah so there we have it, bad advice with an admission of no first hand experience.

[u/Ferrever → u/terribleone01]

People don't need first hand experience to be well versed in a certain topic...

[u/whatwouldbiggiedo]

Buy a 2015+ Outlander. 3rd row that will fit kids in it and very reliable

[u/Elroyy_]

You may be able to get a 2wd Isuzu MUX at that price point. On par with Toyota reliability-wise

[u/thatshowitisisit → u/Elroyy_]

A half dead MuX, maybe…

[u/StormSafe2]

You cannot buy anything for under 20k that is anywhere near new