We here at Consumer Reports take reliability very seriously. Each year, we collect data on over one million cars, tracking details of how each car has held up and, if something went wrong, what was it. It is so important to us that if we find out a car is not reliable; even if we loved it in our initial tests, we won’t recommend an unreliable model.
Small SUVs make up is the fastest growing segment among new cars. That means there are all kinds of new players. So which ones are the best? Which ones should you avoid? We can help make sense of it all by showing you the most and least reliable small SUVs from our 2014 survey.
Least reliable:
Ford Escape
Base MSRP range: $23,100 - $31,260
This involves models with the non-turbo four-cylinder and the 1.6-liter EcoBoost engines. The latter did not provide the same kind of fuel economy as some competitors. Our road tests found the controls on the Escape were complicated and confusing to use, even if you did not select the uprated MyFordTouch. That was echoed in the reliability survey, where the Escape’s infotainment scored poorly.
Jeep Cherokee
Base MSRP range: $22,995 - $30,395
Be it the four-cylinder or six-cylinder version, the Cherokee’s nine-speed automatic transmission scored low in the survey. The Uconnect infotainment system also didn’t score well. In our road test, we found that the nine-speed automatic did not have smooth shifts and the vehicle wasn’t very comfortable on long drives.
Jeep Patriot
Base MSRP range: $16,695 - $26,695
Interestingly, the Patriot has been relatively trouble free in the past. For this survey, however, reliability dropped to below average.
Most reliable:
Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Base MSRP range: $19,595 - $24,195
Interestingly, we did not recommend the Outlander Sport. In our road test, we found the ride choppy and the handling was not that sporty. But the people have spoken, and the Outlander Sport came back as the most reliable small SUV in the survey.
Subaru Forester
Base MSRP range: $22,195 - $33,095
The Outlander Sport was closely by the Subaru Forester as the second most reliable small SUV in our survey. This Subaru has class-leading fuel economy, great practicality, and visibility that is hard to find in just about any other modern car.
Subaru Crosstrek XV
Base MSRP range: $21,995 - $29,295
It might be a high-riding Impreza wagon, but that positions the Crosstrek XV as an affordable option in the small SUV category. We found it to have simple controls and solid fuel economy– and it scored very well in our reliability survey.
For more information, visit our complete guide to car reliability. LINK
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