Ford Kuga

Hyundai Santa Fe

Kia Sorento

Lexus NX

Skoda Kodiaq

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace

Audi Q5

Volvo XC60

the-most-and-least-reliable-large-suvs

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

KUGA

So, as well as possessing sturdy interiors and capacious&nbsp;boots, they need to be dependable. That's where the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2019-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042">What Car?&nbsp;Reliability Survey</a> can help.

We asked nearly&nbsp;13,000 people to tell us about any faults that&nbsp;their cars had suffered during the past 12 months, how long the problem kept the car off the road and how much they'd had to pay to get it fixed.

Those that had the fewest problems and were cheapest to fix gained the top ratings in the study, while those that languished in workshops for days on end and racked up expensive repair bills were given the lowest scores. Here we name the&nbsp;most and least dependable large SUVs aged up to five&nbsp;years old.

<h3><a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6050985/WC2021">We're currently running our reliability&nbsp;survey again, so&nbsp;once you’ve read the&nbsp;story, please&nbsp;tell us about your own car.&nbsp;</a></h3>

Large SUVs are relied on by parents to ferry children around in comfort and safety.

=10.&nbsp;Volvo XC60 (2017-present)

The latest XC60 is proving pretty bulletproof. Although 20% of the cars we were told about&nbsp;suffered a fault, most problems were minor. Non-engine electrical issues were the most common, followed by the bodywork, engine electrics and&nbsp;fuel&nbsp;system faults.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Read our full Volvo XC60 review</a>

Top 10 most reliable large SUVs

All cars could still be driven and two-thirds were put right in less than a week with all work done under warranty.&nbsp;

Score 94.8%

Volvo XC60 (cont.)

Impressively, the previous generation XC60 is proving just as dependable as the latest version. Owners told us&nbsp;20% of their cars went wrong, with non-engine electrics the most common problem area. There were also a small percentage of reports of issues with the bodywork, the engine and its electrics and interior trim.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/4x4/used-review/n17383">Read our full used Volvo XC60 review</a>

=10. Volvo XC60 (2008-2017)

Three-quarters&nbsp;of cars were still drivable and were put right in a day or less, and all repairs were carried out for free.&nbsp;

Score 94.8%

Only 15% of diesel Kuga owners reported a fault, and the majority of issues were minor, relating to non-engine electrics. There were also some reports of problems with the battery and braking system.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n895">Read our full used Ford Kuga review</a>

8. Ford Kuga diesel (2013-2020)

Virtually all cars could still be driven and most were put right in less than a week; 86% of&nbsp;work was carried out under warranty, and no bills exceeded £750.&nbsp;

Score&nbsp;95.0%

Ford Kuga (cont.)

Nearly a quarter of Sorentos suffered a fault, with the braking system accounting for 14% of issues. Other problem areas included the engine and its electrical systems, interior trim and non-engine electrics.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sorento/4x4/used-review/n811">Read our used&nbsp;Kia Sorento review</a>

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/kia/sorento/4x4/deals">Save money on a Kia Sorento&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</a>

7. Kia Sorento (2015-2017)

Although three-quarters of cars couldn't&nbsp;be driven and many took more than a week to fix, all repairs were done for free.&nbsp;

Score&nbsp;95.1%

Kia Sorento (cont.)

We were told that 23% of previous-generation X3s&nbsp;suffered a fault. Engine electrics and the suspension&nbsp;were&nbsp;the most common problem areas, followed by a small percentage of issues with the brakes, engine and non-engine electrics.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/used-review/n829">Read our full used BMW X3 review</a>

=6. BMW X3 (2010-2018)

Virtually&nbsp;all cars could still be driven and nearly two-thirds were put right in a day or less; even better –&nbsp;all work was done for free.&nbsp;

Score 95.6%

&nbsp;

BMW X3 (cont.)

Owners said 19% of older CR-Vs went wrong, citing the exhaust system as the most common complaint, followed by the battery, bodywork, engine and non-engine electrics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/cr-v/estate/used-review/n790">Read our full review of the used Honda CR-V</a>

=6. Honda CR-V (2012-2018)

The vast majority of cars remained drivable and two thirds were fixed in less than a week.&nbsp;More than half of repairs&nbsp;were&nbsp;done for free, most bills ranged from £101 to £500 and only a small percentage of owners paid out more than £1500.&nbsp;

Score 95.6%

Honda CR-V (cont.)

Just under one in five (19%) of Q5s went wrong, with non-engine electrical issues the most common concern. Other problem areas included&nbsp;the bodywork, brakes, engine and exhaust.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Read our full review of the Audi Q5</a>

4. Audi Q5 (2017-present)

All cars could still be driven, but a third took more than a week to repair. However, all work was done under warranty.&nbsp;

Score 96.3%

Audi Q5 (cont.)

Only 17% of petrol-engined Kodiaqs suffered a fault, compared with 30% of diesels. Non-engine electrics were the biggest bugbear, followed by bodywork, engine electrics, exhaust and interior trim.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Read our full review of the Skoda Kodiaq</a>

&nbsp;

3. Skoda Kodiaq petrol (2016-present)

All of the faulty cars could still be driven and more than half were sorted out in less than a week. Even better, all work was done under warranty.

Score 96.5%

Skoda Kodiaq (cont.)

Petrol CX-5s had virtually half as many problems as their diesel counterparts, with 17% going wrong, compared with 30% of diesels. Non-engine electrics were the main issue, followed by bodywork and the gearbox/clutch.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Read our full review of the Mazda CX-5</a>

2. Mazda CX-5 petrol (2017-present)

Half of the affected cars remained drivable and were repaired in a day or less, and less than one in five took more than a week to put right. All work was done for free.

Score 96.9%

Mazda CX-5 (cont.)

Pick a petrol model if you want a dependable large SUV. The best of the bunch is the petrol Kuga, which had a fault rate of only 5% – in contrast to the 16% of diesel Kugas that went wrong.

What went wrong?&nbsp;Bodywork 5%, gearbox/clutch 5%

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n895">Read our full review of the used Ford Kuga</a>

1. Ford Kuga petrol (2013-2020)

Half of those cars could still be driven and were put right in a day or less. The others took more than a week to fix, but all work was done for free under warranty.

Owner’s view&nbsp;“This is my third Kuga and the second with an automatic gearbox. I’ve found all three dependable and well built”

Score 97.8%

Next: what about the least reliable large SUVs &gt;&gt;&nbsp;

3. BMW X6&nbsp;(2014-2019)

Just over 31% of X6s went wrong, with gearbox issues being the most common complaint, accounting for 19% of faults. Other problematic areas included the exhaust, infotainment, interior trim and non-engine electrics.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x6/estate/used-review/n903">Read our full used BMW X6 review</a>

The least reliable large SUVs

All of the troubled cars could still be driven, but one in five took more than a week to repair. Three-quarters of work was done for free, but owners who had to pay were faced with bills ranging from £50 to £750.

Score 88.2%

BMW X6 (cont.)

Owners told us that 34% of their X-Trails had suffered a fault, with the main areas of concern being engine and non-engine electrics. Other troublesome components included the brakes, engine and fuel system.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/x-trail/4x4/review/n51">Read our full Nissan X-trail review</a>

2. Nissan X-Trail (2014-present)

Two-thirds of those cars were drivable and the problem was rectified in a day or less, the others took more than a week to put right. While three-quarters of work was done under warranty, some owners were faced with bills that ranged&nbsp;from less than £50 to £1500.

Score&nbsp;87.6%

Nissan X-Trail (cont.)

What went wrong?&nbsp;Exhaust 23%, non-engine electrics 12%, engine 11%, battery 9%, bodywork 9%, interior trim 9%, brakes 7%, engine electrics 7%, gearbox/clutch 7%, infotainment/sat-nav 7%, air-con 5%, fuel system 2%, suspension 2% steering 1%

A whopping 49% of Discovery Sports went wrong, with the model chalking up problems in every one of our fault categories, as listed above. Half of cars could still be driven, but a third took more than a week to put right.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Read our full Land Rover Discovery Sport review</a>

1. Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014-present)

While 88% of cars were fixed for free, non-warranty repair bills ranged from less than £50 to £1000.

Owner’s view&nbsp;“My car has had a new engine and suffered exhaust fumes inside; fixed under warranty, but disappointing for the cost of the car”

Score&nbsp;73.1%

<a href="https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6050985/WC2021">The 2021 What Car? Reliability Survey is now open - tell us about your car here</a>

Land Rover Discovery Sport (cont.)

The most - and least - reliable large SUVs

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Plenty of space for all passengers</li> <li>Large boot with lots of clever storage solutions</li> <li>Good fuel economy and running costs</li> <li>All-round comfort</li> <li>High-quality interior finish</li></ul>

We define a large SUV as anything longer than 4.5 metres. These cars aren’t usually particularly cheap to buy or lease, so in return we expect a roomy cabin, a lengthy list of standard equipment and excellent cruising refinement. A few models in this class are two-wheel drive, but the vast majority have four-wheel drive for at least a modicum of off-road ability.

The Mazda CX-5 is firmly road-focused, but its 2.0-litre petrol engine is a strong, refined performer, making it looks good value for less than&nbsp;£25k. If you can stretch the budget a fair bit, the Audi Q5 provides a combination of comfort, driving prowess, quality and space that's hard to beat. Unlike some rivals, it can't be had with seven seats, though.

A more affordable, yet well-equipped alternative is the Peugeot 5008. It’s more than capable of coping with family life&nbsp;– and all versions have seven seats as standard.&nbsp;

Large SUV

Large SUVs are the must-have family motors, so they need to be practical, durable and dependable. We reveal the most – and least – reliable models

The most - and least - reliable large SUVs        

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV have all won their classes at the What Car? Car of the Year Awards in recent years, while the TT coupé is the most decorated car in the history of the ceremony.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

In many ways, modern Bentleys offer the best of both worlds, blending traditional British craftsmanship with modern mechanicals developed with the help of the company’s owner, Volkswagen.

The Bentayga SUV, for example, is closely related to Audi’s brilliantly engineered Q7 (another VW Group car). Yet the Bentayga still feels every inch a Bentley, thanks to its hand-finished interior and the fact that it’s available with Bentley’s outrageous W12 engine.

Other Bentleys you can buy today include the Flying Spur and Mulsanne saloons and the Continental GT coupé.

BENTLEY

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, which costs more than £100,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has six in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

BMW ALPINA

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

Jeep only makes SUVs, but it has plenty of them for you to choose from. So, whether you want something rugged enough to ford streams and climb mountains, or a more luxurious and family-friendly car, it has something to suit you.

Despite its all-American image, Jeep is actually owned by Fiat, meaning Jeeps often share parts with cars from the Italian giant; the entry-level Renegade, for example, has plenty in common with Fiat’s 500X.

However, perhaps the most widely recognised Jeep is the Wrangler, a model that has a dedicated fan base and which closely resembles the original Jeep which saw service in World War 2.

The brand’s future plans include new small and large SUVs, plus the introduction of fully electric models.

JEEP

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

When it comes to making a statement about how successful you are, there is no brand that shouts “I’ve made it!” more emphatically than Rolls-Royce.

If that’s all you want from your car, look no further. The firm has expanded its range in recent years, with the top-of-the-range Phantom saloon being joined by the Cullinan SUV, and other models including the Wraith and Ghost.

Whichever way you go, if you have to ask how much it costs, the chances are you can’t afford it. And, even then, the base price is unlikely to be what you end up spending, such is the list of alluring options on offer.

It’s also a moot point whether the cars themselves – rather than the image they portray – represents the very best way to spend your money. What Car?’s testers rate all of them positively but reckon that – if you’re buying with your head rather than your heart – there are other cars that you should also consider.

ROLLS-ROYCE

Once best known for its flame-spitting, rally-bred Imprezas, Subaru’s focus now is on cars that will appeal to a far wider audience, and especially one that values go-anywhere ability and no-nonsense values above all others.

The result is a mixed bag of offerings, none of which rise beyond being average in their class but most of which have facets that make them stand out from their rivals. Core to its range are the Forester and Outback SUVs, while the Levorg is a more conventional estate.

At other extremes, there’s also the BRZ, an entertaining coupé that is let down by its price and resale values, and of course the Impreza, which comes in a variety of forms, including a hot model.

SUBARU

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

Available to order now >

The most - and least - reliable large SUVs

Large SUVs are the must-have family motors, so they need to be practical, durable and dependable. We reveal the most – and least – reliable models...

We're currently running our reliability survey again, so once you’ve read the story, please tell us about your own car.

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