Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs [Top Ranked Models]
John Goreham is a life-long car nut and recovering engineer. John’s focus areas are technology, safety, and green vehicles. In the 1990s, he was part of an academic team that built a solar-electric vehicle from scratch. His was the role of the battery thermal control designer. After earning his engineering degree, John also completed a marketing program at Northeastern University. For 20 years, he applied his engineering and sales talents in the worlds of semiconductor manufacturing, biopharmaceutical production, and automotive electronics supply chain. Always a writer, John has published numerous articles in technical journals such as Chemical Processing Magazine. In 2008 he retired from that career and dedicated himself to chasing his dream of being an auto writer. In addition to online publications such as Car Talk, John’s work has appeared in print in dozens of American newspapers, and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites.
Subcompact SUVs are often a recent college grad’s commuter vehicle. When your paid vacation is five or ten days per year, you certainly don’t want to spend any of them taking your car in for repairs.
Reliability plays a big role in determining our list of the best SUVs.
Small SUVs are also great family vehicles. No parent wants to be phoning roadside assistance with two kids in the back of the vehicle. Let’s face it; Reliability is a top concern for small SUV owners.
Here are the best five small SUVs for reliability.
Check out our overall picks for the most reliable SUVs here >>
- Most Reliable Subcompact SUVs
- Most Reliable Compact SUVs
- Most Reliable Midsize SUVs
- Most Reliable Full-Size SUVs
Table of Contents
Who Provided the Data for This List?
Our list of the most reliable small SUVs leans on data from owners collected and tabulated by three trustworthy sources.
First, Consumer Reports. We average a few years of Consumer Reports scores for each individual model.
Next, the J.D. Power & Associates Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). This study looks at the number of problems a brand’s three-year-old models have.
Finally, the CarComplaints tabulation of scary, high-likelihood problems that owners report on a given model.
Most Reliable Subcompact SUV Comparison
| Model | Consumer Reports Score (Higher Is Better) | J.D. Power VDS Score (Lower Is Better) |
| Lexus UX | ||
| Buick Encore | ||
| Hyundai Kona | ||
| Mazda CX-30 | ||
| Honda HR-V |
1. Lexus UX
The Lexus UX may not win any enthusiast vehicle specification sheet comparisons, but we tested it and found it a joy to drive.
The UX has a mellow vibe and just relaxes its driver on the highway or in traffic. On a twisty mountain road, we found the UX comes alive nicely and can be tossed around corners.
The UX earns the top spot on the strength of its J.D. power VDS ranking of number one. Like every vehicle in our top five, it has earned perfect Consumer Reports Scores.
Current Lexus UX Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Lexus | UX 200 | ||||
| 2022 | Lexus | UX 200 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Lexus deals here.
2. Buick Encore
We have referred to Buick as GM’s import brand, and indeed, the Encore is imported.
However, maybe we should call Buick GM’s quality brand?
The Encore came in second because its J.D. Power VDS brand ranking is a solid fifth overall in the industry.
Current Buick Encore Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Buick | Encore | ||||
| 2022 | Buick | Encore | 2.49% | $199/month for 24 months, $4,349 due at signing | 7/31/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Buick deals here.
3. Hyundai Kona
The Hyundai Kona is a strong model in the small SUV segment. It’s available in many affordable trims, sporty trims, and very well-equipped trims for under $30K.
There is also a Kona battery-electric vehicle.
Hyundai has been rising in the reliability charts for years and earns a solid third place on our list.
Current Hyundai Kona Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hyundai | Kona | ||||
| 2022 | Hyundai | Kona | ||||
| 2023 | Hyundai | Kona | $750 | 1.90% | $202/month for 36 months, $4,012 due at signing | 5/31/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Hyundai deals here.
4. Mazda CX-30
We’ve created many “Best of” lists, and when Mazda has a model that qualifies, our only question is, “Did the Mazda win?”.
It didn’t in this case, but fourth place on a list of the world’s most reliable small SUVs is still solid.
The Mazda CX-30 has a decent amount of interior space for its passengers, in the front and rear, considering its size as a subcompact SUV.
Current Mazda CX-30 Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Mazda | CX-30 | ||||
| 2023 | Mazda | CX-30 | 2.90% | $277/month for 36 months, $2,999 due at signing | 6/30/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Mazda deals here.
5. Honda HR-V
There was a time when Honda and Toyota owned the reliability game. That may no longer be the case, but Honda’s fifth-place showing on our top five list reflects that heritage.
The HR-V is a remarkably roomy small SUV and it’s clear Honda worked its magic inside.
We look forward to more Honda cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks on our lists to follow.
Current Honda HR-V Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Honda | HR-V | ||||
| 2023 | Honda | HR-V | 3.90% | $259/month for 36 months, $3,399 due at signing | 7/5/23 |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Honda deals here.
What Is the Most Reliable Subcompact SUV?
No vehicle segment has a tighter grouping of reliable vehicles than the subcompact SUV class. There are five that earn perfect Consumer Reports scores. However, the Lexus UX tops our list based on its brand reliability data. We’ve tested the UX, and we’d swear you can feel the quality when you drive it.
