What are the Most Reliable SUVs in Australia in 2025?

Choosing an SUV with a reputation for reliability is one of the most important ways to reduce running costs over time.

While modern engine tech has advanced and regular maintenance for almost any vehicle is a great way to ensure longevity, SUVs from some manufacturers seem to weather the test of time better than others.

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at ten of the most reliable SUVs on sale here in Australia in 2025.

Most Reliable Small SUVs

If you’re looking for a pint-sized SUV package known for reliability and an ownership experience relatively light on headaches, you’ll want to keep these options on your shortlist.

Mazda CX-3

Mazda’s super-popular CX-3 is a small SUV that ticks all the important boxes for buyers, including that of reliability.

With a fuel-efficient engine, sharp handling, attractive interior layout and a well-priced lineup combined with Mazda’s reputation for reliability, the CX-3 is a no-brainer for any small car shortlist.

Toyota Yaris Cross

Toyota is a name you’ll see more than a few times on our list of reliable SUVs, with the company’s smallest SUV package, the Yaris Cross, remaining a very attractive option for buyers.

With a hybrid-only lineup split into four trim levels, there are a number of options across different price brackets, while Toyota’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty stretches out to seven years for the driveline when it’s serviced on time and within the network.

Lexus UX

Toyota’s premium arm, Lexus, offers a sharp and fuel-efficient small SUV package with the UX range while the company’s rock-solid reputation for reliability makes it a must-have on any shortlist.

With a lovely cabin design filled with the latest technology, the Lexus UX looks great inside and out, with the added bonus of a seven-year warranty for the battery in fully electric UX 300e variants.

Most Reliable Medium SUVs

If you’re looking for a family-friendly midsize SUV package that won’t fall to pieces overnight, we’d recommend keeping these at the pointy end of your shortlist.

Toyota RAV4

Ever wonder why the Toyota RAV4 is consistently Australia’s best-selling medium SUV?

Fuel efficiency plays a key role, for sure, but it’s undeniable that Toyota’s reputation for reliability is what helps to get buyers over the line and inspire confidence down the track.

Toyota offers the RAV4 with a five-year warranty that stretches out to seven years for the engine and driveline when you keep it serviced on time and within the network which has made it a favourite for Australian SUV buyers that prioritise reliability.

Mitsubishi Outlander

The Mitsubishi Outlander is a midsize SUV that offers both a typical five-seater layout as well as a three-row setup that can accommodate a family of seven, while its value proposition speaks for itself in the modern landscape.

One of the Outlander’s most important selling points is the outstanding warranty program that can stretch out to ten years when it’s serviced within the Mitsubishi network.

Subaru Forester

The Subaru Forester is another great option if you’re after a midsize SUV that can stand the test of time, while the all-wheel drive package makes it a perfect match for adventurous families.

Granted, Subaru’s boxer engines can be a little bit pricier to maintain than a more conventional engine layout, though if you keep it serviced on time and in line with the logbook, there’s no shortage of Foresters that have clocked up a lap around the moon…. or two.

Mazda CX-5

Mazda’s CX-5 is a midsize SUV that provides buyer with a surprisingly sporty nature, practical cabin and peace of mind when it comes to reliability thanks to Mazda’s impressive track record.

The CX-5 range is available with a choice of petrol engines, a 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol and a more powerful 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol, both of which have gone down a treat with Aussie buyers.

Honda CR-V

The Honda CR-V is one of the original SUVs ferrying families around well before it was cool.

As a result, it’s an impressive package that combines family-friendly practicality, great fuel efficiency in hybrid form and sleek looks, from a company renowned for engines that can run up hundreds of thousands of kilometres without breaking a sweat.

Most Reliable Large SUVs

Looking for a large SUV that can conquer the Great Outdoors and get you back home safely? Keep these atop your list of options.

Toyota LandCruiser

We haven’t mentioned a specific LandCruiser name here because everything from the hardcore 70 Series through to the Prado and flagship 300 Series are widely celebrated for their tough platforms and durability.

It’s not a coincidence that you’ll see LandCruisers in the most isolated and treacherous parts of Australia - and that’s before we even take depreciation and resale value into account.

Arguably the toughest and most reliable nameplate in the whole automotive world, the LandCruiser has rightfully earned itself a fierce reputation for dependability.

Nissan Patrol

The Nissan Patrol is a seriously tough unit - built to conquer almost anything you can throw at it.

A testament to the Patrol’s work-ready nature is the fact no shortage of them that have chalked up hundreds of thousands of kilometres around Australia, remaining a fan favourite for enthusiasts and those looking for a tough and dependable 4x4 wagon.

Ford Everest

The Ford Everest is another great option if reliability is a top concern, with its tough platform and well-constructed engine lineup making for an adventurous and super practical large SUV.

The Everest has become a smash-hit with off-road enthusiasts, a very discerning crowd that would not put their money behind a vehicle that wasn’t reliable.

Isuzu MU-X

The Isuzu MU-X is an impressive all-rounder that demands attention, particularly when it comes to value, practicality, towing and off-road abilities and reliability.

Isuzu’s 3.0-litre turbo-diesel engine has become widely known as a super tough and dependable unit, earning it a spot on our shortlist as one of the most reliable large SUVs on sale in Australia in 2025.

Lexus LX

Our list wraps up with Lexus’ closely related sibling to the almighty LandCruiser 300, the Lexus LX - a premium package that doesn’t compromise when it comes to longevity.

It’s built on the same TNGA-F platform as the LC300, comes with the same beating heart and is manufactured to the same high standards that have made Toyota an automotive giant with a rock-solid reputation for reliability.

FAQ: Which SUV Model is the Most Reliable?

It’s difficult to say exactly which SUV model is the most reliable, considering that with regular maintenance, many vehicles - even from manufacturers with a less favourable reputation for dependability - can hit 300,000 kilometres.

That said, pundits and the public alike tend to favour Japanese vehicles when it comes to reliability, which means that SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and LandCruiser, Mazda CX-3 and CX-5, Mitsubishi Outlander, Subaru Forester, Nissan X-Trail and the Nissan Patrol are widely recommended to buyers that prioritise reliability.

FAQ: What is the Best 5-Year-Old SUV to Buy?

If we had to put our money behind a five-year-old SUV purely in the context of reliability, as predictable as it is to say, it would more than likely have a Toyota badge on the front and a LandCruiser badge on the rear.

That said, we’d be very comfortable buying a five-year-old Mazda 5, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Subaru Forester or Nissan X-Trail so long as they were serviced on time and consumables were replaced according to the logbook.

FAQ: Which SUV Has the Longest Life Expectancy?

It’s impossible to say exactly which SUV has the longest life expectancy simply because, with regular, preventative maintenance, almost any engine can be kept in smooth running order; though you’ll need to pay for the pleasure.

As a result, SUVs like the Toyota LandCruiser are often used as the benchmark for sheer life expectancy - many of which are still running decades and half a million or more kilometres after they first hit the road.

FAQ: How Do We Measure SUV Reliability?

For the most accurate data possible, we’re using findings of the latest J.D Power Dependability Study from 2024, which uses consumer reports from more than 30,000 vehicle owners.

While the results are from the U.S., the dataset remains one of the most accurate means of measuring SUV reliability due to the volume of responses directly from SUV owners.

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