The sports utility market has evolved a lot since the early days, going from the early and simplistic designs of the 1970s to the advanced and fuel-efficient crossovers of today. The SUV was designed to be a practical vehicle that combines the utility of having a full-sized pickup truck with the comfort of a family sedan or a minivan. Because minivans aren't the most powerful vehicles, it can be difficult to take these vehicles off-road or on vacation; thus, the SUV boom was born during the later part of the 1990s. This boom sparked the luxury-SUV craze as well as the nation's love for mini-SUVs such as the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CRV, both of which have gone on to sell millions of units all over the world.
There are hundreds of different sport utility vehicles that have hit the market over the years, and although the market took a hit during the 2008 recession, there are more consumers seeking out sport utility vehicles than ever before. Many of these vehicles were built with quality components, and then many others were rushed to the market and suffer from reliability issues that have plagued the brands and consumers. When it comes to choosing an SUV choosing one that'll last and be dependable is quite the challenge because there have been so many different models over the years, and although many are quite reliable, there are others that aren't worth the sheet metal that they're made from.
20 Toyota Venza (Built To Last)
The Toyota Venza is a model that was built to offer a larger alternative to the Toyota Rav4, and the Venza continues to build upon the legendary Toyota reliability.
The Venza was lauded for above-average performance and an exterior that wasn't only very handsome but also combined a good deal of functionality, which made the Venza a winning combination. (Motor Trend)
The Toyota Venza also retains a good amount of resale value, which has made it popular among dealerships and value-oriented consumers.
19 Cadillac Escalade EXT (Built To Crumble)
The Escalade EXT, which is the Cadillac variant of the Chevrolet Avalanche, was a far cry from the quality standards of the original Escalade.
This model is known for having electrical failures all through the vehicle, with many owners complaining about a plethora of different problems. Then, the build quality of the 6.0L engine was also questionable. (Cargurus.com) The Escalade EXT never really managed to sell in high numbers, and finding one that hasn’t been trashed by huge rims and negligence is a difficult task.
18 Chevrolet Blazer (Built To Last)
There's no doubt that you've seen a little Chevrolet Blazer making its way up your block at some point in your life. These SUVs are everywhere and were one of the bestselling Chevy vehicles of the 1990s.
Powered by the reliable Vortec V6 engine, these Blazers were comfortable family vehicles for someone who needed off-road ruggedness with a comfortable interior forhis family.
These Blazers were lauded for their features and performance, and they're among one of the most reliable used cars that you can find. (Edmunds)
17 Ford Explorer 2nd Generation (Built To Crumble)
The 2nd generation Ford Explorer is one of the most popular SUVs of the 1990s with literally millions of examples still on the roads today. This was the first generation of the Ford Explorer that featured a V8 engine as well as many refinements in comfort features. Unfortunately, this is also one of the most unreliable Ford Explorers on the road. In fact, it was the poster child for the humongous Firestone lawsuits of the early 2000s where it was discovered that this generation of Explorer was designed with a weakened roof. (Motor Trend)
16 Chevrolet Tahoe First Generation (Built To Last)
The first generation of the Chevrolet Tahoe was released in 1995, combining a powerful V8 engine with a big, comfortable design. This generation of the Chevy Tahoe is one of the most long-lasting and reliable vehicles on the road, and there's a good chance that you've seen at least one of these beasts driving around. These models are extremely comfortable, and they have a hugenumber of aftermarket mods that are currently availableto those who want to add to the exterior and the interior appearances of this vehicle. (Cargurus.com)
15 Suzuki Vitara First Generation (Built To Crumble)
This little SUV is the often forgotten twin of the Chevrolet Tracker, and it suffered from a general cheap build quality and a lack of features compared to its counterpart.
The basic Vitara never featured many of the comforts or features that the tracker did, and these models are generally in worse shape for their age.
The Vitara also had lackluster performance, and many consumers have complained about the inferior interior build quality as well, making this a model that'll not really stand the test of time. (Cargurus.com)
14 Ford Explorer Third Generation (Built To Last)
The Ford Explorer third generation, which was released in 2002, was a much more refined and larger addition to the Explorer family. This model also took care of the weakened roof that was involved in all of the previous lawsuits of the second generation model. This Explorer also features a much more powerful V8 motor, which propels the SUV to new heights in terms of towing and performance refinement. Ford redesigned many aspects of this SUV to appeal to the modern family who needs an efficient SUV to handle daily tasks. (Motor Trend)
13 GMC Envoy V6 (Built To Crumble)
The GMC Envoy was one of the most popular SUVs at the turn of the century as the world was introduced to more of these stylish and large family haulers.
The GMC Envoy was sold in a V6 and V8 combination, and unfortunately, the V6 isn't one of the more preferred packages for most owners of this variable SUV.
The V6 has suffered from numerous reliability issues, and it just has lackluster features when it comes to trying to propel this large SUV where it needs to go. (Motor Trend)
12 Honda Pilot (Built To Last)
When Honda entered the midsize SUV market, they did so with the one-of-a-kind Pilot, and this is, by far, one of the best pre-owned SUVs that you can buy. Combining Honda reliability with a one-of-a-kind quality interior and exterior, these SUVs hold their value well over 200k miles and will continue to have higher than average resale values because of the Honda name. The Honda-derived V6 engine is also surprisingly powerful and gets the job done in piloting this seven-passenger beast to and from where you’ll need to go. (Cargurus.com)
11 Isuzu Trooper (Built To Crumble)
Where do we start with the Isuzu Trooper? This SUV was known in the 1990s as the infamous Consumer Reports victim of rollover accidents, and after that point, it got the reputation for being a rollover machine. That's the least of the Troopers' issues, though, as the main issue on these SUVs is a transmission that loves to fail. This is the main complaint among consumers who've purchased this boxy SUV and had to suffer the cost of replacing the transmission prematurely. (Edmunds)
10 Nissan Pathfinder (Built To Last)
The venerable Nissan Pathfinder is one of the best SUVs to ever roam the planet, and the SUV continues to dominate the used-car market as a stellar alternative to many new options.
This SUV is known for having one of the most reliable V6 motors that thereare, and the one-of-a-kind off-road suspension makes this a superior performer in any terrain.
The Nissan Pathfinder is an excellent value for a sports utility vehicle that combines style with real-world function. (Edmunds)
9 Mercury Mountaineer (Built To Crumble)
The Mercury Mountaineer is the long-forgotten brother of the Ford Explorer, and this model is generally unreliable in many aspects compared to its Ford counterpart. The first issue has a lot to do withmany of the interior electrical features that seem to go out after a good deal of usage, and these features can range from the heated seats to the electric window motors. The Mountaineer also has a lot of issues with the exterior paint peeling, especially on the two-tone models that feature the light-up running boards. (Edmunds)
8 Saturn Vue (Built To Last)
The Saturn Vue was the first SUV to be marketed under the Saturn brand, and it's actually one of the more reliable models that are currently for sale.
This is due to the fact that the Saturn Vue has a Toyota-derived motor, which means that a lot of consumers didn’t know that they were getting Toyota reliability in a Saturn package.
The Vue was also sold in a Redline package, which features a supercharged motor and ground effects kits, making for a fun and one-of-a-kind little SUV to cruise around in. (Edmunds)
7 Dodge Dakota First Generation (Built To Crumble)
The first generation of the Dodge Dakota pickup truck wasn't the most reliable, by any means, and this was mainly due to the fact that Chrysler was sticking to a budget at the time of development. Thus, the Dakota is really derived from quite a few vehicles in the Chrysler parts bin, and the reliability has been shown to be lackluster, especially in the V6 and four-cylinder variations of this popular compact truck. The resale value on this truck is also very low, which means that if you can find one in good shape, it can be affordable. (Cargurus.com)
6 Toyota 4Runner (Built To Last)
The Toyota 4Runner has been the favorite SUV of consumers for quite a few decades, and this is due to the stellar reliability and off-road capability that makes this SUV a welcome addition to anyone's driveway.
The Toyota 4Runner has an excellent ground clearance in all of its generations, which makes it a great vehicle for weekend ski trips or outdoor activities.
And with the Toyota knack for quality, the 4Runner is known to run upwards of 400k miles, making it very reliable. (Cargurus.com)
5 Suzuki XL7 (Built To Crumble)
The Suzuki XL7, which was basically a stretched Vitara, is another form of poor judgment that came from the very small Japanese automaker. The XL7, although a good thought, was shown to be really unreliable in its first generation, and the stretched platform put a strain on the transmission that was really only meant to pull a little Vitara around, and it even struggled to do that. The XL7 did have good off-road capability, though, and it was the first compact SUV to feature three rows of seating. (Edmunds)
4 Kia Sportage (Built To Last)
The Kia Sportage, in all generations, is a winner, with a combination of stellar reliability and one-of-a-kind craftsmanship that makes the SUV aunique investment like no other.
These little SUVs are known for having a reliable and easy-to-work-on motor that makes them a great car for beginners or someone who needs a small tow-behind truck.
The quality of the Sportage has also increased in past years, and the very first models featured a removable top, which was great for driving around during the summer months. (Cargurus.com)
3 Pontiac Torrent (Built To Crumble)
The final years at Pontiac weren't pretty ones, and after the success of the G6 Sedan and Coupe, many of the other cars were just lost and rebranded attempts for interest in the company to be regained. Take the tired Pontiac Torrent, for example. This was just a clone of the Chevrolet Equinox and really offered nothing of value over that model. Although a handsome little SUV, the Torrent suffered from reliability issues, and Pontiac's overuse of chrome rings in their interiors makes this not one of their best efforts after the Aztek. (Edmunds)
2 Lexus RX300 (Built To Last)
The Lexus RX300 is the poster child of golf courses and retirees who've needed someone that'll take them around town in style and comfort. The RX300 is a one-of-a-kind luxury SUV that's made a name for itself in the luxury world, thanks to not only being the original crossover SUV of the new decade but for also having one of the most reliable engines around. Inside, consumers are also greeted by the legendary Lexus comfort that comes with their quality vehicles, making this an excellent used SUV. (Edmunds)
1 Honda Passport (Built To Crumble)
The Honda Passport is a shame to Hondas everywhere, and you might wonder how this can be. Well, the Honda Passport was a feeble attempt to get in on the SUV craze of the '90s, and rather than design a new model, Honda took the Isuzu Rodeo and slapped some badges onto it. This model ended up suffering from many of the same reliability problemsthat the Isuzu Rodeo did, and this model never gained the stellar reputation that most Honda models have for reliability. There was nothing, really, that made this SUV a Honda at all; every part of this truck was derived from Isuzu, except for the Honda badges. (Edmunds)
Sources: Cargurus.com, Edmunds
