10 Of The Cheapest SUVs To Maintain

Typically, SUVs are large and heavy vehicles, and that comes with a number of benefits, but also some disadvantages too. For instance, SUVs usually require large, powerful engines to motivate them, which leads to high running costs and expensive servicing. The extra weight of an SUV over a smaller sedan or hatch also takes its toll on suspension and braking components, which will often translate into increased maintenance costs too. However, low maintenance SUVs are out there, and we’ve proven that by highlighting 10 of the cheapest using CarEdge’s estimated five-year maintenance costs.

This article takes a look at some of America’s cheapest-to-run SUVs of recent years, using CarEdge’s five-year maintenance cost estimates to rank, saving the cheapest until last. In an effort to prioritize more affordable models, every SUV here sports a starting price below $40,000, with many considerably south of that figure.

10

Nissan Kicks

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,341

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $21,340
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 83/100

The 2024 Nissan Kicks is a cheap and cheerful subcompact SUV, powered by a 122-horsepower 1.6-liter inline-four, hooked up to a CVT automatic. While the performance may be uninspiring, Nissan’s simplistic powertrain is impressively frugal and cheap to maintain too, as evidenced by CarEdge’s estimated five-year maintenance cost of just $2,341 – breaking down to an average of just $486 annually. Furthermore, J.D. Power agrees, awarding the 2024 Kicks a respectable score of 83/100 for quality and reliability.

9

Mitsubishi Outlander

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,355

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $28,395
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 82/100

Mitsubishi has evolved dramatically over the years, transitioning from producing powerful sports and performance cars, to now almost exclusively focusing on efficient and reliable SUVs, of which the Outlander is one. Unlike other SUVs in its class, the Outlander offers a third row, which makes it impressively practical, even if the rear-most seats do pack less than 20 inches of legroom.

In entry-level guise, the Outlander is available for below $30,000, and so it competes directly against the likes of Mazda’s CX-5 and the Honda CR-V. Maintenance comes in cheaper for the Outlander, though, with CarEdge estimating the first five years of maintenance at $2,355.

8

Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,330

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $26,545
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 81/100

Mitsubishi’s diverse offering of SUVs provides customers with a varied choice when it comes to family-friendly models, and while the Eclipse Cross isn’t as spacious as the Outlander, it is cheaper, more stylish, and just as easy to maintain. CarEdge suggests that the first five years of maintenance will cost almost the same as that of the Outlander, with the Eclipse Cross coming in just $25 cheaper, making it another great choice for cost-conscious SUV shoppers.

While a wide selection of trims are available, only one powertrain choice is up for grabs – a turbocharged 1.5-liter ‘four’, with all-wheel drive as standard, and a CVT automatic. It’s not particularly powerful, but the 155 horsepower on tap is great for commuting, and reasonably efficient too, rated at 26 mpg combined.

7

Honda HR-V

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,246

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $25,400
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 82/100

Currently, Honda offers seven SUVs, with the HR-V checking in at the cheapest – almost $5,000 less than the CR-V. Honda states that the HR-V was “made to excite”, and the bold design does make it one of the more inspiring and interesting designs in its class. Slender LED lights brighten up the front fascia, while a selection of sharp alloy wheels, up to 18-inches in size, finish off what is overall quite a premium design.

The HR-V is compact, yet can seat up to five in comfort, and is powered by a 158-horsepower 2.0-liter engine. All-wheel drive is available, and as can be expected from a Honda, the HR-V is packed full of convenient safety and driver aids. Despite the tech-heavy approach, the HR-V is still one of the cheapest SUVs in America to maintain, with the first five years of maintenance checking in at $2,246.

6

Kia Soul

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $2,219

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $20,490
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 86/100

For those seeking out cheap and cheerful motoring, the 2025 Kia Soul proves hard to beat. Kia commands just over $20,000 for a base model, making it one of the cheapest cars on sale right now, with only one car currently available for less than $20,000, although the Soul is a notably more practical model. A 2.0-liter inline-four with 147 horsepower takes care of propulsion, providing the Soul with enough gusto to hit 60 mph in 8.3 seconds, and a top speed of 120 mph. Brisk it is not, but cheap and efficient it is, with average annual maintenance costs of just over $550.

5

Toyota Highlander

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $1,962

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $39,520
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 81/100

It might be the most expensive model on the list, with a starting price that just sneaks in under the $40,000 cap, but it’s also the first model with a five-year maintenance estimate below $2,000. So, even though models like the Kia Soul and Nissan Kicks are almost half as cheap to buy in the first place, they cannot compare to Toyota’s famously low running costs. The Highlander hasn’t been redesigned since 2019, so it is starting to look aged in comparison to other models in the same segment, but with those low running costs, and high third-party reliability scores, it still looks to be an incredibly attractive option for 2025 and beyond.

4

Fiat 500L

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $1,890

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $22,500 (2020)
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: N/A

Although the Fiat 500L hasn’t been available as a new car in the USA for a few years now, CarEdge still lists it as one of their cheapest-to-maintain SUVs out there, with an estimated five-year cost of just $1,890. Despite the cheap running costs, there are better options out there, as the 500L is surprisingly inefficient, it rides harshly, and key rivals are largely better equipped and cheaper, too.

3

Toyota Venza

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $1,887

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $35,070
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 81/100

The Toyota Venza won’t be surviving past the 2024 model year, as it moves to make way for the premium Crown Signia SUV. Under the hood of Toyota’s Venza sits a 2.5-liter inline-four hybrid, which churns out a combined 219 horsepower. It’s no slouch, but the three electric motors are designed to promote efficiency rather than performance, with up to 40 mpg on offer, in addition to a total range of 465 miles. Maintenance comes in at an average of $377 per year, which makes it astoundingly cheap and well-worth considering, even though it’s being discontinued and replaced.

If you are currently shopping for a Lexus crossover, you may want to run across the street to check out a Venza first.

– Jared Rosenholtz, CarBuzz Editor-at-Large

2

Toyota RAV4

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $1,865

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $28,850
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 80/100

The Toyota RAV4 is a global bestseller, and for good reason too. Not only is the RAV4 cheap to run, with an estimated cost of $1,865 for the first five years of motoring, but it’s also cheap to buy, with prices starting from $28,850, and impressively reliable too, as evidenced by the 80/100 score awarded by J.D. Power in relation to all things quality and reliability. In addition to being both affordable and reliable, the RAV4 is also amazingly versatile, with off-road orientated trims available, in addition to hybrid and plug-in hybrid models too. It’s easily one of the lowest maintenance SUV models you can buy.

1

Toyota C-HR

5-Year Maintenance Cost: $1,776

Reliability & Pricing Data

• Starting MSRP: $24,280 (2022)
• J.D. Power Quality And Reliability Score: 90/100

If you are after the cheapest SUV to maintain, running to your nearest Toyota showroom won’t do you any favors, because as of 2022 the C-HR has been discontinued, so it can only be secured as a used model. A new generation of C-HR has been developed, but sadly it’s not for American audiences.

It’s still well worth seeking out a used 2022 Toyota C-HR, though, as it’s the only SUV that CarEdge suggests can be maintained for less than $1,800 in its first five years, putting it in line with much smaller and simpler models. Furthermore, it’s also the highest rated model in terms of quality and reliability by J.D. Power, at 90 out of 100, which helps the C-HR in securing the top spot as the most reliable low maintenance SUV.

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Sources: CarEdge, J.D. Power, Toyota, Honda, Kia, Fiat, Nissan, Mitsubishi