The concept of the Sport Utility Vehicle has been around for decades now, the SUV has constantly been reinventing itself, and today we see a wide variety of different types of SUVs on the market. Over the years, manufacturers have been perfecting their platforms, and some of the most modern cars are often also the most reliable.
That is a little different for SUVs, though, with several more rugged SUVs proving to be some of the most reliable vehicles on the road, no matter where you are in the world. Some of them have become the vehicle of choice for peace-keepers around the world, and navigate the most impossible terrain, others are just popular family cars and will live out their lives in suburbia, but all of them are incredibly reliable.
10Toyota Land Cruiser 70
The 70 series Land Cruiser has been around for almost 40 years now and is still being sold new in some markets.
Proven does not quite cover it, the 70 has become the go-to off-roader for regions that don’t have roads, let alone poor roads. It will make a track where there is none, and its selection of diesel engines all make enough torque to lug the old beast up any slope, no matter the gradient.
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9Mazda CX-9
The latest version of Mazda’s midsize SUV is actually one of the most reliable cars on the road at the moment. After Mazda split from Ford, their design language wasn’t the only thing that improved, the effort put into their finishing and build quality is unrivaled when compared to other Japanese manufacturers.
Their Skyactiv engines have also proven to be some of the most reliable to ever come from the brand, we do still hope for at least one more unreliable rotary though.
Related: 2021 Mazda CX-9 Review: It's Punching Way Above Its Weight
8Toyota RAV4
Not everyone will jump for joy at the sight of a RAV4, it toes the line somewhere between a compact SUV and a crossover, but for the sake of this list we will look at it as an SUV.
Design wise there is nothing to write home about, build quality and pretty much everything about it is average, except for the reliability, that is quite simply best in class.
7Nissan Patrol
Although the modern version is now the Armada, that doesn’t hold a candle to the old rugged machine that took the fight to Toyota in the 80s and 90s.
Horsepower might not have been its thing, but an abundance of torque and an incredibly low range made it a very capable off-roader. The low compression engines also meant that the drivetrain would outlive the corrosion-prone body.
Related: Here's What Makes The Nissan Patrol So Awesome
6Toyota Sequoia
The Sequoia shares a platform with the proven Tundra, their only full-size pickup, so it inherits the same bulletproof drivetrain.
A new Sequoia will hit the market by next year, so the used market might actually finally become slightly more affordable, but nothing is a given. It has been a fan favorite for years now, offering comparable on and off-road performance to the Land Cruiser and a marginally more realistic price tag.
5Mitsubishi Pajero
Although the latest model was nothing to write home about, the 90s Pajero was one of the best midsize SUVs ever made.
Performance from the venerable 3.5 liter V6 might seem middling today, but it made the most of the 200 horsepower, especially the short wheelbase model, which was as good as any jeep off-road.
Related: A Look back At The 40-Year History Of The Mitsubishi Pajero
4Toyota 4Runner
It is hard to say for sure who started the pickup come SUV body-on-frame platform trend, but we think the 4Runner must have been one of the pioneers.
It doesn’t necessarily translate into the most comfortable platform, but it does equate to a more rugged vehicle that can also haul as much as any pickup. The early 4Runners also shared a platform with the old Hilux which is famous for being one of the most indestructible vehicles ever made.
3Volvo XC90
Having already made a name for themselves as one of the safest manufacturers in the industry, they turned to Yamaha for some help developing a new V8 engine for their new SUV.
The first generation XC90, particularly the V8, is one of the most underrated vehicles money can buy. Solid performance was complemented by exceptional reliability, and being a Volvo, both safety and build quality was excellent too.
Related: Why the 2011 Volvo XC90 Is The Perfect Family SUV
2Lexus LX
Essentially a fancy Land Cruiser, and if you take into account just how expensive the Land Cruiser is, even on the used market, it makes sense to pay a little extra for a little extra in the form of a Lexus.
Don’t let the luxurious interior confuse you, though, this is still very much a capable Land Cruiser underneath and won’t let you down, no matter where you take it.
1Mercedes-Benz G-Class
German SUVs have gained a less favorable reputation over the years, with most manufacturers choosing innovation and performance over reliability.
The old G-Class was the first authentic German SUV and still is the most reliable, it will go anywhere, just at a more sedate pace than its modern AMG counterpart.
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Luke Zietsman is an all out automotive enthusiast based in The Philippines. If it has two or four wheels he has either owned it, researched about it or dreamed about it.
