12 Best SUVs To Buy if You Hate To Spend Money on Maintenance

Americans love to drive SUVs. But if you are shopping for one, remember that the cost of an SUV — or any vehicle — equals more than just the sticker price.

It's important to consider costs such as gas, car insurance, and maintenance.

Maintenance can be particularly expensive. Fortunately, CarMax and RepairPal team up to share the reliability of SUVs. 

If you want to lower your financial stress during your SUV search, check out some of these low-maintenance models.

The Toyota Venza earns a rating of 4.6 out of 5 CarMax owner rating and a 4 out of 5 for reliability specifically.

One of the reasons may be that the estimated annual cost for repairs and maintenance comes in at $374, which is below the average of $494 for a midsize SUV.

The Venza has a manufacturer's starting retail price (MSRP) of $35,070 before adding features or upgrades. And its five-star safety rating may lower your car insurance costs. However, this vehicle is being discontinued.

Check out an Infiniti QX50 if you're looking for a luxury compact SUV that's also affordable when it comes to maintenance.

Average repair and maintenance for this vehicle is $492 annually compared to Luxury Compact SUVs' average of $599. That could mean you won't have to dip into your emergency fund for a major repair.

The vehicle is more expensive than other SUVs due to its luxury brand, but you can still get one with a starting price of $43,000.

The Kia Soul has a 4 rating out of 5 when it comes to reliability. It also ranks number three out of eight in this area when compared to other subcompact SUVs.

Even better news is that the price is on the low end for SUVs, with a base model MSRP of $20,490.

Although it's no longer being made, the Jeep Renegade could be a great option if you need a vehicle you can occasionally take off-road. 

The downside is that average annual cost of repairs and maintenance is $471 — compared to a $442 average for other subcompacts — according to RepairPal. However, they have a slightly lower number of average unscheduled repairs.  

The final Renegade model had a starting price of $28,445 in 2023. Certified resale prices are currently around $20,000.

One of the great things about the Toyota RAV4 is its low maintenance costs. The SUV has an annual repair cost of $367 per year. That compares to $473 for other vehicles in the same segment and $591 for all the vehicles evaluated by RepairPal.

It also scores a 4.5 out of 5 for reliability. You can pick up a RAV4 with a base-model MSRP of $29,800.

The Mercedes-Benz GLC300 gets high marks in reliability, which could help you keep maintenance costs low.

On average, owners of this vehicle only bring it in for an unexpected repair 0.5 times a year. That's a lot less often compared to the average of 1.4 times for all luxury midsize SUVs.

But the lack of maintenance and repair costs doesn't come cheaply: The GLC300's MSRP base price is $51,550.

Mazda's CX-5 earns a 4.5 rating out of 5 from RepairPal for reliability.

You can expect an annual average of 0.7 frequency of visits for unscheduled repairs, which compares to 1 visit per year for the midsize SUV market as a whole.

The cost of a Mazda CX-5 is also in line with other SUVs in the segment, with a base price of $29,050.

Another Mercedes that made the list was the Mercedes-Benz GLA250. The SUV earns high marks in annual maintenance and repair costs for the luxury compact SUV segment.

You can expect to pay $544 in annual maintenance costs on average. That compares to $599 for the segment as a whole.

The MSRP on a base-model Mercedes-Benz GLA250 is on the higher side compared to other SUVs on this list, coming in at $41,500.

Expect the Subaru Crosstrek to cost $456 in annual repairs and maintenance. That compares to $473 for other compact SUVs.

The Crosstrek is also affordable, with a base price of $26,995.

A big advantage to owning a Cadillac XT5 is that unscheduled repairs don't pop up often.

The average Cadillac owner brings this vehicle in for unscheduled service 0.3 times per year on average. That compares to 1.4 times for other luxury midsize SUVs.

The XT5 has an MSRP of $44,295 for its base model.

It is unlikely that you will spend much time waiting in the repair shop if you purchase a Nissan Rogue Sport.

The SUV is in the shop for repair and maintenance 0.4 times per year on average. That compares to an average of 1 time for other compact SUVs.

This model isn't produced anymore, but the SUV is available for resale on CarMax for less than $20,000.

The Honda HR-V earns a 4.5 out of 5 reliability rating from RepairPal. The average cost for repairs and maintenance comes in at $321, which is well below the $442 average for subcompact SUVs.

Owners are in the shop an average of 0.3 times per year for repairs and maintenance. That compares to 0.7 times for other compact SUV owners.

Pick up a Honda HR-V for $26,200 as a base price. And since you might find yourself driving this trusty vehicle a lot, consider picking up a high-quality gas credit card to earn rewards.

When you shop for an SUV, it's important to know what the ongoing maintenance cost of each model is likely to be.

Knowing this information can help you find a vehicle that will help you keep a lid on maintenance costs so you can get ahead financially.