Reliability SurveyThe Kuga is getting a little long in the tooth and a new model is on the way, which means values for this version could fall even further in the coming months.The RX450h hybrid also has a green credentials, which is key to some in today's market. One in five (22 per cent) of Kuga owners reported a fault with their car last year.Of these, five per cent had engine problems, though the most frequently cited problem areas were interior trim (9 per cent) and non-engine electrics (11 per cent), which are both less serious.SUV with a stamp for approval: According to recent survey data, these are the used sports utility vehicles that are most reliableIt should be reliable too, as fewer than a quarter (23 per cent) of this generation model had a problem in the previous year.These aren't out-of-fashion golden oldies, either.It scored well for reliability despite more than a third (36 per cent) being affected by faults.If you don't think you need all the interior space of the X5, the X1 might be a better choice for you.We've also highlighted which older SUVs to avoid, according to the reliability data.A small percentage of examples also had issues with engine electrics, the exhaust, sat-nav and suspension - which might be more of a concern. It hasn’t gotten a redesign for most of the decade, but it also hasn’t shown signs of aging.
That's not to say it's particularly clean, unless your journey can be covered mainly with electric power.Again, most weren't serious issues, such as non-engine electrics and wheels and tyres.There were also a small number of reports of problems with the battery, brakes, bodywork and wheels - all of which are pretty affordable to solve.2. And you’d be hard-pressed to find a more practical non-luxury SUV than the Toyota RAV4. The brand shot up nine spots overall, nudging its way into third place right behind Toyota.Every year, you’ll find vehicles that score very high for reliability yet fail to nab a coveted recommendation from Consumer Reports. Like Honda, Lexus has an impressive reliability record. Ford Kuga (2008-2012) - 44.2% reliability ratingAll cars remained drivable, but repair bills ranged from £101 to £500.The car in question diesel variants of the Audi Q3 - the premium German brand's answer to a mid-size SUV.The 10 best-buy second hand models are those rated as the most reliable by 18,000 readers of What Car? Volvo XC90 (2002-2015) - 73.1% reliability ratingFortunately, given the recent popularity of SUVs, there are plenty available secondhand.