Compact crossovers and SUVs accounted for 23.7% of passenger automobile sales in the United States in 2022. Compact crossovers are the largest passenger car class in the American automotive industry, with around 3.2 million vehicles sold just last year. Because compact SUVs are frequently based on unibody platforms, they combine the advantages of sedans and compact pickup trucks into a single package.
For example, the passenger comfort and agility of a crossover SUV are comparable to that of a typical family sedan. Furthermore, the same crossover can mimic the bigger passenger capacity, improved road visibility, and higher ground clearance found in compact and even certain mid-size pickup trucks. Finally, frontal vehicle crash investigations have revealed that occupants of crossovers and SUVs are better protected than sedan drivers and passengers.
Many Americans like compact crossovers because they provide the proper size and amenities at the right price. Subcompact crossovers are more economical in general, but they are already too small for the average American family. Midsize SUVs provide additional space, usefulness, and versatility, but are significantly more expensive.
Whether you’re looking for a compact crossover in a dealership or on the used car market, it’s critical to choose a vehicle with a dependable engine. Poor selection will result in unexpected and costly maintenance and repair charges. Skimping on these expenses may result in a variety of difficult or dangerous driving circumstances, including power loss, engine fire, or even road crashes.
Based on data from Consumer Reports (CR), JD Power, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), here are the ten compact crossovers with the most reliable internal combustion engines (ICE).
The Skyactiv Heart of the 2016 Mazda CX-5 Is Sturdy.
The Mazda CX-5 is an agile and adaptable compact crossover that combines quick engine response with excellent fuel efficiency thanks to Mazda’s Skyactiv technology. The 2016 CX-5 comes with two engine options: a 2.0-liter I-4 that produces 155 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.5-liter I-4 that provides 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque.
The 2016 Mazda CX-5, as the final model year of the nameplate’s pioneer generation, was fortunate to avoid most of the growing pains encountered by its predecessors. The 2016 CX-5 received a perfect dependability rating of 5/5 for “engine major” and “engine cooling” from CR. This means that major engine components such as the engine block, cylinder head, head gasket, forced induction components, and the timing belt/chain, as well as cooling system components (radiator, cooling fan, cooling system lines, and so on), should be free of issues.
The 2016 CX-5, on the other hand, had a few issues with the engine control unit (ECU) and some oil leaks, earning the model a 4/5 dependability rating in the “engine minor” area (i.e. pulleys, oil seals, engine computer, engine mounts, and so on). Nonetheless, the minor issues were not severe enough to detract from the 2016 Mazda CX-5’s overall reliability rating of 5/5. In today’s used automobile market, a 2016 Mazda CX-5 costs between $14,100 and $16,275.
The 2016 Honda CR-V is powered by a renowned VTEC mill.
The Honda CR-V is one of America’s favorite compact SUVs, and it received the KBB Best Buy Award in the small SUV category in 2016. The 2016 CR-V was also the final model year of the car’s fourth generation, and as expected, it had smoothed out the quirks of prior model years. The Honda CR-V has a single-engine option for 2016: a 2.4-liter I-4 VTEC engine with 185 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque.
The 2016 Honda CR-V received a 5/5 rating from CR for engine main, engine cooling, and overall reliability. However, a leaky timing chain cover resulted in a 4/5 reliability rating for the engine minor category. JD Power awarded the 2016 CR-V a “great” quality and dependability rating of 83/100. With an excellent track record of dependability, it’s no surprise that a used 2016 Honda CR-V can still bring $16,275 to $20,675 now.
The 2017 Chevrolet Equinox has a strong six-cylinder engine.
The Equinox is Chevrolet’s inexpensive yet powerful compact crossover SUV model. The 2017 Chevy Equinox was available with two engines: a base 2.4-liter I-4 (182 horsepower, 174 lb-ft) and a top-spec 3.6-liter V6 (301 hp, 272 lb-ft).
The 2017 Chevy Equinox received a 5/5 reliability rating from CR in the engine main and engine cooling categories, as well as a 5/5 overall dependability rating. The 2017 Equinox, on the other hand, received a 4/5 rating in the engine minor category. If you’re looking for a used 2017 Chevy Equinox, expect to pay between $13,200 and $16,475.
The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan is powered by a dependable turbo-four engine.
The Volkswagen Tiguan is fairly large for a compact crossover, and the 2019 model year includes an available third-row seating layout to demonstrate this. To compensate for the added weight and size, the 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan has a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that delivers 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque.
The 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan is one example of how turbocharged engines can still be dependable. The 2019 Tiguan received a perfect 5/5 rating from CR in all engine-related reliability areas, as well as a 5/5 overall reliability rating. However, JD Power consumer review scores do not appear to agree completely, with a “average” rating of 77/100. If you like this German compact crossover, you may still get a used 2019 Tiguan for between $19,650 and $26,600 now.
The Lexus NX 2021 Instills Hope in Forced Induction
The Lexus NX is a luxury small crossover that is based on the well-known Toyota RAV4. The Lexus NX received a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine (235 hp, 258 lb-ft) as well as a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle hybrid engine system that generates 194 hp and an outstanding 30 to 33 miles-per-gallon (MPG) fuel economy rating for the 2021 model year.
The major, minor, and cooling categories of the 2021 Lexus NX engines received perfect 5/5 dependability ratings from CR. The 2021 NX achieved excellent overall reliability ratings of 5/5 from CR and 81/100 from JD Power. The 2021 Lexus NX, the final model year of its first generation, is still available on the used automobile market for $34,700 to $42,575 today.
The Nissan Rogue 2021 Is Powered By A Reliable Three-Cylinder
The Nissan Rogue, commonly known as the X-trail outside of North America, is the company’s highly competitive compact crossover model. Nissan completely redesigned the Rogue for 2021, with two engine options: a regular 2.5-liter I-4 engine (181 hp, 181 lb-ft) and a new 1.5-liter turbo 3-cylinder mill with 201 hp and 225 lb-ft of twist.
The 2021 Nissan Rogue received a 5/5 dependability rating from CR in all three engine-related categories. However, due to its middling body integrity and climate system scores, CR only gave the 2021 Rogue a 4/5 overall reliability grade. JD Power adds an 82/100 quality and reliability rating, eerily similar to CR’s total dependability rating. If the 2021 Nissan Rogue appeals to you, you may purchase a used one for $24,925 to $32,025.
Enduring Engines Power the 2022 Kia Sportage
The Kia Sportage is the only Korean-branded compact crossover on this list, but it does an excellent job of representing its home nation. The Kia Sportage was available with two engine options for the 2022 model year: a naturally-aspirated, 2.4-liter I-4 engine (181 horsepower, 175 lb-ft) and a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder mill (240 hp, 260 lb-ft).
The 2022 Kia Sportage received a perfect 5/5 reliability rating from CR in all three engine-related areas, as well as a 5/5 overall dependability rating. JD Power also gave the 2022 Sportage an 88/100 rating for quality and dependability. Because this Sportage model year has only been on the market for a year, a used unit should cost between $23,725 and $32,675 now.
The 2022 Subaru Forester has a Boxer engine.
The fast and durable Subaru Forester proves that Subaru’s famed Boxer engine technology can still compete extremely well with other manufacturers’ new ICE systems. The Subaru Forester retains its tried-and-true 2.5-liter flat-4 engine, which generates 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque in 2022.
The 2022 Subaru Forester achieved a CR overall reliability rating of 5/5 and a JD Power quality and reliability rating of 84/100. In terms of engine reliability, CR granted the 2022 Forester perfect 5/5 scores in the major, minor, and cooling categories. If a Japanese all-wheel-drive compact crossover appeals to you, a slightly used 2022 Subaru Forester can be yours for $26,775 to $33,775.
Acura RDX 2022 – A Powerful Street Performer
The Acura RDX is a luxury compact crossover that shared the Honda CR-V’s exterior and powertrain features at first. However, since its third iteration debuted in 2019, the RDX has used its own proprietary platform. For the 2022 model year, the turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 engine in the Acura RDX produced 272 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.
Despite the forced induction technology, the engine in the 2022 Acura RDX received perfect 5/5 scores in all three of CR’s engine-related reliability categories. JD Power awarded the 2022 RDX a “great” quality and reliability rating of 81/100. A used 2022 Acura RDX may still be purchased for $39,425 to $49,925, depending on trim level.
The Toyota RAV4 2022 Takes the Lead With A Long-Lasting Engine
The Toyota RAV4 is America’s (and the world’s) best-selling SUV, rounding out the list. The Toyota RAV4 continues to please customers with a terrific blend of design, utility, pricing, and durability for the 2022 model year. The ICE variants of this 5-seater Toyota crossover have a 2.5-liter I-4 engine (203 horsepower, 184 lb-ft), but the RAV4 also comes in hybrid and plug-in hybrid configurations.
The 2022 Toyota RAV4’s gasoline engine received a perfect 5/5 dependability rating from CR in all three engine-related areas. Furthermore, JD Power awarded the complete RAV4 line a quality and dependability rating of 81/100.
The Toyota RAV4’s popularity and dependability make its resale value greater than that of most of its competitors (including the current Forester and Sportage models). A secondhand Toyota RAV4 from 2022 will still cost between $30,550 and $44,775 today.
