The most reliable Compact SUVs
Ranked by the MotorFiable Score of the whole car, out of 10: half comes from its engines and the other half from the rest of the car (gearbox, suspension, brakes, electronics…). Only Compact SUVs with solid evidence are included: at least three sources and five documented faults, each backed by its sources.
Of the 45 Compact SUVs with solid evidence, the one with the highest score is the Suzuki S-Cross II (8.3/10), followed by the Lexus UX (7.3) and the Peugeot 4007 (7.3). The one with the lowest score is the Citroën C5 Aircross (4.1/10), mainly because of oil-bath timing belt degradation.
- Rank 1Suzuki S-Cross II
Compact SUV · 2021–today
High severityElectric power steering cut-out due to a software fault(steering)
8.3 out of 10Engine 9.4
Rest of car 7.3 - Rank 2Lexus UX
Compact SUV · 2018–today
High severityBrake booster pump failure on the UX 250h built in May 2019(brakes)
7.3 out of 10Engine 7.9
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 3Peugeot 4007
Compact SUV · 2006–2012
High severitySunroof glass coming loose because of the frame adhesive(bodywork)
7.3 out of 10Engine 8.3
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 4Suzuki S-Cross I
Compact SUV · 2013–2021
Critical severityTemporary loss of brake servo assistance caused by the vacuum pump valve(brakes)
7.3 out of 10Engine 9.7
Rest of car 5.0 - Rank 5Citroën C-Crosser
Compact SUV · 2006–2012
High severitySunroof glass coming away because of the frame adhesive(bodywork)
7.2 out of 10Engine 8.3
Rest of car 6.2 - Rank 6Renault Austral
Compact SUV · 2022–today
High severityErratic behaviour of the E-Tech hybrid automatic gearbox(gearbox and clutch)
7.0 out of 10Engine 7.3
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 7Mazda CX-5 II
Compact SUV · 2017–today
High severityOil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations(Skyactiv-D engine)
6.9 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 7.9 - Rank 8Renault Arkana
Compact SUV · 2020–today
High severityErratic behaviour of the E-Tech hybrid automatic gearbox(gearbox and clutch)
6.9 out of 10Engine 7.1
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 9Cupra Ateca
Compact SUV · 2018–2020
High severity2.0 TSI engine cover may come loose and touch the hot turbo area (fire risk)(bodywork)
6.9 out of 10Engine 7.5
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 10Kia Sportage II
Compact SUV · 2004–2010
High severityWear and loss of performance of the variable-geometry turbo(2.0 CRDi (D4EA) engine)
6.8 out of 10Engine 6.8
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 11Peugeot 3008 III
Compact SUV · 2023–today
High severityFailures of the e-DCS6 dual-clutch gearbox of the 48V hybrid (Hybrid 136)(gearbox and clutch)
6.8 out of 10Engine 8.0
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 12Kia Sportage III
Compact SUV · 2010–2016
Critical severityShort circuit in the ABS/ESC brake unit (HECU): fire risk(brakes)
6.8 out of 10Engine 8.0
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 13Hyundai Tucson I
Compact SUV · 2004–2010
High severityBrake light switch failure from burnt contacts (2007 to 2009 Tucson)(electrical)
6.6 out of 10Engine 6.8
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 14Nissan Qashqai III
Compact SUV · 2021–today
Critical severityRecall for fire risk in the fuel line(security)
6.6 out of 10Engine 7.1
Rest of car 6.1 - Rank 156.6 out of 10
Engine 7.6
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 16Audi Q3 II
Compact SUV · 2018–today
Critical severityCorrosion of the bolt that secures the steering rack (2026 campaign)(steering)
6.6 out of 10Engine 7.6
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 17Mitsubishi ASX I
Compact SUV · 2010–2023
Critical severityCorrosion of the parking brake shaft and failure of the rear caliper automatic adjustment(brakes)
6.4 out of 10Engine 7.4
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 186.4 out of 10
Engine 7.8
Rest of car 5.0 - Rank 19Toyota RAV4 III
Compact SUV · 2005–2012
Critical severityWarped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D(2.0/2.2 D-4D engine)
6.3 out of 10Engine 5.1
Rest of car 7.5 - Rank 20Mercedes-Benz GLA H247
Compact SUV · 2020–today
Critical severityRisk of short circuit and fire in the high-voltage battery (plug-in hybrid version)(electrical)
6.3 out of 10Engine 7.1
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 21Škoda Enyaq
Compact SUV · 2021–today
High severityAC charging interruptions and immediate-stop warnings from the traction battery(electrical)
6.2 out of 10Rest of car 6.2
- Rank 22Hyundai Ioniq 5
Compact SUV · 2021–today
High severityFaulty ICCU: 12 V battery drain and loss of drive power(electrical)
6.2 out of 10Rest of car 6.2
- Rank 23MINI Countryman F60
Compact SUV · 2017–2023
Critical severityThe head airbag may inflate poorly because an ignition unit comes loose (2016-2017 units)(security)
6.2 out of 10Engine 6.8
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 24Volkswagen Tiguan II
Compact SUV · 2016–2024
Critical severityCorrosion of the bolt that secures the steering rack(steering)
6.2 out of 10Engine 6.9
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 25Ford Kuga II
Compact SUV · 2012–2019
Critical severityFire risk from the B-pillar insulation after the seatbelt pretensioner is triggered(security)
6.2 out of 10Engine 7.1
Rest of car 5.4 - Rank 26Mazda CX-5 I
Compact SUV · 2012–2017
High severityOil dilution with diesel during DPF regenerations(Skyactiv-D engine)
6.0 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 6.1 - Rank 27Mazda CX-30
Compact SUV · 2019–today
Critical severitySmart Brake Support can brake the car unintentionally while driving(security)
6.0 out of 10Engine 6.6
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 28Jeep Compass MP
Compact SUV · 2017–today
High severitySaturated diesel particulate filter (DPF) from incomplete regenerations(1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine)
5.9 out of 10Engine 5.0
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 29Škoda Karoq
Compact SUV · 2017–today
High severityA-pillar trim that could come loose in cold weather and affect airbag protection(security)
5.9 out of 10Engine 7.8
Rest of car 4.1 - Rank 30Peugeot 3008 I
Compact SUV · 2009–2016
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
5.7 out of 10Engine 3.8
Rest of car 7.7 - Rank 315.6 out of 10
Engine 5.0
Rest of car 6.2 - Rank 32Toyota C-HR I
Compact SUV · 2016–2023
Critical severityLow-pressure fuel pump failure: loss of power and fire risk(2.0 and 2.5 Hybrid engine)
5.6 out of 10Engine 5.6
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 33Ford Kuga III
Compact SUV · 2019–today
Critical severityDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)(1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlue engine)
5.6 out of 10Engine 5.6
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 34Renault Kadjar
Compact SUV · 2015–2022
Critical severityRear door lock fault that let children open the doors while driving(security)
5.6 out of 10Engine 5.7
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 35Kia Sportage V
Compact SUV · 2021–today
High severityAutomatic gearbox lock-ups and jerking on the hybrid version(gearbox and clutch)
5.6 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 5.2 - Rank 36Hyundai Tucson IV
Compact SUV · 2020–today
High severityAutomatic gearbox lock-ups and hesitation on the hybrid and plug-in versions(gearbox and clutch)
5.6 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 5.2 - Rank 37Kia Sportage IV
Compact SUV · 2016–2021
Critical severityShort circuit in the ABS/ESP unit with fire risk(brakes)
5.5 out of 10Engine 6.5
Rest of car 4.6 - Rank 38Volkswagen T-Roc
Compact SUV · 2017–today
Critical severityInsufficient tightening of the steering tie rod(steering)
5.5 out of 10Engine 7.3
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 39Volkswagen ID.4
Compact SUV · 2021–today
Critical severityFire risk from defective modules in the high-voltage battery(electrical)
5.4 out of 10Rest of car 5.4
- Rank 40Hyundai Tucson III
Compact SUV · 2015–2020
Critical severityFire risk from the ABS control module (HECU)(brakes)
5.4 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 4.8 - Rank 41Volvo XC40
Compact SUV · 2017–today
Critical severityHigh-voltage battery overheating on Recharge versions(electrical)
5.3 out of 10Engine 5.7
Rest of car 5.0 - Rank 42Seat Ateca
Compact SUV · 2016–today
Critical severityCorrosion of the bolt that secures the steering rack(steering)
5.3 out of 10Engine 7.0
Rest of car 3.6 - Rank 43Toyota RAV4 IV
Compact SUV · 2012–2018
Critical severityWarped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D(2.0/2.2 D-4D engine)
5.1 out of 10Engine 2.3
Rest of car 8.0 - Rank 44Opel Grandland I
Compact SUV · 2017–2024
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
4.3 out of 10Engine 3.6
Rest of car 5.0 - Rank 45Citroën C5 Aircross
Compact SUV · 2018–today
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
4.1 out of 10Engine 3.2
Rest of car 5.0
The least reliable Compact SUVs
The three with the lowest scores and the fault that weighs most in each.
- Citroën C5 Aircross · 4.1/10Oil-bath timing belt degradation (1.2 PureTech engine)
- Opel Grandland I · 4.3/10Oil-bath timing belt degradation (1.2 PureTech engine)
- Toyota RAV4 IV · 5.1/10Warped cylinder head gasket and oil consumption on the 2.2 D-4D (2.0/2.2 D-4D engine)
How it is calculated
The score combines the risk index of its engines and that of the rest of the car, calculated from the most serious documented faults (severity times frequency). Faults that the manufacturer fixes free of charge under a recall carry less weight. A high score does not guarantee that a particular car will not fail: it means we have found fewer serious, frequent documented faults. More recent models have been on the road for fewer years and may have fewer documented faults: preferably compare cars from the same period. Full methodology