The 5 Most Reliable Midsize SUVs According to Consumer Reports
Andrew Koole
· 3 min read
- Toyota Highlander: 86/100 overall score
- Mazda CX-9: 85/100 overall score
- Kia Telluride: 97/100 overall score
- Hyundai Palisade: 87/100 overall score
- Toyota Venza: 83/100 overall score
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With the minivan all but disappeared from the market, midsize SUVs are our go-to’s for family transport. Nothing provides a better combination of trunk space, elbow room, and reasonable fuel efficiency.
But not every SUV is made equal.
Buyers
have to sift through a mountain of options to find the best option for them. Thankfully resources like Consumer Reports (CR) and Jerry are here to help. Below, you can find the five most reliable midsize SUVs from 2021 according to CR. Each of these five models got a perfect 5/5 reliability score, so it is hard to go wrong.
Toyota Highlander: 86/100 overall score
CR
gave the gas-powered and hybrid 2022 Highlanders a collective reliability score of 5/5, the best in its segment. The rating is based on the SUV’s previous two model years. Besides its ability to stay out of the mechanic’s shop better than almost anything else on the road, the Highlander also offers a powerful engine and an impressive list of standard features.
Its tiny third row and mediocre driving experience keep it from being the best midsize SUV overall.
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Mazda CX-9: 85/100 overall score
According to CR, the second-best midsize SUV in terms of reliability is Mazda’s largest offering, the CX-9. It scored a 5/5 for predicted reliability.
Mazda’s entire lineup fared pretty well with CR, with only one vehicle, the Mazda3, scoring less than a 70 and most sitting comfortably in the mid-80s.
The CX-9 doesn’t offer the same torque as its rivals, but it makes up for the lack of power with agility.
Kia Telluride: 97/100 overall score
MORE: What Awards Has the Kia Telluride Won?
Consumer Reports has a history of being a tough critic. While other publications rarely hand out failing grades, it’s a common occurrence on CR’s site. So the newest Telluride’s reliability score of 5/5 is particularly impressive.
The three-row
Kia
might not be able to hug corners like a CX-9, but it bests its rivals in nearly every other way. Its well-tuned V6 engine, comfortable and intuitive cabin, and extensive list of standard infotainment and safety features make it a perfect fit for most families.Hyundai Palisade: 87/100 overall score
The Telluride’s nearly identical cousin didn’t fare too badly in CR’s view either. Both SUVs share the same chassis, engine, and parent company. With so many similarities between the Palisade and the Telluride, the ten-point difference in the overall score from CR is a little confusing.
Each SUV offers slightly different interior components. The Palisade’s “tricky gear selector” lost it a few points. But the key difference between the two is its predicted reliability. Despite coming in right behind its cousin, the Palisade’s reliability score is 5/5.
Toyota Venza: 83/100 overall score
MORE: The Best Compact SUVs According to Consumer Reports
Despite technically having some of the best reliability scores of the vehicles included in CR’s list of currently available midsize SUVs, the Toyota Venza takes the last spot on this list for one reason: it lacks a proper history comparison.
Toyota resurrected the Venza, which sits size-wise between the RAV4 (with which it shares its drivetrain) and the aforementioned Highlander, after leaving it out of its lineup from 2018 to 2021.
CR’s scores for the Venza are a little lopsided. Based on the dependability of past models and the components it shares with other Toyotas, CR awarded it a predicted reliability score of 5/5.
An incredible 37-mpg fuel economy helped keep things high while confusing controls dropped its overall score.
