Maintenance bills can quietly erode the value of a vehicle that looked like a bargain on the lot. RepairPal-based estimates reported by SlashGear, Jalopnik and FinanceBuzz show that several popular models cost far less to keep running than the class average. Here are twelve SUVs that stay under the $800 mark, ordered from cheapest to costliest.
1. Honda HR-V: Cheapest Of The Bunch
SlashGear’s RepairPal-based tally puts the HR-V at about $301 a year in maintenance, the lowest figure among the SUVs it ranked. That is a small crossover with a simple drivetrain, which keeps parts and labor modest.
Shoppers who want a compact SUV and mostly care about predictable bills have a clear benchmark here. Annual averages blend routine service with occasional repairs, so an individual car can land above or below that number, but the starting point is far below most rivals. Older, higher-mileage examples naturally drift upward, so condition and service history still matter when comparing used listings.
2. Honda CR-V: Few Shop Visits
RepairPal figures cited by FinanceBuzz show the CR-V costing $407 a year in repairs, with only 0.3 shop visits annually. That combination ranks it second among 26 compact SUVs.
The low visit count matters as much as the dollar amount, since fewer unscheduled trips mean fewer missed workdays and rental cars. Buyers cross-shopping compacts can treat the CR-V as the nearest challenger to the HR-V on cost, with more cargo room and a larger used market to choose from. Prices on clean examples tend to hold firm for the same reason.
3. Toyota RAV4: Below The Segment Average
RepairPal pegs the RAV4 at around $429 a year, which sits $92 under the $521 segment average. The gap is the point: a best-selling compact that still undercuts its own class on upkeep.
Because so many RAV4s are on the road, independent shops know them well and parts are easy to source, which helps keep labor and component costs in check. Owners weighing a used one should still budget for tires and brakes, which no average removes. The figure is a fleet-wide estimate, not a promise for any single vehicle.
4. Mazda CX-5: Reliability Ranking Leader
RepairPal lists the CX-5 at $447 a year and rates it 4.5 out of 5, an ‘excellent’ mark. Jalopnik’s reporting notes that rating ranked it first among 26 SUVs for reliability.
That pairing of low cost and top reliability makes the CX-5 a standout for drivers who want something more engaging to drive than the usual appliance-like compact. Its upkeep sits in the same bracket as the segment’s cheapest, without the plain feel. Shoppers should check turbo versus non-turbo engine choices and the maintenance records on any used unit.
5. Toyota Highlander: Three-Row Without The Bill
RepairPal puts the Highlander at $489 a year, and CarEdge projects 10-year maintenance at $6,224. Both numbers come through SlashGear’s roundup of inexpensive-to-maintain SUVs.
Few three-row SUVs keep ongoing costs under $500 a year, which makes the Highlander a rare family hauler with a compact-car-like upkeep profile. Spread over a decade, the projected total works out to well under $700 a year. Those projections assume ordinary use and on-schedule service, so towing or deferred maintenance would change the math.
6. Subaru Crosstrek: Class-Leading Upkeep
SlashGear notes that RepairPal estimates the Crosstrek at around $492 a year, a figure that ranks it first in its segment. It is a lifted hatchback with standard all-wheel drive, yet it still beats rivals on cost.
The result runs against the assumption that all-wheel drive automatically means pricier ownership. Buyers in snowy states can get the traction without paying a large maintenance premium, at least by this measure. Tires on all-wheel-drive cars should be replaced in matched sets, which can add expense that an annual average smooths over.
7. Nissan Murano: Quietly Cheap To Run
RepairPal lists the Murano at $507 a year, slightly under the $521 class average. Jalopnik adds that Consumer Reports calls its reliability ‘exceptional’.
The Murano rarely appears on shortlists of dependable crossovers, so the numbers are a useful corrective for shoppers who skip it. The savings against the class average are modest, just $14 a year, but the reliability rating suggests few nasty surprises. Used buyers can often find well-equipped examples at lower prices than a comparable Honda or Toyota.
8. Toyota 4Runner: Body-On-Frame Durability
RepairPal shows the 4Runner at $514 a year with 0.4 shop visits, according to FinanceBuzz. The iSeeCars study cited there gives it a 58.8% chance of reaching 200,000 miles.
Truck-based SUVs have a reputation for being costly to own, which makes a roughly $514 annual figure notable. High odds of reaching 200,000 miles also help spread the purchase price over many years. Off-road use is the exception, since trail driving wears suspension and underbody parts faster than the averages here assume.
9. Honda Pilot: Midsize Family Pick
FinanceBuzz, citing RepairPal, lists the Pilot at $542 a year and 0.51 shop visits annually. That sits slightly above the $521 compact average but well inside the sub-$800 range.
As a larger three-row vehicle, the Pilot carries more weight and a bigger engine, so a modestly higher figure is expected. Families who need space for six or seven can see that size does not have to bring luxury-grade bills. At just over half a visit a year, the Pilot still keeps trips to the shop relatively rare.
10. Acura MDX: Luxury Badge, Mainstream Bills
RepairPal puts the MDX at $571 a year, compared with an $807 average for midsize luxury SUVs. Jalopnik highlights that $236 gap in its list of affordable used SUVs with few repairs.
Luxury nameplates usually cost far more to maintain, with pricier parts and specialist labor. The MDX shares engineering heritage with Honda, which helps explain why the bill lands nearer to mainstream vehicles. Buyers should still expect premium-grade tires, fluids and brake components, and an average cannot cover the cost of a major electronics failure on a used one.
11. Toyota Sequoia: Full-Size, Still Under $800
RepairPal lists the Sequoia at $722 a year and rates it 3.5 out of 5, ‘above average’. It is the most expensive Toyota here, yet it remains inside the sub-$800 range.
Large, heavy SUVs consume tires, brakes and fuel faster than compacts, so a figure in the low $700s is unsurprising. The rating is lower than the smaller entries on this list, which reflects somewhat more frequent or costly repairs. For buyers who truly need full-size towing and seating, it is still a comparatively restrained annual cost.
12. Lexus GX 460: Priciest Entry, Still Cheap
RepairPal puts the GX 460 at $770 a year, the highest figure here but still under $800. FinanceBuzz adds that iSeeCars gives it a 53.8% chance of reaching 200,000 miles.
Luxury-grade parts push the number higher than the Honda and Toyota entries, yet it stays below the $807 midsize luxury average cited elsewhere. A better-than-even shot at 200,000 miles suggests long-term durability. Buyers considering an older example should budget for age-related items, since the averages reflect the whole fleet rather than high-mileage trucks.
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