The Toyota RAV4 may be the sales king – it sold 479,288 vehicles in 2025 – but sales dominance is not the same thing as dependability. In U.S. News’ latest reliability rankings, five SUVs score higher than Toyota’s mainstream star, and the surprise is less that the RAV4 was beaten than how varied the winners are: a budget box, a luxury coupe-like hauler, and two small crossovers that share more hardware than you’d think.
The list also lines up with the broader dependability picture from JD Power’s 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. Buick finished second among brands, Chevrolet fifth, and Ford landed much farther back at 19th. Toyota placed eighth, which is a decent reminder that a strong reputation can still lose ground when the scoring gets more granular.
Buick Encore GX leads the pack
The 2026 Buick Encore GX takes the top spot overall, with a JD Power reliability score of 90 out of 100 and a U.S. News Value Score of 4.9 out of 10. Pricing starts at $27,995, and buyers get two turbocharged three-cylinder engines, 1.2 or 1.3 liters, with output ranging from 137 to 155 horsepower.
- Reliability score: 90 out of 100
- Value score: 4.9 out of 10
- Starting price: $27,995
- Cargo space: 24 cu. ft. behind the second row, 50 cu. ft. folded
The catch, because there is always a catch, is size. The Encore GX’s cabin is polished enough to earn praise for comfort up front, but its rear seat and cargo hold are only average. That tradeoff is common in this class: the reliable stuff is often the stuff that doesn’t try too hard.
Hyundai Venue and Chevrolet Trailblazer play value cards
The 2026 Hyundai Venue is the budget pick, starting at $22,150 including freight. It tied for third in the small SUV category with a reliability score of 88 out of 100 and a U.S. News Value Score of 7.4 out of 10. Power comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with 121 horsepower, and the Venue stays front-wheel drive only.
The 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer lands as the family-friendly choice, also with a reliability score of 88 out of 100 and the same 7.4 out of 10 value score. It starts at $25,095 and offers either a 1.2-liter turbo three-cylinder with 133 horsepower or a 1.3-liter turbo three-cylinder with 155 horsepower. Chevrolet’s numbers are a little better than its reputation for appliance-grade transportation might suggest.
- Hyundai Venue starting price: $22,150
- Trailblazer starting price: $25,095
- Both have 88 out of 100 reliability scores
- Trailblazer cargo space: 25 cu. ft. behind the second row, 54 cu. ft. folded
BMW X6 brings luxury into the reliability race
The 2026 BMW X6 is the oddball here: the most expensive SUV in the group at $78,750, yet still the winner of U.S. News’ most luxurious and reliable SUV award. It posts a reliability score of 89 out of 100 and a value score of 6.4 out of 10, with a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mild hybrid assistance, and 375 horsepower.
Luxury SUVs usually pay for style with complexity, so the X6’s result is a neat correction to the usual cynicism. Its sloping roof does pinch cargo space, but not disastrously: 27.4 cu. ft. behind the second row and 59.6 cu. ft. with the rear seats folded.
Ford Bronco Sport closes the gap
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport rounds out the top five with a reliability score of 88 out of 100 and a value score of 6.8 out of 10. Ford’s small off-road SUV starts with a turbocharged 1.5-liter three-cylinder making 180 horsepower and climbs to a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 250 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard either way, which is exactly the sort of thing buyers expect from a Bronco badge.
It is also the most clearly specialized vehicle in this group. The Bronco Sport gives up some efficiency, but it returns real capability and a boxy shape that helps cargo space reach 32.5 cu. ft. behind the second row and 65.2 cu. ft. with the seats folded. That makes it the best answer for shoppers who want more trail cred than a RAV4, not just a nicer spreadsheet.
Among the SUVs that beat the Toyota RAV4 on reliability, the pattern is clear: smaller size, simpler engineering, and fewer frills often pay off. Toyota still owns the showroom conversation, but the reliable SUV conversation has gotten a lot less predictable.