13 Japanese SUVs That’ll Last You a Lifetime

If there’s one thing that Japanese automakers like Toyota, Subaru, and Honda are known for, it’s their bulletproof reliability. This reputation was largely earned by small cars like the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic, but their SUVs have also lived up to the high reliability standards gearheads have come to expect from Japanese cars.

SUVs are currently the best-selling vehicles in the country, and it’s easy to see why. Few vehicles can match the versatility SUVs offer — they’re good-looking (well, some of them), spacious enough for the whole family, capable of driving through tough terrains and weather conditions, and can be fast if you opt for their performance versions.

However, all these qualities are useless if the SUV keeps breaking down on you, which is why it’s important to prioritize reliability.

Using reliable resources like J.D. Power, RepairPal, and CarEdge, we scoured the market and found some of the most reliable Japanese SUVs you can buy today, including new and used options.

2024 Toyota 4Runner

As one of the few body-on-frame SUVs still in production today, the 4Runner continues to be a popular SUV, particularly among gearheads who love to go off-road. The current 4Runner generation is coming to an end after 15 years of production, so if you’re in the market for a new one, we recommend waiting for the sixth-generation 4Runner’s debut next year.

However, if you want the current generation, we recommend getting an older model to save a few bucks, and we picked the 2017 model year as it’s built like a tank. The 2017 4Runner had a J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating of 88/100, which is one of the highest ever by an SUV.

2018 Subaru Forester

Crossover SUVs are among the best-selling cars on the market today, but it hasn’t always been like that. Subaru was among the forerunners of the crossover SUV market when it launched the Forester in the ’90s, a move that turned out to be hugely successful with millions sold.

There are many reliable Forester years to choose from, but we went with the 2018 model. According to RepairPal, a 2018 Forester costs just $484 in annual repair costs, which is far lower than the average for SUVs.

2024 Honda CR-V

Honda really knocked the ball out of the park with the CR-V. Another early entrant to the crossover SUV market, the CR-V first hit the roads in 1995 and quickly became one of the most popular vehicles, particularly for families. The CR-V’s growth has been consistent through the years, and it currently sits on top of the list of best-selling Hondas.

Alongside its affordability, practicality, and fuel efficiency, reliability is among the CR-V’s main selling points. The latest model year had great reliability ratings on J.D. Power and is expected to cost about $7,155 for repairs and maintenance over the first ten years of ownership, according to CarEdge.

2024 Lexus RX

Lexus has made its name as one of the most reliable brands, which is unusual for a luxury brand. However, considering that it’s owned by Toyota who prioritize reliability, it’s no surprise that Lexus builds its models with durability and longevity in mind.

One superb Lexus model right now is the RX luxury crossover SUV. The RX has everything — sleek, sporty styling, an upscale cabin with advanced tech, powerful engine options, and, unlike many luxury cars, it’s always been reliable. We recommend getting the latest generation of the RX, which debuted in 2023, as it has an updated design, modern tech, and great reliability ratings.

2024 Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi used to be among the best Japanese brands with a reputation for building exciting performance cars like the Lancer Evolution, Eclipse, and Starion. Unfortunately, the Japanese marque has fallen off, and its current lineup consists of boring crossover SUVs and the entry-level Mirage.

However, if you value reliability, the latest Mitsubishi Outlander is a good choice. The 2024 Outlander has great reliability ratings on J.D. Power and costs just $519 in annual maintenance costs, according to Repairpal.

2022 Toyota RAV4

The RAV4 was almost like a shot in the dark when Toyota unveiled it in 1994. Crossover SUVs weren’t really a thing back then. However, what may have seemed like a huge gamble paid off handsomely as the RAV4 climbed up the ranks to become the best-selling SUV of any kind in 2019. Toyota has sold over 12 million to date, earning billions in the process.

If you’re interested in getting a RAV4, we recommend the post-facelift 2022 model year. You get new LED projector headlights, silver or black alloy rims, and a sportier model known as the RAV4 GR Sport. Did we mention its stellar reliability ratings of 81/100 on J.D. Power?

2021 Toyota Land Cruiser

After a three-year hiatus, the Toyota Land Cruiser finally made a comeback to the US market, and gearheads are excited. The new-gen Land Cruiser has a retro-inspired, boxy design that many love and it still offers a combination of luxury, practicality, and off-road performance.

However, people are still learning their way around the 2024 Land Cruiser and its reliability, which is why we’ve picked the 2021 model. The 2021 Land Cruiser is much more affordable than a brand-new one, and, with a J.D. Power Quality and reliability rating of 83/100, it’s also affordable to maintain.

2024 Mazda CX-5

Mazda has invested heavily in SUVs over the last two decades or so. Mazda’s current SUV lineup has almost ten models and it’s expected to keep growing. The CX-5 is the most popular of the bunch, and it’s also been Mazda’s best-selling vehicle every year since 2014. The CX-5 has Mazda’s exquisite Kodo design language and comes with several capable but fuel-efficient engines with Skyactiv technology.

The icing on the CX-5’s cake is its reliability. The 2024 CX-5 has a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 on RepairPal, earning it first place among 26 midsize SUVs. Average annual repair costs of $447 also mean that it has low ownership costs.

2022 Toyota Corolla Cross

The Toyota Corolla needs no introduction, as it’s one of those models you can find everywhere in the world. It’s so popular that Toyota has sold it in different forms and body styles, and one of the newest is a crossover SUV known as the Corolla Cross. The Corolla Cross debuted in 2022 and is Toyota’s attempt to capitalize on the growing demand for crossover SUVs using a tried-and-tested platform.

The Corolla Cross uses the same platform and engine as the Corolla sedan but has more space and practicality, making it a no-brainer. The 2022 version had a reliability rating of 82/100 on J.D. Power, which meets the high standards set by its platform-mate.

2024 Lexus LX

While the Toyota Land Cruiser has always had some elements of luxury built into it, it’s hard for it to be taken seriously in the luxury car world with the Toyota badge on. This is why Lexus sells the LX. The LX takes the Land Cruiser platform to a whole new level in terms of luxury, allowing it to be mentioned in the same vein as the likes of the Range Rover.

However, having the Toyota DNA means that the LX doesn’t behave like normal ultra-luxurious SUVs. Unlike its rivals, the LX is quite reliable as it costs around $832 in annual repairs and maintenance, according to Repairpal. To put things into perspective, the 2024 Range Rover costs $1,258 in annual repairs.

2024 Honda Passport

The Honda Passport had a tough start to life at the end of the 20th century. Although it was early to the SUV market, many gearheads didn’t like the fact that it was a badge-engineered Isuzu, which is one of the reasons Honda discontinued it in 2002. After almost two decades, Honda finally reintroduced the Passport to its lineup in 2019, and it’s performing much better than the first two generations.

The third-generation Passport uses the Pilot’s platform and sits above the CR-V. Every third-gen Passport uses a 3.5-liter V6 that produces just under 300-hp, allowing it to keep up with rivals like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The 2024 Passport earned an excellent reliability score of 85/100 on J.D. Power.

2023 Infiniti QX50

Nissan’s luxury division Infiniti is nowhere near as revered as its domestic rival Lexus, but it has been building some pretty cool and underrated vehicles in recent years. One of them is the QX50. The QX50 has been in production for almost two decades, and even though it doesn’t perform well on the market, it has a lot going for it. The QX50 looks stunning, especially if you get the “coupe SUV” version launched in 2022.

The latest generation also shows how far Nissan has come in the last few years in terms of reliability, and even though it has the dreaded CVT transmission, the 2023 model year still earned a J.D. Power Quality and reliability score of 82/100. If you’re looking for a slightly used luxury car, the 2023 QX50 is a great choice.

2024 Subaru Ascent

SUVs are getting larger and larger. Three-row SUVs are one of the fastest-growing segments within the SUV market, which is why Subaru launched the Ascent in 2019. Being the largest vehicle in Subaru’s lineup, the Ascent offers more space and practicality than any other Subaru model, with seating for up to 8 passengers and 75.6 cubic feet of cargo room.

The Ascent uses a newly developed turbocharged four-cylinder engine that’s built to last. In true Subaru fashion, the Ascent offers superior reliability, with J.D. Power giving it a reliability rating of 82/100.