Finding a reliable SUV priced under $10,000 is a daunting task, but it’s not impossible. Making matters more difficult, the ones good for towing lots of weight and hauling lots of people typically have very high miles on them if they’re priced beneath the 10-grand cap. And any vehicle, regardless of make and model, is going to require regular maintenance and repair once the odometer shows six digits.
While researching this list of the 10 most reliable SUVs under $10,000, we set several parameters. First, the make/model needed to have a track record for reliability. Second, multiple examples with fewer than 100,000 miles needed to be found within a few hundred miles using used car listing services. Third, it needed to be available on used car lots run by major dealership chains and not just mom-and-pop shops. Fourth, it couldn’t be more than 15 years old. On the pages that follow, and within these parameters, you’ll find the 10 most reliable SUVs under $10,000 based on research carried out in April 2020.