Repair costs can make a major difference to the long-term expense of owning an SUV. RepairPal data provides a useful way to compare vehicles because its annual repair cost figures are based on actual repair and maintenance information rather than manufacturer estimates.
The figures below use RepairPal’s published annual repair cost data and cover SUVs across several categories. The list ranges from the Honda HR-V at $301 per year to the Kia Sportage at $462. RepairPal also considers repair frequency and severity when calculating reliability, giving shoppers more context than annual cost alone.
1. Honda HR-V: $301 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Honda HR-V has the lowest annual repair cost among the SUV models included in this RepairPal comparison, with an average yearly repair cost of $301. RepairPal lists the HR-V at the top of its subcompact SUV reliability data, with a reported reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. Its annual repair figure is substantially below the $466 average for the subcompact SUV category.
That $301 figure is important because it represents an average rather than a guaranteed yearly bill. Some owners may spend nothing on repairs during a particular year, while others may encounter a larger repair. RepairPal’s figure is designed to represent average annual repair and maintenance costs across the vehicles included in its underlying data.
The HR-V also benefits from relatively low repair frequency in RepairPal’s data. The subcompact SUV category averages about 0.2 visits to a repair shop per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. RepairPal reports that severe repairs account for about 9% of repairs in this category, which provides additional context around the $301 annual figure.
For buyers focused on keeping unexpected ownership expenses under control, the HR-V’s RepairPal data provides a useful benchmark. Its annual repair cost is $165 below the subcompact SUV average and $351 below the $652 average for all vehicles in RepairPal’s broader reliability database.
RepairPal estimates that the Honda HR-V costs about $301 per year to repair. That figure places it at the bottom of the annual repair cost range among the 10 SUVs compared here. Actual expenses may differ depending on the vehicle’s age, mileage, location, maintenance history, and the repairs it needs.
2. Mazda CX-3: $345 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Mazda CX-3 records an average annual repair cost of $345, according to RepairPal. It ranks second among the subcompact SUV models listed on RepairPal’s current reliability page. The figure is $44 higher than the HR-V’s annual cost, but it remains well below the $466 average for subcompact SUVs.
A $345 annual average translates to roughly $28.75 per month when the yearly figure is divided by 12. That calculation does not mean an owner will receive a monthly repair bill. Repair expenses are irregular, so a vehicle could go through several months without a repair before requiring a larger service.
RepairPal’s subcompact SUV data shows that this vehicle category has an average of 0.2 shop visits per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. RepairPal also reports a 9% probability of a repair being considered severe within the category. Those measures help put the CX-3’s annual cost into context.
The CX-3’s position also demonstrates why comparing repair costs across the same source can be useful. The difference between $301 and $345 is relatively small compared with the broader variation seen among SUV models. Buyers can therefore look at the annual repair number alongside space, fuel economy, safety equipment, age and purchase price.
RepairPal estimates the Mazda CX-3’s annual repair cost at $345. That is well below the $652 average for vehicles and also lower than the $466 average for subcompact SUVs. For shoppers focused on repair expenses, those figures provide a useful point of comparison.
3. Honda CR-V: $407 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Honda CR-V has an average annual repair cost of $407, according to RepairPal. The model is listed second among the 26 compact SUVs covered by RepairPal’s current compact SUV reliability data, with a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating. Its $407 annual cost is lower than the $521 average for compact SUVs.
The CR-V’s annual repair figure is also useful when compared with the broader vehicle average. RepairPal reports an average annual repair cost of $652 across all makes and models in its reliability database. At $407, the CR-V’s reported figure is $245 lower than that broader average.
RepairPal says the CR-V has relatively low repair severity and repair frequency compared with other vehicles. Its reliability information therefore contains more than just the dollar figure. The combination of annual cost, frequency, and severity helps explain why RepairPal gives the CR-V a strong reliability rating.
The CR-V also provides an interesting comparison with the Toyota RAV4. RepairPal lists the CR-V at $407 per year and the RAV4 at $429. That is a $22 difference in the published average annual repair cost. Both models appear among RepairPal’s compact SUV data, making them useful reference points for buyers comparing mainstream compact SUVs.
Based strictly on RepairPal’s annual repair cost data, the $407 figure places the Honda CR-V comfortably among the lower-cost SUVs in this list. Actual expenses can still vary significantly from owner to owner, so the number should be treated as a long-term average rather than a fixed annual ownership bill.
4. Toyota RAV4: $429 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Toyota RAV4 has an average annual repair cost of $429, based on RepairPal’s published reliability information. RepairPal gives the RAV4 a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating and places it third among 26 compact SUVs in its current category data.
RepairPal reports that the average annual cost for all compact SUVs is $521. That means the RAV4’s $429 figure is $92 below its category average. It is also $223 below RepairPal’s $652 annual average across all vehicle models.
The RAV4’s repair cost is close to that of the Honda CR-V. RepairPal’s comparison page lists the CR-V at $407 and the RAV4 at $429, creating a $22 difference between their reported annual averages. The two models therefore sit within a relatively narrow range on this particular metric.
RepairPal also reports that the RAV4 has lower-than-average repair frequency and severity compared with other vehicles. That matters because annual cost alone cannot show how often repairs occur or how serious they are. A vehicle can have a low average cost while still experiencing an occasional expensive repair, which is why RepairPal uses multiple reliability measures.
For the purposes of this article, the key number is $429 per year. The RAV4’s published figure puts it below the compact SUV category average and well below the RepairPal vehicle average, making it an entry among SUVs with lower reported annual repair costs.
5. Nissan Rogue Select: $436 Average Annual Repair Cost
RepairPal reports an average annual repair cost of $436 for the Nissan Rogue Select. It appears fourth in RepairPal’s list of compact SUV models, where the category’s average annual repair cost is $521.
The difference between the Rogue Select’s figure and the compact SUV average is $85 per year. That comparison gives the $436 figure more meaning because it shows how the model’s reported cost relates to other vehicles in the same broad category.
RepairPal’s compact SUV data records an average of 0.3 shop visits per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. The category also has an 11% probability of a repair being classified as severe. These figures apply to the compact SUV category rather than specifically to every individual model, so they should not be treated as the Rogue Select’s individual statistics.
The Rogue Select’s inclusion in this list also highlights the importance of checking exactly which model a reliability database is describing. The Rogue Select is distinct from simply assuming that every Nissan Rogue generation or model year has identical repair costs. Repair data can vary by model year, mileage, and mechanical configuration.
With a reported annual repair cost of $436, the Nissan Rogue Select remains below the compact SUV average of $521 and the broader vehicle average of $652.
6. Hyundai Tucson: $426 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Hyundai Tucson appears in RepairPal’s compact SUV data with an average annual repair cost of $426. RepairPal places it among the compact SUV models with lower reported annual repair costs, with the category average standing at $521.
The Tucson’s reported annual cost is $95 below the compact SUV average. That difference is significant when considering long-term ownership, especially for drivers who intend to keep an SUV for many years. Still, an average should never be interpreted as a promise of what an individual owner will spend.
RepairPal calculates its reliability information using repair data and considers cost, frequency, and severity. The company says its database contains millions of repair invoices and that its reliability rating measures dependability using these factors rather than relying solely on owner opinions or a single repair event.
The Tucson’s $426 figure also sits close to the RAV4’s $429 and the Rogue Select’s $436 in this list. That means the difference between several vehicles in the middle of this ranking is relatively small. Purchase price, insurance, fuel consumption, and routine maintenance can therefore make a substantial difference to total ownership costs.
From the RepairPal data used here, the Hyundai Tucson records $426 in average annual repair costs. It is a useful figure for shoppers who want to compare repair expenses among compact SUVs, particularly when paired with RepairPal’s broader reliability measurements.
7. Kia Sportage: $462 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Kia Sportage has an average annual repair cost of $462 in RepairPal’s compact SUV data. RepairPal places the Sportage among the 10 compact SUV models listed on its reliability page, with the category itself averaging $521 per year.
At $462 annually, the Sportage is $59 below the compact SUV average. The difference is smaller than the gaps seen with the HR-V or CX-3, but the reported cost still falls below the category benchmark.
RepairPal’s category information says compact SUVs average approximately 0.3 shop visits per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. The category also has an 11% probability of a repair being considered severe. These statistics provide context for the Sportage but should not be presented as individual Sportage measurements.
The Sportage’s annual figure also demonstrates that a lower repair cost does not necessarily mean every year will be inexpensive. Repair costs tend to arrive unevenly. A vehicle could have several years with relatively little spending followed by a year involving a major component.
The data point to remember is $462 per year. Within RepairPal’s compact SUV dataset, that figure is below the $521 category average and below the $652 average across all makes and models reported by RepairPal.
8. Toyota Venza: $444 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Toyota Venza has an average annual repair cost of $444, according to RepairPal’s midsize SUV reliability data. RepairPal lists the Venza third among the midsize SUV models shown on its reliability page. The midsize SUV category has an average annual repair cost of $573.
That places the Venza $129 below the midsize SUV category average. The difference is important because midsize SUVs generally have higher reported annual repair costs than compact SUVs in RepairPal’s category data. RepairPal puts the midsize SUV average at $573 compared with $521 for compact SUVs.
RepairPal’s midsize SUV category averages approximately 0.4 repair shop visits per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance. The category also has a 13% probability of a repair being severe. Again, those figures describe the category rather than the Venza specifically.
The Venza’s inclusion in this list is particularly useful for readers who want a larger SUV without moving into the higher annual repair figures associated with many larger or luxury models. Its $444 annual figure sits close to the Mazda CX-5’s $447 figure, even though the two models are categorized differently by RepairPal.
Based on the published RepairPal number, the Toyota Venza has an average annual repair cost of $444. That makes it a significant data point for comparing midsize SUVs where repair expenses can vary considerably between models.
9. Mazda CX-5: $447 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Mazda CX-5 records an average annual repair cost of $447 in RepairPal’s midsize SUV data. RepairPal places it first among the midsize SUV models displayed on its reliability page and gives the midsize SUV category an average annual repair cost of $573.
At $447 per year, the CX-5 is $126 below the midsize SUV category average. The figure is also only $3 higher than the Toyota Venza’s $444 annual cost. This shows how closely grouped some of the lower-cost midsize SUVs are within the RepairPal data.
RepairPal reports that the CX-5 has a 4.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating. The company also says the model’s repair severity and frequency are lower than average. Those factors contribute to the reliability assessment rather than being interchangeable with the $447 annual repair figure.
The CX-5’s annual repair cost is also worth comparing with the Toyota RAV4. RepairPal lists the RAV4 at $429, meaning the reported difference between the two models is $18 per year. RepairPal categorizes the RAV4 as a compact SUV and the CX-5 as a midsize SUV, so category differences should be considered when interpreting the figures.
The RepairPal figure gives the Mazda CX-5 a reported annual repair cost of $447. For shoppers comparing midsize SUVs, that is substantially below the $573 category average and provides a clear data point for evaluating potential long-term repair expenditure.
10. Kia Soul: $437 Average Annual Repair Cost
The Kia Soul has an average annual repair cost of $437, according to RepairPal’s subcompact SUV data. RepairPal lists the Soul third among the subcompact SUV models shown on its current reliability page. The category average is $466 per year.
The Soul’s $437 figure is $29 below the subcompact SUV category average. Its annual repair cost is therefore relatively close to the category benchmark, while still remaining below it. The number should be viewed as an average calculated from RepairPal’s available data rather than a fixed amount that every owner will pay.
RepairPal reports that the subcompact SUV category averages 0.2 visits to a repair shop per year for unscheduled repairs and maintenance.
The category has a reported 9% probability of a repair being severe. These category figures help explain how RepairPal evaluates reliability but do not represent a direct prediction of what an individual Soul owner will experience.
The Soul’s position also shows why annual repair cost should be separated from other ownership expenses. Fuel, insurance, tires, scheduled service, depreciation, and financing can all affect the actual cost of owning an SUV. A low RepairPal repair figure addresses a specific part of ownership rather than the complete cost of keeping a vehicle.
RepairPal’s published figure for the Kia Soul is $437 per year. That places it below the $466 subcompact SUV average and makes it part of this 10-model comparison based on annual repair cost data.
