According to a report by S&P Global Mobility, luxury SUV sales growth outpaced that of mainstream SUVs. Luxury crossovers and SUVs comprised almost 70% of the U.S. luxury vehicle segment in terms of 2021’s unit sales. Moreover, a study by McKinsey & Company about the trends shaping the luxury car market reveals that almost 50% of premium and luxury vehicle buyers prefer SUVs for their next purchase – including those who currently own at least one already.
The popularity of crossovers and SUVs is more pronounced in the luxury segment than in the mainstream/mass-market segment, particularly because there aren’t many pickup trucks that can take a slice of the luxury pie. As of 2021, crossovers and SUVs made up approximately 52% of the total mass-market vehicle sales in America, while pickup trucks accounted for roughly 20% share.
Although the two consulting groups have yet to release newer in-depth studies of this segment, they have been on point with their predictions so far. As of 2022, crossovers and ladder-frame SUVs made up roughly 55% of total US vehicle sales. When purchasing a luxury SUV – or any vehicle for that matter – all buyers should consider vehicle upkeep. Aside from depreciation and fuel costs, the expenses related to vehicle repairs and maintenance are among the biggest costs of vehicle ownership.
According to CarEdge, crossovers and SUVs are generally more expensive to repair and maintain than sedans and hatchbacks. Over a 10-year ownership period, mass-market sedans cost an average of $700 per year. The Kia Sportage – a mass-market compact crossover – is already quite cheap to maintain (at $787 per year) compared to most SUV models in its segment.
Some luxury crossovers and SUVs, however, are surprisingly even cheaper to maintain than their mass-market counterparts. If you’re one of the many Americans currently in the market for a new or used luxury SUV, then you’re in the right place.
UPDATE: 2024/02/09 17:20 EST BY RON FP
How we made our model selections:
HotCars studied the latest generations of luxury crossovers and SUVs and chose the ones with the lowest annual maintenance costs based on RepairPal and 10-year maintenance costs from CarEdge. Used car prices were sourced from Kelley Blue Book (KBB). For further insights, quality and reliability scores from J.D. Power, vehicle recall information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and consumer reviews from KBB and Edmunds were also included.
The following models were sorted from highest to lowest based on their annual maintenance costs according to RepairPal.
10 2021 Lexus LX 570 – $832 Annually
2021 Lexus LX 570 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $832
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $8,286
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 83/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.6/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.3/5
Many Lexus Fans Still Prefer The LX 570 V8 Over The New LX 600 V6
Before Lexus released the 3.4-liter, twin-turbo V6-powered LX 600 in late 2021, there was the 3rd-generation LX 570, which was powered by the Toyota group’s good old 5.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 engine. The LX is Lexus’ largest model in its SUV line, and it is hailed both for urban prestige and off-road competency. If you’re looking for a full-size luxury SUV, you can hardly go wrong with choosing the Lexus LX 570 against its other full-size competitors. The LX has excellent build quality, premium interior materials, great passenger comfort and convenience features, and a good resale value. J.D. Power also gave the 2021 Lexus LX 570 a great reliability score of 83/100.
As icing on the cake, the Lexus LX 570 costs only $8,286 to repair and maintain for the first 10 years. That’s a very impressive upkeep price for such a large luxury vehicle, and it serves as a good benchmark for all the smaller Lexus SUVs that rank higher on this list.
9 2024 Tesla Model X – $832 Annually
Tesla Model X Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $832
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $5,723
- Total Recalls: 1
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 72/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.6/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 3.3/5
The Model X – Or Any Tesla – Does Not Need Regular Oil Changes
The Tesla Model X crossover is the only all-electric model on this list, and the main reason why it made the cut is a difference in two expert opinions. RepairPal’s average annual maintenance cost for Tesla vehicles stands at $832, while CarEdge estimates that the Tesla Model X will need $5,723 for the first 10 years (which translates to roughly $572 per year). The Tesla Model X doesn’t need a regular oil change, doesn’t clog up any engine oil, fuel, and air filter, doesn’t burn gaskets to a crisp, and overall, doesn’t have as many moving parts as a regular internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle has. Hence, upkeep costs (according to CarEdge) are kept low – approximately $1,000 lower than that of the average luxury SUV.
CarEdge data aside, however, recent Consumer Reports survey data shows that the Model X is quite an unreliable SUV, and this may be one of the reasons why RepairPal’s estimates are much higher. If you’re willing to close your ears to these expert and consumer-based insights to get one of the most popular electric crossovers on the market, the 2024 Tesla Model X currently starts at $79,990 before taxes and government incentives.
8 2023 Lexus GX 460 – $770 Annually
2023 Lexus GX 460 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $770
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,652
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 89/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.5/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.5/5
The 2023 GX 460 Is The Last V8-Powered Lexus GX
The Lexus GX is a truck-based luxury SUV that straddles the line between the large midsize and the full-size categories. One of the things to know about the 2023 Lexus GX 460 is that it is the last model year to carry the 4.6-liter, naturally-aspirated V8 engine (301 hp and 329 lb-ft of torque). The 2023 GX also comes in AWD configuration to carry 7 passengers across city streets as well as off-road trails with confidence. J.D. Power gave the 2023 Lexus GX 460 a great reliability score of 89/100, and KBB customer reviews for this Lexus SUV tallied up to a respectable 4.5/5.
The 2023 Lexus GX 460 had a starting price of $57,575, and its repair and maintenance will only cost an average of $7,652 for the first 10 years of its operation.
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7 2024 Infiniti QX60 – $639 Annually
2024 Infiniti QX60 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $639
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $10,805
- Total Recalls: 1
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 75/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 5/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 3.1/5
The 2024 QX60 Can Tow A 6,000-Pound Trailer
The Infiniti QX60 is a 3-row luxury midsize crossover SUV powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (295 hp, 270 lb-ft). The 2024 QX60 earned a perfect 5/5 consumer rating from Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and an average reliability rating (75/100) from J.D. Power. Currently, a brand-new Infiniti QX60 has a starting price ranging from $49,650 to $66,100, depending on the trim.
Infiniti has big plans for how the QX60 can conquer the luxury SUV market. QX60 customers are treated to the relatively low price point of this midsize crossover, considering that it also comes standard with many comfort, convenience, and safety features, as well as a 6,000-lb maximum towing capacity. The deal gets even sweeter because the Infiniti QX60’s repair and maintenance cost only comes up to $10,805 for the first 10 years of ownership. This is roughly $5,000 less than the average luxury crossover’s upkeep cost.
6 2024 Infiniti QX50 – $608 Annually
2024 Infiniti QX50 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $608
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $10,657
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 82/100 (2023 rating)
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.1/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 3.3/5
The QX50 Competes Well Against The BMW X3 And The Audi Q5
The Infiniti QX50 is the smaller, compact luxury crossover brother of the QX60. Launched for the 2019 model year, the 2nd-generation QX50 came with plenty of improvements over its previous iteration. The QX50 hauls 5 passengers in a roomy and tech-laden premium interior using a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine that puts out 268 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Although the QX50 has a lower starting price ($41,000 to $58,050) than the midsize QX60, J.D. Power gave the smaller Infiniti crossover a higher quality and reliability score of 82/100 for the 2023 model year (the 2024 model is not rated yet).
The Infiniti QX50 has an average repair and maintenance cost of $10,657 for its first 10 years of operation. This is about $1,300 less than the average luxury sedan’s annual upkeep cost.
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5 2024 Acura MDX – $571 Annually
2024 Acura MDX Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $571
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $9,820
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 79/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.4/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 3.5/5
The Acura MDX Was The First 3-Row SUV To Use A Unibody Design
Not to be outplayed by Infiniti’s QX60, the Honda group’s luxury Acura division also has its own 3-row midsize crossover SUV – the Acura MDX, which is one of the best SUVs on the market. With two V6 engine options (290 hp for the base option and 355 hp for the turbocharged mill), the Acura MDX can transport up to 7 passengers quite easily. The MDX’s interior is quite spacious and tech-rich, and its middle-row seats can be adjusted to make third-row passengers more comfortable.
The 2024 Acura MDX starts at $50,150 for the front-wheel-drive base trim, which you can upgrade to AWD configuration for an additional $2,200. For the entire trim range, the 2024 Acura MDX will have a repair and maintenance cost of $9,820 for the first 10 years of operation.
4 2021 Lexus NX 300 – $551 Annually
Lexus NX 300 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $551
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,136
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 81/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.5/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.4/5
The Turbocharged Lexus NX 300 Can Still Get 25 Miles Per Gallon
The 1st-generation Lexus NX 300 – also known as the NX 200t in other markets – is a compact luxury crossover that had a warm welcome in the US market. One of the reasons why the first-generation Lexus NX fared well against its competition was that its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine produces 235 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque yet still delivers a 25-MPG fuel economy rating. The first-generation Lexus NX shared a few components with the best-selling Toyota RAV4, but the former used a different Lexus platform and sported a very distinct Lexus design and more luxurious features. The second-generation NX, however, debuted for the 2022 model year using the same TNGA-K platform that the RX, RAV4, Alphard, and several other midsize and full-size Toyota and Lexus cars, crossovers, and minivans use.
A 2021 Lexus NX 300 still sells for $27,119 to $37,557 on the used-car market. Don’t worry about the up-front purchase price too much, because this compact Lexus SUV will only cost you an average of $7,140 on repairs and maintenance for the first 10 years. It’s even cheaper to maintain than a Honda CR-V.
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3 2022 Lexus RX 350 – $550 Annually
Lexus RX 350 Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $550
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,398
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.1/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.2/5
The 2022 RX Is The Last Model Year To Use A V6 Engine
Compared to the RX 450h, the Lexus RX 350 is the more affordable trim in the nameplate’s lineup. Looking at the evolution of the Lexus RX, we will know that 2022 is the last model year that the midsize luxury crossover carried a 3.5-liter V6 powerplant (295 hp, 267 lb-ft). Starting in 2023, the RX 350 shifted to a turbocharged 2.4-liter I4 engine that produces 275 hp and 317 lb-ft of torque.
The 2022 RX 350 is available on the used car market for $40,187 up to $48,120, depending on the trim. Furthermore, the RX 350 has a projected upkeep cost of $7,398 for its first decade of use. It’s a great SUV – and the only downside to buying one is that it’s so popular to the point of being a bit commonplace on the streets.
2 2022 Lexus RX 450h – $540 Annually
2022 Lexus RX 450h Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $540
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $7,634
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 85/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 4.1/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.3/5
The Lexus RX Was America’s Best-Selling Luxury SUV For 2022
The Lexus RX 450h is a hybrid-engine, midsize SUV that comes in a short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase configuration. This Lexus crossover SUV puts out a total of 308 hp from its 3.5-liter V6 engine and three electric motors – more than enough to haul up to 7 passengers and still achieve an excellent fuel economy rating of 29 miles per gallon (MPG). Lexus doesn’t skimp on the RX’s build quality and reliability either – proven by J.D. Power’s great quality and reliability rating of 85/100. One of the good things to know about the hybrid Lexus RX is that it was the best-selling luxury SUV in America last 2022.
You can drive home a 2021 Lexus RX 450h from the used-car market for $43,255 to $51,059 depending on the trim and configuration. The Lexus RX450h retains its resale value very well, partly because it’s very cheap to maintain – at only $7,634 for the first 10 years.
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1 2024 Acura RDX – $497 Annually
2024 Acura RDX Maintenance And Reliability
- Average Yearly Maintenance Cost: $497
- Est. Maintenance Cost During The First 10 Years: $9,610
- Total Recalls: 0
- JD Power Quality And Reliability Score: 80/100
- KBB Consumer Rating: 3.9/5
- Edmunds Consumer Rating: 4.0/5
The RDX Is One Of KBB’s Best Luxury Compact SUV Awardees
The Acura RDX is a 2-row luxury compact crossover that offers seating for five, plenty of comfort, convenience and safety features, FWD and AWD capability, and a peppy 2.0-liter turbocharged engine (272 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque) for a starting price of $44,350. One of the great things to know about the Acura RDX is that just a year ago, the RDX’s value-for-money proposition earned it a podium spot in KBB’s “Best Luxury Compact SUVs” awards for 2023.
If you’re interested in driving home a 3rd-generation Acura, you can expect to fork out an average of $9,610 for the first 10 years’ repair and maintenance costs. This is approximately $6,000 less than what the average luxury SUV will bleed you for during the first decade.
Sources: Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, J.D. Power, RepairPal, CarEdge, NHTSA
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