When these SUVs were new in 2024, reliability rankings were partly predictive. Two years later, we have better evidence. Owner surveys, recalls, and real-world mileage now show which early predictions held up, especially as new engines, transmissions, electronics, and software have had time to expose weaknesses.
For today’s used buyer, the question is therefore no longer which SUV looked reliable when new, but which has actually begun proving it. These are the 2024 midsize SUVs I’d put near the top of the list.
Our Reliability Shortlist
| 2024 SUV | Why It Made the List | Main Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota 4Runner | Exceptional current reliability evidence + extremely mature hardware | Old design, poor fuel economy |
| Nissan Murano | Surprisingly strong owner data + mature powertrain | CVT requires service-history scrutiny |
| Toyota Highlander | Strong reliability record + practical 3-row layout | Gas turbo powertrain less proven than old V6 |
| Subaru Outback | Good current record + mature AWD platform | Infotainment complaints |
| Hyundai Palisade | Solid record + proven family-SUV package | Recalls/body-hardware complaints |
One clarification: these aren’t arbitrary TopCarList scores. We don’t combine Consumer Reports, NHTSA recalls, and unrelated datasets into a fictional 9.4/10 reliability rating, because they measure different things.
Instead, we look for convergence between model-year owner data, powertrain maturity, recurring failure patterns, recalls, and engineering history. Our Car Reliability Ratings Explained guide explains why this approach gives buyers a more meaningful picture.
1. Toyota 4Runner — Best for Proven Durability
If reliability matters more than refinement, efficiency, or technology, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner is difficult to beat. Consumer Reports’ owner data is exceptionally favorable, and its engineering history helps explain why.
This was the final year of a generation dating to 2010, still using Toyota’s proven 4.0-liter V6 and five-speed automatic. By 2024, more than a decade of production, field data, and incremental revisions had turned an old platform into exceptionally mature hardware.
The tradeoff is poor fuel economy, dated technology, and road manners newer crossovers easily surpass. But for long-term mechanical confidence, that maturity is precisely the attraction.
Best for: Buyers prioritizing proven hardware and longevity.
2. Nissan Murano — The Reliability Surprise
The 2024 Nissan Murano is a good example of why brand reputation can mislead. Its current owner data is unusually strong, despite Nissan’s broader CVT history.
The difference is maturity. By 2024, the third-generation Murano and its 3.5-liter V6/CVT combination had accumulated years of production and field experience, so older Nissan CVT problems shouldn’t automatically be transferred to this application.
I’d still verify transmission-fluid service, test operation under load, and scan for faults before buying. But the 2024 evidence gives us more confidence than Nissan’s CVT reputation alone would suggest.
Best for: Buyers seeking a comfortable two-row crossover at attractive used prices.
3. Toyota Highlander — Best Conventional Family Choice
The 2024 Toyota Highlander remains a strong family choice, but its powertrain deserves more attention than the badge. Toyota replaced the long-running 3.5-liter V6 with a 2.4-liter turbo four-cylinder for 2023, so the 2024 gas model simply lacks the V6’s decade-plus field history.
For long ownership, I’d also consider the Highlander Hybrid. Toyota’s hybrid architecture is extensively proven, while its 2.5-liter engine avoids the gas model’s turbocharger.
The Highlander also has recalls requiring VIN-level verification, including the 2026 second-row seat-back recliner campaign. Strong reliability evidence never replaces a VIN check.
Best for: Families wanting a proven, mainstream three-row crossover.
4. Subaru Outback — Best AWD Practical Choice
Whether you call it an SUV, crossover, or lifted wagon, the 2024 Subaru Outback belongs in this comparison. It combines a reassuring early reliability record with an established platform and familiar Subaru powertrains.
For straightforward ownership, I’d favor the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine unless you genuinely need the 2.4-liter turbo’s extra performance. Both use Subaru’s CVT and standard AWD.
Owner reports lean more toward infotainment, rattles, and minor electrical annoyances than serious powertrain trouble—an important distinction between frustrating and mechanically unreliable.
Add useful cargo space and good ground clearance, and the Outback makes particular sense for snow, dirt roads, or poor weather.
Best for: Buyers wanting AWD and utility without a three-row SUV.
5. Hyundai Palisade — Best Value-Oriented Three-Row Alternative
The 2024 Hyundai Palisade combines a reassuring reliability record with a powertrain that was already well established. Its 3.8-liter naturally aspirated V6 and conventional eight-speed automatic also avoid the downsized turbo engines and newer electrified systems appearing in many rivals.
Owner reports include body hardware, trim, brake, climate-control, and noise-related issues, while multiple recalls make a VIN check essential. But there isn’t enough evidence to treat the 2024 Palisade as inherently troublesome.
Its real strength is the package: reasonable reliability, excellent three-row usability, and generous equipment for the money.
Best for: Families prioritizing space, equipment, and value.
What About the Honda Passport?
The 2024 Honda Passport remains worth considering. Its 3.5-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic were mature by 2024, and its straightforward two-row layout suits long-term ownership.
But Consumer Reports currently rates its reliability as only about average for the model year. That’s respectable, just not enough to outrank rivals with stronger 2024 evidence. The lesson is important: Honda’s reputation gets the Passport onto the research list; the specific model-year evidence determines where it ranks.
The SUV We Would Approach More Carefully: 2024 Mazda CX-90
The 2024 Mazda CX-90 shows why first-year redesigns deserve caution. Mazda introduced a new rear-biased platform, inline-six architecture, eight-speed transmission, 48V system, and plug-in hybrid almost simultaneously.
The engineering was ambitious; the reliability record has been weaker. Consumer Reports now rates the 2024 CX-90 much less reliable than other 2024 vehicles, while recalls have involved steering, software, cameras, powertrain controls, and electrified systems.
Later CX-90s may improve as Mazda revises the platform. But the 2024 should be judged as a first-year vehicle—not as a CX-5 with inherited Mazda reliability.
Why the Old 4Runner Beat the New CX-90
The 2024 4Runner and CX-90 demonstrate an important reliability principle: the Mazda was far more sophisticated, but the Toyota was vastly more mature.
New platforms can introduce new components, suppliers, software, manufacturing processes, and powertrain interactions simultaneously. Engineers test these extensively, but they cannot fully reproduce millions of customer miles across different climates and driving conditions.
Those miles expose weaknesses. Manufacturers respond with revised parts, software, calibrations, and production changes.
That doesn’t make old platforms inherently reliable or new ones unreliable. But all else being equal:
production volume + time + engineering revision = maturity
That’s why first-year vehicles deserve more uncertainty until real-world evidence accumulates.
What to Check Before Buying Any 2024 SUV
These SUVs are still relatively young, but condition already matters.
Start with the VIN and verify all recalls were completed. Confirm the exact powertrain, review service records, inspect tire wear carefully on AWD models, and scan all vehicle modules—not just the engine computer for stored or pending faults. Check accident history and modifications as well.
Most importantly, don’t confuse a clean history report with a mechanical inspection. On an expensive used SUV, a pre-purchase inspection is cheap insurance against inheriting someone else’s recurring problem.
Which 2024 Midsize SUV Would I Buy?
For maximum mechanical confidence, the 2024 Toyota 4Runner is my first choice. It’s dated, inefficient, and less refined than newer rivals, but that buys exceptionally mature engineering backed by strong model-year evidence.
For families, I’d choose the Toyota Highlander. The Nissan Murano deserves more consideration than Nissan’s reputation suggests, while the Subaru Outback suits AWD-focused buyers and the Hyundai Palisade combines three-row practicality with solid reliability evidence.
The bigger lesson matters more than the ranking. In 2024, reliability was partly predicted. In 2026, real-world evidence is beginning to replace those predictions.
Sometimes the newest engineering isn’t the smartest used buy.
If long-term durability matters more than model-year reliability alone, read our guide to the Top 10 Longest-Lasting SUVs You Can Buy Today, where we look beyond early dependability to vehicles with stronger evidence of surviving serious mileage.
For more reliability research, used-car analysis, and practical buying guides, explore the latest articles on TopCarList.
- Chinese Cars Are Winning the Technology Race—But Will They Last?
- 2024 Toyota Camry Reliability: Is It Toyota’s Smartest Buy?
- 2023 Toyota Camry Reliability: Is Paying More Really Worth It?
- 10 Most Reliable Used Cars in 2026: Specific Years to Buy
- 2022 Toyota Camry Reliability: Is It the Best Used Camry?
- Car Reliability Ratings Explained: Which Ones Can You Actually Trust?
*Disclaimer: This website provides automotive content for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice. While we strive for accuracy, we do not guarantee the reliability or suitability of any vehicle or product mentioned—always conduct your own research before making purchasing decisions. Additionally, some links on this site are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you.