When it comes to buying used, there are certain models to avoid due to high maintenance and repair costs. Some have a reputation for being expensive to repair or less reliable once the mileage increases. Below is one used luxury SUV you might want to skip, and two alternatives from , Acura and Lincoln.
The 2014 BMW X3 is one used luxury SUV you can skip
While the 2014 BMW X3 is worth skipping, he still reported that it was a comfortable and luxurious option. BMW is known for making powerful engines, and the 2014 X3 offered two choices. A 2.0-litre four-cylinder in the xDrive28i or the 3.0-litre straight-six in the xDrive35i. The xDrive28i got 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined, and the xDrive35i got 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined.
says it has an average annual repair cost of $1,032, higher than most vehicles of the same age. It also only received a 2.5-star reliability rating, below average for the segment.
For a best used luxury SUV, the 2014 Acura RDX scores high
If BMW is a used luxury SUV to avoid, it’s one of the best alternatives. Acura equipped the RDX with an efficient V6 engine that returned 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway with front-wheel drive. That drops to 19 mpg city and 22 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.
The RDX also had plenty of headroom up front and 38.3 inches of legroom in the second row. It also has 26.1 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, or 61.3 cubic feet of space, with all rows folded down. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the 2014 Acura RDX a five-star safety rating. It has also received high marks from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
RepairPal says the average annual cost to repair the 2014 Acura RDX is around $508. It could be for something like a suspension ball joint replacement and a head gasket replacement. It received a reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5, above the segment average.
The 2015 Lincoln MKC is another good alternative
What makes a good used luxury SUV? Lincoln’s MKC had more standard equipment, a quiet cab, and offered good value for money. It was new for 2015 and offered systems like stability control, anti-lock disc brakes, a rearview camera, and front-seat side airbags. Fuel economy came in at 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, and 19 mpg city or 26 mpg highway with all-wheel drive.
Cargo space sits at 25.2 cubic feet of space behind the seats and 53.1 cubic feet with the seats folded. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the 2015 Lincoln MKC an overall safety rating of four stars. It performed well on tests such as frontal barrier and side impact ratings. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has awarded the MKC high scores in its tests.
Repairs for MKCs can average up to $813, such as replacing a serpentine belt or a transmission fluid change. It received a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Finding a vehicle to inspect any used luxury SUV is recommended. This can help identify issues that may be difficult to see from the outside and ensure any recalls have been addressed.
