As 2020 draws to an end, it is time to look back at some of the most reliable SUVs that this year gave us. With December being the best month to buy a new car, there can’t be a more ideal time than now, So lets go!. To compile our list, we have picked the SUVs that got the highest rating in J.D. Power’s consumer reports.
So, without further ado, here are our top picks for the most reliable SUVs of 2020!
Highly Rated Picks: Some of the Best SUVs of 2020
Mazda CX-30
J.D.Power Score: 82/100
If you think you have become a fully grown motorist and learned all aspects of driving, the first car on our list of most reliable SUVs will be Mazda CX-30 for you. Mazda has perfected the art of SUV making and blown us away with a few masterpieces before. The new Mazda CX-30 fills the gap between the subcompact crossover CX-3 and the much larger CX-5. The first thing you’ll notice about this SUV is the upscale interior, which is not something many other crossovers offer at this point. You get to enjoy ample space, sophisticated ambiance, and advanced safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic braking, and lane-keeping assist. In addition to this, the crossover SUV also offers refined ride quality and nimble steering you would normally expect from a more expensive ride.
Trim Levels
The only engine offering Mazda CX-30 has is the 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186-horsepower and 186 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. It does come in four standard trims though: Base, Select, Premium, and Preferred. The Base model is quite well equipped, featuring LED lighting, an 8.8-inch infotainment screen, and alloy wheels. In short, it has all the features that justify its place on this list of most reliable SUVs.
Moving up the ladder is the ‘Select’ trim level with upgrades such as tinted rear windows, dual-zone automatic climate control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, and simulated leather upholstery. The ‘Preferred’ adds heated seats, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and some other minor changes. The top trim level, the Premium, comes with a head-up display, full leather seating, a power liftgate, and adaptive front lighting.
2020 Buick Envision:
J.D.Power Score: 85/100
The 2020 Buick Envision isn’t the most luxurious SUV out there. However, it fits nicely into that area between luxury and affordable utility vehicles. With its impressive overall performance, it definitely deserves to be on our list of the most reliable SUVs of 2020.
It has a handsome cabin, albeit a little plain compared to some of the other luxury SUVs. The standard trim comes with cloth upholstery, heated and power-adjustable seats, and a neat leather steering wheel. The higher trim levels offer leather upholstery and heated steering wheel and car seats. Despite its plainness, you will find ample space in the interior for passengers as well as for the cargo.
Trim Levels
The base model offers a powerful turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, capable of generating 197 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. It pairs with a six-speed automatic transmission and drives the front wheels only. The Essence and Preferred trims give you the all-wheel-drive option. On the other hand, the highest trim levels – the Premium and the Premium II – have all-wheel-drive as standard equipment. Both of these carry a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine pumping out 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which pairs with a nine-speed automatic.
Base Trim Features
Some of the standard features on the Base include xenon headlights,18-inch wheels, foglights, a hands-free liftgate, rear parking sensors, auto-dimming and heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. So, you can see, even opting for the entry-level model, you will still get one of the most reliable SUVs at an affordable price.
Preferred Trim Features
The Preferred trim features the same specifications, but you have the option of adding more. The Essence trim level adds three-zone automatic climate control, driver-seat memory functions, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, and blind-spot monitoring.
Premium Trim Features
Next up is the Premium that gets you 19-inch wheels, front parking sensors, LED headlights, a larger driver information display, a forward collision alert system, a lane departure warning and intervention system, and a seven-speaker Bose premium audio system.
Lastly, Premium II. Along with all the standard features, you also get automatic high beams, wireless charging, an automated parking system, a head-up display, a navigation system, extendable thigh support for the driver’s seat, and ventilated front seats.
2020 Kia Soul
J.D.Power Score: 85/100
In case you feel nostalgic for the time when small, boxy SUVs were popular, you’re going to love the next vehicle on our list of most reliable SUVs – the 2020 Kia Soul. This subcompact and spacious SUV lets you choose between the two gas-powered four-cylinder mills and will soon offer an electric model too. With ample room for both back passengers and cargo, it is the ideal SUV for your globetrotting adventures.
Trim Levels for KIA Soul
The entry-level 2020 Kia Soul features a 7.0 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability. The higher trim levels come with a larger display and more features. All models offer the rear-seat alert system, which tells you if you forget someone in the back seat. From the S model onwards, the standard safety features include forward-collision warning with automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control.
As the trim levels change, so does the appearance of the 2020 Kia Soul. The X trim has a rugged look, and you can get it in an exclusive undercover green paint. The GT-Line has a sportier appearance and flaunts a unique wheel design and some cool red exterior bits. Higher trim levels also have a sunroof, leather upholstery, keyless entry and ignition, wireless charging pad, and power-adjustable seats.
Engine Options
The 2020 Kia Soul is one of the most reliable SUVs in terms of performance, as well. It comes with two engine options, as we’ve already mentioned above. The first one is the base 2.0-liter four-cylinder yielding 147 horsepower and 132 lb-ft of torque. You can mate it to either a six-speed manual transmission or a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The second engine option is a 1.6-liter four-cylinder turbocharged good for 201-hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. It sends power to the wheels through a seven-speed automatic transmission
The 2020 Kia Soul is available in six variants; LX, X-Line, GT-Line, S, EX, and Turbo. All the versions, except the Turbo, come with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Turbo gets the upgraded turbo powerplant. Except for the LX trim, all other trim levels receive the continuously variable transmission (CVT) as standard (the LX gets a six-speed manual, but you can choose CVT for this too). The Turbo trim has a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Final Thoughts:
As tumultuous as 2020 was, there is no denying that we saw some of the most reliable SUVs in the market this year. If you’ve been looking to buy a utility vehicle and weren’t able to because of how uncertain the year was thus far, fret not, you’ve still got time. While there are many vehicles for you to choose from, we have picked our top three most reliable SUVs based on their performance and overall appearance. We’ve also mentioned the J.D. Power Score for these crossovers to make the decision easier for you.
