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The best 5-year-old SUVs to buy used in 2026: Consumer Reports

A used SUV with a poor track record turns into a money pit fast. Consumer Reports surveyed owners on which 2021 SUVs held up best

A used SUV with a spotty repair history can turn a bargain purchase into a money pit within a year or two of ownership. Buying a five-year-old model instead of new can save thousands, but only if the specific model has a track record of holding up well.

Consumer Reports surveyed owners on reliability and satisfaction for 2021 midsized SUVs, so used-car shoppers can find a model worth trusting.

The 2021 Buick Enclave sells used for $17,500 to $24,775 and earned a reliability score of 4 out of 5 from Consumer Reports, along with a road test score of 87. CR found the redesigned 2018 body brought better fuel economy, more space and added safety and connectivity features, powered by a lively 3.6-liter V6 paired with a smooth nine-speed automatic that returned 18 mpg overall in testing. Testers praised the quiet, roomy cabin and comfortable ride befitting a Buick flagship, along with a relatively spacious third-row seat, though the infotainment system's ease of use came with an unintuitive gear selector that proved a nuisance during parking. CR recommended seeking out a Premier or Avenir trim to get forward collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning.

The 2021 Honda $HMC Passport sells used for $19,175 to $25,400 and earned a reliability score of 4 out of 5 from Consumer Reports, along with a road test score of 76. CR found it shares a platform with the three-row Pilot along with Honda's smooth 3.5-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic, returning 21 mpg overall, with both front- and all-wheel drive offered through 2022. Testers found the five-seat Passport sized between the smaller CR-V and the roomier Pilot, going up against rivals like the Ford $F Edge and Nissan Murano, though its ride felt stiffer than the Pilot's without a meaningful handling advantage in return. CR noted the infotainment system responded slowly and the push-button gear selector took some getting used to, while forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking came standard but blind spot........

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