- The 2014 BMW X3 is a used luxury SUV you can skip
- For a better used luxury SUV, the 2014 Acura RDX has high scores
- The 2015 Lincoln MKC is another good alternative
When it comes to purchasing a used SUV, there are some models to avoid due to high maintenance and repair costs. Some sport utility vehicles have a reputation for being expensive to repair or less reliable once the mileage gets high. Below is one used luxury SUV you might want to skip over and two alternatives from BMW, Acura, and Lincoln.
The 2014 BMW X3 is a used luxury SUV you can skip
Even though the 2014 BMW X3 is worth skipping, Edmunds 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 2.0L four-cylinder in the xDrive28i or the 3.0L inline-six in the xDrive35i. The xDrive28i got 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined, and the xDrive35i got 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined.
However, the X3 was pretty dated even then and had a higher cost than most rivals. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it good scores on tests like side impact and roof strength. BMW included standard features like antilock disc brakes, front-seat side airbags, and stability control.
RepairPal says the 2014 BMW X3 has an average annual repair cost of $1,032, higher than most vehicles of the same age. It also only received a reliability rating of 2.5 stars, below average for the segment.
For a better used luxury SUV, the 2014 Acura RDX has high scores
If the BMW is a used luxury SUV to avoid, the 2014 Acura RDX is one of the top alternatives. Acura equipped the RDX with an efficient V6 engine that returned 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive. That drops to 19 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.
The RDX also had plenty of headroom in the front and 38.3 inches of legroom in the second row. It also has 26.1 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seats, or 61.3 cubic feet of space, with all the rows folded. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration gave the 2014 Acura RDX a five-star safety rating. It also received high scores from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety.
RepairPal says the average yearly cost of fixing the 2014 Acura RDX is around $508. That 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 average for the segment.
The 2015 Lincoln MKC is another good alternative
A 2015 Lincoln MKC | Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Lincoln Motor Company
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What makes the 2015 Lincoln MKC a good used luxury SUV? Lincoln’s MKC had more standard equipment, a quiet cabin, and offered a good value. It was new for 2015 and offered systems like stability control, antilock disc brakes, a rearview camera, and front-seat side airbags. Fuel economy came in at 20 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive, and 19 mpg in the city or 26 mpg on the highway with all-wheel drive.
Cargo room 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 a four-star overall safety rating. It performed well on tests like the frontal barrier and side crash ratings. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gave the MKC high scores on the performed tests.
Repairs for the MKC can be up to $813 on average, such as a serpentine belt replacement or a transmission fluid change. It received a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Finding a high-quality repair shop to inspect any used luxury SUV is recommended. This can help identify issues that might be hard to see from the outside and ensure any recalls have been addressed.
Keyword: Steer Clear: 1 Used Luxury SUV to Avoid, and the Top Alternatives