I'm looking to get a backup for my 2010 Honda Pilot, just to have a second option in case I'm working on either vehicle, or in the case of some recent personal events, need to loan one out for a week or so.
Would prefer an SUV, can be small or large in size, but lean toward smaller.


Looking at used with a budget of ~$32k, with an emphasis on reliability over gizmos and flashy.
I'll be writing a check, so none of the leases or low interest rate BS applies. When I look at options from various brands, it starts looking like all the manufacturers have their share of both minor and major complaints and issues. Even the current offerings from Honda.

What does the hive think?

Our family owns three Kia's.

Get a Toyota.

Toyota.

A used 4Runner would be a solid vehicle in that price range.

Toyota hands down. 4Runner would be my choice.

4Runner would be a solid choice [/echo]

Very few problems with our Flex up until right before we traded it in. It was a 2013 SEL FWD. Developed a hot start issue where it was hard to start after it sat out in the heat all day.

Very current video, 2 weeks ago.

Toyota for sure. Our FJ Cruiser and 4Runner have been fantastic and we are at 230,000 and 170,000 miles on each with little to no trouble.

Can't buck the trend, man.

If my old Pathfinder ever dies (323K miles now), I'll be 4Runner shopping.

I'm not seeing a whole lot of 4Runners out there, a TON of RAV4's seem to be for sale...

A colleague drives a Toyota Rav 4. He has two of them, and has owned two others before that. He says they are dead nuts reliable. I've ridden in his, it's comfortable. Nothing exciting, but it will get you where you want to go without fuss.

Yes, Toyota/Lexus.

I can't speak to the long term reliability personally, but this article (a bit dated) that crowned the 4Runner "the Undisputed Champ" of reliability influenced my decision to buy a 2019 4Runner:

https://www.motorbiscuit.com/m...ng-consumer-reports/

Previously we had a 2011 Outback that damn near stranded us about 800 miles from home. The experience left me looking for reliability over all else. Like you, I wasn't interested the bells and whistles so we ended up with the base model SR5 which has all the features we need. It only has 25K on it so far and it's been great.

I bought a 2015 Mazda CX-5 for my wife in September 2014. We liked it so much the next year I bought a 2016 Mazda CX-3 for my work commute.
We're still driving them and like them just as much. Not a single problem with either.

I'm a Mazda convert.

Yota.
I've got guys in my club with 300K miles.
I'm only @ 120K and zero issues. FJs rule!

Another very happy 4Runner owner. Gas mileage could be a bit better but I would buy again. Previous one was a 15 Trail, present is a 17 Limited. Really like the tractability of the full time 4wd in inclement weather of which we have plenty in Iowa.

Just bought a Lexus NX 275 hp, turbo. I like small cars, and comfort. I got almost list in trade for my 2017 Subaru Forester. Very little pain going into the Lexus.

If you don't need off road performance, the Toyota Highlander is a Camry with an SUV body. I have a 2010 that is smooth, comfortable, useful, and reliable with a 4 cyl giving 26 mpg.

A recent Honda CRV would also be a good choice.

Another vote for the 4Runner.
I have a 2020 Venture and couldn't be happier.
As far as I know, 4Runners are still made in Japan.

It's more of a "crossover", but I have a 2011 Toyota Venza and really like it. Toyota stopped making them for a while, but they went back into production a couple of years ago.

This is the EXACT model I have...color and everything. Search "2011 Toyota Venza Images".

3rd and 5th gen 4Runner owner here.
The 4Runners are still built in Japan at either the Tahara or the Hamura plant. Tahara is where all Lexus SUVs are built and the Hamura plant is where the Hiluxes are built. USA Toyota plants have great build QA but the vehicles coming out of the Japanese plant are still better on average than the USA counterparts.