Top 3 Reliable Used Crossovers Under $8,000 for Budget Buyers

We choose relatively used crossovers that will not ruin you on maintenance

Crossovers are the most sought after cars in the secondary market. Even when it comes to a small budget.

N Some older cars are more durable than newer ones.

This is the paradox of the global automotive industry, which experienced a revolution in the late 2000s with the transition to innovative technologies. (direct injection, turbines, aluminum suspension etc.).

Therefore, if you find a well-preserved copy of a car that has proven itself to be a long-liver, this can be a very good choice.

In this article we will talk about three used crossovers that you can buy for sane money. (within $ 7000-8000) and then not go broke on endless repairs.

Three Most Reliable Used Crossovers Under $8,000

As always, we rely on the opinions of specialized service stations about the reliability of used cars.

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport I

2004−2008.

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This famous SUV has always been very popular with us. And this is despite the simplicity, even in the highest trim levels, and a rather conditional level of comfort.

On the go, the first generation Pajero Sport is a natural «bean”. And if you have the opportunity to compare the Japanese with some European crossover, then the contrast will be striking.

But in terms of reliability, maintainability and cost of maintenance, Pajero Sport will give odds to most competitors. The car turned out to be extremely tenacious. And still, despite its age, it remains a reasonable option to buy.

Pajero Sport of the first generation was created back in the 1990s, and throughout the 12 years of production has not undergone major changes. Unless, of course, consider as such minimal cosmetic changes to the body.

The main enemy of Pajero Sport is corrosion. The Japanese have never been able to protect their cars from rust as well as the Germans or the Swedes.

The fact that the Pajero Sport has a frame construction helps a little. In simple terms, the car will not fall apart, even if the body is rotten through and through. On the other hand, the frame itself here also tends to rust.

A car that looks quite decent from the outside can be a disastrous sight from below. True, it does not really affect the ride. But it should be remembered that Pajero Sport really needs additional anti-corrosion protection.

Pajero Sport engines are its forte.

No, not from the point of view of dynamics and efficiency, things are not going very well here.

A 3-litre petrol engine can only be used without a gas unit if you want to spend most of your income on petrol as a matter of principle. (consumption in the city reaches 15-18 liters per 100 km). But with him Pajero Sport at least more or less rides.

The 2.5-liter turbodiesel is also not particularly economical. (10-11 liters per 100 km in the city). At the same time, the diesel Pajero Sport will satisfy only the most leisurely drivers in terms of dynamics.

But both motors are very reliable and durable. And almost devoid of weaknesses.

In the case of a diesel engine, do not ignore the adjustment of the valve clearance, monitor the status of the thermostat and regularly clean the radiators.

Gasoline engine after 200 thousand kilometers to start «eat up the oil. The problem is solved by a relatively inexpensive replacement of valve stem seals. Also, quite often, crankshaft oil seals flow here and hydraulic lifters tap.

All this is not fatal. And the masters of specialized service stations state that many Pajero Sport calmly drive 400-500 thousand km without major repairs.

Of the funny details, we can mention the need to remove the tank in case of failure of the fuel pump.

The all-wheel drive system on the first generation Pajero Sport is quite reliable. The main thing is to remember that the front-wheel drive is connected here and you can’t constantly ride it. In normal scenarios, the Pajero Sport is a rear wheel drive car.

If you drive with the front end constantly connected, the differential is gradually destroyed.

Also, for cars with high mileage, pneumatic valve failures are typical, as a result of which the all-wheel drive may simply stop turning on. There are also failures of sensors on the dispenser, but all these problems are not of a systemic nature.

The 4-speed automatic transmission, which was installed on the first generation Pajero Sport, turned out to be very reliable. With a timely oil change and gentle operation, the box quietly lives up to 400 thousand kilometers without a major overhaul.

The 5-speed manual gearbox does not have a very tenacious clutch, it gives up especially quickly on diesel Pajero Sport. Some owners change the clutch every 80-100 thousand km.

Running on Pajero Sport is eternal. In the sense that the bushings and stabilizer struts, as well as the steering tips, quietly go 100 thousand km, and the ball bearings – even 200 thousand km.

The main guarantee of longevity is that the Pajero Sport suspension must be injected using a special lubricant. If this is not done, the running resource is greatly reduced. Fortunately, this procedure is not expensive.

Suzuki Grand Vitara

2006−2008.

Grand Vitara is a full-fledged SUV, however, its trunk does not allow us to recommend a car for large families. And the presence of a gas cylinder in the trunk finally turns it into a “handbag”. Moreover, the problem is aggravated by the fact that you definitely want a gas installation, given the fuel consumption.

In terms of reliability and maintainability, the Grand Vitara is very good.

The brainchild of Suzuki knowingly stayed on the assembly line for almost 10 years (from 2006 to 2015). And the Grand Vitara still has plenty of fans, which is why the demand for a car on the secondary market is very high.

When choosing a Grand Vitara, start with a thorough body inspection. Age takes its toll and many copies are already strongly «tired” in terms of corrosion. Restoring the body will be very expensive, so it is better to immediately exclude such options.

The chassis of the Grand Vitara is solid, although you need to understand its main feature – it is quite noisy even in perfect condition.

Therefore, with creaks and knocks on bumps (especially in winter) it is better to accept immediately. The suspension resource here is less than that of Toyota, but when compared with European classmates, the Grand Vitara is just a long-liver.

The levers take care of 100-150 thousand km. Shock absorbers – about 100 thousand km.

The Grand Vitara was not equipped with the most reliable and resourceful manual transmission. So, the clutch resource for many owners turns out to be no more than 100 thousand km. But the old-fashioned 4-speed automatic transmission, which was installed on the Grand Vitara, turned out to be a fairly reliable unit. If you do not forget about the regular oil change, then it quietly goes without repairs for 300 thousand km or more.

The transmission can cause certain troubles when running over 100-150 thousand km, when many owners have a hum of gearboxes and leakage of axle shaft seals and transfer cases. However, these problems are solved relatively «little blood.”

Now let’s talk about engines.

The most common in our country are 2- and 2.4-liter gasoline engines. A weaker and not particularly successful 1.6-liter engine in terms of longevity is found on three-door Grand Vitara, which are very rare.

Also, not frequent guests, we had American versions with good, in principle, engines of 2.7 and 3.2 liters.

When choosing a used Grand Vitara, you will most likely come across a 2- or 2.4-liter naturally aspirated petrol. Both motors are generally quite reliable. You should be aware of some of their features.

So, the 2.4-liter engine of the first years of production had a manufacturing defect – the cooling jacket of the cylinder block was leaking. Suzuki ran a major recall campaign for these engines.

And for cars 2008-2010. with this motor «birth sore” in the form of problems with the drive belt tensioner.

The 2-liter engine has significantly fewer problems. But there is still one – the timing chain stretches over time. Replacing the chain may be required every 120-150 thousand km, and it will cost a solid $ 700-800.

In general, the 2-liter engine can withstand runs of 250-300 thousand km (often on gas) without any problems.

Both motors were not equipped with the most durable radiators. A characteristic feature that can shorten the life of a radiator is the expansion tank’s stuck bypass valve. This little thing can cause quite a lot of trouble.

Volkswagen Touareg I

2005−2007.

At first glance, the inclusion of a VAG car in the ranking of the most reliable crossovers on a small budget may seem strange.

But do not rush to throw heavy objects. Some versions of the Volkswagen Touareg have been quite successful in terms of longevity and maintenance costs. And many problems with electrics and electronics that pissed off owners in the 2000s have long been resolved in cars that have survived to this day.

At the same time, excellent anti-corrosion protection, strong engines speak in favor of the old Touareg (at least some) and the overall feel of a premium car that handles better and rides more comfortably than many much more modern cars in the lower class.

So you’re tempted to take the old premium «German”.

Here’s the recipe for you.

Look for a Volkswagen Touareg with a 2.5 or 3 liter turbodiesel. Both of these motors were by no means problem-free, but their main sores were well studied by the masters of specialized services. They are characterized by problems with intake valves, unit injectors and fuel pumps.

But with proper care, these diesel engines are able to travel 400-500 thousand km before a major overhaul.

A 3.2-liter gasoline engine with distributed injection can be considered relatively successful, in which the main disease is the gradual stretching of the timing chain, which can sometimes be recognized only when the chain breaks. The motor is gluttonous and demanding on the quality of fuel, but in general it is quite tenacious.

The 3.6-liter direct injection gasoline engine that replaced it has a much more impressive list «birth pains.” He does not digest bad fuel at all, he has the same capricious timing chain, but at the same time he also has a tendency to form soot and nadir on the cylinder walls.

Sometimes there are Volkswagen Touareg with engines of more than 4 liters (both petrol and diesel). It is better to immediately refuse to buy them, they are too specific and expensive to maintain.

If you like «mechanics ”and you suddenly come across a Volkswagen Touareg with such a gearbox, consider it good luck. Manual boxes are not bad here, the clutch resource exceeds 200 thousand km.

The automatic transmission on the Volkswagen Touareg was installed quite tenacious – from the Japanese company Aisin, and in fact the same modification that Toyota installed on the Land Cruiser in those years. But for the Germans, the box is set up for a more aggressive ride with frequent switching. And her resource turned out to be much less. As a rule, 150-200 thousand km.

Any Volkswagen Touareg of the first generation that has survived to this day most likely has an already repaired automatic transmission. Before buying, carefully check the operation of the gearbox in motion. Make sure you don’t face another renovation in the near future.

Now a few words about the suspension.

Volkswagen Touareg in many versions was equipped with air suspension, which made it very comfortable, but few people were pleased with the need to replace expensive cylinders every 200 thousand km.

Therefore, today most of the old Touareg have already been converted to conventional spring suspension.

In general, the suspension on the Volkswagen Touareg is typically German in terms of its resource. Bushings and stabilizer struts require replacement every 50-60 thousand km. Levers, wheel bearings and ball bearings – every 100-150 thousand km.