SUVs are all the rage in the modern automotive landscape, and there’s plenty of competition across the segments.
With so many players in the SUV space, it can be difficult to rank the options when car shopping. Sticker price often plays a significant role in the minds of buyers, but running costs also contribute to the value equation.
Specifically, routine servicing can save or cost you hundreds or even thousands of dollars. So, which of the most popular SUVs on Australian roads offers the best aftersales support? Here’s a breakdown for each.
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| Make/Model | Service intervals | Capped-price servicing | Total cost | Yearly avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota RAV4 | 12 mths/15,000km | 5 years | $1300 | $260 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander | 12 mths/15,000km | 10 years (service activated) | $4040-$5490 | $404-$549 |
| Mazda CX-5 | 12 mths/15,000km | 7 years | $2986-$3472 | $427-496 |
| Ford Everest | 12 mths/15,000km | 5 years | $1895 | $379 |
| MG ZS | 12 mths/10,000km | 7 years | $2057 | $294 |
| Kia Sportage | 12 mths/10,000km – 1.6T, HEV 12 mths/15,000km – 2.0, 2.0TD | 7 years | $3353-$3915 | $479-$559 |
| Isuzu MU-X | 12 mths/15,000km | 5 years | $2245 | $449 |
| Hyundai Tucson | 12 mths/10,000km – 1.6T, HEV 12 mths/15,000km – 2.0 | Lifetime | $1799-$2040 (5 years) | $360-$408 (5 years) |
| Tesla Model Y | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Hyundai Kona | 12 mths/10,000km – 1.6T 12 mths/15,000km – 2.0, HEV | Lifetime | $1995-$2535 | $399-$507 |
Toyota RAV4
Toyota offers an affordable ownership experience with the RAV4 SUV, capping service prices at an average of $260 per year for the first five years.
The warranty period spans five years across the range, although coverage can be extended to seven years if owners service their car within the Toyota dealer network.
Toyota charges $99 per year for roadside assistance right across the model line-up, a premium over most manufacturers.
| Ownership program | Toyota RAV4 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres – standard 7 years, unlimited kilometres – ext. driveline 10 years, unlimited kilometres – ext. Hybrid battery |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years/75,000km) | $1300 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | $99 per year |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $260 |
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Mitsubishi Outlander
Mitsubishi was the first manufacturer to introduce a conditional 10-year warranty, provided you take advantage of capped-price servicing at a Mitsubishi dealer for that time period.
Outlander owners who service their vehicle through the Mitsubishi dealer network gain access to a decade of capped-price servicing, with an average annual cost of $404 per year for internal-combustion engine variants and $549 for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) variants.
The inclusion of free roadside assistance is also conditional, with a maximum duration of five years.
| Ownership program | Mitsubishi Outlander |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years or 100,000km – standard 10 years or 200,000km – conditional 8 years or 160,000km – PHEV battery |
| Total capped-price service cost (10 years/150,000km) | $4040-$5490 (PHEV) |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 5 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | Up to 10 years |
| Average annual service cost | $404-$549 (PHEV) |
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Mazda CX-5
Servicing costs for the Mazda CX-5 vary depending on which of the three available engines is fitted.
Base G20 models cost an average of $427 per year to service over the first seven years, while top-spec G35 variants cost an average of $496 per year.
Servicing prices are capped for the first seven years right across the range, although the complimentary roadside assistance period ends after five years.
| Ownership program | Mazda CX-5 |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (7 years, 105,000km) | $2986-$3472 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | 5 years |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Average annual service cost | $427-$496 |
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Ford Everest
The Ford Everest is sold with five years of capped-price servicing, with an average annual cost of $379 over that time.
All variants share the same ownership program, which also includes up to seven years of complimentary roadside assistance.
The Everest is covered by Ford’s five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.
| Ownership program | Ford Everest |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years/75,000km) | $1895 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Up to 7 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $379 |
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MG ZS
The MG ZS’s first seven services are capped at $251, $298, $301, $359, $249, $350, and $249.
Servicing is required every 12 months or 10,000km, whichever comes first. MG offers seven-year capped-price servicing under its Precise Price Servicing scheme.
The Chinese carmaker recently extended its warranty program from seven years and unlimited kilometres to 10 years or 250,000km.
| Ownership program | MG ZS |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 10 years, 250,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years/75,000km) | $2057 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 10 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Average annual service cost | $294 |
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Kia Sportage
Service pricing for the Kia Sportage differs for each variant in the range.
Base 2.0-litre petrol models will set you back an average of $479 per year over the first seven years, while hybrid variants are more costly and require maintenance on a more regular basis.
Regardless of what’s under the bonnet, the Sportage is covered by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty with up to eight years of roadside assistance.
| Ownership program | Kia Sportage |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 7 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (7 years/105,000km) | $3353-$3915 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km – 1.6T, HEV 12 months or 15,000km – 2.0, 2.0TD |
| Roadside assistance | 8 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | 7 years |
| Average annual service cost | $479-$559 |
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Isuzu MU-X
Isuzu makes MU-X ownership relatively straightforward by offering a single servicing program across the line-up.
All examples of the SUV require servicing every 12 months or 15,000 kilometres, at a cost of $449 per visit for the first five years.
The MU-X is backed by a six-year, 150,000km warranty, with up to seven years of roadside assistance.
| Ownership program | Isuzu MU-X |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 6 years, 150,000km |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years/75,000km) | $2245 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
| Roadside assistance | 7 years – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | 5 years |
| Average annual service cost | $449 |
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Hyundai Tucson
Service pricing for the Hyundai Tucson ranges between $1799 and $2040 for the first five years of ownership, depending on the variant.
Hybrid and turbocharged models are dearer to service, and come with a shorter 10,000km service interval compared to the naturally aspirated petrol base model.
One advantage of Hyundai’s aftersales program is that it includes transparent service pricing for the life of the vehicle.
| Ownership program | Hyundai Tucson |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years) | $1799-$2040 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km – 1.6T, HEV 12 months or 15,000km – 2.0 |
| Roadside assistance | Lifetime – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | Lifetime |
| Average annual service cost | $360-$408 (5 years) |
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Tesla Model Y
Tesla does things differently in the servicing department.
The electric vehicle manufacturer does not publish service intervals for the Model Y.
It recommends a brake fluid check every 24 months, cabin air filters every two years, HEPA filter replacement at three years, and an air-conditioning service every four years, in addition to standard wheel balancing and tyre rotation.
| Ownership program | Tesla Model Y |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 4 years or 80,000 kilometres |
| Battery warranty | 8 years or 192,000km – AWD models |
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Hyundai Kona
Like its Tucson sibling, the Kona is subject to different servicing schedules depending on the variant.
Hybrid examples cost $2535 to service over the first five years of ownership, compared to just $1995 for base petrol models.
This analysis doesn’t include EV variants of the Kona, which require servicing every two years of 30,000km at a cost of $520 per service over the first three visits.
| Ownership program | Hyundai Kona |
|---|---|
| Warranty | 5 years, unlimited kilometres |
| Total capped-price service cost (5 years) | $1995 – $2535 |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 10,000km – 1.6T 12 months or 15,000km – 2.0, HEV |
| Roadside assistance | Lifetime – service activated |
| Capped-price servicing | Lifetime |
| Average annual service cost | $399-$507 |
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