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Buying a family car can be challenging. You’re carrying precious cargo and it needs to last for many years. Japanese-made cars are known for their superb quality, but some are made better than others.
If you’re looking to invest in a Japanese SUV, here are the ones to buy and a couple you should definitely avoid.
Buy: Toyota Highlander/Toyota Grand Highlander
It seems you can’t go wrong with this Toyota SUV, which starts at $45,870 for the 2026 Highlander model, according to Toyota. The Toyota Highlander and its hybrid counterpart the Grand Highlander came highly recommended from Alex Black, chief marketing officer and auto expert at EpicVIN.
“It is very dependable, with high resale value, (hybrid version [is] a significant bonus),” Black added.
Ford Smith, founder and CEO at A1 Xpress, agreed, especially for families looking to get maximum longevity from a vehicle.
“The ride is quiet, space is also well laid out and there’s nothing in the design that feels experimental,” Smith said. “It’s the kind of vehicle you buy when you want years of school drop offs, grocery hauls or weekend trips.”
Buy: Honda Pilot
For big families or those that travel with a lot of people on the regular, Black recommended the Honda Pilot. “Really very practical, easy to live with and perfect for car seats and hauling large objects,” Black added. The starting MSRP for the 2026 Pilot is $42,195, according to Honda.
Don’t Buy: Nissan Pathfinder
Even though the starting MSRP for the 2026 Nissan Pathfinder is lower than others on the list ($39,900, according to Nissan), it might be best to look for other models. Black said it has an issue that many drivers have complained about. “Avoid certain models of the Pathfinder because the transmissions are a real hassle.”
Don’t Buy: Mitsubishi Outlander
Another Japanese SUV that you don’t want to buy is the Mitsubishi Outlander, even though it has the lowest starting MSRP in this list. According to Car and Driver, a 2026 Outlander starts at just $32,205. However, Smith said that initial savings doesn’t go far.
“The seating layout tries to do too much (cramming in a third row that doesn’t give real room for kids past toddler age) and the powertrain doesn’t always feel like it’s built for long haul, everyday wear,” Smith added. “Families tend to drive heavier miles carrying weight and rely on their vehicles to recover quickly from hard use. If the drivetrain can’t keep up or the cabin starts to rattle within a few years, I think its value disappears fast.”