Top 10 SUVs 2000 — Best Overall + Best Value

Direct Answer

The best overall SUV of 2000 was the Lexus RX 300, the vehicle that effectively invented the modern luxury crossover and combined Toyota mechanicals with car-like comfort, priced at a 2000 MSRP of $33,005. The best value of 2000 was the brand-new Nissan Xterra, a back-to-basics, truck-based 4x4 that started at a 2000 MSRP of $18,119 and undercut almost every rival while delivering real off-road hardware.

The year 2000 sat right at the apex of the SUV boom: full-size body-on-frame trucks were selling in record numbers, the Xterra arrived to capture younger active buyers, and the RX 300 was pulling thousands of luxury shoppers out of sedans and into a new crossover category that would reshape the next two decades.

How We Ranked the Top 10

This retrospective weighs each 2000 SUV the way a long-term owner would, not the way a magazine drag-race would. The weighting:

• Reliability and ownership cost — 25%. Drawing on Consumer Reports and J.D. Power period data plus 25 years of real-world durability evidence.
• Value in period — 20%. What the 2000 MSRP bought versus the competition in 2000 dollars.
• Capability and space — 15%. Towing, off-road hardware, seating, and cargo room.
• Efficiency — 15%. EPA city/highway figures, which were modest across the board in 2000.
• Comfort and tech — 15%. Ride quality, interior materials, and the limited tech of the era.
• Used value now — 10%. What clean survivors trade for today and which have become collectible.

Sources include period road tests from Car and Driver, MotorTrend, MotorWeek, and Edmunds, reliability data from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power, original pricing from Kelley Blue Book and Cars.com archives, and model histories from Wikipedia.

1. Lexus RX 300 🏆 BEST OVERALL

2000 MSRP: $33,005 | Best for: luxury buyers who wanted SUV image without truck compromise

The RX 300 was powered by a smooth 3.0-liter V6 making 220 horsepower and 222 lb-ft of torque, paired with a four-speed automatic and available all-wheel drive. EPA figures landed around 18 city and 22 highway, strong for the segment, and the unibody platform gave it a quiet, car-like ride that body-on-frame rivals could not touch.

It seated five in genuine Lexus comfort with standard alloys, foglights, and automatic climate control. Reliability became legendary — these routinely cross 250,000 miles — and clean 2000 examples still change hands today for roughly $3,000 to $6,000. It was the SUV that taught the industry comfort would outsell capability.

Pros:

• Pioneering luxury crossover refinement and quietness
• Bulletproof Toyota V6 drivetrain with a 250,000-mile reputation
• Strong fuel economy for a 2000 SUV
• Excellent resale and used-value retention even now

Cons:

• Modest ground clearance limited serious off-road use
• Four-speed automatic feels dated against later transmissions

Verdict: The most influential SUV of 2000 and the easiest to live with — our Best Overall.

2. Toyota Land Cruiser 🏆

2000 MSRP: $50,828 | Best for: buyers who wanted one SUV to keep for 25 years

The 100-series Land Cruiser introduced a new 4.7-liter DOHC V8 producing 230 horsepower and 320 lb-ft of torque, mated to a four-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive. It returned only about 14 mpg overall, the price of moving nearly three tons of over-engineered hardware, but it seated eight and could cross continents without complaint.

Consumer Reports owners rated it near-perfect for reliability, and that reputation has held: well-kept 2000 Land Cruisers now command $12,000 to $25,000 and rising, making it one of the few SUVs of the era to appreciate.

Pros:

• Legendary V8 durability and overbuilt drivetrain
• Full-time 4WD with genuine global off-road credibility
• Appreciating collector value today
• Eight-passenger seating with serious build quality

Cons:

• Thirsty 14-mpg appetite even by 2000 standards
• High 2000 MSRP put it out of most buyers' reach

Verdict: The durability benchmark of 2000 — expensive then, a sound long-term keeper now.

3. Jeep Grand Cherokee (WJ) 🏆

2000 MSRP: $26,000 (Laredo 4x4, approximate) | Best for: the all-around capable family 4x4

The WJ Grand Cherokee paired the indestructible 4.0-liter inline-six (around 195 horsepower) with an available 4.7-liter V8, and its Quadra-Drive four-wheel-drive system gave it genuine trail ability rare in a midsize family SUV. EPA numbers sat near 17 city and 22 highway with the straight-six.

The interior was a clear step up in quality for a Chrysler product of the era, and it seated five comfortably. The inline-six is famous for reaching well past 300,000 miles; today clean WJ examples run roughly $4,000 to $8,000 and are increasingly sought by enthusiasts.

Pros:

• Quadra-Drive 4WD capability beyond most rivals
• Near-immortal 4.0-liter inline-six engine
• Surprisingly upscale interior for the price
• Strong value in period and today

Cons:

• Twelve NHTSA recalls and some electrical gremlins
• V8 versions notably thirstier than the inline-six

Verdict: The most capable mainstream family SUV of 2000 and a smart used buy.

4. Nissan Xterra 💎 BEST VALUE

2000 MSRP: $18,119 | Best for: active buyers who wanted real 4x4 hardware on a budget

All-new for 2000, the Xterra brought a deliberately rugged, truck-based formula to a young audience and undercut nearly everything with its base price. The preferred engine was a 3.3-liter V6 with 170 horsepower and 200 lb-ft, available with a five-speed manual and proper part-time four-wheel drive.

EPA figures hovered near 15 city and 19 highway, and the boxy body offered standout cargo room, a roof rack with a first-aid compartment, and stadium rear seating. It earned a reputation for taking abuse, and tidy survivors still trade around $5,000 to $9,000.

Pros:

• Lowest entry price of any real 4x4 in 2000
• Genuine off-road hardware and durability
• Clever, practical cargo packaging
• Strong used-value retention for a budget SUV

Cons:

• Crude ride and modest power versus pricier rivals
• Spartan interior materials

Verdict: The most truck for the money in 2000 — our Best Value with room to spare.

5. Toyota 4Runner

2000 MSRP: $24,928 (4WD, approximate) | Best for: buyers wanting Toyota durability with trail ability

The third-generation 4Runner offered a base 2.7-liter four-cylinder and the far better 3.4-liter V6 making 183 horsepower and 217 lb-ft, with available part-time four-wheel drive and a low-range transfer case. EPA economy sat near 16 city and 19 highway with the V6. It seated five, towed respectably, and shared the Toyota truck reputation for going the distance.

These have become genuinely collectible: clean 2000 4Runners now bring $8,000 to $15,000, far above typical 25-year-old SUV money.

Pros:

• Toyota-grade reliability and longevity
• Real low-range 4WD for off-road use
• Appreciating used value today
• Strong V6 drivetrain with the 3.4-liter

Cons:

• Tight third-row option and modest interior space
• Firm, trucky ride

Verdict: A durability icon of 2000 that has aged into a sought-after used buy.

6. Mercedes-Benz ML320

2000 MSRP: $35,300 | Best for: buyers wanting European luxury with all-weather grip

Built in Alabama, the ML320 used a 3.2-liter V6 producing 215 horsepower and 233 lb-ft, paired with a five-speed automatic and full-time four-wheel drive. It blended a car-like cabin with real ground clearance and a low-range transfer case, plus standard side airbags that were advanced for 2000.

Fuel economy sat near 15 city and 19 highway. Early build quality was uneven, which hurts its reputation versus the Lexus, and depreciation has been steep — clean examples now trade for only $3,000 to $6,000, making it a lot of luxury SUV for little money today.

Pros:

• Genuine off-road hardware plus luxury appointments
• Advanced safety kit including standard side airbags
• All-weather full-time 4WD
• Cheap to buy used now

Cons:

• Spotty early reliability and electrical issues
• Heavy depreciation reflects ownership-cost worries

Verdict: A capable luxury bargain used, but reliability keeps it mid-pack.

7. Chevrolet Tahoe

2000 MSRP: $27,845 (4WD, approximate) | Best for: big families who needed to tow and haul

Fully redesigned for 2000 on the GMT800 platform, the Tahoe gained Chevy's new Vortec V8s — a 5.3-liter making 285 horsepower and 325 lb-ft on the LS and LT, with a 4.8-liter base. It towed heavy, seated up to nine, and rode better than the truck it replaced, though EPA economy was a thirsty 14 city and 18 highway.

The 5.3 Vortec proved durable, and these full-size haulers remain everyday-usable; clean 2000 Tahoes run $6,000 to $12,000 today.

Pros:

• Strong 285-hp Vortec V8 and big towing capacity
• Up to nine-passenger seating
• Durable, easy-to-service drivetrain
• Improved ride from the new GMT800 platform

Cons:

• Poor fuel economy at 14 mpg city
• Large size is cumbersome for daily errands

Verdict: The full-size workhorse of 2000 — outstanding capability, painful efficiency.

8. Subaru Forester

2000 MSRP: $21,390 (L) | Best for: all-weather buyers who wanted a wagon that acts like an SUV

The Forester used a 2.5-liter flat-four boxer making 165 horsepower and 166 lb-ft, with standard symmetrical all-wheel drive and a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic. EPA economy was the best on this list at roughly 21 mpg combined. It drove like a tall wagon — secure, planted, and easy — and its low center of gravity made it genuinely confident in snow and rain.

Subaru's AWD reputation has only grown; the chief caution is the era's 2.5-liter head-gasket weakness. Clean examples trade around $3,000 to $6,000 today.

Pros:

• Best fuel economy of any SUV here at 21 mpg combined
• Confident symmetrical all-wheel drive
• Car-like handling and easy daily usability
• Affordable in period and now

Cons:

• Head-gasket issues plague the 2.5-liter of this era
• Limited ground clearance and towing capacity

Verdict: The efficiency and all-weather champion of 2000, with one known engine caveat.

9. Jeep Wrangler (TJ)

2000 MSRP: $15,020 (SE) | Best for: off-road purists and open-air enthusiasts

The TJ Wrangler offered the four-cylinder SE and the desirable 4.0-liter inline-six with 181 horsepower and 222 lb-ft, backed by a five-speed manual, coil-spring suspension, and serious part-time 4WD. It seated four, returned about 16 city and 19 highway, and was never meant to be comfortable — it was meant to climb.

The 4.0-liter is famously durable, and the TJ has become a bona fide appreciating classic: clean 2000 examples now bring $10,000 to $20,000-plus, among the strongest values on this list.

Pros:

• Unmatched off-road ability and removable top
• Indestructible 4.0-liter inline-six
• Strongly appreciating collector value
• Lowest 2000 entry price here

Cons:

• Crude on-road ride and noisy at highway speed
• Only four seats and minimal cargo room

Verdict: The off-road icon of 2000 and one of the best appreciating buys today.

10. Honda CR-V

2000 MSRP: $18,650 (LX 2WD) | Best for: practical buyers wanting reliable, efficient family transport

The first-generation CR-V used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making about 146 horsepower, paired with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual and available Real Time all-wheel drive. EPA figures sat near 22 city and 26 highway, among the best here, and its clever packaging — flat-folding seats and a picnic-table cargo floor — made it endlessly practical.

It offered no low-range and modest power, but Honda reliability made it a quiet long-term winner. Clean 2000 CR-Vs trade for $3,000 to $6,000 today.

Pros:

• Excellent fuel economy near 26 mpg highway
• Honda reliability and low running costs
• Clever, practical interior packaging
• Affordable then and now

Cons:

• Modest 146-hp output feels slow when loaded
• No low-range 4WD or real off-road ability

Verdict: The sensible, efficient choice of 2000 — light on capability, heavy on dependability.

Buyer Decision Tree — Which One Was Right for You?

What to Look For in a 2000 SUV (Then and as a Used/Classic Buy Now)

• Rust is the number one killer on 25-year-old SUVs — check frame rails, rocker panels, rear wheel arches, and the underside of body-on-frame trucks like the 4Runner, Tahoe, and Wrangler.
• Head gaskets are a known weak point on the 2000 Subaru Forester's 2.5-liter boxer; budget for a replacement if it has not been done.
• 4WD service matters — confirm the transfer case and front axle engage properly and that fluids have been changed, especially on Land Cruiser, 4Runner, and Grand Cherokee Quadra-Drive systems.
• Miles are less decisive than nostalgia implies on the Toyota and Lexus models; a well-maintained 4.0-liter Jeep or Toyota V6 at 200,000 miles can be a better buy than a neglected low-mileage example.
• Which are now collectible: the Toyota Land Cruiser, third-gen 4Runner, and Jeep Wrangler TJ have all appreciated and are the safest long-term keepers; the RX 300, CR-V, Forester, and ML320 remain inexpensive, useful drivers rather than investments.
• A note that matters less than nostalgia implies: cosmetic wear and dated tech scare buyers off cheaply, yet the underlying drivetrains on the Toyota, Lexus, and Jeep inline-six models often have another decade left in them.

FAQ

What was the best-selling SUV of 2000? Full-size and midsize body-on-frame SUVs like the Ford Explorer and Chevrolet Tahoe dominated volume, but the Lexus RX 300 was the breakout that proved the crossover formula would eventually overtake them all.

Was 2000 really the peak of the SUV boom? It was near the apex. Truck-based SUV sales were at record highs, the new Nissan Xterra expanded the segment to younger buyers, and the RX 300 surge signaled the luxury-crossover wave that followed.

Which 2000 SUV is the most reliable? The Toyota Land Cruiser and Lexus RX 300 lead, with the 4Runner close behind; all three earned top Consumer Reports marks and routinely exceed 250,000 miles.

Which 2000 SUV holds its value best today? The Toyota Land Cruiser, third-generation 4Runner, and Jeep Wrangler TJ have all appreciated and command the strongest used prices now.

Was the Lexus RX 300 a real SUV or just a tall car? It was a unibody crossover with available all-wheel drive — light on off-road hardware but the template for the comfort-first SUVs that dominate today.

Which 2000 SUV was the best value? The new Nissan Xterra, starting at $18,119, delivered genuine truck-based 4x4 capability for less than almost any rival.

Bottom Line

The year 2000 captured the SUV boom at full tilt and at a turning point. Body-on-frame icons like the Land Cruiser, 4Runner, Tahoe, and Wrangler TJ represented the rugged old guard — and three of them have since appreciated into keepers. Meanwhile the Lexus RX 300 quietly pointed the entire industry toward the car-based comfort that now rules the road, earning our Best Overall for combining bulletproof Toyota mechanicals with genuine luxury.

For shoppers watching their wallets, the brand-new Nissan Xterra was the clear Best Value, packing real 4x4 hardware into the lowest sticker on the list. Whether you wanted to climb a mountain, tow a boat, or simply commute in comfort, 2000 had a defining SUV for you.

Sources

• Edmunds — 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review and Ratings (edmunds.com)
• Cars.com — 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Specs, Prices, MPG, Reviews (cars.com)
• Consumer Reports — 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reliability (consumerreports.org)
• Edmunds — 2000 Lexus RX 300 Review and Ratings (edmunds.com)
• Kelley Blue Book — 2000 Toyota Land Cruiser Specs and Pricing (kbb.com)
• Cars.com — 2000 Nissan Xterra Specs, Prices, MPG, Reviews (cars.com)
• MotorWeek — 2000 Nissan Xterra Road Test (motorweek.org)
• Edmunds — 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe Review and Ratings (edmunds.com)
• Automobile-catalog — 2000 Mercedes-Benz ML 320 Specs Review (automobile-catalog.com)
• Cars.com / automobile-catalog — 2000 Subaru Forester Specs and Pricing (cars.com)
• Cars.com — 2000 Jeep Wrangler Specs, Prices, MPG, Reviews (cars.com)
• Cars.com / Kelley Blue Book — 2000 Honda CR-V Specs and Pricing (cars.com, kbb.com)

*SUV review — 2000 SUV reviews, rating, best SUV 2000, and a retrospective review of the top used SUV picks for buyers.*