German SUVs don’t exactly have a reputation for being trouble-free, and reliability usually isn’t the first thing people associate with them. European luxury models tend to be a bit of a trade-off: brilliant to drive, but complicated enough that things can get expensive when they go wrong.

Brands like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi have basically defined the segment. The pattern is pretty consistent across all of them—the more power, tech , and refinement you add, the more painful the running costs tend to be over time.

Still, tucked away in the mix is one German SUV that doesn’t really follow that rulebook.…