The 10 most reliable and 3 least reliable car brands have been named

Anna Tkach

AutoPortal editorial team

4,075 views 2 min read

British magazine WhatCar presented a new reliability rating for used cars. Namely, they determined which brands produce trouble-free cars and which are the most prone to breakdowns. In the first category, they counted 10 brands, in the second – 3.

The study was based on a survey of 13,000 British car owners. Colleagues from Foggy Albion asked whether their cars had broken down over the past year. If so, what exactly, how expensive it was to fix the fault(s), and how long it took. The breakdowns were classified into 14 groups: body, engine, engine electronics, other electronics, gearbox/clutch, brakes, exhaust, fuel system, steering, suspension, air conditioning, battery, infotainment system, interior trim.

Based on the data obtained, WhatCar compiled its unique reliability rating. In total, information was collected on the degree of breakdown susceptibility for 175 models from 31 car brands aged from 6 to 20 years. Well, the TOP and anti-TOP look like this:

The most reliable car brands

Volvo: reliability rating 84.7% (most reliable models: V40 2012-2019, XC90 2002-2005);
Subaru: reliability rating 87.8% (most reliable models: Outback 2015-present, Forester 2013-present);
Hyundai: reliability rating 89.2% (most reliable models: i10 2008-2013, ix20 2012-2019, i30 2012-2017);
SEAT: reliability rating 90.7% (most reliable models: Leon 2013-2020, Ibiza 2008-2017);
Mitsubishi: reliability rating 91.2% (most reliable models: Outlander PHEV 2014-present, ASX 2010-present);
Honda: reliability rating 91.6% (most reliable models: Jazz 2008-2015, Civic 2012-2017, CR-V 2012-2018; the latter – 100% reliability (no breakdowns in a year);
Suzuki: reliability rating 91.9% (most reliable models: Swift 2010-2017, SX4 S-Cross 2013-present, Vitara 2015-present);
Toyota: reliability rating 92.2% (most reliable models: RAV4 2013-2019, RAV4 2006-2012, Yaris Hybrid 2011-2020; the first and last – 100% reliability)
Kia: reliability rating 92.7% (most reliable models: Picanto 2011-2017, Ceed 2012-2018);
Lexus: reliability rating 96% (most reliable models: CT 2011-present, IS 2013-present).

The most unreliable car brands

Renault: reliability rating 72.6% (most breakdown-prone models: Scenic 2009-2016 (46% of Scenic owners reported their cars broke down), Megane 2008-2016 (and here the percentage is even higher – 57%);
Nissan: reliability rating 70.4% (most breakdown-prone models: Qashqai 2007-2013 (share of broken cars among all – 45.6%), Qashqai 2014-2020 (46.3%);
Land Rover: reliability rating 66.3% (most breakdown-prone models: Discovery Sport 2014-present (51.4% of Discovery Sport disappointed their owners with a breakdown), Discovery (45.7%).