A survey has been conducted to find out which are the most reliable cars in the UK, and one brand had three models in the top 10 after the numbers were crunched
It’s an unfortunate truth of car ownership that at some point, even the most cherished motor will conk out. Whether it’s suspension bushes, gaskets, wheel bearings, driveshafts, or air filters, eventually something will need replacing.
Manufacturers may strive to make their vehicles as durable as possible, but when parts do fail, drivers can only hope the repair bills won’t break the bank.
But how do you determine which is the most reliable motor on sale? Data is the clear answer, but what data?
To answer this, motoring publication WhatCar? carried out a survey in partnership with MotorEasy to find out from owners which were the most reliable motors in the UK.
The method they used to identify the winners and losers was through a survey of 32,493 owners of cars in the UK that were up to five years old, with the data covering 30 brands and 227 different models.
For the survey, owners were asked if their car had had any faults within the previous 24 months. From this, those cars that had gone wrong were subsequently rated on how much the repairs cost and how long they took; the overall score was then expressed as a percentage.
After crunching the numbers, it was revealed that the most reliable car in the UK was a tie between four models, but this wasn’t the only significant finding. While Hyundai had two models in the top ten, Toyota went one better and had three, reports the Mirror.
The Toyota RAV4 SUV secured seventh place, whilst the Toyota Aygo X city car claimed fifth position, but it was the homologation special Toyota GR Yaris that achieved joint first place. It shared the top spot with the Hyundai i10, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Kia EV3, all recording a flawless 100% score.
This marks another triumph for Toyota’s latest vehicles, following the Toyota Aygo X’s victory in WhatCar’s 2024 Reliability Survey. Toyota has been making significant strides in the automotive sector in recent years, earning recognition not only for dependable vehicles but also for its diverse model range.
The Japanese manufacturer produces everything from compact city cars to Le Mans prototypes, spanning family-oriented SUVs, estates, and MPVs through to Dakar trucks, world rally cars, and hydrogen-powered saloons.
Commenting on this year’s findings, WhatCar?’s consumer editor Claire Evans remarked: “One in four cars aged up to five years old went wrong, and although most were fixed by the car makers, when they didn’t step up and do this, it left some owners with eye-watering bills.
“Buying brand new isn’t a guarantee you’ll get a reliable car, as the Tiguan shows, and there can be big differences in dependability between models from the same brand, so it’s vital to check the What Car? Reliability Survey findings for any model you’re considering buying.”
Top 10 reliable cars – full list.
=1. Hyundai i10 (2020-present) – 100% reliability rating.
=1. Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024) – 100% reliability rating.
=1. Kia EV3 (2024-present) – 100% reliability rating.
=1. Toyota GR Yaris (2020-present) – 100% reliability rating.
5. Toyota Aygo X (2021-present) – 99.7% reliability rating.
6. Vauxhall Grandland petrol (2024-present) – 99.6% reliability rating.
7. Toyota RAV4 (2019-present) – 99.2% reliability rating.
8. Mini Hatchback (2014-2024) – 99.1% reliability rating.
=9. Volkswagen T-Roc (2018-2025) – 99% reliability rating.
=9. Porsche Macan (2014-present) – 99% reliability rating.
