Estate

Hatchback

Pick-Up

Saloon

Sports

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

Audi is a brand that sets the standard for interior quality, and this, combined with its vast and ever-growing model line-up, has helped it become one of the ‘big three’ German prestige car makers, along with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The A3 hatchback, A4 executive saloon and Q7 SUV are all common - yet upmarket - sights on UK roads.

At least some of Audi's success over the past 30 years can be attributed to the growth in sales of vehicles with four-wheel drive; the company arguably led the way in bringing 4x4 technology into the mainstream, with its Quattro coupé in the early 1980s.

Today, most Audis are available with at least the option of four-wheel drive, while the list of SUVs from the brand includes the Q2, Q3, Q5 and Q7.

AUDI

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

If you’re in the market for a pick-up truck, chances are you’ll have heard of Isuzu. The Japanese brand makes buses and lorries for markets all over the world, but it’s most famous for the D-Max.

A rival to the Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and Volkswagen Amarok, the D-Max pick-up is aimed at drivers who need rugged go-anywhere ability and lots of space, and for whom a conventional SUV just won’t cut it.

ISUZU

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

Land Rover is synonymous with SUVs, and especially with the Defender – the rugged runabout that has seen service in war zones across the world, but also as part of the Queen’s personal garage.

If off-road prowess is one of Land Rover’s core values, though, the other is luxury. Indeed, the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar are among the best luxury SUVs you can buy.

The Discovery, meanwhile, is a practical rival for the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, while the stylish Evoque (which is available as a three-door convertible as well as a traditional SUV) goes head to head with Audi’s Q3 and BMW’s X1.

In the coming years, we’ll see a new road-biased ‘Road Rover’ as well as an all-new Defender.

LAND ROVER

In the same way that Infiniti acts as Nissan’s premium arm, Lexus has a similar tie-in with Toyota. And since most of Toyota’s models are offered as hybrids, it’s no surprise to see the same from Lexus, although there are some traditional petrol engines, too.

The brand focuses heavily on SUVs – namely the NX and RX – but also has the CT hatchback, ES executive saloon and LS luxury car among its portfolio. More small and large SUVs are expected in the future.

Like Toyota, Lexus has built a very strong reputation for reliability and regularly finishes very close to the top of our annual Reliability Survey.

LEXUS

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

Talk about taking an idea and running with it. The big-selling Mini hatchback is still at the core of the firm’s range, but its cute styling and relatively compact dimensions have been spun off into an estate (the Clubman) and an SUV (the Countryman), as well as a convertible.

Despite its small size, the Mini is a firmly premium product, and the three-door hatchback counts the Audi A1 and Volkswagen Polo among its key rivals.

The fact that Mini is owned by BMW brings some big advantages –&nbsp;not least the fact that its infotainment system is based on BMW’s industry-leading iDrive.

MINI

While Mitsubishi sells both the Mirage hatchback and the L200 pick-up truck in the UK, the core of its range is in SUVs – handy, since this is one of the largest markets worldwide.

There’s an SUV to suit everyone, too. If you’re a company car driver, the Outlander PHEV mixes low fuel bills with a spacious interior. The ASX, meanwhile, is attractively priced against key rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Seat Ateca. Or, if you prefer mud to asphalt, the Shogun offers genuine off-road ability.

More SUVs are on the way, too, including one that’s rumoured to bring back the ‘Evo’ name made famous in rallying.

MITSUBISHI

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

Peugeot has its strongest model line-up for some years, with some of its cars now rated by our testers as being among the very best available.

Highlights focus around the firm’s newest SUVs, the 3008 and 5008. The 5008 was named Large SUV of the Year at the 2018 What Car? Awards, thanks to its appealing blend of space, interior quality and low running costs.

That bodes well for future launches, too, because many of the learnings from these cars will be passed on as new versions of existing cars are launched – something that could take many years, because the Peugeot range is so big, ranging from an entry-level supermini with the 108 to an executive saloon with the 508, up into the SUV range and also vans.

Buyers should evaluate some of the lower-rated cars in the range more carefully, though. Some are now quite old, and are subsequently left behind in terms of quality when compared with the opposition, making them below-average buys, in our estimation.

PEUGEOT

Porsche is best known as the quintessential sports car maker, but its line-up is increasingly diverse, interesting and successful, from its SUV family to the Panamera hatchback and shooting brake and, in time, a planned family of electric vehicles.

Whatever your choice, What Car?’s testers rate the cars highly; Porsche has an unusually high percentage of five and four-star cars.

Without exception, its sports cars are class leaders or among the class leaders, standing out for combining driving thrills with surprising luxury and comfort. Likewise, its SUVs are among the sharpest handling, as well as offering high levels of practicality and quality. Meanwhile, the Panamera is a true rival to the very best large executive saloons.

Porsche also sees itself as an electric car pioneer and has already enjoyed sales success with its plug-in hybrid range. Its first all-electric sports car is imminent, signalling the firm’s intent to stay relevant for many years to come.

PORSCHE

Hatchbacks, SUVs, hybrids, electric cars: Renault makes them all, in a variety of shapes and sizes, meaning&nbsp;it has a line-up designed to tempt pretty much everyone.

From the roadside, the standout feature of all its cars is design, with them instantly recognisable as members of the Renault family, without being so similar that they fall&nbsp;into the Russian doll trap. However, in terms of ability they're a mixed bag,&nbsp;ranging&nbsp;from very good to no better than average.

Models that fall into the former camp include the Clio small hatchback and Megane E-Tech electric car, while the smaller Zoe electric car is also impressive in most respects; it's just a pity Renault omits key safety kit.

On the other hand, the Captur, Arkana and Austral SUVs are all outclassed by several rivals.

Renault has some exciting new models planned, including a new Scenic (this time it will be an electric SUV instead of a conventionally powered MPV) and two cars that reimagine classic Renaults: the 4 and 5.

RENAULT

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

Suzuki is well known as a motorcycle manufacturer, but the car brand has been enjoying decent success in recent years, thanks to a line-up of neat, well-equipped and keenly priced models.

Its expertise focuses on smaller cars, although its high-riding SUV range is also hugely credible, especially the Ignis and Vitara, which are both rated highly by What Car?’s testers and which have enjoyed success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

Well priced, decent to drive and full of useful tech, Suzuki’s cars also generally stand out for delivering good fuel economy. The Ignis, Celerio and Baleno have all stood head and shoulders above the competition during our True MPG testing.

SUZUKI

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

The VW Group famously spends more money on research and development than any rival – and as a result, perhaps it should be no surprise that our testers rate its cars so consistently highly.

The fact that many of those cars use the same underpinnings also helps, because it means that if they get it right once, they have the foundations to keep on getting it right.

However, the Volkswagen brand faces plenty of tough competition, often from within, because the rapidly rising Seat and Skoda brands that are also part of the group have access to the same technology.

VOLKSWAGEN

Volvo is now a true rival to the likes of Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz, offering an alternative take on premium executive cars to a rapidly growing fanbase.

After a string of strong launches – notably with the Mk2 XC90 and XC60 SUVs – it struck gold in early 2018 when it launched its smallest SUV, the XC40. When our testers compared the car with its rivals, they concluded that it was the best launch of the previous 12 months, earning it our coveted overall Car of the Year Award.

The good news is that, like many car makers, Volvo now uses the same structure underneath most of its cars – so if they get it right on one model, it usually bodes well for the rest. That’s the case here, with Volvo’s subsequent saloon and estate launches complementing the SUVs and making for a generally extremely appealing line-up.

VOLVO

2 SERIES

5 SERIES

A CLASS

ACCORD

ATECA

AYGO X

B CLASS

C CLASS

C-MAX

CLIO

COUNTRYMAN

CR-V

CX-30

CX-5

D-MAX

E CLASS

ECOSPORT

Electric

FIESTA

FOCUS

GIULIA

IONIQ

JAZZ

KUGA

LEAF

LEON

MACAN

MONDEO

MX-5

OCTAVIA

OUTLANDER PHEV

PICANTO

PRIUS

QASHQAI

RANGE ROVER

RANGE ROVER SPORT

RAV4

SANTA FE

SCENIC

SPORTAGE

TARRACO

TIGUAN

TOUAREG

TUCSON

VITARA

X-TRAIL

XC40

XC60

most-reliable-used-cars-2024-the-best-secondhand-choices

best-used-cars-for-reliability

Sportage

Lexus

Mercedes

SL-Class

Honda

Civic

Mazda

Toyota

Auris

Reliability rating&nbsp;100%

The Audi A3 Saloon is a compact <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive car</a> that feels very solid, thanks&nbsp;to its smart, high-quality interior and tidy driving dynamics.&nbsp;However, it also&nbsp;has&nbsp;a good reliability record to back up that sense of solidity, with owners of both petrol and diesel examples reporting no issues with their cars in our latest survey.

If you're after a petrol car, we reckon the 148bhp 1.5-litre engine is the best option. Or, if you want a torquey&nbsp;diesel, the 148bhp 2.0-litre engine is good&nbsp;too.

We found:&nbsp;2017 Audi A3 Saloon 1.5 TFSI S line, 49,000&nbsp;miles, £12,790

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/saloon/used-review/n883">used Audi A3 Saloon&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/audi/a3">used Audi A3 Saloon&nbsp;for sale</a>

Audi A3 Saloon

Reliability rating 100%

Diesel might not be as fashionable as it once was, but if you want a reliable used <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>, the previous-generation&nbsp;Kia Sportage diesel is the most reliable option out there. Like the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/saloon/used-review/n883">Audi A3 Saloon</a>, not a single owner&nbsp;reported an issue in our latest reliability survey.

Along with this, it should be very cheap to run&nbsp;–&nbsp;officially, the 114bhp 1.7-litre engine can average&nbsp;61.4mpg under the old NEDC test cycle.

We found:&nbsp;2017&nbsp;Kia Sportage 1.7&nbsp;CRDi 2, 46,990 miles, £10,500

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n17426">used Kia Sportage&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/sportage">used Kia Sportage for sale</a>

Kia Sportage diesel

Reliability rating&nbsp;99.6%

There's no escaping the fact that Lexus has an excellent reputation for reliability, and that's no exception with the previous-generation NX. It's been the highest-rated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> for reliability in our survey&nbsp;for two years running now, with&nbsp;just 2% of owners reporting&nbsp;minor glitches with their cars in 2023, and no owners recording any faults in 2024.

It's not all good news&nbsp;though, because the NX isn't as efficient as its hybrid engine&nbsp;suggests, plus the ride can be a bit fidgety around town.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2016&nbsp;Lexus NX&nbsp;2.5 300h Luxury 4WD, 43,444&nbsp;miles, £16,000

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/used-review/n995">used Lexus NX review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/lexus/nx">used Lexus NX&nbsp;for sale</a>

Lexus NX

Reliability rating&nbsp;99.1%

For the fraction of the price of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/review/n17206">new Mercedes SL</a>, you can have a previous generation example that offers superb refinement, a high-quality interior and surprisingly agile handling. There are plenty of impressive engines on offer too,&nbsp;ranging from a 302bhp&nbsp;V6 to a stonking 621bhp&nbsp;V12.

However, we think the entry-level V6 petrols, badged SL350 or SL400, are the best options for keeping fuel bills down. No matter which version you choose though,&nbsp;it should be reliable.

We found:&nbsp;2016 Mercedes SL400 AMG Line, 39,000 miles, £29,980

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/sl-class/sports/used-review/n21666">used Mercedes SL&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mercedes-benz/sl">used Mercedes SL&nbsp;for sale</a>

Mercedes SL

Reliability rating&nbsp;98.9%

Hybrid power is&nbsp;popular at the moment, which could be enough to steer you towards a used car like the Lexus CT. It combines&nbsp;fuel-sipping&nbsp;hybrid technology with stellar reliability, as well as a solid&nbsp;interior with some pleasant materials. That said, it doesn't feel as plush inside as an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Audi A3 from the same era</a>, nor is it as good to drive as that car.

The engine is quite noisy when it kicks in, plus the ride is choppy at low and high speeds, particularly with larger alloy wheels fitted.&nbsp;

We found:&nbsp;2012&nbsp;Lexus CT 1.8 200h SE-L, 36,000&nbsp;miles, £8499

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/ct/hatchback/used-review/n17416">used Lexus CT&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/lexus/ct">used Lexus CT for sale</a>

Lexus CT

Reliability rating&nbsp;98.6%

You might not be too surprised to see another Lexus on this list, but the third-generation RX is a very reliable SUV. It's powered by a sturdy 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine and&nbsp;an electric motor that combine to produce 295bhp, while the latter helps to minimise fuel bills by running&nbsp;on electric power at speeds of up to 30mph.

Unfortunately,&nbsp;it's not the most comfortable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">luxury SUV</a>, particularly around town where the ride can be unsettled by ridges and potholes.

We found:&nbsp;2014 Lexus RX 3.5 450h Luxury, 49,000 miles, £14,989

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n851">used Lexus RX 2009-2016 review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/skoda/octavia">used Lexus RX&nbsp;for sale</a>

Lexus RX (2009-2016)

Reliability rating&nbsp;98.4%

The British-built ninth-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic</a>&nbsp;is a very reliable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family car</a>.&nbsp;That's helped by the fact all the engines use timing chains, plus&nbsp;the 1.6-litre diesel’s particulate filter being&nbsp;located close to the&nbsp;engine, which&nbsp;allows it to warm up&nbsp;quickly and thus work more efficiently.

Elsewhere, the Civic is very practical,&nbsp;with a big boot and Honda's clever 'Magic Seats', which can fold&nbsp;completely flat or flip up at the base to create space for&nbsp;tall items.

We found:&nbsp;2015 Honda Civic 1.4 i-VTEC S, 51,006&nbsp;miles, £6990

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/used-review/n773">used Honda Civic&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/honda/civic">used Honda Civic&nbsp;for sale</a>

Honda Civic petrol

Reliability rating&nbsp;98.1%

The fourth-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/review/n137">Lexus RX</a> fixed some of the ailments of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n22103">third-generation</a>, most notable of which was&nbsp;the ride, which is&nbsp;more comfortable and smooth. The interior is also&nbsp;very pleasant, with&nbsp;a dashboard that's&nbsp;solid and smart, with sweeping lines and some neat styling touches.

In terms of engines, most of the 2016-2022 RXs are <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrids</a>, combining a 3.5-litre V6 with two electric motors to produce 308bhp. It's a tried and tested set-up that contributes toward's the car's strong record for reliability.

We found:&nbsp;2017 Lexus RX 3.5 450h Luxury, 36,500 miles, £21,995

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n17886">used Lexus RX 2016-2022&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/lexus/rx">used Lexus RX&nbsp;for sale</a>

Lexus RX (2016-2022)

Reliability rating&nbsp;98.1%

The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a> is a great used buy, offering a smart interior, a good infotainment system and tidy handling. For the best reliability,&nbsp;steer towards the petrol models rather than the diesels, because these are notably more sturdy.

As such, we recommend going for the 2.0-litre petrol model, which provides the best balance of performance and running costs. The more powerful 2.5-litre petrol is too thirsty to recommend.

We found:&nbsp;2018&nbsp;Mazda CX-5 2.0 Skyactiv-G SE-L Nav+, 52,344 miles, £12,441

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/used-review/n947">used Mazda CX-5&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mazda/cx-5">used Mazda CX-5&nbsp;for sale</a>

Mazda CX-5

Reliability rating&nbsp;97%

The Toyota Auris is a car that won't stir the soul or tingle the spine, but it will provide unobtrusive and reliable family transport. All engines have a good reputation for reliability, but&nbsp;we'd recommend going for either the 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol, which provides gutsy and smooth performance, or the fuel-sipping&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a>.

These engines&nbsp;also get more sophisticated suspension&nbsp;than the earlier 1.3-litre petrol and 1.4-litre diesel models, which makes them&nbsp;more comfortable to drive.

We found:&nbsp;2016 Toyota Auris 1.2 VVT-i Business Edition, 54,700 miles, £6990

Read our full&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/auris/hatchback/used-review/n17421">used Toyota Auris&nbsp;review</a>

Search for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/toyota/auris">used Toyota Auris for sale</a>

Toyota Auris

The last thing you want after buying a used car is to be left on the side of the road waiting for a recovery truck. It's one of those scenarios that can make a purchase turn sour – and that's before you factor in repair costs and repair times.To help minimise any of those problems, we've gathered a list of the most reliable used cars that are more than five years old, with data sourced from our latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>. This survey has a massive field of responses, with 29,967 motorists telling us about their cars, including whether they have – or haven't – encountered any faults.

Specifically, the most reliable used cars in this story were built between 1998 and 2018. For used cars built after these dates, we have an alternative story for the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">most reliable new cars</a>.If any of the cars listed below do tempt you, you can read our full <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-reviews">used car reviews</a> or see our latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars">used car deals</a> to find out more.

Most reliable used cars 2024: the best secondhand choices

Best used cars for reliability

britains-most-reliable-cars-2024-plus-the-ones-thatll-let-you-down

most-reliable-cars

Mini

Countryman

Audi

Picanto

Porsche

Boxster

Coupe

Cayman

Skoda

Octavia

Tesla

Model Y

Convertible

Volkswagen

Golf

Nissan

Juke

Vauxhall

Corsa-e

Mokka-E

Seat

Leon

Land Rover

Range Rover Evoque

ZS EV

CX-60

Reliability is one of the key concerns of anyone who is choosing their next car. After all, nobody relishes the time, inconvenience and potential expense of a car breaking down and requiring repair.But how do you really know whether a car is likely to be a faithful friend, or a frustrating foe? In the most recent What Car? reliability survey, conducted in association with <a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/" target="_blank">MotorEasy</a>, a massive 29,967 motorists responded to tell us which are Britain's most reliable cars — and which are the least dependable.The resulting work has enabled us to deliver the definitive list of the most reliable new cars on sale, because here we're focusing on cars up to five years old. That's because the data covers the minimum three-year new car warranty as well as another two years where faults are less likely to be fixed for free.As well as telling us if their cars had suffered any faults over the last 12 months, they also told us how much each issue cost to fix and how long it kept their cars off the road. Cost and inconvenience are the two biggest headaches of dealing with a faulty car, so we used responses on these issues to create a unique reliability rating for each car and brand.<iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c3YKjmsjNuE?" width="560"></iframe>As well as rating each car for the cost of faults and time off the road, we also asked owners to tell us which area of their car was affected by the problem. This means we can tell you the kind of faults encountered by each model, helping you to make an informed decision.Our data is fully independent, gathered from real car owners and the experiences they've had with their cars, while some other reliability reports simply quote data from aftermarket warranty providers. We've split our results into different car and SUV categories, with a page dedicated to each one. So, if, for example, you want to find out the most reliable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a>, you can use our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">most reliable electric cars</a>. Or if you're curious to know what the least <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-small-suvs/n26154">reliable small SUV</a> is, we have a page for that car class, too. <h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/6fe2cc473d53&amp;rdt=1">The 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a></h2><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Britain's most reliable cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">=1. Lexus NX (2014-2021)</h3>

Reliability rating 100%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: none </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: none </li></ul>The previous-generation Lexus NX is your best bet if you want a fault-free <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a>. This bulletproof model has been the highest-rated family SUV for two years running. Last year just 2% of owners told us they'd had minor glitches with their cars, and this year no owners at all reported any faults. This means almost all NX owners have enjoyed two years without any breakdowns or surprise bills. This year and last, the used-only NX also outperformed the latest version of the car. Last year the current model was in second place, and this year it scores 97.6% and lies in fifth place. So if you're after an ultra-dependable family SUV, look no further than the Lexus NX.  “One What Car? Reader said their NX was “dependable, I wouldn’t consider another brand”. High praise indeed, but it’s not an isolated comment, there are so few common faults. In fact, in my experience, choosing a Lexus NX comes down to finding one that isn’t wearing the battle scars of family life. As with any SUV of this size, bodywork and wheels can be scuffed, and interior trim can get broken. But as far as mechanical maladies are concerned, you’ve little to worry about.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/mark-pearson/n1035">Mark Pearson, Used Cars Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/used-review/n995">Lexus NX used review</a> <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=1. Toyota Aygo X (2021-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 100%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: none </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: none </li></ul>However, you don't have to splash out on a premium brand SUV to get a reliable car. Toyota’s tiniest and most affordable car has outdone its bigger siblings in the latest survey by gaining a perfect reliability rating of 100%. This makes it the joint highest scoring model in our survey, alongside the Lexus NX, and also the top rated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>.  The 100% score indicates that not one of the Aygo Xs in our survey had any glitches at all. That means not a single Aygo X owner has needed to seek assistance from dealers at all in the previous 24 months. This is great news for anyone after a small, affordable second car, or new drivers who need a car that's cheap to own and insure. “I find it remarkable that such an affordable car should be fault-free, but with the exception of a handful of issues which should be fixed for free as part of some recall work, the Aygo X should be faultless to own. That excellent warranty which can be extended to ten years/100,000 miles so long as the car is serviced by Toyota gives superb reassurance.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/george-hill/n23609">George Hill, Used Cars Writer</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Mini Countryman (2017-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.7% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one to seven days </li></ul>The Countryman isn’t only the most dependable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a> you can buy; it’s also the most reliable Mini model in the survey. That's no small achievement when you consider that the brand is rated the best overall in this year's survey, toppling Lexus from first place - a position it's held for the past seven years. Other highly-rated Mini models include the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/review/n17156">Convertible</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric</a>. Mini Countryman owners told us just 2% of their cars had any issues and these were restricted to niggles with the bodywork. With all these foibles sorted out at no cost and in less than a week, the Countryman has kept its owners extremely happy. “I covered <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/mini-countryman-long-term-test/n23146">more than 6000 miles</a> in my Mini Countryman, and despite the extra complexity of its plug-in hybrid technology, it didn’t put a wheel wrong. My experience perfectly mirrors that of its owners, it seems.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/kiall-garrett/n25249">Kiall Garrett, Senior Videographer</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/used-review/n887">Mini Countryman used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Audi Q2 (2016-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: more than a week </li></ul>The Audi Q2 is just behind the Mini Countryman in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a> reliability chart, making it the second most dependable model. It's also the highest-achieving Audi model in the survey, beating larger siblings, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Audi Q3</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q7/4x4/review/n87">Audi Q7</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a>.   Almost all of the Audi Q2s in our survey behaved impeccably, according to owners. Only 3% reported any issues, all of which concerned engine faults that prevented the affected cars from being driven. Other Audi models were afflicted by a range of electrical issues, including infotainment system faults, but that's not the case with the Q2. Although all Audi Q2 faults took more than a week to put right, they were corrected at no cost to owners. “There were many things I enjoyed about my Audi Q2, but <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/audi-q2-long-term-test/n25993">over 1500 miles behind the wheel</a> the thing that stayed with me was the quality of the interior. Not only does it look and feel great, it feels built to last. And in a world where knobs and dials are becoming part of the touchscreen, the Q2’s physical controls turn with a precise click.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/darren-moss/n1005">Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=5. Kia Picanto (2017-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.3% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: gearbox / clutch 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one day or less </li></ul>This version of the Picanto may no longer be on sale new, but it’s well worth considering if you're after a bulletproof <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">city car</a>. It's the second most dependable small car. A mere 6% of examples aged up to five years old had any issues, and the only problematic area was the gearbox/clutch.Kia's seven-year new car warranty is one of the best in the UK, and it does a good job of covering the cost of all unexpected faults. The Picanto is proof of this: all the cars we were told about were fixed for free. Even better news for owners is that remedial work was swift: all problems were resolved in a day or less. “I had complete faith in the reliability of my Kia Picanto because it’s a frequent visitor to the top of our reliability survey. That faith was repaid: I am pleased to report that I had zero mechanical issues with the car at all <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/kia-picanto-long-term-test/n22521">during my time with it</a>. And even if I did, that seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty gives enormous peace of mind”. – Oli Kosbab, Senior Videographer<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/used-review/n926">Kia Picanto used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=5. Lexus ES (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.3% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav / infotainment 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one to seven days </li></ul>The ES may be rather a left-field choice in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive car</a> class, but it's well worth having on your list of potential purchases, because it is the most dependable executive car, outclassing premium German rivals, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a4/saloon/review/n105">Audi A4</a>, when it comes to dependability.Only 4% of ES owners reported issues, and only with the sat-nav/infotainment systems. Even though many of the cars reported on would have exceeded the car maker's standard three-year/60,0000mile warranty, Lexus covered the cost of all remedial work. That meant the only real inconvenience for owners was that they had to wait between one and seven days to get their cars back. “I loved my time with my Lexus ES because it was comfortable, economical and felt exceptionally well built – as owners who contributed to our reliability survey found. My only issue was slightly buggy infotainment which made it hard to select the right radio station.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans, Consumer Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/es/saloon/review/n17336">Lexus ES review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=5. Porsche 718 Boxster / Cayman (2016-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.3%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one day or less </li></ul>We've considered the 718 Boxster <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/convertibles/n17007">convertible</a> and Cayman <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupes/n17019">coupe</a> together because they are the same under the skin. Each one is the top in its class for reliability, and they are also the most affordable models in the Porsche line-up. Only 6% of Porsche’s mid-engined roadsters and its coupé siblings had any glitches, according to owners, and the only area of concern was the bodywork. Getting things fixed was easy, too. Even though many cars would have been outside the new car warranty period, Porsche's technicians completed all work at no cost. Even better for owners who want to get back out in their cars, all work was completed in a day or less. “It’s remarkable that a high-performance, low-slung car like the Boxster and Cayman should be among the most reliable cars. Cared-for, well-serviced examples should be painless to own. I’d go the extra mile to check for crash damage, though, and pay special attention to thumps and scrapes from speed bumps.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans, Consumer Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/boxster/sports/review/n27">Porsche 718 Boxster</a> / <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayman/coupe/review/n17361">Porsche Cayman review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=5. Skoda Octavia petrol (2013-2020)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.3%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: fuel system 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one day or less </li></ul>If you're after a roomy and reliable family hatchback, petrol versions of the previous-generation Skoda Octavia should be high on your shopping list. It's the highest-rated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family hatch</a> for dependability, and the best model in Skoda's line-up.It's worth noting that some of the latest Skoda models, including the new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Octavia</a>, have had a high percentage of electrical issues, in particular problems with their <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment systems</a>, but the used-only Octavia isn't affected by these. Only 6% of the older petrol Octavias in our survey suffered any glitches; that's far less than the current car, which has a fault rate of 36%. All issues were inconsequential, too, because they didn’t cause any breakdowns and were put right in less than a day. All work was done for free. “It’s worth doing your homework thoroughly before choosing a Skoda Octavia because they’ve been subject to a number of recalls. Whilst the impressive feedback from owners suggests these have been dealt with, I always recommend checking with your local dealer”. – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/darren-moss/n1005">Darren Moss, Deputy Digital Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n851">Skoda Octavia petrol used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=9. Mini Convertible (2016-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.2% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav / infotainment system 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: one day or less </li></ul>The Mini Convertible is just as stylish and fun to drive as its hatchback sibling, and owners tell us that it's even more reliable: the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">Mini hatchback</a> gained a reliability rating of 97.9%. Like the hatchback, it comes with a range of strong engines and a smart, refined interior.  Only 7% of Mini Convertibles exhibited faults, and the sat-nav/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment system</a> was the only area that gave owners any grief. All of the affected cars were put right in a day or less, and Mini covered the cost of all remedial work even though some cars would have exceeded the standard three-year/unlimited mileage warranty, ensuring that disruption was kept to a minimum for owners. “The Mini Convertible is proving to be very reliable, despite a series of known faults which – by now – should've been fixed under warranty. I recommend you pay special attention to the roof mechanism, though, because like other similar roofs, it’s complex and can be costly to fix.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/stuart-milne/n25965">Stuart Milne, Digital Editor</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/convertible/sports/used-review/n17565">Mini Convertible used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=9. Tesla Model Y (2021-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-motor electric 3%, motor electrics 1%, sat-nav / infotainment system 1%   </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 75% one day or less, 25% one to seven days </li></ul>Tesla has really turned round the reliability of its cars over the past few years and the Model Y is testament to this. Not only is it the highest-scoring <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a>, it’s also the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> overall for reliability.Only 4% of the examples we heard about went wrong, and all were fixed for free. Tesla operates a mobile service scheme, which allows owners to have their cars serviced, and any faults fixed, at a location of their choosing, which should keep the disruption caused to a minimum. That does appear to be the case with the Model Y, because owners told us that three-quarters of their cars were fixed the same day, and the rest were back on the road in less than a week. “Tesla’s latest models are proving pretty robust, and that’s quite an achievement when you consider how software-intensive the car is. I recommend you ensure any recall work has been carried out at a Tesla dealership, and as with any family SUV, check for interior and exterior damage.” – <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/oliver-young/n22317">Oliver Young, Reviewer</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">The 10 most unreliable cars</h2><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fnfp6dCL4oE" width="560"></iframe><h3 dir="ltr">1. Nissan Juke (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 50.0%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: 12-volt battery 13%, engine 9%, brakes 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 35%, more than £1500 52% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 66% more than a week  </li></ul>The second-generation Nissan Juke is an affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>, with a smart and practical interior and appealing exterior styling. However, it's also the lowest-scoring small SUV in the survey - and it’s the worst model overall for reliability.Nearly a third (31%) of the Jukes reported on went wrong, and 80% of these were rendered undriveable by their faults. Issues with the 12-volt battery were the most frequently cited problem, followed by troubles with the engine. There were also some reports of faults with the brake and fuel systems and various electrical components.   Owners told us that 66% of their cars were off the road for more than a week. Nissan only covered the cost of remedial work in 35% of cases, and 52% of faults cost more than £1500 each to put right. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke review</a> <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. MG 4 (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 63.8%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-motor electrics 15%, interior trim 9%, motor 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 55%, more than £1500 19% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 68% more than a week  </li></ul>The MG 4 is one of the most affordable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> you can buy, with prices that undercut some petrol and diesel alternatives. However, it's the lowest scoring electric model in our survey, because it has a fairly high percentage of faults and cars that go wrong can be slow and expensive to fix. Owners told us that 30% of their cars went wrong overall. They reported issues in almost all of our fault categories, including non-motor electrics, interior trim, bodywork, motor, sat-nav/ infotainment, battery/charging system, gearbox/clutch and motor electrics.  MG only paid for repairs in 55% of cases, leaving 39% of owners with bills of £1000 or more. Many faults caused a lot of inconvenience too, because 68% of affected cars took more than a week to put right.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG 4 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Vauxhall Mokka Electric (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 65.6% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: 12-volt battery 30%, EV battery pack 20%, sat-nav / infotainment system 15% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 92%, more than £1500 8% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 56% more than a week  </li></ul>On the plus side, the Vauxhall Mokka Electric is a good-looking, comfortable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a>. Delve into its reliability record, though and you'll soon discover it's lowest-scoring <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a>, with a high fault rate and slow repairs. According to owners, 55% of Mokka Electrics went wrong. Although a third of problems were sorted out in a day or less, 56% of broken cars were out of action for more than a week.Vauxhall paid for the work on 92% of cars, but that left 8% of owners with bills that topped £1500. The 12-volt battery accounted for 30% of problems and there were also lots of issues reported with the sat-nav/infotainment system and aircon. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka/hatchback/review/n22633">Vauxhall Mokka Electric review</a> <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Kia Sportage diesel (2016-2021)</h3>

Reliability rating 66.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 24%, gearbox /clutch 20%, none-engine electrics 16% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 83%, more than £1500 8% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 50% more than a week  </li></ul>It's unusual to see a Kia model at the bottom of a reliability chart because the brand mostly produces robust vehicles that keep it in or around the top 10 overall. However, diesel versions of the used-only Sportage suffered a high percentage of faults and were slow to be repaired, pushing them into the bottom place for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUVs</a>. Petrol versions fared much better, gaining an overall rating of 93.4%. Owners told us 56% of their diesel Sportages went wrong, compared with only 20% of petrol models. Half of faulty cars were in the garage for more than a week, and, although 83% of cars were fixed for free, 8% of bills exceeded £1500. Twenty-four percent of problems were with the engine, and 20% were with the gearbox/clutch.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n17426">Kia Sportage used buying guide</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Mazda CX-60 (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 68.8% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: suspension 33%, steering 24%, non-engine electrics 19% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 100% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 43% more than a week  </li></ul>Mazda doesn't often appear in the lower end of our reliability tables, but its CX-60 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> bucks this trend. It's the least dependable model in the current Mazda line-up and the second worst family SUV for dependability.A whopping 62% of owners told us they'd had glitches with their cars. A third had suspension issues, a similar proportion had electrical faults and 24% had steering problems. There were also problems with engine and non-engine electrics, the fuel system and the gearbox. Although a third of issues were put right in a day or less, 43% of owners told us their cars took more than a week to fix. At least Mazda covered all repair costs. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-60/4x4/review/n24505">Mazda CX-60 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. MG ZS Electric (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 69.3% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: air-con 14%, 12-volt battery 14%, EV battery pack 9% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 82%, more than £1500 5% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 82% more than a week  </li></ul>The MG ZS EV is a roomy, well-equipped and well-priced <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a>. It's far too prone to problems, though and repairs can be slow and sometimes costly.  Forty-three percent of the MG ZS EVs in our survey had problems, according to owners, and 82% of broken cars were in the workshop for more than a week. The air-con system and the 12-volt battery were the main culprits, but there were also issues with the drive battery/charging, various non-motor electrical systems and the bodywork.Although MG covered the cost of 82% of repair bills, some owners were left seriously out of pocket: 10% of faults totalled between £1000 and more than £1500.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n20171">MG ZS Electric review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. Volkswagen Golf diesel (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 70.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: gearbox / clutch 11%, non-engine electrics 11%, sat-nav / infotainment system 11% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 41%, more than £1500 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 34% more than a week  </li></ul>The current Golf has been plagued by issues with <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment</a> and other electrical systems, and there have been additional issues with diesel models and some of these have been pricey to fix, according to owners. While petrol and hybrid Golf models lie fourth from bottom in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family car</a> reliability chart, with a score of 84.1%, the diesel Golf resides right at the bottom of the class. Overall, 30% of diesel Golfs also suffered a problem, with gearbox / clutch glitches and problems with the infotainment system the most common complaints. There were also issues with the air-con and bodywork. A third of cars were in the workshop for more than a week. Only 41% of faulty cars were fixed for free, and while some repair bills were low, 11% of owners faced bills of £1000 or more.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. Vauxhall Corsa Electric (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 72.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: brakes 7%, motor electrics 7%, sat-nav / infotainment system 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 61%, £751 to £1000 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 66% more than a week  </li></ul>The Corsa Electric is a decent electric car and a worthy rival to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric</a> in many respects, although reliability isn't one of them. It's the second most unreliable electric car, and when it does go wrong it's slow to fix. The Corsa Electric is more fault-prone than its petrol sibling, with 25% of owners reporting issues, compared with 14% of petrol Corsa owners. The main causes for concern were the air-con, drive battery/charging and non-motor electrics.Half of the cars that went wrong were in the garage for more than a week. Repairs were free for 61% of owners, and while most of the rest didn’t pay more than £500, 6% of issues cost between £750 and £1000 to put right.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric review</a> <hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9. Range Rover Evoque (2011-2019)</h3>

Reliability rating 78.3% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine electrics 15%, suspension 15%, exhaust 12% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 86%, more than £1500 14% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 62% more than a week  </li></ul>The previous Evoque isn't ageing well. It is the second worst <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> for reliability and the lowest-scoring model in the Land Rover line-up with a 35% fault rate. It scores nearly 10% less than the current Evoque, which has a reliability rating of 86.9%, because owners told us that it was far pricier to fix. Issues with the engine electrics and suspension each accounted for 15% of faults. There were also reports of problems with the bodywork, engine, exhaust and interior trim. Although two-thirds of cars remained driveable, 62% were off the road for more than a week. And, while 86% of cars were fixed for free, the rest cost more than £1500 per fault. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-evoque/4x4/used-review/n846">Range Rover Evoque used buying guide</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Seat Leon (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 74.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: brakes 7%, motor electrics 7%, sat-nav / infotainment system 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: fixed for free 97%, more than £1500 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Time off road: 62% more than a week  </li></ul>A high fault rate puts the Leon in the bottom three for <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n27171">family cars</a>: 58% of the cars reported on went wrong, most (53%) with the sat-nav/ infotainment problems that have afflicted a large number of Volkswagen Group models. Other problem areas included other electrical systems, the gearbox / clutch and suspension. No wonder it's also the lowest scoring Seat model. Although most cars could still be driven, their faults were slow to resolve, with 62% of cars sitting in workshops for more than a week. While Seat covered the cost of 97% of fixes, easing some of the pain, the remaining issues cost more than £1500 each to put right. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Seat Leon review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">How the research was carried out</h2>The What Car? Reliability Survey is open to everyone who visits whatcar.com or subscribes to What Car? magazine. Responses were received from car owners around the UK. We ask them to tell us if their car had suffered a fault in the previous 24 months, and if so what area of the car was affected. We then ask them to expand on this by telling us how much they had to pay to get the fault fixed and how long their car was in the workshop. We use the information to create a unique reliability rating for each model and brand where we have a large enough response rate. These two factors are more important than how many faults a car suffered, because they determine how much inconvenience and expense a problem caused.To gain an in-depth understanding of what goes wrong, we asked owners to describe issues in various categories: air-con, battery, bodywork, brakes, engine or motor, engine or motor electrics, exhaust, fuel system, gearbox/clutch, interior trim, non-engine or motor electrics, sat-nav/infotainment, steering and suspension systems.Furthermore, specific categories for EVs, including charging and drive battery issues, as well as difficulties with electric motors, helped us to build a better picture of EV ownership.This year, we have data for 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 brands. Where we have a large enough sample size, we separate diesel, electric, hybrid and petrol versions. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Are cars getting more reliable?</h2>We've seen an improvement in reliability over the past seven years – the percentage of cars aged up to five years old going wrong has dropped from 27% in 2018 to 22% in 2024.True, the percentage of cars being fixed for free by manufacturers has dropped a little from 87% in 2020 to 82% this year, but that still means the majority of newer cars don't land owners with hefty repair bills.That's especially pleasing when you consider that there has been a significant shift in the new car market over the past few years, with a huge increase in the number of complicated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> and cutting-edge pure electric models being offered by existing brands and some newer ones.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">What are the most reliable cars and brands?</h2>When it comes to reliability, a car’s brand is a better indicator of its durability than its fuel type. Mini claims the top spot this year, with a near-faultless score for all five of the diesel, electric and petrol models reported on in our survey. The shining stars were the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/used-review/n887">Countryman</a>, which gained 99.7%, making it the highest-scoring SUV overall, and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric</a>, which was the best EV with a rating of 98.4%. Former winner Lexus was just 0.4% behind Mini. The <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/es/saloon/review/n17336">ES</a> claimed the top spot in the executive class, while the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/nx/estate/used-review/n995">2014-2021 NX</a> was the best family SUV and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n17886">2016-2022 RX</a> the top luxury car.The NX and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X</a> were also the only models to achieve a full 100% reliability rating. Suzuki wasn’t far behind the top two brands, with the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/used-review/n959">2017-2024 Swift</a> and current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/vitara/4x4/review/n76">Vitara</a> scoring 95.7% and 97.7% respectively. Brands to make it into the top 10 for the first time include Citroën, Dacia and Renault. Credit also goes to Tesla for turning round the reliability of its cars; the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Model Y</a> the highest scoring <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> in the latest survey. Meanwhile, Cupra and Volkswagen appear to be starting to recover from the spate of electronic glitches that marred their scores last year, but Audi and Seat haven’t improved their ratings as much. While Land Rover is still in the bottom half of the chart, it’s heartening to see it out of the bottom three. MG now occupies the bottom place, due to a high fault rate and slow repairs. Its overall score was also not helped by the large proportion of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG 4</a> owners who faced large repair bills.Also propping up the bottom of the chart are Alfa Romeo and Vauxhall. Many <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulia/saloon/review/n159">Giulia</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/stelvio/estate/review/n113">Stelvio</a> owners said their cars had spent lengthy stints in workshops, and the Giulia could also be costly to repair.Vauxhall’s <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Corsa Electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka/hatchback/review/n22633">Mokka Electric</a> were its lowest scorers; both were in the bottom three in their respective classes. <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Which cars cost the most (and the least) to repair?</h2>While 82% of the cars in our survey had their faults fixed for free, the flipside is that 3% of car owners were left facing bills that exceeded £1500 for each issue. When it comes to costly repairs, the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke</a> stands out, with 52% of faulty cars costing their owners more than £1500 to repair.The latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a> can also be a costly car to live with; 40% of owners had to fund repairs costing more than £1500. And although the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/jaguar/f-type/coupe/review/n17268">Jaguar F-Type</a> and Peugeot 208 don’t have much in common, both models left 33% of owners with bills that topped £1500 per fault.At the other end of the scale, Audi pleased owners of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Q2</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q3/4x4/review/n43">Q3</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194">Q4 e-tron</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Q5</a> models by fixing 100% of their faults for free. Overall, though, the brand paid for only 79% of repairs.<hr /><h2>Are petrol, diesel, electric or hybrid cars most reliable?</h2>In spite of their complex engine and motor combinations, hybrids and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrids</a> are the least likely type of car to go wrong . Only 19% of cars with this power set-up had a glitch. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-petrol-cars/n19980">Petrol cars</a> are the next best bet if you’re after a dependable motor, with a fault rate of 22%.While some <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric cars</a> (EVs) never put a foot wrong, others suffered a range of issues affecting motor and non-motor electrics, and some also had faults with their charging systems. Overall, 27% of EVs had a glitch.Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-diesel-cars/n20028">diesel cars</a> are the most likely to suffer a fault, with nearly a third (31%) of those in our survey having a problem. Diesels are also the least likely to be fixed for free; manufacturers covered the cost of only 67% of repairs for cars of this type, and 6% of owners paid out more than £1500 in repair bills.In contrast, 91% of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid</a> owners had their cars fixed free, and only 2% of them had to find more than £1500 to cover fixes. Next best are EVs, 89% of which were fixed for free, followed by petrol cars, 79% of which were fixed at no cost. Only 3% of EV and petrol car owners faced bills of more than £1500.<hr />To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-small-cars/n26142">Most reliable small cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-luxury-cars/n26152">Most reliable luxury cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-small-suvs/n26154">Most reliable small SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-seven-seaters/n26157">Most reliable seven-seaters</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a> (2023) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars/n26723">Most reliable diesel cars</a> (2023) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> (2024)<hr /><h2>About the report author</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans</a> has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years, much of that time spent specialising in consumer issues. She was a troubleshooting advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, helping car owners with faulty cars get the right level of reparation from car makers.She also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?, and it is here she oversaw the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-used-cars/n19105">most dependable used cars</a>. The survey data is also shared with car makers, who use it to find out more about issues with models and the areas where they could provide better customer service.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Next: Most and least reliable car brands &gt;&gt;</a></h2>For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

Britain's most reliable cars 2024 (plus the ones that'll let you down)

most reliable cars

what-car-reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-luxury-cars

reliability-survey-most-reliable-luxury-cars

Cayenne

Range Rover

Range Rover Sport

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">Luxury cars</a> are the epitome of opulence, laden with every creature comfort you can imagine and providing their occupants with acres of interior space in which to relax.However, that chilled feeling could turn rather hot if your expensive motor lets you down. And the bad news is that luxury cars and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-suvs/n17036">luxury SUVs</a> are among the least reliable cars on the road. This year the average luxury car score of 91.1% was the third worst of all classes in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">Reliability Survey</a> and it's been a similar story in previous years, too. However, there are still some strong performers, such as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n17886">2016-2022 Lexus RX</a>, which was the highest scoring car in this class.That said, the fault rate for luxury cars is pretty high at 23%, and many cars had problems with various electrical systems, including the sat-nav/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment system</a>. <h2><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/6fe2cc473d53&amp;rdt=1">The 2025 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a></h2><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Most reliable luxury car</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Lexus RX (2016-2022)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.8%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Bodywork 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 100% one day or less </li></ul>The Lexus RX may not be the last word in driver enjoyment or sporty handling, but it is extremely well-appointed, comfortable and dependable. Most of the used examples you'll find are hybrids, which combine a 3.5-litre engine with an electric motor to produce 308bhp. They're the Lexus alternative to a diesel, and work well combining adequate performance with decent economy. Like the smaller Lexus NX, these hybrid examples of the RX demonstrate that having a complex power source is no barrier to being reliable: only 3% of the RX models in our survey went wrong. In even better news for owners, all problematic cars could still be driven and were back on the road in a day or less, and Lexus covered the cost of all repair work.Owner’s view: “It’s a Lexus, so I’m confident that my car won’t let me down.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n17886">Used Lexus RX review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. BMW X5 (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Bodywork 6%, engine 6%, non-engine electrics 2%, suspension 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 88% cost £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 75% one day or less </li></ul>The BMW X5 is a smooth, classy and luxurious SUV. It's not quite as practical as the most spacious rivals out there, but it's plenty big enough for a family of four.It's also a robust vehicle, according to owners who told us only 12% of their X5s had gone wrong. Most problems were small and easy to remedy. The most common issues were with the bodywork and engine, and three-quarters of the faults were put right in a day or less.  Although BMW covered the cost of repairs in most instances, some owners were left seriously out of pocket. They told us that 88% of repairs were done at no cost, but 12% of remedial work cost between £751 and £1000Three-quarters of faulty cars could still be driven and their issues were sorted out in a day or less, 13% took up to a week and the rest took more than a week. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Range Rover Sport (2014-2022) </h3>

Reliability rating 95.3%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Brakes 14%, engine 5% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 90% £0, 10% £751-£1000 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 90% one day or less, 10% up to a week </li></ul>Like the latest Range Rover Sport, the previous-generation version has the same underpinnings as its larger sibling, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/used-review/n872">2013-2022 Range Rover</a>. That's a good thing because it offers an excellent blend of stability and relative agility. It isn’t the most athletic SUV, and it doesn't have as much grip and body control as some rivals, but it’s an easy car to drive along a twisty road.It's also proving more robust than the larger Range Rover, with a fault rate of 22%. The most common areas of concern were the brakes and engine, though some owners also reported issues with the bodywork, engine electrics and exhaust.  Land Rover covered the cost of most repairs, but 10% of faults set owners back between £751 and £1000 each. All faulty cars could still be driven, though, and most were fixed in a day or less. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/used-review/n17571">Used Range Rover Sport review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Audi Q8 (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 93.0%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Air-con 13%, sat-nav/infotainment system 13% bodywork 6%, engine electrics 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 66% one day to one week, 33% more than a week </li></ul>The Audi Q8 should be on your wishlist if you're after a luxury <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/coupe-suvs/n23014">coupe SUV</a>. It's offered with a range of strong engines, and it handles capably and cruises quietly. Inside, it's classy and spacious, although, like the other models in this round-up, it's only offered with five seats. The Q8 has a fairly high fault rate of 25%, with lots of owners reporting issues with the air-con and sat-nav/infotainment system. Although all cars could still be driven, repairs were enacted fairly slowly: two-thirds took up to a week and the rest took longer than that. At least Audi covered the cost of all repairs, so no owners were left out of pocket. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Range Rover Sport (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: drive battery/charging 7%, exhaust 7%, non-engine electrics 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 100% more than a week </li></ul>The Range Rover Sport is based on the same platform as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Range Rover</a> so it benefits from the bigger car’s luxurious interior, impressive <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/4x4s-for-off-roading/n26188">off-roading ability</a> and good range of engine options. However, it's more compact, more nimble and arguably more usable than its longer, taller stablemate.It's also less prone to problems: 20% of the Range Rover Sports we heard about had a problem, compared with 28% of Range Rovers. Problem areas included various electrical systems, the exhaust and the plug-in hybrid battery pack. The bad news is that all faulty cars were rendered undriveable, and and they all sat in the workshop for more than a week. The good news is that Land Rover fixed all issues for free. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Least reliable luxury cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Porsche Cayenne (2018-2023)</h3>

Reliability rating 84.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 18%, 12-volt battery 6%, drive battery/charging 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 60% cost £0, 40% cost more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 80% more than a week </li></ul>The Cayenne is a large sports SUV with a range of high-performance engines and impressive agility for such a large, tall vehicle. It's also pretty practical, with a roomy, classy interior and a big boot.  Porsche’s big luxury SUV can’t match its smaller sibling for durability, though; 24% of Cayennes went wrong, compared with 13% of Macans. It can be expensive to fix when it does go wrong, too, according to owners. Porsche covered only 60% of the repair costs in full, leaving 40% of affected owners to pay £1500 or more per fault.Although 60% of faulty cars remained driveable, repairs were slow in many instances: 80% of the vehicles we were told about took more than a week to put right.Owner’s view: “Porsche has tried to fix my car twice, but it still doesn’t work properly.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Mercedes GLE (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 88.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 24%, exhaust 7%, suspension 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 43% more than a week, 39% one day or less </li></ul>Some rivals are more practical and better to drive, but the Mercedes GLE has a dazzling interior, is a comfortable cruiser, and comes with lashings of equipment. There is a wide range of engines to choose from, including plug-in hybrids that will officially do more than 60 miles on pure electric power. However, it has a fairly high fault rate of 35%, with 24% of issues affecting a range of electrical systems. Although most of the problems didn't render the vehicles undriveable, some repairs were slow: nearly half (43%) were out of action for more than seven days. Mercedes covered the cost of all rectification work, though, taking the sting out for many owners. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/4x4/review/n145">Mercedes GLE review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Range Rover (2013-2022)</h3>

Reliability rating 90.9%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Bodywork 11%, non-engine electrics 11%, engine 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 80% cost £0, 20% cost more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 40% more than a week, 40% one day or less </li></ul>Reliability has been a long-term issue for Land Rover, and the Range Rover has graced the bottom of our charts frequently. However, it's faring better these days, and its score of 90.9% is acceptable.Overall, 28% of the Range Rovers reported on had a problem, mostly with the bodywork and electrics. However, four out of five faulty vehicles could still be driven and 40% were fixed in less than a day. Land Rover paid for all the remedial work in 80% of cases, but that left an unlucky 20% of owners will bills that exceeded £1500 per fault. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">Used Range Rover review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Reliability of luxury cars and SUVs aged up to five years old</h2><table dir="ltr"><tbody><tr><td>Rank</td> <td>Make and model</td> <td>Score</td> </tr><tr><td>1</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/rx/4x4/used-review/n17886">2016-2022 Lexus RX</a></td> <td>98.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x5/4x4/review/n38">BMW X5</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>96.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/used-review/n17571">2014-2022 Range Rover Sport </a></td> <td>94.3%</td> </tr><tr><td>4</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q8/4x4/review/n17559">Audi Q8</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>93.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>5</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover-sport/4x4/review/n74">Range Rover Sport</a> (2022-present)</td> <td>92.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/range-rover/4x4/review/n17353">2013-2022 Range Rover </a></td> <td>90.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/gle/4x4/review/n145">Mercedes GLE</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>88.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>8</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/cayenne/estate/review/n17375">Porsche Cayenne</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>84.6%</td> </tr></tbody></table>To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">Most reliable cars (2024)</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-small-cars/n26142">Most reliable small cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-small-suvs/n26154">Most reliable small SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-seven-seaters/n26157">Most reliable seven-seaters</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars/n26723">Most reliable diesel cars</a> (2023) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> (2024)<hr /><h2>How the research was carried out</h2>The latest What Car? Reliability Survey gained 29,967 responses and that enabled us to report on 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 different brands. To compile the survey, conducted in association with <a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/" target="_blank">MotorEasy</a>, we ask thousands of car owners to tell us how well their cars had behaved over the previous 24 months. For every car that has suffered a fault, we ask in what area the issue occurred, plus how much it cost to repair and how long it spent in the workshop. This information is used to create a reliability rating for each model and brand where we have a large enough response rate.<hr /><h2>About the report author</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans</a> has been a motoring journalist for more than 30 years with a focus on consumer issues for much of that time. She was the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, and also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?.Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has helped thousands of buyers choose the most reliable new cars and SUVs, as well as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-used-cars/n19105">most dependable used cars</a>.<hr /><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-executive-cars/n26150">&lt;&lt; Previous</a> | <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-suvs/n26154">Next: Most and least reliable small SUVs &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

Reliability

Search our reviews

Latest reliability news & advice

Most reliable used cars 2024: the best secondhand choices

Britain's most reliable cars 2024 (plus the ones that'll let you down)

What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable luxury cars

What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable electric SUVs

What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable hybrid cars

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information