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

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

reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars

Volvo

Sportage

Ford

Focus

Mercedes

3 Series

Volkswagen

Golf

Skoda

Kodiaq

Superb

Mazda

Passat

5 Series

Kuga

Diesel cars may have fallen out of favour with the Government and the car buying public in general, but they are still a viable proposition for many drivers.They can be the best option for high-mileage motorway motorists because they’re usually more economical on fuel than their petrol counterparts, generally go further on a tank of fuel and are quicker to refuel than <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">pure electric</a> models. A <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-diesel-cars/n20028">diesel</a> model is also a good choice if you want a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/awards/tow-car-awards">good tow car</a> with plenty of oomph for pulling a caravan or trailer.  However, many diesel models are less dependable than their alternatively fuelled siblings. In fact, diesels are the most problem-prone fuel type, with a fault rate of 31%. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">Pure electric</a> models aren't far behind: 27 % those reported on had a problem. In contrast, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-petrol-cars/n19980">petrol</a> cars are more robust, with a fault rate of 20%, while hybrids are best of all with just 17% of <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrids</a> (PHEVs) and 18% of regular <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrids</a> going wrong.Diesel models 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 hybrid owners had their cars fixed gratis, and only 2% of them had to find more than £1500 to cover fixes.<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">Most reliable diesel cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Renault Kadjar (2015-2022)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 6%, suspension 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: one day or less </li></ul>The Renault Kadjar shares a lot of its underpinnings with the popular second-generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/qashqai/hatchback/review/n7">Nissan Qashqai,</a> and that's a good thing because it's roomy and comfortable, and has a bigger boot than its Nissan sibling. As well as a range of quiet petrol engines, it comes with a pair of diesel engines that are frugal and have low emissions. Not only is the Kadjar the third highest rated <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-suvs/n17116">family SUV</a> for reliability, it's also the best diesel model in this class. Just 12% of the diesel Renault Kadjar models in our survey had a glitch, and the only areas to cause headaches were the suspension and various non-engine electrical systems. All issues were minor, though, and were rectified in a day or less by dealer service departments. Even better, the car maker covered the cost of all remedial work. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/kadjar/hatchback/used-review/n802">Used Renault Kadjar review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. BMW 3 Series (2012-2019)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, bodywork 4%, suspension 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 50% £0, 50% £101-£200 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: one day or less </li></ul>A superb all-rounder, the previous generation BMW 3 Series is one of the best secondhand <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/executive-cars/n2004">executive cars</a> you can buy. It's great to drive and has a well-appointed interior that's plusher and easier to use than those of many more expensive models. Although the engine line-up includes a range of petrols and a couple of hybrids, the vast majority of used 3 Series examples are diesels. That's no bad thing because they are all smooth and pretty punchy, and the cheapest 320d has an impressive official economy figure of 72.4mpg. The 3 Series is ageing well: only 15% of those we were told about had any problems, and all affected cars were fixed in a day or less by BMW dealers. While the car maker only covered the cost of 50% of repairs, the remaining bills wouldn't break the bank — no bills totalled more than £200.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/used-review/n801">Used BMW 3 Series review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. BMW 3 Series (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.0%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine electrics 10%, bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 80% £0, 20% £1-£50 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 20% one day or less, 60% a week or more </li></ul>The latest 3 Series is a near-flawless executive car that's brilliant to drive and fitted with a great range of petrol, diesel and hybrid engines, and kitted out with the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment system</a> on the market. Diesel versions of the latest model are slightly more troublesome than their predecessors: 17% of cars went wrong, compared with 15% of previous 3 Series models. It's also more prone to problems than the petrol 3 Series, which has a fault rate of 9%. However, repair costs were minimal — BMW paid for 80% of fixes and the rest cost less than £50 per fault. The only downside is that 60% of cars were in the workshop for more than seven days. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Skoda Kodiaq (2017-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 94.7% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: exhaust 6%, non-engine electrics 6%, air-con 2%, brakes 2%, engine 2%, interior trim 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 73% £0, 18% £301-£500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 46% one day or less, 18% more than a week </li></ul>As well as being one of the most practical seven-seat SUVs you can buy, the Skoda Kodiaq is an affordable secondhand option. It has a roomy, classy interior and a punchy yet frugal 2.0-litre diesel engine. There's another benefit of choosing a diesel Kodiaq, too. Models with this engine have fewer faults than their petrol counterparts, according to owners, 20% went wrong compared with 22% of petrol models. Exhaust and electrical problems were the most common headaches, but most of these were fixed in a day or less. Although Skoda didn't cover the cost of all remedial work, it paid 73% of bills and only 18% of owners had to pay up to £500 to get their cars put right.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Skoda Superb (2015-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.9%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 6%, suspension 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 67% £0, 33% £200-£350 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 33% one day or less, 67% more than a week </li></ul>If you want a family car with limousine-like levels of interior space, the Superb is well worth a look. Other plus points include a sumptuously appointed interior and low prices for secondhand examples. The 118bhp 1.6-litre and 148bhp 2.0-litre diesel versions dominated sales when new, and that means there are now plenty of used examples to choose from.Another reason to choose a diesel Superb over a petrol model is its reliability record: only 13% of diesel cars went wrong compared with 35% of petrol models. Skoda and its dealers fixed two-thirds of cars for free, and the only annoyance for some owners is that many repairs took more than a week.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/hatchback/used-review/n969">Used Skoda Superb review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. Volvo XC60 (2017-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%, 12-volt battery 4%, bodywork 4%, brakes 4%, engine 4%, steering 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 67% £0, 33% £50-£350 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 44% one day or less, 22% more than a week </li></ul>You can't buy a diesel-engined Volvo XC60 new any more — it was discontinued in the UK in early 2024 — but it's well worth considering if you're after a luxurious secondhand family SUV. Feeling like a slightly shrunken version of the large <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc90/4x4/review/n99">Volvo XC90</a> SUV, the XC60 has a high driving position and oozes class inside and out. Diesel XC60 variants are marginally less likely to go wrong than their petrol or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> (PHEV) counterparts: 14% of diesels went wrong compared with 16% of petrol and PHEV models. Most are fixed in less than a week, and at no cost to owners, although some bills totalled up to £350. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. BMW X3 (2018-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine  4%, engine electrics 4%, exhaust 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%, air-con 3%, bodywork 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 78% £0, 6% more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 28% one day or less, 28% more than a week </li></ul>Don't discount the 2018-2024 version of the BMW X3 because it has just been replaced, it's still one of the best <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/large-suvs/n17006">large SUVs</a> on the market. It has lashings of high tech kit, lots of interior space and a quiet, refined ride. It is a great value used buy, with prices broadly in line with the cost of a new <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a> family car.Diesel and petrol X3 models both have a reasonable fault rate of 23%, although diesels have fewer sat-nav/infotainment issues than petrols. Diesels can be pricier than petrols to fix, though: BMW paid for 100% of petrol car fault repairs but only 78% of diesel bills. Petrols were quicker to fix too: 43% of faults were rectified in a day or less compared with 28% of diesel problems. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">BMW X3 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. Mercedes GLB (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.3%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 18%, air-con 6%, interior trim 6%, sat-nav/infotainment 6%, bodywork 3%, engine electrics 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 39% one day or less, 54% more than a week </li></ul>The GLB is based on the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/b-class/hatchback/review/n18344">B-Class</a> MPV, but it's a practical <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/7-seat-cars/n2344">seven-seater</a> SUV that rivals the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery-sport/4x4/review/n17358">Land Rover Discovery Sport</a>. It can carry lots of people or luggage, and our favourite version has a gusty 2.0-litre 220d diesel engine. Although 35% of the GLBs reported on in our survey had a problem, all issues were sorted out for free and 39% were put right in a day or less. All work was done for free by Mercedes and its dealers. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glb/estate/review/n20538">Mercedes GLB review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9. Ford Focus (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 89.7% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 20%, battery 6%, brakes 6%, exhaust 6%, gearbox/clutch 6%  </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 86% £0, 14% £351-£500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: one day or less 14%, one day to a week 71% </li></ul>Great to drive, practical and affordable to buy and run, the Ford Focus is an excellent family car. It's also one of the best driver’s cars in the class, with truly entertaining handling, especially if you go for ST-Line trim. As well as sharp dynamics, the Focus rides comfortably, is quiet on the move and is roomy inside. However, if you're after a Ford Focus you may be better off with a petrol rather than a diesel model. That's because 33% of diesels went wrong, compared with 9% of petrol models. Electrical niggles were the biggest bugbear, and 71% of cars were in the garage for up to a week. At least Ford covered the cost of most repair work, though. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Mazda CX-5 (2017-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 88.5% <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: exhaust 11%, non-engine electrics 11%, bodywork 7%, brakes 7%, engine 7%, interior trim 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 71% £0, 7% £351-£750 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 13% more than a week </li></ul>The CX-5 is a five-seater family SUV that's small enough to tackle multi-storey car park with ease, and agile enough to make you smile on a country road. Although it doesn’t have a premium-brand badge on its nose, it’s well appointed and much cheaper than equivalent German-built alternatives.Mazda generally has a strong reputation for building reliable cars, but the CX-5 bucks this trend with a fault rate of 48%. Although Mazda dealers fixed lots of issues swiftly, some took more than a week to put right. More worryingly, some owners had to find up to £750 to pay for their cars' fixes. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5 review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Least reliable diesel cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Kia Sportage (2016-2021) </h3>

Reliability rating 66.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 24%, gearbox/clutch 20%, non-engine electrics 16%, brakes 8%, engine electrics 8%, bodywork 4%, exhaust 4%, fuel system 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 83% £0, 9% £1000-more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 17% one day or less, 50% more than a week </li></ul>The previous-generation Kia Sportage has been a mainstay of the Korean brand's line-up in the past few years, accounting for a quarter of all new car sales. Its popularity lies in the fact that it's attractively styled, practical, inexpensive to buy, and many secondhand examples will still be covered by some of Kia's comprehensive seven-year new car warranty.However, this Sportage isn't living up to the usual high standard of Kia cars of dependability. Owners told us that 56% of their Sportages went wrong, many with engine and gearbox problems. More than half of the affected cars were out of action for more than a week, and some owners had to pay more than £1500 to get their cars fixed. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n17426">Used Kia Sportage review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Volkswagen Golf (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 70.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 11%, sat-nav/infotainment system 11%, air-con 8%, bodywork 8%, brakes 5%, engine 5% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 41% £0, 14% £1000-more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 41% one day or less, 33% more than a week </li></ul>The Golf is unusual in that it's still offered new with the option of a diesel engine, offering high-mileage drivers an alternative to the petrol and PHEV versions. Whichever Golf you go for, you'll get a car that's good to drive, with a comfortable ride and a well-appointed interior.   All Golf models have been troubled by a high proportion of problems in recent times, though. Although diesel Golf models have far fewer issues than their petrol or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">PHEV</a> siblings, their fault rate of 30% isn't confidence inspiring. Petrol and PHEV Golfs have a fault rate of 45%.Only 41% of problems were fixed for free by Volkswagen, leaving many owners with large bills: 14% of fault fixes cost at least £1000 per fault. Remedial work wasn't always swift either, with a third of faulty cars out of action for more than a week. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. BMW 5 Series (2017-2023)</h3>

Reliability rating 79.8%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: exhaust 15%, engine electrics 9%, non-engine electrics 6%, 12-volt battery 6%, air-on 4%, bodywork 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 46% £0, 35% £201-£750 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 35% one day or less, 46% more than a week </li></ul>The 5 Series is great to drive, comfortable and efficient, making it one of the best luxury cars you can buy. The 520d diesel 5 Series offers an excellent blend of performance and fuel economy. No wonder it's the best-selling version.However, diesel versions of the 5 Series are far more prone to problems than petrol models: 43% of diesels had a problem, compared with 14% of petrol models. Owning a diesel 5 Series could be more costly, too, because BMW only covered the cost of 46% of repairs for faults on diesel cars, compared with 75% of those on petrol models. Finally, diesels were also slower to fix: 46% were out of action for more than a week, while only 25% of petrols took this long to fix.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/used-review/n991">Used BMW 5 Series review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">Most and least reliable cars overall</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-small-cars/n26142">Most reliable small cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-luxury-cars/n26152">Most reliable luxury cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars/Most%20reliable%20small%20SUVs">Most reliable small SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-7-seaters/n26157">Most reliable seven-seaters</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Reliability of diesel cars 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/renault/kadjar/hatchback/used-review/n802">2015-2022 Renault Kadjar</a> diesel</td> <td>98.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/used-review/n801">2012-2019 BMW 3 Series</a> diesel</td> <td>96.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a> diesel (2019-present)</td> <td>96.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>4</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kodiaq/estate/review/n17362">Skoda Kodiaq</a> diesel (2016-present)</td> <td>94.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>5</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/superb/hatchback/used-review/n969">2015-2024 Skoda Superb</a> diesel</td> <td>92.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/xc60/estate/review/n17339">Volvo XC60</a> diesel (2017-present)</td> <td>92.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/x3/4x4/review/n42">2018-2024 BMW X3</a> diesel</td> <td>92.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>8</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/glb/estate/review/n20538">Mercedes GLB</a> diesel (2019-present)</td> <td>92.3%</td> </tr><tr><td>9</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> diesel (2018-present)</td> <td>89.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>10</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-5/estate/review/n19">Mazda CX-5</a> diesel (2017-present)</td> <td>88.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>11</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/tiguan/estate/review/n17357">2016-2024 Volkswagen Tiguan</a> diesel</td> <td>88.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a> diesel (2017-present)</td> <td>87.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>13</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/land-rover/discovery/4x4/review/n17342">Land Rover Discovery</a> diesel (2017-present)</td> <td>85.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>14</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q5/4x4/review/n41">Audi Q5</a> diesel (2018-present)</td> <td>85.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>15</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/kuga/4x4/used-review/n895">2013-2020 Ford Kuga</a> diesel</td> <td>83.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/5-series/saloon/used-review/n991">2017-2023 BMW 5 Series</a> diesel</td> <td>79.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>17</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a> diesel (2020-present)</td> <td>70.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>18</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/sportage/4x4/used-review/n17426">2016-2021 Kia Sportage</a> diesel</td> <td>66.2%</td> </tr></tbody></table><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">How the research was carried out</h2>The annual What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with<a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/"> MotorEasy</a>, polls thousands of car owners about the reliability of their cars. The latest survey gained 29,967 responses and that enabled us to report on 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 different car brands. All car owners are asked to tell us if their car suffered any faults 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.To gain a better insight into the areas that are causing problems, we also ask owners to let us know what part of the car was faulty. For all cars we have 14 different fault areas: 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/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment</a>, steering and suspension systems. On top of this, we've added two new categories for electric cars: charging and drive battery issues, and difficulties with electric motors.<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, working on consumer issues for a great deal of that time. After a stint as the advice columnist for Carweek magazine in the 1990s, she also spent six years working on motoring content for Which?. 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>.<hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">The most and least reliable cars in every class</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable diesel cars

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Comfortable ride </li> <li>Feature-filled infotainment </li> <li>Space for child seats </li> <li>Robust build quality </li> <li>Practical storage spaces </li> <li>A boot fit for a family holiday </li> <li>Fuel-efficient engines</li></ul>

While we define a small SUV&nbsp;as something&nbsp;less than 4.3 metres long and a large SUV as measuring more than 4.5 metres, family SUVs tread the middle ground.

As the name suggests, the vast majority are&nbsp;designed for family duties rather than serious off-roading, so practicality is paramount. However, that&nbsp;shouldn't come at the expense of a decent drive; the best examples combine tidy handling with smooth engines&nbsp;and a ride that's comfortable&nbsp;enough to ensure the kids aren't left feeling queasy.

&nbsp;

Family SUV

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

reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-cars

Hyundai

Ioniq

IONIQ 5

Nissan

Leaf

e-Up

Cupra

Born

ID.3

Tesla

MODEL 3

Renault

Megane E-Tech Electric

Polestar

Peugeot

e-208

Kona Electric

Vauxhall

Corsa-e

Porsche

TAYCAN

With many new models and brands entering the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric car</a> class, this is one of the most exciting sectors of the new car market.This year the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> gathered data on 34 pure electric models - the 18 reported on in this story and a further 34 in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-suvs/n23038">electric SUV</a> category. While the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">used Mini Electric</a> tops this chart, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-y/hatchback/review/n23624">Tesla Model Y</a> gains the highest socre in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-suvs/n26161">electric SUV reliability chart</a>, and it is the highest scoring pure electric model overall.When it comes to reliability, electric cars are mid-league; those in this chart scored 90.7% last year and 87.7% this year. Electric SUVs are a bit more robust, with a rating of 89.3% this year. The most common faults with electric models aren't related to their electric motors or EV battery packs, they're electrical niggles that also affect hybrid and petrol versions of the same, or similar, models. <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 electric cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Mini Electric (2020-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Motor electrics 3%, 12-volt battery 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: one day to a week </li></ul>Luxurious, well equipped and quick, the Mini Electric is a joy to drive and to sit in. However, its official range is just 145 miles, and that's likely to drop to 124 miles in real world condtions, so it may not suit all drivers. It's only available as a three-door, so anyone travelling in the back two seats needs to be fairly agile to manoeuvre their way in. That said, the Mini Electric is one of the most reliable electric cars you can buy. In fact, it's far more dependable than its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric</a> rivals. Only 5% of the cars reported on in our survey had niggles, and these were restricted to their 12-volt batteries or motor electrics. While it took up to a week to rectify these faults, all cars remained driveable and all were fixed at no cost.Owner’s view: “Faultlessly reliable and I love the quality feel of its interior.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Nissan Leaf (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 95.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: interior trim 5%, brakes 3%, non-motor electrics 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 60% £0, 40% £300-£1000 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 60% one day or less, 40% more than one week </li></ul><h4>The Nissan Leaf is a well equipped electric car that’s cheap on the secondhand market. It's also good to drive and easy to live with, but it's not as comfortable or practical as many rivals, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a>.</h4>However, it is a very robust option, appearing in the top end of our reliability charts for the past few years. Only 11% of the Leafs in our survey had a glitch – either with the brakes, interior trim or non-motor electrics. Those faults didn’t cause any breakdowns, and 60% of the affected cars were put right in a day or less. However, while Nissan paid for 60% of repairs, the remaining 40% of owners had to pay between £301 and £1000.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=3. BMW i4 (2021-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 95.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 9%, non-motor electrics 9%, battery/charging 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 56% one day or less, 44% more than a week </li></ul>The BMW i4 is a great option for anyone who wants to go electric, but doesn't want to shout about it to the world. That's because it's essentially an electric version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/4-series/hatchback/review/n17260">BMW 4 Series Gran Coupé</a> , and the 4 Series and its close sibling, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/3-series/saloon/review/n91">BMW 3 Series</a>, are pretty much the benchmarks for their respective classes, so the i4 has a solid foundation.Although the i4 had its share of faults (27% of owners said their cars had gone wrong), this was offset by the fact that all repairs were done for free and 56% of affected cars were fixed in a day or less. Most of the issues were minor, relating to interior trim; there were also a few air-con and drive battery/charging faults.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=3. Renault Megane E-Tech (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 95.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: interior trim 7%, non-motor electrics 7%, sat-nav/infotainment system 7%, suspension 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 75% one day to a week </li></ul>While the Renault Megane E-Tech may sound familiar, it is like no other previous Megane model. Although it is a hatchback, it's clothed in chunky, SUV-like styling. That said, it doesn't sit high on the road like an SUV, and in reality it's closer in size and styling to an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG4</a>. positive traits include the fact that it has a comfortable ride, it's quiet and refined on motorways, and its range is competitive.It's faring well for reliability so far, too. Only 14% of Renault Megane E-Tech owners had any problems with their cars, and those issues concerned the electrics, interior trim, sat-nav/infotainment system and the suspension. The problems didn't leave any cars undriveable, and all faults were rectified in less than a week; 25% of cars were put right in a day or less. Best of all, Renault covered the cost of all repairs. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Volkswagen e-Up (2013-2023)</h3>

Reliability rating 94.6%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: air-con 6%, 12-volt battery 6%, non-motor electrics 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 33% one day or less, 67% more than a week </li></ul>Based on the Volkswagen Up city car, the e-Up is compact and nippy to drive around town, and relatively refined for motorway driving. It has an official range of 161 miles, which is lower than many larger rivals, but still trumps that of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/honda-e/hatchback/review/n20882">Honda E</a>. Slow repairs were the main bugbear of the 13% of Volkswagen e-Up owners whose cars went wrong. Two-thirds of faulty cars were in the workshop for more than a week. At least the car maker paid for all the remedial work, taking the financial sting out of the problems. Troublespots included the air-con, 12-volt battery and non-motor electrics. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-up/hatchback/used-review/n17989">Volkswagen e-Up used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. BMW i3 (2013-2022)</h3>

Reliability rating 94.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Non-motor electrics 3%, motor electrics 1% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 75% one day or less </li></ul>Like the e-Up, the BMW i3 is one of the oldest EVs in our survey, yet it's up there with the best of the newcomers when it comes to dependability. A mere 9% of owners reported a fault with their car, affecting the air-con, non-motor electrics and suspension. Three-quarters of cars were fixed in less than a week, and the rest took more than a week. Some owners had to have deep pockets, though, because BMW only paid for 25% of remedial work, leaving some owners having to find between £200 and £1500 to get their cars put right. In spite of its age, the i3 has modern-looking styling and a classy interior. As well as pure electric options, there was a range-extender version available from launch until 2017, which had a two-cylinder petrol engine that acted as a generator when the battery was depleted, banishing range anxiety. The latest 2019 42kW pure electric version has the best official range of up to 182 miles. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3 used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. Cupra Born (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment 17%, non-motor electrics 9%, bodywork 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 41% one day or less, 54% more than a week </li></ul>The Born is the sportier twin of the Volkswagen ID 3, and it boasts sharper handling and a classier interior. If you're after an EV with a relatively long range, the range-topping BornVZ promises 366 miles between charges, although this went down to 294 miles in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/range-test-how-far-can-electric-cars-really-go/n24836">summer real-range test</a>. The most affordable 59kW version has an official range of 264 miles. While the Born appears to be robust in many areas, it's suffered with the same non-engine electrical issues as other Volkswagen Group models. Just over a quarter (26%) of the Borns in our survey had an issue, and the majority of them were with the sat-nav/infotainment system. It's reassuring that Cupra covered the cost of all repair work, but less comforting to hear that 54% of affected cars were out of action for more than a week. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. MG 5 (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 92.0%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: EV battery pack 17%, air-con 4%, suspension 4% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 83% £0, 17% £301-£500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 17% one day to a week, 50% more than a week </li></ul>Like the Cupra Born, it's slow repairs that pull down the score of the MG 5: 50% of faulty cars were in the garage for more than a week. Overall, 21% of cars had problems, with the EV battery pack the biggest headache. While MG paid for the repairs on 83% of cars, the remaining owners were left with bills ranging from £301 to £500. The MG5 is one of the cheapest mid-sized pure electric cars you can buy. It has plenty of room for a family of four, comes with lots of kit and its range of 250 miles is relatively decent. That said, it's not as good to drive as some rivals and its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/fastest-charging-electric-cars/n26105">maximum charging speed</a> of 87kW means it'll take about an hour to recharge at 50kW unit or just over 40 minutes on a 100kW charger, which is slower than many alternatives. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG 5 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9. Tesla Model 3 (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 89.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Bodywork 12% non-motor electrics 7%, suspension 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 86% £0, 5% more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 51% one day or less, 31% more than a week </li></ul>Tesla has made big improvements in reliability in the past few years, jumping from the lower echelons of our brand chart to 15th place out of 31 brands in the latest survey. The Model 3 isn't perfect, but it is now a pretty dependable option. Owners told us that 27% of their cars went wrong, mostly with bodywork, electrical system and suspension issues. Most cars could still be driven, and 51% were fixed in a day or less, but 31% spent more than a week off the road. While Tesla covered the cost of 86% of work, a small percentage of owners paid out more than £1500 to get their cars fixed. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3 review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Polestar 2 (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 89.3%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Non-motor electrics 14%, sat-nav/infotainment 14%, 12-volt battery 10%, EV battery pack 7%, interior trim 7% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 36% one day or less, 20% more than a week </li></ul>The Polestar 2 is a Tesla Model 3 rival that acquits itself well in many respects: it has an official range of up to 400-plus miles, it has a classy interior and exemplary safety credentials. However, with a fault rate of 33%, it's not the most dependable pure electric model. Polestar 2 reported issues in a number of areas including the electric battery pack, brakes, interior trim and non-motor electrical systems including the sat-nav/infotainment system. Although the car maker covered the cost of all remedial work, repairs were sometimes slow: only around a third of cars were fixed in a day or less, 44% were in the workshop for up to a week and 20% were off the road for more than a week. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2 review</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Least reliable electric cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. MG4 EV (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 63.8%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Non-motor electrics 15%, interior trim 9%, bodywork 7%, motor 7%, sat-nav/ infotainment 7%, battery/charging system 4%, gearbox/clutch 4%, motor electrics 4%, air-con 2%, brakes 2%, steering 2%, suspension 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 55% £0, 39% £1000-more than £1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 16% one day to a week, 68% more than a week </li></ul>The MG4 is a great value proposition for a pure electric model. because it's actually cheaper than many petrol or hybrid equivalents. It also offers a competitive range, decent charging speed, spacious rear seats and generous standard equipment. However, it performed poorly in our latest reliability survey, coming bottom in its class. With issues in almost all of our fault categories, 30% of the cars reported on went wrong. MG only paid for repairs in 55% of cases, leaving 39% of faults costing £1000 or more to put right, according to owners. Repairs weren’t always swift, either; 68% of affected cars took more than a week to fix.Owner's view: "The charging socket on my brand new MG 4 broke after just 10 weeks of ownership."<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG 4 review </a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Vauxhall Corsa Electric (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 72.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: air-con 13%, EV battery pack 13%, non-motor electrics 13%, 12-volt battery 8%, motor electrics 8%, sat-nav/infotainment system 8% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 61% £0, 28% £301-£1000 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 11% one day or less, 50% more than a week </li></ul>The Vauxhall Corsa Electric is the pure electric version of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Corsa</a> <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small car</a>. It 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>. It has a competitive range, but falls a little short on handling, refinement and interior quality. The electric Corsa is more fault-prone than its petrol sibling, with 25% of owners reporting issues, mainly with the air-con, drive battery/charging and non-motor electrics. Half took more than a week to fix. Repairs were free for 61% of owners; most of the rest didn’t pay more than £500.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Porsche Taycan (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 76.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: Air-con 36%, bodywork 12%, EV battery pack 6%, motor electrics 6%, non-motor electrics 6%, sat-nav/infotainment system 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 97% £0, 3% £1000-£1500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 38% one day to a week, 56% more than a week </li></ul>All versions of the Porsche Taycan are extremely swift, with amazing handling, and they're all wonderfully classy and reasonably practical inside. In fact, in many respects it's one of the very best electric cars you can buy. However, it's suffered more than its fair share of issues, according to owners.More than half (58%) of the Taycans in our survey went wrong, with a range of issues including air-con, drive battery/charging, bodywork and various electrical issues. Getting cars fixed was slow, too; 56% were off the road for more than seven days, but at least Porsche covered the cost of 97% of repair work.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan review </a><hr /><h2>Reliability of electric cars 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/mini/electric/hatchback/used-review/n24232">Mini Electric</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>98.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/leaf/hatchback/review/n17338">Nissan Leaf </a>(2019-present)</td> <td>95.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i4/hatchback/review/n23575">BMW i4</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>95.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane-e-tech/hatchback/review/n24175">Renault Megane E-Tech</a> (2022-present)</td> <td>95.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>5</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/e-up/hatchback/used-review/n17989">Volkswagen e-Up (2013-2023)</a></td> <td>94.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/i3/hatchback/used-review/n874">BMW i3 (2013-2022)</a></td> <td>94.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/born/hatchback/review/n23703">Cupra Born (2022-present)</a></td> <td>92.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>8</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg5/estate/review/n22011">MG 5 Electric</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>92.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>9</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/tesla/model-3/saloon/review/n19010">Tesla Model 3</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>89.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>10</td> <td><a href="//www.whatcar.com/polestar/2/hatchback/review/n21641">Polestar 2</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>89.3%</td> </tr><tr><td>11</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe (2013-2024)</a></td> <td>86.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>86.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>13</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/id3/hatchback/review/n21832">Volkswagen ID 3</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>86.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>14</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq/saloon/used-review/n891">Hyundai Ioniq (2016-2022)</a></td> <td>84.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>15</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq-5/hatchback/review/n22944">Hyundai Ioniq 5</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>83.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/porsche/taycan/saloon/review/n20184">Porsche Taycan</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>76.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>17</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>72.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>18</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg4/hatchback/review/n24916">MG 4</a> (2022-present)</td> <td>63.8%</td> </tr></tbody></table><hr />To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">Most and least reliable cars overall</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-small-cars/n26142">Most reliable small cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-luxury-cars/n26152">Most reliable luxury cars</a>  <a href="Most reliable small SUVs">Most reliable small SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars/n26723">Most reliable diesel cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a>  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> <hr /><h2 dir="ltr">How the research was carried out</h2>The annual What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with<a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/"> MotorEasy</a>, polls thousands of car owners about the reliability of their cars. The latest survey gained 29,967 responses and that enabled us to report on 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 different car brands. All car owners are asked to tell us if their car suffered any faults 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.To gain a better insight into the areas that are causing problems, we also ask owners to let us know what part of the car was faulty. For all cars we have 14 different fault areas: 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/<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment</a>, steering and suspension systems. On top of this, we've added two new categories for electric cars: charging and drive battery issues, and difficulties with electric motors.<hr /><h2 dir="ltr">About the report author</h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/authors/claire-evans/n1100">Claire Evans</a> has spent more than 30 years working as a motoring journalist, and has spent much of that time working on consumer issues. In the 1990s, she was the advice columnist for Carweek magazine, helping car owners with all sorts of automotive issues.She also worked on the motoring desk for Which? for six years, overseeing the running of the charity's annual used car reliability survey.Claire launched the What Car? Reliability Survey in 2017, and since then has used the data collected each year to help 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-7-seaters/n26157">&lt;&lt; Previous</a> | <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-electric-suvs/n26161">Next: Most and least reliable electric SUVs &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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

Reliability Survey: Most reliable electric cars

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test </li> <li>Quick charging times and compatibility with the most ubiquitous types of public charging points </li> <li>Priced to be within the grasp of more than just the privileged few </li> <li>As with any car, ride comfort, practicality and ownership costs can’t be ignored</li></ul>

We define an electric car as one that runs purely on battery power and has no tailpipe to puff out nasty chemicals.

The best of the breed offer sufficient range between charges to fit in with most people’s lifestyles – and in the real world, not on some far-fetched official test cycle.

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

reliability-survey-most-reliable-family-cars

Audi

Astra

Octavia

Seat

Leon

1 Series

Mini

Clubman

Toyota

Corolla

Citroën

2 Series

Ceed

XCEED

SCALA

A Class

Family hatchbacks are the bread and butter of the car world. They remain popular with private buyers and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/class/company-cars">company car</a> drivers alike, despite the rise in demand for SUVs.That means there are plenty of used examples to choose from, but as our <a href="https://editorial.whatcar.com/node/27337/edit">Reliability Survey</a> data shows, not all <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family cars</a> will provide problem-free motoring. In fact, this class had one of the lowest average scores of all the classes in this year's survey, with a score of 91.1% for cars aged up to five years old. The good news is that there are also some highly dependable models, including the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n851">previous generation Skoda Octavia</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series</a>. And, if you're after a hybrid model, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq/saloon/used-review/n891">Hyundai Ioniq</a> should be on your shortlist. The most common problems suffered by family cars are electrical issues, in particular problems with the infotainment systems, so it's worth checking this out if you're looking at buying a used model. For this story, we've pulled out all the data is for family cars aged up to five years old. <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 family cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Skoda Octavia petrol (2013-2020)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.3%Although this generation of the Octavia is only available used, it's still worth considering if you want a family hatchback that's comfortable, well kitted out and extremely spacious. It's also cheap to buy and pretty affordable to run, especially if you opt for a diesel model or the fairly recent 1.0 TSI 115 three-cylinder petrol engine, which has an official economy figure of 58.9mpg.Petrol versions of the previous-generation Octavia gain a near-perfect reliability rating. This makes it a much better bet than the latest version (see below), with just 6% suffering glitches. All issues were inconsequential, too, because they didn’t cause any breakdowns and were put right in less than a day. Plus, all work was done for free.Owner’s view: “I love my Octavia’s dependability; it never lets me down.”<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: fuel system 6% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: less than a day </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/used-review/n851">Skoda Octavia used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Mercedes A-Class hybrid (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.7%The A-Class is the smallest and most affordable Mercedes you can buy, but it's a good choice because it's classy, comfortable, good to drive and loaded with lots of useful, cutting-edge technology. Hybrid versions of the A-Class go wrong less often than petrols (11% versus 21%), and when they do, they’re quicker and cheaper to fix. The only area to give any cause for concern was the interior trim. All faulty hybrids were fixed for free in a day or less, whereas some petrol cars cost up to £300 and took more than a week to put right.<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: interior trim 11% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: less than a day </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. BMW 1 Series (2019-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.6%Don’t discount the 1 Series because it’s BMW’s cheapest model. It's a great compact family hatchback that's good to drive and has a real premium feel inside and out. Whichever version you choose, you'll also get one of the best, and easiest to use, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-car-infotainment-systems-tested-and-rated/n21269">infotainment systems</a>.  The recently replaced 1 Series is also the brand's most dependable. Only 8% of owners encountered hiccups, with mainly non-engine electrical gremlins. All cars remained driveable, and two-thirds were fixed in less than a week. Eighty-three percent of repairs were done gratis; 17% of owners paid up to £100.<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 4%, air-con 1%, bodywork 1%, brakes 1%, engine 1% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 83% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 66% one day to a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Honda Civic (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.6%Honda has a longstanding reputation for building robust cars that soldier on for many years with hardly any issues, and the latest Civic is a prime example of one of its highly dependable models. The Civic drives well, sips fuel slowly and is roomy enough for a family of four. The latest Civic has suffered with far fewer faults than its predecessor, according to owners: 8% of new models went wrong, compared with 27 of previous generation examples. Issues with the steering system was the only area they highlighted. Although Honda covered the cost of all repairs, all faulty cars were off the road for more than a week. <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: steering 8% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: more than a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Hyundai Ioniq hybrid (2016-2022)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.5%The Ioniq was the first car to be offered on sale with three forms of electrification: there was a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">hybrid (HEV)</a> model that combined a petrol engine with an electric motor, a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid (PHEV)</a> version with a bigger battery that you could charge externally, and an <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric vehicle (EV)</a>. The hybrid version is the most rewarding to drive, and it's also more robust than the electric model: 20% of Ioniq hybrids went wrong, but 47% of electric models had a problem. The bodywork, brake system and sat-nav/infotainment system were the main headaches for hybrid owners. The good news is that 75% of cars were fixed in a day or less, Hyundai paid for 88% of repairs, and those who had to pay weren't asked for more than £200 each. <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment system 13%, bodywork 7%, brake system 7%  </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 88% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 75% less than a day </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/ioniq/saloon/used-review/n891">Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. Toyota Corolla (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.4%The Corolla is an unusual family car because it's only available as a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/hybrid-cars/n17013">regular hybrid</a> rather than a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-mild-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n22776">mild hybrid</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/what-is-a-plug-in-hybrid-and-should-you-buy-one/n1141">plug-in hybrid</a>. That means it's more efficient than a conventional petrol model, but it doesn't have to be charged up to maintain the lowest running costs. It'a also comfortable, well-equipped and comes with lots of standard kit. Electrical and bodywork issues and problems with the 12-volt battery were the main bugbears of the 15% of Corolla owners who told us their car had gone wrong. They told us that 84% of cars were fixed for free and none of the remaining bills exceeded £200. The primary disappointment is that nearly a third of cars were rendered undriveable by faults and 28% were out of action for more than a week. <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: 12-volt battery 5%, bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 84% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 64% one day or less, 28% more than a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/corolla/hatchback/review/n18901">Toyota Corolla review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. Kia XCeed (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 95.6%The XCeed is a slightly chunkier, SUV-styled version of Kia's Ceed family car. It shares the Ceed's engines and other mechanical parts, and benefits from the brand's seven-year new car warranty. Bodywork issues were the main complaint from the 21% of XCeed owners who reported a fault with their car. There were also some concerns about the 12-volt battery and sat-nav/infotainment system. All cars were fixed in less than a week, a third of them were rectified in a day or less. While Kia paid for the work on 67% of cars, the remaining owners were asked for up to £200 to get their cars fixed.  <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: 2-volt battery 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system % </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 67% £0, 33% up to £200 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: one day to a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/xceed/hatchback/review/n20081">Kia XCeed review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. Mini Clubman (2015-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 95.5%The Clubman estate version of the Mini isn't the most roomy family car, but it's fun to drive and most cars were highly specced when new, so there should be lots of well-equipped secondhand examples to choose from. The bodywork was the only area that gave Clubman owners any cause for concern, with 15% of them saying they'd had problems. While all cars were fixed in less than a week, two-thirds of them in a day or less, Mini wasn't up there with the best brands for covering the cost of repairs. Mini paid for 33% of remedial work, but owners whose cars weren't fixed for free were asked to pay between £50 and £500. <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 15% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 33% £0, 67% up to £500 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 66% less than a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/clubman/estate/used-review/n17567">Mini Clubman used review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9. Ford Focus petrol (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 94.9%It may be one of the most common family cars, but the Focus is also one of the best drivers' cars in this class, with entertaining handling and a range of punchy engines. It's also a practical proposition, with lots of space and a large boot. Pick a petrol model if you're after a reliable Focus: petrol models have a 9% fault rate compared with 33% for diesels. Problem areas included the 12-volt battery, bodywork and non-engine electrical systems including the sat-nav/infotainment system. All faulty cars could still be driven, but 53% spent more than a week in the workshop. At least all remedial work was done for free. <ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment system 7%, 12-volt battery 5%, bodywork 5%, non-engine electrics 5%  </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 53% more than a week </li></ul><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus review</a><hr /><h3>10. Kia Ceed (2018-present)</h3>

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