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What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable electric SUVs
In our annual Reliability Survey, we asked readers to rate the dependability of cars aged up to five years old. Here we list the most and least reliable electric SUVs in the UK
Electric SUVs offer the best of both worlds: the affordability of pure electric motoring and the practicality of an SUV body style. Small wonder, then that the electric SUV class is one of the fastest growing sectors of the new car market.
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It's not the highest rated car class for reliability, though. While some electric SUVs performed exceptionally well in the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, others suffered a high proportion of problems, bringing the average for the class down to 89.6% – the third lowest of all 11 car classes in our survey, and more than five percentage points lower than the average for small hatchbacks.
It contains some of the highest-scoring models for reliability, including the MG S5 and Renault Scenic E-Tech. However, it also contains one of the lowest-scoring models in the entire survey, the Volkswagen ID.4, which only mustered a score of 69.9%.
Here’s how electric SUVs performed according to our latest data. This article examines reliability data for electric SUVs aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our most reliable used cars feature.
Claire Evans
Updated: 18 October 2026
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Most reliable electric SUVs
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1. MG S5 (2025-present)
Reliability rating 98.3%
Most common faults: EV battery pack 6%
Average repair cost: 100% cost £0
Typical time off road: 100% one day or less
MG has really upped the quality of its latest models and the service it provides to customers when things go wrong. The S5 electric family SUV, which replaces the MG ZS, is the best evidence of this. It’s the brand’s top- performing model in this survey, and the highest-scoring electric SUV.
Only 6% of the examples we were told about had any glitches, and the only area concerned was the EV battery. That might sound serious, because none of the affected vehicles could be driven, but all of the issues were resolved in a day or less.
Not only was the service swift, but MG picked up the tab for all of the necessary repairs, dissipating any worries about surprise bills.
Owner’s view: “My S5 feels like a solid, well-built car, and it’s reliable; it hasn’t had a single fault so far.”
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2. Renault Scenic E-Tech (2023-present)
Reliability rating 97.5%
Most common faults: Electric motor 5%, non-engine electrics 5%, bodywork 3%, brakes 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3%
Average repair cost: 100% cost £0
Typical time off road: 71% one day or less
The French car maker’s reliability score has varied over the years, but the Scenic is one of its most trustworthy models. In fact, having evolved from a conventional MPV into an electric SUV, it’s the brand’s highest-scoring model this year.
There were reports of issues with the electric motor and various non-motor electrical systems, but these were sorted out quickly and cheaply. An impressive 71% of all defects were fixed in a day or less, and the rest were sorted in less than seven days. Overall, 11% of cars had a fault, but all were resolved for free by the brand.
Renault Scenic E-Tech review
Renault Scenic E-Tech lease deals
3. Mercedes EQA (2021-present)
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Reliability rating 97.0%
Most common faults: EV battery pack 6%, brakes 3%, non-motor electrics 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3%, suspension 3**%**
Average repair cost: 83% cost £0
Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 17% one day to a week, 17% more than a week
Closely related to the combustion-engined Mercedes GLA family SUV, (one of the brand’s most dependable models), the EQA beats its main electric rivals, scoring 8% higher than the BMW iX1 and Audi Q4 e-tron. Its fault rate of 16% isn’t the lowest in its category, but 67% of faults were fixed in a day or less, and 83% of cars could still be driven.
The main culprit was the EV battery; faults were also reported with the brakes, non-motor electrics and infotainment system. Mercedes covered 83% of repairs, but 17% of owners paid more than £1500 to get their cars fixed.
Mercedes EQA review
4. Hyundai Kona Electric (2023-present)
Reliability rating 96.1%
Most common faults: EV battery pack 5%, non-motor electrics 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
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Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
The Kona is a well-rounded small SUV that's practical, and has distinctive styling and plenty of standard equipement. It's available in petrol, hybrid and electric form, and the electric version is the pick of the bunch if you're after a dependable vehicle. That's because its 96% reliability rating is 14 points higher than that of the petrol and hybrid models.
Only 15% of the Kona Electrics in our survey had any issues, compared with 26% of petrol and hybrid examples, and the EV doesn't have such a high rate of 12-volt battery glitches as its conventionally-powered siblings.
The other good news for owners is that all remedial work was done for free, and that half of the cars with faults were fixed in less than a week.
Hyundai Kona Electric lease deals
5. Tesla Model Y (2021-present)
Reliability rating 95.5%
Most common faults: Bodywork 4%, interior trim 3%, non-motor electrics 3%, brakes 2%, suspension 2%
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Average repair cost: 86% cost £0, 3% cost more than £1500
Typical time off road: 45% one day to a week, 44% one day or less
Tesla's electric SUV is its best-selling model, and it's the brand's most reliable, beating the Model 3's reliability rating by a couple of percentage points. It also had fewer faults, according to owners who told us 17% of their Model Ys went wrong, compared with 24% of Model 3s.
None of the issues we were told about related to the cars' high-voltage electrical systems, and three-quarters of those that went wrong could still be driven. Tesla's service agents were good at getting things put right swiftly - 44% of issues were resolved in a day or less and most of the rest took less than a week to fix.
6. Kia E-Niro (2019-2022)
Reliability rating 95.3%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 9%, EV battery pack 5%, non-motor electrics 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 78% cost £0, 22% £51-£300
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Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 22% more than a week
The E-Niro was one of the first pure electric cars that was both reasonably priced and offered a long range between charges. In our real-world tests it achieved 253 miles. It was sold alongside the first-generation 2018-2022 Kia Niro, which came with a choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid power.
Although the E-Niro's fault rate of 18% is far higher than the 4% rate of the conventionally-powered Niros, owners told us the issues were sorted out quickly with two-thirds of cars in and out of the workshop in the same day. It's a shame that Kia only covered the cost of 78% of remedial work, but at least no repair bills topped £300.
7. Kia EV3 (2024-present)
Reliability rating 95.3%
Most common faults: EV battery pack 2%, gearbox 2%, non-motor electrics 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 75% one day to a week
The EV3 is one of the best small electric SUVs on sale. It has an impressive range of up to 375 miles between charges, and it has a comfortable ride and plenty of standard kit for the price.
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When it comes to dependability, the EV3 has slipped a bit since last year, when it was one of only four models to gain a perfect 100% reliability rating. However, while only 6% of the EV3 in our survey went wrong, half of them were rendered undriveable by those faults. Getting things put right was fairly swift, though, with a quarter of cars fixed in a day or less, and the rest put right in less than a week.
8. Volvo C40 Recharge / EC40 (2021-present)
Reliability rating 94.8%
Most common faults: Sat-nav/infotainment 12%, charging system 6%, non-motor electrics 6%
Average repair cost: 100% cost £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
The C40 Recharge was renamed the EC40 in 2024 to bring its name into line with other Volvo electric models. It is a coupé version of the EX40, which beats that model for range, but it is pricier than its sibling. The EC40 and EX40 share the vast majority of their mechanical parts, architecture and technology, so it's no wonder they're very closely matched for reliability.
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EC40 owners told us that 18% of their cars went wrong, but 75% of those with faults remained driveable. Volvo covered the cost of all fixes, and half of the affected cars were put right and back out of the garage in less than a week.
9. Volvo XC40 Recharge / EX40 (2021-present)
Reliability rating 94.7%
Most common faults: Non-motor electrics 22%, EV battery pack 4%, bodywork 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 100% cost £0
Typical time off road: 43% one day to a week, 43% more than a week
The Volvo EX40 is more practical than the EC40, with more rear headroom and a larger boot. It's also smart inside, and it’s pretty refined on the move. Our recommendation is the Single Motor Extended Range version because it has a range of 348 miles on a charge, which compares well with the 330-mile range of the Audi Q4 e-tron 45 and the 387-mile Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD.
Although 22% of the EX40s we were told about went wrong, most issues were minor electrical glitches and 86% of the affected cars could still be driven. As with the EC40, Volvo took care of the cost of all repair bills, and most issues were resolved in less than a week.
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10. MG ZS EV (2019-2025)
Reliability rating 94.5%
Most common faults: Sat-nav/infotainment system 6%, 12-volt battery 4%, steering 4%, motor electrics 2%, non-motor electrics 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 91% cost £0, 9% £201-£300
Typical time off road: 63% more than a week, 27% one day or less
Although the ZS EV is one of the most affordable electric family SUVs, it's practical and well equipped. It has plenty of room for passengers, a big boot and a range of up to 273 miles between charges.
Twenty-two percent of the ZS EVs reported on in our survey had a problem, but almost three-quarters of them remained driveable. MG covered the cost of the majority of bills, leaving some owners to pay up to £300 per fault fix. Getting things put right could be slow, with nearly two-thirds of cars out of action for more than a week.
Least reliable electric SUVs
1. Volkswagen ID 4 (2021-2026)
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Reliability rating 69.9%
Most common faults: electric motor 20%, non-motor electrics 14%, sat-nav/infotainment system 14%, brakes 9%, suspension 9%, bodywork 6%, interior trim 6%, steering 6%
Average repair cost: 87% cost £0, 11% £301-£500
Typical time off road: 18% one day or less, 66% more than a week
The ID 4 is a decent electric SUV with a practical interior and a good range. However, our survey participants said it struggled with a lot of electrical issues. In total, 43% of the ID 4s we were told about had a glitch, and 20% of them were with the electric motor. The infotainment system and other non-motor electrical components each accounted for another 14% of the faults reported. There were also complaints about the 12-volt battery and suspension.
Two-thirds of cars were out of action for more than a week, and only 18% were fixed in a day or less. Although Volkswagen took care of 87% of the associated costs, some owners paid out £301-£500 per fault.
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Owner’s view: “My car has needed three flatbed recoveries, and other faults have knocked it out of action for up to a month at a time.”
Volkswagen ID 4 review
2. Kia EV6 (2021-present)
Reliability rating 77.9%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 22%, charging system 12%, EV battery pack 7%, motor electrics 6%, non-motor electrics 6%, sat-nav/infotainment system 6%, bodywork 4%, steering 4%
Average repair cost: 88% cost £0, 3% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 55% more than a week, 28% one day or less
While Kia's EV3 small electric SUV is a paragon of dependability, that’s not the case with some of its larger electric models, as the EV6 demonstrates. More than half (52%) of the EV6s in our survey had issues, and in 34% of cases these concerned the 12-volt battery or aspects of the EV charging system.
Problems rendered 47% of cars undriveable, and it took more than a week to rectify 55% of the faulty vehicles. Kia took care of the cost in 88% of cases, but some owners had to find up to £200 per fault, and a small percentage reported costs in excess of £1500.
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3. Volkswagen ID 5 (2021-2026)
Reliability rating 79.8%
Most common faults: Non-motor electrics 22%, bodywork 17%, 12-volt battery 17%, sat-nav/infotainment system 11%, battery pack 6%, electric motor 6%, charging system 6%, interior trim 6%
Average repair cost: 94% cost £0, 6% up to £50
Typical time off road: 63% more than a week, 25% one day to a week
The ID 5 is a more svelte-looking coupé version of the ID 4 that shares its underpinnings, motor and battery components and technology. It’s no surprise, then, that the ID 5 has been almost as problematic to live with as the ID 4.
Forty-four percent of the cars we were told about went wrong, with issues spanning a number of areas, including the 12-volt battery, electric motor, EV battery and various electrical systems, including the infotainment. Only 13% of issues were resolved within a day, and 63% of the affected cars were kept off the road for more than a week.
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To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall
Most reliable car brands
Most reliable small cars
Most reliable family cars
Most reliable executive cars
Most reliable luxury cars
Most reliable small SUVs
Most reliable family SUVs
Most reliable large SUVs
Most reliavle seven-seaters
Most reliable electric cars
Most reliable sports cars
Most reliable diesel cars
Most reliable petrol cars
Most reliable hybrid cars
How the research was carried out
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 MotorEasy, 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.
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About the report author
Claire Evans 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 most dependable used cars.
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