Last updated November 2024
Last updated November 2024
A leading aftermarket warranty provider has analyzed the market and was able to produce a list of what they believed are the 15 most reliable models. To do this, they looked at all the cars on their books, but discounted models where there were less than 100 warranty plans to ensure a fair sample size. Also, only vehicles less than ten years old were included. Obviously, none of the cars included in the survey had any of their manufacturer’s warranty remaining. After all, you’d only buy an aftermarket warranty once the manufacturer has run out.
This left them with 200 different models of used car in the survey. Then, the warranty provider analyzed their data to determine a reliability index for each car. They also recorded the age and mileage of cars, when they did go wrong, the average cost per repair, and the time it took to fix them. They use that data to give each car a score out of 100; the higher the score, the more reliable the car. I’m now going to reveal the cars that got the top scores.
| 👉 No. | 🚗 Model | ⏳ Year | 💵 Average Repair Cost | 💰 Most Expensive Cost | ✅ Reliability Score (0-100) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Fiat 500L | 2012 – 2018 | £552 | £1,880 | 78.7 |
| 14 | Toyota RAV 4 | 2013 – 2018 | £847 | £2,056 | 79.2 |
| 13 | Toyota Yaris | 2012 – 2020 | £796 | £3,107 | 79.8 |
| 12 | Renault Kangoo | 2012 – 2020 | £576 | £1,173 | 80.1 |
| 11 | Honda Civic | 2012 – 2021 | £631 | £3,056 | 80.7 |
| 10 | Peugeot 107 | 2012 – 2014 | £435 | £1,100 | 81.6 |
| 9 | Hyundai i20 | 2012 – 2017 | £520 | £2,361 | 82.5 |
| 8 | Suzuki Alto | 2012 – 2105 | £329 | £734 | 83.9 |
| 7 | Kia Rio | 2012 – 2017 | £528 | £1,655 | 84.9 |
| 6 | Kia Cee’D | 2012 – 2018 | £485 | £1,914 | 85 |
| 5 | Toyota Aygo | 2012 – 2022 | £376 | £1,339 | 85.5 |
| 4 | Mazda MX-5 | 2012 – 2015 | £342 | £587 | 86.5 |
| 3 | Toyota Auris | 2012 – 2018 | £768 | £1,842 | 89.7 |
| 2 | Mazda 2 | 2012 – 2022 | £319 | £2,422 | 89.9 |
| 1 | Honda Jazz | 2012 – 2020 | £420 | £974 | 93.7 |
78.7/100
The 15th place was a Fiat 500L. It scored 78.7 out of 100. The most common problem on the Fiat 500L is related to its clutch. The average cost for a clutch vault on a Fiat 500L worked out to £552. However, the most expensive repair the warranty provider had to pay for on a Fiat 500L came to £1,880, which had to do also with the clutch.
79.2/100
In 14th place is the previous generation Toyota RAV 4 with a score of 79.2 out of 100, so therefore marginally more reliable than the Fiat. The most common problem with that particular version of the Toyota RAV 4 revolves around its fuel injectors, with the average repair cost working out to £847. The most expensive repair relating to a Toyota RAV 4 that the warranty provider had to pay for came to £2,056, and that was to repair the engine.
79.8/100
In 13th place is a previous generation Toyota Yaris with a score of 79.8 out of 100. This data doesn’t include the latest car nor the high performance GR Yaris because they’re both two new. The most common problem with these cars has to do with their electrical systems, and on average, they cost £796 to fix. Meanwhile, the biggest repair bill for a Toyota Yaris came to £3,107 and that was to fix a faulty gearbox.
80.1/100
In 12th place is the current generation of Renault Kangoo. It scored 80.1 out of 100. The most common problem with these cars has to do with their wiring limbs, with an average cost to fix of £576. Just like with the Yaris, their most expensive repair was for a car’s gearbox, which came to £1,173.
80.7/100
In 11th place are the previous two generations of Honda Civic. Together, they scored 80.7 out of 100. The most common problem with these cars was related to the air conditioning system, with an average cost to fix of £631. The most expensive Honda Civic repair that the warranty provider had to pay for came to £3,056, which was used to fix a car’s faulty fuel system.
81.6/100
The 10th place is occupied by the Peugeot 107, which is actually no longer for sale. It scored 81.6 out of 100. The most common problem with this particular car was related to its electrical system, with an average cost to fix it of £435. The most expensive repair for one of these cars came to more than £1,100, meaning £1,128. That hefty bill paid for a faulty clutch to be replaced.
82.5/100
The 9th place goes to the two previous generations of Hyundai i20 with a score of 82.5 out of 100. Once again, the most common problem had to do with the electrical system and, in these versions of the Hyundai i20, the average cost to repair them was £520. The most expensive repair for one of these cheap hatchbacks came to more than four and a half times that amount, meaning that one i20 needed £2,361 worth of repairs to its suspension components.
83.9/100
In 8th place is the Suzuki Alto. It scored 83.9 out of 100. Once again, the most common problem is electrical. The average cost of fixing the Suzuki, though, is less than the other cars previously mentioned, meaning a price of £329. The most expensive repair to a Suzuki Alto was related to a problem with a car’s cambelt. The cambelt controls when air and exhaust gasses move through the engine. Despite that, the issue costs £734 to put right.
84.9/100
In 7th place is the previous generation Kia Rio, with a score of 84.9 out of 100. The most common fault on that car is related to the gearbox, which came with an average cost to repair of £528. The most expensive fault to fix on Rio was the turbocharger, which came to £1,655.
85/100
In 6th place is the previous generation of Kia Cee’D, with a score of 85 out of 100. The most common fault on these cars was related to the suspension of wheel bearings with an average cost of fix of £485. The most expensive repair on a Kia Cee’D included in the survey came to £1,914 to fix its gearbox.
85.5/100
Next up is the two previous generation versions of the Toyota Aygo, which take 5th place, with a score of 85.5 out of 100. The most common fault relates to their alternators, with an average cost of fix of £376. However, the most expensive repair was £1,339 to fix an Aygo’s clutch.
86.5/100
In 4th place is the previous generation version of the Mazda MX-5, also known as the NC, with a score of 86.5 out of 100. The most common fault of those cars has to do with their suspension, with an average cost of fix of £342. But the most expensive Mazda MX-5 repair bill that the warranty provider had to pay for had to do with the car’s air conditioning system, which cost £587 to fix.
89.7/100
Now we come to the top three most reliable used cars, and in 3rd place is the Toyota Auris, which is the car that the current Corolla replaced. It scored 89.7 out of 100. The most common problem on these cars proved to be related to their gearbox and an average cost of repair was £768. The biggest repair bill had, once again, to do with an Auris’ gearbox and it came to £1842.
89.9/100
In 2nd place is the Mazda 2, the current generation model and the previous generation, with a score of 89.9 out of 100. The most common fault has to do with the car’s suspension, with an average cost to repair of £319. However, the biggest repair bill was much pricier than that. One car had a faulty power steering pump, which costs £2,422 to repair.
93.7/100
Finally, the most reliable used car you can buy is the Honda Jazz, meaning the two previous generation models. They scored an incredible 93.7 out of 100, which is quite a big jump from the second place car. The most common fault with these Honda Jazz has to do with their central locking point, with an £420 on average to fix. However, these cars aren’t perfect because the most expensive repair bill that the warranty provider recorded for these generations of Honda Jazz was related to the air conditioning system and it came to £974.
Reliable cars are the best option for drivers who want to invest their money correctly and avoid problems. A reliable car checked in detail will save you from many expensive bills and will not stand in the way of investments that are really important to you.
The reliability of a car is given by the number of breakdowns and problems it faces over time. A car can be said to be reliable when it is more durable compared to others and, implicitly, does not involve high expenses for its maintenance and repairs. I hope this article offers you a chance to see some of the best second-hand and most reliable cars.
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