What is the most reliable used car in the UK? If you are thinking of buying a second hand car, you want to be sure that you are choosing a car which will not let you down.
Most reliable used cars in the UK
What Car has recently published their list of the 50 most reliable used cars of 2021. There are three cars with a 100% reliability score, the Honda Jazz, the Lexus RX Hybrid, and the Toyota RAV4 sharing the first place spot.
Interestingly, many of the cars in the top 20 are hybrids, and the reasons for the cars breaking down varies significantly, from batteries to bodypaint.
Top 20 Most reliable used cars
Toyota Rav 4 (2013-2019)
Lexus RX Hybrid (2016 - present)
Honda Jazz (2008 - 2015)
Toyata Yaris Hybrid (2011 - 2020)
Lexus NX Hybrid (2014 - present)
Dacia Duster (2018 - present)
Skoda Citigo (2012 - present)
Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010 - present)
Hyundai I10 (2014 - 2020)
Hyundai i20 (2015 - present)
Mini Countryman (2017 - present)
Lexus IS Hybrid (2013 - present)
Toyota Corolla Hybrid (2018 - present)
Lexus CT (2011 - present)
BMW X1 petrol (2015 - present)
Volkswagen UP (2012 - present)
Skoda Superb petrol (2016 - present)
Mercedes-Benz GLA (2014 - 2020)
Mazda CX-3 (2016 - present)
Kia Picanto (2011 - 2017)
Top second-hand cars for Reliability
We rely on our cars for all of our travelling needs from commutes and road trips to shopping trips and school runs. So the longer our car is in the garage, the more of a problem it causes for our day to day lives.
Also, the cost of unscheduled repairs and maintenance adds up quickly, and the situation is even worse if the car has no active warranty.
To avoid these troubles, seek out a second-hand car in good condition and make sure it has a detailed service history. A more carefully driven and better looked after car will let you down a lot later than a cheap one that has not been cared for.
8.
Toyota Prius
As one of the most reputable brands in the business, Japanese brand Toyota and its iconic model, the Prius hybrid, is known for its impressive reliability year after year.
Since the first-generation Prius entered the market in the late 1990s, Toyota has continued to focus heavily on dependability to keep up with its expectations of selling cars that will last you an impressively long time.
Whilst other car manufacturers have focused on emerging technologies and new features, Toyota has spent their time wisely by focusing on what matters to customers most.
The Prius, in particular, has consistently finished highly in satisfaction surveys for reliability for years. It came first place in the 2019 Driver Power Survey, which is run by CarBuyer and Auto Express.
7.
Fiat Panda
Similar to Toyota, Fiat focuses on simplicity to provide a well-performing and long-lasting vehicle. Much the time dedicated to research and development isn't wasted on figuring out the compatibility and intricacies of new technologies.
Statistics produced by Driver Power show that in the first year of ownership, Fiat uses only have a 7.4% chance of facing any faults with their car.
Comparatively, owners of Yasir and Aygo cars had a 9% and 11% chance, respectively. Whilst the difference is marginal, it's always worth considering when you factor in the costs of such faults.
6.
Kia Sportage
Like all of the brand's cars, the seven-year warranty of the Kia Sportage is the most attractive selling point to second-hand buyers. In case you were concerned the warranty is just marketing speak, the evidence implies Kia products are extremely reliable – as they would otherwise be quickly out of business.
Regardless of whether you choose a newer Sportage or one from a previous generation, you can rest assured that you're buying a reliable workhorse. In recent years, both generations have consistently appeared highly in reliability surveys, often fighting for the top spot.
5.
Skoda Yeti
Despite its lamented demise in 2017, the Skoda Yet was hugely popular in the SUV market. With its roomy cabin, unpretentious styling and easy driving characteristics, it's easy to see why loyal Skoda buyers rate the Yeti so highly, even if it has since been replaced by the arguably more fashionable Karoq.
The Yeti is well known for its high customer satisfaction and remarkable reliability, with many second-hand owners reporting few faults in popular satisfaction surveys.
The model's success is down to its relatively simple tech, which is based on a Volkswagen Group platform that underpinned many cars such as the VW Golf, Audi A3, VW Touran, and VW Beetle.
4.
Lexus CT
To be truthful, this spot could have been given to any of the vehicles in the Lexus line-up. The CT five-door hatchback is one of the most accessible and affordable ways to join the modern Lexus ecosystem.
Compared with the competing compact hatchbacks, such as the Audi A3 and Mercedes A-Class, The Lexus CT has a record of unimpeachable reliability, an incredibly impressive feat considering it features a lot of up-to-date technology.
As a hybrid, it shares essential technology with the Toyota Prius, giving us a clue as to where its dependability originates from. Additionally, the Lexus CT shares the chassis engineering with the Toyota Corolla, one of Toyota's highest-volume cars, which is another indication as to where it gets its superb reliability rating.
3.
Volvo V40
Many European car manufacturers have historically struggled to get close to their Korean and Japanese rivals when it comes to car reliability, which is why the Volvo 440 stands out so much.
According to a 2019 survey conducted by Driver Power, the V40 is one of the top 5 best performing family cars, though it's worth noting that the newer models from 2018 onwards were used for the survey.
The Volvo V40 more than makes up for its lowly rated practicality and handling with its gorgeous design and fantastic safety ratings, which makes it a more than suitable car for the second-hand market.
2.
Mercedes A-Class
European car brands such as Mercedes and BMW have been forced to adapt ever since Toyota released their Lexus onto the market.
Many cars from Jaguar, Mercedes, BMW and others have struggled to get close to the outstanding customer satisfaction ratings of the Toyota-owned Lexus. However, there is one exception to this - The Mercedes A-Class.
The compact hatchback has performed much better than competitors in terms of reliability based on survey answers from owners. The Mercedes A-Class will have a highly positive impact in the industry, as it promotes more competition which is always beneficial for us, the customers.
1.
Mazda MX-5
Used Sports cars are often under-represented in the market as much of the used-car discussion is centred around SUVs and family cars.
Drivers who want a fun driving experience without the extreme costs often struggle to find genuine advice comparing used sports cars. Fortunately, the Mazda MX-5 is the perfect used Sports car for many sporty drivers.
With its lack of new technology, the MX-5 is consistent and simple, resulting in much higher reliability ratings. For a car that will be certainly pushed to its limits as drivers enjoy its high speeds, it's good to know that it won't break down on you easily and cost you thousands.
Are you thinking of buying a used car online? If you live in Preston, Lytham, Cleverlys, Blackpool or Fleetwood, you can take advantage of our car collection and delivery service for online purchases throughout the UK.
Call us today on 0759 558 2713 or complete our contact form for more information.
