What Car? Reliability Survey - Toyota to Volvo

Toyota
• League position: 3rd
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 12.9
• Average age (years): 4.99
• Average mileage: 46,942
• Average repair cost: £437
• Average time for repair (hours): 3.2

Toyota is yet another example of why the Japanese makes deserve their reputation for building cars you can rely on.

However, while its third-place position points to impressive reliability overall, its average repair cost is the seventh-highest in this survey and only seven makes take longer to repair.

Its claims rate is relatively low, and has dropped by 4.6 claims per 100 vehicles since last year. In common with many of the makes looked at here, when things do go wrong, it’s usually with the cars’ axle and suspension set-up, followed by electrical faults and engine problems.

Verdict: ***** Another great performance by Toyota, but high repair costs are cause for concern.

Vauxhall
• League position: 19th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 35.9
• Average age (years): 4.82
• Average mileage: 52,354
• Average repair cost: £321
• Average time for repair (hours): 2.8

Vauxhall hit its best ever position on the reliability league table last year at 18th, so will be disappointed to see that it has slipped one place this year.

Its claims rate per 100 vehicles has increased from 34.4 to 35.9 accounting, in part, for the drop in position. However, it’s not just the claims rate that has increased – the average repair cost has gone up, too. Last year, Vauxhall owners paid £241 to fix their cars’ problems, this year they will be forking out £321 on average.

The consolation is that the company’s newer models are performing well, both the Corsa (1993-2000) and the Astra (1998-2004) are in the top 20 most reliable models overall, while the 1991-’98 Astra is way down in 80th position.

Verdict: ** While newer models suggest Vauxhall’s reliability is improving, it’s a shame to see claims and costs on the up.

Volkswagen
• League position: 15th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 30.1
• Average age (years): 4.49
• Average mileage: 49,174
• Average repair cost: £269
• Average time for repair (hours): 2.1

Despite Volkswagen’ long-standing reputation for building reliable cars, the company finishes up mid-table for the second year running.

While there is one fewer claim for every 100 cars compared with last year’s results, there is little to indicate that things are getting better. For example, the Golf built between 1992 and 1997 sits in 27th place, while its replacement, the Golf built between 1997 and 2004, is way down in 72nd place. The Sharan (1995-2000) resides in 81st place.

Average repair costs and times have altered slightly since last year – costs have crept up by £4, while the time it takes to fix a VW has dropped by nearly half an hour.

Verdict: *** A disappointing result for a company with a reputation for reliable cars.

Volvo
• League position: 13th
• Claims per 100 vehicles: 28.5
• Average age (years): 4.43
• Average mileage: 54,838
• Average repair cost: £322
• Average time for repair (hours): 2.4

With two models in the top five and 13th position overall, Volvo can hold its head high.

The V40 and S40, both built between 1996 and 2004, have proved to be particularly reliable models and sit in fourth and fifth place respectively in the individual model league table.

As a whole, Volvo’ claims rate has dropped compared with last year’s 29.7 per 100 cars, but it has also dropped two places from its 11th position in 2004.

The company is let down by a handful of models, including the V70 (built from 2000) in 88th, and the S80 (built from 1998) in 83rd place. Its average repair cost has also gone up from £284 last year, to £322 now.

Verdict: *** This is a respectable performance by Volvo – the result is only spoilt by a few tricky models.

Click here to see how the manufacturers compare.

Click here for top 10 most reliable models.

Click here for top 10 least reliable models.