Estate

Hatchback

Pick-Up

Saloon

Sports

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

Korean brand Hyundai is a rival to mainstream car makers such as Skoda, Toyota and Volkswagen. However, it's also increasingly taking on premium alternatives&nbsp;– particularly with its electric cars.

At the extremes of the Hyundai line-up you find the tiny i10 city car and the huge Ioniq 9 electric SUV. Meanwhile, other highlights of its line-up include two recent What Car? Awards winners: the seven-seat Santa fe SUV and the Ioniq 5 N hot hatch.

As a bonus, all Hyundais come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas many&nbsp;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

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

AYGO X

B CLASS

C CLASS

C-MAX

CLIO

CR-V

CX-5

D-MAX

DEFENDER

E CLASS

ECOSPORT

FIESTA

FOCUS

Temporary taxonomy to unlink review until CAP taxonomy is updated

IONIQ

JAZZ

KUGA

LEAF

LEON

MACAN

MONDEO

MX-5

OCTAVIA

OUTLANDER PHEV

PICANTO

PRIUS

QASHQAI

RANGE ROVER

RANGE ROVER SPORT

RAV4

SCENIC

SPORTAGE

TARRACO

TIGUAN

TOUAREG

TUCSON

VITARA

X-TRAIL

XC40

XC60

what-car-reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-small-suvs

reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-suvs

Suzuki

Vitara

Mazda

CX-30

Hyundai

Kona

Audi

Toyota

YARIS CROSS

Honda

HR-V

Volkswagen

T-Cross

Dacia

Duster

C-HR

Skoda

Kamiq

Karoq

Renault

Captur

Ford

Puma

Seat

Arona

Ateca

TAIGO

Nissan

Juke

Mini

Countryman

T-Roc

MX-30

Peugeot

2008

e-2008

Vauxhall

Mokka

Mokka-E

Lexus

Volvo

EX30

Stonic

CROSSLAND

Cupra

Soul EV

S-CROSS

Fiat

Small SUVs are hugely popular with buyers, sought after because they provide the practicality and accessibility of larger SUVs, but are more compact and economical. Although they're not the roomiest cars on sale, small SUVs tend to have chunky styling and some have fairly high driving positions.The good news is that this car class is one of the most robust. In fact, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUVs</a> are the third highest-scoring class in our latest annual <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">Reliability Survey</a>, with a reliability rating of 93.7%. Only <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/sports-cars/n24412">sports cars</a> are considered more dependable.This year's top performers are the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev3/estate/review/n27102">Kia EV3</a> and the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a>. Here we're looking at reliability data for small cars aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-used-cars-for-reliability/n27280">Most reliable used cars</a> feature.  <h2><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/6fe2cc473d53&amp;rdt=1">The 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a></h2><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Most reliable small SUVs</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Kia EV3 (2024-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 100%Most common faults: none Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: n/aWhile some of the latest electric models have struggled with battery and motor flaws, the Kia EV3 has sailed through its first reliability survey with none of these.In fact, it’s one of just four models to have achieved a full 100% reliability rating this year. In other words, owners told us that they didn’t have a single issue with their cars.The EV3 is also the only <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">fully electric</a> model to have gained the top rating, and that’s a big achievement when you consider the difficulties experienced by some owners of other EVs that are included in this survey.Owner’s view: “The things I’ve been most impressed with about my EV3 are its reliability and durability. So far it’s not had a single issue.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ev3/estate/review/n27102">Kia EV3 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/kia/ev3/hatchback">Kia EV3 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Volkswagen T-Roc (2018-2025)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.0%Most common faults: Bodywork 2%, gearbox/clutch 1%, non-engine electrics 1%, sat-nav/infotainment system 1% Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: 33% a day or less, 67% one day to a weekThe T-Roc’s almost perfect reliability rating is all the more impressive when you consider that it’s been on sale since 2018, and many of the examples in our survey are four or five years old, so they’re outside their <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/best-new-car-warranties/n26485">new car warranty </a>period. Despite this, Volkswagen paid for all remedial work on the 4% of faulty cars we were told about, with bodywork problems being the most frequently cited, followed by gearbox and electrical faults. A third of cars were sorted in a day or less and the rest were back on the road in less than a week. All affected cars could still be driven.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback">Volkswagen T-Roc deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.7%Most common faults: Bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 4% Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: 33% one day or less, 33% one day to a week, 33% more than a weekThe Kona Hybrid is a consistently strong performer for reliability; it came third in the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-suvs/n17050">small SUV</a> category last year and its score has dropped by only 0.3% since then. A fault rate of 8% is far lower than those for the petrol and electric versions of the Kona.The bodywork and non-engine electrics were the only areas of concern for owners, and all defects were rectified by Hyundai at no charge. A third of the faulty cars were put right in less than a day, while another third took less than a week, but the rest took longer than that to repair.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/hyundai/kona/hatchback">Hyundai Kona deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">4. Audi Q2 (2016-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.5%Most common faults: Engine 5% Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: 50% less than a day, 25% more than a weekThere's plenty to like about the Q2 because it offers all the desirability of larger SUVs from Audi, but has a far more affordable price tag. It's also the highest scoring model for reliability in the brand's line up, and has a far better rating than many of the larger models. Only 10% of the Q2s we were told about went wrong, and the only area to give any trouble was the engine. Even though older examples will be outside their three-year <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/best-new-car-warranties/n26485">new car warranty</a>, Audi paid for all fixes to be done. The only downside is that a quarter of cars with issues were in the garage for more than a week.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/audi/q2/hatchback">Audi Q2 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">5. Hyundai Kona petrol (2017-2023)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.1%Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, air-con 4%, exhaust 4%, gearbox/clutch 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4% Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: 50% a day or less, 40% more than a weekThe <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-petrol-cars/n19980">petrol</a> version of the Kona was discontinued in  2023, but it's still a good secondhand choice because it is pretty economical, well kitted out and is enjoyable to drive. Although it's not as robust as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Kona Hybrid</a>, it still has a solid reliability reputation.  Owners told is that 18% of their petrol-engined Konas went wrong, with a range of issues including problems with electrical systems, the exhaust and gearbox. Some problems were slow to sort out — 40% of cars were out of action for more than a week — but Hyundai covered the cost of all remedial work, so nobody got any surprise bills.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/used-review/n18075">2017-2023 used Hyundai Kona review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/hyundai/kona?minManufacturedYear=2017&amp;maxManufacturedYear=2023">used Hyundai Kona deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. Volkswagen T-Cross (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.4%Most common faults: Engine 4%, non-engine electrics 4%, steering 4% Average repair cost: £0 Typical time off road: 33% less than a day, 67% more than a weekThe T-Cross is the little brother of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a> — the former is based on the same platform as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Polo</a>, and the latter has <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Golf</a> underpinnings. Both are a sound bet if you're after a dependable small SUV, though. Only 12% of the T-Cross models reported on went wrong, with glitches split evenly between the engine, electrics and steering. Remedial work was slow, taking more than a week in two-thirds of instances, but Volkswagen paid for all repairs taking the sting out of problems. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/volkswagen/t-cross/hatchback">Volkswagen T-Cross deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. Honda HR-V (2021-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.5%Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, exhaust 3%. interior trim 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 55% less than a day, 27% one day to a weekHonda is the overall winner of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars/n27337">2025 What Car? Reliability Survey </a>with a near-perfect brand score of 96.6%, and the HR-V is its top performing model. It's an appealing SUV in other respects, too, because its hybrid engine is refined and economical, and it has a comfortable ride and plenty of kit as standard. HR-V owners aren't likely to spend much time at dealerships because only 13% of their cars had any issues. The car maker paid for all remedial work, and more than half of faulty cars were in and out of the workshop the same day. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/hr-v/hatchback/review/n102">Honda HR-V review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/honda/hr-v/hatchback">Honda HR-V deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=8. Mazda MX-30 EV and R-EV PHEV (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.1%Most common faults: Air-con 7%, non-engine electrics 7% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 100% more than a weekMazda's first pure electric model, the MX-30 EV, has a shorter range than some rivals (officially it can do 124 miles between charges), but it's good to drive, plush inside and has a great infotainment system. If you want the added back-up of a petrol engine, the MX-30 R EV <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/plug-in-hybrid-cars/n22743">plug-in hybrid</a> is a good alternative, with a pure electric range of 54 miles. Both versions acquit themselves well when it comes to reliability - only 13% of the cars we were told about had any glitches with the air-con and other electrical systems. All faulty cars could still be driven, but all were out of action for more than a week.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n26435">Mazda MX-30 EV review</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n22066">Mazda MX-30 R-EV review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/mazda/cx-30/hatchback">Mazda MX-30 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=8. Volkswagen Taigo (2021-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.1%Most common faults: Engine 7%, non-engine electrics 7% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 50% less than a day, 50% one day to a weekThe Taigo is closely related to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross</a>, but it's billed as being sportier and having sleeker styling. It's not as sharp to drive as its main rival, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a>, but it has a compliant ride, generous rear passenger space and plenty of toys, even in our favourite entry-level trim. Engine and electrical issues were reported by 13% of owners, and although half of faulty cars could still be driven, the same proportion took more than a week to put right. Volkswagen paid for all the necessary work, though.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback/review/n23908">Volkswagen Taigo review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback">Volkswagen Taigo deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Peugeot 2008 (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 96.8%Most common faults: Engine 4%, air-con 2%, 12-volt battery 2%, non-engine electrics 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 21% a day or less, 46% more than a weekThe <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-petrol-cars/n19980">petrol</a>-powered 2008 is proving more dependable than its <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric</a> counterpart, the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n20552">e-2008</a>. The petrol Peugeot scores 96.8%, while the electric version only musters 92.0%. It also has 50% fewer faults: 14% of 2008s went wrong, compared with 28% of e-2008s. Only 4% of the 2008s that did have issues were rendered undrivable, but almost half were out of action for more than a week. The other good news is that Peugeot paid for all remedial work. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n110">Peugeot 2008 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/peugeot/2008/hatchback">Peugeot 2008 deals</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Least reliable small SUVs</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Nissan Juke petrol (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 55.2%Most common faults: 12-volt battery 12%, engine 12%, fuel system 6%, non-engine electrics 6%, air-con 2%, bodywork 2%, brakes 2%, exhaust 2%, gearbox/clutch 2% Average repair cost: 30% £0, 60% more than £1500 Typical time off road: 27% one day to a week, 64% more than a weekA combination of slow repairs and some huge repair bills have dragged the petrol Juke to the bottom of the chart for small SUVs. In fact, its 55.2% reliability rating is the lowest of all the cars included – in any category – in this year’s survey.Although only 24% of petrol Juke owners said their car had gone wrong, 64% of those said their cars were out of action for more than a week, and 60% had to pay more than £1500 per fault for repairs; only 30% of problems were fixed for free. The engine and 12-volt battery were the biggest headaches, followed by fuel system and non-engine electrical glitches.Owner’s view “My car has been completely unreliable. It has failed twice and I now feel it is beyond repair.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/nissan/juke/hatchback">Nissan Juke deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Lexus LBX (2023-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 81.9%Most common faults: 12-volt battery 54%, sat-nav/infotainment system 13%, brakes 4%, fuel system 4%, interior trim 4% non-engine electrics 4% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 71% less than a day, 18% more than a weekLexus models aren’t usually found in the lower reaches of our Reliability Survey charts, but the LBX is here because it has experienced widespread problems with its 12-volt battery going flat.A whopping 61% of LBX owners said their car had suffered a failure, and 54% of those involved that battery. There were also complaints about the infotainment system and other electrical glitches.At least things were put right fairly swiftly: 71% of cars were out of the garage in a day or less, and only 18% took more than a week to fix. Lexus took care of all repair bills, too.After the publication of our survey results, a Lexus spokesperson stated: “Owners who suffer problems should contact their dealer for a battery quality inspection. Alongside this, owners who book their cars into their dealer for routine maintenance; will have a battery quality inspection carried out. If it is shown in either situation that one of the identified run of affected batteries is fitted, a replacement, alternative battery will be installed, free of charge.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/lbx/hatchback/review/n26399">Lexus LBX review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/lexus/lbx/hatchback">Lexus LBX deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Nissan Juke hybrid (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 89.0%Most common faults: Engine 9%, 12-volt battery 5%, electric battery pack 5%, engine/motor electrics 5%, gearbox 5% Average repair cost: 100% £0 Typical time off road: 25% less than a day, 63% more than a weekHybrid versions of the Juke suffered slightly fewer faults (23%) than their petrol brethren, and Nissan covered the cost of all repairs. Engine and battery woes were the most prevalent complaints, and there were also reports of difficulties with the gearbox and infotainment system.As with the petrol Juke, many of the repairs took time to carry out; 63% of afflicted hybrids were in the workshop for more than a week. However, 25% of them were fixed in a day or less, beating the 9% of petrol models that were sorted out within that time frame.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/nissan/juke/hatchback">Nissan Juke deals</a><hr /><h3>Most reliable small SUVs aged up to five years old</h3><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/kia/ev3/estate/review/n27102">Kia EV3</a> (2024-present)</td> <td>100%</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-roc/hatchback/review/n17376">Volkswagen T-Roc</a> (2018-2025)</td> <td>99.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a> Hybrid (2019-present)</td> <td>98.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>4</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q2/estate/review/n120">Audi Q2</a> (2016-present)</td> <td>98.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>5</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n17377">Hyundai Kona</a> petrol (2017-2023)</td> <td>98.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/t-cross/estate/review/n19039">Volkswagen T-Cross</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>98.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/hr-v/hatchback/review/n102">Honda HR-V</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>97.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>=8</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n26435">Mazda MX-30 EV</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/mx-30/hatchback/review/n22066">MX-30 R-EV PHEV</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>97.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>=8</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/taigo/hatchback/review/n23908">Volkswagen Taigo</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>97.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>10</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n110">Peugeot 2008</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>96.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>11</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka/hatchback/review/n17360">Vauxhall Mokka</a> petrol (2020-present)</td> <td>96.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/stonic/estate/review/n116">Kia Stonic</a> (2017-present)</td> <td>96.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>=13</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/crossland/hatchback/review/n17373">Vauxhall Crossland</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>95.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>=13</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/used-review/n892">Toyota C-HR</a> (2016-2023)</td> <td>95.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>15</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/karoq/estate/review/n118">Skoda Karoq</a> (2017-present)</td> <td>95.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>=16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/countryman/hatchback/review/n71">Mini Countryman</a> (2017-2024)</td> <td>95.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>=16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/vitara/4x4/review/n76">Suzuki Vitara</a> (2015-present)</td> <td>95.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>18</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/c-hr/hatchback/review/n112">Toyota C-HR</a> (2023-present)</td> <td>95.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>19</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/duster/estate/review/n67">Dacia Duster</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>95.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>20</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ateca/estate/review/n111">Seat Ateca</a> (2016-present)</td> <td>94.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>21</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/soul-ev/hatchback/review/n19232">Kia Soul EV</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>94.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>22</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/kamiq/hatchback/review/n19999">Skoda Kamiq</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>94.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>23</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/s-cross/hatchback/review/n75">Suzuki S-Cross</a> (2021 -present)</td> <td>93.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>24</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/600/hatchback/review/n27814">Fiat 600</a> (2024-present)</td> <td>92.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>25</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/kona/hatchback/review/n18164">Hyundai Kona Electric</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>92.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>26</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/arona/hatchback/review/n117">Seat Arona</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>92.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>27</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/cx-30/hatchback/review/n19748">Mazda CX-30</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>92.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>28</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/2008/estate/review/n20552">Peugeot e-2008</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>92.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>=29</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/captur/hatchback/review/n20">Renault Captur</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>91.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>=29</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/mokka/hatchback/review/n22633">Vauxhall Mokka Electric</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>91.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>31</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/zs/hatchback/review/n17318">MG ZS</a> petrol and PHEV (2017-present)</td> <td>91.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>=32</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/puma/hatchback/review/n20838">Ford Puma</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>91.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>=32</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris-cross/estate/review/n23440">Toyota Yaris Cross</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>91.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>=34</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volvo/ex30/estate/review/n26262">Volvo EX30</a> (2023-present)</td> <td>90.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>=34</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/cupra/ateca/4x4/review/n17969">Cupra Ateca</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>90.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>36</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke</a> hybrid (2022 - present)</td> <td>89.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>37</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/lexus/lbx/hatchback/review/n26399">Lexus LBX</a> (2023-present)</td> <td>81.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>38</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/juke/hatchback/review/n45">Nissan Juke</a> petrol (2019-present)</td> <td>55.2%</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> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-cars/n26142">Most reliable small cars</a> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-luxury-cars/n26152">Most reliable luxury cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-seven-seaters/n26157">Most reliable seven-seaters</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars/n26723">Most reliable diesel cars</a> (2023) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> (2024)<hr /><h2>How the survey was carried out</h2>To compile the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with <a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/">MotorEasy</a>, we ask thousands of car owners to tell us how dependable their cars have been over the previous 24 months. The survey was open for six months and was sent out to whatcar.com readers and subscribers.To assess the seriousness of any faults reported on by owners, we ask them to tell us how long each one kept the car off the road and how much it cost to fix. We use a combination of these two details to create a reliability rating for each model and brand. The latest survey had 29,967 responses, allowing us to report on 199 models (up to five years old) from 31 brands. <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 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 <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">What Car? Reliability Survey</a> 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="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2>&lt;&lt;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-luxury-cars/n26152"> Previous</a> | Next: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-family-suvs/n26155">Most and least reliable family SUVs</a> &gt;&gt;</h2>

What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable small SUVs

Reliability Survey: Most reliable small SUVs

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Running costs that won’t break the bank </li> <li>Generous kit</li> <li>Pokey engine and tidy handling</li> <li>Spacious interior</li> <li>Boot big enough to cope with family life</li></ul>

The car-buying public has fallen in love with small SUVs, or crossovers as they’re often called, with thousands turning away from conventional hatchbacks in favour of something that rides that little bit higher.

Small SUV

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

reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-cars

Jazz

Yaris

Fiesta

Corsa

Swift

Sandero

Picanto

Polo

Fabia

Electric

e-208

Clio

The best small hatchbacks sip fuel gently and can be maintained on a shoestring because they're often relied on by those with the lowest budgets, such as students and new drivers.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">Small cars</a> are often less complicated and kitted out with fewer electronic gizmos than <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/luxury-cars/n17020">luxury cars</a>, so, in theory, there's less to go wrong. They also often have tech that's been migrated down from larger models, and that means any bugs are likely to have been ironed out. No wonder, then, that the small car class is consistently the highest scoring of all those we report on; it's more than 5% better than electric SUVs, which only averaged 90.1% in the latest survey, and seven-seaters, which gained 90.3%. In fact, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/small-cars/n16997">small cars</a> seem to be getting more bulletproof: the score for the class is currently 95.8%, which is nearly one percentage point higher than in the 2024 survey.If you want a dependable small car, it's best to pick a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/the-best-petrol-cars/n19980">petrol</a> model. Two of the poorest performing small cars this year are <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/electric-cars/n17000">electric</a> models: the lowest scoring is the recently discontinued <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">Renault Zoe</a>, followed closely by the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric</a>. In contrast the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a> scored a perfect 100% for reliability and the current <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">2014-2024 Mini hatchback</a> weren't far behind. Here we're looking at reliability data for small cars aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/best-used-cars-for-reliability/n27280">Most reliable used cars</a> feature.  <h2><a href="https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90474827/6fe2cc473d53&amp;rdt=1">The 2026 What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now</a></h2><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Most reliable small cars</h2><h3 dir="ltr">1. Hyundai i10 (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 100%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: none </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: none </li></ul>Hyundai has long held a reputation for building robust cars that motor on for many years without many major issues, and its smallest model, the i10, has excelled itself in this year’s survey.It’s one of just four cars to achieve a 100% reliability rating. That means not one of the cars owners told us about suffered any faults at all in the previous 24 months. As a result, no i10 owners had to contend with the inconvenience and potential expense of a breakdown or an unexpected repair bill, making it a clear winner in this category.Owner’s view: “The i10 is my third Hyundai. It feels solid and has been faultlessly reliable over the four years since I bought it new.”<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/hyundai/i10/hatchback">Hyundai i10 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Toyota Aygo X (2022-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.7%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: none </li></ul>The Aygo X may be Toyota’s smallest and most affordable model, but it’s also the most robust of its current offerings. In fact, this city car hardly puts a foot wrong; a mere 3% of Aygo X owners said they’d had an issue with their car, and the only area of concern was the bodywork, with no faults serious enough to render any cars unable to be driven.The best news for owners is that all faults were fixed for free and without taking more than a day to put right, so no Aygo X driver was left out of pocket or without their car for too long.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Aygo X review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback">Toyota Aygo X deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. Mini hatchback (2014-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 99.1%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 3%, sat-nav/infotainment 2%, steering 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 33% one day to a week </li></ul>Mini topped the reliability brand chart last year and came second this year, and its now-discontinued previous-generation hatchback still scores highly.Only 7% of the Mini hatchbacks we were told about had a problem, and owners were looked after well when things did go wrong, with all remedial work performed for free, even though many faults were reported outside the standard three-year warranty. Most of the faults that did occur were related to electrical components, including the infotainment system, and there were some steering-related issues.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">2013-2024 Mini hatchback review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/mini/hatch?minManufacturedYear=2014&amp;maxManufacturedYear=2024">used Mini hatchback deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=4. Kia Picanto (2024-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 5%, non-engine electrics 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 25% more than a week </li></ul>A rarity among new small cars, the third-generation Picanto is powered by petrol rather than electricity. It has a smart interior, tidy handling and an easy-to-use infotainment system. It's also proving impressively depenable so far. In fact, just 9% of the cars we heard about had any issues, and all were fixed for free by Kia.There were two troublespots: the engine and a range of electrical systems. Half of the affected cars were put right in a day or less, but some spent more than a week in the garage. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/kia/picanto/hatchback">Kia Picanto deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">=4. Volkswagen Polo (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.4%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: bodywork 3%, air-con 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 100% more than a week </li></ul>The Polo is the highest achieving B-segment car for reliability, beating the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">Ford Fiesta</a>, MG 3 and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a>. It's pricier to buy than many rivals, such as the , <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a>, but it holds onto its value better than most, so it should still be affordable on a <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/advice/buying/personal-contract-purchase-pcp-explained-car-finance-guide/n19714">personal contract purchase (PCP) deal</a>. A mere 5% of the Polos reported on had a glitch, and the only areas highlighted by owners were the air-con and bodywork.  Two-thirds of faulty cars couldn't be driven, and all of them spent more than a week in the workshop. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/volkswagen/polo/hatchback">Volkswagen Polo deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">6. Hyundai i20 (2020-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 98.0%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: air-con 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 100% more than a week </li></ul>The i20 isn't as well-known as the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Clio</a> or <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Polo</a>, but it's just as worthy of consideration if you're after a small hatchback becuase it's a great all-rounder, offering plenty of eqipment, lots of space and a  1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine that's economical yet reasonably powerful.  It's also extremely robust, according to owners who told us ony 7% of their i20s had any problems. The not so good news is that half of all the affected cars couldn't be driven and all of them took more than a week to put right. The good news is that Hyundai covered the cost of all repair work. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n53">Hyundai i20 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/hyundai/i20/hatchback">Hyundai i20 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">7. Fiat 500 petrol (2008-2025)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.9%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: air-con 3%, bodywork 3%, interior trim 2%, gearbox/clutch 3% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 75% one day to a week, 25% more than a week </li></ul>The retro-inspired Fiat 500 has been a big hit since it first arrived in 2008. It has had reliability issues over the years, but this year it has had far fewer faults than before. In fact, only 9% of the cars in our survey gave owners cause for concern, due to issues with the air-con, bodywork, interior trim and gearbox. The faults didn't prevent any cars from being driven, though and three-quarters of issues were rectified in less than a week. Even better, Fiat paid for all the necessary work. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/used-review/n323">2008-2025 Fiat 500 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/fiat/500?minManufacturedYear=2008&amp;maxManufacturedYear=2025">used Fiat 500 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">8. Vauxhall Corsa petrol (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.8%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment system 2%, air-con 1%, bodywork 1%, engine 1%, interior trim 1% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 48% less than a day, 26% one day to a week </li></ul>There's a great deal of affection among drivers for the Corsa because many will have learned to drive in one or had one as their first car. The latest version doesn't stand out in any one area, but it is well equipped and good value if you opt for the entry level version. Like the Fiat 500, the Corsa has had quite a few problems in the past, but this year only 11% of the examples in our survey went wrong, and only 5% of them were rendered undriveable by faults. Nearly half of the problems were put right in a day or less, and no owners were charged for any remedial work. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback">Vauxhall Corsa deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">9. Audi A1 (2018-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.5%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: non-engine electrics 10%, exhaust system 5%, gearbox/clutch 5% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 75% one day or less, 25% more than a week </li></ul>Although the A1 is the smallest car in Audi's line-up, it's great to drive, comfortable to sit in and available with lots of big car options. It's more prone to problems than its main small car rival, the Mini hatchback, but issues are usually sorted out quickly and without any cost to owners.  Twenty percent of the A1s in our survey had a fault, but all could still be driven. Three-quarters were fixed within 24 hours, and all work was done for free. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1 review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals/audi/a1/hatchback">Audi A1 deals</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">10. Kia Picanto (2017-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 97.2%<ul><li dir="ltr"> Most common faults: engine 5%, non-engine electrics 2% </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 82% one day or less, 9% more than a week </li></ul>The previous generation Picanto may not have the SUV-esque looks of the current model, but it's cheaper to buy and almost as dependable. It also has great driving manners and a smartly appointed interior.  Owners told us that only 9% of their cars had any problems, and 82% of them could still be driven. The engine and various electrical systems were the main areas of concern. Kia covered the cost of all fixes.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/used-review/n926">2017-2024 Kia Picanto review</a>See the latest <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/used-cars/kia/picanto?minManufacturedYear=2017">used Kia Picanto deals</a><hr /><h2 dir="ltr">Least reliable small cars </h2>Although small cars are the most dependable car class, not all models can be guaranteed to be problem-free. Here we round up the three cars that gave their owners the most grief in terms of fault repair costs and time spent in the workshop being fixed.  The problems highlighted by owners, and the associated disruptions in terms of time and cost, were used to give these models their reliability ratings. <h3 dir="ltr">1. Renault Zoe (2013-2024)</h3>

Reliability rating 85.1%<ul><li>Most common faults EV battery pack 15%, non-engine electrics 12%, 12-volt battery 9%, air-con 6%  </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 95% £0, 5% £1-£50 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 30% less than one day, 30% more than a week </li></ul>With a fault rate of 39% and a worryingly high proportion of problems reported with EV batteries, the Zoe is one to avoid if you’re after a reliable small EV. Owners also told us their cars had suffered problems with their 12-volt batteries, air- con and other electrical systems.Overall, faults prevented 25% of cars from being driven until fixed, and 30% of the cars affected were in the process of repair for more than a week. Better news is that Renault covered the cost of 95% of fixes, and owners who did have to pay needed to find only £50 or less per fault.Owners's view: "My car has failed five times in the past 12 months. It’s had two EV battery faults, each taking two months to fix."<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">2012-2024 Renault Zoe review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">2. Vauxhall Corsa Electric (2019-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 87.6%<ul><li>Most common faults non-engine electrics 9%, sat-nav/ infotainment 9%, 21-volt battery 2%, EV battery pack 2%, bodywork 2%, charging system 2%, suspension 2%  </li> <li>Average repair cost: 83% £0, 17% £201-£750  </li> <li>Typical time off road: 17% one day or less, 57% one day to a week  </li></ul>The Corsa Electric is proving far more troublesome than its petrol sibling, suffering almost three times as many faults (32% versus 11% ), according to owners.The most common problem areas were to do with the infotainment system and air-con. While Vauxhall paid for all repairs to petrol models, it covered only 83% of electric cars, leaving some owners having to find up to £750 per fault. And while 48% of petrol Corsas were fixed in a day or less, that’s true of only 17% of electric models, with 57% spending more than a week in the workshop.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric review</a><hr /><h3 dir="ltr">3. MG 3 (2024-present)</h3>

Reliability rating 87.9%<ul><li>Most common faults exhaust 13%, air-con 7%, brakes 7%, engine 7%, non-engine electrics 7%   </li> <li dir="ltr"> Average repair cost: 100% £0 </li> <li dir="ltr"> Typical time off road: 83% more than a week, 17% less than one day </li></ul>One in five MG 3 owners reported at least one glitch with their car. While this isn’t as high as the fault rate we’ve seen in other low-placed models (including some larger MGs), it’s a poor result within the usually competitive small car class.The biggest headache for owners was the MG 3’s exhaust system, which accounted for 13% of faults. There were also issues with the air-con, brakes, engine and non-engine electrics. Issues weren't resolved quickly either - 83% of cars were in the workshop for more than a week and only 17% were in and out in a day or less. At least all remedial work was done for free. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG 3 review</a><hr /><h2>Reliability of small 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/hyundai/i10/hatchback/review/n49">Hyundai i10</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>100.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>2</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/aygo-x/hatchback/review/n24132">Toyota Agyo X</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>99.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>3</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/hatchback/hatchback/used-review/n906">2014-2024 Mini hatchback</a></td> <td>99.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>=4</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/review/n58">Kia Picanto</a> (2024-present)</td> <td>98.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>=4</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>98.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>6</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i20/hatchback/review/n53">Hyundai i20</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>98.0%</td> </tr><tr><td>7</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/used-review/n323">2008-2025 Fiat 500</a></td> <td>97.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>8</td> <td><a href="//www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa</a> (2019-presentt)</td> <td>97.8%</td> </tr><tr><td>9</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a1/hatchback/review/n5">Audi A1</a> (2018-present)</td> <td>97.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>10</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/picanto/hatchback/used-review/n926">2017-2024 Kia Picanto</a> </td> <td>97.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>11</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/jazz/hatchback/review/n17343">Honda Jazz</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>96.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>=12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/review/n47">Skoda Fabia</a> (2022-present)</td> <td>95.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>=12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/suzuki/swift/hatchback/used-review/n959">2017-2024 Suzuki Swift</a> </td> <td>95.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>=12</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/2/hatchback/used-review/n826">2015-2025 Mazda 2</a> </td> <td>95.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>15</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/used-review/n952">2017-2024 Ford Fiesta</a> </td> <td>95.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>=16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mini/cooper/hatchback/review/n26581">Mini Electric</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>94.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>=16</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n30">Peugeot 208</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>94.2%</td> </tr><tr><td>18</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/clio/hatchback/review/n97">Renault Clio</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>93.7%</td> </tr><tr><td>19</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/dacia/sandero/hatchback/review/n55">Dacia Sandero</a> (2021-present)</td> <td>93.1%</td> </tr><tr><td>20</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/yaris/hatchback/review/n31">Toyota Yaris</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>92.5%</td> </tr><tr><td>21</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/fiat/500/hatchback/review/n84">Fiat 500e</a> (2020-present)</td> <td>91.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>22</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/peugeot/208/hatchback/review/n20228">Peugeot e-208</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>89.4%</td> </tr><tr><td>23</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/fabia/hatchback/used-review/n808">2015-2021 Skoda Fabia</a> </td> <td>88.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>24</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mg-motor-uk/mg3/hatchback/review/n17867">MG 3</a> (2024-present)</td> <td>87.9%</td> </tr><tr><td>25</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n21183">Vauxhall Corsa Electric</a> (2019-present)</td> <td>87.6%</td> </tr><tr><td>26</td> <td><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/zoe/hatchback/used-review/n817">2013-2024 Renault Zoe</a> </td> <td>85.1%</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> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars-brands/n26159">Most reliable car brands</a> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-cars/n26149">Most reliable family cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-executive-cars/n26150">Most reliable executive cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-luxury-cars/n26152">Most reliable luxury cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-small-suvs/n26154">Most reliable small SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-family-suvs/n26155">Most reliable family SUVs</a> (2025) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-large-suvs/n26156">Most reliable large SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-seven-seaters/n26157">Most reliable seven-seaters</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-cars/n26158">Most reliable electric cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-electric-suvs/n26161">Most reliable electric SUVs</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-reliable-cars-coupes-convertibles-and-sports-cars/n26160">Most reliable sports cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-diesel-cars/n26723">Most reliable diesel cars</a> (2023) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-and-least-reliable-petrol-cars/n26745">Most reliable petrol cars</a> (2024) <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/most-and-least-reliable-hybrid-cars/n26780">Most reliable hybrid cars</a> (2024)<hr /><h2>How the research was carried out</h2>To compile the <a href="https://editorial.whatcar.com/node/27337/edit">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, conducted in association with <a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/">MotorEasy</a>, we asked thousands of car owners to give us the lowdown on how reliable their car had been over the previous 24 months.First we asked them to tell us if the car had suffered a fault, and, if so, how much each problem had cost to put right and how long it had kept the car off the road. The responses for these two factors were weighted and added up for each make and model, enabling us to create a unique reliability rating for each. The latest What Car? Reliability Survey contains responses from 29,967 people, giving us enough data to report on 199 models aged up to five years old from 31 different car brands.<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 /><h2 dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-cars/n26137">&lt;&lt; Previous</a> | <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/reliability-survey-most-reliable-family-cars/n26149">Next: Most and least reliable family cars &gt;&gt;</a></h2>

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

Reliability Survey: Most reliable small cars

<h2>What we're looking for:</h2><ul><li>Spacious enough for four adults to sit comfortably</li> <li>Logically laid-out interior that doesn’t</li> <li>feel too cheap</li> <li>Mature driving manners </li> <li>Decent-sized boot</li> <li>Competitive buying and running costs</li></ul>

Small cars, or superminis as they’re also known, used to be bought almost exclusively as first cars or by people with no children – but the likes of the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/fiesta/hatchback/review/n106">Ford Fiesta</a>, <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/ibiza/hatchback/review/n17359">Seat Ibiza</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/polo/hatchback/review/n83">Volkswagen Polo</a> have grown to the point where they can be considered all-round family transport, albeit with the odd compromise.

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