In association with MotorEasy
What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable hybrid cars
In our annual Reliability Survey, we ask readers to rate the dependability of cars aged up to five years old. Here, we list the most and least reliable hybrid cars in the UK...
Hybrid power is available across a wide range of cars these days from small hatchbacks to large and luxury SUVs. There are two types on offer: regular hybrids, which are an economical choice for high-mileage urban drivers, and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are great for people who often drive short distances and can charge up frequently at home or work.
In spite of the added complexity of their dual power systems, hybrids are usually impressively robust. In the latest What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, only 21% of the plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and regular hybrid cars reported on had any issues. While that's not the lowest rate of faults - only 19% of petrol cars suffered any faults - it's much better than electric vehicles (27% went wrong) and diesels, which had a 29% fault rate.
Hybrid cars are also fixed for free more often than diesel cars: 96% of hybrids were fixed gratis, compared with 87% of diesel cars. Like other cars, the most common issues with hybrids were electrical glitches, most of which were quick to sort out.
Here we're looking at reliability data for hybrid cars aged up to five years old. You can find reliability information for older models in our most reliable used cars feature.
The What Car? Reliability Survey is live, tell us about your car now
Most reliable hybrid cars
1. Toyota RAV4 PHEV (2019-present)
Reliability rating 92.2%
Most common faults: infotainment/sat-nav system 6%, 12-volt battery 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 67% one day or less, 33% one day to a week
The latest RAV4 follows in the tyre prints of its two predecessors - it's one of the most bulletproof family SUVs you can buy. It was one of the first models that was only offered with a choice of hybrid or plug-in hybrid power. It is pricier to buy than many rivals, but all trim levels are laden with equipment and safety kit, and fuel consumption is pretty low.
It's great to see that the RAV4's durability isn’t tailing off as it ages. The 12-volt battery and infotainment system were the only areas to cause upset among the 12% of owners who told us their car had suffered a reliability issue.
Most faults were minor, though, and 60% of cars were put right in a day or less, with the rest rectified in less than a week. Best of all, Toyota covered the cost of all work required, so no owners were left out of pocket.
Owner’s view: “My RAV4 has done over 70,000 miles under our ownership and never needed anything doing beyond brakes and tyres.”
2. Kia Niro PHEV (2022-present)
Reliability rating 99.0%
Most common faults: brakes 1%, non-engine electrics 1%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% less than one day, 25% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
The second-generation Niro is offered as a hybrid, PHEV and a pure electric model, which has now been discontinued. It is bigger and a whole lot more modern looking than the original Niro. The regular hybrid is our top choice for private buyers, while the PHEV is best for company car drivers. Whichever you choose, entry-level Pure trim should provide enough creature comforts for most people.
Here we're looking specifically at the PHEV version of the latest Niro. It has a better reliability rating than the previous Niro PHEV, which sits in 16th place in our hybrid reliability table. Only 6% of current Niro PHEVs went wrong compared with 16% of older cars, and, although remedial work was slow for both versions, issues were fixed more quickly on the newer model.
All current Niro PHEVs with faults could still be driven, and half were fixed in less than a week. In comparison, 30% of older cars were undriveable, and 80% were out of action for more than a week. At least Kia covered the cost of putting things right for all owners.
3. Toyota RAV4 hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, hybrid battery pack 1%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 60% one day or less, 40% one day to a week
The RAV4 is one of the most economical family SUVs you can buy. Although the hybrid version won't go far on electric power alone, if you drive it smoothly, you should be able to filter through heavy traffic without using the engine much, which means it'll be very light on fuel. Its strong resale values and great reliability record also make it a tempting option for private buyers. If you buy one, we recommend going for mid-range Design trim, which provides everything most people will need.
Although the hybrid version of the RAV4 was discontinued at the start of 2025, it remains an excellent secondhand buy. Like the PHEV, it has punchy acceleration, a smart interior and a lofty driving position.
The RAV4 hybrid suffered fewer faults than the PHEV version - 5% went wrong compared with 12% - but those issues rendered 60% of cars undriveable, meaning more hassle for owners. The good news is that Toyota and its dealers covered the cost of all necessary parts and labour.
4. Hyundai Kona hybrid (2019-2023)
Reliability rating 98.7%
Most common faults: bodywork 3%, non-engine electrics 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 33% less than one day, 33% one day to a week, 33% more than a week
The Hyundai Kona is closely related to the Kia Niro, although their engine ranges differ slightly and the Niro is larger – we class it as a family SUV, while the Kona is a small SUV. It has surefooted handling, a well-controlled, comfortable ride and little wind or road noise.
Although the Kona is available as a petrol, hybrid or electric model, the hybrid is the best choice for a number of reasons. It has better fuel economy than the petrol version, and it's cheaper for both road tax and company car tax. The other big factor is dependability: only 8% of hybrid Kona models had any faults, compared with 18% of petrol examples and 24% of electric ones.
The bodywork and various electrical systems were the main bugbears of owners, but these faults didn't prevent cars from being driven. A third of issues were put right in a day or less, and only a third took more than seven days to resolve. Even though some cars would have been outside of Hyundai's five-year new car warranty, all work was done for free.
5. Lexus UX hybrid (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.0%
Most common faults: infotainment/sat-nav system 7%
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day to a week, 75% more than a week
The Lexus UX is an interesting alternative to established premium family SUVs, such as the Kia Sportage and Volvo XC40. It has distinctive looks and low running costs thanks to its very efficient hybrid system. However, it's not the best family SUV to drive and its avantgarde looks hide a fairly cramped interior that's not as practical as rivals. While the Lexus UX costs around the same as premium rivals, it doesn’t come with as much equipment as you might expect.
We only have enough data to report on hybrid versions of the UX, not the 300e pure electric model. In hybrid form, only 7% of the UXs reported on had any issues, and the infotainment system was the only area of concern. While the problems didn't stop any cars from being driven, they were slow to fix - three-quarters of affected cars were in the workshop for more than a week. On a positive note, no owners had to contribute to any repair costs.
6. Lexus RX (2016-2022)
Reliability rating 97.9%
Most common faults: bodywork 7%, air-con 4%, non-engine electrics 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 100% one day or less
A truly luxurious SUV, the previous-generation Lexus RX has a refined, well-appointed interior, incredibly comfortable seats and punchy performance. However, unlike its German rivals, it was not offered in conventional petrol or diesel form, it could only be had as a petrol or hybrid model.
The 450h hybrid is a far better bet than the thirsty 200t petrol, because it has an official average fuel economy figure of 47.9mpg, which is better than most five-seat diesel SUVs can muster. It's also impressively well-built inside and out, and although a few of the materials are a little low-rent, and some of the switchgear is shared with lesser Toyotas, on the whole, the effect is upmarket enough, if not quite up there with the best luxury SUVs.
Its reliability record is strong, too. Even though many of the cars reported on will have exceeded their new car warranty period, only 7% of vehicles suffered any issues. All problems were put right in a day or less, and at no cost to the owners.
7. Honda Civic (2022-present)
Reliability rating 97.3%
Most common faults: steering 10%, hybrid battery pack 2%, bodywork 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 44% one day or less, 44% more than a week
The Honda Civic e:HEV, to give it its full name, is great to drive, practical and cheap to own. The 2.0-litre hybrid petrol engine is the only option, but it's a good one with fuel economy of around 60mpg. Although some rivals offer more rear seat space and are a little quieter on the motorway, the Civic counters them with its generous levels of equipment - even the entry-level Elegance version comes with plenty of creature comforts and represents excellent value for money.
The Civic is also a sound bet when it comes to reliability. Only 13% of the examples in our survey went wrong, and 90% of those could still be driven. All remedial work was done for free, and the only fly in the ointment is that 44% of the cars that went wrong had to spend more than a week in the workshop.
8. Honda Jazz (2020-present)
Reliability rating 96.9%
Most common faults: bodywork 4%, air-con 3%, 12-volt battery 3%, non-engine electrics 3%, brakes 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 30% one day to a week
Like the larger Civic, the Jazz is only available as a hybrid these days. Again, that's not a bad thing because it sips fuel gently and is one of the most comfortable and practical small cars you can buy. There's only one engine option: a 1.5-litre petrol-electric hybrid, which produces 121bhp, and can officially accelerate from 0-62mph in around 9.5 seconds; that's quicker than the 1.0 TSI 95 Volkswagen Polo and only slightly slower than more powerful versions of the Toyota Yaris.
And, like previous versions of the Jazz, the fourth-generation majors on practicality with clever rear seats that can be lifted up and held in place on the backrest to create a large, tall storage space.
Although owners told us 16% of their cars had problems, only 9% were off the road because of them, and nearly two-thirds of issues were put right in a day or less. Best of all, Honda took care of all the bills.
9. Toyota Corolla (2018-present)
Reliability rating 96.5%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 8%, non-engine electrics 3%, interior trim 2%
Average repair cost: 91% £0, 9% £51-£200
Typical time off road: 63% one day or less, 33% more than a week
No wonder the Toyota Corolla is the world's best-selling car, with more than 50 million sold since it first arrived in the 1960s. The latest version is a brilliant family car. It's comfortable, well made, well equipped and remarkably frugal in real-world driving.
The Corolla's hybrid engines make it an ideal solution for drivers who don’t want a diesel, find petrol cars too inefficient and are not ready for an electric car. It's a regular hybrid rather than a PHEV, so it doesn't ever need to be charged up. Its small battery, which is topped up when you use the brakes, powers an electric motor that lends the petrol engine a helping hand to improve efficiency and performance. If you drive the Corolla gently, it will run on battery power alone for short distances.
While 15% of the cars we were told about had a problem, two-thirds of them were in and out of the garage within 24 hours. The 12-volt battery accounted for most issues, and as it's a consumable, it's not a surprise that some owners had to pay for replacements.
10. Toyota C-HR (2023-present)
Reliability rating 95.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 16%, bodywork 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 45% one day to a week
The second-generation C-HR is a comfy and efficient small SUV that's available with regular hybrid and PHEV petrol engines. It has distinctive angular styling, and is roomier inside than the original version
It's roughly the same size as its main rivals – the boxier Seat Ateca and Skoda Karoq – although its rakish, coupé-inspired looks have more in common with the slightly smaller Nissan Juke. However, the C-HR isn't a cheap option. In fact, its price strays well into the territory of premium-brand models such as the BMW X1 and Lexus LBX.
Here we're looking at survey responses for both versions. With a fault rate of 24%, the C-HR is more prone to problems than its siblings, but most issues were minor and were put right in a day or less. Upset was kept to a minimum, with Toyota covering the cost of all parts and labour to put things right.
Least reliable hybrid cars
1. Skoda Superb PHEV (2020-present)
Reliability rating 86.1%
Most common faults: infotainment system/sat-nav 33%, air-con 7%, bodywork 7%, exhaust 7%, fuel system 7%, gearbox 7%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 46% one day or less, 46% more than a week
The Skoda Superb comes as a hatchback and an estate, but only the estate can be had as a PHEV. The 1.5 TSI iV, as it's called, has 201bhp, so it's quick off the mark (0-62mph takes 8.1secs), and it can officially drive for more than 85 miles on battery power alone before the petrol engine kicks in. That’s about the same as a Volkswagen Passat PHEV, and further than the equivalent plug-in hybrid BMW 5 Series Touring, Mercedes C-Class Estate or Mercedes E-Class Estate.
However, problems with the infotainment system blighted the ownership experience for a third of Superb PHEV owners. Overall, 60% of the cars in our survey had a problem, making the car far less robust than previous generation petrol and diesel Superbs.
Although no owners faced any repair bills, nearly half had to wait more than a week to get their car back. Only 8% of cars were rendered undriveable by their faults.
2. BMW 330e (2016-2020)
Reliability rating 87.6%
Most common faults: hybrid battery pack 8%, engine/motor electrics 4%, gearbox 4%, bodywork 2%, electric motor 2%, exhaust 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%, suspension 2%
Average repair cost: 75% £0, 19% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 32% one day to a week, 52% more than a week
The plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 3 Series is the best choice as a company car because it has all the qualities of its petrol and diesel siblings and it's cheaper for road tax and company car tax. It's economical too, because it's able to do up to 62 miles on pure electric power, which is just short of the Mercedes C300e (68 miles).
The 330e is the heaviest 3 Series model, so it is the least agile. However, it still handles very tidily - in fact, it is the sportiest PHEV in the executive car class, and is better than a Mercedes CLE 300e Coupé. It's also the model to go for if you pay company car tax because it has lower CO2 emissions, and therefore lower tax, than conventional petrol versions.
It does seem to suffer more than its fair share of problems, though. Owners told us that 26% of their 330es had gone wrong, and half of those cars were in the workshop for more than a week. More worrying is the fact that 19% of owners were left with bills totalling more than £1500, and only 75% of remedial work was paid for by BMW.
Reliability rating 89.0%
Most common faults: engine 9%, 12-volt battery 5%, hybrid battery pack 5%, engine electrics 5%, gearbox 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 63% more than a week
The second-generation Juke is a big improvement on the original, with a smarter interior, bigger boot and better engines, including a regular hybrid. The hybrid version has a 141bhp 1.6-litre engine, which is pretty slow off the mark, taking 10.4 seconds to pass 62mph, although it feels more lively at higher speeds, when the petrol engine and electric motor work together to provide strong acceleration.
Hybrid 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.
4. Kia Sportage PHEV (2021-present)
Reliability rating 90.1%
Most common faults: Fuel/charging system 7%, non-engine electrics 7%, 12-volt battery 3%, hybrid battery pack 3%, engine electrics 3%, sat-nav/infotainment system 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 27% one day or less, 73% more than a week
The fifth-generation Sportage builds on the many qualities of its forbears. It is an excellent all-rounder with plenty of space front and rear for a family of four, plus a large boot and one of classiest interiors of any mainstream family SUV. There are also lots of engines to choose from, including two petrols, two diesels, a 'self-charging' hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), which can officially do more than 40 miles of driving on electricity alone.
It's that last version we're focusing on here, and not for a good reason. The PHEV version of the Sportage went wrong more often than the others: it has a 24% fault rate, compared with the 17% of other Sportage models. It suffered a higher rate of problems with the fuel/charging system and non-engine electrics than its siblings, and almost twice as many cars were out of action for more than a week - 73% compared with 43% of petrol and hybrid versions. The only good news is that Kia covered the cost of all remedial work.
5. Ford Kuga hybrid and PHEV (2019-present)
Reliability rating 90.3%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 14%, bodywork 6%, interior trim 5%, engine electrics 3%, non-engine electrics 3%
Average repair cost: 98% £0, 2% £201-£300
Typical time off road: 37% one day or less, 33% one day to a week, 30% more than a week
The Ford Kuga's choice of standard and plug-in hybrid engines, and its plentiful kit, make it an appealing family SUV. The 2.5 FHEV (full hybrid) can drive short distances on pure electric power, and it will complete the 0-62mph dash in 8.3 seconds with four-wheel-drive and 9.1 seconds with front-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the 2.5-litre petrol PHEV has a 43-mile electric-only range and dispatches the 0-62mph dash in a respectable 7.3 seconds, outpacing the equivalent Hyundai Tucson or Kia Sportage.
However, the Kuga has been beset by lots of problems, according to owners. They told us 27% of their cars had gone wrong, and of those that had problems, 42% couldn't be driven, adding inconvenience to the hassle of getting issues put right. The good news is that Ford paid for almost all of the necessary repairs, and its technicians got around a third of the affected cars back on the road in a day or less. Only 30% were out of action for more than a week.
6. Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-present)
Reliability rating 91.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 23%, bodywork 3%, hybrid battery pack 2%, interior trim 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 87% £0, 8% £101-£500
Typical time off road: 58% one day or less, 27% one day to a week, 15% more than a week
The Yaris Cross has a lot going for it - it's a hybrid and an SUV, both of which make it economical and popular with car buyers. It's only offered in one guise - with a 1.5-litre petrol engine that's aided by an electric motor. It will run on electric power around town for short distances, and when driven in this way, it's nippier around town than an equivalent Juke or Captur. Average fuel consumption in our real-world tests is 60.1mpg overall, and that increases to 103mpg in city driving.
However, the Yaris Cross isn't as dependable as you might expect from a Toyota. That's mainly due to issues with its 12-volt battery, which were responsible for 23% of all faults. Overall, 31% of the cars reported on went wrong, and 49% of them were rendered undriveable by those faults. Toyota covered the cost of most rectification work, though, and 58% of cars were back on the road in a day or less.
Reliability rating 92.5%
Most common faults: bodywork 9%, electric motor 9%, non-engne electrics 9%, hybrid battery pack 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 56% one day to a week, 44% more than a week
Promising lots of space and equipment for a relatively low price has made the MG HS a hit with family SUV buyers. It's available in three guises: petrol, hybrid and PHEV. The latter is our pick of the range because it uses the same engine and automatic gearbox as the Hybrid+, but it has a more powerful electric motor and a bigger battery that boosts overall power. No surprise, then, that it is the fastest HS version - in our test it managed 0-60mph in just 6.1sec, which is significantly quicker than equivalent PHEV versions of the BYD Seal U (8.6sec) and Jaecoo 7 (7.6sec).
When it comes to reliability, the PHEV also outdoes other HS models: its score of 92.5% is much better than the 87.9% of the petrol and hybrid versions. Only 17% of HS PHEVs went wrong, compared with 41% of other HS models, and all PHEVs could still be driven. The only downside for owners is that 56% of faulty cars were in the workshop for up to a week, and the rest were there for even longer.
=7. Toyota Yaris (2020-present)
Reliability rating 92.5%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 22%, hybrid battery pack 2%
Average repair cost: 77% £0, 14% £101-£200
Typical time off road: 65% one day or less, 17% one day to a week, 17% more than a week
The Yaris is a regular hybrid, so it bridges the gap between conventional petrol and pure electric models. It's powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine and electric motor like the Yaris Cross, but it comes in two different power outputs. Whichever you choose, you're guaranteed excellent fuel economy - in our real-world tests the lower-powered unit averaged 57.6mpg and the higher-output version 56.3mpg.
It's not as practical as rivals, such as the Honda Jazz, Seat Ibiza and Volkswagen Polo, though. They both offer more head and leg room, and have available boot space, too.
It does fare a little better than the Yaris Cross for reliability - owners old us 25% of their cars had issues compared with the 31% of the Yaris Cross. However, the majority of problems were with the 12-volt battery and that meant more than half (56%) of the cars affected couldn't be driven. Although Toyota footed most bills, 14% of owners had to pay up to £200, but most cars were put right in a day or less.
9. Volvo XC60 PHEV (2017-present)
Reliability rating 93.0%
Most common faults: sat-nav/infotainment system 13%, non-engine electrics 7%, air-con 3%, bodywork 3%, interior trim 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 36% one day or less, 29% one day to a week, 35% more than a week
The XC60 may be overshadowed by its big brother, the XC90, and the smaller XC40, which is a former What Car? Car of the Year, but it's been quietly racking up sales. In fact, with 2.7 million sales under its belt globally, it is the brand's best-selling model ever. There's good reason for that - it's roomy, has an upmarket interior and a lofty driving position. While the Audi Q5 and BMW X3 are better to drive, the XC60 counters this with affordable pricing and lots of equipment.
Its reliability rating of 93% is good, and although 28% of the cars we were told about went wrong, only 4% couldn't be driven. The infotainment system caused the most headaches, followed by other electrical glitches. While getting things put right could be slow - a third of cars were in the garage for more than a week - Volvo paid for all fixes.
1o. Volvo XC40 PHEV (2017-present)
Reliability rating 93.8%
Most common faults: air-con 3%, 12-volt battery 3%, hybrid battery pack 3%, engine 3%, electric motor 3%, interior trim 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 13% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 62% more than a week
The Volvo XC40 is a stylish, premium small SUV that’s backed up by real substance - it provides a generous amount of passenger space, has a practical boot and a superb interior. It also has excellent ride quality and lots of safety features. While the XC40 isn't as agile as rivals, such as the Cupra Formentor and Ford Kuga, it is more comfortable than most, including the Audi Q3 and the firmer-riding BMW X1.
Here we're looking at the reliability credentials of the PHEV version, and the good news is that it scores better, and suffers fewer faults, than its petrol siblings. Only 14% of XC40 PHEVs went wrong, compared with 25% of petrol models. Although issues were slow to put right - nearly two-thirds of cars were out of action for more than a week - Volvo covered the cost of all the necessary repair work.
Reliability of hybrid cars aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
| 1 | Toyota RAV4 PHEV (2019-present) | 99.2% |
| 2 | Kia Niro PHEV (2022-present) | 99.0% |
| 3 | 2019-2024 Toyota RAV4 hybrid | 98.9% |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona Hybrid (2019-2023) | 98.7% |
| 5 | Lexus UX (2019-present) | 98.0% |
| 6 | 2016-2022 Lexus RX | 97.9% |
| 7 | Honda Civic (2022-present) | 97.3% |
| 8 | Honda Jazz (2020-present) | 96.9% |
| 9 | Toyota Corolla (2018-present) | 96.5% |
| 10 | Toyota C-HR (2023-present) | 95.4% |
| 11 | Lexus NX (2021-present) | 95.2% |
| 12 | Citroen C5 Aircross PHEV (2018-present) | 95.1% |
| 13 | 2014-2021 Lexus NX | 94.8% |
| 14 | Nissan Qahsqai hybrid (2021-present) | 94.7% |
| 15 | Kia Niro hybrid/PHEV (2016-2022) | 94.6% |
| 16 | Volvo XC40 PHEV (2017-present) | 93.8% |
| 17 | Volvo XC60 PHEV (2017-present) | 93.0% |
| 18 | Toyota Yaris (2020-present) | 92.5% |
| 19 | MG HS PHEV (2019-present) | 92.5% |
| 20 | Toyota Yaris Cross (2021-present) | 91.4% |
| 21 | Ford Kuga (2019-present) | 90.3% |
| 22 | Kia Sportage PHEV (2021-present) | 90.1% |
| 23 | Nissan Juke hybrid (2022 - present) | 89.0% |
| 24 | BMW 3 Series 330e PHEV (2016-2020) | 87.6% |
| 25 | Skoda Superb PHEV (2020-present) | 86.1% |
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 (2024)
Most reliable seven-seaters
Most reliable electric cars
Most reliable electric SUVs
Most reliable sports cars
Most reliable diesel cars
Most reliable petrol cars
Most reliable hybrid cars
How the research was carried out
To compile the What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, 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.
About the report author
Claire Evans 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 most dependable used cars.
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter here
