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What Car? Reliability Survey: Most and least reliable small 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 small cars in the UK
Small hatchbacks are often second family cars or first cars for new drivers, so they need to be frugal and dependable. The good news is that small cars are often less complicated and kitted out with fewer electronic gizmos than luxury cars, 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.
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This is reflected in the results of the annual What Car? Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy. The small car class is the highest rated in the latest survey, with an average rating of 95.3%, which is nearly 9% higher than the score for luxury cars (86.5%), and much better than the seven-seater class, which was the lowest scoing on 86.1%.
If you want a dependable small car, it's best to pick a petrol model. The 2017-2024 Suzuki Swift tops the small car class, and is one of only two models to gain a perfect 100% reliability rating this year. The lowest scoring model is the now-discontinued Renault Zoe, followed closely by the 2017-2024 Citroen C3.
Claire Evans
Updated: 31 October 2026
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Here we're looking at reliability data for small cars aged up to five years old. Reliability information for older models is in our Most reliable used cars feature.
Most reliable small cars
1. Suzuki Swift (2017-2024)
Reliability rating 100%
Most common faults: none
Average repair cost: £0
Typical time off road: none
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The Swift may not be the last word in refinement or interior quality, but its dependability more than compensates. Although some of the examples included in our survey will be out of their new car warranty period, this small petrol hatchback racked up a 100% reliability rating – one of only two models to achieve a perfect score this year. That means every owner who told us about their car said it hadn’t suffered any unexpected issues and consequently hadn’t landed them with any unplanned repair bills.
The Swift’s flawless performance played a big part in propelling Suzuki back to the top of the brand league table for the first time since 2018.
Owner’s view: “My Swift has been incredibly reliable; it hasn’t broken down once in eight years.”
See the latest used Suzuki Swift deals
2. Toyota Aygo X (2022-present)
Reliability rating 99.7%
Most common faults: bodywork 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
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Typical time off road: 100% one day or less
The Aygo X is remarkably consistent when it comes to dependability. It was the second-highest-scoring small car in last year’s survey, with precisely the same score as it gained this year. Toyota’s smallest model outranks the Yaris, which ranks 13th in the same category, with a fault rate of 20%, whereas a mere 3% of the Aygo Xs we were told about suffered a problem.
The only area that gave owners any concern was the bodywork, and all of the affected cars could still be driven. Toyota sorted out all of the issues for free, and all work was completed in a day or less.
Toyota Aygo X review
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Latest Aygo X leasing deals
3. Mini hatchback (2014-2024)
Reliability rating 99.4%
Most common faults: non-engine electrics 2%, steering 2%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 100% more than a week
In spite of its advancing years, the now-discontinued Mini hatchback looks more robust than its replacement, the Mini Cooper. Its reliability rating is a full 10% higher than the newer model’s, and it has experienced far fewer faults; just 4% of Mini hatchbacks went wrong, compared with 24% of Coopers.
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Non-engine electrical issues and problems relating to the steering were the main gripes of the owners who reported a fault. All of the problematic cars could still be driven, and they were all fixed for free. It’s just a shame they were all out of action for more than a week.
2013-2024 Mini hatchback review
See the latest used Mini hatchback deals
4. Hyundai i10 (2020-present)
Reliability rating 98.9%
Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 3%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 100% more than a week
A well-rounded small petrol-powered car, the i10 isn't the last word in luxury, but it is well-equipped, quiet on the move and surprisingly spacious for rear seat passengers. The entry level 1.0-litre engine is rather slow, but the 1.2 copes well with town and motorway driving.
It's also a very sturdy model — a mere 3% of the Hyundai i10s reported on had any glitches, and all of those were with non-engine electrical systems. However, all of these rendered the cars undriveable and all took more than a week to rectify. On the plus side, Hyundai took care of all repair bills.
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=5. Vauxhall Corsa (2019-present)
Reliability rating 97.5%
Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 4%, engine 2%, engine electrics 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 95% £0, 5% £1-£300
Typical time off road: 41% one day or less, 31% more than a week
Many people will have a soft spot for the Corsa, as it's one of the most common models for learners and new drivers. It's cheaper to buy than many rivals and comes with plenty of kit, but it's outclassed for comfort by the Peugeot 208, and it's not as much fun to drive as a Seat Ibiza.
However, it is more dependable than these alternatives. According to the owners who completed our survey, 12% of petrol Corsas had an issue, with the electrics being the biggest concern. Many problems were minor and were fixed within 24 hours, but nearly a third left owners without their cars for more than a week. Nine out of 10 faulty cars could still be driven.
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=5. Skoda Fabia (2021-present)
Reliability rating 97.5%
Most common faults: Interior trim 8%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 25% more than a week
Often overlooked, the Fabia is practical, comfortable and excellent value for money. It has a supple ride, a fairly roomy interior and a huge boot. On top of that, it doesn't go wrong often, and when it does, Skoda is good at footing the bill.
Overall 12% of the Fabias reported on went wrong, and many of them were relatively trivial things, such as problems with the interior trim. All the cars affected could still be driven and half of them were fixed in a day or less. All remedial work was paid for by the car maker.
=7. Volkswagen Polo (2017-present)
Reliability rating 97.1%
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Most common faults: Steering 4%, bodywork 2%, gearbox 2%
Average repair cost: 50**%** £0, 25% £1-£50, 25% more than £1500
Typical time off road: 50% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 25% more than a week
The Polo shares its underpinnings with the Audi A1, Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, and that means it's pretty good to drive, has lots of space inside and has a smart-looking interior. Opting for the cheapest Life trim and lower powered 1.0 TSI 95 petrol engine helps to keep costs down.
While some Volkswagen models are beset with faults, only 7% of Polos suffered a problem, and all those with issues could still be driven. Half of the glitches were put right in a day or less, and only a quarter of cars were out of action for more than a week. However, Volkswagen only covered the cost of 50% of remedial work though, leaving 25% of owners to take care of bills that each exceeded £1500.
=7. Honda Jazz (2018-present)
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Reliability rating 97.1%
Most common faults: Non-engine electrics 9%, bodywork 2%, sat-nav/infotainment system 2%
Average repair cost: 90% £0, 10% £301-£500
Typical time off road: 72% one day or less, 19% one day to a week
While the fourth-generation Jazz provides class-leading space and practicality, it lags behind rivals, such as the Seat Ibiza and Renault Clio, for handling and ride. Its hybrid technology helps to boost fuel economy, though.
Electrical faults were the main bugbear of the 15% of Jazz owners who told us their car had suffered some sort of problem. The good news is that 95% of the faulty cars could still be driven and nearly three-quarters of their issues were put right within a day. While Honda took care of most repair bills, some owners had to find up to £500 to get their cars fixed.
9. Ford Fiesta (2017-2024)
Reliability rating 96.6%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 5%, interior trim 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%, engine 2%, suspension 2%
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Average repair cost: 80% £0, 20% £51-£200
Typical time off road: 60% one day or less, 20% one day to a week, 20% more than a week
The Fiesta was Britain's best-selling new car for many years, and it's just as popular on the used market. It is great fun to drive, and this final generation is more comfortable and refined than previous ones.
The Fiesta's 21% fault rate is on the high side, but 90% of the cars that went wrong remained driveable and nearly two-thirds of problems were fixed in a day or less. Although Ford stumped up for 80% of repairs, some owners had to find up to £200 per fault.
10. Audi A1 (2018-present)
Reliability rating 96.4%
Most common faults: 12-volt battery 4%, gearbox 4%, non-engine electrics 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 50% £0, 50% £1-£100
Typical time off road: 25% one day or less, 25% one day to a week, 50% more than a week
The A1 is an upmarket small car that has a smooth ride and neat handling. While it's plusher inside than a Seat Ibiza or Renault Clio, it doesn't feel as opulent as a Mini hatchback. It has a smooth, controlled ride and grown-up handling that's reassuring, but not as involving as the Ibiza.
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Owners told us that 15% of Audi A1s let them down, but all of those cars remained driveable. Getting things put right was slower than other small cars, with only 25% of vehicles fixed within 24 hours and 50% of them in the workshop for more than a week. Issues were split evenly between electrical glitches, 12-volt battery problems and gearbox issues. Although Audi only paid for half of the necessary work, the remaining bills were all pretty low — none were more than £100 per fault.
Least reliable small cars
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.
1. Renault Zoe (2013-2024)
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Reliability rating 80.4%
Most common faults: Air-con 25%, non-motor electrics 15%, 12-volt battery 5%, EV battery pack 5%, bodywork 5%, interior trim 5%, sat-nav/infotainment system 5%, suspension 5%
Average repair cost: 94% £0, 6% £1-£50
Typical time off road: 47% more than a week, 30% one day to a week
Some models feature regularly in the top echelons of our reliability charts, but the Zoe has been relegated to the bottom spot for small car reliability for the past two years. This year, the faults appear to be more serious, because a higher proportion of cars couldn’t be driven and repairs took longer in many instances. Specifically, 36% of the cars that went wrong couldn’t be driven (last year it was 25%), and 47% were off the road for more than a week (33% last year).
Overall, 40% of the cars in our survey had an issue, the culprits being the air-con and other non-motor electrics. At least Renault covered the cost of 94% of the work; the remaining owners paid up to £50 per repair.
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Owner's view: "The parts to fix my car have been on back order for months, with no timeframe for any resolution."
2012-2024 Renault Zoe review
2. Citroën C3 (2017-2024)
Reliability rating 85.3%
Most common faults: Engine electrics 13%, air-con 7%, brakes 7%, engine 7%, suspension 7%
Average repair cost: 50% £0, 50% £101-£500
Typical time off road: 40% more than a week, 33% one day or less
The C3 may be affordable to buy, but it could be costly to live with. That’s because Citroën paid for only half of the repairs required for the one in five C3s in our survey that had a defect. The remaining owners of faulty cars were left with bills ranging from £101 to £500.
Getting their cars fixed could take a long time, too. Of the cars we were told about, 60% were off the road for more than a week. The main trouble spot was the engine’s electrical systems, with 13% of owners reporting an issue with these. Faults also occurred with the air-con, brakes, engine and suspension.
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3. MG 3 (2024-present)
Reliability rating 88.9%
Most common faults: Exhaust 8%, non-engine electrics 8%, 12-volt battery 4%, brakes 4%, engine 4%, interior trim 4%, sat-nav/infotainment system 4%
Average repair cost: 100% £0
Typical time off road: 78% more than a week, 18% less than one day
Although the ranks of small petrol-engined cars are dwindling, the MG 3 still looks appealing, because it’s cheap to buy and has hybrid tech to aid fuel economy. However, the ownership experience has been marred for some by faults that are slow to fix.
Just over a third of issues stopped cars from being driven, and 78% of those that went wrong were off the road for more than a week. Overall, 20% of the MG 3s in our survey had a fault. Problem areas included the 12-volt battery, air-con, non-engine electrical systems, engine and exhaust. Still, MG stumped up for all repair bills.
MG3 review
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Reliability of small cars aged up to five years old
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**VALUE / SMALL CAR****95.1%**12017-2024 Suzuki Swift100.0%2Toyota Aygo X (2022-present)99.7%32014-2024 Mini hatchback 99.4%4Hyundai i10 (2020-present)98.9%5Vauxhall Corsa (2019-present)97.5%6Skoda Fabia (2022-present)97.5%7Volkswagen Polo (2017-present)97.1%8Honda Jazz (2020-present)97.1%92017-2024 Ford Fiesta96.6%10Audi A1 (2018-present)96.4%11Kia Picanto (2017-present)96.2%12Peugeot 208 (2019-present)94.9%13Toyota Yaris (2020-present)94.7%142015-2025 Mazda 294.6%15Fiat 500e (2020-present)94.5%16Peugeot e-208 (2019-present)94.2%172020-2023 Mini Electric93.0%18Renault Clio (2019-present)92.9%19Dacia Sandero (2021-present)91.7%202017-2022 Nissan Micra91.7%21Vauxhall Corsa Electric (2019-present)91.5%22Seat Ibiza (2017-present)91.1%23Hyundai i20 (2020-present)91.1%242008-2025 Fiat 50090.5%25Mini Cooper petrol (2024-present)89.1%26MG3 (2024-present)88.9%272017-2024 Citroen C385.3%282013-2024 Renault Zoe80.4%
To read the reliability data for other car classes follow these links:
Most and least reliable cars overall
Most reliable car brands
Most reliable family cars
Most reliable executive cars
Most reliable luxury cars
Most reliable small SUVs
Most reliable family SUVs
Most reliable large SUVs
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
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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.
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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.
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