The most reliable small SUVs – and the least

For many people, small SUVs are the cars to be seen in. However, you don't want to be seen stranded by the side of the road in one, and if you pick a model that's prone to faults it could end up costing you as much as something much larger.

That's why we've used the data from our 2021 Reliability Survey, conducted in association with MotorEasy, to reveal which small SUVs should be dependable and which are more likely to let you down.

Looking exclusively at the results for cars aged up to five years old, we've named the most and least dependable models.

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Reliability Rating 96.3%

Just 11% of T-Roc drivers suffered a fault with their vehicles. While most problems were to do with the sat-nav/infotainment system, there were also issues with the non-engine electrics and the brakes.

Nearly 78% of these issues were fixed for free, with only 11% of owners having to pay between £51-100.

Thirty-three percent of cars were fixed in less than a day and were still driveable, while 11% were off the road for between one day to one week.

Read our full Volkswagen T-Roc review >>

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Reliability Rating 96.4%

The 16% of Countryman drivers who experienced complications with their vehicles told us that the troubles were primarily to do with bodywork.

Sixty percent of these vehicles were still driveable and were fixed in less than a week, with repairers covering the costs of 80% of bills.

Read our full Mini Countryman review >>

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Reliability Rating 96.4%

According to owners, 11% of these little Suzuki SUVs experienced a fault. Difficulties were mainly to do with the gearbox and clutch but, despite this, 100% of vehicles were fixed in less than a day.

However, its score is pulled down a little by the cost of repairs, with 68% of drivers having to pay between £51-100.

Read our full Suzuki Ignis review >>

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Reliability Rating 97.1%

Among Vitara owners, 15% reported a fault, with air-con and non-engine electrical issues being the most common.

Suzuki and its dealers did cover the cost of all of these repairs though, with 67% of the vehicles still driveable and fixed within a day.

Read our full Suzuki Vitara review >>

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Reliability Rating 97.4%

Only 25% of the Kamiqs that went wrong were fixed in less than a day, while a further 25% were in a repair shop for more than a week.

Luckily, though, Skoda covered the costs of all 12% of the reported faults that occurred, most of which were surrounding non-engine electrics.

Read our full Skoda Kamiq review >>

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Reliability Rating 98.4%

Hyundai covered expenses for the 12% of Konas that were reported as faulty, with the issues predominantly to do with the engine, engine electrics and the air-con.

Impressively, 67% of the vehicles were still driveable and were fixed in less than a day.

Read our full Hyundai Kona review >>

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Reliability Rating 98.7%

Only 7% of Q2 owners reported a fault, and all of those were fixed for free.

The faults typically surrounded a hiccup with the non-engine electrics, but thankfully around 67% of cars could still be driven and were fixed in one day to one week.

Read our full Audi Q2 review >>

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Reliability Rating 98.9%

A mere 6% of C3 Aircross drivers experienced a fault, mainly involving the exhaust.

Even better, the cost of all faults was covered by Citroën and all cars were fixed in less than a week.

Read our full Citroën C3 Aircross review >>

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Reliability Rating 100%

The Honda HR-V comes in joint-first place as the most reliable small SUV.

That's thanks to a perfect 100% score for reliability, meaning none we were told about went wrong in the past year.

Read our used Honda HR-V review >>

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Reliability Rating 100%

The Mazda CX-3 ties the Honda HR-V for the title of most reliable small SUV.

Owners reported zero faults over the past year, giving the CX-3 a perfect reliability rating.

Read our used Mazda CX-3 review >>

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So, those were the most reliable small SUVs – but what about the least? Read on to find out...

Reliability rating 91.6%

Ford Ecosport owners told us that 14% of their cars were affected by faults, the most prevalent being to do with the bodywork, interior trim and seats.

However, these faults were put right at no cost to the customers, and 44% of the cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day.

Read our full Ford Ecosport review >>

Reliability rating 90.0%

According to our survey 30% of T-Cross SUVs suffered problems, mostly affecting non-engine electrics.

Over half of the cars (57%) were still driveable and fixed in between one day to one week, with 86% of work done for free under warranty.

Read our full Volkswagen T-Cross review >>

Reliability rating 87.3%

Mokka X drivers reported a high percentage of faults on their cars: 44% went wrong, mainly with issues relating to the sat nav/infotainment system and air-con.

Although 60% of the costs were covered by Vauxhall, that left 10% of owners who had to pay between £101-200.

The only good news is that 40% of cars were still driveable and fixed within a day.

Read our full Vauxhall Mokka X review >>

Reliability rating 83.8%

Around 37% of petrol-engined Juke owners reported faults, which were primarily to do with the 12-volt battery, followed by issues with the engine and suspension.

Although 79% of the costs for repair were covered by Nissan, that left 14% of drivers having to contribute to repair bills.

Problems were serious and slow to resolve in many cases: only 36% of vehicles could still be driven and were fixed in less than a day.

Read our full Nissan Juke review >>

Reliability rating 81.8%

A total of 16% of Peugeot 2008 drivers reported an issue with their vehicle.

The brakes and suspension were the main problem areas, and a massive 63% of vehicles were deemed undriveable and off the road for one week.

Costs were particularly high for owners, with 38% having to pay between £101 and £200, and 13% paying between £301 and £500.

Read our full Peugeot 2008 review >>

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