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The most and least reliable MPVs in the UK
Our reliability survey rates the dependability of cars aged up to five years old, based on the experiences of nearly 25,000 owners. These are the most reliable MPVs and people carriers in our 202...
Most reliable MPVs
1. Mercedes B-Class (2019-present)
Reliability rating 98.5%
What went wrong? Air-con 5%, non-engine electrics 5%
The B-Class isn't only smart and practical; it's also proving robust and virtually fault-free. Only 9% of B-Classes went wrong, and when they did, repairs were carried out swiftly. Half of them were back on the road within a day, and the cherry on top of the icing is that all costs were covered by Mercedes.
Owner’s view "I love the reliability and level of service I get"
2. Kia Venga (2010-2019)
Reliability rating 97.5%
The Venga is a dependable used MPV option, with owners telling us only 7% of their cars went wrong. The battery, non-engine electrics and sat-nav/infotainment system were the main bugbears. All cars were driveable and half were repaired within a day at no cost to owners, but a quarter of bills exceeded £1500.
3. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2022)
Reliability rating 97.1%
Although 13% of Active Tourers suffered a problem, they were generally quick and cheap to put right. Two-thirds of faulty cars were fixed for free and no bills exceeded £300, while 67% were fixed within a day. The engine and associated electrics were the main trouble spots.
Least reliable MPVs
1. Volkswagen Touran (2015-present)
Reliability rating 75.2%
What went wrong? Gearbox/clutch 13%, air-con 8%, battery 8%, brakes 8%, engine 8%, fuel system 8%, non-engine electrics 8%, bodywork 4%
The Touran can be costly to fix and slow to repair. Half of the cars we were told about went wrong and only 47% of the costs were covered by Volkswagen, leaving 13% of drivers with bills of more than £1500. On top of that, a third of the affected cars spent more than a week in the garage.
Owner’s view "My car has broken down twice and I’m worried about it doing so again. Repairs have been costly, too"
2. Volkswagen Golf SV (2014-present)
Reliability rating 75.8%
With a 44% fault rate, the Golf MPV isn't as reliable as the hatchback, which has a 25% fault rate. Problem areas included the air-con, bodywork and brakes. Although two-thirds of issues were fixed for free, some bills cost up to £750, and 27% of cars were off the road for more than a week.
3. Citroën Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2018)
Reliability rating 92.7%
Only 12% of C4 Picassos caused trouble, with issues affecting the infotainment and engine electrics, but they took longer than most to be fixed; 67% of cars were out of action for more than a week. Bills weren't extortionate, ranging from £51 to £500, but no cars were fixed for free.
Reliability of MPVs aged up to five years old
| Rank | Make and model | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Mercedes B-Class 2019-present | 98.5% |
| 2. | Kia Venga (2010-2019) | 97.5% |
| 3. | BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2022) | 97.1% |
| 4. | Ford C-Max/Ford Grand C-Max (2011-2019) | 94.1% |
| 5. | Citroën Grand C4 Picasso (2013-2018) | 92.7% |
| 6. | Volkswagen Golf SV (2014-present) | 75.8% |
| 7. | Volkswagen Touran (2015-present) | 75.2% |
Read more: The most reliable 7-seaters in the UK
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