A reliable car could save you lots, both financially and in terms of your stress levels.
These are the top cars for sale UK in terms of their reliability, according to the number of claims recorded by warranty experts Warrantywise. Put simply, the fewer the claims, the more reliable the model is. The fewer claims, the more reliable the model it is and the cheaper it should be to maintain.
The majority of the top 10 are cars from Japanese manufacturers, but there are a couple of other less expected models in there too.
- Suzuki Alto
The Suzuki Alto is a bit of a curveball in this list, as you haven’t been able to buy a new one since 2014. It’s still proving a reliable little runner, though, and these days you can pick one up for a bargain price too. It’s entertaining, fun to drive and likeable in the bargain. Don’t let its age put you off considering it.
- Ford Ecosport
Ford’s Ecosport is an awkward SUV in many ways – it’s not the best handling little car, it has an unusual side-hinged boot door and it feels a bit cheap inside. Despite all this, it has a good record when it comes to warranty claims, so it has something going for it clearly.
- Lexus CT
The CT is Lexus’s posh small hybrid hatch and uses a lot of the same technology that features under the Toyota Prius, which has a reputation for their reliability. Lexus’ premium nature means that repairing it can be a little more expensive, but going by the stats it shouldn’t need to be repaired as often as some other cars out there.
- Nissan Leaf
There are fewer moving parts in an electric car, so theoretically there is less to go wrong than there is in a diesel or petrol car. It’s a surprise that more electric cars aren’t on this list, but it is no surprise that Nissan’s Leaf is the one that flies the flag for the battery-powered generation.
As EVs are growing in popularity, expect them to feature higher up in lists like this in years to come.
- VW Up
The Volkswagen Up is a perfect first car, second family car or just a cheap runaround. It is cheap to insure, frugal on fuel and, increasingly affordable to buy. It’s been the benchmark for the small car class for years now, and it is also showing its compatriots how to do it when it comes to reliability too.
- Mazda 2
The Mazda 2 is not necessarily the first name on many buyers’ supermini shopping lists, but it really does warrant consideration. It’s got smart looks, has a solid reputation for reliability and it is fun to drive. You wouldn’t expect much less from the brand that makes the thoroughly entertaining MX-5 sports car, though, would you?
- Dacia Sandero
The Dacia Sandero is proof you don’t need to spend loads to get a car that doesn’t break down – the small hatch is consistently one of the cheapest models on sale in the UK.
The first model, which is the one that makes this list, is a little basic in terms of its approach and is not what you would call sexy, but it is great value to buy and run.
- Mitsubishi ASX
The Mitsubishi ASX is another car that is no longer on sale, but it is still keeping its owners happy with its strong reliability record. It’s not a car that you buy looking for a thrill, unless managing to avoid regular trips to the garage is your idea of excitement, in which case the ASX is a strong contender.
- Honda Jazz
The 2015-2021 Honda Jazz is a car that you can happily recommend to your friends and family, safe in the knowledge that it shouldn’t let them down. It’s not an exciting drive but it does have some clever touches in the cabin. And if it does go wrong, then parts shouldn’t cost the earth either.
- Lexus RX
The Lexus RX is a good looking, luxurious and reliable large SUV that owners love to drive and live with. Customer satisfaction is something that Lexus specialises in, and with the low warranty claims of the RX it is no major surprise that they keep coming back for more.
