A manufacturer’s reliability is simply defined as a person or company’s ability to consistently supply an acceptable product at the required time.
A manufacturer’s reliability in the world of cars is measured by the Reliability Index (RI). The UK Reliability index takes into account all factors of a repair, the cost of the parts and the frequency of failures – The Average of all cars is 100 which means that if the figure for the car you are looking at has a higher than average index (118) it indicates that that car is less reliable than the average, if however there is a lower than average index (60) the reliability is better. Separately from this figure you can also look at the average cost of repairs for a particular make or model, a car with a good reliability index and a high average cost would imply that the frequency of failure is low, however when it does fail the bill will be a lot more than the average. Toyota, for example, has a high average cost of repair but quite a good index rating – which means that the car fails infrequently but when it does you will be in for a larger-than-average bill. Overall, however, Toyota is a very strong make of car to buy. Although Honda is ranked first in this article, Daihatsu is technically ranked number 1. According to www.autoexpress.co.uk, Daihatsu stopped selling cars in the UK in 2011 therefore we haven’t included them in this article.
Alfa Romeo
When you are looking at cars, reliability is an important factor. So important, in fact, that it is one of our top priorities when looking for a new car.
But, is this the case for those who are looking at buying an Alfa Romeo? As Which said; “It’s widely accepted that anyone who buys an Alfa Romeo does so with their heart instead of their head”. Is this true? Are Alfa Romeo’s really that unreliable?
Alfa Romeo has secured an ok Reliability Index Score of 202.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 35th.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin is synonymous with British luxury. They make you think of James Bond, of prestige and most of all, driving fast.
Beautifully built, incredible to drive, it seems that there is nothing that Aston Martin can’t do when it comes to making some of the greatest, and coolest, cars ever.
Except, how reliable are Aston Martin?
You would expect that Aston Martin cars are the most dependable out there, after all, they are extraordinarily built and cost a small fortune to own, but is this the case? Is Aston Martin reliable?
Unfortunately, Aston Martin doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
Audi
Audi is synonymous with luxury and prestige. A common sight on British roads, Audi is a popular brand for personal and business use alike.
But there is one thing that has plagued Audi for a while, and that’s the question of its reliability.
Reliability is an important aspect when choosing a car, particularly one that comes with a larger price tag, like many Audis. After all, spending a lot on a car only to also have to spend money getting it repaired isn’t what anyone wants. And there have been reports in the past that Audi isn’t up to scratch when it comes to their longevity.
Audi has secured an ok Reliability Index Score of 190.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 33rd.
Bentley
Bentley is synonymous with luxury, prestige and quality car making. If you drive a Bentley, then you are sure to get a few or several, envious looks as you drive through the city streets.
And, of course, with quality car making, luxury and prestige, you’re going to get reliability too, right, guys?
Guys?
Not so much. The thing is, Bentleys aren’t exactly known for their longevity. In fact, they are possibly the most unreliable cars in Britain. A strong statement, but one that we can back up with evidence.
Bentley has secured itself a woeful Reliability Index Score of 529.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 38th.
BMW
BMW is one of the most sought-after premium brands in the world. Blending power and performance with the sporty appeal, BMW are sophisticated, classy, and pretty much everything you would want in a car.
But, there is one mark against their reputation that they just can’t shake off; their reliability.
The question of reliability has haunted the prestigious brand for a while now, and one of the questions we get the most from customers when talking about BMW is ‘are they reliable?’
BMW has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 173.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 30th.
Citroen
Citroen is one of the most well-known car brands in the UK and is a common sight on British roads. They established themselves as the front-runners of innovation with the Traction Avant, the world’s first mass-produced front-wheel drive car. And, since then, have achieved success with a range of vehicles, from city cars to larger family cars.
They are currently part of Groupe PSA, a multinational manufacturer that sells Peugeot, Citroen, DS, Opel and Vauxhall cars.
One of the things that Citroen have been particularly known for is its reliability. But, how reliable are Citroen?
Citroen has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 112.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 20th.
Dacia
Dacia. The comeback kid of the automotive world. Once a communist-state-owned company, Dacia are now owned by Renault and thriving.
That word; reliable. Reliability, or unreliability, has plagued Dacia since the days they were owned by the State, with it not uncommon to see drivers fixing their cars on the side of the road. And though that was a long time ago, and Romania is no longer a communist country, the unreliability tag seems to have stuck.
But is this still the case? Is Dacia still as unreliable as they once were?
Unfortunately, Dacia doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
DS
DS are a fairly new brand in its own right. The premium brand of the Groupe PSA, which is Peugeot, Citroen, Opel and Vauxhall, was announced by Citroen in just 2009. It was only in 2015 that the Citroen branding was dropped and DS became a standalone brand.
That said, in the short time they have been on the market, DS cars have become extremely popular and are now quite a common sight on our roads.
But, how reliable are DS cars?
Unfortunately, DS doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
Fiat
Fiat has always been a pretty popular brand, but when they released the Fiat 500, Fiat was suddenly propelled into the mainstream. The Fiat 500 quickly entered the top ten most popular cars in the UK, and its quirky shape and funky colours made them a welcome addition to British roads.
However, there has been something that has been plaguing Fiat for many years. And that’s reliability. In fact, at one point, Fiat was so unreliable that people began the joke ‘Fix It Again Tony’.
But, has that changed? How reliable are Fiat?
Fiat has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 99.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 15th.
Ford
When looking for a new car, it’s important that you look at reliability. Cars these days are extremely reliable compared to many decades ago, but that doesn’t mean they are all without fault.
One brand that has had a few problems with reliability is Ford. The classic American brand has been consistently low on reliability surveys and is constantly beaten by its Japanese competitors. In fact, American cars haven’t got the best reputation for reliability full stop.
Ford has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 75.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 7th.
Honda
Did you know that Honda is the world’s largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines? They produce more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year. They are also the eighth-largest automobile manufacturer in the world.
Honda cars are a common sight on our roads, as well as several other roads across the globe. Their cars are a favourite among many and are synonymous with being trustworthy, well-built and great to drive.
Honda has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 42.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 2nd.
Hyundai
Interestingly, the Hyundai brand we know and love today wasn’t actually created until 2000 and is officially called the Hyundai Motor Group. Hyundai itself underwent a huge restructuring following the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997 and a result of this was the creation of a separate company, the Hyundai Motor Group.
Now, the Hyundai Motor Group are the largest vehicle manufacturer in South Korea and was the world’s fourth-largest vehicle manufacturer in 2015. Despite a quite complex history, there is something that has never really been questioned when it comes to Hyundai, and that’s their dependability.
How reliable are Hyundai?
Hyundai has secured a very good Reliability Index Score of 100.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 16th.
Infiniti
Infiniti is one of the lesser-known vehicle manufacturers here in the UK, but across the pond and all over the world, they are an extremely popular brand.
The luxury division of Japanese manufacturer Nissan, Infiniti officially started selling vehicles in 1989 in North America. Now, they are sold in several countries across the world.
Because they are a branch of Nissan, you would think that they are just as reliable as Nissan cars if not more reliable as they are a luxury brand. But, is this the case?
Unfortunately, Infiniti doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
Jaguar
Jaguars are synonymous with British luxury and style. Jaguar is the luxury vehicle brand of Jaguar Land Rover and has been a symbol of British engineering for some years now one dealership supplied cars to the Queen, the Queen Mother and Prince Charles. In fact, they even modified one of the Queen’s Jaguars to make it more environmentally friendly.
But despite this, Jaguar has been plagued with the issue of dependability for some time now. Although they are known for their build quality and style, Jaguar has always been considered quite unreliable cars.
Is this still the case? How reliable is Jaguar?
Jaguar has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 171.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 29th.
Jeep
Did you know that Jeep became the primary 4-wheel drive vehicle of the United States Army and the Allies during World War 2? Civilian models were then produced in 1945. Since then, Jeep has become renowned for its off-road SUVs, and at one time, pickups.
You would expect that a manufacturer that helped see us to victory in the Second World War would be quite literally bulletproof. Right?
So why are people asking the question; is Jeep reliable?
Jeep has secured itself a respectable Reliability Index Score of 170.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 28th.
Kia
Kia has quite quickly become a common sight on British roads, with one of their best sellers, the Kia Sportage, seen as often as a Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf.
One of the things that make Kia stand out as a brand is its impressive seven-year warranty. With many car manufacturers these days only offer a warranty for three years, Kia has cemented itself as one of the most trusted, and reliable, brands around.
But are Kia as reliable as they want us to think they are?
Kia has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 112.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 21st.
Land Rover
You can’t get much more British than a Land Rover or a Range Rover. The two have been on our roads for decades and still continue to be incredibly popular brands, particularly after the release of the Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Sport.
However, their image of off-road ruggedness is damaged somewhat by constant reports of their reliability. But are they really as unreliable as reports suggest?
Land Rover has secured an ok Reliability Index Score of 300.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 36th.
Lexus
Lexus is a brand that has grown in popularity here in the UK. In fact, last year was a record year for sales of Lexus models in the United Kingdom, with over 13,000 models sold.
The luxury division of Toyota, Lexus has become known for building stylish, comfortable cars that are great to drive. And, being an off-shoot of Toyota, are reliable.
Lexus has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 71.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 6th.
Lotus
“Lots of Trouble, Usually Serious”. That was the acronym coined for Lotus back in the 1960s.
When the Lotus Elan was first launched it was seen as a triumph for British engineering but it was soon plagued with problems. Soon enough, the Lotus Elan was known for being badly built and filled with draughts and leaks and was considered positively unreliable.
Unfortunately, Lotus has struggled to shake off this reputation of being unreliable, and there are many people today that will still think of Lotus as the untrustworthy car manufacturer they were back in the sixties.
Lotus doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
Maserati
Maserati is known for their luxurious and fast cars. And of course, they would be, their logo is shaped like Neptune’s trident. The Italian sports brand was founded in 1914 and now belongs to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA).
But, despite bespoke interiors, high performance and Italian style, there is one thing that plagues Maserati. And that’s dependability.
How reliable is Maserati?
Maserati has secured itself a woeful Reliability Index Score of 697.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 39th.
Mazda
Based in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda were the fifteenth biggest automaker by production worldwide in 2015.
While Mazda isn’t the most popular car manufacturer in the UK, they are becoming an increasingly common sight on our roads. So it’s time we asked ourselves, are Mazda reliable?
Toyota has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 64.00 which in comparison to the motor industry competition places them 5th.
Are you a fan of Mazda as a manufacturer? We can see how and why they are so reliable here.
Mercedes-Benz
When you are looking for a new car, one of the most important things you should look at is the car’s reliability.
After all, you don’t want to spend all that money on a car only for it to be so unreliable you spend even more money getting it repaired.
One brand that has often cropped up in the debate about reliability is Mercedes-Benz. While the prestigious brand is just that, prestigious, its reliability has been thrown into question a few times before.
Mercedes has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 175.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 31st.
MG
MG is very much making a comeback as of late. Once known as MG Rover, MG Motors was founded in 2006 by Nanjing Automobile, a Chinese company. It was in 2011 that MG launched its first model for 16 years and, after a few missteps, MG was on its way to becoming a common sight on British roads.
In fact, it was reported this year that MG is seeing a 5% increase in year-to-date sales, bucking the trend of a slight downturn the car market saw at the start of the year.
Though MG is seeing a real increase in sales and is becoming more common, they are yet to shake off its reputation for unreliability. Are MG reliable?
MG has secured itself a respectable Reliability Index Score of 105.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 17th.
MINI
The MINI is an iconic car brand, and as British, as you could possibly get. The original MINI was a staple of British culture in the 1960s and was voted the second most influential car of the 20th century in 1999.
Currently owned by BMW, MINI continues to be a very popular brand in the UK and is a common sight on British roads.
But, how reliable are MINI? BMW isn’t exactly famed for its reliability, so are MINI the same?
MINI has secured itself a respectable Reliability Index Score of 110.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 19th.
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi Motors are known for its SUVs and trucks, and once dominated the growing market, predicting its popularity before anyone else.
So how were they awarded Japan’s worst automaker in 2016? There could be several reasons for this, but recent engine problems have led people to ask;
How reliable are Mitsubishi cars?
Mitsubishi has secured a respectable Reliability Index Score of 117.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 22nd.
Nissan
As of 2016, Nissan was the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer with sales of more than 275,000 all-electric vehicles as of December 2016.
The Japanese car manufacturer has been leading the way in electric vehicles, and their non-electric vehicles are still proving to be as popular as ever. Their reputation for making solid, affordable cars that drive well is as strong as ever.
Nissan has secured a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 88.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 9th.
Peugeot
Peugeot started as a family business in 1810 and has since become a huge car manufacturer, with cars being sold across the world. Peugeot has long been a popular car and has won five European Car of the Year awards. They are also a pretty common sight on our roads here in the UK.
And, with a company as established as Peugeot, they have gained a reputation for making solidly built cars.
But, are Peugeot reliable?
Peugeot has secured a very good Reliability Index Score of 96.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 14th.
Porsche
Porsche is synonymous with luxury, prestige and style.
One of the more commonly seen prestigious brands, Porsche, has found popularity with their Cayenne, a venture into the crossover market that has more than paid off.
And with luxury and prestige, you expect high quality and longevity. But, how reliable are Porsche?
Porsche has secured themselves a terrible Reliability Index Score of 308.00 which in comparison to the motor industry competition places them 37th.
Renault
In 2015, Renault was the tenth biggest automaker in the world by production volume. One of the most well-known brands in the UK, Renault is known for making affordable city and family cars that are great to drive and are well-built.
But, how reliable are Renault?
Renault has secured themselves a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 89.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 10th.
SEAT
Reliability is a big factor in choosing which car brand to go for. There’s no point in spending money on a car only to spend more money getting it fixed.
The question of dependability is an interesting one, and there is proof that we Brits aren’t actually that good at judging how reliable a car will be. A study has shown that we rank prestigious German brands higher for reliability than they actually are, and we tend to shun the less luxurious brands, thinking that they are less reliable than they actually are.
And one of those brands that we thought was more unreliable than it actually is, is SEAT. So, how reliable are SEAT cars?
SEAT has secured itself a respectable Reliability Index Score of 142.00 which in comparison to the motor industry competition places them 26th.
In this article, we look at SEAT’s dependability and compare it to some of its main rivals.
Skoda
Founded in 1894 as Laurin & Klement in the Czech Republic, Skoda has a rich and interesting history. Once owned by the state during the days of the communist government, Skoda is now currently owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Skoda has become increasingly popular, with total global sales reaching 1.12 million in 2016. But there is one thing that people still question about Skoda, and that’s their longevity.
Just how reliable is Skoda?
Skoda has secured themselves a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 93.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 13th.
Smart
Love them or loathe them, everyone has an opinion on Smart cars. Owned by Daimler-Benz, Smar has established itself as making microcars, and dividing opinions whilst they were at it.
The brand is called Smart because of the cooperation between Swatch, the watch company, and Mercedes. It’s a combination of Swatch Mercedes ART. It was originally going to be known as the Swatchmobile.
But, how reliable are Smart cars?
Smart has secured itself a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 92.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 12th.
Subaru
Subaru is a car division of Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries), a Japanese transportation conglomerate.
Their cars have remained popular with a core set of buyers, with marketing targeted specifically to their niche in the automotive market. Subaru owners tend to want the cars because of their drivetrain engine, their off-road capabilities or the fact that they are affordable in the sports car market.
Despite its niche market, Subaru has been a strong presence in customer satisfaction and reliability tables for some time now. But, how reliable are Subaru?
Subaru has secured themselves a respectable Reliability Index Score of 108.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 18th.
Suzuki
Japanese car manufacturers are well known for their build quality and excellent reliability.
In 2014, Suzuki was thought to be the ninth biggest automaker by production worldwide. They have 35 main production facilities in 23 countries and are tenth in the world’s automobile sales.
Suzuki has secured themselves a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 50.00 which in comparison to the motor industry competition places them 3rd.
We can explore how reliable Suzuki truly is by diving into this article.
Tesla
Despite not being the most popular car manufacturer on our roads, everyone has heard of Tesla. Tesla found fame after the production of the Roadster, the first electric sports car. Their Model S was the world’s best-selling plug-in electric car for 2015 and 2016. It is currently the second best-selling, after the Nissan Leaf.
Tesla is known for their technological advancements, their speed and the fact that they make really cool cars. But there is one thing that has been plaguing Tesla since its conception, and that’s the issue of reliability.
Is Tesla reliable?
Lotus doesn’t currently have a Reliability Index Score, discover everything you need to know regarding their reliability below.
Toyota
As of 2016, Toyota was the world’s largest car manufacturer. They were also the world’s first car manufacturer to produce more than 10 million vehicles per year and are the market leader in sales of hybrid electric vehicles.
Toyota’s are a common sight on British roads, and there aren’t many people who haven’t heard of a Toyota model. But, amongst their huge achievements, can they tick off dependability? Is Toyota reliable?
Toyota has secured themselves a very impressive Reliability Index Score of 59.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 4th.
Vauxhall
Vauxhall is synonymous with British industry. It’s one of the oldest established vehicle manufacturers in Great Britain, and something we Brits are very proud of.
However, there is one thing that tends to be overlooked when celebrating Vauxhall, and that’s its reliability.
How reliable are Vauxhall cars?
Vauxhall has secured itself a respectable Reliability Index Score of 130.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 24th.
Volkswagen
Ah German engineering, you can’t go wrong. Or, can you?
While they may have been criticised for their emissions scandal, Volkswagen’s reliability has never really been thrown into question. Mainly because it’s a German car, it’s going to be reliable, isn’t it?
Well, not necessarily. A study by WarrantyDirect found that we think German cars are much more reliable than they actually are, including Volkswagen’s.
So, are Volkswagen reliable? Are they a pioneer of trusty German engineering, or do they fall behind their Japanese rivals?
Volkswagen has secured themselves a respectable Reliability Index Score of 137.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 25th.
Volvo
It’s no secret that Volvo is one of the most ambitious car manufacturers on the market today. They want to eliminate all deaths and serious injuries in their new cars by 2020 and are going to make all of their cars electric or hybrid by 2019.
So yes, you could say that Volvo is pretty ambitious. But there is one thing that never really comes up when we talk about Volvo cars, and that’s reliability.
Volvo has secured themselves a respectable Reliability Index Score of 125.00 which in comparison to the motor industry places them 23rd.
