What Car? survey ranks most and least reliable car models

A reliability survey conducted by the British publication What Car? has identified the most and least reliable young car models based on the experiences of 39,332 owners of vehicles up to five years old. The study evaluated 225 models from 30 brands, factoring in fault frequency, repair costs, and vehicle downtime.

The Mini Countryman (2024–present) and the Suzuki Swift (2017–2024) shared the top spot with perfect 100% reliability scores. The Toyota Aygo X followed closely with a 99.7% rating.

Conversely, the Volkswagen Tiguan (2024–present) was ranked as the least reliable model with a score of 55.3%, with half of its owners reporting non-engine electrical issues. The Renault Arkana followed at 58.5%, notably causing significant downtime for 78% of its owners. Other low-scoring models included the Mercedes GLE, the Volkswagen ID. 4, and the Land Rover Discovery Sport.

The data also highlighted trends by engine type: petrol vehicles were the most reliable with a 20% fault rate, while diesel vehicles were the least reliable at 32%.