Which Are The Most Reliable New Cars?

It’s a good question and one that matters for insurers as breakdowns can lead to claims, especially if they occur on busy A roads or motorways;

When it comes to buying a new car, everyone has different priorities, whether it’s affordability, safety, performance, or condition. But if your goal is to keep your car running smoothly for years to come, reliability is an important factor to keep in mind. 

Recent research by temporary car insurance experts Tempcover reveals which of the UK’s most popular cars are considered the most reliable. Each car was scored out of 10 across four key metrics: repair frequency, owner satisfaction, average repair cost, and reliability ratings. The highest-performing model in each category received a 10, the lowest a one. These scores were then averaged to create an overall reliability ranking.

How Reliable Are the UK’s Most Popular Cars?

Taking the top spot as the most popular car with the highest overall reliability score is the Toyota Yaris (7.7/10), driven largely by strong independent repair and reliability ratings of 9.1/10 and 93.5%, respectively. In second place is the Volvo XC40, which scored 7.68/10 overall and had the highest independent repair rating in the research at 9.5/10, along with the lowest average repair cost of £285.30. The Ford Fiesta rounds out the top three with a score of 7.1/10, supported by mostly positive owner reviews, averaging 4 out of 5.

The Nissan Juke received the lowest overall reliability score (1.3/10), largely due to its high average repair cost of £911.64 and the lowest independent reliability rating in the research at 50%. The Volkswagen Golf and Vauxhall Astra followed, with overall scores of 2.5 and 2.65 respectively.

Cost vs. Reliability: How Do the Cheapest Popular Cars Compare?

Even though price doesn’t affect the reliability score, it’s still an important factor for a lot of drivers. Comparing price with reliability gives a good idea of how affordable cars hold up overall.

The Ford Fiesta had the lowest average second-hand price (£4,695) among the most popular cars in the research and scored 7.1 for reliability, placing it third overall. The Ford Focus had the second-lowest price, at just under £7,000, and scored 5.2/10 in the reliability ranking, placing sixth. At the other end of the scale, the Volkswagen Tiguan had the highest used-car price at £28,399 and ranked eighth for reliability.

Claire Wills-Mckissick expert in temporary car insurance at Tempcover adds:

“When buying a car you plan to keep for a long time, overall reliability is key. However, buyers should always test drive before committing. Even highly reliable cars can have unexpected issues that only become apparent during a drive, making firsthand experience crucial.

Temporary car insurance offers a flexible solution, allowing you to legally insure a vehicle for short periods. This means you can try before you buy without the commitment of a full policy, helping you make a more informed decision and avoid any post-purchase surprises.”