Most reliable car makers – and they’re probably not who you think they are

The Japanese might make the most reliable cars according to breakdown data but it’s the German car makers who have the reputation for dependability. A new study has revealed that people think German motors are more reliable than they actually are.

The data was released by WarrantyWise, a company that specialises in selling aftermarket warranties for cars. It surveyed 750 drivers for their perceptions about reliability. The results show that many people’s idea of who makes reliable cars flies in the face of reality.

Makers people think produce the most reliable cars

When asked to pick the most dependable motors from a list of all the car makers that sell in the UK, the Germans did well. Honda and Toyota were first and second with Ford third and BMW in fourth place. Mercedes-Benz and Audi also featured in the top 10.

Makers people think produce the least reliable cars

As well as the most reliable cars, WarrantyWise asked people which car makers products break down the most. Fiat, Vauxhall and Renault all featured in people’s bottom five.

Who really makes the most reliable cars?

According to WarrantyWise, the most reliable cars are made by Japanese firm Honda. It’s followed by compatriots Toyota, Suzuki and Mitsubishi. Korean company Hyundai is next, followed by Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. Ford and SEAT complete the top 10.

Who really makes the least reliable cars?

The WarrantyWise data will make uncomfortable reading for bosses at Fiat Group. Its cars make up five of the bottom seven. Maserati is at the bottom of the list of 36 manufacturers. Fiat Group companies Ferrari, Jeep, Chrysler and Alfa Romeo are also there. Shocks are Porsche, which is third from bottom while Jaguar is second from bottom.

And the surprises are…

Car makers that are typically thought of as having bullet-proof reliability such as Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW fared badly, coming in at 27^th, 28^th and 29^th. They were all eclipsed by Citroen, admittedly only in 26^th place. However, Peugeot was 11^th, Fiat 15^th, Renault 17^th and Vauxhall 18^th. Interestingly Lexus, which is owned by Toyota and has a reputation for building reliable cars, could only finish in 16^th spot.

How is the data compiled?

The WarrantyWise data is put together using the claims it pays out on for the cars it covers. It gives car makers a rating based on the number of reported faults or breakdowns. Average repair costs, vehicle age and model are also considered in the ranking. A score of 75 out of 100 is a UK average. Above that is considered reliable; below 60 signifies a lot of repair work has been carried out. Bottom of the list Maserati scored a mere 41. However, every car maker from 26^th upwards scored 75 or more, meaning that today’s cars appear to be a pretty reliable bunch. And Lexus, which will be disappointed with 16^th slot, still manages to score 82.

What the expert says

WarrantyWise CEO, Lawrence Whittaker, said: “This research proves that you can’t go buying a car on reputation alone. Many people will flock to certain brands and stay away from others. But our data shows that those prejudices may actually be leading people in the wrong direction.”