Honda tops annual car reliability survey

Eight out of top 10 reliable brands are Japanese

Expensive premium cars break down more often

What Car? and Warranty Direct research reveals that Honda is the
most reliable used car brand in the UK for the seventh consecutive
year.
Honda, which is about to launch a new version of its CR-V, has an
enviable reliability record, with just a one in 10 chance of cars
suffering a breakdown in any given 12-month period. Toyota and
Lexus are close behind in the league table.
However, while Japanese makes once again dominate the top 10 most
reliable manufacturers, the research, based on 50,000 Warranty
Direct policies on cars between three and 10 years old, shows that
many more expensive brands will actually let you down more often.
Premium marques Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar are languishing in the
bottom 10, with fellow executive maker Audi little better. Land Rover
is the UKs least reliable manufacturer, with a shocking 71% of cars
breaking down at least once every year.
What Car?s editor in chief, Chas Hallett, commented: Reliability is so
important to motorists, especially when times are tough. Japanese car
makers really do deliver on reliability and Honda is exceptionally good
at this.

What will be surprising to many is the fact that several of the more
desirable brands did not fare so well regarding reliability, and the cost
of their repairs are high. They need to do better.
Table showing reliability rating of all manufacturers
Positio
n
1
2
3
4
5
6=
6=
6=
9
10
11
12=
12=
14
15=
15=
15=
18
19
20=
20=
20=
20=
24

Make
Honda
Toyota
Lexus
Suzuki
Subaru
Hyundai
Mazda
Mitsubishi
Chevrolet
Nissan
Kia
Ford
Skoda
Citron
Peugeot
Daewoo
Smart
Mini
Fiat
Seat
Volkswagen
Volvo
Porsche
Vauxhall

Ave
Mileage
47,190
47,610
51,016
35,612
57,403
51,776
44,510
48,693
30,468
46,356
44,310
51,207
49,827
46,712
48,770
40,628
36,381
40,812
44,214
50,223
53,000
59,482
38,742
50,269

RI

Failure Rate

39
68
82
50
68
68
91
91
50
96
95
87
96
95
99
102
104
146
97
118
134
161
243
123

10%
17%
18%
19%
20%
21%
21%
21%
22%
25%
26%
31%
31%
32%
35%
35%
35%
37%
38%
39%
39%
39%
39%
40%

25
26
27=
27=
29
30
31=
31=
33=
33=
35
36

BMW
Audi
Rover
Jaguar
Mercedes-Benz
MG
Saab
Chrysler
Renault
Jeep
Alfa Romeo
Land Rover

57,766
56,813
49,620
49,630
53,386
45,005
56,149
51,110
47,194
49,085
52,370
55,451

175
197
167
184
215
197
161
207
137
228
202
300

41%
42%
43%
43%
45%
48%
50%
50%
52%
52%
55%
71%

Warranty Directs managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher, said:

For most used car buyers, there are only a couple of factors that are
taken into account when choosing a car. Reliability is always one of
the top priorities.
Cars have become increasingly complex, with lots of gadgetry on
board, especially on executive models, where buyers expect more and
more bang for their buck. Owners of these cars pay over the odds for
the premium badge, but our study shows they could also be paying
over the odds just to keep the car on the road.
Its a balancing act for used car buyers. You can get cars that break
down less often, but have higher repair bills, or you can buy a car that
wont cost you much when it fails, such as a Renault, but lumbers you
with more than a 50% chance of doing so. The one thing you do
appear to be able to rely upon is buying Japanese.
Axle and suspension woes are the most common fault reported by the
UKs motoring public, largely due to the perilous state of the nations
roads, accounting for 28.56% of all breakdowns handled by Warranty
Direct. Electrical gremlins are the second most likely cause of an

unwanted garage bill, with 24.3% of drivers reporting problems.

US brand Chevrolet is the only manufacturer from outside the Far East
to break into the top 10. It also has the lowest average repair bill,
227, of the most reliable marques. Unsurprisingly, Porsche models
are the most expensive to repair, with an eye-watering average garage
bill of 623.
ENDS
What Car?
What Car? the UKs biggest car-buying brand, has two magazines, a marketleading website, an app and several established brand extensions. Its flagship
magazine has helped Britains car buyers make purchasing decisions for more
than 35 years, and its tests are widely regarded as the most trusted source of
new-car advice.
Whatcar.com is the UKs leading car-buying website, offering trusted reviews and
data on every new car. A winner of numerous awards and accolades,
whatcar.com is recognised as one of the UKs leading consumer websites for car
purchases and attracted more than three million visits in January 2012 (desktop
and mobile). The website also offers advice on True MPG, car leasing, new car
deals and used cars for sale.
What Car? is owned by Haymarket Media Group the UKs largest independently
owned publishing company with a portfolio of more than 150 titles, ranging from
specialist consumer magazines to business titles and customer publications,
published via wholly owned subsidiaries, joint ventures and under licence
worldwide.
The What Car? Car of the Year Awards event is attended by more than 1000
leading industry figureheads alongside the most influential motoring
correspondents from the wider media. The next event is to be held at the
Grosvenor House hotel in London on January 9, 2013. For more information and
table bookings visit www.whatcarawards.com
www.whatcar.com

Warranty Direct
Launched in 1997, Warranty Direct (www.warrantydirect.co.uk) was the first
direct consumer Warranty Company to operate in the UK. It was the first to offer
cover against failures caused by wear and tear and pioneered warranty cover
against faults found during MoT test and service procedures. It has also
spearheaded several major motoring campaigns, most notably regarding the
state of the UKs potholed roads and the cost of the hourly labour rate for
workshop mechanics. It is owned by Cardif Pinnacle, a trading style of Pinnacle
Insurance plc and subsidiary of global banking house BNP Paribas.

For more information, or to arrange an interview

(ISDN available),
please contact Karen Parry
020 8267 5553
karen.parry@haymarket.com / karen@prandmediaworks.com
Andy Bothwell or Richard Tanner for Warranty Direct
0208 541 3434
andyb@performancepr.co.uk or Richard@performancepr.co.uk