UK’s most and least reliable cars 2022

When household bills are rocketing, unexpected car costs are the last thing you need. Every motorist seeks reassurance that their car of choice won’t end up being a liability, so what you need is a way to see which makes and models are the least likely to cause you problems. 

Forewarned is forearmed, so they say, which is why the What Car? Reliability Survey 2022, held in association with MotorEasy, asked car owners for consumer feedback, and the results span 248 different models and 32 brands. 

A whopping 24,927 motorists shared their motoring experiences - the most data that the survey has ever collected! The survey asked owners of cars under five years old if their car had suffered any faults in the last two years, and to put those faults into a category, which are: 

• Air conditioning
• Battery
• Bodywork
• Brakes
• Engine
• Engine electrics
• Exhaust
• Fuel system
• Gearbox/clutch,
• Infotainment/sat nav
• Interior trim
• Non-engine or motor electrics
  Steering 
• Suspension

To put these faults into perspective, the survey then asked respondents to detail how much time their car was off the road to fix them, and how much it cost. By pairing the inconvenience and the cost of each fault, a unique reliability rating for each model was generated, giving a clear indication of what your best bet is if you’re looking for a new car to put your trust in. 

Of all the respondents in the survey, 21% had experienced a fault with their car. For 83% of those surveyed, it merely cost them inconvenience, meaning their faults were repaired free of charge. 9% surveyed paid between £101 and £500 to get back on the road, but an unfortunate 2% of motorists paid more than £1,500 - ouch!  

The results for the UK's most and least reliable cars in 2022 are in! Here is what nearly 25,000 motorists had to say… 

Top 10 most reliable brands

Taking into account results gathered for every manufacturer, the list of the UK's top 10 most reliable brands gives a clear indication of which marques lead the pack when it comes to reliability - is your car one of them?

Lexus - 98.4%
Known for luxury and refinement, Lexus can now confidently state that they’re the ‘most reliable’ manufacturer of 2022 too, coming in 1st place!

Toyota - 97.2%
This Japanese marque has long been known for developing cars that feel like they go on forever, so it’s no surprise to see them 2nd on the list.

MINI - 97.0%
They’ve got retro charm as well as clean, modern designs; MINI models are made with love, and this shows up in their reliability ratings too in which they make 3rd place.

Mitsubishi - 97.0%
Known for their off-road masterpieces, Mitsubishi now has a range of vehicles across the classes - and they’re impressively reliable too which makes them joint third on the list!

Hyundai - 95.8%
Hyundai have risen through the ranks to become a much-loved manufacturer in the UK, and they can now attribute part of that to the reliability of their models where they’re ranked in 5th place.

Suzuki - 95.8%
Affordable and practical, Suzuki models make an excellent choice if you need to regularly zip from A to B. It’s unlikely to spend its time in a workshop either, thanks to a 95.8% reliability score which means they are in joint 5th place.

Kia - 95.5%
Kia have upped their game in recent years to develop models that look good as well as perform brilliantly. Their appearance in 7th place on this list is yet another string to their bow!

Mazda - 95.2%
Makers of the magical MX-5, Mazda have a range to cater to every motorist, from the commuter to the family taxi! Their reliable models mean they appear in 8th place on the list.

MG - 95.0%
Value for money as well as sporty good looks are what iconic brand MG is known for - and now it’s reliability too as they celebrate 9th place.

Dacia - 94.4%
Best-known for its award-winning Dacia Duster model, Duster’s range of family-friendly vehicles have made it onto the top 10 list for the most reliable brands in the UK.

Top 10 most reliable models

Drilling down to individual models as well as marques, this is the list on which every manufacturer wants to see at least one of their models. For MINI, Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Kia, they were in luck with perfect scores! The new Hyundai Tucson and MINI Convertible got a 100% reliability rating, as did the used-only Kia Soul (2014-2019) and Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (2017-2021). Here are the top 10 most reliable models from the 2022 survey: 

Top 10 least reliable brands 

With a list of top performers comes a list of those who didn’t fare so well in consumer feedback - and some of those featured here in the top 10 list of least reliable manufacturers, may just surprise you:

Jeep - 77.0%
Topping this list is Jeep, the American-styled car brand famous for the Renegade, Wrangler and Compass.

Land Rover - 81.4%
Loved by off-roaders and image-conscious city dwellers alike, fans of the Land Rover may be shocked to discover that their favourite brand isn’t all that reliable according to these results!

Fiat - 86.4%
The largest motor manufacturer in Italy may be surprised to find itself on this list, with models such as the 500, Panda and Tipo at the forefront of their stock range.

Alfa Romeo - 87.3%
They’re striking on the road but the What Car? Reliability survey results show that Alfa Romeo models spend a little more time up on the ramp than their owners might like.

Peugeot - 87.4%
Peugeot is a brand that has consistently brought a strong selection of models to the table, but do they cause their owners some inconvenience and cost? This survey suggests so.

Ford - 87.8%
Producers of bestsellers such as the Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, Ford’s reliability is being questioned as far as these results are concerned.

Jaguar - 88.7%
Sleek and stylish are common threads throughout the Jaguar range, but such an aesthetic impact may come at the cost of trust in the luxury British brand’s models.

Nissan - 89.3%
They’re famed for the best-selling crossover SUV, the Nissan Qashqai, but these results show that they’re at the lower end of the reliability scale according to What Car?

Vauxhall - 89.5%
Loved for their hatchbacks in particular, Vauxhall struggled to reach the 90% mark in the reliability survey.

Mercedes - 89.5%
Another reluctant addition to the least reliable cars in 2022 list is Mercedes-Benz, which brings affordable luxury to the new and used car market. 

Least reliable models 

As with any cars that have made it to the top of the list, at the other end of the scale there are those that, unfortunately for them, sit at the bottom. For Land Rover, Audi, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Nissan, and Porsche, it seems models in their range haven’t fared too well in 2022 as far as motorists are concerned. Here are the least reliable cars in 2022 according to the What Car? survey:

Looking for reliability from your next new or used car? 

Let’s be honest - who doesn’t consider reliability when they’re car shopping? What these comprehensive results show us is that buying a reliable car doesn’t have to cost the earth. Many brands in the coveted top 10 places are proud to produce models that provide value for money, and some of those at the bottom are the most expensive!

Choosing a car that you can trust reduces the likelihood of nasty surprises, and keeps running costs low. Whether you rely on your car to get you to work, get the kids to school, or as transport for those much-needed weekend escapes (or all three), it’s wise to consider what impact unreliability could have on your life, and your pocket! 

Finance new and used cars with Octane Finance 

Once you’ve found your reliable set of wheels, you’ll want to explore the options when it comes to funding it. At Octane Finance, we fuel finance for both the direct consumer, and for car dealerships across the UK. 

We have a large panel of lenders that enable us to extend choice and flexibility to those we work with, and we’re committed to making the process of financing your next vehicle as easy and straightforward as possible. Finance your next car in just three simple steps and you could be saying hello to your new set of wheels sooner than you think.