When searching for a car, one of the key questions you’ll likely ask yourself is, ‘Will this car be reliable’? Reliability is boring, yes, but essential. No amount of tech, high-powered performance or a sleek interior will help you if your car doesn’t start when you’re late for a meeting or it stumbles to a stop during the school run.
Now, of course, there is no guarantee when leasing a car that it’ll be dependable, sure, but what you can do is do your research before you commit to a 2-5 year lease. So where should you start? Whilst there is no official reliability rating, there are a few sources you can trawl through and cross-reference. But to save you that hassle, here are some of our suggestions for the most reliable cars on the market today.
Volvo XC40
According to AutoExpress’ ‘Driver Power’ survey, their participants put the Volvo XC40 as the highest-ranking car they can depend on the most when out and about on the roads. Not only did it come out top in terms of reliability, it’s one of the safest too - with Volvo being renowned for making the safest cars for its drivers.
Lexus RX
If you’re looking for an award-winner in reliability, look no further than the Lexus RX, which topped the chart in What Car’s Reliability awards 2021. Lexus has dominated their reliability survey for the last 4 years, winning 3 out of 4 of the awards. One of Lexus’ top models is the RX luxury SUV, which scored 99% in the newer car category. What Car also found out from this survey that if there was a fault with the car, 86% of drivers with older generation models got them fixed at no extra cost - thanks to Lexus’ superb manufacturers warranty!
Kia Sorento
Long manufacturer warranties are something to celebrate when looking for a car to lease. Whether you opt for 2 years or 5 years, you’ll feel safe in the knowledge that Kia has your back with a 7 year warranty - which is the longest warranty guarantee in the industry. This Sorento scored 2nd place in the AutoExpress’ Driver Power Survey, with owners being impressed with the quality and 7-seat spacious interior, perfect for larger families.
Ford EcoSport
Now with leasing, one of the many benefits is that repairs during your lease period are zero to minimal and repairs are likely to happen after your lease period has ended. But if repair works are a concern when choosing your next car, it might be worth looking at the Ford EcoSport. Every car will need the odd bit of maintenance, eventually, but you might not need to break the bank if you own a Ford EcoSport. The average claim for this small SUV is £134 with pricier repair jobs coming in at an affordable £183.
Nissan Leaf Hatchback
The world’s best-selling EV, the Nissan Leaf was ranked 24th in Car Buyer’s 2020 Driver Power Survey for owner satisfaction, with Nissan coming in 11th place out of 30 manufacturers for reliability. However, if things do go wrong and repairs are needed, the average repair costs can be higher than usual. 22% of respondents in the survey reported one or more faults within the first year, with electrical faults being the most common issue. Don’t let this put you off though, owners were impressed with the running costs, safety features (the Leaf scored 5 stars when crash-tested by Euro NCAP) and its low servicing costs.
Toyota Yaris
Not only has Toyota been named as Auto Trader’s 2021 ‘Most Reliable Brand Award’, but Auto Express has hailed Toyota as ‘The Most Dependable On UK Roads’. What a credential! Toyota’s reliability was named the best, which took into account how often owners had to visit the manufacturer’s workshop and how much they needed to spend in order for it to be kept in tip-top condition. We’ve chosen this Toyota Yaris as our top pick as it’s not only reliable but it’s surprisingly safe for a small hatchback, plus has nifty features like automatic emergency braking and radar cruise control as standard. What more could you want in a small car?
Mazda MX-5
How about something sleek and sporty? The nimble Mazda MX-5 can dart down the UK country roads with ease whilst also guaranteeing that you'll get from A to B without too many problems. This little car's reliability is exceptional with less than 10% of its drivers reporting a problem - the most common of which were electrical.
Skoda Octavia
Skoda is renowned for its reliability on the roads. The Octavia has been praised by its owners for being practical, reliable and having affordable running costs. Skoda achieved 5th place in the 2020 Auto Express ‘Driver Power’ survey out of 30 manufacturers, which made it the top-rated brand from the VW group.
Volkswagen Up
If you’re looking for a dependable small car when you’re out and about on the roads, why not try the Volkswagen Up? Only 3% of owners reported a fault when these little hatchback’s drivers were questioned on the What Car 2020 Reliability survey, and all were fixed for free under warranty.
Peugeot 3008
If you’re in the market for a reliable family cross-over, the Peugeot 3008 outperforms all its rivals. It achieved 2nd place in the AutoExpress Driver Power Customer Satisfaction survey in 2020. It also has a whole host of safety features and driver aids including automated emergency braking as standard. The Peugeot 3008 gives you a 2 year unlimited warranty from the factory, plus an extra year from the dealer - only beaten by Kia’s 7-year warranty and Toyota and Hyundai’s 5-year warranties.
Want even more on the 3008? Take a look at our latest Peugeot 3008 lease deals or read our in-depth review.
Now you know which cars are the most reliable, why not take a look at our pick of the UK’s safest cars?
Sources
https://www.whatcar.com/news/car-of-the-year-awards-2021-reliability-award/n22449
https://www.whatcar.com/news/2020-what-car-reliability-survey/n20042
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/best-cars/driver-power/95238/best-cars-to-own-driver-power-results
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/news/most-reliable-brand-award-2021-toyota
