Monday, 28 July 2014

Warranty Direct reveals top performers

The Citroën Berlingo Multispace and Suzuki SX4 are reliability royalty according to the latest statistics from automotive warranty specialist, Warranty Direct

The company analysed data from more than 50,000 live policies to compile a chart of the best-performing MPV and Crossover models.

Warranty Direct’s unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.com) takes into account factors such as how frequently a car breaks down, typical repair costs, how long it takes to fix and average age and mileage. The lower a car’s Reliability Index, the more reliable it is.

According to the figures, the best-performing MPVs trump their Crossover cousins and the reliability Queen of the MPV sector is the Citroën Berlingo Multispace (1997-2008), with fewer than two in 10 models experiencing a fault in any given 12-month period.

Citroën has three entries in the MPV reliability chart as the big-selling Xsara Picasso ranks third and the latest Berlingo Multispace eighth.

Ford also has a trio of entries in the MPV top 10. The latest Ford C-MAX takes the runner-up spot and its predecessor, the original Ford Focus C-MAX, is ranked ninth. Tenth place goes to the practical Ford S-MAX.

MOST RELIABLE FAMILY MPVS

RANK MAKE MODEL PRODUCTION RELIABILITY INDEX AVERAGE REPAIR COST

1 Citroën Berlingo Multispace 1997 – 2008 37 £199.54

2 Ford C-MAX 2010 – 49 £288.54

3 Citroën Xsara Picasso 2000 – 2010 52 £215.34

4 Chevrolet Tacuma 2005 – 2008 55 £482.62

5 Renault Scenic 2003 – 2009 70 £285.93

6 Skoda Roomster 2005 – 75 £365.94

7 Citroën Berlingo Multispace 2008 – 84 £276.47

8 Fiat Doblo 2001 – 2010 102 £262.49

9 Ford Focus C-MAX 2003 – 2010 106 £315.25

10 Ford S-MAX 2006 – 109 £401.15

Only vehicles available in new car showrooms as recently as 2007 were included in Warranty Direct’s analysis and Japanese brands dominate the top of the Crossover chart. Suzuki took top spot with the SX4 crowned the most reliable high-riding, two-wheel drive model. With the lowest breakdown rate and average repair cost in its class, the Suzuki SX4 finished comfortably ahead of the original Nissan Qashqai.

The closely-related Kia Sportage (2005-2010) and Hyundai Tucson crossovers fought it out for third place, with the Hyundai winning the battle of the South Korean brands to claim the bronze medal position.

MOST RELIABLE CROSSOVERS

RANK MAKE MODEL PRODUCTION RELIABILITY INDEX AVERAGE REPAIR COST

1. Suzuki SX4 2006 – 24 £182.87

2. Nissan Qashqai 2007 – 2013 68 £343.51

3. Hyundai Tucson 2004 – 2009 69 £226.36

4. Kia Sportage 2005 – 2010 93 £299.21

5. Toyota RAV4 2006 – 2012 106 £432.82

6. Ford Kuga 2008 – 2012 129 £379.93

7. Volkswagen Tiguan 2008 – 170 £320.81

8. Vauxhall Antara 2007 – 230 £414.66

Motorists torn between the practical nature of a family MPV and the rugged appeal of a Crossover model should take note - the top-performing people carriers in the chart logged an average Reliability Index of 73.9, compared to 111 for their taller-riding rivals.

This trend was also reflected in other areas of the study - average repair costs for models in the MPV list averaged £309.33, compared to £349.40 for the best of their Crossover counterparts.

When it comes to individual faults, MPVs are most likely to suffer from electrical gremlins, accounting for an average of 29.6% of faults, while Crossovers are most commonly afflicted by axle and suspension issues – responsible for 28.3% of faults.

David Gerrans, managing director of Warranty Direct, said, ‘Reliability is a crucial part of any car-buying decision, especially for busy families with already strained household budgets.

‘Both MPVs and Crossover models are aimed squarely at family motorists and this analysis of our comprehensive database will make essential reading for anyone considering a family model.’