With data compiled from over 131,000 active extended car warranty plans, the Reliability Index ranks every car on a combination of factors that include the frequency of repairs and the cost to carry out those repairs.
Honda reigns supreme when it comes to overall reliability, scoring an impressive 89.38/100 on Warrantywise's Reliability Index. With more than 1,500 active Warrantywise plans on Honda vehicles, the brand has built up a solid reputation for being ultra-dependable as average repairs across the board totalled £538.59.
Lexus occupies second position thanks in part to the flawless RX, which recorded not a single fault nor repair. Unsurprisingly, this also makes it the most reliable model according to the expert data. This was no fluke though as the Lexus CT reinforced the brand's standing, with the luxury compact car coming eighth overall in the Reliability index.
Toyota and Suzuki rank third and fourth respectively while Dacia cements its position at number five. Next, comes Hyundai (6), Smart (7), Kia (8), Fiat (9) and Renault (10) to round out the Top 10 brands overall.
Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warrantywise, said: "Warrantywise boasts one of the largest data samples when it comes to painting an accurate picture of the dependable – and not so dependable – used cars currently on the market. Our business continues to go from strength-to-strength as we are seeing a very noticeable upswing in the number of car buyers turning to pre-owned cars where they can get a high-specification vehicle for less. However, any savings on purchase price can be immediately off-set if a used car develops faults outside of manufacturer warranty and our Reliability Index continues to provide precise, quantifiable data on the best and worst-performing used cars on the market."
On the other end of the spectrum, the least reliable car brands on the list are dominated by high-end luxury and supercar marques. While their repairs costs are commensurate with their purchase prices, it's the frequency of repairs that contribute to the low scores.
Source: Warrantywise