Japanese models top used car reliability survey

JAPANESE models have dominated a list of the 50 most reliable used cars, with Toyota, Lexus and Honda each posting 100 per cent scores.

The RAV4, RX and Jazz models took the top three places. Dacia's budget Duster SUV was the highest placed car from a non-Japanese manufacturer.

Other notable entries included Alfa Romeo, with its long-serving Giulietta hatchback placed in seventh and Giulia sports saloon in equal 27th, and Jaguar's i-Pace - in equal 31st - as the only electric car in the top 50.

Skoda, with seven mentions, was the single manufacturer with the most entries in the table.

Lexus had five models and its Toyota parent four in the top 50; Mazda also had four, with Honda two - interestingly, the older Jazz model scored 100 per cent and a tied first place, while the newer model achieved 96.9 per cent in equal 27th.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz have two models each in the top 50, and Audi only one. Volkswagen has three models.

Petrol and hybrid cars tended to fare better than diesel-engined cars.

The research was conducted by What Car? magazine and online used car marketplace heycar using data supplied by nearly 13,000 owners who took part in a reliability survey.

What Car? asked respondents if their vehicle had experienced a fault in the previous 12 months, what area was affected, how much each fault cost to repair and how long the vehicle was off the road.

Cars up to eight years old were included - vehicles in this age bracket account for more than half of all used car purchases.

Across all the models in the top 50, just over a fifth of owners reported a fault. Non-engine electrical gremlins were the most common problem, followed by the engine and its electrical systems and bodywork.

In 68 per cent of cases the cost of repairs were covered by a warranty, and 36 per cent of cars that needed repaired were driveable and repaired in a day or less.

Top 50 most reliable used cars