The most reliable cars in 2025 – and the least

Also highly rated:

BMW 3 Series (2019+) - 98.0%

Skoda Superb Diesel (2015-2024) - 98.0%

Executive cars - Least reliable

Mercedes-Benz C-Class (2021+) - 76.3%

The latest C-Class isn’t looking as sturdy as the previous model; 43% of cars built from 2021 onwards had a glitch, compared with 23% for the 2014-2021 generation. Failures occurred across a range of areas, including the air-conditioning, engine, fuel system, gearbox and non-engine electrics.

Also lowly rated:

Volvo S90 (2016-2023) & Volvo V90 (2016+) - 76.7%

Skoda Superb Petrol (2015-2024)

Small SUVs - Most reliable

Kia EV3 (2024+) - 100%

While some of the latest electric models have struggled with battery and motor flaws, the Kia EV3 has sailed through its first reliability survey with none of these. In fact, it’s one of just four models to have achieved a full 100% reliability rating this year.

Also highly rated:

Volkswagen T-Roc (2018+) - 99.0%

Hyundai Kona Hybrid (2019+) - 98.7%

Small SUVs - Least reliable

1: Nissan Juke Petrol (2019+) - 55.2%

A combination of slow repairs and some huge repair bills have dragged the petrol Juke to the bottom of the chart for small SUVs. In fact, its 55.2% reliability rating is the lowest of all the cars included – in any category – in this year’s survey.

Although only 24% of petrol Juke owners said their car had gone wrong, 64% of those said their cars were out of action for more than a week, and only 30% of problems were fixed for free.

Also lowly rated:

Lexus LBX (2023+) - 81.9%

Nissan Juke Hybrid (2022+) - 89.0%

Family SUVs - Most reliable

1: Opel Grandland Petrol (2024+) - 99.6%

The second-generation Grandland is looking far more robust than its predecessor, with a minimal fault rate of just 4%, compared with 19% for the 2018-2024 model. Unspecified non-engine electrical problems were the only issues reported by owners.

Also highly rated:

Toyota RAV4 (2019+) - 99.2%

Porsche Macan (2014+) - 99.0%

Family SUVs - Least reliable

1: Volkswagen Tiguan (2024+) - 64.2%

The Tiguan has the highest fault rate of any car in this year’s survey; 81% of the cars we were told about had some sort of problem. The infotainment system accounted for 31% of issues, and the braking system and non-engine electrics each accounted for another 19%.

Also lowly rated:

Kia Sportage (2016-2021) - 72.9%

Mazda CX-60 (2022+) - 76.2%

Luxury cars - Most reliable

1: Lexus RX (2016-2022)

The RX is the highest-scoring luxury model for the second consecutive year, beating models from other premium brands when it comes to dependability. A mere 7% of the RXs owners told us about had any problems, with air-conditioning, bodywork and non-engine electrics the trouble spots.

Also highly rated:

BMW X5 Petrol & PHEV (2018+) - 96.2%

Range Rover Sport (2013-2022) – 94.9%

Luxury cars - Least reliable

Audi Q7 (2015+) - 78.6%

Faults suffered by the Q7 can be far more costly to remedy than those of its main luxury SUV rival, the BMW X5. 47% of Q7s had a problem, most (20%) being caused by non-engine electrical issues. The engine, exhaust and infotainment system were also cited as problematic.

Also lowly rated:

BMW iX (2021+) - 81.0%

Mercedes-Benz GLE - 82.0%

Seven-Seaters - Most reliable

1: Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024) - 100%

Results in the seven-seater category were disappointing this year. Only cars in the electric SUV category posted a lower average score, so a seven-seater that manages an

unblemished 100% rating deserves a lot of praise. The Santa Fe not only does just this, but it’s also the second Hyundai model to gain a perfect score this year, alongside the much cheaper i10 city car.

Also highly rated:

Skoda Kodiaq Diesel (2016-2024) - 97.8%

Mercedes-Benz GLB (2019+) - 96.0%

Seven-Seaters - Least reliable

The Q7 appears in this survey as both the lowest-scoring luxury car and the poorest-rated seven-seater. Owners told us that 47% of their cars had gone wrong; Q7 owners were asked to pay for far more repairs than those with seven-seaters from other brands; only 15% of Q7s were fixed for free.

Also lowly rated:

Land Rover Discovery Sport (2014+) - 81.8%

Seat Tarraco (2018+) - 84.9%

Electric cars - Most reliable

1: BMW i3 (2013-2022) - 97.4%

The i3 may no longer be on sale, but it’s still a great option if you’re after a dependable small EV. Its fault rate of just 11% beats not only the Nissan Leaf family hatchback but also tops that of the i3’s pricier BMW i4 stablemate.

Also highly rated:

BMW i4 (2021+) - 96.8%

Nissan Leaf (2018-2024) - 96.5%

Electric cars - Least reliable

1: Hyundai Ioniq Electric (2016-2022) - 80.1%

The now-discontinued Ioniq Electric family car is the lowest-scoring EV in our survey, not helped by how long owners had to do without their cars while repairs were made. Among the cars that went wrong, 90% were unable to be driven until repairs were carried out, and 70% of these spent more than a week receiving workshop attention.

Also lowly rated:

Hyundai Ioniq 5 (2021+) - 80.7%

Porsche Taycan (2020+) - 81.2%

Electric SUVs - Most reliable

1: Kia EV3 (2024+) - 100%

The EV3 is the first Kia model to attain a perfect 100% reliability rating in our survey. It’s the brand’s most affordable pure electric model, yet it outperforms many larger, more expensive electric SUVs – including the BMW iX – when it comes to durability and build quality.

Also highly rated:

Renault Scenic (2024+) - 97.5%

Tesla Model Y (2022+) - 97.1%

Electric SUVs - Least reliable

Volkswagen ID 4 (2021+) - 79.6%

36% of ID 4 owners had problems, compared with 30% of people with Enyaqs and 29% with Q4 e-trons, which are sister cars.  What’s more, 67% of faulty ID 4s were off the road for more than a week, while only 28% of Enyaqs (and 52% of Q4s) took that long. The EV battery and electric motor were the main issues for ID 4 owners, but VW did pay for all repairs.