Amid the continuous increase in the price of new cars, the used car market is attracting more and more attention. But with numerous options come many pitfalls, and the question of reliability is becoming the most important purchase criterion. However, which models are so durable that they seem absolutely immune to visits to the service station?
The British magazine What Car?, known for its extensive tests and analyses, tried to give a definitive answer with a large-scale reliability study in 2025. In partnership with "MotorEasy", a total of 227 models from 30 brands were put under the microscope, with the results based on detailed responses from an impressive 32,493 UK owners over the past 24 months.
The study looked at not only the number of breakdowns on cars up to five years old, but also the nature of the breakdowns, as well as the time and cost of repairs. Owners were asked to report problems across 16 categories – from the 12-volt battery and suspension to infotainment systems and engine.
The biggest surprise came from the small but elite club of four models for which owners had reported absolutely no faults in the past two years. These four models achieved a perfect score of 100% reliability:
Hyundai i10 (2020 onwards), Hyundai Santa Fe (2018-2024), Kia EV3 (2024 onwards), Toyota GR Yaris (2016 onwards). The lack of damage means that these cars are not only healthy, but have provided their owners with maximum time behind the wheel, without unexpected downtime at the workshop.
Immediately after the excellent cars is the Toyota Aygo X (2021 onwards), which achieves a very close score of 99.7%. Only three percent of owners reported a problem, and it was only on the body - a cosmetic defect that did not immobilize the car. All repairs were free of charge and completed in less than a day.
The Opel Grandland (from 2024) is also behind with 99.6%. With it, 4% of owners reported minor electrical problems not related to the engine, which were also resolved free of charge and within a day.
Other models that demonstrate impressive durability are: Toyota RAV4 (from 2019): 99.2%, MINI (2014-2024): 99.1%, VW T-Roc (2018-2025): 99.0%, Porsche Macan (from 2021): 99.0%
The results of the study clearly show that reliability is achievable in all classes - from city cars and family SUVs to sports and luxury cars. The proof is in: there are models who truly refuse to cause trouble.