Consumer organization Which? surveyed more than 84,000 drivers in The Land of Hope and Glory to establish which new cars suffered the fewest breakdowns, faults and niggles. In the process, they established which vehicles suffer the most breakdowns, faults and niggles. While we wonder about the exact definition of “niggle,” if not the survey’s complete methodology, here’s the bottom of the list. In the perverse dark lining in the silver cloud way of this site, see the winners after the jump. [thanks to G Arlt for the link]
The 10 least reliable new cars
112. Hyundai Santa Fe 82.2%
113. Jaguar S-type 81.2%
114. Volvo XC90 80.6%
115. Land Rover Freelander 80.1%
116. Ford S-Max 79.9%
117. Land Rover Discovery 79.5%
118. Alfa Romeo 159 79.0%
119. Jaguar XF 78.0%
120. Ford Galaxy 76.3%
121. Audi A5 75.8%
The 10 most reliable new cars
1. Honda Accord 98.5%
2. Honda Jazz (2008-present) 98.2%
3. Daihatsu Sirion 97.5%
4. Hyundai i30 96.8%
5. Ford Fiesta 96.2%
6. Honda Jazz (2002-2008) 95.9%
7. Honda Civic Hybrid 95.7%
8. Citroën C1 95.7%
9. Toyota Prius 95.0%
10. Mazda 3 94.4%
The methodology of this survey is far from clear. Some questions I was unable to find answers to earlier:
1. These results include multiple model years. How do they adjust the results when a newer model lack older model years, or for when a disproportionate number of responses are for an older model year?
2. How long a time period are people asked to report on? The past year? How do they adjust when a respondent has only owned the car for a few months?
If the survey covers an entire year, then some massive under-reporting is going on. Even the worst models have only a single problem for every four cars? Maybe the reporting period is the previous three months.
To compare TrueDelta’s results for some of these models:
http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php
Hum #7 and #9 are both hybrids. Is it possible that all those extra parts makes the vehicle more reliable rather then less reliable?
I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.
I knew nothing about the Ford Galaxy and looked it up. I presume this poor showing is for the VW based unit and not the new all-Ford vehicle.
This would be a great vehicle over here, reminds me of my Gen1 Honda Odyssey. The name would have a lot of equity over here in the states, but the two spellings (the 60s big US Ford was Galaxie) would drive me nuts.
I have to agree with Michael Karesh. And if you compare TrueDelta’s numbers, a lot of the “most reliable” cars aren’t.
Man, things sure have changed since Citroen was sold in the US. They actually make a top 10 reliable car? And no Fiats in the bottom 10? Although there is an Alfa down there. So the world isn’t all topsy turvy.
Oh crud!
(Braces herself for the slew of “Jaguar” jokes)
What did surprise me was how many of the cars in that list were “Ford” based.
I’m not going to read too much into this as there’s a slight problem.
At number 8 there’s the Citroen C1, which is great, but where’s the Toyota Aygo and the Peugeot 107?
They’re the same car!
All are built at the same factory on the same line with the same parts. The only difference is that one has a Citroen badge, one has a Peugeot badge and one has Toyota badge (and a slight re-skin).
Curious….
Notice that 7 out of 10 of the least reliable cars were engineering by a member of the Ford family of companies.
jmo said “I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.”
Actually, if you go to truedelta.com, you’ll find that the Prius is one of the most reliable cars listed, not “just #9”.
As for why? I strongly suspect that the cars being engineered, developed by and built by Toyota and Honda in Japan has something to do with it.
It’s a dirty little secret that Japanese manufactured Japanese brand cars are more reliable than US manufactured Japanese brand cars.
Sadly for the US (and telling re: the UAW and our culture of drug abuse and entitlement expectations) it’s been known for nearly a century, that re: American brand cars, the equivalent cars manufactured in Canada were better made (at least they certainly said to be before the Auto Pact between the USA and Canada which started in 1965).
Pretty well sums thing up to realize that often times, US auto executives demanded Canadian built cars built on a Wednesday with special treatment by foreman following the car the entire way down the line.
1. What are the percentage figures after each model meant to indicate?
2. Am I to be the only one who misreads the third-most-reliable car as the “Sirloin”?
Hmmm…I bet Ford doesn’t pay for a quality study in the UK…
I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.
Because they are engineered by Toyota and Honda? Both non-government-owned companies that give a damn about reliability and durability.
I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.
Not sure about the Civic, but Prius has an extremely elegant drivetrain. Don’t let the word “hybrid” fool you; the whole hybrid system, battery and all, is a lot less complex than an average 5-speed auto gearbox. Two electric motors and a planetary gearset properly sized to create the world’s best automatic gearbox (for commuter cars, at least). Then, there’s a REALLY understressed engine/brakes, electric-driven accessories, paranoid owners, and, finally, Toyota’s efforts to overengineer the thing in the first place: if they’re gonna get a foot in the door, it’s gonna wear a steel-tipped, lead-filled shoe. Put all components together and you end up with a car that’ll rival 80’s diesel S-class in terms of reliablity. Quite logical.
companies that give a damn about reliability and durability.
I’d have to agree. It always struck me as odd that the goal of the Big Three was to equal the Japanese on quality and reliablity. Shouldn’t the goal be to beat them by 20% or 30%?
@jmo
I was under the impression that the (former) big three thought their reliability was already the same as Toyota and Honda and that the problem was with the customer?
big three thought their reliability was already the same as Toyota and Honda
It’s just sick that they thought being equal to the Japanese was good enough. Don’t they know that in a competition the goal is to be better than, not just as good as?
If Lexus has 89 defects per 100 cars the goal of Cadillac should be 71 defects per 100 cars.
I always thought hybrids were more reliable because the electric battery takes a huge load off of the mechanical engine, and keeps the engine from being too overworked by giving the car extra juice during acceleration.
on reliability – what menno and alex_rashev said
In the 1980’s Akio Morita said that America had forgotten how to make things. That’s not really true. We engineer and make the best F-22s, Virginia class subs and Abrams tanks in the world. There are, however, surprisingly few customers for these items.
Meanwhile, we’ve offshored much of the production and engineering for the items for which there are many customers. Some of those we’ve left on-shore are subject to poisonous corporate and union culture.
romanjetfighter,
Also, at least for the Prius they had to move away from engine driven A/C, Water pump, etc. towards all electic accessories – it seems this is far more reliable than the old belt driven method.
I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.
In grueling stop-and-go type traffic, the hybrid ICE gets to take a nap while conventional vehicles have their engines churning away wearing away their moving parts and testing the limits of their cooling systems. The regenerative braking might even have an effect in extending brake life – although I’m not sure if would be enough to produce a noticeable difference. If my theory is correct, it changes the cost/benefit numbers for hybrid vs. conventional.
Michael, have you thought about talking to some of the taxi companies now using Hybrids? I see a lot of them around Boston and I understand they have them in NYC. Maybe a Prius vs. Panther special?
The Santa Fe is a surprise. Hyundai seemed to me to have conquered their quality demons. I see there is no mention of the X-type, presumably because everyone has given up on them and there is none left on the road.
jmo, that no belt gig is only 2010 on for the Prius. This should mean that the 3rd generation cars (as counted everywhere except Japan which had one earlier Prius generation) should be even more reliable.
If my theory is correct, it changes the cost/benefit numbers for hybrid vs. conventional.
If it turns out that the very nature of hybrid technology makes for a super-reliable car, it will drive the Prius haters into fits of incoherent, apoplectic rage.
Nick, I suspect that the Santa Fe is actually being used in the UK as a tow vehicle on farms, kind of a downmarket Range Rover type of use. Also the engine is different than in the US; it’d more much more likely to have a diesel in the UK, which may be more problematical.
NickR,
On the contrary, there are many X-Types in the UK (there’s one in my garage, alongside my Toyota Yaris) and they are extremely reliable cars. Readers of TTAC will attest to how I’ve lauded X-Types.
Jaguar do make good cars.
I’d give the XF a couple of years. This survey is following the first year of production for the XF.
Menno,
I’m not sure that diesels will be more problematic. Quite the opposite, a diesel engine has less parts and are designed to work in harsher conditions (like the arctic).
I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure that’s the case.
Man, things sure have changed since Citroen was sold in the US. They actually make a top 10 reliable car?
The Citroen C1, Peugeot 107, and Toyota Aygo are basically the same car – they were co-designed by PSA and Toyota and are built in a co-owned factory.
… to establish which new cars suffered the fewest breakdowns, faults and niggles. In the process, they established which vehicles suffer the most breakdowns, faults and niggles …
I’m a little fuzzy about this methodology of ascertaining the most “reliable” vehicle. If during a 1 year period a VW Jetta burns a tail light out and a Honda Civic blows its transmission, are they given the same reliability score? Both vehicles having had 1 problem during the year? What problems the vehicles had and the costs of repair over a time period are more important than just “problems” per vehicle.
And this may even not be an indicator of long term reliability of the major components — which is what one would really be concerned about if one is keeping a vehicle 8 – 10 years or more. One has to take into consideration the costs of repair per mileage driven.
I’d really like to hear, from an engineering perspective, why a Prius/Civic Hybrid is so much more reliable than most other cars.
It has nothing to do with engineering and everything to do with cost accountancy. Because these are halo cars for their manufacturers, they are not decontented into quality hell.
This is why you should be very afraid of any Chrysler, as well as the Mk6 Jetta/Golf and “NMS” Passat: they’re exercises in cost control, where the Prius’ raison d’etre is to put Toyota’s best face forward.
Engineers actually have some trouble with this, in that they tend to confuse theoretical or design-oriented reliability with the real world, customer-focused performance of the car. For example:
I’m not sure that diesels will be more problematic. Quite the opposite, a diesel engine has less parts and are designed to work in harsher conditions (like the arctic).
The powertrain is just a small part of the whole-car reliability experience. No one expects their block to crack, but there’s still the transmission, electronics, emissions control, body hardware and such. Diesels do not get a free pass on any of that.
Since I own an A5 (3.2 gas with a stick) and have had zero trouble for 15 months and 30,000 miles, I am surprised by the listing of the A5.
At least some of the Prius’ reliability has to be because the thing simply don’t generate any forces on anything. Weak engine, weak brakes, tall tire sidewalls and no grip. And owners at least initially selected from the pool of people who don’t accelerate, brake or turn faster that what the mpg meter recommends.
Japanese manufacture may have something to do with it, too. I have noticed how different US attitudes to quality is when compared to Japanese. In Japan, even computers tend to be overbuilt, so that they last. In the US, we just buy two of any cheap junk, and install hot failover software. Even mainframes are going in that direction.
When I sold my S2000 back in the day, a Japanese transplant worker looking at it, explained to me he would rather get my model year than a new one, since the new ones were assembled in a new factory with less stellar reputation than they used to. If he is representative of how exacting and “anal” people are about quality over there, the manufacturers most likely have no choice but to cater to them.
-stuki,
you must be referring to the Atkinsonised engine which produces 76Hp @ 5000rpm with 82 lbs-ft of torque.
The weak engine, as you refer to it, is almost the same engine that you will find in the Yaris and in its earlier incarnation, the Echo. These particular entry level vehicles when equipped with the 5 spd manual are guaranteed to attain 60mph in 8.5secs and will make short thrift of any lazy unattentive driver out there who might have sought some misplaced confidence in his larger engine with its complementary slushbox transmission. I, personally, will take pride in introducing this driver to all the embarrassment, and occasionally the humiliation even, that his vain and clumsy attempts are worthy. I would say further that if he even dreams of wanting to put my Echo ‘in its place’ he better wake up and apologise. Like Mohammed Ali once said ‘he will stand a better chance with a BB gun in Vietnam’.
Audis BMWs and Jags excepted.
That said, it should be appreciated that the ‘weak’ engine in the Prius doesn’t have to work hard simply because it is able to work SMART.
While other vehicles with their multi-ratio transmissions force their engines to sweep up and down their power curves as their vehicle accelerates, this is not the case with the Prius.
The engine in the Prius is never spun down while the vehicle accelerates because that is so 19th century. The underlying philosophy is that while you are engaged in the fastest acceleration possible, you need the engine to spin as fast as possible – and never allow it to be be forced to slow down periodically as conventional gear-changing transmissions require. By this means, the Toyota HSD system extracts the maximum power that it can from that 1.5L engine, thus making it appear as if it were really a 2.4L under the hood.
In practice the engine is allowed to reach 5000 rpm at about 51 mph and continues at 5000 rpm and maximum torque while the vehicle continues to accelerate through to 100mph. Notwithstanding that there is a 28Hp assist from the battery, I think you will agree that this is a less harsh way to treat an internal combustion engine with the more stable stoichiometric conditions existing within its cylinders promoting a more productive way to expend the fuel.
At all other times a powerful 30Kw servo system forces the engine to run at the slowest speed possible in order to reduce engine friction
and contribute to higher reliability through less engine wear.
I see Regen Braking, another factor promoting reliability, has been covered by the commenter above. It’s nice to see people are getting knowledgeable about some of the finer points of the HSD design.
T2
T2,
Nice write up. But don’t you agree Toyota would have bigger trouble making the car as reliable, if it was capable of generating acceleration like an AMG63, and rode on slicks with tiny sidewalls generating 1.5G’s at the skid pad and 911 like braking numbers from 120mph. As well as being bought and driven primarily by people who chose their car specifically on account of these qualities?
urS4red : I am surprised by the listing of the A5.
Nobody else is! VW/Audi has been near the bottom of reliability rankings for years. The VW/Audi owners I know have not had your good luck.
Audi and VW are not the same thing. It’s not like saying Toyota/Lexus.
Audi sucked pretty hard right up through around 2004, but now they are doing pretty well. As a brand, they are ranked above BMW, and well above Mercedes. VW still pretty much sucks hard.
Readers of TTAC will attest to how I’ve lauded X-Types.
I know, KatiePuckrick, I was just getting your goat.
On a more serious note…a Daihatsu as the third most reliable? Those Europeans are a strange lot.
-stuki,
push the envelope with anything and reliability takes a dive. thems the rules.