Far Eastern cars 'more reliable'

29/07/11

By Steven Birch

Japanese and Korean cars are the most reliable options for motorists buying a second-hand vehicle, a survey has shown.

This increased reliability could also transfer into cheaper car insurance premiums for motorists eager to snag a bargain.

What Car? magazine found that although European cars are more prone to problems, repair costs are cheaper.

Results were based on how many faults cropped up in a 12-month period for cars aged between three to eight years old.

Honda beat off the competition to finish top of the reliability tree, with there only being a 9 per cent chance of the Japanese motors developing an issue in a year.

Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Mazda and Lexus came in just behind Honda in the reliability stakes, while Land Rover languished at the bottom in 35th place with a 55% per cent chance of one of its vehicles having a fault in a year.

Renault did not fare much better, finishing 32nd, but the French manufacturer has emerged as one of the cheapest to repair with average costs of £242.22.

Fiat is the only brand that could boast cheaper repair costs, with an average of £241.63.

What Car? editor Chas Hallett said: "This year's study is a stark reminder of the disparity in reliability between Far Eastern brands, which dominate the top 10, and European brands, which contribute the bulk of the bottom 10."