The most reliable cars of 1997

Every 1997 car tested in Britain in one year, ranked by how often it failed. Measured, not surveyed.

Best

#	Car	Engine	Failure rate	Tests
1	Porsche 911	3.6 Petrol	9%	726
2	BMW 3 Series	2.8 Petrol	19%	613
3	Jaguar XK8	4.0 Petrol	19%	1,382
4	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	2.3 Petrol	21%	944
5	Land Rover Discovery	2.5 Diesel	21%	1,302
6	Jaguar XJ	3.2 Petrol	21%	669
7	BMW 3 Series	2.5 Petrol	21%	541
8	Rover Mini	1.3 Petrol	23%	831
9	Toyota Starlet	1.3 Petrol	23%	1,128
10	Mazda MX-5	1.8 Petrol	24%	1,422
11	MG MGF	1.8 Petrol	24%	906
12	BMW Z3	2.8 Petrol	25%	668
13	Volvo 900 Series	2.3 Petrol	25%	909
14	Mazda MX-5	1.6 Petrol	25%	962
15	Land Rover Defender	2.5 Diesel	26%	4,202
16	Volkswagen Golf	2.0 Petrol	26%	521
17	Ford Transit	2.5 Diesel	26%	969
18	Vauxhall Astra	1.6 Petrol	26%	510
19	Toyota Land Cruiser	3.0 Diesel	26%	715
20	Fiat Ducato	2.5 Diesel	27%	887
21	BMW Z3	1.9 Petrol	28%	1,492
22	Peugeot Boxer	2.4 Diesel	28%	615
23	Honda Civic	1.4 Petrol	28%	600
24	Volkswagen Transporter	2.4 Diesel	29%	1,138
25	Volkswagen Transporter	2.5 Diesel	29%	533

Worst

#	Car	Engine	Failure rate	Tests
1	Volkswagen Transporter	1.9 Diesel	33%	2,125
2	Ford Fiesta	1.2 Petrol	33%	553
3	Nissan Micra	1.0 Petrol	31%	809
4	Volkswagen Transporter	2.5 Diesel	29%	533
5	Volkswagen Transporter	2.4 Diesel	29%	1,138
6	Honda Civic	1.4 Petrol	28%	600
7	Peugeot Boxer	2.4 Diesel	28%	615
8	BMW Z3	1.9 Petrol	28%	1,492
9	Fiat Ducato	2.5 Diesel	27%	887
10	Toyota Land Cruiser	3.0 Diesel	26%	715
11	Vauxhall Astra	1.6 Petrol	26%	510
12	Ford Transit	2.5 Diesel	26%	969
13	Volkswagen Golf	2.0 Petrol	26%	521
14	Land Rover Defender	2.5 Diesel	26%	4,202
15	Mazda MX-5	1.6 Petrol	25%	962
16	Volvo 900 Series	2.3 Petrol	25%	909
17	BMW Z3	2.8 Petrol	25%	668
18	MG MGF	1.8 Petrol	24%	906
19	Mazda MX-5	1.8 Petrol	24%	1,422
20	Toyota Starlet	1.3 Petrol	23%	1,128
21	Rover Mini	1.3 Petrol	23%	831
22	BMW 3 Series	2.5 Petrol	21%	541
23	Jaguar XJ	3.2 Petrol	21%	669
24	Land Rover Discovery	2.5 Diesel	21%	1,302
25	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	2.3 Petrol	21%	944

What this measures

Britain tests every car over three years old against a published standard and publishes the result. This is that record for the 1997 model year, so every car here is the same age and none is flattered by being newer.

A car driven less fails less. An expensive one often sits high for reasons that are not about how well it was built, which is why the app can rank these at the same odometer reading.