The most reliable cars of 1998

Every 1998 car tested in Britain in one year, ranked by how often it failed. Measured, not surveyed.

Best

#	Car	Engine	Failure rate	Tests
1	Lotus Elise	1.8 Petrol	15%	692
2	Porsche 911	3.4 Petrol	16%	993
3	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	2.3 Petrol	20%	1,359
4	Jaguar XK8	4.0 Petrol	20%	1,100
5	BMW Z3	2.8 Petrol	20%	1,119
6	BMW 3 Series	2.5 Petrol	21%	823
7	Rover Mini	1.3 Petrol	21%	1,063
8	BMW 3 Series	2.8 Petrol	22%	732
9	Jaguar XJ	3.2 Petrol	22%	578
10	Porsche Boxster	2.5 Petrol	22%	956
11	BMW 3 Series	1.9 Petrol	23%	562
12	Land Rover Discovery	2.5 Diesel	23%	1,457
13	Ford Transit	2.5 Diesel	24%	1,064
14	Mazda MX-5	1.8 Petrol	24%	1,982
15	Land Rover Defender	2.5 Diesel	24%	4,041
16	Toyota Starlet	1.3 Petrol	24%	1,649
17	Vauxhall Corsa	1.4 Petrol	25%	797
18	Mazda MX-5	1.6 Petrol	25%	1,371
19	Toyota Land Cruiser	3.0 Diesel	25%	661
20	Toyota MR2	2.0 Petrol	26%	528
21	Toyota Corolla	1.3 Petrol	26%	889
22	MG MGF	1.8 Petrol	27%	1,166
23	Toyota Corolla	1.6 Petrol	27%	549
24	Volkswagen Polo	1.4 Petrol	27%	547
25	BMW Z3	1.9 Petrol	27%	1,812

Worst

#	Car	Engine	Failure rate	Tests
1	Ford Fiesta	1.2 Petrol	34%	1,273
2	Ford Fiesta	1.3 Petrol	33%	535
3	Nissan Micra	1.3 Petrol	32%	715
4	Volkswagen Transporter	1.9 Diesel	32%	2,665
5	Volkswagen Transporter	2.5 Diesel	31%	1,100
6	Vauxhall Astra	1.6 Petrol	30%	641
7	Honda CR-V	2.0 Petrol	30%	563
8	Nissan Micra	1.0 Petrol	30%	1,465
9	Toyota Hilux	2.4 Diesel	30%	895
10	Volkswagen Golf	1.6 Petrol	29%	786
11	Volkswagen Transporter	2.4 Diesel	28%	1,128
12	Volvo V70	2.4 Petrol	28%	640
13	Peugeot Boxer	2.4 Diesel	28%	744
14	Honda Civic	1.4 Petrol	28%	758
15	Toyota RAV4	2.0 Petrol	27%	863
16	Fiat Ducato	2.5 Diesel	27%	857
17	BMW Z3	1.9 Petrol	27%	1,812
18	Volkswagen Polo	1.4 Petrol	27%	547
19	Toyota Corolla	1.6 Petrol	27%	549
20	MG MGF	1.8 Petrol	27%	1,166
21	Toyota Corolla	1.3 Petrol	26%	889
22	Toyota MR2	2.0 Petrol	26%	528
23	Toyota Land Cruiser	3.0 Diesel	25%	661
24	Mazda MX-5	1.6 Petrol	25%	1,371
25	Vauxhall Corsa	1.4 Petrol	25%	797

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 1998 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.