The most reliable cars of 2001

Every 2001 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	14%	680
2	Porsche 911	3.4 Petrol	15%	978
3	Jaguar XK8	4.0 Petrol	17%	741
4	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	3.2 Petrol	17%	712
5	Porsche Boxster	3.2 Petrol	19%	1,507
6	BMW Z3	2.2 Petrol	20%	1,058
7	Porsche Boxster	2.7 Petrol	20%	1,030
8	Jaguar XKR	4.0 Petrol	21%	741
9	BMW 5 Series	3.0 Petrol	21%	528
10	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	2.3 Petrol	21%	1,236
11	Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class	3.2 Petrol	21%	809
12	Land Rover Range Rover	2.5 Diesel	21%	573
13	Subaru Impreza	2.0 Petrol	22%	1,149
14	Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class	2.0 Petrol	22%	828
15	BMW Z3	1.9 Petrol	23%	724
16	BMW 3 Series	3.0 Petrol	23%	1,984
17	Mercedes-Benz C-Class	2.0 Petrol	23%	1,221
18	Toyota Corolla	1.6 Petrol	23%	1,047
19	BMW 3 Series	2.5 Petrol	23%	1,920
20	Lexus IS200	2.0 Petrol	23%	992
21	BMW 5 Series	2.5 Petrol	23%	667
22	Toyota Corolla	1.4 Petrol	23%	1,885
23	MG MGF	1.8 Petrol	24%	1,987
24	Saab 9-3	2.0 Petrol	24%	1,059
25	Toyota RAV4	2.0 Petrol	24%	1,400

Worst

#	Car	Engine	Failure rate	Tests
1	Ford KA	1.3 Petrol	35%	820
2	Ford Fiesta	1.3 Petrol	34%	1,894
3	Volkswagen Beetle	2.0 Petrol	34%	1,027
4	Vauxhall Corsa	1.0 Petrol	33%	1,301
5	Mini Mini	1.6 Petrol	33%	3,380
6	Volkswagen Beetle	1.6 Petrol	33%	600
7	Vauxhall Astra	1.7 Diesel	32%	640
8	Peugeot 106	1.1 Petrol	32%	1,323
9	Citroen Xsara	2.0 Diesel	32%	525
10	Volkswagen Transporter	2.5 Diesel	32%	4,618
11	Ford Fiesta	1.2 Petrol	31%	1,995
12	Vauxhall Astra	1.8 Petrol	31%	599
13	Vauxhall Corsa	1.2 Petrol	31%	3,632
14	Peugeot 206	1.4 Petrol	31%	2,376
15	Renault Clio	1.1 Petrol	31%	2,203
16	Honda CR-V	2.0 Petrol	31%	1,913
17	Vauxhall Corsa	1.4 Petrol	30%	684
18	Volkswagen Transporter	1.9 Diesel	30%	3,819
19	Vauxhall Zafira	1.6 Petrol	30%	521
20	Volkswagen Polo	1.0 Petrol	30%	1,237
21	Ford Focus	1.8 Petrol	30%	1,574
22	Skoda Fabia	1.9 Diesel	30%	829
23	Citroen Saxo	1.1 Petrol	30%	998
24	Hyundai Amica	1.0 Petrol	30%	521
25	Ford Mondeo	1.8 Petrol	30%	705

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 2001 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.