The most reliable cars of 2021
Every 2021 car tested in Britain in one year, ranked by how often it failed. Measured, not surveyed.
Best
| # | Car | Engine | Failure rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LEVC TX | 1.5 Hybrid | 2% | 2,094 |
| 2 | Toyota RAV4 | 2.5 Hybrid | 2% | 553 |
| 3 | Mini Cooper | 1.5 Petrol | 3% | 1,229 |
| 4 | Ford Puma | 1.0 Petrol | 3% | 1,502 |
| 5 | Mini Cooper | 2.0 Petrol | 3% | 552 |
| 6 | Toyota Aygo | 1.0 Petrol | 3% | 725 |
| 7 | Citroen C3 | 1.2 Petrol | 4% | 511 |
| 8 | Volkswagen ID4 Life | Electric | 4% | 992 |
| 9 | Nissan Juke | 1.0 Petrol | 4% | 838 |
| 10 | Toyota C-HR | 1.8 Hybrid | 4% | 651 |
| 11 | Ford Fiesta | 1.0 Petrol | 4% | 2,228 |
| 12 | Nissan Leaf | Electric | 4% | 765 |
| 13 | Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 1.3 Petrol | 4% | 608 |
| 14 | Hyundai Kona | Electric | 4% | 656 |
| 15 | Volkswagen T-Roc | 1.5 Petrol | 4% | 551 |
| 16 | Toyota Yaris | 1.5 Hybrid | 4% | 1,075 |
| 17 | KIA Niro | Electric | 4% | 4,260 |
| 18 | Volkswagen Polo | 1.0 Petrol | 4% | 1,259 |
| 19 | Toyota Corolla | 1.8 Hybrid | 5% | 1,666 |
| 20 | BMW 1 Series | 1.5 Petrol | 5% | 966 |
| 21 | KIA Niro | 1.6 Hybrid | 5% | 721 |
| 22 | Audi Q2 | 1.5 Petrol | 5% | 508 |
| 23 | Ford Focus | 1.0 Petrol | 5% | 991 |
| 24 | Vauxhall Corsa | 1.2 Petrol | 5% | 2,316 |
| 25 | Peugeot 208 | 1.2 Petrol | 5% | 574 |
Worst
| # | Car | Engine | Failure rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Transit Custom | 2.0 Diesel | 12% | 1,055 |
| 2 | Peugeot Boxer | 2.2 Diesel | 9% | 618 |
| 3 | BMW 3 Series | 2.0 Hybrid | 9% | 590 |
| 4 | Ford Kuga | 1.5 Diesel | 9% | 583 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Grandland X | 1.2 Petrol | 9% | 943 |
| 6 | Seat Arona | 1.0 Petrol | 9% | 519 |
| 7 | BMW 2 Series | 1.5 Petrol | 9% | 615 |
| 8 | Hyundai IONIQ | 1.6 Hybrid | 8% | 1,532 |
| 9 | Toyota Prius | 1.8 Hybrid | 8% | 1,210 |
| 10 | Volkswagen Transporter | 2.0 Diesel | 7% | 541 |
| 11 | MG 5 Exclusive | Electric | 7% | 653 |
| 12 | Peugeot 2008 | 1.2 Petrol | 7% | 602 |
| 13 | KIA Sportage | 1.6 Petrol | 7% | 1,330 |
| 14 | Ford Ranger | 2.0 Diesel | 7% | 513 |
| 15 | Hyundai IONIQ | Electric | 7% | 724 |
| 16 | Audi A1 | 1.0 Petrol | 7% | 785 |
| 17 | BMW 3 Series | 2.0 Petrol | 6% | 524 |
| 18 | MG 5 Excite | Electric | 6% | 578 |
| 19 | Vauxhall Crossland | 1.2 Petrol | 6% | 782 |
| 20 | Fiat Ducato | 2.3 Diesel | 6% | 739 |
| 21 | KIA Sportage | 1.6 Hybrid | 6% | 558 |
| 22 | Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 2.0 Diesel | 6% | 586 |
| 23 | Nissan Qashqai | 1.3 Petrol | 6% | 1,765 |
| 24 | Volkswagen Tiguan | 1.5 Petrol | 6% | 797 |
| 25 | Volkswagen Golf | 1.5 Petrol | 5% | 516 |
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 2021 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.