‘It earns its place at the top’ – 10 most reliable used cars you can buy for under £10k… & they’re really cheap to run
THE top 10 most reliable used cars have been revealed and they’re all under £10,000 and cheap to run.
Experts from Warrantywise shared a list of motors you can count on amid rising repair bills and a cost of living crisis.
The team of specialists gave each model a reliability rating out of 100 based on “precise and quantifiable” data from their customers.
This took into account how often drivers claimed for repairs on a particular car, the average age and mileage of the car at the time of the claims and the average time the repairs took.
The analysis found that Toyota was the most reliable manufacturer overall, with four of its models cracking the top 10.
Indeed, Japanese cars scored highly in general, with offerings from Mazda, Honda and Suzuki also appearing on the list.
There was also praise for South Korean carmaker Kia, which was represented twice in the results.
Only one European car made the cut, with the Peugeot 107 clocking in at joint eight alongside the Honda CR-V, both with a reliability rating of 83.4.
But at the top end, it was an Asian lockout as the Toyota Auris and Mazda 2 tied for third and the Suzuki Swift came second.
It was Toyota’s Yaris that clinched the top spot, standing clear of the rest with an 89.0 reliability rating.
Two Toyotas, the Aygo and Hilux, then tied for fifth while the draw between the Peugeot and the Honda was book-ended by Kias, with the Cee’d in seventh and the Rio in tenth.
Not only are all the models extremely reliable, but they’re cheap to buy second-hand.
Of the top 10, only the Hilux and CR-V cost over £5,000 according to Warrantywise’s data.
That’s not bad considering they are the only two SUVs on the list.
The rest all came in below the £5,000 mark and the Aygo even went as low as £3,200.
And even when they do break down, the research found that the highest repair bills owners faced in the period from 2020 to 2023 were all less than £3,000.
In fact, while the Hilux was on the pricier end to buy at £10,000, the highest bill an owner faced in that time was just over £1,000.
Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warrantywise, said: “We recognise the importance of making wise choices, particularly in light of the rising cost of repair, and also that even the most reliable car is vulnerable to faults.”
Awarding the Yaris top spot, he added: “Recognised for its consistent performance and reliability, the Toyota Yaris earns its place at the top of this year’s Index for reliability and durability, reflecting Toyota’s longstanding commitment to rigorous manufacturing quality control measures.”
10 Most reliable second hand cars as rated by Warrantywise
10. Kia Rio – 82.1
=8. Peugeot 107 – 83.4
=8. Honda CR-V – 83.4
7. Kia Cee’d – 84.6
=5. Toyota Hilux – 85.3
=5. Toyota Aygo – 85.3
=3. Toyota Auris – 85.9
=3. Mazda 2 – 85.9
2. Suzuki Swift – 87.8
1. Toyota Yaris – 89.0