Top 10 Most Reliable Used Cars in 2024
10. Kia Rio - 82.1 reliability rating
Price: from £3,600
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,875.20
The first car on the list is the Kia Rio, a small car made by the South Korean company Kia. It's a competitor to cars like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.
You can buy one with an average amount of miles for around £3,600 today, which is a pretty good deal for a small family car.
Warrantywise looked at data from the last two versions of the Rio, and it turns out they have a really good track record for reliability. They calculated this by looking at how often owners made claims and how much those claims cost.
Even though the most expensive repair during the three years they looked at cost nearly £2,900, that's not too common. Overall, the Rio got a reliability rating of 82.1, which is pretty solid.
9. Peugeot 107 - 83.4 reliability rating
Price: from £4,000
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £1,349.86
When you think of reliable car brands, Peugeot might not be the first one that comes to mind. However, their 107 city car has a strong track record of dependability. This is because it was developed in partnership with Toyota, making it mechanically identical to Toyota's Aygo and the Citroen C1.
The Peugeot 107 is small, fuel-efficient, and relatively cheap to insure, making it a smart choice for your budget. Despite the high demand for small cars like this today, you can find a used one for around £4,000.
With a reliability rating of 83.4, the 107 proves its worth. Plus, even the most expensive repair bill recorded for this car was only £1,350, which is one of the lowest among the top 10 cars listed here.
8. Honda CR-V - 83.4 reliability rating
Price: from £7,500
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,818.80
Even though the first two cars on this list are small, the Honda CR-V is quite the opposite. It's a large SUV designed for families, known for its extremely reliable performance, which the Warrantywise index confirms.
The data covers both the earlier and later generations of the Honda CR-V models from 2013 to 2019. You can find the older model with below-average mileage for about £7,500 in the used car market, which is a great deal for such a practical vehicle.
Despite SUVs often being seen as more troublesome and costly to fix due to their four-wheel drive systems and expensive parts, the CR-V still manages an impressive reliability rating of 83.4. Although, it's worth noting that one warranty claim in the last three years reached nearly £2,820.
7. Kia Cee’d - 84.6 reliability rating
Price: from £4,300
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,450.42
The Kia Cee'd competes with popular models like the Ford Focus and VW Golf. It's a medium-sized family hatchback known for its spacious interior, generous features, and, according to Warrantywise, it's pretty reliable too.
The second-generation Cee'd, launched in 2012, is the one covered by the index's reviewed period.
Scoring an impressive reliability rating of 84.6, this sleek hatchback stands out. The highest repair bill reported in the last three years was just under £2,500.
You can find an average-mileage Cee'd in the used car market for around £4,300 with a quick search.
6. Toyota Hilux - 85.3 reliability rating
Price: from £10,000
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £1,004.00
The Toyota Hilux is famous for its reliability. It was even showcased on Top Gear, where they tried to destroy one by blowing up a building it was parked on top of, only for it to drive out of the rubble unscathed.
These pickup trucks are incredibly sturdy, making them highly sought after in places like Africa and Australia, where they can handle rough terrain without breaking down.
Although not as popular in the UK, Warrantywise still analysed 250 Hilux models aged between four and 10 years to give it a reliability rating, and it scored an impressive 85.3.
Surprisingly, the highest repair bill recorded in the last three years was just over £1,000, making it the cheapest maximum repair cost among all 10 cars on this list.
5. Toyota Aygo - 85.3 reliability rating
Price: from £3,200
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,005.00
Moving from the hefty Toyota pickup to one of its smallest models, the Aygo is worth mentioning. It's closely related to the Peugeot 107, which landed in the 10th spot on our list, but edges it out slightly in terms of reliability.
According to Warrantywise's calculations, it received an impressive reliability score of 85.3, putting it on par with the Hilux.
These cars are not only cheap to run but also affordable for many drivers. Prices start at just over £3,000 for a used one that's up to 10 years old and has less than 75,000 miles on it.
The highest repair bill recorded in the last three years was a bit over £2,000, which isn't too bad considering the overall reliability.
4. Toyota Auris - 85.9 reliability rating
Price: from £5,000
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,160.00
The Auris, available in either petrol or hybrid, stands out as the most reliable family car on this list.
Its popularity in taxi and private hire services speaks volumes about its affordability and reliability.
The data specifically looks at the second-generation Auris, including both hatchback and estate versions, before it was replaced by the Corolla in 2018.
According to the Warrantywise Reliability Index 2024, it scores an impressive 85.9 rating. The highest repair bill reported by an owner in the last three years was £2,160.
3. Mazda2 - 85.9 reliability rating
Price: from £3,250
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £3,636.34
The last-generation Mazda2, which came out around 2014, used to compete with popular models like the Ford Fiesta and Toyota Yaris.
Mazda cars usually come with higher repair and servicing costs compared to other brands. That might be why one repair bill covered by warranty in the last three years was as high as £3,600.
But despite that, the Mazda2 still manages to secure a solid third place tie on this list with a reliability rating of 85.9. Its low frequency of repairs is one of the reasons it scored so well.
2. Suzuki Swift - 87.8 reliability rating
Price: from £4,000
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,410.98
Warrantywise has data on both the latest and previous generations of the Suzuki Swift. The older version, which you can find for as little as £4,000 with below-average mileage, is particularly affordable.
This Japanese supermini has a reputation for being durable and cost-effective to run over time.
Scoring an impressive 87.8 reliability rating, it's the second-highest on Warrantywise's list for 2024, which is quite an achievement for such a small car.
The largest repair bill recorded between 2020 and 2023 was £2,410.
1. Toyota Yaris - 89.0 reliability rating
Price: from £4,500
Highest repair bill recorded in 2020-23: £2,887.20
The Toyota Yaris has been named the most reliable used car of 2024.
Although it's now in its fourth generation, the data only looks at the third-generation model that was sold from 2011 to 2019.
It earned its top spot thanks to low repair costs and exceptional reliability, scoring an impressive 89.0 out of 100.
According to the warranty provider, the Yaris is known for its consistent performance and reliability, reflecting Toyota's commitment to quality manufacturing.
With an average repair cost of £604.50, and its widespread popularity, there's plenty of information available about this model.
The highest repair bill recorded during the three-year period was £2,887.20, according to the data.
