When you buy a used motor, there is always the worry it’ll prove unreliable, costing you money and plenty of headaches.

But second-hand car buyers can get a steer on which models are less likely to let them down and will prove to be faithful workhorses as the top 10 most reliable motors between three and 15 years old have been revealed. 

Warrantywise, a provider of extended used car warranties with over 25 years of experience, has released its latest reliability index – and one Japanese brand has seen its models score very well indeed. 

It used 1.6million proprietary repair data points to allocate an overall reliability score (ranked out of 100) to every make and model, giving consumers insight into the reliability of cars available in the UK. 

It highlights relative reliability risk rather than label vehicles as definitively ‘most’ or ‘least’ reliable, because no vehicle is immune to faults and issues can arise at any point in a car’s lifetime. Repairs are only one element of car ownership.

This is Money can exclusively reveal the 10 models that lead the rankings and demonstrate the kind of long-term reliability used car buyers depend on. And one very popular small car has taken the crown: here are the results. 

The Suzuki Swift ranks joint 9th with a score of 77.5/100 and proves the Japanese car brand makes reliable cars

=9. Suzuki Swift – 77.5/100

Starting off the top 10 is the Suzuki Swift, which lands in joint ninth place. The B-segment supermini car has been around since 2004 and has been a huge seller for the Japanese brand.

Its budget-friendliness and fuel economy have won it praise, and now its reliability score proves it won’t let owners down too often.

The average repair request was £723.39, with the most expensive coming in at £3,993.47.

South Korean brand Kia proves it makes reliable cars with two in the top 10. The first is the Ceed family car which socres 77.5/100

=9. Kia Ceed – 77.5/100

South Korea’s popular hatchback scores joint ninth along with the Suzuki Swift.

The Ceed is a strong competitor for the VW Golf, offering family practicality, smart looks and a lot of standard kit for an affordable price.

In fact, it’s one of the most practical hatchbacks you can buy with a class-leading 395-litre boot.

And the Ceed makes it into the top 10 most reliable cars according to Warrantywise, with a score of 77.5/100.

The average repair cost was slightly less than the Swift, at £709.10, but the most expensive repair request was significantly more at £5,069.30.

Japanese brand Suzuki scores 78/100 and is the second model by the car maker in this top 10

=7. Suzuki Vitara – 78/100

The second Suzuki to land a spot in the top 10 most reliable cars, the Vitara SUV is a larger family car which comes with hybrid technology.

First produced in 1988, the Vitara is in its fifth generation.

The robust design, practicality and affordability are big selling points – as is its reliability record.

In Warrantywise’s ranking, the Vitara comes equal seventh and has an average repair request cost of £689.70. This goes up to £2,753.84 for the most expensive repair request.

The Citroen C1 scored 78/100 and came in 7th place – a good spot for the cheap French car

7. Citroen C1 – 78/100

The Citroen C1 is a cheap A-segment car and was on sale from 2005 to 2022.

It’s great as a city car due to its small size and moveability, as well as its very low running costs and reliability scores.

It ranks seventh place here with a score of 78/100 and an average repair request of £659.87 – less than the Suzuki Vitara.

The most expensive repair request comes in at £4,536 though, far more than the Vitara.

The Toyota Hilux is the only pick-up to land in the top 10 proving it is a very reliable workhorse. It scored 78.4/100

 6. Toyota Hilux – 78.4/100

Enter a much-loved pick-up truck: the Toyota Hilux. 

The Hilux is a go to for workers and farmers, and has a rock-solid reputation for reliability. 

The double cab pick-up shines during heavy duty work and is an exceptional off-roader and almost unbreakingly tough.

 Coming in sixth the Hilux has a score of 78.4/100 but does come with a heft average repair request of £1,436.72 – the second highest on the list. The most expensive repair request was by far the most expensive at £6,503.57.

The small Peugeot 108 is a very reliable small car finishing in the middle of the pack with a score of 78.9/100

5. Peugeot 108 – 78.9/100

The Peugeot 108 ultra-compact car is a classic learner or first car and offers high affordability.

The extremely economical car is great around town due to its agility and how nifty it is to park. While not the most premium inside, the infotainment is easy to use.

Its reliability is great too, coming in fifth. The average repair request is £702.29 and the maximum is £3,546.

Toyota on a roll: The RAV4 scored 79.9/100 proving to be a very reliable SUV for used car buyers

4. Toyota RAV4 – 79.9/100

The RAV4 marks Toyota’s second placement on the top 10 most reliable list.

The hybrid top-selling SUV has an extremely impressive fuel economy, especially the hybrids models, and is well-like for its reliability.

It’s spacious, practical and has good trim options – and it doesn’t cost the earth.

It comes in fourth place on Warrantywise’s list, almost managing 80/100.

However, the average repair request is £1,731.04 and the most expensive shoots up to £4,750.34.

The tiny Toyota Aygo comes third with a score of 83.8/100 and is the second model by Toyota in the top 10

3. Toyota Aygo – 83.8/100

The third Toyota in the top 10 is the Aygo.

The A-segment car is a very small city car that is appreciated for its smart looks, agile ride and high efficiency.

Like other Toyota models, it comes with a 10-year warranty and is highly reliable.

It takes third place here with a score of 83.8/100 and an average repair request of £480.64. The most expensive repair request is £1,316.16.

The Kia Picanto took silver with a score of 86.8/100 – and is the second placement on the list for the South Korean brand

2. Kia Picanto – 86.8/100

The Picanto is Kia’s second car on the reliability list, proving the South Korean brand can be trusted by drivers.

The very small A-segment car is well-liked for its smart interior and generous tech and easy drivability.

Its high reliability score here comes with an average repair request of £403.49 and a maximum repair request of £1,316.16.

Warrantywise has found the Toyota Yaris to be the most reliable used car with a score of 89.2/100

 1. Toyota Yaris – 89.2/100

The Toyota Yaris has a huge fanbase.

The subcompact car has ranked top of the most reliable car league and earns the Japanese car maker its fourth listing – quite a feat.

Since 1999 it has won fans thanks to its fun drive, characterful looks and cheap running costs.

The average repair cost comes in at £888.90, while the maximum hits £2,334.55.

Antony Diggins, managing director of Warrantywise, said: ‘When looking at the total cost of ownership for a used vehicle, it’s very important to consider reliability within this. 

Our index helps give a clearer picture of how different used vehicles perform over time, using real-world insights drawn from the used cars we support every day.

‘Toyota continuing to lead the rankings shows how consistent some brands can be over time. 

‘Models like the Toyota Yaris build a strong reputation for reliability year after year, which is why they remain such popular choices in the used car market.’