Most reliable cars to buy in the UK 2025

The previous-generation Lexus NX topped the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index for reliability, and it's the current version which scoops the prize in the latest survey thanks to a score of 98%. We shouldn't be surprised, not just because the NX has form here (it's a former winner), but also because Lexus as a brand came out on top as the most reliable manufacturer for the last five years running.

The current car is far more stylish than its predecessor both inside and out. It's also reasonably cheap to run thanks to its efficient hybrid powertrains. There is a plug-in hybrid as well, though it's expensive to buy. 

Will the NX stay on top next year? We'll have to wait and see, but the next few entries weren't all that far behind, so another NX reliability victory is far from a given.

It's getting on a bit now, and it doesn't have quite the charms of its Yeti predecessor, but the Skoda Karoq remains one of the best compact SUVs around. Helping solidify this position, it's rated as being very reliable by its owners with a satisfaction Index score of 97.69%, meaning it only just missed out on the top spot. 

Other than being dependable, we rate the Karoq highly because it's available with a wide range of engines, with the 1.5-litre petrol models and the 2.0-litre 'TDI' diesels being particularly strong options. A plug-in hybrid option might have been nice, but the rest of the engine line-up is so good, that we're willing to let this omission slide. 

It has a spacious, flexible interior including 'VarioFlex' seating, with middle-row seats which can be independently folded or even removed from the car entirely to maximise load space. The smart seats are just one of numerous 'Simply Clever' features, with other highlights including an umbrella located under the front passenger seat and a handy ice scraper hidden under the fuel filler flap.

What a transformation the Toyota Corolla has enjoyed in recent years. Long associated with dull but worthy transport, when the name came back to the UK in 2018, replacing the Auris (confusingly called the Corolla in other markets), it suddenly looked a whole lot more stylish. 

It's been steadily improved by Toyota, with better on-board tech, sharper looks and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that's a lot more pleasant to use than ever. The Corolla keeps its owners happy, too, by being economical and reliable. 

It scored an average of 96.94% in the most recent Satisfaction Index survey, indicating that ownership is largely trouble-free for most Corolla drivers. 

From one efficient, reliable Japanese hybrid to another, we have the Honda Jazz. Again, this isn't a model with a reputation for being particularly exciting, but the latest model is perhaps the most stylish Jazz yet, and it continues to be extremely economical and yes, very dependable. 

Its score of 96.84% meant it was pipped to third by the Corolla by the slimmest of margins, and it's the best-rated smaller car on the Satisfaction Index for reliability. 

In terms of downsides, it's quite expensive to buy in the first place and is still far from the most thrilling car in its class to either look at or drive. But if you place reliability above everything else, it's definitely the one to go for. 

It may not look quite as snazzy as the current model that arrived in 2017, but the previous-generation Hyundai Kona has plenty going for it, including - as you probably gathered from its inclusion here - a great reliability record. 

Its score in the most recent Honestjohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index was an impressive 96.30%, placing it slap-bang in the middle of the top 10 and ahead of a few Japanese cars. 

The Kona is a little staid on the inside, but the built quality is first-rate, helping further distance Hyundai from its cheap and cheerful past. There's a good range of petrol, hybrid and diesel engines available in the car, and even the hot Kona N, which is good enough to make you think twice about buying a Ford Puma ST. 

Toyota has a reputation for making some of the most reliable cars on the roads, so it's no wonder the RAV4 features in our list, along with another model and one from its luxury offshoot Lexus. The RAV4 combines impressive versatility with low running costs and head-turning looks - plenty to set it apart in a crowded market that includes the Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Nissan Qashqai.

The latest RAV4 has been on sale for a few years, so you can actually pick up a bit of a bargain on the used market. A budget of £20,000 will give you an abundant choice of examples in decent trim levels and with reasonable mileages.

With an average reliability score of 96.19% in the HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index, you can rest assured the RAV4 won't leave you stranded at the side of the road. Toyota offers a comprehensive warranty, too, extendable for up to 10 years (or 100,000 miles) for free every time you get the car serviced at a Toyota dealer.

This generation of Honda CR-V is truly massive, with a huge boot and bags of space to ensure it won't feel cramped even with all five seats occupied. There's also a seven-seater version - something you can't get in the current CR-V - although the third row is a little tight. 

There's no diesel option, which seems a shame, but there is an efficient hybrid. Just don't expect to get your head around how it works - it's a very complicated setup involving two motors, and a lot of the time, the engine merely tops up a small battery rather than driving the wheels. 

And yes, it is, as you might have gathered, very reliable. There's little in it between the CR-V and its rival from Toyota in sixth place, with the former scoring a fine 95.96%. 

Yes, it's our third Japanese SUV in a row. But actually, despite being the lowest ranked of the three in terms of reliability (by a thin margin, we should say) at 95.2%, and the least practical, the Mazda CX-5 is probably the one we'd have. 

Mazda has an uncanny ability to make ordinary cars - not just its MX-5 sports car - drive really well. The cars that have manual gearboxes all have sweet shifts that put some performance cars to shame, the ride/handling balance is usually spot-on, and the steering almost always feels wonderfully natural.

And so it goes with the CX-5, which, like a lot of Mazda models, also benefits from being quite stylish. It's  the most fun choice you can make when buying an SUV of this size, without sacrificing dependability. 

In a rare piece of good news for Tesla as it faces something of an, erm, image problem, the Model 3 has been rated highly by its owners for reliability, with a score of 94.58% placing it at the lower end of the top 10. This is quite a turnaround, as early examples of the car suffered from iffy build quality, which in some ways wasn't entirely unexpected as Tesla's first car to be built at such a big scale. 

The EV has been getting better and better, helped by various updates and a facelift, and although rivals are starting to catch up and in some cases overtake the Model 3 in terms of outright range, the Model 3 remains a strong proposition. 

Downsides? Well, along with that issue we glossed over earlier, the car has a heavy reliance on its centrally mounted touchscreen. You might think that's no different from most new cars these days, but the Model 3 goes much further, to the point where it doesn't have a driver's instrument cluster or even an indicator stalk. 

A little while ago, who would have predicted that the MPV market would have completely collapsed and that one of the few remaining manufacturers in the segment would be BMW? 

Its entry into the field is a good one, too. The brand raised eyebrows when its first 2 Series Active Tourer arrived in 2014, as a BMW which was - gasps - front-wheel drive and focused mainly on practicality, but fast forward to today, and it's become a well-regarded model amongst its owners, with a reliability rating of 94.42%. 

A new version arrived in 2022 with some divisive looks, so going for a used example is a great way to avoid its giant kidney grilles while also saving a lot of money.