Small cars are the most popular type of new vehicle bought in Britain… for the meantime anyway.
In 2023, 30.4 per cent of all registrations in the UK were city cars or superminis as the most compact models continue to cater for those with the tightest budgets, especially new drivers, and motorists living in congested cities where space is at a premium.
That said, SUVs are closing the gap; they accounted for 28.6 per cent of new sales in 2023 as the nation’s motorists continue to steer towards jacked-up vehicles offering greater visibility and an increased sensation of safety.
As we await the breakdown of most-bought vehicle categories for this year (due to be released this weekend), we’ve listed the small models with the best – and worst – reliability track record.
What Car? has shared its 2024 Reliability Survey results with This is Money.
Based on feedback from a total of 29,967 UK car owners, small vehicles have an average reliability score of 94.3 per cent. That’s nearly one percentage point lower than in the 2023 survey, though is the highest of all car segments.
Here’s the 10 small models with the best reliability ratings. And we’ve also included the three models with the worst scores, suggesting you might want to give them a wide berth. Each car is rated out of 100 based on the volume of faults and how quickly they were fixed.
MOST RELIABLE SMALL CARS
10. Ford Fiesta (2017-2023)
Reliability score: 92.0%
The poll found that a fifth of owners with the last generation Fiesta encountered an issue in the previous 24 months. 12-volt battery and air-con issues were most common
The Ford Fiesta remains Britain’s most common car, despite the fact it was axed in June 2023 to make way for the blue oval brand’s next generation of electric vehicles.
Despite its popularity – with over 1.5 million on UK roads today – it hasn’t got a flawless reliability record. A fifth of owners said they Fiesta encountered an issue in the previous 24 months, with the 12-volt battery and air-con most problematic. Engine, electrical and exhaust issues were also reported.
Four in five owners said their Fiesta was fixed within a week, with most repaired under warranty, However, one in ten encountered garage bills of £1,000 to £1,500.
9. Toyota Yaris Hybrid (2020-present)
Reliability score: 93.5%
The Toyota Yaris has always had a strong track record for dependability. The latest example is no different
It will come as a shock to petrolheads that Toyota’s evergreen Yaris doesn’t feature higher on the list, given it has a strong track record of dependability.
Like the Fiesta, 20 per cent of owners have seen their Yaris suffer a fault in the last two years, with the 12-volt battery again the primary problem.
Some were rendered undrivable because of issues. However, three in five were repaired within a day. Of the 31 per cent of repaired Yaris not covered by their new warranties, most only had to pay up to £200 to get them fixed.
8. Audi A1 (2018-present)
Reliability score: 93.9%
More than a fifth of Audi A1 owners said their car suffered a fault; the most common of which related to non-engine electrical systems
Audi’s smallest model on sale is also one of the most luxurious superminis there is. But its premium badge doesn’t guarantee it bulletproof dependability.
More than a fifth of A1 owners said their car suffered a fault in the last two years, the most common of which related to non-engine electrical systems.
Every car could still be driven despite having problems that needed to be rectified; however, half were in garages for over a week, meaning owners were either left without a vehicle or used courtesy cars. Warranties covered the repair costs for two thirds of the A1s with fault, though some drivers of earlier examples had to fork out up to £500 in garage bills.
7. Suzuki Swift (2017-2024)
Reliability score: 95.7%
Fewer than one in ten owners said their Suzuki Swift had suffered problems in the 24 months leading up to What Car?’s survey
A new Suzuki Swift mild-hybrid has arrived in 2024, but the previous-generation is proving relatively reliable.
Fewer than one in ten owners said their Swift had suffered problems in the 24 months leading up to What Car?’s survey. Of those that did have issues, it was either a fault with the sat-nav and wider infotainment system, or its 12-volt battery.
Half of the faulty cars were fixed for free but remaining owners had to pay up to £500 to get the problems sorted. And they took quite a bit of time too; every driver facing garage bills said their Suzuki was away for over a week being repaired.
6. Honda Jazz (2020-present)
Reliability score: 97.6%
Just 12% of owners of the latest Honda Jazz said they had encountered problems in the previous two years, with most cases being bodywork and 12-volt battery issues
The Honda Jazz feels like a permanent fixture in reliability league tables – it has always been the case since the first-generation car arrived in 2001.
Owners reported not just few faults but all repair costs covered by the Japanese brand’s warranty. Just 12 per cent of Jazz drivers said they had encountered problems in the previous two years, with most cases being bodywork and 12-volt battery issues.
Virtually all cars remained driveable and over half were fixed in a day or less.
5. Mini Hatch (2014-2024)
Reliability score: 97.9%
Bodywork problems were most common for the Mini Hatch. There was a small percentage of electrical issues reported, too
The fourth-generation BMW Mini Hatch arrived in 2024. While it is produced at the Mini Oxford plant in Cowley, the electric SE is being built in China. The hope is they can both replicate the strong reliability showing of the third-gen model, which What Car? has ranked as the fifth most dependable small motor.
Bodywork problems were most common (11 per cent) and there was a small percentage of electrical issues reported, too.
Every owner said they Mini was still drivable despite having problems – and half were in and out of the garage in a day or less while the rest were fixed within a week. Mini warranties covered the cost of 71 per cent of examples needing repairs and the rest of owners were charged no more than £200.
4. Hyundai i20 (2020-present)
Reliability score: 98.1%
Just one in ten Hyundai i20 drivers said their car had suffered a fault in the previous 24 months, with the only areas of complaint being air-con issues and exhaust problems
The i20 might not be the most popular supermini in the UK, but it is proving extremely reliable thanks to the Korean brand’s growing reputation for producing solid motors that are lasting the test of time.
Just one in ten i20 drivers said their car had suffered a fault in the previous 24 months, with the only areas of complaint being air-con issues and exhaust problems.
Every driver encountering a reliability issue said it was put right for free – half within a day. The only reason the i20 hasn’t scored higher is the other half of faulty models being in garages for than a week being fixed.
3. Volkswagen Polo (2018-present)
Reliability score: 98.3%
Volkswagen’s supermini outshines many of the brand’s larger stablemates, with just 7% of owners reporting at least one fault in the last 24 months
The Polo continues to be a big seller in the UK, as it has been since the Mk1 debuted almost 50 years ago.
What Car? said the VW supermini outshines many of the brand’s larger stablemates, with just 7 per cent of owners reporting at least one fault in the last 24 months.
Half of the complaints were about minor bodywork flaws that didn’t cause breakdowns – and were fixed in a day or less. Given the sixth-generation Polo has been in showrooms since 2018, some owners said their cars were no longer covered by the warranty. Still, of the 17 per cent who had to pay for repairs, none exceeded £50 per fault.
2. Kia Picanto (2017-2024)
Reliability score: 99.3%
Just 6% of Kia Picantos aged up to five years old had any issues. Of these, it was only gearbox and clutch woes
A new Picanto arrived in Kia showrooms last year – and salesmen will undoubtedly be using the previous-generation car’s incredible reliability score in the 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey to convince buyers to purchase the new one.
A mere 6 per cent of examples of the 2017-2024 Picanto aged up to five years old had any issues. Of these, it was only gearbox and clutch woes.
However, given Kia offers seven-year warranty on new models, the manufacturer covered all costs – and their workshops had faulty Picantos back on the road in a day or less.
1. Toyota Aygo X (2021-present)
Reliability score: 100%
The most dependable small model in the What Car? 2024 Reliability Survey was Toyota’s Aygo X city car
Perfection. That’s what Toyota Aygo X owners reported in terms of reliability of their Japanese city cars.
The brand’s smallest model – which is a jacked-up version of its long-time popular Aygo – is faultless, its drivers said.
The Aygo X scored a 100 per cent reliability rating as owners enjoyed problem-free driving for the last two years.
LEAST RELIABLE SMALL CARS
3. Vauxhall Corsa (2014-2019)
Reliability score: 82.9%
A fifth of previous-generation Corsas reported on in the survey had a fault. And the list of issues is quite mixed: brakes, engine, electrics, steering and suspension problems were highlighted.
First things first, let’s make clear that a reliability rating of 82.9 per cent is far from terrible. Meaning those considering the popular Corsa shouldn’t be overly deterred by its appearance in the list of least reliable small models.
A fifth of owners said their previous-generation Corsa had a fault. And the list of issues is quite mixed: brakes, engine, electrics, steering and suspension problems were highlighted.
What weighs down its reliability score is the cost of repairs. Almost three in ten (29 per cent) of owners forked out between £501 and £1,000 to have their Corsa put right. Only 29 per cent were fixed for free under warranty, though most (86 per cent) were back on the road within 24 hours.
2. Fiat 500 Hybrid (2008-2024)
Reliability score: 82.1%
The second lowest reliability rating went to the Fiat 500 hybrid. A third of examples reported on had encountered engine electric and exhaust system faults
It shouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the Fiat 500 on this list – the version in question had been in showrooms for 16 years straight before production ended last year. And the Italian manufacturer was forced to stop building it because it had doesn’t adhere to the latest general safety regulation.
The second lowest reliability rating is only for hybrid versions. A third of examples reported on had encountered engine electric and exhaust system faults.
Repair costs were covered for just two in five models impacted. A fifth of owners had only to pay up to £100 to get their Fiats fixed, but twice as many were handed repair bills of between £501 and £750. Half of faulty cars were fixed on the same day, though. The rest were back on the road in less than a week.
1. Seat Ibiza (2017-present)
Reliability score: 78.0%
The least reliable small car in the study was the Seat Ibiza – despite the fact it shares a platform with the VW Polo, which is one of the most dependable superminis
The Ibiza’s relatively poor reliability performance in the 2024 What Car? report comes as big surprise, not least because it is underpinned by the same platform as the VW Polo featured high in the top 10 most reliable small cars.
A whopping 57 per cent of Ibiza owners said their cars had gone wrong in the previous 24 months, with most headaches caused by the infotainment and sat-nav.
While nine in ten cars with faults were still drivable, more than two fifths were off the road being repaired for over a week. More than a quarter of unfortunate owners were also landed with repair bills.
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