The big-selling Nissan Qashqai has topped an annual reliability survey conducted by respected consumer affairs organisation, Which?.
The British-built crossover achieved a rare five-star reliability rating with expert testers praising the car’s practicality, dependability and family appeal, and the result was based on feedback from 50,000 UK drivers.
“Reliability is often the number-one quality that people look for when purchasing any of our vehicles,” said Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd.
“To have endorsement in this area from an independent and rigorous organisation such as Which? – not to mention 50,000 consumers – is a welcome pat on the back for everyone at Nissan who works to ensure the dependability of every car we supply.”
The result of the survey is the cherry on the cake for Nissan because the Sunderland-built Qashqai was the best-selling new car in the UK in 2022.
Alan Johnson, Vice President of Manufacturing at Nissan Sunderland Plant, added: “We are proud to build the Qashqai and absolutely delighted to see its continuing success with customers.
“It’s hugely satisfying to know that we manufacture not just the UK’s favourite car, but also its most reliable.
“This award is a true testament to the hard work, dedication and expertise of our 6,000-strong team here in Sunderland, as well as our excellent supply chain partners.”
Japanese and Korean car manufacturers have once again dominated an annual Top 10 of most reliable marques.
Honda topped the table, scoring an impressive 96.8/100 overall, according to Warrantywise – the UK’s leading extended car warranty provider,
The Reliability Index is compiled from more than 131,000 active extended car warranty plans between 2021 and 2022,
It ranks every car on a combination of factors, including the cost to carry out repairs and the frequency rate of those repairs.
With an impressive overall score of 96.8/100, Honda’s solid reputation for being ultra-dependable seems unshakeable, and as shown in previous Warrantywise data, the Honda Jazz was named the most reliable used car in this year’s Reliability Index.
Toyota came a close second, scoring 91.2/100 overall, followed by Suzuki.
Top 10 most reliable car brands 2022
Honda – 96.8
Toyota – 91.2
Suzuki 88.7
Kia 86.2
Hyundai 80.5
Fiat 79.9
Citroën 74.3
Renault 73.2
Mazda 73.1
Ford 73.1
“As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s important to keep things like reliability at the forefront of our minds when choosing a used car to buy,” said Lawrence Whittaker, CEO of Warrantywise.
“By collecting and collating all this data into an index like this one, we’re able to further help our customers with their purchases by arming them with information to try and help lessen the burden as much as we can.”
If you’re looking for a new compact SUV, you’re already spoilt for choice – so is there room for the latest Honda HR-V?
Well, Honda is on a roll. The futuristic all-electric Honda e city car is a revelation, and the new Jazz is a supermini transformed.
Now magic dust has been sprinkled on the HR-V. The third-generation model is a bold, hybrid-only “coupe-crossover” up against formidable rivals including the Renault Captur, Nissan Juke and Toyota Yaris Cross.
Priced from £27,960, it combines a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing 129bhp. Uniquely, at low speeds the battery pack and main electric motor drive the front wheels directly. At higher speeds the petrol motor kicks in.
Unlike its dowdy predecessor, the new self-charging hybrid HR-V has real kerb appeal.
A pair of slim headlights and an impressive body-coloured grille form the new HR-Vs face. It also looks more purposeful thanks to big wheels, an extra 10mm of ground clearance than before, rugged plastic cladding and roof rails. It even comes equipped with hill descent control.
There’s a high seating position inside the HR-V, which is generally spacious and comfortable. It also has a quality feel thanks to the soft-touch surfaces used, while the doors close with a satisfying clunk.
Unlike some of its rivals, there’s plenty of space in the back for passengers. However, the boot is a slightly disappointing 319 litres (expanding to 1,305 litres with the rear seats flipped), but there is a nice wide opening.
Of course, the HR-V also benefits from Honda “magic seats” which can fold flat or flip up like a cinema seat, enabling large items (like bikes) to be stored centrally in the car without compromising boot space.
Up front there’s a 7.0-inch digital driver display behind the steering wheel and a 9.0-inch central touchscreen for the infotainment system, which has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone mirroring as standard.
The modern dashboard is less cluttered cabin than before, and mercifully hasn’t dispensed with too many buttons, switched and dials.
The ‘e:HEV’ (Honda-speak for the self-charging hybrid engine) starts off in electric mode and you get a choice of three driving modes: Econ, Normal and Sport.
Econ is fine for cruising, but a little gutless on flowing country roads, so you’ll probably spend most of your time in Normal with the occasional “blast” in Sport.
The HR-V is generally refined and the transition between combustion and electric power is pretty seamless, but if you’re too heavy with your right foot, the downside of its CVT automatic transmission rears its ugly head and the revs sky-rocket.
To Honda’s credit, it doesn’t take long for the din to settle down again, but it’s a reminder that you should drive smoothly for an enjoyable HR-V driving experience.
Even with that proviso, the HR-V does feel swifter than the official figures suggest. For the record, it can “sprint” to 62mph in 10.6 seconds before maxing out at 107mph.
On the road there’s a little body lean in more challenging corners, but overall it handles well. It feels substantial, safe and secure. Add excellent visibility and light steering and it’s a doddle to drive in town.
Grip is surprisingly good too, while the brakes are more progressive than many hybrids. Sadly, there’s no four-wheel drive version available.
Honda claims CO2 emission levels are as low as 122g/km, while fuel economy of up to 52mpg is possible. In fact, we found 50-60mpg is very realistic when the HR-V is driven sensibly.
All three trim levels come with Honda’s impressive ‘Sensing’ suite of safety technology as standard, featuring road departure mitigation, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic headlights and autonomous emergency braking (AEB).
Regenerative braking (which returns much of the energy otherwise lost from braking and coasting back into the battery while you’re driving) is also on offer. Simply select ‘B’ mode on the transmission or use the paddles behind the steering wheel. The system is especially satisfying on downhill stretches of road.
Verdict: The all-new Honda HR-V e:HEV is a welcome addition to the busy compact SUV sector, offering a winning blend of style, safety, comfort, economy and practicality combined with generous equipment levels and the brand’s reputation for reliability.
Dacia models have been praised for their value, comfort and reliability in a major new satisfaction study.
Renault’s Romanian budget brand scored exceptionally well in four satisfaction indexes conducted by readers of consumer motoring website Honest John.
Manufacturers and vehicles were assessed on reliability, build quality, fuel economy, repair costs and performance. Ride comfort, handling, ease of driving, practicality and technology were also considered, as well as safety.
Based on feedback from more than 5,000 owners, the low cost manufacturer was named Most Satisfying Car Brand in the Satisfaction Index 2021, pipping Lexus and Hyundai. Most Satisfying Car Brand
Rank
Manufacturer
Satisfaction Index Rating (%)
1
Dacia
91.6
2
Lexus
90.6
3
Hyundai
89.7
4
Kia
89.6
5
MG
89.4
6
Skoda
89.1
7
Subaru
89.0
8
Toyota
88.8
9
Porsche
88.7
10
Volkswagen
88.4
Dacia, which makes the popular Duster SUV, was just beaten by Japanese premium brand Lexus in the Most Reliable Car Manufacturer index.
Most Reliable Car Manufacturer
Rank
Manufacturer
Satisfaction out of 10
1
Lexus
9.81
2
Dacia
9.76
3
Mitsubishi
9.64
4
Toyota
9.63
5
Suzuki
9.59
6
Kia
9.54
7
Honda
9.51
8
Subaru
9.50
9
MG
9.48
10
Hyundai
9.48
Meanwhile, while the Dacia Sandero – still the UK’s cheapest new car – finished four in the Most Satisfying Car index, behind the Hyundai Ioniq, Volkswagen T-Roc and Mazda CX-5.
Most Satisfying Car
Rank
Manufacturer and Model
Satisfaction Index Rating (%)
1
Hyundai Ioniq (2016 – )
95.7
2
Volkswagen T-Roc (2018 – )
93.7
3
Mazda CX-5 (2017- )
93.0
4
Dacia Sandero (2013 – 2021 )
92.6
5
Skoda Kodiaq (2016 – )
92.5
6
Honda CR-V (2018 – )
92.5
7
Skoda Superb Estate (2014 – )
92.2
8
Volkswagen Tiguan (2016 – )
92.2
9
BMW 3 Series Touring (2012 – 2019)
91.8
10
Toyota Corolla (2019 – )
91.6
The Sandero also gained a podium place in the Most Reliable Car category, again beaten by the Hyundai Ioniq and Volkswagen T-Roc.
Most Reliable Car
Rank
Manufacturer and Model
Satisfaction out of 10
1
Hyundai Ioniq (2016 – )
9.93
2
Volkswagen T-Roc (2018 – )
9.90
3
Dacia Sandero (2013 – 2021 )
9.90
4
SEAT Leon (2013 – 2020 )
9.86
5
Mazda CX-5 (2017- )
9.83
6
Volkswagen Tiguan (2016 – )
9.83
7
Honda Jazz (2014 – 2020 )
9.82
8
Lexus NX (2014 – )
9.82
9
Toyota Yaris (2011 – 2020)
9.79
10
Kia Sportage (2016 – )
9.77
“What a tremendous recognition for Dacia that manufacturing a low cost car doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice any of the things that make your customers happy,” said Dan Powell, Senior Editor of HonestJohn.co.uk.
“Cheap does mean cheerful, with readers praising Dacia models for their value, comfort and reliability. The Romanian manufacturer is part of the Renault family and that quality comes through in its high scores for satisfaction and reliability.
“This is a massive piece of research, a real barometer of what the nation thinks of its cars, with more than 5,000 HonestJohn.co.uk readers taking part.
“It is also a clear indicator of the rise and rise of electric and hybrid vehicles that the Hyundai Ioniq was crowned the most satisfying car for the second year in a row.”
