What are the most reliable cars available now

Hyundai i10

Brits love Korean cars. In 2017, we bought over 190,000 Korean motors – more than any other EU country.

Of all the models hitting our shores these days, the Hyundai i10 is easily among the best.

This spritely run-around is a great option if you’re looking for a reliable urban drive as the i10 was recently named the city car winner in the annual JP Power study, which measures problems experienced by owners during the past 12 months.

If you fancy ditching the bus in favour of something a little sexier, this could be the ride for you.

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Toyota Yaris

While the Yaris might not seem like the flashiest motor on this list, its recent midlife facelift has given the Japanese model a fresh new look to go with some pretty impressive reliability stats.

The latest model has the excellent Toyota Safety Sense technology as standard, cementing its place as one of the best superminis on the market.

Another perk is the option of it coming as a hybrid, meaning you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’re not only doing your bit for the environment but also picking up some tax breaks.

Skoda Octavia

The Czechs have come up with some outstanding motors over the last few years, and right now it’s the Octavia that leads the way in reliability.

In the Auto Express 2018 Driver Power survey, fewer than 10% of Octavia drivers reported any issues with their car at all.   

If you’re looking for a family motor that has relatively low running costs but still feels spacious inside, the Octavia is a great choice for those summer road trips with the kids.

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Kia Sorento

The Sorento is another part of the Korean wave sweeping through the UK car market, although as a full-sized SUV it’s an entirely different proposition to the Hyundai i10 city car.

Despite being a relative newcomer to the crowded SUV market, Kia hasn’t disappointed with the Sorento.

The model scored well in recent dependability surveys despite almost 25% of owners admitting they’d had at least one issue.

The 7-seater is an awful lot of car for your money, so it’s a great option for bigger families looking for a reliable motor on a budget.  

Lexus NX SUV

Although Lexus used to be best known for its association with Alan Partridge, these days the Toyota-owned brand has a reputation for reliability that makes it hard to ignore.

A Lexus often appears at the top of most dependability surveys, and this year it’s the turn of the NX, which took top spot in a recent Auto Express report.

Available as a petrol or hybrid, the NX is an eye-catching SUV that’s crammed full of all the latest Toyota-developed technology.

This includes the comprehensive Lexus Safety System +, with its pre-collision system that helps protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.

Toyota Prius

What’s not to love about a Prius?

Not only is it the nation’s favourite hybrid, but it remains one of the trailblazers of the EV market and is backed up by some of the lowest CO2 emissions in its class and very low levels of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx).

The combination of petrol engine, electric motor and automatic gearbox has served the Prius well, and it’s able to rack up significant mileage without much trouble.

Although it’s a little pricier than its competitors, it makes it back through low running costs.

READ MORE: How to keep driving costs down in 2018

Peugeot 3008

It might be a surprise to see Peugeot on this list, but it shouldn’t be.

Recent years have seen the French stable massively up its game, and the sleek 3008 is testament to that.

With its high-quality cabin and versatile boot, this is a model for the family on the go.

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The 3008 crossover combines the fuel economy of a hatchback with the driving position of an off-roader to good effect, and is only hampered in the reliability stakes by owners reporting the very occasional electrical issue.

Vauxhall Insignia

Another inclusion some may see as a shock, the Insignia is the only British model on our list but, as supported by a recent JD Power survey, it’s one of the most dependable mid-sizers on the market.

More of a business model when it comes to looks, with a fairly respectable price range the Insignia is hard to ignore if you’re in the market for a mid-range family hatchback that won’t break the bank.  

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Volvo XC60

While the XC60 doesn’t hit the reliability heights of some of the other models on this list, it does top the tables in the safety stakes.

Volvo has a long history of crafting some of the safest motors around, and the XC60 is no exception as it recently won the What Car? Award 2018 for car safety.

The latest XC60 is a little pricier than previous models, but Volvo haven’t held anything back in furnishing it with the latest technology, including blind-spot monitoring and an oncoming lane mitigation system which steers away from oncoming traffic to avoid a head-on crash.

Honda Jazz

Another excellent city run-around, the brightly named Honda Jazz has been scoring highly for reliability for years now.

So highly, in fact, that in a 2017 dependability survey, Jazz owners registered no faults with their cars at all.

It might be a little pricier than other small cars in its class but with reliability this good, a solid Honda engine under the bonnet and excellent visibility, the Jazz could be music to your ears if you’re on the lookout for an urban run-around that can handle the busy city streets.