Most and least reliable used cars revealed
New research carried out by Warrantywise has revealed the most reliable used cars on the market.
Its 2026 Reliability Index analysed 1.6 million repair data points over the past three years to identify which vehicle types, brands and models represented the lowest repair risks.
It found that the most reliable used model is the Toyota Yaris with a reliability score of 89.2 out of 100. It was followed by the Kia Picanto (86.8), Toyota Aygo (83.8) and the Toyota Rav-4 (79.9).
At the other end of the scale, the model with the lowest reliability score was the Land Rover Discovery (17.2), followed by the BMW 7 Series (18.7), the Mercedes S Class (19.2), and the Audi A7 (19.2).
The data also revealed how reliability is being influenced by wider trends in the car parc. For example, the average age of a vehicle on the road has increased to 10 years, while repair costs have continued to increase due to greater technology in cars and labour rates rising from £104.11 in 2023 to £112.30 in 2025.
Opportunity
Antony Diggins, managing director of Warrantywise, said: “As the UK car parc continues to age, more vehicles – particularly SUVs and premium models – are moving into a stage of ownership where repair requests become more likely. That doesn’t make them the wrong used cars to retail, but it does mean they need to be approached differently.
“For used car dealers, the opportunity lies in understanding the full ownership picture. Access to real-world repair data provides valuable insight beyond a dealer’s typical stock profile, helping to inform buying decisions, highlight areas for inspection and better anticipate preparation costs before a vehicle reaches the forecourt.
“It’s about buying with clear visibility on cost exposure, preparing vehicles thoroughly and helping customers plan for the realities of longer-term ownership.”
