Japanese cars shift up a gear says Which?

June 20, 2008 - PRLog -- In the UK’s biggest car reliability survey (http://www.which.co.uk/cars ),* Japanese carmakers have swept the board, taking the top seven spots in this year’s brand reliability table.** Honda is top of the chart with a reliability index rating of 85 per cent, followed by Toyota (84 per cent), Daihatsu (83 per cent), Lexus (83 per cent), Mazda (83 per cent), Subaru (83 per cent) and Suzuki (83 per cent).

However, the Swindon-made Honda Civic (post-2006) falls well short of the brand’s usual reliability standards. It languishes in joint-bottom spot (http://www.which.co.uk/cars ), on 82 per cent, in the medium cars table (along with the Citroën C4).*** Honda’s Japan-built Civic Hybrid, on the other hand, tops the large car chart with a reliability score of 95 per cent.

It’s not great news for British**** car manufacturers either: Land Rover’s reliability is very poor - joint bottom of the table (http://www.which.co.uk/cars) along with the American brands Chrysler/Dodge, with a disappointing 67 per cent; Vauxhall is poor (75 per cent), while Jaguar (78 per cent) and Mini (78 per cent) are just average.

Contrary to popular belief, the expensive German marques of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz all have average reliability scores, while Volkswagen is rated as poor. The popular Volkswagen Passat (post-2005) has the joint-lowest reliability score (with the Citroën C5) – 80 per cent - in the large cars category.

Richard Headland, Editor, Which? Car, says:

"Japan continues to show the rest of the world how to make consistently reliable cars, although the new Honda Civic shows they’re not infallible. Some British-built cars, on the other hand, don’t exactly run like clockwork. Land Rover, in particular, needs to raise its game."
- Ends –

Notes to editors

The full article “Reliability Uncovered” appears in Which? Car magazine. For further information, the full article, a copy of the magazine or an interview, please contact Martin Chapman.
Which? Car is free to Which? members and also on sale at Sainsbury’s for £3.99 from 20th June 2008.
*During January to February 2008, Which? Car survey acquired data for 89,762 cars, making it the biggest and most detailed car reliability survey in the UK.
**Survey questions covered breakdowns (classed as ‘something that leaves you unable to drive the car’), faults (‘which required a visit to the dealer for remedial work’) and niggles (‘less urgent breakages or failures’). The Brand Reliability Index uses statistical analysis to group makes into reliability bands based on breakdowns, faults and niggles. The survey includes cars up to eight years old, so it’s a good indicator of ‘whole life’ reliability. The overall average brand reliability index score is 78%.
Brand Reliability Index: Honda, Japan (85 per cent); Toyota, Japan (84 per cent); Daihatsu, Japan (83 per cent); Lexus, Japan (83 per cent); Mazda, Japan (83 per cent); Subaru, Japan (83 per cent); Suzuki, Japan (83 per cent); Hyundai, Korea (80 per cent); Mitsubishi, Japan (80 per cent); Porsche, Germany (80 per cent); Mini, UK (78 per cent); Nissan, Japan (78 per cent); Ford, USA (78 per cent); BMW, Germany (78 per cent); Skoda, Czech Republic (78 per cent); Kia, Korea (78 per cent); Proton, Malaysia (78 per cent); Mercedes Benz, Germany (78 per cent); Audi, Germany (78 per cent); Jaguar, UK (78 per cent); Vauxhall, UK (75 per cent); Citroën, France (75 per cent); Volvo, Sweden (75 per cent); Volkswagen, Germany (75 per cent); Peugeot, France (75 per cent); Smart, Germany (75 per cent); Chevrolet, USA (75 per cent); Daewoo, Korea (75 per cent); Jeep, USA (75 per cent); Saab, Sweden (73 per cent); Seat, Spain (73 per cent); MG, UK (73 per cent); Alfa Romeo, Italy (73 per cent); Rover, UK (70 per cent); Fiat, Italy (69 per cent); Renault, France (68 per cent); Land Rover, UK (67 per cent); Chrysler/Dodge, USA (67 per cent).
***Model reliability scores are based on cars up to two years old. For the full lists of model reliability scores, contact Martin Chapman.
****Car manufacturing is a global business, but Which? bases ‘nationality’ on the location of the manufacturer’s HQ.
The Which? Car podcast, discussing all the latest results, can be downloaded at www.which.co.uk/podcast from Friday 20th June.

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Which? is the leading independent consumer champion in the UK and has been testing products and services, as well as campaigning on behalf of the consumer, since 1957. It is committed to making individuals as powerful as the organisations they have to deal with in their daily lives. which.co.uk (http://www.which.co.uk ) provides up to date, impartial, expert information on thousands of products and services to help people make the right choices, whatever they’re buying.