An article about the 10 most reliable car brands in the world, as well as which car brands are considered the most reliable. At the end of the article - a video about the top 10 most unreliable cars.
The concept of car reliability
Every year, a wide variety of analytical agencies conduct surveys, research, accumulate and process information in order to rank the car market in the relevant categories. This may be the ranking of the most budget cars or the most passable, as well as necessarily the most reliable.
This term - reliability - consists of a combination of various qualities and characteristics of a car:
- Operational reliability shows just the period during which the vehicle will not require the slightest repair.
- Durability is the ideal operating life with regular and high-quality maintenance.
- Ease of repair involves the ability to completely bring the car to working condition through minor or major repairs.
- Operability will demonstrate compliance with the actual service life stated in the technical documentation.
Rating of reliable cars in the world (car brands)
1 Lexus
The Japanese auto industry is always out of time and out of competition. This is a style, level, class and quality that has no equal yet. The experts who participated in the study of operational data noted very worthy electronics responsible for the operation of the engine, transmission and other vehicle systems. A few years earlier, car owners complained about the failure of equipment, especially with a sufficiently high mileage. Now, even after 400 thousand kilometers when driving on a variety of road surfaces and operating in difficult weather conditions electronics does not cause the slightest concern.
Completely phenomenal results chassis Lexus and Consumables. Due to the initially pledged resource reserve of 30%, even if the car owner does not take the car to scheduled maintenance It doesn't affect health in any way. vehicle.
2 Mazda
There is nothing surprising in the fact that the next prize-winning place also went to a Japanese car. Mazda owes its increased level of reliability to Skyactiv technology, which equalizes the degree of compression of diesel or gasoline engines. In addition, the brand's cars noted the absence of malfunctions in electronics, the excellent operation of the automatic transmission, which is so common for this brand, and the appearance. Thanks to the build quality and excellent interior trim, the car does not lose its “presentation” for many years. This feature makes Mazda profitable in resale, because even after several years of operation, it looks new.
Especially from the whole family, experts singled out the CX-5 and Mazda 3.
3.Toyota
The leading brand in many ratings was awarded an honorary “bronze” here. Analysts have differed opinions on these vehicles: although they can hardly be called the benchmark for reliability in some areas, they all win in terms of the amount of money saved on maintenance compared to other equally popular brands.
Both automatic boxes and robotic transmissions received good marks. Stepless variators, installed on some models, also do not require regular maintenance, and any problems are fixed with little money.
4 Audi
Surprising but praised German quality for many years now, they have not ensured their car industry getting to the highest levels of the reliability rating. Audi received this honor for its main advantage - an aluminum body. Lightweight, economical and, thanks to the durable paintwork, very resistant to corrosion. The owners speak positively about the trouble-free, durable gearbox and the absence of problems with electrical equipment.
However, if there is a need for body repair, it will be very expensive for the owner. Since the melting temperature of aluminum is much higher than that of steel, welding work demand special equipment, special skills, which automatically increases the cost of work.
5 Subaru
Grade specifications this car surprised even the experts. The reason for the unexpected rise of the brand is the introduction of new, stronger alloys into the production process, which increase the reliability of engines. And design engineers further reduced the degree of forcing the motors, bringing them to world standards.
Good dynamic parameters are achieved by equipping with a turbocharger, although more recently power was added by increasing the speed and varying the injection.
The Legacy model received the highest rating, but the BR-Z coupe added a fly in the ointment, hitting the anti-rating of unreliable sports cars.
6 Porsche
Slowly but surely, the automaker is climbing higher in the ranks of a reliable brand. This can be explained by the expansion of sales of models with traditional engines, which are installed, for example, in the Cayenne SUV or Panamera hatchback. But the sports options - Cayman and Boxster - cause criticism. Their boxer units showed themselves to be extremely capricious in their work, requiring frequent maintenance. Of course, people who can afford Porsche cars, will not save on repairs and maintenance. However, at the moment, the maintainability and durability of these models leaves much to be desired, especially considering their price tag.
7. Honda
The manufacturer finally took the i-VTEC system seriously and brought it to perfection. For many years, car owners have suffered from malfunctions and even failure of the executive hydraulics. At the same time, Japanese engineers decided to abandon the multi-link suspension and functionally improved the chassis, just simplifying it. Specialists especially appreciated this move – not being afraid to lose a technical advantage, the brand gained a new dignity and a new rating level.
The cabin of all Honda models boasts excellent finishes and quality materials, even in budget versions. An ideal assembly does not bother the car owner with unnecessary noises and squeaks. All this allows the car to maintain a decent appearance for a long time in order to be resold at a great price.
The Honda Civic Si was recognized as the best model of the brand in terms of reliability, which became best sports car with a high performance engine.
8. KIA
Mark several times managed to surpass its direct rival Hyundai, with which it has long competed in prestige and quality. For Korean motors, it has long been noted very high reliability, bringing them to the level power units new generation. And thanks to the constant elimination of emerging shortcomings and continuous improvement, they now deserve to stand in line with the most prestigious brands.
The manufacturer also got rid of troubles with electronics, which failed during operation in bad weather conditions and under excessive load. And the silent gearbox has lost unpleasant "failures" when switching gears.
The only drawback at the moment is the chassis of the cars, which still needs to be brought up to European quality.
The Sportage crossover has become a leader within the brand.
9 Nissan
This car has a very good reputation for being reliable. workhorse". Excellent anti-corrosion coating, low oil consumption, decent engine and chassis. Problems can start after about 100 thousand kilometers, small, fixable, similar to others automotive brands but with steep prices.
The device of the machine is such that in order to replace, for example, candles, half of the engine has to be disassembled. Or it is impossible to separately change the steering rods exclusively in conjunction with an electric rack, which by itself could last another 200 thousand kilometers.
10. BMW
Apparently, the German automaker decided to make money on spare parts and after-sales service, and not on sales volumes, as the Japanese do. This alone can explain the incredible complexity internal device car and at the same time increased "brittleness".
BMW owners unanimously talk about frequent visits to services, since almost no car malfunction can be done on their own. Any interference with the mechanism can only cause more damage. Seems like the desire to do really nice car led to the fact that the engineers were too smart and unwittingly reduced reliability to a minimum.
If you don’t drive off-road and don’t get into accidents on a BMW, it will pleasantly please you with a magnificent, not gluttonous engine that starts from a half turn in any temperature and functions perfectly under any load. Particularly noted is the suspension, which allows you to feel like on soft waves while driving.
Video about the top 10 most unreliable cars:
As part of the study, experts interviewed more than 41,000 American drivers who bought their cars in 2011. They were asked to recall the number of times they had experienced some type of failure on their machines over the past 12 months (they chose from 202 of the most common failures). Based on the data obtained, an appropriate rating was compiled.
The "Top-10" of the most reliable manufacturers included representatives of predominantly premium brands. Lexus has been the winner for the fourth year in a row. Japanese company There are 68 breakdowns per 100 vehicles (71 in 2013). At the same time, Lexus managed to break away from its pursuers even more compared to last year - 23 points in 2013 against 36 this year.
Mercedes-Benz and Cadillac follow with 104 and 107 failures, respectively, while last year's second- and third-placed Porsche and Lincoln moved closer to the bottom of the top ten.
There were no major changes at the bottom of the table. The top three least reliable manufacturers, like a year ago, were Dodge (181 breakdowns) and Land Rover(179 breakdowns). The first place from the end of the list went to the MINI brand (185 breakdowns), which, compared to 2013, dropped by seven positions.
Reliability rating of car brands J.D. Power & Associates
| brand | Number of Defects per 100 Machines | brand | Number of Defects per 100 Machines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexus | 68 | Ford | 140 |
| mercedes benz | 104 | Nissan | 142 |
| Cadillac | 107 | Audi | 151 |
| Acura | 109 | Kia | 151 |
| Buick | 112 | Volvo | 152 |
| Honda | 114 | Scion | 153 |
| Lincoln | 114 | Chrysler | 155 |
| Toyota | 114 | Volkswagen | 158 |
| Porsche | 125 | Ram | 165 |
| Infiniti | 128 | Mitsubishi | 166 |
| bmw | 130 | Hyundai | 169 |
| Subaru | 131 | Jeep | 178 |
| Chevrolet | 132 | Land Rover | 179 |
| Jaguar | 132 | Dodge | 181 |
| Mazda | 132 | MINI | 185 |
| GMC | 133 |
In addition, experts named the most reliable models in each segment. The leadership has been General Motors: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC brands won eight positions. Second place went to Toyota, which, along with its "daughters" Scion and Lexus, got the first seven lines. Just one point behind is another Japanese brand - Honda (together with Acura), six models of which were awarded the title of "most reliable".
The most reliable models in their segment according to J.D. Power & Associates
| Segment | Model |
|---|---|
| subcompact car | Honda Fit |
| compact car | Toyota Corolla |
| Compact premium car | Lexus ES |
| compact sports car | MINI Cooper |
| midsize car | Toyota Camry |
| midsize sports car | chevrolet camaro |
| premium midsize car | Lexus GS |
| big car | Buick Lucerne |
| Big premium car | Lexus LS/Cadillac DTS (tie) |
| Subcompact crossover | Honda Element |
| compact crossover | Honda CR-V |
| Compact premium crossover | Acura RDX |
| midsize crossover | Honda Crosstour |
| Mid-size premium crossover | Lexus RX |
| Compact station wagon | ScionxB |
| Minivan | Toyota Sienna |
| Big SUV | G.M.C. Yukon |
| Large premium SUV | Cadillac Escalade |
| midsize pickup | Honda Ridgeline |
| full size pickup | GMC Sierra LD |
| big pickup | GMC Sierra HD |
The experts noted that, compared with a similar study in 2013, average level malfunctions per 100 cars increased by six percent - from 126 to 133 breakdowns. Thus, the current study was the first since 1998, when the average number of defects exceeded the previous year.
In particular, the researchers recorded an increase in the number of breakdowns in engines and transmissions, most of which occurred in cars with low-volume four-cylinder engines, as well as cars with large diesel power plants. Cars with five- and six-cylinder units had fewer malfunctions.
When choosing a car, each buyer follows his own rules. Someone chooses by price, someone by "clothes", some just make a purely emotional choice. However, there is one criterion that each of us pays attention to: reliability. How often you have to fix the car, how much it will drink your blood and money in the future, and whether you will curse the day when you sat down at the “steering wheel” of this car are, without exaggeration, vital questions.
It's great that there are specialists in the world who know the answer to them! Authoritative publication " consumer reports» collected the opinion of almost half a million motorists in the United States and, based on their feedback, ranked the most reliable machines On the market. Of course, this list is not exhaustive, but general order cases and some nuances for those who want to buy a car with low mileage from America, he will still cover. So, we present to your attention the Top 10 leaders of the American market of new cars in the "Reliability" nomination.
Traditionally, the set of participants in any rating certainly includes representatives of the Toyota brand. This time, the cars of this brand took a good half of the list of leaders in terms of reliability. So, the majority of votes were given to natives of Toyota and Lexus. On the tenth line of the ranking was SUV Toyota 4Runner. Despite the fact that owners of large-caliber SUVs usually do not spare them much, customer reviews of the 4Runner remain positive. When compiling the rating, experts studied all possible troubles that may occur - both squeaky brakes and problems with all-wheel drive. The result was positive - despite all the efforts of buyers, it is not so easy to disable the 4Runner: it is one of the most reliable SUVs on the market.
Having bought a car, the cost of which exceeds $ 70,000, few will be happy about having to bother with its repair. At least in the coming years. Owners who already own an Audi Q7 guarantee that you should not have such problems. At the same time, the car, like other participants in the rating, was not only studied in Consumer Reports as reviews were received. Experts personally drove the car around the track. As it turned out, there were so few complaints against her that she settled on the 9th line of the rating.
Perhaps towards the end of this rating, it will start to remind you of the movie "The Last Samurai" - with a lot of Japanese and just one American. Indeed, American car owners are not particularly enthusiastic about “domestic-made” cars. The only representative of the United States in the top of the list of the most reliable cars was the new Chevrolet Cruze. During its operation, the owners did not encounter any problems. But they were satisfied with the good handling, quiet interior and new multimedia system with support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. So far, there is only one version of the car on the market - with a 1.4-liter petrol turbo engine and a 6 speed automatic. In the future, the company promises to please customers with a 1.6-liter diesel engine as an alternative. Another car should appear on sale in the form of a hatchback.
Crossover from Mercedes-Benz also received its place of honor in the ranking. However, the experts of “Consumer reports” still had concerns about the GLC. Firstly, the car was run in only for several months of this year and possible problems may “crawl out” later. However, at this stage, both customers and experts are satisfied with the crossover. Even in the publication noted that the GLC is also available in the US market with a simplified autopilot system. Apparently, they could not fully verify it. However, all potential buyers are advised to be vigilant when operating the GLC in the US market.
It's funny how Lexus GS is often positioned as a competitor European sedans premium class. At the same time, there is not a single sedan from the EU in the reliability rating! In this case, Lexus competes exclusively with itself. There are few characteristic signs in the car that did not like or caused problems for buyers or experts. But they liked the balance of smooth running and handling. On local market the car is sold with a 3.6-liter V6 petrol engine and a 9-speed automatic. A 6-speed transmission is also available. Another sedan is sold in the F version, which assumes the presence of a 467-horsepower V8 engine.
The Lexus GX SUV is built on the same platform as the aforementioned Toyota 4Runner, which means that it is also basically a “positive character”. However, as a representative of a more premium segment, the GX managed to climb higher in terms of reliability. At the same time, time played against him: the second generation of the car appeared more than five years ago, which means that buyers had more time to find some flaws in it. However, they failed to do this: good, damn it! The car for the American market is endowed with a 4.6-liter V8 petrol unit, as well as a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Another Audi literally drags European cars by the ears in the rating of the most reliable cars in the US market. Thanks to the miniature Audi Q3, the third and last car from the Old World has appeared in the current list. However, the position in the ranking of the car is quite high. In addition, he managed to bypass his main competitors, the BMW X1 and Mercedes-Benz GLA. Audi Q3 American customers are used to seeing with a 2.0-liter turbo engine, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The top three is opened by a native of the Japanese “house”, which is not part of the Toyota empire. We ourselves were lucky not so long ago to know all the delights of this sedan. In September, when the car entered the Ukrainian market, it was tested by AUTO.RIA. At the same time, the impressions of perhaps the most comfortable class sedan coincided with the lion's share of the impressions of the Americans who bought it in the New World. Another bonus to the treasury of the Q70's merits was the price of the car, which is about half as low as its competitors. If you are looking towards this model when choosing a new car, there is no reason to stop you. Unless, of course, you are no longer interested in finding out which car has taken the top step in the new car reliability rating in the US market.
No, it's not a winner yet: a more complex system hybrid plants, in comparison with the classic internal combustion engine, sometimes scares off even American buyers accustomed to hybrids. Many people think that such machines are more difficult to maintain and, in principle, they often fail. However, judging by the reviews of people who nevertheless purchased a hybrid hatch, rumors about the unreliability of such power plants are greatly exaggerated. To the displeasure of skeptics, the Lexus CT 200h has become one of the most reliable cars of the coming years! They were also satisfied with the experts, who personally conducted a series of test drives of the car. However, this applicant is not the only one who confirms the theory of reliability of modern hybrids...
After all, at the top of this “ten” is also a hybrid! The frequency with which the Toyota Prius appears in all sorts of ratings cannot be ignored. Even if you do not take into account all the car awards related to the environment, the car has outperformed many worthy competitors in various disciplines. For example, not so long ago we found out that a hybrid sedan is very inexpensive to operate and maintain. According to YourMechanic, for 10 years of owning this vehicle, the owner will spend only $ 4,300 on its maintenance (for the sake of justice, we recall that it will be spent in America). Now it turned out that driving this car you will not “get the money” to fix the breakdown and are unlikely to get into other similar troubles. Well, unless you are wearing a police uniform... If you add to this the relatively low fuel consumption and high level of safety according to EuroNCAP tests, it is not difficult to get the result: the hybrid Toyota Prius is one of the most rational cars that are sold in the US market. I wonder if the conclusion of the "Consumer reports" experts will affect the dynamics of the "delivery" of such used cars from America?
Who, if not the owners themselves, will best tell about their cars? They know how many times they visited the service, they know why the car they bought did not suit them, what expectations from the operation of the car were not confirmed, and where such problems got out that they had to get into their wallet. Have you already seen
Another large-scale study was conducted by the European branch of the J.D. power. The agency is engaged in a global survey of car owners who bought their cars more than a year ago and have already driven about 30,000 km on average. A huge questionnaire was filled out by 17,200 motorists who purchased cars between January 2007 and December 2008. Questions that were asked to car owners are very diverse. They concerned the operation of car components, reliability, interior comfort, luggage transportation, up to simple general impressions about the car.
A total of 104 models from 27 manufacturers were evaluated. As a result of processing the questionnaires, cars were evaluated according to four parameters, each of which had its own weight in the final assessment of a particular model:
- owner complaints - 37%;
- quality and reliability - 24%;
- ownership and spending - 22%;
- quality of service at dealers - 17%.
The parameters “Quality and reliability”, as well as “Complaints of owners” really give an objective assessment of a particular car, regardless of the country
vehicle operation. But the cost of ownership and maintenance at dealers from country to country can vary greatly, since each
In the market, a manufacturer can pursue a completely different policy on the choice of dealers and prices for spare parts and repairs.
In general, the survey reflects the satisfaction of the owner with his car - by what percentage did this or that model meet the expectations of its owners.
Absolutely the best result was shown by the crossover from Lexus. Model Lexus The RX posted a customer satisfaction score of 86.7% and was a 3% lead over the prestigious Jaguar XF sedan in second place. Not so long ago, Jaguar brand cars occupied rather modest positions in reliability ratings, especially if these ratings were issued in Germany or the States. But now, firstly, Jaguar really began to collect fewer complaints from owners about the quality and reliability of their models, and secondly, this study was conducted in the UK, where they are very loyal to the domestic automaker - the pride of the British.
Third on the global satisfaction list is another Lexus, the IS sedan.
By the way, except for the Lexus RX that pulled ahead, the other 103 models showed fairly close results - there are no frank failures here: the cars are located in a tight group and the gap in the results of the second and last places was only about 10%.
Customer satisfaction is completely independent of vehicle size or body style. The top ten included a tiny urban hatchback from Toyota, a compact van from Honda, prestigious sedans from Audi and Jaguar, crossovers from Lexus and Honda, C-class model from KIA. It is noticeable that premium brands, and in particular Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, took places in the first half of the list. Together with them, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen models firmly settled here.
And here french cars they have always been disliked in Britain, and they rank low on the customer satisfaction list. The first Frenchman, the Citroen C4 Grand Picasso, only appears on the list in 37th place (which it shares with the Audi A4 and BMW 5-Series), and the bulk of the French models have accumulated towards the bottom of the list.
There is another absurdity in the testimony of the British. Three absolutely identical models, produced at the same plant in Slovakia, are located in different parts of the list. The car with the Japanese nameplate Toyota Aygo took 31st place, while cars with French emblems were in 90th (Citroen C1) and 99th (Peugeot 107) places.
Among urban minicars, FIAT Panda and Citroen C1 received the best marks for quality and reliability; when it came to complaints from the owners, the FIAT 500 was the least of all complaints, while the French models and the old Ford Ka received from the British in full. But in terms of dealer work and maintenance costs, the Toyota Aygo and Smart ForTwo scored high and were the best in the urban subcompact class. They were accompanied by two FIATs - Panda and 500.
In total, 23 models are presented in this category. At the top of the list are Japanese models and a small English MINI. The best in quality and reliability
Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris were recognized. In addition, the highest rating for reliability received Mitsubishi Colt, and for the quality of the interior - Volkswagen Polo.
Bottom of the list good results quality and reliability were shown by Ford Fiesta, Citroen C3 and Opel Meriva, which is sold in England under the brand name
Vauxhall. The brightest, and most importantly, the most English car MINI collected the fewest complaints. The Toyota Yaris received the highest ratings for service and cost of maintenance in the UK.
And here is the first extremely unexpected result: among 19 golf-class models, the consumer liked the affordable Korean model of Slovak production the most. Excellent quality and reliability, no complaints and low prices for service brought KIA Cee'd to first place in the class and fourth in the overall customer satisfaction rating. The KIA Cee'd has not only overtaken the class benchmark VW Golf, but also premium compacts from BMW, Audi and Volvo. The latest of these, the Volvo C30, received top marks for quality and reliability. The VW Jetta and KIA Cee'd also get high marks for reliability. Body quality is the best Toyota Auris, and the new Mazda3 also received the highest score for reliability
A clear division of consumer preferences can be seen in the ratings of 12 D-class cars. The highest scores were given to Japanese models and Volvo, followed by German and French models. Only the Toyota Prius receives the highest marks for quality and reliability. Another top mark for the quality of the bodywork receives Honda Accord, and no other model in this class received top marks for reliability and quality. But the Accord had a minimum number of complaints. Customers were also loyal to the Volvo S40. The highest rating for cost of ownership was, of course, the hybrid Prius.
The Japanese Lexus received top marks for quality and reliability. Received the highest rating for reliability mercedes c-class. In terms of the low number of complaints, the Audi model scored high, and in terms of the favorable cost of ownership, UK consumers chose the native Jaguar X-Type.
We are accustomed to believing in the impeccability of the "Germans", in the reliability of the "Japanese" and in other axioms (or is it legends?), Which automakers themselves have been stubbornly repeating for decades. Of course, there are independent studies that prove that this or that respected brand has received recognition all over the world for a reason. It is all the more interesting that some other reliability ratings completely refute popular misconceptions.
Myth 1. Cars used to be better
We live in an age of disposables. Durable-looking "tourist" boots can come apart at the seams in a couple of months, even if you walked in them exclusively around the city. From the body of the "fifth" iPhone, the paint peeled off already in the first days of operation. And I personally know the buyer Ford Mondeo, who, in the first year of owning a car, encountered so many small and not very troubles that he handed over the car back to dealership. Has this happened before?
It is believed that the models of previous years were created with a much greater margin of safety. Like it or not, it is impossible to say. But manufacturers take into account the fact that we have begun to change cars more often and rarely think about what repairs a car will need after 200 thousand kilometers.
It is believed that companies have switched en masse to components of lower quality, starting to buy them from manufacturers from third world countries. The automotive components industry has indeed changed: for example, the Chinese company Fuyao Glass Industry has now come in second place in the supply of automotive glass to factories of various brands (by the way, this year it opened production in Russia and began to supply glass to the Kaluga Volkswagen factory). Such examples cause concern among motorists of the old school.
However, statistics can dispel doubts. Studies carried out on the European market show that among the current 4-5 summer cars there is the same proportion of instances with various kinds of malfunctions (about 11%), as among cars produced 15 years ago and examined at the beginning of the "zero" years. Such data are given in the reports of the German organization TUV, which deals with vehicle inspection. Of course, in this case we are talking about neat Europeans who keep their cars in good technical condition.
And what about the ocean? There statistics are even better. Research by the American agency J.D. Power, fixing all (even the smallest) problems that arise during the operation of machines, show that over the past 10 years the number of comments has decreased by as much as half! In 2003, there were an average of 273 problematic parameters per 100 three-year-olds, and in 2013 this number fell to only 126 (data from the 2013 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study report).
However, if we talk not about the "average" car, but about the models specific brands, you can see that depending on the year of manufacture, reliability can vary over a very wide range. For example, if you believe TUV rating, the reliability of Renault cars has declined significantly over the past decade. In the 2004 report, the four- or five-year-old Laguna and Megane models are in quite worthy places - at the level of the Audi A6 and BMW 5-series. Of the used cars surveyed, only 10.5% of the Laguna and 11.3% of the Megane had serious malfunctions. Over the years, the situation has changed radically.
In the 2013 report, Lagunas and Megans, aged four or five, are already at the bottom of the list with numbers of 18% and 23%. Lower - Renault Kangoo(23.2%), but the related car was recognized as the most unreliable Dacia Logan (25,8%).
A similar drop in quality is observed in Citroen. If the Xsara golf-class model in 2004 outperformed Audi and BMW business sedans in reliability, demonstrating the result of only 9.8% of faulty cars at the age of 4-5 years, then the Citroen C4 that replaced it breaks down almost twice as often (16, 7%).
However, such examples are, fortunately, the exception. The special quality of previous models is believed, first of all, by hardened “car gurus”, who found the times when “Mercedes was still the same”, and new Lada is no longer a match for “the very first Zhiguli”. To believe them or not is a philosophical question. Neither one nor the other can give any reliable statistics of breakdowns.
Myth 2: Engineering excellence of prestige brands
At world premieres of cars, journalists are always impressed by how luxury brands effectively present their technical know-how. Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, range rover, Cadillac - all of them will certainly show new nodes in the context and allow you to ask engineers in detail about all the benefits of fresh solutions. This is done so that buyers have no doubt that they are paying not only for the brand and expensive finishing materials, but also for the real technical excellence. True, not a single brand, of course, admits that a car stuffed with advanced electronics is more capricious than simpler models, and components and assemblies that have received new Constructive decisions, sometimes less reliable and more expensive to repair than cheaper designs.
A year ago, the British organization Warranty Direct, which collects statistics on warranty and post-warranty car repairs in the UK, published a rating worst cars over the past 15 years. The list can be called shocking: it consists almost entirely of the flagship models of the German car industry. The real surprise was that it even included models that, in other ratings, on the contrary, were called the most trouble-free. The worst ten cars, according to Warranty Direct, looks like this:
- Audi RS 6 (2002-2011 release)
- BMW M5 (2004-2011)
- Mercedes-Benz SL (2002-2012)
- Mercedes-Benz Viano (1996-2004)
- Mercedes-Benz CL (2000-2007)
- Audi A6 allroad (2000-2005)
- Bentley Continental GT (2003-2012)
- Porsche 911 (body 996) (2001-2006)
- Range Rover (2002-2012)
- Citroen XM (1994-2000)
Such an amazing selection of cars can be easily explained: the experts took into account not only the total number of breakdowns, but - more importantly - also the cost of repairs. This can explain why the Porsche 911 and Mercedes-Benz SL were blacklisted. Of course, the comparison of repair costs is only partially fair, but it should be noted that the rating taking into account the "monetary factor" gives more correct results than without it.
Although even without taking into account the "issue price", the reliability of many respected brands is highly questionable. For example, statistics on engine breakdowns are not in favor of Audi, BMW, Mini and Volkswagen, Warranty Direct experts say. For every 27 Audi cars one engine failure. Worse - only the MG Rover brand, which has one breakdown for every 13 cars. well and top scores showed Honda brands and Toyota, which have one engine failure in 344 and 171 vehicles, respectively.
Not only in Warranty Direct research, but also in American ratings these brands do not show the best results. At J.D. Power brands such as Audi, Mini and Volkswagen also rank in the bottom 10 for reliability when evaluating cars as young as three years old. Yes, and BMW showed a result lower than the industry average.
To be sure, you can refer to another independent rating - Consumer Reports, which contains statistics on calls to American car services from 2003 to 2012. The top 20 cars reported to have been "significantly above average" included expensive models such as the BMW 7 Series, BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz GL, Mini Cooper S and Volkswagen Touareg.
Myth 3. Trouble-free "Japanese"
They say that the Russian ambassador to Japan at one time drove alternately in a Mercedes and a Lexus. There were always many problems with one machine, while the other served flawlessly. Guess what? This story was told to me by my friend, who worked for several years at the embassy, and I subsequently retold it to many acquaintances. Everyone usually guesses correctly, because Japanese reliability is an axiom. Or no longer?
IN last years The Toyota brand has become infamous for several large recalls of cars at once due to various kinds of factory defects, but this brand still occupies high lines in the reliability ratings. The ability to quickly eliminate the deficiencies found may contribute here.
Indeed, Toyota and Lexus models occupy quite high lines in many ratings, but this cannot be said about other brands. Yes, and Toyota is not praised by all researchers. For example, the German automobile club ADAC, which has been researching car reliability for many years, did not notice any special advantages for Toyota. The list of 21 cars, the owners of which are the least likely to apply for service, includes only one "Japanese" - Nissan Micra. Well, Honda Jazz got into the top 12 outsiders. Of course, here we can talk about the error of German studies: in the German car fleet Japanese models not so much. But in America, there are definitely enough of them.
According to J.D. Power, among the “three-year-olds” Lexus is in the lead, but Mitsubishi is one of the top three outsiders. Worse than this brand only Dodge and Land Rover. Subaru, Nissan and Infiniti also perform worse than average.
Research by Consumer Reports (statistics of calls to car services from 2003 to 2012) also confirms that the Japanese are different from the Japanese. The titles of the best are awarded to several models of Toyota / Lexus, Honda / Acura, Mazda and Infiniti at once. The rest Japanese stamps, according to the researchers, do not represent anything remarkable in terms of reliability.
Myth 4. "The British" are the most problematic
Testing new Jaguar and Land Rover models, we note from time to time that English engineering has stepped far forward in recent years. Take it in full aluminum bodies: This solution is now being used not only on sports cars, but also - for the first time in history - on thoroughbred off-road vehicles. And on highways, and on a serious off-road, these cars will not yield to anyone, but all words of admiration usually have to be accompanied by remarks about reliability ratings that have already set the teeth on edge.
Is it a joke: in the studies of J.D. The Power brand Land Rover has repeatedly been recognized as the worst of all, and Jaguar in the latest ranking has risen only five lines higher. If for every 100 used Lexuses aged three years there are 71 reported problems, then Land Rovers have 220.
However, representatives of the British brand say that the quality of cars has seriously improved in recent years. Indian concern Tata, which acquired Jaguar Land Rover in 2008 made a major investment in reliability and innovation.
To find some evidence that unreliability british marks- this is already an outdated myth, we must seriously try. Well, for example, there are no English models in the latest rating of the worst ADAC cars. Also, in the twenty most unreliable models according to Consumer Reports, there are currently no car Jaguar and Land Rover, despite the fact that there is a BMW 7-series and X5 (statistics of calls to car services from 2003 to 2012.) That is, according to this study, it turns out that the Jaguar XJ and Range Rover Sport are superior in quality. However, the fact that the "English" were not among the worst here is still little consolation.
But a recent study by Warranty Direct is already encouraging: the Jaguar brand entered the Top 5 in terms of engine reliability, losing only to Honda, Toyota, Mercedes and Volvo. True, experts immediately make a reservation: the breakdown of the Range Rover engine has become the most expensive warranty case over the past 15 years. Repair cost at 13,000 pounds sterling, which is equivalent to 680,000 rubles.
Myth 5. Mass brands save on reliability
As much as buyers of luxury models would like to feel the superiority of their cars over cheaper ones, in terms of reliability, many cheap models have long made their way to the leaders. If you can argue about all of the above myths, finding certain contradictions in the ratings, then all researchers almost unanimously note that in terms of reliability, some small cars not only are not inferior to expensive models, but even surpass them.
The ADAC ranking of exceptionally reliable cars includes Volkswagen Fox, Renault Twingo, Peugeot 206, Nissan Micra, Ford Ka and Citroen C1. They are placed on a par with the Audi A5, A6 and Q5; BMW 1st, 3rd, 5th series, X1 and X3; Mercedes A-class, B-class, C-class and GLK.
According to TUV statistics, the top ten used cars aged 4-5 years now look like this:
- Toyota Prius
- Mazda 2
- Toyota Auris
- Toyota Corolla Verso and Smart Fortwo
- Mercedes C-class
- Porsche Cayenne and Porsche Boxster
- Porsche 911
- Volkswagen Golf Plus
The absolute leaders in reliability (including the cost of repairs) according to Warranty Direct are the following models:
1. Mitsubishi Lancer(2005-2008 years of release)
2. Opel (Vauxhall) Agila (2000-2008)
3. Suzuki Alto (1997-2006)
4. Toyota Aygo (2005-2012)
5-6. Honda HR-V (1998-2006) and Volvo S40 (1996-04)
7. Mazda MX-5 (2005-2012)
8-9. Mercedes E-class(2006-2012) and Toyota Yaris (1999-2003)
10. Honda Jazz (2001-2008)
One big myth
Finally, it is worth mentioning those models whose reliability is not measured by any statistics at all. And the ideas of buyers about how faithfully such a model will serve is based solely on myths, rumors and isolated cases that happened to friends and acquaintances. IN best case results can be added to this long tests and resource tests that journalists arrange, but their results still should not be attributed to all released copies of a particular model. This, of course, is about products of Russian brands, foreign cars of local assembly and Chinese models.
Curious reliability tests are carried out by our colleagues from Autoreview. At the test site, they simulate the operation of the machine in the most different modes, and the loads are increased. This allows you to quickly assess the endurance of machines and identify many "congenital diseases" of various designs. Many models do not withstand: serious damage happen long before the end of the test. For example, on Chevrolet Aveo Kaliningrad assembly the gearbox withstood only 18,000 km, the shock absorbers leaked much earlier, and the front stabilizer nuts were already untwisted at the first thousand kilometers.
Let it be difficult to judge the reliability of all machines from one copy, but when in comparative test direct competitors are involved, the results become more indicative. Take, for example, parallel resource tests Renault Duster and Chevrolet Niva. Some buyers domestic models convinced that available foreign cars little superior to Russian cars, but in terms of reliability, the difference was huge.
Tests simulating 100,000 km of mileage on various types of roads, including serious off-road and cobblestones, revealed that the Duster's suspension is worthy of praise. For the first time in the history of autoreview life tests, after a long test, the suspension did not require the replacement of a single element. But the diagnostics of the motor based on the results of a long-term test showed that it wears out much faster than expected. The model also showed many other disadvantages, but all of them are essentially nothing compared to the problems that Niva discovered. Experts noted that under her hood, everything that could rust was rusted, including the cylinder block. During the test on the cobbled road, Shniva needed to change 10 (!) shock absorbers. In the gearbox, the teeth of the fifth gear fell apart and it jammed.
Of course, tests of single copies do not give the picture that is made up of statistics that take into account the breakdowns of hundreds of thousands of cars. But after all, the manufacturers themselves record all calls to official services, and it is possible that sooner or later independent organizations will also have access to the statistics of Russian service stations. And then, perhaps, widespread myths about Russian models and foreign cars of local assembly. So far, unfortunately, we know quite a bit about their true reliability.
| Place | Model | Share of faulty machines | Average mileage (km) | Place | Model | Share of faulty machines | Average mileage (km) |
| 1 | Toyota Prius | 4,0% | 63 000 | 62 | Volkswagen Touareg | 9,9% | 92 000 |
| 2 | Mazda 2 | 4,8% | 48 000 | 62 | Audi Q7 | 9,9% | 101 000 |
| 3 | Toyota Auris | 5,0% | 57 000 | 64 | Citroen C4 Picasso | 10,0% | 76 000 |
| 4 | Toyota Corolla Verso | 5,1% | 71 000 | 64 | Suzuki Swift | 10,0% | 54 000 |
| 4 | smart fortwo | 5,1% | 42 000 | 64 | BMW Z4 | 10,0% | 52 000 |
| 6 | Mercedes C-class | 5,3% | 68 000 | 67 | Mitsubishi Colt | 10,1% | 56 000 |
| 7 | Porsche Cayenne | 5,6% | 76 000 | 67 | Ford Mondeo | 10,1% | 95 000 |
| 7 | Porsche Boxster | 5,6% | 46 000 | 67 | Nissan Qashqai | 10,1% | 64 000 |
| 9 | Porsche 911 | 5,8% | 47 000 | 67 | Volkswagen Passat | 10,1% | 111 000 |
| 10 | Volkswagen Golf Plus | 5,9% | 61 000 | 71 | Hyundai Getz | 10,2% | 54 000 |
| 10 | Ford Fusion | 5,9% | 51 000 | 71 | Opel Zafira | 10,2% | 79 000 |
| 12 | Suzuki SX4 | 6,2% | 61 000 | 71 | nissan note | 10,2% | 60 000 |
| 12 | Mazda 3 | 6,2% | 61 000 | 74 | Volkswagen Beetle | 10,5% | 52 000 |
| 12 | Audi TT | 6,2% | 58 000 | 75 | Opel Astra | 10,6% | 70 000 |
| 15 | Toyota Avensis | 6,3% | 78 000 | 76 | Volkswagen Caddy | 10,9% | 87 000 |
| 15 | BMW X5 | 6,3% | 83 000 | 76 | Opel Agila | 10,9% | 49 000 |
| 17 | Mercedes SLK | 6,5% | 48 000 | 78 | Nissan Micra | 11,1% | 52 000 |
| 18 | Toyota RAV4 | 6,7% | 69 000 | 79 | Ford Galaxy | 11,3% | 101 000 |
| 19 | Audi A3 | 6,9% | 74 000 | 80 | BMW X3 | 11,6% | 80 000 |
| 20 | Mazda MX-5 | 7,1% | 44 000 | 80 | Honda Accord | 11,6% | 76 000 |
| 21 | volkswagen eos | 7,2% | 58 000 | 82 | BMW 5 Series | 11,9% | 99 000 |
| 22 | Audi A4 | 7,3% | 92 000 | 83 | Daihatsu Sirion | 12,0% | 52 000 |
| 23 | Ford Fiesta | 7,4% | 53 000 | 84 | Chevrolet Aveo | 12,3% | 52 000 |
| 24 | Audi A6 | 7,5% | 111 000 | 85 | Skoda Superb | 12,4% | 94 000 |
| 25 | Volkswagen Golf | 7,6% | 71 000 | 86 | Mercedes E-class | 12,5% | 110 000 |
| 25 | Mini | 7,6% | 53 000 | 87 | Renault Modus | 12,8% | 50 000 |
| 27 | Ford C-Max | 7,7% | 67 000 | 88 | Hyundai Tucson | 13,0% | 65 000 |
| 28 | Honda Civic | 7,9% | 64 000 | 88 | Volkswagen Polo | 13,0% | 56 000 |
| 29 | BMW 3 Series | 8,0% | 79 000 | 88 | Kia Picanto | 13,0% | 53 000 |
| 29 | Renault Twingo | 8,0% | 41 000 | 91 | Volkswagen Sharan | 13,2% | 98 000 |
| 31 | Toyota Yaris | 8,1% | 53 000 | 92 | Fiat Bravo | 13,4% | 65 000 |
| 32 | Honda Jazz | 8,3% | 53 000 | 93 | Citroen C3 | 13,9% | 57 000 |
| 32 | Mazda 6 | 8,3% | 77 000 | 94 | Renault Scenic | 14,0% | 70 000 |
| 34 | Toyota Aygo | 8,5% | 53 000 | 95 | Suzuki Jimny | 14,3% | 49 000 |
| 34 | Mercedes B-class | 8,5% | 60 000 | 95 | Kia Rio | 14,3% | 64 000 |
| 36 | Opel Meriva | 8,7% | 52 000 | 97 | Hyundai Atos | 14,4% | 46 000 |
| 37 | Volkswagen Touran | 8,8% | 89 000 | 98 | Renault Clio | 14,5% | 55 000 |
| 37 | Opel Tiger | 8,8% | 47 000 | 98 | Ford Ka | 14,5% | 50 000 |
| 37 | Volvo C30 | 8,8% | 69 000 | 98 | Chevrolet Matiz | 14,5% | 46 000 |
| 40 | Seat Altea | 8,9% | 70 000 | 101 | Kia Sorento | 14,6% | 82 000 |
| 40 | Ford Focus | 8,9% | 74 000 | 102 | volkswagen fox | 14,7% | 55 000 |
| 40 | Ford S-Max | 8,9% | 95 000 | 103 | Skoda Roomster | 14,8% | 67 000 |
| 43 | Volvo S40 | 9,1% | 89 000 | 103 | Peugeot 207 | 14,8% | 56 000 |
| 43 | Suzuki Grand Vitara | 9,1% | 66 000 | 105 | Citroen C2 | 14,9% | 57 000 |
| 45 | Opel Vectra | 9,2% | 87 000 | 106 | Citroen Berlingo | 15,2% | 76 000 |
| 45 | Skoda Octavia | 9,2% | 92 000 | 107 | Fiat Punto | 15,3% | 61 000 |
| 47 | BMW 1 Series | 9,3% | 66 000 | 108 | Alfa Romeo 147 | 15,5% | 65 000 |
| 47 | Citroën C1 | 9,3% | 56 000 | 108 | Volvo V70 | 15,5% | 114 000 |
| 49 | Subaru Forester | 9,4% | 72 000 | 110 | Alfa Romeo 159 | 15,8% | 83 000 |
| 49 | Kia Cee´d | 9,4% | 65 000 | 111 | Citroen C5 | 15,9% | 89 000 |
| 49 | Peugeot 107 | 9,4% | 54 000 | 111 | Seat Ibiza | 15,9% | 62 000 |
| 52 | Hyundai Matrix | 9,6% | 55 000 | 113 | Citroen C4 | 16,7% | 70 000 |
| 52 | Mercedes A-class | 9,6% | 55 000 | 114 | Fiat Panda | 16,9% | 51 000 |
| 52 | Honda CR-V | 9,6% | 71 000 | 115 | Peugeot 307 | 17,8% | 72 000 |
| 55 | Mercedes CLK | 9,7% | 62 000 | 116 | Peugeot 407 | 18,0% | 85 000 |
| 55 | Nissan X-Trail | 9,7% | 81 000 | 116 | Renault Megane | 18,0% | 76 000 |
| 55 | Mercedes ML | 9,7% | 94 000 | 118 | Fiat Doblo | 21,4% | 80 000 |
| 58 | Mazda 5 | 9,8% | 74 000 | 119 | Renault Laguna | 23,0% | 90 000 |
| 58 | Opel Corsa | 9,8% | 53 000 | 120 | Renault Kangoo | 23,2% | 72 000 |
| 58 | Seat Leon | 9,8% | 73 000 | 121 | Dacia Logan | 25,8% | 73 000 |
| 58 | Skoda Fabia | 9,8% | 53 000 | 120 | Renault Kangoo | 23,2% | 72 000 |
| 121 | Dacia Logan | 25,8% | 73 000 |
