The most reliable cars in the UK are almost unanimously from Japan despite most people believing German cars should top the list, according to new research.
A day after the world’s most unreliable car was revealed, a new study has found four Japanese manufacturers make up the top four most reliable manufacturers in the UK.
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Based on the number of breakdowns, Direct Line breakdown found Honda to be the most reliable car maker in the UK.
The brand, famed for its ‘bomb-proof’ build quality is not a surprise choice at the top of the list. However, in second place, Toyota made a mockery of several high profile recalls in the past 12 months to be named the second most reliable car maker in the UK.
Fellow Japanese brands Mazda and Nissan finished third and fourth respectively, followed by Malaysian car maker Proton, whose parent company also owns British-based Lotus.
The list comes a day after a rival insurer created a ‘Frankenstein’ concept car made up of the most unreliable car parts in the UK, including the suspension of a BMW M3, a gearbox from a Land Rover Freelander and an engine from an MG TF.
Despite the evidence stacking up to the contrary, Direct Line believes its research shows customers are ‘inconsistent with reality’ after a YouGov poll showed many believed German brands Volkswagen, Mercedes and BMW were the most reliable brands in terms of breakdowns.
Emma Holyer, Spokesperson for Direct Line Breakdown, said: “This research shows how motorists tend to think the more expensive cars are more reliable which isn’t always the case.
"Only one per cent of consumers thought Protons were trusty whereas it’s actually one of the most reliable cars on the market."
A Warranty Direct reliability index showing the top 100 reliable cars based on customer feedback currently shows the Toyota Corolla, Honda HR-V, Honda Jazz and Mazda2 in the top ten, supporting the theory that Japanese cars are some of the most reliable in the UK.