What a Car - UK - (2020-04)

whatcar.com^ April 2020 45

VauxhallZaraTourer(2012-2018)Reliabilityrating90.7%

AfterthelitanyofissuessufferedbyolderZafiras,including

under-dashfires,it’sreassuringtoseethenewerZafiraTourer

postingastrongreliabilityrating.Ownersreportedfaultson31%

ofcars,encompassingthebattery,engine,non-engineelectricsand

suspension.Althoughsomecarstookmorethanaweektorepair,

mostwerefixedunderwarrantyandrepairbillsdidn’texceed£300.

CitroënC3Picasso(2009-2017)Reliabilityrating86.0%

Ownerssaid31%ofC3Picassoshadaproblem,mostoftenwiththe

suspension.Otherareasaffectedincludedbodywork,brakes,engine

andnon-engineelectrics,fuelsystemandgearbox.Allcarswere

driveableandfixedthesameday.Morethanathirdofownersweren’t

chargedfortherepairs;othershadtopay£51-£750.

MazdaMX-5(2005-2015)Reliabilityrating93.0%

ComparedwiththeAudiTT,slightlyfewer(14%)MX-5swentwrong,

butissuesweresplitevenlyacrosssevenareas:air-con,bodywork,

brakes,exhaust,gearbox,non-engineelectricsandsuspension.Allof

thecarscouldstillbedrivenandasmallpercentagewerefixedunder

warranty;morethanhalfcostlessthan£200torepairandonlya

smallnumbercostupto£1500.

BMW6 SeriesCoupé/Convertible(2003-2011)

Reliabilityrating92.7%

Ownersreportedthat25%of 6 Seriescarshadaproblem,withissues

centringonbrakesandnon-engineelectrics.Allofthecarswere

driveableandbackontheroadinlessthanaweek;mostcostswere

lessthan£50,butafewwereupto£300.

Peugeot 3008 (2009-2017) Reliability rating 56.1%

A hefty 45% of 3008s suffered problems, encompassing seven of

our fault categories. The most common area of concern was engine

electrics, followed by air-con and the fuel system. Most cars could

still be driven and were fixed in less than a week; two-thirds of them

cost less than £500 to fix, but a small percentage cost £1000 or more.

Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic (2009-2012)

Reliability rating 58.1%

A disappointing 54% of Scenics suffered a fault. Non-engine electrical

issues were the most common problem, followed by air-con, brakes,

engine electrics and suspension. About a third of the cars were

rendered undriveable, and although some were fixed for free, most

repairs cost £101-£200, with some as high as £1500.

BMW Z4 (2003-2009) Reliability rating 65.8%

The older Z4 isn’t as dependable as its newer sibling; 54% of cars

went wrong, with suspension issues being by far the most common

complaint. There were also reports of engine and exhaust system

faults. Most cars were fixed in less than a day, and while most repair

bills didn’t exceed £500, some were more than £1500.

Mercedes-Benz SLK (2011-2016) Reliability rating 74.9%

The SLK wasn’t plagued by lots of problem; 26% of cars had a fault,

with brakes and suspension the most commonly cited areas of

concern, followed by the engine and gearbox. It lost marks for

reliability because more than half of cars languished in the garage

for more than a week; most of them cost up to £500 to fix and a

small percentage were more than £1500.

MPVs Sports cars

Kia Venga (2010 on)

What went wrong?

Bodywork7%Fuelsystem7%Interiortrim7%

Audi TT (2006-2014)

What went wrong? Battery 4% Brakes 4%

Engineelectrics4%Non-engineelectrics4%

Vauxhall Zara (2005-2016)

Whatwentwrong?

Engineelectrics19%Battery11%

Exhaust11%Gearbox11%Air-con8%

Brakes8%Engine8%Suspension8%

Interiortrim6%Steering6%Sat-nav3%

BMW 3 Series Coupé/

Convertible(2006-2013)

Whatwentwrong?

Brakes11%Suspension11%Engine6%

Exhaust6%Gearbox6%Non-engineelectrics6%

LEASTRELIABLE LEASTRELIABLE

MOST RELIABLE MOST RELIABLE

RELIABILITY

RATING

95.7%

RELIABILITY

RATING

93.2%

RELIABILITY

RATING

51.7%

RELIABILITY

RATING

57.0%

Owner comment

“It’s reliable and spacious, with a

high driving position that gives a

good view of the road ahead”

Owner comment

“It has fantastic build quality

and reliability; I haven’t had

a single problem with it”

Owner comment

“It’s developed knocks and

whining noises; it isn’t robust

enough for my daily commute”

Owner comment

“I was shocked by the high

price I had to pay for what

I consider to be faulty parts”

THE VENGA WAS never a big

seller, but it’s a car you should

consider if you’re after a

dependable MPV. Just 15% of

cars went wrong, with issues

split evenly between the

bodywork, fuel system and

interior trim. Two-thirds of the

cars took more than a week to

repair, but all were fixed for

free under warranty.

ALTHOUGH 18% OF TTs had

a fault, the areas affected

weren’t the most serious; the

battery, brakes, engine and

non-engine electrics each

accounted for 4% of problems.

Most of the cars could still

be driven and were fixed in

a week or less; no repair bills

exceeded £500.

NEARLY HALF (47%) of Zafiras

went wrong, with owners

telling us engine electrics were

the biggest issue, followed

by the battery, exhaust and

gearbox. Many of the faulty

cars couldn’t be driven, and

while some were fixed for free,

a quarter of them cost between

£750 and £1500 to fix.

THE 3 SERIES GETS the wooden

spoon for reliability, with 53%

of cars suffering a fault, 17%

of them to do with the engine.

Other problem areas included

the suspension, air-con,

brakes and fuel system. Most

cars were driveable and were

repaired in less than a week;

while some cars were fixed

under warranty, others cost

more than £1500 to put right.

Used car reliability