With the average age of British cars reaching a record 10 years, Warrantywise has revealed the most reliable used models between 8 and 12 years old.
According to a new analysis of the national car fleet, the average vehicle on UK roads is now nearly a decade old — the highest figure ever recorded. In response, Warrantywise used its Reliability Index — considered one of the most comprehensive in the country — to identify the used vehicles offering the best performance and lowest long-term maintenance costs.
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The latest edition of the index shows the Toyota Yaris leading the ranking with a score of 93.6 out of 100. In addition to its excellent reliability, the model recorded a significantly lower cost risk, reinforcing its reputation as an economical and durable car.
Following closely, the Honda Civic ranks second with 93 points, while the Honda CR-V comes third with 89. Among the top ten, the Mitsubishi Outlander stands out for its toughness, though it also comes with higher maintenance costs when major failures occur — showing the importance of understanding both reliability and cost risk for older vehicles.
| Position | Model | Reliability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota Yaris | 93.6 |
| 2 | Honda Civic | 93.0 |
| 3 | Honda CR-V | 89.0 |
| 4 | Suzuki Swift | 86.5 |
| 5 | Mitsubishi Outlander | 85.9 |
| 6 | Toyota Aygo | 85.5 |
| 7 | SEAT Ibiza | 81.5 |
| 8 | Ford Mondeo | 80.9 |
| 9 | Renault Clio | 80.3 |
| =10 | Ford Ka | 79.6 |
| =10 | Citroën C1 | 79.6 |
| =10 | MINI Hatchback | 79.6 |
Britons Are Keeping Their Cars Longer
According to the RAC Foundation, by the end of 2024 the average car in the UK was nine years and ten months old. This trend reflects the impact of the rising cost of living, new vehicle shortages, and changing emissions regulations — factors that have led drivers to delay purchasing new cars and invest more in maintaining their existing ones.
Source and images: Warrantywise | Disclosure. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
