Most reliable cars 2025
Thousands of drivers take part in the annual Honest John Satisfaction Index survey. Their feedback identifies the most reliable cars in the UK. On the flip-side, it also highlights those you should avoid.
As well as looking at a variety of ownership criteria such as fuel economy, practicality and safety, our readers are asked to rate their cars for reliability, their responses giving a percentage score where 100% would indicate perfection.
This makes the annual survey a hugely invaluable resource because the results are based on the feedback from people who are live with the cars on a daily basis, including using them for school and shopping runs, daily commutes and holiday travel.
Of course, there are no guarantees of reliability, but by choosing one of the following cars, you stand a better chance of owning a model that's likely to give you the fewest sleepless nights. Here are the most reliable cars for 2025. You can find the least reliable cars - the ones to avoid - here.
1. Lexus NX
Reliability rating: 98.06%
Lexus NX owners know they’re onto a good thing when it comes to reliability it seems, as this upmarket family SUV’s once again come out on top in the 2025 Honest John Satisfaction Index. It’s not a one trick pony either as it also secured a Top 10 position for overall ownership satisfaction on account of its build quality, practicality and comfort.
2. Skoda Karoq
Reliability rating: 97.69%
HonestJohn.co.uk readers rate the Skoda Karoq very highly - and not just for reliability where it finished a close second to the Lexus NX - it also landed third place for overall ownership satisfaction. Spacious, practical, fine value for money and, naturally, deeply dependable, it’s no mystery why the Skoda Karoq’s so popular.
3. Toyota Corolla
Reliability rating: 96.94%
Open a dictionary to look for a definition of ‘reliability’ and rather than a wordy explanation, lexicographers could save themselves time by simply inserting a picture of the Toyota Corolla. Not only has it performed well with our readers, reliability is the key to this model’s near-six-decades-old success story - more cars have been sold in history wearing Corolla badges than any other.
4. Honda Jazz
Reliability rating: 96.81%
One key giveaway about future-gazing movies being underpinned by insufficient research is how few of them star weather-worn but mechanically sweet examples of the Honda Jazz milling about between robots and flying cars coming into land. Today's Honda Jazz owners appreciate the little Honda's reliable strength and so could you if you're in the market for a well-built and super-practical small hatchback.
5. Hyundai Kona (2017-2023)
Reliability rating: 96.30%
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Our readers with first-hand experience of the previous-generation Hyundai Kona are big fans of the compact SUV for reasons beyond its impressive reliability record. Also ranked highly are ownership expereinces relating to build quality, comfort and on-board technology, while those who drive the battery-powered Hyundai Kona Electric also rave about its efficiency.
6. Toyota RAV4
Reliability rating: 96.19%
A second Toyota-branded model in the HonestJohn.co.uk readers' top 10 for reliability, the Toyota RAV4 shares much of its hybrid technology with the Toyota Corolla in third place and the Lexus NX at the top of the league - strength-in-depth indeed. Our Toyota RAV4-driving readers also cite the Toyota's practicality and safety as other reasons to champion this SUV.
7. Honda CR-V (2018-2023)
Reliability rating: 95.96%
Second of a trio of similarly sized family SUVs to grab consecutive spots in the 2025 Honest John Satisfaction Index results for the cars with the best reliability is the previous-generation Honda CR-V. In addition to its impressive score for delivering mechanical peace of mind, of the reliability top 10 the Honda CR-V's the one with the highest rating for practicality.
8. Mazda CX-5
Reliability rating: 95.20%
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A direct rival to both the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, there's barely any separation between them and the Mazda CX-5 when it comes to reliability, according to our readers. We've long-raved about the quality of Mazda's high-quality interiors, so it's no surprise to learn that build-quality for the Mazda CX-5 scores very highly in the 2025 Honest John Satisfaction Index.
9. Tesla Model 3
Reliability rating: 94.58%
One of our early misgivings about the Tesla Model 3 was the patchiness of its build quality - most examples felt well-finished, others far less so. Evidently, with the passage of time, this electric saloon's proven to be not just reliable and efficient according to our readers who drive them, it's also the car with the highest overall score for the most satisfying ownership experience. Whether Elon's influence will mean the same next year remains to be seen...
10. BMW 2 Series Active Tourer (2014-2021)
Reliability rating: 94.42%
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Although BMW's 2 Series range incorporates two and four-door coupe models, as well as soft-top convertibles, its the smaller of the MPVs - the BMW 2 Series Active Tourer - that was especially popular with readers in the Satisfaction Index survey. High scores for build quality and practicality are a given, as is fuel economy with the plug-in hybrid versions.
Which car is the most reliable in the UK?
According to almost 5000 HonestJohn.co.uk readers, the Lexus NX is the most reliable car you can buy in the UK. With a choice of hybrid and plug-in hybrid drive systems, the NX is a great choice for fuel efficient motoring.
What's the most reliable cheap car?
If you're looking for a reliable, cheap car, then it has to be the Hyundai Kona from our Top 10. It finished just behind the smaller, newer Honda Jazz in the reliability ranking, but as the Kona was on sale for a longer period of time it's possible to spend less money getting hold of one.
What is the most unreliable car in the UK?
This year our readers scored the Vauxhall Corsa is the least reliable car choice with a score of 80.93%. Put another way, one in five Corsa drivers had reasons for questioning the Vauxhall's reliability compared with one in 50 for the Lexus NX. Disappointingly, the Vauxhall Corsa was also ranked as the worst car in the UK for overall owner satisfaction — there's evidently much work to be done to improve matters.
What's a reliable estate for around £10k?
