When it comes to buying a car, your first thought may not be to interrogate the dealer about reliability. You want to know about the performance, the spec, the extras and what colours you can choose from. Reliability, for many, comes much further down on the list. However, when it comes to the day to day running of your vehicle, how much you can depend on your car is vital. You don’t want to pick up your new sporty little number, with great horsepower, torque, and acceleration, only for the electrics to become faulty or for the drive shafts to wear out.
In 2017, we now have cars that are ridiculously reliable. At the same time, there are also cars on the market that have renowned faults. Remember the 2015 recall of Toyotas and Nissans because of dodgy airbags? Choose wisely, and you could be driving home with a car on which you can truly depend. You will be able to feel content in its ability to face up to any scenario that you throw at it, whether it’s ensuring that you can get to work on a bitterly cold winter’s morning or driving a thousand miles in a week on your annual road trip. Take a look at these vehicles that will help you to avoid the money pits and ensure a reliable drive for years to come.
In 2017, we now have cars that are ridiculously reliable. At the same time, there are also cars on the market that have renowned faults. Remember the 2015 recall of Toyotas and Nissans because of dodgy airbags? Choose wisely, and you could be driving home with a car on which you can truly depend. You will be able to feel content in its ability to face up to any scenario that you throw at it, whether it’s ensuring that you can get to work on a bitterly cold winter’s morning or driving a thousand miles in a week on your annual road trip. Take a look at these vehicles that will help you to avoid the money pits and ensure a reliable drive for years to come.
Seat Leon
If you’ve ever driven a Volkswagen Golf and loved the performance, style and iconic branding of such a sporty hatchback, you will love the Seat Leon. A slightly cheaper alternative, the Leon has exceptional performance in such a small package. The Cupra 300 can get you up to 60 mph in less than six seconds allowing for a fun drive while not surrendering its reliability credentials.
The only faults of note to report were the odd electrical reliability issue although this does not seem to be Seat-wide and picked up early enough will fall under warranty.
Ford Kuga
This fun mini SUV handles beautifully and has a nifty bit of zip to keep your drive interesting. Having been around for a decade, the designers and engineers have managed to iron out most reliability issues to create a trusty automobile. There is some intuitive technology included with the Kuga such as tyre pressure and blind spot monitoring, in the effort to improve fuel economy and prevent accidents. The Kuga is a great reliable motor for the family who needs slightly more ruggedness than a hatchback would provide.
The dealer will suggest that you book a Ford car service every year or every 12,500 miles, whichever comes sooner. By keeping up to date with your maintenance, any potential reliability issues can be nipped in the bud straight away for peace of mind.
Toyota RAV 4
Perhaps not the most thrilling car on the list, the RAV 4 is a stalwart of ‘best of’ lists everywhere. While not up there with the big guns regarding speed and performance, it has been praised for its safety rating, economical prowess, and its reliability. If you need a car that won't give you any nasty surprises, you will be hard pushed to beat a RAV 4.
With a quality build and reliable engine, you will see many used RAV 4s on the market with over 100,000 miles on the clock. They just keep going and going. The only reliability issues of note regarded the exterior trim of the vehicle.
Skoda Fabia
The jokes about Skodas being poor quality and the car that most people would shirk away from if offered a ride in one are long gone. Skoda cleverly reinvented itself to become a major player in producing high quality, well built and reliable vehicles that can satisfy a range of demographics. The small Fabia is a great example of a fiercely economical little runner making at least 55 mpg every time.
Reliable and safe, the Fabia is a solid choice for those who do most of their driving within the city and don’t tend to embark on mammoth stretches of motorway driving. The car has an intelligent front bumper sensor that will notify the driver of any potential collision and slowly brake if the driver does not react.
Suzuki Vitara
Another SUV on the list, the Suzuki Vitara that has a reputation of feeling much more car-like to drive. This Japanese made vehicle is great fun to drive with four modes to choose from: sport, auto, lock, and snow. With off road capabilities at the forefront of the designers’ minds, this vehicle is able to ship your kids to school even in the most treacherous of winter conditions.
This vehicle is not for the driver who stays very much within the city and needs the nimbleness and size of a smaller car. However, if you require something for any terrain, the Suzuki Vitara is a sensible choice. Family friendly, this SUV has a solid reliability rating with the only niggle coming from the electrics.
Audi Q3
Under the guise of a sports utility vehicle, the Audi A3 is a superb example of combining performance with reliability. With a premium build quality, the dashboard oozes class, and the exterior will turn heads. If you enjoy having a vehicle that is stylish, sporty and with a little bit of ruggedness, this sports SUV could be for you.
While expensive for its class, this SUV is reliable and comes with a whole host of safety features. One particularly random fault reported was that of the fuel cap design. Engine and electrics wise, you can rely on this vehicle to get you from A to B every time.
Choosing a vehicle in 2017 can be like venturing blindfolded into a minefield. The choice on offer is mind blowing, the promotional deals can be staggering, and the dealer incentives can be complex. While performance, handling and drive quality are important, you must stick to your guns and focus on the reliability of any potential new purchase. Your wallet will thank you for it in the future.
If you’ve ever driven a Volkswagen Golf and loved the performance, style and iconic branding of such a sporty hatchback, you will love the Seat Leon. A slightly cheaper alternative, the Leon has exceptional performance in such a small package. The Cupra 300 can get you up to 60 mph in less than six seconds allowing for a fun drive while not surrendering its reliability credentials.
The only faults of note to report were the odd electrical reliability issue although this does not seem to be Seat-wide and picked up early enough will fall under warranty.
Ford Kuga
This fun mini SUV handles beautifully and has a nifty bit of zip to keep your drive interesting. Having been around for a decade, the designers and engineers have managed to iron out most reliability issues to create a trusty automobile. There is some intuitive technology included with the Kuga such as tyre pressure and blind spot monitoring, in the effort to improve fuel economy and prevent accidents. The Kuga is a great reliable motor for the family who needs slightly more ruggedness than a hatchback would provide.
The dealer will suggest that you book a Ford car service every year or every 12,500 miles, whichever comes sooner. By keeping up to date with your maintenance, any potential reliability issues can be nipped in the bud straight away for peace of mind.
Toyota RAV 4
Perhaps not the most thrilling car on the list, the RAV 4 is a stalwart of ‘best of’ lists everywhere. While not up there with the big guns regarding speed and performance, it has been praised for its safety rating, economical prowess, and its reliability. If you need a car that won't give you any nasty surprises, you will be hard pushed to beat a RAV 4.
With a quality build and reliable engine, you will see many used RAV 4s on the market with over 100,000 miles on the clock. They just keep going and going. The only reliability issues of note regarded the exterior trim of the vehicle.
Skoda Fabia
The jokes about Skodas being poor quality and the car that most people would shirk away from if offered a ride in one are long gone. Skoda cleverly reinvented itself to become a major player in producing high quality, well built and reliable vehicles that can satisfy a range of demographics. The small Fabia is a great example of a fiercely economical little runner making at least 55 mpg every time.
Reliable and safe, the Fabia is a solid choice for those who do most of their driving within the city and don’t tend to embark on mammoth stretches of motorway driving. The car has an intelligent front bumper sensor that will notify the driver of any potential collision and slowly brake if the driver does not react.
Suzuki Vitara
Another SUV on the list, the Suzuki Vitara that has a reputation of feeling much more car-like to drive. This Japanese made vehicle is great fun to drive with four modes to choose from: sport, auto, lock, and snow. With off road capabilities at the forefront of the designers’ minds, this vehicle is able to ship your kids to school even in the most treacherous of winter conditions.
This vehicle is not for the driver who stays very much within the city and needs the nimbleness and size of a smaller car. However, if you require something for any terrain, the Suzuki Vitara is a sensible choice. Family friendly, this SUV has a solid reliability rating with the only niggle coming from the electrics.
Audi Q3
Under the guise of a sports utility vehicle, the Audi A3 is a superb example of combining performance with reliability. With a premium build quality, the dashboard oozes class, and the exterior will turn heads. If you enjoy having a vehicle that is stylish, sporty and with a little bit of ruggedness, this sports SUV could be for you.
While expensive for its class, this SUV is reliable and comes with a whole host of safety features. One particularly random fault reported was that of the fuel cap design. Engine and electrics wise, you can rely on this vehicle to get you from A to B every time.
Choosing a vehicle in 2017 can be like venturing blindfolded into a minefield. The choice on offer is mind blowing, the promotional deals can be staggering, and the dealer incentives can be complex. While performance, handling and drive quality are important, you must stick to your guns and focus on the reliability of any potential new purchase. Your wallet will thank you for it in the future.
