When it comes to used cars you would be wiser
to choose a Japanese model and avoid those manufactured by our
friends across the Channel.

That’s according to a survey published today
by honestjohn.co.uk which analyses manufacturers whose vehicles
underwent at least 5,000 first-time MOT tests last year. The
website found that a fifth of all the three-year-old cars failed
the test, but also found significant differences in the
performances of different marques.

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All three top places are taken by Japanese
manufacturers: Lexus (88%), Suzuki (86%) and Honda (85%). In fourth
place is Sweden’s Saab (84%), followed by Toyota and Audi (both
83%).

Honestjohn.co.uk concludes that there are 15 reliable car brands,
five Japanese and five German, with the remainder originating from
the Czech Republic (Skoda), South Korea (Hyundai), Spain (Seat),
Sweden (Saab) and the UK (Land Rover).

However, the website also identifies brands at the other end of the
reliability scale, all of which have average (80%) or below-average
pass rates for the tests. Two brands, Kia and Nissan, match the
average pass rate exactly, with 11 falling below.

Three of the last six places are taken by the French. In last place
are Renault, Citroen, Mini and Chevrolet, all of which share the
worst pass rate of 76%. Peugeot and Fiat hobble in at 77%, followed
by Volvo at 78%.

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Sacrebleu!

The UK’s 15 most reliable car
makes

Manufacturer               
No. of
tests              Pass
rate

Lexus                          
 
5,735                        88%

Suzuki                         
20,548                       86%

Honda                         
71,203                      
85%

Saab                            
12,801                      
84%

Toyota                          
89,616                       83%

Audi                              
77,773                       83%

Smart 
                        
  
5,185                       83%

Mercedes-Benz           
56,786                      83%

Land Rover
                
 30,048                      82%

Seat                               
22,412                      81%

Mazda                           
41,085                      
81%

Hyundai
                      
22,072                        81%

Volkswagen               140,994                     
  81%

Skoda
                        
 30,193                        
81%

BMW
                            
88,620                        81%

 

Average or below-average
brands

Manufacturer               
No. of
tests              Pass
rate

Kia 
                            
 25,875                        
80%

Nissan                         60,967                        
80%

Ford                            267,727                        
79%

Jaguar                         
16,125                        
79%

Mitsubishi                    
12,224                       
79%

Vauxhall                      266,653                      
79%

Volvo                             
26,447                       78%

Fiat                                
48,632                       77%

Peugeot                       
98,345                       77%

Chevrolet                     
14,588                        76%

Citroen                          76,320                       76%

Mini                               
 33,762                       76%

Renault                         
 70,821                      76%