Britain's most reliable cars 2021

Cars need to be reliable above anything else, after all, it doesn’t matter how fast a car can get you from A to B if there’s only a 50-percent chance it’ll complete the journey without stopping on the hard shoulder of a motorway. From small electrical niggles to full-blown engine failures, there’s nothing more annoying, frustrating, and potentially dangerous than an unreliable vehicle. So, luckily for you, we've collected the most reliable cars in Britain.

Well, actually, Driver Power survey collected them when it carried out its annual car ownership survey. Driver Power asks thousands of owners about the cars they bought over the last two years – it’s one of the largest and most respected car ownership surveys in the UK, and by using this data it means this list is free from prejudice and bias – these numbers are based on cold, hard facts.

What are the trends? Well, Japanese cars have a reputation for being reliable and the results seem to support that, with the top ten list featuring no less than seven Japanese cars. Owners of Lexus, Toyota, Mazda and Honda can sleep well at night knowing they’ve bought a reliable vehicle.

So, without further ado, here are the top five most reliable cars in Britain.

The most reliable car in the UK is the Lexus NX with its angular design, great levels of equipment, hybrid drivetrain, and all-around tank-like levels of build quality. 

Not only is the NX reliable, it's practical too, with enough space for four adults in the luxurious interior and a decent-sized boot.

Okay, it's not quite as sporty as some of its German rivals, and the infotainment is pretty far behind too, but if it's reliability you're after then you can't go wrong with the Lexus NX.

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Following closely behind the Lexus NX is the Kia Sorento from South Korea. The Sorento is a large, spacious seven-seat SUV, so it's perfect for large family road trips. It's also super comfortable and well equipped. 

Inside the Kia Sorento actually looks pretty stylish and feels quite posh too. As we mentioned, there’s plenty of space, but the infotainment system isn’t quite as slick as you get in alternatives from Audi, BMW and Mercedes.

If you can look past the Toyota Prius' slightly awkward styling, then you'll be getting a very reliable car. It's pretty roomy, too, and costs pennies to run. If you've been in an Uber then you probably have a good idea of what it's like inside, with enough space to comfortably fit three adults in the back. The car's headroom is decent, and the boot is large enough for a few suitcases.

You'll have to love the slightly dated interior as well, as the Prius just doesn't feel modern inside, with hard plastics and a low-res infotainment system.

Who says reliable has to be boring? The Mazda MX-5 came an impressive 4th in the Driver Power survey. The MX-5 is affordable, simple, and hugely enjoyable to drive. The latest version is the finest handling model yet, and it's actually much more practical than you'd expect too, with a reasonably-sized boot and space for two adults.

Of course, you won't be taking the whole family on a week away to Cornwall in the MX-5, but you will have a big grin on your face where ever you go, even if it is just to the shops.

Well, this is a surprise – a French car is one of the most reliable cars you can buy. You see, historically, it's not the most reliable nation when it comes to making cars. That's changed in recent years though, with the Peugeot 3008 constantly ranking well for reliability.

The 3008 is a practical family SUV with a large, boxy boot and plenty of character. Sure, it's not perfect, the back seats could be more comfortable and the infotainment system could be better, but if you're looking for a reliable family SUV and want something a little different from the typical Japanese brands, then the Peugeot 3008 could be for you.