Toyota Corolla
New research from the UK reveals that the most dependable family car for the summer holidays is the Toyota Corolla (’01-’07).
At the other end of the scale, the Renault Espace (‘02-‘12) and Mercedes R-Class (’06-) are the most likely to leave your precious cargo stranded, with three quarters of all owners suffering unwanted garage bills.
The latest Warranty Direct study analysed three to five-year-old cars from the small family, family and MPV categories.
Honda’s Civic (’06-) and Accord (’02-’08) are also among the most dependable family vehicles.
Top 10 most reliable family-sized cars
| Model | Range | Sector | Most common reason for claims |
| Toyota Corolla | (01 – 07) | Small Family | Axle & Suspension |
| Honda Civic | (06 – ) | Small Family | Electrical |
| Honda Accord | (02 – 08) | Family | Engine issues |
| Mazda 3 | (04 – 09) | Small Family | Braking System |
| Toyota Auris | (07 – ) | Small Family | Cooling & heating System |
| Toyota Prius | (03 – 09) | Family | Axle & Suspension |
| Ford C-Max | (07 – ) | MPV | Electrical |
| Ford Mondeo | (07 – ) | Family | Electrical |
| Nissan Qashqai | (07 – ) | Family | Electrical |
| Peugeot 308 | (07 – ) | Small Family | Electrical |
Used car buyers looking for a reliable family vehicle should also consider the Mazda 3 and the Toyota Auris (’07-).
Electrical issues and axle and suspension troubles cause the majority of claims, with the latter often a result of a collision with a pothole or other road defect.
The only European manufacturer to make Warranty Direct’s top 10 rundown is Peugeot, with its 308 – the majority hail from Japan. In contrast, no Asian manufacturers feature in the 10 least reliable vehicles.
Top 10 least reliable family-sized cars
| Model | Range | Sector | Most common reason for claim |
| Renault Espace | (02 – ) | MPV | Axle & suspension |
| Mercedes R-Class | (06 – ) | MPV | Electrical issues |
| Opel Vectra | (02 – 09) | Family | Axle & suspension |
| Renault Grand Scenic/Scenic | (04 – 09) | MPV | Electrical issues |
| Renault Megane | (02 – 09) | Small Family | Electrical issues |
| Skoda Superb | (02 – 08) | Family | Axle & suspension |
| Peugeot 807 | (02 – ) | MPV | Cooling & heating system |
| Volkswagen Passat | (05 – ) | Family | Axle & suspension |
| Peugeot 407 | (04 – ) | Family | Braking System |
| Volkswagen Touran | (03 – ) | MPV | Axle & suspension |
