BMW’S 3 Series is the most reliable company car in the UK, but Honda has the best overall reliability as a manufacturer.
That’s the finding of an annual survey of the country’s 50 largest contract hire companies, who say that Ford makes the most reliable vans and its Transit is the most reliable commercial vehicle.
The FN50, published by industry publication Fleet News, is an annual report on the UK’s contract hire and leasing industry.
And as part of the survey, companies were asked to nominate the most reliable cars and vans on their fleets, research that included 1.5 million vehicles owned or managed by the top 50 leasing companies in the UK.
It put the 3 Series at the top, followed by the Honda Accord and Audi A4.
German and Japanese brands dominate the top 10 cars, although three of the Japanese brand cars that feature are built in the UK.
The Nissan Qashqai, produced in Sunderland, is the highest placed British-built car in fourth, while the Midlands-built Toyota Avensis is in eighth place, followed by Swindon’s Honda Civic in ninth.
There are also British success stories in the commercial vehicles’ top 10 with Southampton’s Ford Transit at the top of the table, followed by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter in second place and the Ford Transit Connect in third.
As well as the highest placed British-built car, Nissan also produces the UK’s most reliable pick-up truck with the Navara taking seventh place in the commercial vehicles table – the only pick-up in the top 10.
Most reliable cars: 1. BMW 3 Series; 2. Honda Accord; 3. Audi A4; 4. Nissan Qashqai; 5. BMW 1 Series; 6. Ford Fiesta; 7. Mercedes-Benz C-Class; 8. Toyota Avensis; 9. Honda Civic; 10. Volkswagen Golf.
Most reliable car manufacturers: 1. Honda; 2. Volkswagen; 3. BMW.
Most reliable commercial vehicles: 1. Ford Transit; 2. Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; 3. Ford Transit Connect; 4. Citroen Berlingo; 5. Citroen Relay; 6. Vauxhall Combo; 7. Nissan Navara; 8. Vauxhall Vivaro; 9. Volkswagen Caddy; 10. Volkswagen Transporter.
Most reliable commercial vehicle manufacturers: 1. Ford; 2. Volkswagen; 3. Mercedes-Benz.