Revealed: The 5 most reliable used cars

With the used car market growing 16.4 per cent in 2021 due to long lead times on new cars, and with that growth showing no signs of slowing, many motorists are finding themselves looking for the most reliable used cars.

While cars are more reliable than ever before, with some used cars from the likes of SsangYong and Kia even still under the manufacturer’s famed seven-year warranties, breakdowns aren’t something motorists want to worry about when funding their next car.

With this in mind, we’ve looked at What Car’s most recent Reliability Survey to pick out five of the most reliable used cars currently on the market.

Lexus NX Hybrid

The Lexus NX hybrid is a premium SUV that offers drivers distinctive styling both inside and out. And while its rivals include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Range Rover Evoque, none of them even come close when it comes to reliability.

Only six percent of owners have experienced a fault with this first generation model during the seven years it was on sale. Most of these faults related to the cars infotainment system with some experiencing issues with the bodywork. All repairs were covered under warranty according to What Car? and were fixed in under a day.

With the second generation model launched this year, the Lexus NX hybrid is a sure bet as one of the most reliable used cars on the market.

Toyota Yaris Hybrid

The hybrid was introduced to the previous generation Yaris range as part of a range refresh in 2014 and became a mainstay for the model up until the fourth generation was introduced in 2020.

What Car? deemed the hybrid version of the popular hatchback as more dependable than the petrol model (which placed xx) as only three percent of Yaris Hybrid owners said something had gone wrong with the car in the past 12 months with the only concern being the performance of the battery pack.

Honda Jazz

‘Unassuming’ is the word we’d use to describe the Honda Jazz: a roomy and practical hatchback that just so happens to be one of the most dependable and reliable used cars to own.

The 2008-15 generation was not only easy to drive, hugely practical and very affordable, but according to What Car? it also has a faultless reliability ranking as not one owner said they’d had an issue with the car in the previous 12 months.

Lexus RX Hybrid

Another big win for Lexus, this time in the form of the larger and more luxurious RX Hybrid model. With a 100% reliability rating from What Car? it has the bragging rights of being the most reliable hybrid on the market.

Still in its current generation, if you’re struggling to get your hands on a brand new model then don’t discount going for a used model as prices are relatively competitive.

Toyota RAV4

The fourth generation Toyota RAV4 (available between 2013-19) is the third vehicle to score a perfect reliability score from What Car?

This model proved to be an example of going back to basics for Toyota, with the model undergoing a complete redesign in order to take advantage of the growing popularity of the crossover boom.

With a roomy and practical interior, a solid range of inline four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines, and tinted rear windows, air conditioning and Bluetooth as standard. Its impeccable reliability rating makes it one of the best used cars on the market, with the 143bhp 2.0-litre diesel is the pick of the range.

Hippo Leasing used car range

With stock levels changing all the time in the used car market, you can keep up to date by visiting our dedicated used car leasing page. For added surety, each car includes a six month warranty as standard.