Volkswagen Golf

New Volkswagen Golf GTI

New Volkswagen Golf R

Volkswagen Golf Estate

Volkswagen ID 7 Tourer

Volkswagen Passat

Volkswagen ID 7

New Volkswagen California

the-most-reliable-used-family-cars

best-and-worst-older-family-cars-for-reliability

Hatchback

Volkswagen

Golf

If you're looking to buy a used <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>, you naturally want it to be as&nbsp;reliable as possible. So, to help you with your search, we've used data from our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">What Car? Reliability Survey</a>, which is conducted&nbsp;in association with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.motoreasy.com/">MotorEasy</a>,&nbsp;to make a list of the most dependable&nbsp;models.

So, how does the&nbsp;survey&nbsp;work? Well, every year we ask owners&nbsp;to tell us about&nbsp;any issues they've had with their cars&nbsp;over the previous two years. And, if there have been&nbsp;any problems, we then ask&nbsp;how long their car&nbsp;was off the road and how much it cost to repair.&nbsp;Using all of that information, we then give&nbsp;each model a unique reliability score.

So, to find out more and to see the 20 most reliable&nbsp;models in the used family car category, click through this slideshow.

The most reliable used family cars

Vauxhall has an incredibly diverse range of cars on sale, a few of which stand out above the class average. Add in the fact that it still offers some of the largest Target Price discounts in the market (something it is trying, without huge success, to cut back on), and there are very good reasons to consider buying one of its better models.

However, you need to choose carefully, because it is also a brand in transition. It has a newish parent company – the same one that owns Citroën, DS and Peugeot. And while Vauxhall’s newer models tend to be competitive, some of the others feel dated; a quick check of our star ratings will reveal which is which.

Still, given the recent success of sister brands Citroën and especially Peugeot, each new launch should make its range more appealing to buyers.

VAUXHALL

ASTRA

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;86.5%

Despite Vauxhall finishing in joint 23rd place with Mercedes in our Reliability Survey by brand, only 29% of petrol-powered Astra (2015-2021) owners had a fault with their car during the previous&nbsp;two years. That's less than the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/corsa/hatchback/review/n33">Vauxhall Corsa</a> petrol (2014-2019) of the same era, where 50% of owners reported&nbsp;a fault.

Out of the issues, problems with the engine, gearbox/clutch and sat-nav/infotainment system&nbsp;were the most common. However, 42% of cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day,&nbsp;and&nbsp;50% of repairs were fixed under warranty.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra&nbsp;review</a>

20. Vauxhall Astra petrol (2015-2021)

Buyers seeking value for money should have Kia towards the top of their shopping list.

Although once a niche brand in the UK, today Kia outsells many more established brands, helped by its market-leading seven-year warranty and a strong reputation for reliability; in fact, Kia regularly finishes towards the top of our reliability surveys.

There are plenty of models to choose from, too, ranging from the small Picanto city car to the Ceed family hatchback and the Sorento large SUV. The Picanto was the first Kia to win its class at the What Car? Car of the Year awards.

CEED

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;86.7%

The Kia Ceed (2012-2018)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a> is not only good value, but it's also a reliable choice in diesel form. Out of those who took part in our survey, 27% of owners had a fault with their car during the last two years, with the biggest issues being related to the brakes and non-engine electrics. What's more, 67% of cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day.

One of the biggest draws to Kia is its seven-year, 100,000-mile&nbsp;warranty. As such, 40% of repairs were fixed for free under warranty, while 20% of repairs&nbsp;cost between £51-£100.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/kia/ceed/hatchback/review/n17863">Kia Ceed&nbsp;review</a>

19. Kia Ceed diesel (2012-2018)

Nissan turned up early to the SUV party, with its Qashqai paving the way for the countless models we see today. The Qashqai continues to sell in big numbers in the UK, too, and was also our overall Car of the Year in 2014.

Don’t think Nissan is just about SUVs, though. As well as the Qashqai, the smaller Juke and the larger X-Trail, the Japanese brand has the Micra hatchback, GT-R sports car and Navara pick-up truck.

Nissan was also one of the first big car makers to launch a fully electric car, with its latest Leaf being one of the best on the market.

Despite being based in Japan, Nissan has long committed to building cars in the UK, making several of its best-selling models at a huge factory in Sunderland.

NISSAN

PULSAR

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;86.7%

The Pulsar (2014-2018) was Nissan's answer to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a> when it was launched in 2014. And today, it scores better for reliabilty&nbsp;than both of those cars.

From our survey, 29% of owners reported a fault with their Pulsar, with the biggest issues stemming&nbsp;from the engine electrics and fuel system. Despite that, half of cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day, while 13% of cars were not driveable and off the road for more than a week. In terms of costs, more than two thirds of repairs cost £200 or less to fix.

Read our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/nissan/pulsar/hatchback/used-review/n17572">Nissan Pulsar&nbsp;(2014-2018) review</a>

18. Nissan Pulsar (2014-2018)

Mercedes’ line-up is vast – ranging from the A-Class family hatchback through to staple saloons such as the C-Class and E-Class, and onwards towards multiple SUVs, luxury saloons and even sports cars. Coupés and convertibles are thrown into the mix as well.

As one of the ‘big three’ German brands, Mercedes most often finds itself competing with Audi and BMW but more recently has found itself fending off Jaguar and Volvo, too.

Mercedes models are known for comfort. One example of this is the E-Class, because while the Audi A6 has a plusher interior and the BMW 5 Series handles better, the E-Class is probably the most comfortable for a long motorway journey.

MERCEDES-BENZ

A CLASS

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;86.9%

Surprisingly, the second-generation petrol A-Class (2005-2012) scores better for reliability&nbsp;than&nbsp;the third and fourth-generation cars that followed it. Despite that, a large chunk of owners – 44% – reported a fault with their car over the last two years (although&nbsp;issues were&nbsp;limited&nbsp;to the exhaust, gearbox/clutch and suspension).

More positively, the largest percentage of owners – 33% – found their cars were still driveable, with repairs taking one day to a week to fix. No&nbsp;cars were fixed under warranty, though (a factor which is likely down to the car's age), while a third of repairs cost between £101-£200 to fix. No cars cost more than £1500 to fix.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mercedes-benz/a-class/hatchback/review/n88">Mercedes A-Class review</a>

17. Mercedes A-Class petrol (2005-2012)

Munich-based BMW is most famous for its sports saloons, in particular the 3 Series and 5 Series. However, it actually builds almost every type of car imaginable: everything from two-seat convertibles to seven-seat MPVs.

The cheapest model in the BMW range is the 1 Series hatchback, which is a rival to the Audi A3, Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Volkswagen Golf. Meanwhile, at the other extreme is the M8&nbsp;grand tourer, which costs more than £120,000.

BMW was also quick to capitalise on the rise of the SUV and now has ten in its range: the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and XM, plus the electric iX3 and iX.

All of this makes it one of the big three German prestige brands, along with Audi and Mercedes-Benz.

1 SERIES

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;87.0%

Despite being&nbsp;a hugely successful car, the&nbsp;first generation <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/used-review/n798">BMW 1 Series (2004-2011)</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;cramped inside and not that good to drive. This second-generation (2011-2019)&nbsp;car&nbsp;fixed both of those faults, though, and today&nbsp;remains a much better choice in terms of reliability.

As such, just 18% of owners reported an issue with their car during the previous two years (with the biggest issues relating to the air con, engine and engine electrics). And even though 23% of cars were not driveable, a much bigger portion – 41% –&nbsp;were&nbsp;driveable and fixed in less than a day. What's more, 37% of cars were fixed under warranty, while 18% of repairs cost more than £1500 to fix.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/bmw/1-series/hatchback/review/n26">BMW 1 Series review</a>

16. BMW 1 Series (2011-2019)

One of the greatest success stories in the car world of recent decades is Skoda’s rise to become a hugely credible mainstream maker of good-value, good-sense cars.

Central to that success has been its place within the VW Group, alongside the Volkswagen brand itself, plus the likes of Seat and Audi. That has given it access to exactly the same underpinnings for its cars as the other brands, and it has complemented this by adding its own developments, from the way the cars drive and ride through to the features they have and the pricing.

The result is a range that extends from a city car to a large executive saloon, with family and large seven-seat SUVs too. There’s a wide variety of petrol and diesel engines, all of which are competitive for the class.

As a result, Skoda has a range of cars that is almost entirely class-leading or among the class leaders, and it has enjoyed long-time success at the What Car? Awards as a result.

SKODA

OCTAVIA

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;87.3%

The Octavia (2013-2020) is a prime example of Skoda's reputation for reliability, because&nbsp;just 19% of owners reported a fault with their petrol powered model.

The largest problem areas were&nbsp;the engine (5%) and gearbox/clutch (5%), while a small number of issues related&nbsp;to the air con, battery and interior trim and seats. On the plus side, 44% of cars were driveable and fixed within a week, while the largest percentage of cars&nbsp;– 33% – cost between £501-£750 to fix.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/octavia/hatchback/review/n39">Skoda Octavia review</a>

15. Skoda Octavia petrol (2013-2020)

Honda is a company that doesn’t like to follow the crowd. So, while it competes in most of the traditional sectors of the car market, in each case it does something a little bit different.

The Jazz, for example, might look like just another rival to Britain’s best-selling car, the Ford Fiesta, but it’s actually much more practical than its rivals, with a flexible boot and Tardis-like interior.

The bigger Civic is also a practical choice, but it’s mainly distinguished by having eye-catching, love-it-or-hate-it styling, despite competing in a sector of the market that’s usually more conservative than a blue rosette.

And while it may not seem so radical now, Honda’s large SUV, the CR-V, was one of the first to forego any pretence of being an off-roader and instead focus on on-road driving dynamics.

HONDA

ACCORD

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;87.4%

Even though 29% of Honda Accord (2008-2015) owners reported an issue with their car, the main problem areas were limited to non-engine electrics and brakes.

The time off the road was a mixed bag, on the other hand, with 33% of cars being undriveable but repaired in less than a week. No cars cost more than £500 to fix.&nbsp;

Read our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/accord/saloon/used-review/n365">Honda Accord (2008-2015) review</a>

14. Honda Accord (2008-2015)

Estate

YETI

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;88.0%

With its chunky&nbsp;looks and practical&nbsp;interior, the Skoda Yeti was a popular choice in the UK when it was launched in 2009. As such, it makes a great used buy with plenty of cars out there to choose from.&nbsp;

From our survey, just 20% of diesel Yeti owners reported an issue&nbsp;with their car during the last two years. The downside, however, is that faults spanned a wide range of areas, including the engine, exhaust and non-engine electrics, while 46% of cars were driveable and fixed within a week. No cars were fixed under warranty, however.

Read our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/yeti/estate/used-review/n621">Skoda Yeti (2009-2017) review</a>

13. Skoda Yeti diesel (2009-2017)

Today, the resurgent Seat brand is selling better cars than at any time in its history.

In large part, that’s because it is one of the brands owned by the VW Group. Underneath, all of the cars it sells are strongly related to similar models sold by Volkswagen itself, or the likes of Skoda and even Audi. If you are buying a Leon, for example, the hardware will be similar to that of the Golf, Octavia and A3.

But while Seat makes the most of this tie-up to offer everything from city, small and family cars, including estates, through to a full range of SUVs, it also adds in its own slice of character, both with its distinctive styling approach and because its engineers generally tune the cars to deliver sportier handling.

While all of its cars are decent, it is the SUVs that stand out. The Arona and Ateca are among the class leaders and have enjoyed triumphs at the What Car? Awards.

SEAT

LEON

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;88.1%

Even though it&nbsp;shares its underpinnings with the MK7&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/review/n17371">Volkswagen Golf</a> (a car that&nbsp;doesn't feature on this list), the&nbsp;Seat Leon (2013-2020)&nbsp;scores well for reliability, with 21% of owners reporting a fault with their petrol-powered car.

What's more, half of cars were still driveable and fixed in less than day after the issue was found, while half of the issues&nbsp;cost between £101-£200 to fix.&nbsp;

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Seat Leon&nbsp;review</a>

12. Seat Leon petrol (2013-2020)

Mazda can be summed up in a single word: bold. Not only do its cars generally look like nothing else on the market, but it’s also invested heavily in innovative engine technology.

So, while many car makers have moved to smaller turbocharged engines, Mazda instead offers larger motors that are still efficient. For example, the entry-level petrol option in the Mazda 3 is a 2.0-litre unit –&nbsp;far larger than what you’ll find in most rivals – but it remains very clean.

Highlights of Mazda’s line-up include the MX-5 sports car, which has won our Convertible of the Year Award multiple times, and the CX-5 large SUV, which was named as our inaugural best car for dog owners.

MAZDA

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;88.2%

If you want a good, reliable&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a>&nbsp;that isn’t one of the the usual suspects, the petrol-powered Mazda 3 (2009-2013) makes a decent&nbsp;choice.

Even though 30% of owners reported a fault with their car, those issues were limited to just two areas: the battery and bodywork. The costs of repairs were also relatively low (between&nbsp;£51-£300), while 71% of cars were driveable and fixed in less than a day.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/3/hatchback/review/n35">Mazda 3&nbsp;review</a>

11. Mazda 3 petrol (2009-2013)

CIVIC

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;88.3%

When it was launched, the Honda Civic (2006-2012)&nbsp;offered futuristic looks, a spacious interior and a big boot. As a used buy, it's a good option&nbsp;that should be reliable, with 25% of owners in our survey&nbsp;reporting a fault with their car. Those faults, however, did span&nbsp;a wide range of areas, including the air con, bodywork, battery, engine electrics and exhaust.

More positively, 47% of cars were driveable and fixed in less than a day, while the majority of issues cost between £101-£200 to fix.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic&nbsp;review</a>

10. Honda Civic (2006-2012)

Ford builds some of the most popular cars in the UK, including the Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks.

This success is partly down to longevity and the fact that there’s a Ford dealer around every corner. However, it’s also because Fords tend to offer good value and be among the best cars in their respective classes to drive.

The company’s huge range also helps; it offers everything from the small – but surprisingly practical – Ka+ to the large and lavishly equipped Edge SUV.

Meanwhile, other highlights of the range include the S-Max and Galaxy people carriers, the Mondeo executive car and the Ranger pick-up.

FORD

FOCUS

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;90.0%

The first-generation Focus was a huge success, so Ford didn't mess with the recipe with the second-generation car. As such, it's a good&nbsp;all-rounder that's fun&nbsp;to drive, practical and cheap to run.

As a used buy, the second-generation Focus is one of the more reliable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family cars</a>, and beats the car&nbsp;that came before it. Indeed, just 19% of owners reported a fault with their car, with issues being limited to the battery, brakes, exhaust and suspension. All cars were&nbsp;driveable and fixed in less than a day (although&nbsp;repairs cost between £751-£1000).&nbsp;

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus review</a>

9. Ford Focus diesel (2004-2011)

Alfa Romeo now has one of its strongest-ever model line-ups, after years of living off past glories.

The BMW 3 Series-rivalling Giulia executive saloon is one of the best cars in its class to drive, while the closely related Stelvio and smaller Tonale both competes in the booming SUV class.

It’s all a long way from the days when Alfa Romeo just had a couple of dated hatchbacks (the Mito and Giulietta) and the niche 4C sports car in its range.

ALFA ROMEO

GIULIETTA

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;92.0%

Despite Alfa Romeo finishing in 29th place (out of 32 brands) in our survey, the Giulietta has a good reputation for reliability, with just 15% of owners in our survey&nbsp;reporting a fault with their car.&nbsp;

Faults were&nbsp;limited to just three areas:&nbsp;the air con, bodywork and gearbox/clutch. Half of cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day, while 25% were fixed within a week. Some cars were not driveable&nbsp;but were&nbsp;fixed within a day.

Read our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/alfa-romeo/giulietta/hatchback/used-review/n913">Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010-2020)&nbsp;review</a>

8. Alfa Romeo Giulietta (2010-2020)

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;92.1%

The petrol-powered Skoda Yeti (2009-2017)&nbsp;is more reliable than the&nbsp;diesel-powered versions, with just 15% of owners reporting a fault (compared with 20%).

Like the diesel Yeti,&nbsp;issues spanned a wide range range of areas, including the battery, bodywork, fuel system, gearbox/clutch&nbsp;and suspension. Even though all cars were still driveable with issues fixed in less than a week, repairs were quite pricey, with a large percentage of owners (29%) paying between £301-£500.

Read our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/yeti/estate/used-review/n621">Skoda Yeti (2009-2017) review</a>

7. Skoda Yeti petrol (2009-2017)

Toyota is a company undergoing a quiet revolution, as it works hard to replace its sensible but somewhat bland reputation with one for being a bit more daring, in areas such as the styling of its cars and its enthusiastic leadership of cutting-edge technology, such as hybrid systems.

That process seems to be working for buyers, with the hugely popular and striking-looking C-HR SUV in particular attracting a great deal of interest. The latest version of the hybrid Prius is also rated highly by What Car?; it’s the first Prius to go on sale that our testers have felt can truly compete all round with existing petrol or diesel rivals.

However, it’s worth noting that this period of transition is also a work in progress, and that many of the firm’s cars are still rated as being no more than average among class rivals by our testers.

TOYOTA

AURIS

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;92.3%

Toyota has a good reputation for reliabilty, and finished in 2nd place out of 32 brands in our survey. As such, the Auris is one of the more reliable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family cars</a> in petrol form, with 13% of owners reporting a fault.

Out of those faults, issues were limited&nbsp;to just the bodywork. The largest percentage of cars (67%) were driveable and fixed in less than a day, while repairs spanned a wide range of price brackets, including a third which cost&nbsp;between £501-£750.

Read our <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/toyota/auris/hatchback/used-review/n645">Toyota Auris (2009-2017) review</a>

6. Toyota Auris petrol (2007-2013)

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;93.5%

In contrast to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/skoda/yeti/estate/used-review/n621">Skoda Yeti</a>, where the petrol-powered versions were more reliable, the diesel-powered Leon makes&nbsp;a more reliable choice overall than the petrol versions.&nbsp;

Indeed, 24% of owners reported a fault with their car, with the largest percentage of issues (14%) being related to the bodywork. A large percentage of repairs&nbsp;(57%), meanwhile, cost between £51-£100 to fix (and&nbsp;all cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day).&nbsp;

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/seat/leon/hatchback/review/n89">Seat Leon review</a>

5. Seat Leon diesel (2013-2020)

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;93.6%

The British-built ninth-generation Honda Civic was launched in 2012, and&nbsp;today it continues the Civic's strong reputation for durability and dependability. From our survey, just 14% of owners reported a fault with their car, with the most troublesome area being the non-engine electrics.

Repair costs spanned a wide range of price brackets under £1000, although the majority of&nbsp;owners (33%) had their repairs fixed under warranty. All cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a week.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic review</a>

4. Honda Civic diesel (2012-2017)

Hyundai has transformed itself from a maker of oddball hatchbacks that sold in small numbers in the UK, to a major rival to the likes of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen.

The Korean firm’s Ioniq Hybrid is particularly impressive, having beaten the trend-setting Toyota Prius when we tested the cars back to back.

Meanwhile, at the extremes of the Hyundai range you find the tiny i10 city car – a four-time What Car? award winner – and the stylish yet family-friendly Santa Fe SUV.

As a bonus, all of these cars come with the reassurance of a five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, whereas most of Hyundai’s rivals offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.

HYUNDAI

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;94.9%

Unlike its predecessor, the second-generation Hyundai i30&nbsp;was a genuine alternative to the <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/ford/focus/hatchback/review/n37">Ford Focus</a> and <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/review/n17347">Vauxhall Astra</a>. And as a used buy, that reputation continues, with reliability proving to be a particular strong point. Indeed, just&nbsp;14% of owners reported&nbsp;a fault with their car.

Even though&nbsp;issues spanned a wide range of areas (including the bodywork, brakes, engine electrics and gearbox/clutch), nearly all cars were&nbsp;driveable and fixed in less than a week. What's more, the largest percentage of cars (43%) were fixed under warranty.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/hyundai/i30/hatchback/review/n36">Hyundai i30 review</a>

3. Hyundai i30 (2012-2017)

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;96.2%

The petrol-powered versions of the Honda Civic (2012-2017) are&nbsp;even more reliable than the diesel versions. Indeed, just 6% of owners had an issue with their car, with issues being related to the bodywork, brakes and gearbox/clutch.

All cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a week, while a quarter of issues&nbsp;were fixed under warranty. Unfortunately,&nbsp;another quarter of repairs cost between £1001-£1500 to fix.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/honda/civic/hatchback/review/n82">Honda Civic&nbsp;review</a>

2. Honda Civic petrol (2012-2017)

What Car? reliability rating&nbsp;99.3%

According to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/2022-what-car-reliability-survey/n23397">Reliability Survey</a>, the Mazda 3 (2014-2019) in petrol form&nbsp;is the&nbsp;most reliable <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/best/family-cars/n16996">family car</a> you can buy.

Indeed, just 3.6% of owners reported a fault with their car, with non-engine electrics being the only area of fault. What's more, all cars were still driveable and fixed in less than a day, while&nbsp;repairs cost between £1-£50.

Read our latest&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/3/hatchback/review/n35">Mazda 3 review</a>

<hr />
For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter&nbsp;<a href="http://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a>

<h2>Read more: <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-and-worst-older-small-cars-for-reliability/n19263#2">The 20 most unreliable used small cars</a>&nbsp;&gt;&gt;</h2>

1. Mazda 3 petrol (2014-2019)

<h2>Bottom 10 older family cars for reliability</h2><h3>=9. Volkswagen Golf 2009-2013</h3>What Car? reliability rating 73.2%

The older generation of Golf isn't proving as durable as the newer one, with 33% of cars suffering a fault. The main gremlin was the engine, followed by the gearbox, exhaust and fuel system. Other problem areas included the battery, brakes and suspension. Around half of the cars could still be driven and some were fixed for free, but a small percentage of bills exceeded £1500.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/used-review/n756">Read our full review of the used Volkswagen Golf</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/volkswagen/golf/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Volkswagen Golf</a><hr /><h3>=9. Audi A3 diesel 2013-present</h3>

What Car? reliability rating 73.2%The diesel A3 isn't proving as sturdy as the petrol; 39% of owners reported at least one problem, compared with 23% for the petrol models. The most commonly afflicted area was the brake system, followed by the air-con, gearbox and engine and non-engine electrics. Most cars could still be driven and a small number were fixed for free, but a small percentage of owners were landed with repair bills of more than £1500.

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Read our full review of the Audi A3</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi/a3/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on an Audi A3</a><hr /><h3>8. Mazda 3 2009-2013</h3>

What Car? reliability rating 70.5%More than 37% of cars had a fault, with the engine the biggest area of concern, followed by bodywork and suspension. There were also a small percentage of problems with the battery, brakes, engine and non-engine electrics, fuel system and gearbox. Two-thirds of cars were still driveable and a small proportion were repaired for free, but other owners had to fork out up to £1500.  <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/mazda/3/hatchback/used-review/n766">Read our full review of the used Mazda 3</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/mazda/3/htachback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Mazda 3</a><hr /><h3>7. Vauxhall Astra 2009-2015</h3>

What Car? reliability rating 70.1%A hefty 35% of Mini owners reported at least one fault on their cars, with the engine the biggest area of concern. There were also issues with the brakes, engine and non-engine electrics, exhaust and gearbox. More than half of cars could still be driven and some were fixed for free, but some owners faced repair bills of more than £1500. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/used-review/n17400">Read our full review of the used Vauxhall Astra</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Vauxhall Astra</a><hr /><h3>6. Renault Megane 2009-2016</h3>

What Car? Reliability Rating 69.1%A whopping 50% of Megane owners reported at least one fault on their cars, with exhaust and non-engine electrics the biggest areas of concern. There were also issues with the battery, bodywork, gearbox, interior trim and lights. Three-quarters of cars could still be driven and around a third were fixed for free, but some owners faced repair bills of up to £500. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane/hatchback/used-review/n868">Read our full review of the used Renault Megane</a>

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault/megane/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Renault Megane</a><h3><a href="https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4741628/39d539a0490e">Tell us about your car for the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey and you could win £250</a></h3><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-and-worst-older-family-cars-for-reliability/n19336">&lt; Previous</a> | <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-and-worst-older-family-cars-for-reliability/n19338">Next: the bottom five family cars for reliability &gt;</a></h2>Page 3 of 4<hr />Buy a new car with What Car?

Before you buy, visit <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?’s new car deals section</a>.We have discounted deals on most new cars on sale, so you're never far away from finding a new car deal in your area.It's all based on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a>, which is the price we think you should pay based on research by our team of mystery shoppers, and the best discounts they can achieve.

What Car? reliability rating 73.2%The diesel A3 isn't proving as sturdy as the petrol; 39% of owners reported at least one problem, compared with 23% for the petrol models. The most commonly afflicted area was the brake system, followed by the air-con, gearbox and engine and non-engine electrics. Most cars could still be driven and a small number were fixed for free, but a small percentage of owners were landed with repair bills of more than £1500.<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/audi/a3/hatchback/used-review/n17405">Read our full review of the Audi A3</a>

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/audi/a3/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on an Audi A3</a><hr /><h3>8. Mazda 3 2009-2013</h3>

What Car? reliability rating 70.1%A hefty 35% of Mini owners reported at least one fault on their cars, with the engine the biggest area of concern. There were also issues with the brakes, engine and non-engine electrics, exhaust and gearbox. More than half of cars could still be driven and some were fixed for free, but some owners faced repair bills of more than £1500. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/used-review/n17400">Read our full review of the used Vauxhall Astra</a>

<a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/vauxhall/astra/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Vauxhall Astra</a><hr /><h3>6. Renault Megane 2009-2016</h3>

What Car? Reliability Rating 69.1%A whopping 50% of Megane owners reported at least one fault on their cars, with exhaust and non-engine electrics the biggest areas of concern. There were also issues with the battery, bodywork, gearbox, interior trim and lights. Three-quarters of cars could still be driven and around a third were fixed for free, but some owners faced repair bills of up to £500. <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/renault/megane/hatchback/used-review/n868">Read our full review of the used Renault Megane</a><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/make/renault/megane/hatchback/deals">See how much you could save on a new Renault Megane</a><h3><a href="https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4741628/39d539a0490e">Tell us about your car for the 2019 What Car? Reliability Survey and you could win £250</a></h3><hr />For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? newsletter <a href="https://pages.haymarket.com/whatcar/wcar-form.html">here</a><h2><a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-and-worst-older-family-cars-for-reliability/n19336">&lt; Previous</a> | <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/best-and-worst-older-family-cars-for-reliability/n19338">Next: the bottom five family cars for reliability &gt;</a></h2>Page 3 of 4<hr />Buy a new car with What Car?

Before you buy, visit <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/new-car-deals">What Car?’s new car deals section</a>.We have discounted deals on most new cars on sale, so you're never far away from finding a new car deal in your area.

It's all based on <a href="https://www.whatcar.com/news/what-is-target-price/n1433">Target Price</a>, which is the price we think you should pay based on research by our team of mystery shoppers, and the best discounts they can achieve.

Best and worst older family cars for reliability

Family cars need to be dependable; after all, who wants a car that breaks down with children aboard? So, here we reveal the most reliable family hatchbacks aged between four and 10 years old

NEW REVIEWS:

The most reliable used family cars

Family cars need to be dependable; after all, who wants a car that breaks down with children aboard? So, here we reveal the most reliable family hatchbacks aged between four and 10 years old...

Electric Car Awards 2024: Best hybrid family car

Deal of the Day: Save up to £4150 on a new Volkswagen Golf

Used test: Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen T-Cross

Used test: Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen T-Cross costs

2024 Volkswagen Golf revealed

2027 Volkswagen Golf previewed

Also consider

Quick search

Tools & services

Legal bits

Information