Honda the best, the Germans the worst under latest Warrent Direct SUV/4x4 figures.

• Honda HR-V tops list of most dependable rugged vehicles
• Unlucky SUV owners may get bills of up to £16,000

The Honda HR-V is the SUV most likely to keep you on the road during the approaching winter period, according to a new study by Warranty Direct.

SUVs and 4x4s now claim 11% of the market – up from 4.5 per cent in 2000* – as motorists are attracted by better ground clearance and a more commanding driving position. However, they do not always live up to their reputation for ruggedness.

Warranty Direct analysed its 50,000 live policies, using the Company’s unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.com) to measure overall reliability by combining rate of failure, average mileage, age and repair cost.

Honda’s HR-V (99-06) performed significantly better than other SUVs, with only one in 10 recording a fault in the last 12 months. The Suzuki Jimny was second most reliable in the sector, with one in five suffering a breakdown each year.

While the average SUV repair bill is £420, Warranty Direct reports that costs can soar as high as £16,000.

Top 10 rated 4x4/SUVs

(A lower Reliability Index rating means the vehicle is more reliable and less expensive to run)

Make	Model	Year	Reliability Index Score	Average Repair Cost (£)	Largest Claim (£)
Honda	HR-V	(99-06)	38	305.15	1,587.91
Suzuki	Jimny	(98-)	54	312.14	1,374.40
Suzuki	Grand Vitara	(05-)	54	312.14	1,374.40
Honda	CR-V	(07-)	58	355.11	1,602.34
Mitsubishi	Shogun Pinin	(99-06)	68	391.45	978.41
Nissan	Terrano	(93-07)	72	215.39	854.55
Nissan	X-Trail	(07-)	73	338.38	3,161.33
Volvo	XC60	(08-)	74	282.04	773.92
Citroën	C-Crosser	(07 - )	80	368.84	1,753.22
Hyundai	Tuscon	(04 - )	81	260.51	1,201.67

The 10 best performing SUVs are dominated by Japanese and Korean manufacturers, although Swedish manufacturer Volvo is cheapest to fix, with the lowest ‘largest claim’ cost of the top 10.

At the other end of the scale, the Mercedes-Benz GL is the least reliable of the off-roaders, with eight in 10 breaking down each year. The Audi Q7 and Audi A6 Allroad are not far behind in a list populated mostly by European manufacturers.

Bottom 5 rated 4x4/SUVs

(A higher Reliability Index rating means the vehicle is less reliable and more expensive to run)

Make	Model	Year	Reliability Index Score	Average Repair Cost (£)	Largest Claim (£)
Mercedes-Benz	GL	(06-)	501	598.57	16,115.38
Audi	Q7	(06-)	466	703.05	15,438.42
Audi	A6 Allroad	(00-05)	462	516.05	15,350.00
Land Rover	Range Rover	(02-)	417	561.51	12,820.46
Porsche	Cayenne	(03-)	416	624.73	11,260.44

Warranty Direct managing director, David Gerrans, said: “The SUV market segment has developed significantly in recent years. In comparison to some other vehicles, they are fairly expensive to run but our study shows that there are reliable SUVs available which are not too costly.

“An SUV vehicle is most definitely the transport of choice for motorists during winter; not only is the driving position more commanding, but they are more likely to withstand challenging conditions.”

Warranty Direct cover starts from as little as £15 a month. For more information on the reliability of your vehicle, visit www.reliabilityindex.com, or for a quote on cover www.warrantydirect.co.uk.