Warrenty Direct details the most reliable Eco cars in the second hand market today.

• Warranty Direct names economical used cars with proven reliability
• Ford Fiesta ECOnetic boasts winning dependability and economy

Research by Warranty Direct has highlighted the used cars aged three years or older which offer the best combination of reliability and economy, as motorists continue to look for ways to reduce the cost of car ownership.

Manufacturers are continually developing new technology which delivers better fuel consumption and lower emissions, but some more complex machines are still prone to going wrong, forcing owners to foot expensive repair bills.

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.

Ranking cars based on fuel economy in this instance, Warranty Direct used its Reliability Index to name the top ten reliable makes and models of three years or more, as well as the optimal engine and trim combination for the best return at the pumps.

Top ten rated eco cars

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

Make and model	Year	Most economical derivative	Combined MPG	VED band	Reliability Index Score*	Largest claim*
Ford Fiesta	(08 - )	1.6 TDCi (95bhp) Edge ECOnetic II	85	A	24	1,698.85
Smart Fortwo	(07 - )	CDI Pure 2d Auto	85	A	50	918.89
Skoda Fabia	(07 - )	1.2 TDI CR Greenline II	83	A	32	1,043.15
Peugeot 3008	(09 - )	2.0 e-HDi Allure Hybrid4	74	A	29	801.20
SEAT Ibiza	(06 - 09)	1.4 TDi Ecomotive	74	A	30	628.00
Volkswagen Polo	(05 - )	1.4 BlueMotion TDI (80ps)	74	A	50	2,615.23
Toyota Auris	(07 - )	1.8 VVTi Hybrid T Spirit 5d CVT Auto	70	A	39	1,509.56
Citroen C3 Picasso	(09 - )	1.6 Hdi 8v 90 VTR+	68	B	40	732.00
Toyota Yaris	(06 - )	1.4 D-4D TR	67	B	32	1,646.49
Nissan Note	(06 - )	1.5 (90bhp) dCi Visia	67	B	34	2,019.70

The results revealed that the Ford Fiesta ECOnetic, with an impressive combined MPG figure of 85.6 had the best mix of fuel economy and reliability. The Smart Fortwo was able to match the Fiesta’s MPG figure and is unlikely to let its owners down, though it suffered marginally more mechanical faults than the Ford.

The SEAT Ibiza, Volkswagen Polo and Skoda Fabia put in a strong showing for the Volkswagen Group with closely matched scores, though the Skoda nudged ahead of its stablemates owing to an MPG return of 83.1. However, the frugal SEAT is statistically more reliable.

David Gerrans, Managing Director at Warranty Direct commented: “the ‘eco’ derivatives of a used vehicle are often desirable, promising economical motoring for the cost-conscious buyer.

“However, savings on fuel and road tax can soon be countered with astronomical bills for mechanical or electrical failure. It is important to take these factors into account when selecting a car based on green credentials.”

Honda looks to win readers award with the new HR-V at 2015 What Car? awards ceremony.

• Honda HR-V shortlisted for What Car? Reader award
• Small SUV among the most eagerly anticipated new cars of 2015
• Voting open now until Monday 1^st December

Honda’s forthcoming small SUV, the HR-V, has been shortlisted for the 2015 What Car? Reader Award. Compiled by What Car? experts and voted for by readers, the shortlist features the most eagerly anticipated new models coming to the UK market in the next twelve months.

Arriving in the UK and across Europe next summer, the HR-V is Honda’s new entry into the fast-growing small SUV segment. Unveiled recently at the Paris Motor Show, the prototype of the new built-for-Europe model echoes that of a coupé, with sharp, dynamic lines that link the sleek upper body with the stable and planted lower body.

This coupé-esque elegance is achieved without compromising the interior practicality of the HR-V. It features a centre fuel tank location to create one of the most spacious and adaptable small SUV cabins, while Honda’s Magic Seats^® make use of this versatility by enabling a wide range of seating configurations, with the ability to fold the second row seats completely flat for additional cargo space.

The Reader Award is part of the 38^th annual What Car? Car of the Year Awards, in association with Warranty Direct. A valuable indication of sentiment towards cars being brought to market in the next year, last year more than 10,000 readers cast their vote.

Jim Holder, Editor of What Car? comments: “Once again, next year will see Britain’s motoring public spoiled for choice when it comes to new and exciting cars hitting the market. The Reader Award has a special prestige for manufacturers purely because it is voted for by their paying public. To get this particular prize is a very good indication that the car you’re toiling over is getting the right reaction from consumers.”

Leon Brannan, Head of Car at Honda (UK) comments: “The HR-V is a very welcome addition to our line-up, in what is a very popular and fast growing market segment. While being shortlisted for any award is fantastic, I’m particularly pleased with this one as it’s voted for by the general public and based on the opinions of the trusted experts at What Car?.”

Voting is open until 00.01 on Monday 1^st December 2014, with the HPI-sponsored Reader Award winner announced at the What Car? awards ceremony on Wednesday 7^th January 2015. To view the shortlist and to vote please visit: www.wcreaderaward.com.

Warrenty Direct makes a frankenstein car out of its worst Warrenty claiments.

Costing an average of £550 when it breaks down every other month, this is the UK’s ‘nightmare’ car, according to Warranty Direct.

The automotive specialist analysed its 50,000 live policies to concoct the monstrosity, dubbed the Horrific 40RR0R, by combining the worst-performing cars from each of the categories measured by its unique Reliability Index (www.reliabilityindex.com).

With the suspension of an Audi, the gearbox of a Jeep and the electrics of a Mercedes, the fictional vehicle is a Frankenstein’s monster of the least reliable parts, ‘created’ just in time for Halloween night.

The Reliability Index calculates the trustworthiness of vehicles by measuring average cost of repair, frequency of failure, age and mileage. While the average car scores 100 in the Index, with the lower the score the better, this grim creation would be five times more unreliable, with an RI figure of almost 500.

The ‘body parts’ of the ‘Horrific 40RR0R’

Make and Model	Car part	Range
BMW M5	Engine	(04 - 11)
Audi RS6	Axle and Suspension	(02 - 11)
Jeep Grand Cherokee	Gearbox	(06 - )
Mercedes-Benz R-Class	Electrics	(04 - )
Fiat Multipla	Braking system	(99 - 05)
SEAT Alhambra	Air-conditioning	(96 - )
Chrysler 300C	Steering system	(05 - )

Overall, the Reliability Index shows that two in five vehicles need some form of repair each year and, while the average repair costs just over £350, some garage bills can spiral to a scream-inducing £35,000.    

Warranty Direct managing director, David Gerrans, said: “The Horrific 40RR0R is a bit of fun that will, thankfully, never be built, as it stitches together the cars that perform worst in each of the mechanical categories we measure.

“This large variety of vehicles that goes into the concoction proves how typically reliable cars can be dragged down by one poorly-performing part.”

Almost two fifths of Audi RS6s require a trip to the workshop to repair axle and suspension components each year, while three in every 10 Mercedes-Benz R Class vehicles report electrical faults.

Gearbox problems are rarer, but still more than one in ten Jeep Grand Cherokees will report gearbox problems annually.

A quarter of BMW M5s require repairs to their engines, while the same proportion of Fiat Multiplas will experience braking system faults.

Chrysler’s 300C is not renowned for its agility in corners but, even so, more than ten percent will require repairs to their steering systems. The same number of SEAT Alhambras will need their air-con fixed during a typical year, so drivers who like keeping their car cool should beware of the big SEAT’s asthmatic ventilation system.

New report lists worst cars in UK for suspension Damage, German brands take top two spots

• Speed bumps and potholes largely to blame
• Audi RS6 most susceptible to damage

The Audi RS6 and Mercedes R-Class are more likely to suffer suspension damage than any other cars in the UK, according to a new study by Warranty Direct. 

Fiat’s six-seater Multipla and the Jaguar XK sports car are the next most vulnerable, with 29 and 28.5 percent of Warranty Direct customers claiming for damage to axle and suspension components on their cars annually.

Deteriorating, potholed roads in winter and the proliferation of speed bumps increase the likelihood of suspension damage yet further, meaning that repairs cost an average of £247 to fix.

Warranty Direct’s database of 50,000 live policies shows that the most vulnerable vehicles are up to 30 times more likely to claim for suspension damage than the most robust cars.  

At the other end of the ‘risk scale’, the Citroën C1 and Peugeot 107 (ostensibly the same car) are seemingly impervious to the UK’s pothole-ridden roads. Surprisingly, the Honda S2000 sports car is also one of the most pothole-resistant vehicles.

Axle and suspension failure rates

Make	Model	Year	Percentage chance of suspension failure
Audi	RS6	(02 - 11)	38.37
Mercedes-Benz	R-Class	(06 - 13)	30.67
Fiat	Multipla	(04 - 10)	29.05
Jaguar	XK Series	(96 - 06)	28.48
Bentley	Continental GT	(03 - 11)	28.28
Mazda	5	(05 - 10)	27.17
Mercedes-Benz	CL	(00 - 07)	25.96
Chrysler	300C	(05 - 10)	25.53
Jaguar	XJ Series	(03 - 09)	24.81
Hyundai	Santa Fe	(06 - 12)	24.14

Warranty Direct managing director, David Gerrans, said: “It is almost unbelievable how much variation there is from one model to another when it comes to suspension damage.

“Any vehicle driven on damaged, poor surfaces regularly or used for commuting on routes littered with speed bumps will eventually come to grief. London is particularly bad for the latter.

“The roads are as bad as ever but some cars are affected terribly, with components like bushes, track rod ends, drop links, springs and dampers all susceptible. Instead of cheap runabouts, luxury vehicles and stiffly sprung sports cars are most prone to breakdowns – with the exception of the Honda S2000.” 

Vehicles made by Honda, Isuzu and Toyota have the most robust suspension systems; less than three per cent of cars made by these manufacturers suffer failures annually. Bentley, on the other hand, performs worst; 28 per cent of its cars will suffer suspension damage in a typical year.