Mazda MX-5 named Britain's most reliable car

Mazda MX-5 named Britain's most reliable car

Just days after being voted the car most likely to become an iconic classic, the Mazda MX-5 has added another feather to its cap, by being named the most reliable car in Britain in a new What Car? survey.

In its yearly reliability study of more than 50,000 cars, the magazine confirmed that 96 per cent of Mazda MX-5 models built since 2005 are fault-free, with the four per cent failure rate far lower than that of any other vehicle in its class.

The MX-5 achieved an impressive Reliability Index (RI) score of just eight (the lower the score, the better the car), compared with the national average score for individual models, which stands at 100.

According to the survey, MX-5 owners also benefit from the lowest repair costs, with an average repair bill of only £165 further boosting the aftersales experience.

A vehicle's RI is compiled using several factors – the number of times it fails, the cost of repair, the average time it spends off the road being repaired, its age and mileage.

David Wilson-Green, director at Mazda UK, said it is "no surprise" that the MX-5 scored so highly.

"The Mazda MX-5 has won many awards over the years and regularly achieves excellent reviews in the national media for the pure driving enjoyment it provides and its distinctive good looks," he explained.

"Our Japanese brand is renowned for its engineering expertise and for its remarkably reliable models, which is one of the reasons we have so many loyal customers."

It comes less than a week after the MX-5 was voted the car most likely to become a classic icon of the future, in a survey carried out by Footman James.

A sample of 3,608 classic vehicle owners from the Classic Motor Show were polled for the study, which found that the largest proportion of respondents believed the Mazda MX-5 was the vehicle most likely to be a classic icon in 50 years' time.

Posted by Sebastien Turkenburg