10 Most Reliable Small Cars To Lease Or Buy In The UK

Small reliable cars make life easier.

If you’re in the market for the best city car or a good car for a 17 year old, wondering “What car should I buy?”, a small car fits the bill. You get to park in all those tiny spots that larger cars drive by in envy, and they often cost less to buy and run than bigger vehicles. 

But though they can come cheap and cheerful, it’s most important that they’re reliable. Using the What Car Reliability Survey, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the top 10 most reliable small cars to buy or lease.  

Scoring an impressive 100% reliability in the What Car Reliability Survey, the Skoda Citigo had absolutely zero faults reported by owners.

Skoda offers a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty, however you can extend this up to 5 years /100,000 miles for a fee, and you also get a 12 year body protection warranty.

Though no concerns were raised in the Reliability Survey, other reports repeatedly addressed issues with the gearbox and clutch. Otherwise, given the cost, the Citigo offers great value for money.

Unfortunately, despite scoring high reliability points, the Citigo performed fairly poorly in safety checks regarding vulnerable road users and safety assist. As a result, it scored just 3 stars in the Euro NCAP. 

This car is also available in an electric variation, the Skoda Citigo e iV.

What Car Reliability Score - 100%

Coming in just after the Citigo, the Toyota Aygo received an admirable 96.9% reliability rating. 

Toyota offers a longer than average 5 year/100,000 mile warranty for the Aygo. 

Low running costs were a favourite feature of Aygo owners, and average repairs came in at just over £200 according to the Reliability Index. The Aygo also comes with a number of customisable options. If you opt for the X-trend model, you can get a ‘fun-roof’ retractable canvas top to give the illusion of a convertible.

Toyota Safety Sense technology is said to be standard in all trim levels, however this appears to have had little impact in checks. Though performing well otherwise, its Safety Assist capabilities led to an average 3 star Euro NCAP rating. 

What Car Reliability Score - 96.9%

Taking the bronze position is the ever popular Volkswagen Up. 

Volkswagen offers a standard 3 year/60,000 mile warranty with the VW UP, however this may be extended depending on your mileage.

With almost identical features to the Skoda Citigo, there’s very little difference aesthetically between the two. The VW Up offers a slightly more powerful engine, but is small for a 4 seater. Luckily, since you’re likely in the market for a small car, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Unfortunately, poor results for the Vulnerable Road Users and Safety Assist resulted in the VW Up receiving a 3 star Euro NCAP rating.

What Car Reliability Score - 99.4%

If you’re looking for a good value small car, the Suzuki Swift is likely to be up your alley. 

Suzuki offers a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty, however this can be extended to one of various cover levels provided your car has fewer than 100,000 miles. 

Owners report the Swift to have easy handling and smooth riding, plus lower CO2 emissions make it a more environmentally friendly choice. With the higher trim version of the Swift, you get the added benefit of various car safety features like a reversing camera, lane departure warning and blind-spot monitoring. 

The Swift performed well overall in safety checks, but as the impressive safety features were limited to higher specs, it scored a 3 star Euro NCAP rating.

What Car Reliability Score - 99.3%

Taking 5th place is the spacious yet compact, Hyundai i20.

If long term reliability is a concern, Hyundai offers an impressive manufacturer backed, unlimited mileage, 5 year warranty.

One of the better options if you’re looking for the best family car, it’s slightly roomier than others with 5 seats and four doors. Some owners reported the i20 didn’t perform well on motorways - as petrol is the only available fuel option, it is best suited for city driving. Unfortunately the basic version doesn’t have all of the safety features of higher trims, but does come with a 7 inch touchscreen with smartphone connectivity. 

In spite of the basic i20’s minimal safety features, it got a 4 star Euro NCAP rating.

What Car Reliability Score - 99.3%

Just falling short of middle place, we have the Dacia Duster.

The Duster comes with a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty, but this can be extended up to 6 years/100,000 miles for a fee.

Dacia has often rated poorly as a manufacturer for reliability, however Duster owners are reported to be happy with maintenance costs. Only 8% of owners reported issues in the Reliability Survey, and these were largely minor concerns. 

With an average performance in safety checks, the Duster claimed just 3 stars in the Euro NCAP.

What Car Reliability Score - 99.1%

In 7th place we have the supermini Honda Jazz.

The Jazz has a slightly more generous warranty than standard - Honda covers you for 3 years/90,000 miles. 

Praised for its spacious interior, the Jazz has a large 254 litre boot that increases to a huge 1,314 litres with the rear seats folded. Honda provides comprehensive safety features for all trims, including AEB, lane assist and forward collision warning. Only 6% of owners reported issues with their Jazz.

The Jazz outshone its competitors in safety checks, receiving a 5 star Euro NCAP rating. 

What Car Reliability Score - 99.0%

Though 8th most reliable small car, the Hyundai i10 still scored a high 98.8% reliability.

Like its sister the i20, the i10 has a handy 5 year/unlimited mileage warranty, covering you for all the staycations and road trips your heart desires.

Some owners had issues with their gearbox and clutch, however these were all quickly resolved and repaired under the Hyundai warranty. If you’re prone to a bump or scratch, the i10 is one of the cheapest cars to repair. Repairs not covered on warranty came in at a low average of just £147.25 on the Reliability Index. 

Rating just below the i20, the i10 scored a 3 star Euro NCAP rating.

What Car Reliability Score - 98.8%

Despite being an older model, the Toyota Yaris has maintained a strong reliability score. 

The reliable supermini offers a lengthy 5 year/100,000 mile warranty.

Though it doesn’t offer the same low electric car maintenance costs, as a hybrid model, it does come close. With the Yaris you get to save on your car running costs, car maintenance costs, and reduce your CO2 emissions. Around 14% of owners had problems with their Yaris, however half of these were related to the suspension. 

Despite an average result for safety assist, the Yaris received 5 stars on the Euro NCAP.

What Car Reliability Score - 98.7%

Last but certainly not least, we have the Skoda Fabia.

The Fabia offers a standard 3 year/60,000 mile warranty, however this can be extended online for as little as £128.

An ideal small family car, the Fabia is spacious for its size and cheap to run. With the Citigo taking first place, it’s clear that Skoda prioritises reliability in its manufacturing. If you’re looking for a reliable car for the long run, the Fabia boasts a low average car insurance cost.

The Fabia did well in all aspects of the safety checks, and scored a 5 star Euro NCAP rating.

What Car Reliability Score - 97.6%

Conclusion 

Whether you’re looking for the best company car or something to make your weekly trip to the shops, you want to get a car you can trust.

If you’re buying a company car and need something reliable to keep you going on daily commutes or work trips, check out some of your top business lease deals. 

Just need a reliable car to get you around? We’ve put together all of the best personal lease deals.

If you’re looking for something more spacious, check out our most reliable cars round up.