Not all of us can afford a brand-new car or even one that is two or three years old. For most, the only alternative is to search for older vehicles with the hopes that they are reliable and won't suffer any malfunctions soon after purchase. For this reason, we have consulted a survey that was conducted by Ipsos locally in 2012 that focuses on vehicle quality.
The survey, which had a sample pool of 22 000 South African vehicle owners, measured the number of problems per 100 vehicles of a specific model. And based on the feedback, it ranks the vehicles based on quality. Thus, the fewer problems the higher the model ranks. So, when you start your search for used vehicles on AutoTrader, this is a good starting point.
Related: Which car brand lasts the longest?
Note that the survey was conducted on vehicles purchased three months prior and that issues could have come to light after a few years of ownership. Also, take note that the reliability of a car heavily relies on how well it is looked after and whether or not it is serviced and maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Thus, this list only serves as a guide and does not guarantee that you won't have any issues with the vehicles on this list.
Reliable cars
Hatchback
Toyota most certainly shined in this segment, as the Auris and Yaris 1.3 models were tied at only 13 problems per 100 vehicles. This is an excellent score, considering that the overall score for the passenger vehicle market was 41 problems per 100 vehicles at the time.
Small sedan
In the small sedan segment, Toyota once again showed its strength as the Corolla took top honours with only 32 problems per 100 vehicles. Note that these problems could be anything from mechanical issues to a malfunctioning electric window button.
Medium sedan
Next up is the medium sedan segment, which sees the Audi A4 featuring at the top of the list with only 26 problems per 100 vehicles recorded.
Executive sedan
Next up is the executive sedan segment, which is slightly larger and, of course, a bit more premium in price. Another German automaker makes its appearance as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class tops the podium with only 13 problems per 100 vehicles recorded.
Sport coupe
While in the sports coupe segment, it is easier to relinquish practicality, but not so much reliability. In this segment, both Audi and Mercedes-Benz shined as the A5 coupe scored an impressive 28 problems per 100 vehicles, while the SLK-Class models returned only 29 problems per 100 units.
Compact SUV
In the compact SUV segment we see the Japanese return, however, this time it is Nissan. The Nissan X-Trail got the highest quality rating from vehicle owners as it only recorded 13 problems per 100 vehicles.
SUV
When it comes to premium SUVs, most will know that Mercedes-Benz is well versed in this recipe and it showed as the M-Class took the top spot with only 12 problems per 100 vehicles.
MPV
Mercedes-Benz also managed to capture the attention of Ipsos in the MPV segment as the B-Class managed a very impressive 10 problems per 100 vehicles.
3/4 Tonner
While there weren't many contenders in this segment at the time, it sure is good to know that the Nissan NP200 which took the top spot, only returned 34 problems out of 100 vehicles.
Bakkie
Now, when it comes to the bakkie segment, there are a few preconceived ideas as to who would win. However, it isn't the usual suspect as in this particular survey the Isuzu KB in Petrol Single Cab guise managed 21 problems per 100 vehicles and the Diesel Single Cab scored 38 problems per 100 vehicles respectively, beating the competition.
Verdict
As alluded to earlier, this survey takes into consideration quality in all aspects, not just reliability, but also build quality and finish. Thus, this list is a good starting point for those looking for a reliable option in any of the segments listed above. However, it should be noted that considering that these models are now at least 10 years old, it also comes down to the ownership history as well as the maintenance and service history.
