Reliability is one of the most important criteria for most drivers, alongside purchase price. After all, few people enjoy repeated breakdowns and costly repairs. Yet carmakers do not all approach reliability in the same way.
For years, Japanese manufacturers have been held up as a benchmark for their demanding engineering standards. Que Choisir points to a guiding philosophy known as jidoka, an industrial principle used by Toyota that allows production to be halted immediately whenever a defect is detected.
This culture of rigour has shaped the Japanese automotive industry and is regularly confirmed by independent studies. The latest Que Choisir ranking is no exception. The consumer group analysed feedback from 53,796 motorists across around ten European countries, comparing 36 brands and 637 models. The outcome is clear, with the top five places all taken by Japanese brands, measured with a reliability index out of 100:
Tesla ranks sixth with a score of 95.2. Electric vehicles generally show higher reliability than combustion-engine models due to their simpler mechanical design.
German brands sit firmly in the middle of the table: Smart is seventh (95), BMW 11th (94.3), Mini 13th (94.2), Mercedes 16th (93.4), Audi 17th (93.1), and Volkswagen 25th (92.1).
French brands fare less well. Dacia performs best among them in 19th place (92.9), followed by Renault in 26th (91.8). Peugeot comes 32nd, while Citroën drops to 33rd (89.9) and DS to 34th (89.7).
At the bottom of the ranking are two brands originally from the UK: MG, now Chinese-owned, in 35th place (89.2), and Land Rover, which comes last with a score of 87.
Que Choisir has also published rankings on customer satisfaction with repair networks, such as garages and dealerships. Here again, Lexus leads the way, followed by Honda and Tesla.
At a time when vehicle repairs have never been more expensive, reliability is becoming an increasingly decisive factor for buyers. Brand loyalty, country of manufacture, and design appeal are losing ground.
Que Choisir notes that reliability is now seen as the single most important criterion by a majority of prospective buyers in France, representing a significant rise compared with its previous survey two years ago, when far fewer respondents placed it at the top of their priorities.
You can take a look at the survey here.
