The most reliable small family cars
Ranked by the MotorFiable Score of the whole car, out of 10: half comes from its engines and the other half from the rest of the car (gearbox, suspension, brakes, electronics…). Only small family cars with solid evidence are included: at least three sources and five documented faults, each backed by its sources.
Of the 38 small family cars with solid evidence, the one with the highest score is the Dacia Logan II (7.2/10), followed by the Renault Clio V (7.0) and the Suzuki Swift V (7.0). The one with the lowest score is the Peugeot 208 II (2.8/10), mainly because of oil-bath timing belt degradation.
- Rank 1Dacia Logan II
Small family car · 2012–2020
High severityCoolant leak at the thermostat housing(0.9 TCe engine)
7.2 out of 10Engine 6.5
Rest of car 7.9 - Rank 2Renault Clio V
Small family car · 2019–today
High severityClutch that slips or breaks prematurely on the manual gearbox(gearbox and clutch)
7.0 out of 10Engine 7.5
Rest of car 6.5 - Rank 3Suzuki Swift V
Small family car · 2017–2024
Critical severityTemporary brake servo lock-up from the vacuum pump valve(brakes)
7.0 out of 10Engine 8.6
Rest of car 5.4 - Rank 4Dacia Sandero III
Small family car · 2020–today
Critical severityLPG (ECO-G) system faults and tank recall(1.0 TCe / SCe engine)
6.5 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 7.1 - Rank 5Renault Clio III
Small family car · 2005–2012
Critical severityWear and seizure of the big-end bearings(1.5 dCi engine)
6.4 out of 10Engine 5.9
Rest of car 6.9 - Rank 6Dacia Sandero II
Small family car · 2012–2020
Medium severityPremature wear of the front suspension(suspension)
6.4 out of 10Engine 6.5
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 7Hyundai i20 III
Small family car · 2020–today
Medium severityRear brake calipers that seize through lack of use(brakes)
6.4 out of 10Engine 7.5
Rest of car 5.4 - Rank 8Renault Clio II
Small family car · 1998–2012
Critical severityWear and seizure of the big-end bearings(1.5 dCi engine)
6.1 out of 10Engine 5.9
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 9Kia Rio III
Small family car · 2011–2017
Critical severityShort circuit in the ABS/ESC brake unit (HECU): fire risk(brakes)
6.1 out of 10Engine 7.0
Rest of car 5.2 - Rank 10Ford Fiesta V
Small family car · 2003–2008
Medium severityInjectors that lose their seal and let diesel escape(1.4 HDi engine)
6.0 out of 10Engine 5.7
Rest of car 6.4 - Rank 116.0 out of 10
Engine 7.7
Rest of car 4.3 - Rank 125.9 out of 10
Engine 5.1
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 135.9 out of 10
Engine 5.1
Rest of car 6.8 - Rank 14Hyundai i20 I
Small family car · 2008–2014
Critical severityThe 12-volt socket can overheat and cause a fire when used with the tyre repair kit compressor(electrical)
5.9 out of 10Engine 6.4
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 15Škoda Fabia IV
Small family car · 2021–today
Critical severityThe front airbag may tear or fail to deploy properly (campaign 69EU)(security)
5.9 out of 10Engine 8.2
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 16Nissan Micra III
Small family car · 2003–2010
Critical severityPoorly tightened steering wheel retaining bolt(steering)
5.8 out of 10Engine 5.9
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 17Dacia Logan III
Small family car · 2021–today
Critical severityDefective LPG tank weld with risk of gas leak(security)
5.8 out of 10Engine 6.0
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 18Volkswagen Polo VI
Small family car · 2017–today
Critical severityThe centre rear seat belt can also unfasten the left one(security)
5.7 out of 10Engine 7.7
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 19Citroën C3 I
Small family car · 2002–2009
High severityTurbo failure through lack of lubrication (carbon deposits and union filter)(1.6 HDi engine)
5.6 out of 10Engine 5.0
Rest of car 6.2 - Rank 20Volkswagen Polo IV
Small family car · 2001–2009
Critical severityTiming chain stretch and tensioner wear(1.2 12V engine)
5.6 out of 10Engine 5.6
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 21Seat Ibiza V
Small family car · 2017–today
Critical severityThe rear centre seat belt can also unfasten the left one(security)
5.6 out of 10Engine 7.7
Rest of car 3.6 - Rank 22Peugeot 208 I
Small family car · 2012–2019
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
5.4 out of 10Engine 3.2
Rest of car 7.7 - Rank 23Toyota Yaris III
Small family car · 2011–2020
Critical severityExcessive oil consumption from piston wear(1.33 Dual VVT-i engine)
5.3 out of 10Engine 4.6
Rest of car 6.1 - Rank 24Toyota Yaris II
Small family car · 2005–2011
Critical severityExcessive oil consumption from piston wear(1.33 Dual VVT-i engine)
5.3 out of 10Engine 4.9
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 255.3 out of 10
Engine 5.2
Rest of car 5.4 - Rank 26Opel Corsa D
Small family car · 2006–2014
Critical severityTiming chain stretch and tensioner failure(1.3 Multijet engine)
5.1 out of 10Engine 4.9
Rest of car 5.4 - Rank 27Alfa Romeo MiTo
Small family car · 2008–2018
Critical severityTiming chain stretch and tensioner failure(1.3 Multijet engine)
5.1 out of 10Engine 5.1
Rest of car 5.2 - Rank 28Renault Zoe
Small family car · 2012–2024
High severityCaméléon integrated charger failure and charging cut-outs(electrical)
5.0 out of 10Rest of car 5.0
- Rank 29Citroën C3 III
Small family car · 2016–2024
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
4.9 out of 10Engine 2.9
Rest of car 6.9 - Rank 30Volkswagen Polo V
Small family car · 2009–2017
Critical severityTakata recall: the front airbag can fragment in a crash(security)
4.7 out of 10Engine 5.7
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 31Peugeot 301
Small family car · 2012–2018
High severityTiming belt failure and premature wear(1.6 HDi engine)
4.6 out of 10Engine 3.7
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 32Citroën C3 II
Small family car · 2009–2016
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
4.5 out of 10Engine 3.3
Rest of car 5.7 - Rank 33Seat Ibiza IV
Small family car · 2008–2017
Critical severityTakata recall: the passenger airbag may fragment in a crash(security)
4.4 out of 10Engine 5.1
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 34Citroën C-Elysée
Small family car · 2012–2022
Critical severityWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshafts(1.5 BlueHDi engine)
4.3 out of 10Engine 3.2
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 35Škoda Fabia II
Small family car · 2007–2014
Critical severityTakata recall: the driver's airbag may fragment in a crash(security)
4.3 out of 10Engine 4.9
Rest of car 3.7 - Rank 36Opel Corsa F
Small family car · 2019–today
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
3.7 out of 10Engine 2.0
Rest of car 5.5 - Rank 37Ford Fiesta VII
Small family car · 2008–2017
High severityJudder and clutch slip in the Powershift (DPS6) automatic gearbox(gearbox and clutch)
3.6 out of 10Engine 4.8
Rest of car 2.5 - Rank 38Peugeot 208 II
Small family car · 2019–today
Critical severityOil-bath timing belt degradation(1.2 PureTech engine)
2.8 out of 10Engine 2.0
Rest of car 3.6
The least reliable small family cars
The three with the lowest scores and the fault that weighs most in each.
- Peugeot 208 II · 2.8/10Oil-bath timing belt degradation (1.2 PureTech engine)
- Ford Fiesta VII · 3.6/10Judder and clutch slip in the Powershift (DPS6) automatic gearbox (gearbox and clutch)
- Opel Corsa F · 3.7/10Oil-bath timing belt degradation (1.2 PureTech engine)
How it is calculated
The score combines the risk index of its engines and that of the rest of the car, calculated from the most serious documented faults (severity times frequency). Faults that the manufacturer fixes free of charge under a recall carry less weight. A high score does not guarantee that a particular car will not fail: it means we have found fewer serious, frequent documented faults. More recent models have been on the road for fewer years and may have fewer documented faults: preferably compare cars from the same period. Full methodology