Mazda leads reliability index - again

9 July 2002: Mazda has again been named as the most reliable car in the latest updating of the index compiled by Warranty Direct, the UK market leaders selling warranties direct to the motoring public. Fiat comes second and Ford third.

The index based on their experience of the average claims cost per policy, with a score of 100 being equivalent to the average claims cost per policy. Makes with higher index numbers cost above average, whilst those with lower numbers cost below average.

The most common types of claim , about one fifth of all, relate to the cooling system – radiators, water pumps and cylinder head gaskets. Drivers could avoid many of these if they carried out basic checks to oil and coolant levels regularly or if they took immediate action on seeing ANY oil or coolant leaking from their car.

The vehicles covered in the index are primarily new and used cars bought from dealers, although a significant proportion is cars bought privately. Their average age is just over 4 years and they have an average mileage at policy inception of 46,000 miles.

Warranty Direct offers extended mechanical and electrical warranties on cars in the UK less than 10 years old and a mileage of less than 100,000. Warranties are available whether cars are being purchased privately, from a dealer or auction; customers can also extend their existing manufacturers warranty with protection from Warranty Direct.

Mazda (52.49); Fiat (62.56); Ford (65.43); Toyota (69.39); Mercedes (70.73); BMW (71.70): Honda (73.03); VW (77.71); Volvo (78.14); Hyundai (81.43); Subaru (83.02); Peugeot (84.02); Vauxhall (84.95); Rover (86.06); Audi (97.65); Citroen (102.21); Nissan (109.97); Renault (117.40); Mitsubishi (119.91); Saab (125.82) Alfa Romeo (180.14); Land Rover (180.87).

Warranty Direct offers extended mechanical and electrical warranties on cars less than 10 years old and a mileage of less than 100,000. Warranties are available whether cars are being purchased privately, from a dealer or auction; customers can also extend their existing manufacturers warranty with protection from Warranty Direct.

July 2002

'The vehicles covered in the index are primarily new and used cars bought from dealers, although a significant proportion is cars bought privately. Their average age is just over 4 years and they have an average mileage at policy inception of 46,000 miles'