Warrantywise has released its 2026 Reliability Index, and the findings offer a stark reminder for independent garages: high-ticket used cars are often the ones that will keep your ramps the busiest.

The study, which scrutinised 1.6 million repair data points, reveals that a high initial purchase price is no guarantee of reliability, with the Land Rover Discovery recording the lowest score of 17.2/100.

In stark contrast, the Toyota Yaris topped the table with a score of 89.2/100, highlighting a significant reliability gap between segments.

The data indicates that the most frequent repair requests for these premium models involve emissions-related issues, which affected four out of the ten lowest-scoring vehicles.

Technicians are also seeing a consistent trend of electrical system and suspension failures across this dataset, reflecting the increased strain on advanced vehicle architectures as they age.

Most of these issues tend to emerge later in the vehicle’s lifecycle, typically surfacing between six and seven years of age and just under 70,000 miles.

Average repair costs for these prestige models now stand at £2,051.63, though costs fluctuate significantly even within the same manufacturer.

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For instance, while a BMW X5 averages £1,847.70 per repair request, the BMW 7 Series commands a higher average of £2,467.37.

Antony Diggins, Managing Director of Warrantywise, said: “Many of the lowest-scoring vehicles sit in premium segments, yet they remain highly desirable for a reason.

“The key is balancing that appeal with the reality of potential repair costs. Our data shows that price doesn’t always equal reliability, and because our Index is based purely on customer repair data, not cost, it offers a data-led view of what owners can expect.

“While the lower end of the rankings inevitably attracts attention, it’s important to recognise that there are still strong performers within every segment.

“These findings do not mean that all vehicles from any one manufacturer will experience problems.

“Regular servicing, preventative maintenance and appropriate use remain key factors in long-term reliability, particularly for larger, more technologically advanced vehicles.”

Position	Models	Average Repair Request	Most Expensive Repair Request	Average Age at Repair Request	Average Mileage at Repair	Overall Score /100
1	Land Rover Discovery	£2,050.24	£25,694.93	6.8 years	70,544	17.2
2	BMW 7 Series	£2,467.37	£17,342.93	7.1 years	74,162	18.7
3	Mercedes-Benz S-Class	£1,970.86	£16,641.54	6.9 years	73,919	19.2
=	Audi A7	£1,862.30	£7,464.24	7.3 years	76,670	19.2
5	Land Rover Range Rover Velar	£2,217.98	£22,851.90	6.0 years	58,936	19.7
6	Land Rover Range Rover Sport	£2,002.76	£24,708.00	7.1 years	67,706	21.1
7	BMW X5	£1,847.70	£30,675.02	7.1 years	74,646	23.6
8	Land Rover Discovery Sport	£2,002.30	£44,401.48	7.3 years	73,368	24.1
9	BMW X7	£1,992.68	£15,934.80	7.3 years	67,372	26.5
10	Land Rover Defender 110	£2,082.09	£22,911.16	5.0 years	52,839	28.0