By ROB HULL
City cars and superminis are some of the most versatile vehicles on the road and appeal to a wide range of people.
They're not just ideal for new drivers seeking the cheapest form of motoring available, families often pick them up for use as second vehicles for school runs and commutes, city dwellers love their and tiny dimension for navigating busy streets, and downsizers often turn to them when they no longer need a large motor.
Fortunately, to cater for such high demand are plenty of quality examples on the market. In fact, a third of used car transactions last year were small models, with 2.5million superminis changing hands in Britain in 2024.
But which of these compact cars can be depended on to start first time, rarely breakdown and not drain your bank account when faults do arise?
Warrantywise has revealed which 10 small motors are most reliable, based on the volume of claims made by extended warranty customers over the last three years. Each model has been given a rating out of 100.
Small cars: Below, we reveal which small cars can be depended on to start first time, rarely breakdown and not drain your bank account when faults do arise
The scores and rankings are based on the frequency of faults recorded for each model.
It also takes into account the car's average age and mileage at the time of repair and how long it typically took to get it back on the road again.
For each model, we have also listed the average cost of bills to fix them and the highest claim amount paid out between 2022 and 2025, with some proving more expensive to keep running than others.
The data is based on vehicles that are between four and 10 years old.
Antony Diggins, managing director at Warrantywise, said the data back up the theory that superminis are 'one of the safest bets you can make in the used car market'.
He added: 'At a time when people are being more careful with their money, it’s reassuring to know that you don’t have to spend big to get a dependable car.
'With a number of these superminis not requiring major repairs until they’re nearly a decade old, and many models showing excellent cost-per-mile performance, they are an especially wise buy in today’s market.'
But that's not to say every supermini is bulletproof or inexpensive to fix.
Analysis of the records show electrical issues account for over half of supermini repairs, with engine faults making up just over 30 per cent.
In terms of cost to repair, some can ring in close to £10,000 to resolve a significant mechanical problem.
However, it's important to take into consideration that Warrantywise customers are only likely to make claims for costly problems, such as complete engine failures or gearbox replacements.
Here's a countdown of the best performers...
The Mini Hatch is one of the most desirable small cars. Extended warranty claims aren't too frequent, but there are instances of incredibly high repair cost payouts in the last three years
Average repair claim: £1,118
Most expensive repair claim: £9,224
There are few superminis more desirable than the Mini Cooper. It's iconic name, retro looks and fashionable appeal makes it one of the most popular new superminis - and an in-demand second-hand model too with prices for 10-year-old examples with around 50,000 miles on the clock ringing in around £7,000 - usually less if you opt for a diesel.
Warrantywise scores it 75.9 for reliability. But repairs are far from cheap.
The average used warranty claim amounts to more than £1,100, while the biggest seen over the three-year period is in excess of £9,000.
A Hyundai i20 is usually a well-equipped alternative to a Ford Fiesta with a lower second-hand price. Warrantywise says its the joint tenth most dependable small used car
Average repair claim: £871
Most expensive repair claim: £4,444
Hyundai's i20 is often overlooked but is a worth rival to more popular models of similar size, such as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.
The Korean offering is typically better equipped and sold with more features as standard. A decade-old i20 can be had for around £6,000 today.
Based on the volume of claims, the age and mileage at the time of repairs and how quickly they were fixed, the i20 scores the same 75.9 reliability rating as the Mini.
However, the Hyundai appears less expensive to fix when big issues occur. The average bill of £871 is slightly easier to stomach than that of the Mini, though one owner claimed for a £4,444 repair.
Just because Dacias are cheap to buy new, that doesn't mean they'll be unreliable. Quite the contrary with the Sandero, the report suggests
Average repair claim: £615
Most expensive repair claim: £3,217
The Dacia Sandero for over a decade has been the epitome of cheap motoring.
The nation's least expensive new motor for years, it has proved popular among Britons on tighter purse strings or on the market for an uncomplicated motor that's not laden with tech.
Used examples dating back to 2015 with around 50k on the clock can be had for less than £4,000 today, making this a truly inexpensive car to get your hands on. And it's relatively affordable to put right when serious issues occur.
When owners with extended warranties have made a claim to cover the cost of a big repair bill, the average amount is £615 - which is one of the least expensive among superminis of this size.
The biggest repair claim in the last three years has been for just over £3,200.
The Hyundai i10 is an ideal first motor for a new driver. Used prices are low, insurance is cheap and reliability - according to Warrantywise - is strong
Average repair claim: £855
Most expensive repair claim: £3,774
Hyundai's i10 is more city car than supermini, being smaller in scale than its i20 sibling already mentioned in this list.
Warrantywise rates it as the eighth most reliable used small motor based on severity of repairs and the time to fix them.
In terms of claims made by the average i10 owner, they've utilised their extended cover for bill of £855. However, one driver in the last three years has claimed for a repair amounting to more than £3,750.
Strong reliability, a low insurance grouping and typical price of £5,000 for a 10-year-old model with 50k on the clock makes this a very good option for younger drivers who've just passed their test.
Renault's Clio has been around for some time, with the first-generation car dating back to 1990. Warrantywise gives it a 79/100 reliability score
Average repair claim: £721
Most expensive repair claim: £4,928
France's perennial small car, the Renault Clio, has always been a popular option in the UK, amassing over 1.3 million sales since it first hit showrooms way back in 1990.
For those looking for an affordable small car, you can find plenty for sale online for around £5,000 with well under average mileage of 50k on the clock.
WarrantWise says it's one of the top supermini performers in relation to receiving a low volume of claims from owners in the last three years.
Those who have used their extended warranties to cover large repairs have been paid out on average £721. However, one owner put in a successful claim of almost £5,000.
Often overlooked due to the popularity of the Ford Fiesta, Warrantywise suggests the smaller KA city car might be the more reliable option
Average repair claim: £628
Most expensive repair claim: £2,430
Ford's KA wasn't a particularly big seller in Britain a decade ago, likely because visitors to showrooms ran by the blue oval brand were shifting Fiestas in record numbers at the time.
But Warrantywise reckons it might be worth a look-in as a cheap small runaround today.
Used examples of the company's city car can be hand for well under £4,000 today, even if you're looking for something with below-average mileage.
As well as getting one of the best reliability scores from the warranty provider, it's also relatively affordable to fix when big things go wrong, averaging £628 per claim over the last three years.
City cars have become something of a dying breed in showrooms today, but quality examples like the Peugeot 108 should be considered as a viable used choice for new drivers
Average repair claim: £550
Most expensive repair claim: £3,546
French cars and reliability aren't two things that have always gone hand-in-hand. But the 108 is a slightly different story, thanks to Peugeot's collaboration with Citroen and Toyota to produce a shared-platform city model that are mechanically very similar.
For a decent example that was first registered in 2015, you should need to pay only around £4,500.
And the 108 then is a pretty dependable motor, with Warrantywise suggesting it receives a small volume or repair claims from owners for major garage bills, hence its 80.3 score out of 100.
The average price of a claim over the last three years in £550, while the most expensive since 2022 was for £3,500.
The Citroen C1 is the sister car to the Peugeot 108. It received a 82.8 Reliability Index score based on extended warranty claims made in the last three years
Average repair claim: £673
Most expensive repair claim: £2,715
You've only just read about the C1's sister model - the Peugeot 108 - moments ago, so it should come as little surprise to see the Citroën appear in fourth spot in Warrantywise's list of most dependable small cars.
Again, a good one with 50,000 miles on the clock should cost between just £3,500 and £4,000 and be an ideal first new motor for any new driver.
Those owners who did make claims for significant repairs did so for bills amounting to an average of £673. The biggest claim in the last three years is £2,715.
Kia's Picanto is another city car offering with a high reliability score of 86.8/100
Average repair claim: £438
Most expensive repair claim: £2,324
Another city car that's proving reliable is the Kia Picanto, which is produced on a shared platform with the Hyundai i10 (in 8th in this countdown).
Between £4,500 and £5,000 should get you a good condition example today.
Based on the volume of claims made by Warrantywise customers, time off the road being fixed and the severity of issues relating to age and mileage, it is third overall in terms of the most dependable small cars.
The average repair claim for major issues was £438 over the last three years, with the biggest of all being just over £2,300.
Suzuki has a history of performing well in reliability charts, and the Swift is no different here, named Warrantywise's joint most dependable small model
Average repair claim: £784
Most expensive repair claim: £3,993
There's no outright winner in the supermini segment in terms of dependability, according to the Warrantywise Reliability Index.
Based on the 2022 to 2025 data, the Suzuki Swift is the joint best, with a score of 88.6 out of 100 for the durable Japanese supermini.
It's roomy, good to drive and - according to the warranty provider - not a motor that typically suffers lots of problems. They're good value too, with standard (non-Sport) examples available for around £5,000.
When something pretty serious does go wrong, the average claim made by customers is £784. And the biggest in the last three years in just shy of £4,000.
Few will be shocked to see a Toyota named the most reliable small car, but many might be expecting that model to be the Yaris. But it's not...
Average repair claim: £420
Most expensive repair claim: £1,297
It won't come as a huge surprise to petrolheads that a Toyota tops this chart - but it's not the Yaris.
Instead, Warrantywise lists the Aygo city car as the joint most reliable small motor you should buy second-hand.
As previously mentioned, it was produced in partnership with Peugeot-Citroen and is mechanically similar to the 108 and C1 respectively.
However, it is slightly ahead of its two sister models in this department, scoring 88.6 in the Reliability Index. Average used prices are typically higher too, around £5,500 for a good example of a decade-old Aygo with £50,000 miles covered in its lifetime.
An average repair claim of £420 in the last three years is the cheapest of all, while the biggest payout to cover a garage bill of £1,297 is also a lot more reasonable than any other car listed here.
Facebook Conversations