In a remarkable shift, BMW’s esteemed eight-year reign as the paramount reliable car brand as per the FN50 survey has come to a conclusion this year, with the Munich-based titan descending two positions. This pivotal transition has catapulted Toyota to the zenith of the table, establishing it as the most reliable car brand, while Audi steadfastly secures its second-place standing, nestled between Toyota and BMW.
The elucidation of this ranking emanated from a meticulous analysis by Fleet News, which engaged leasing companies to assess the brands and models they had on fleet over the preceding 12 months. The resultant FN50 report encapsulated these insights, predicated on the average count of off-road days due to unforeseen mechanical hindrances, albeit excluding tire punctures.
Despite the shift, it’s not a complete eclipse for BMW. The 3 Series car holds its forte, outshining all other models, and clinching the title of the most reliable car as adjudged by the UK’s largest leasing firms. Since its launch in 2018, the G20 3 Series swiftly garnered favour among corporate car patrons, clinching the Best Premium Car accolade consecutively for two years at the Fleet News awards. Notably, its 330e model claimed the title of the second best-selling plug-in hybrid car in the UK during 2022, available in both saloon and estate configurations.
Toyota’s ascendancy is further echoed as the Corolla hatch surges to the second most reliable car, advancing from the fourth position in 2022 and eighth in 2021, showcasing an impressive trajectory for the hybrid model since its introduction in 2018.
Hyundai’s Tucson, a fresh entrant, has made a formidable ingress into the third place, a leap from not being featured in the top 15 last year. This elevation can be ascribed to its upmarket shift post the 2020 re-launch, supplemented by a slew of fleet-compatible hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines.
On the flip side, the Audi A4 has receded to the fourth place from its third position last year, reflecting a modest decline for the aging model. Concurrently, the Audi A3 also witnessed a descent from seventh to eighth place.
The FN50 report also throws light on other notable shuffles. Tesla’s Model 3, for instance, retreated to the sixth position from the second, despite an uptick in registrations. Conversely, the Honda Civic ascended two spots, following the launch of its new model last year.
Volkswagen, however, failed to secure a position in the top 10 list this year, a contrast to its previous standing, indicative of a competitive reshuffle in the automotive landscape.
As 2023 unfolds, the FN50 report serves as a telling testament to the dynamic shifts within the automotive industry, painting a comprehensive picture of the reliability landscape as perceived by key stakeholders in the fleet leasing sector. The reshuffled rankings underscore a competitive milieu, urging automotive giants to continually evolve to meet the stringent reliability and performance exigencies of the contemporary corporate fleet market.