bMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Transcription
bMW 3 Series (2005-2011)
Which? works for you Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Mar 2005 Class: Large cars New price: £22,690 - £55,270 Used price: From £3,475 On sale: Performance: Ride comfort: handling: ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ Boot & Storage: Safety: ★★★★ ★★★★★ Reliability: ★★★ Total score: 77% Excellent handling and good refinement. The diesels are both efficient and fast. Low depreciation reduces running costs. Standard equipment levels are sparse and the ride can be stiff. Insurance is expensive. The iDrive control system can be confusing. Recommended models in the range Which? Car Top Choice Model 320d [184] SE 4dr New price: £28,020 Used price: £8,695 Fastest Model M3 4dr DCT New price: £55,270 Used price: £21,000 4.7 secs 0-62mph: Most Efficient Model 320d EfficientDynamics 4dr New price: £27,935 Used price: £8,695 Combined fuel economy: 68.9 mpg Cheapest Model to buy new 318i ES 4dr New price: Overview It may not be as exclusive as it once was, but the 3 Series is still one of the best family-sized cars to drive. It’s also surprisingly spacious and frugal. An update to the range in autumn 2008 brought a highly-impressive new 3.0-litre diesel engine and facelifted styling, plus fuel-saving stop-start technology for the four-cylinder engines. An all-new 3 Series arrived in 2012. The BMW 3 Series has always been considered the premium saloon with the most enjoyable driving experience, thanks to a series of generation with rear-wheel drive and beautifully composed chassis setups. And that still appears to be the case for the fifth generation of the 3 Series, but it adds a few new feathers to its cap. Standard equipment is upped, pushing it ahead of its closest rivals from rivalling German brands. But more importantly, BMW introudced a range of ultra efficient engines through the E90 3 Series’ lifespan that make it as economical as it is good to drive. A range of Efficient Dynamics engines were introduced in 2007, designed to lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The standout performer is the 320d EfficientDynamics, launched in 2010 - with 163bhp, performance is on a par with the standard 320d, yet CO2 emissions fuel consumption is much improved. If you’re more in favour of power over frugality, there’s the grunty 335d diesel and 335i petrol, or the V8-powered 400+bhp M3. The two main rivals are the Audi A4 and Mercedes-Benz C-class, but other rivals include the Lexus IS, Ford Mondeo and Vauxhall Insignia. Read reveiws of more large cars The 3 Series has a class-leading chassis, no question. Cornering is a joy, thanks to its taut chassis, while the steering is precise, if a little heavy at times. Stiff suspension means you feel some bumps, but this is a fair trade-off for the sporty drive. The range of powerful engines starts with four-cylinder 2.0-litre petrols and diesels, with the 335i 3.0-litre straight-six at the top of the mainstream line-up. £22,690 Cheapest Model to buy used 320i 4dr Used price: £3,475 Cheapest Model to Run (new) 318i SE Business Edition 4dr New price: £24,480 Running costs: £17,337 (3 years/36,000 miles) Owner’s View Excellent build quality, comfort and styling good. It is a pleasure to drive, is very reliable and you feel secure and safe inside. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars On the road How we test The 3 Series handles superbly, and there’s a wide range of powerful engines to choose from. Performance Performance ★★★★★ The 2.0-litre diesel engine in the best-selling 320d packs plenty of punch, with the benchmark 0-62mph sprint taking just under eight seconds. A little more pulling power from low speeds would sometimes come in handy, but overall it’s a very good engine, and one that is also pleasantly smooth and refined. The manual gear change is smooth and precise, and the gear ratios are well matched to the engine’s performance characteristics. The 335d, meanwhile, is a serious performance car, and the 330d and 325d no mean compromises; the new 3.0-litre diesel engine fitted from autumn 2008 is even more impressive, and more refined, than its predecessor. Economy-focused options include the 316d - which can still accelerate 0-62mph in 10.9 seconds - and the specially-modified 320d EfficientDynamics. None of the diesels we tested could be called slow, and that includes the entry-level 316d and economy-tuned 320 EfficientDynamics. Later cars include start-stop technology which cuts the engine while stationary in traffic to save fuel. And all the diesels tested were impressively smooth and refined, an attribute whose appeal grows over time. Top-performing petrol model is the 335i, which does 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, followed closely by the 330i and still-quick 325i, though even the lowlier 320i and 318i are plenty powerful enough to be enjoyable. If this isn’t enough there’s always the M3, which is more racing car than family car. The 3 Series has a slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox as standard, which is easy to use although a little stiff until you get used to it. The long-travel clutch has quite a heavy action, so start-stop traffic can be tiresome on your left leg. If this is a problem, go for a Steptronic automatic version - these work very well and shift smoothly, but they do tend to use more fuel. Model tested Acceleration (37-62mph) diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 6.9 secs diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 6.0 secs diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 5.1 secs diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 4.7 secs diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 4.4 secs diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 4.9 secs diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 4.7 secs diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) 4.0 secs diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 3.4 secs petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 3.5 secs Rating ★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Ride comfort ★★★★ The BMW’s suspension is stiff, meaning that some bumps really make themselves felt, but ride comfort is generally acceptable; the optional sports suspension lowers and firms up the chassis further, and can be pretty uncompromising in combination with larger wheels and lowprofile tyres. We use the sophisticated electronic timing equipment to record standing-start and in-gear acceleration, and repeat each test several times. Ride comfort Ride comfort is assessed by our laboratory experts who have driven hundreds of thousands of miles in a myriad of different models. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars On the road continued... How we test Economy and budget variants like the 316d and 320Ed benefit from relatively highprofile tyres which smooth out the ride and make cruising quieter, with very little detriment to handling. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Handling Rating ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ On-the-limit handling is explored well away from public roads to ensure a fair test. Our obstacle avoidance test is one of the harshest tests in the industry.. Brakes The Which? Car braking test measures stopping distance from 62-0mph and is repeated ten times in quick succession to highlight any brake fade issues. Refinement and noise The Which? Car experts use a decibel meter to record interior sound levels at common UK motorway speeds, and combine this with subjective assessments to arrive at an overall score. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars On the road continued... How we test Cabin and controls ★★★★★ Handling Where the 3 Series impresses most is in its handling: cornering is a joy, thanks to the taut chassis. There is very little body roll, and the car feels stable and secure on the road at all speeds. Stability control (called DSC in BMWs) and traction control, which help to avoid loss of control in tricky situations, are standard across the range. The steering feels direct, responsive and predictable — if a touch heavy around town. However, the car is easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces, thanks to the very small turning circle. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ Brakes The brakes respond instantly, and stopping power is impressive. They also come with brake assist, which helps the driver apply maximum braking power in emergency stop situations. Model tested Braking distance (62-0mph) diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 36.0m diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 36.0m diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 39.0m diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 36.0m diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 35.9m diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 37.4m diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 35.5m diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) 36.5m diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 35.0m petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 39.0m Rating ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ Refinement and noise Cabin noise is well suppressed, even in the diesel and at high speeds. Road noise is more prominent on models with large wheels. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Cruising noise 67dB 66dB 65dB 66dB 67dB 68dB 66dB 65dB 66dB 65dB Rating ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ ★★★★★ We penalise cars with difficult controls, and we look for things like backlit light switches and easy-to-use heating and ventilation adjustments. Visibility and parking Visibility is a major issue for motorists today, so each car gets a 360-degree swivel view test to reproduce the driver’s eye view and any obscured areas. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Comfort and practicality How we test The 3 Series’ cabin is wide with good headroom. Most people should be able to get comfy. The boot of the saloon is reasonably large, but lacks the adaptability of the Touring estate’s. Getting in and out Getting in and out ★★★★ Getting in and out of the front of the car is quite easy, although it’s a little harder if you have the optional sports seats with their bolstered sides. The standard remote central locking also operates the electric windows, if you’ve forgotten to close them. Another nice touch is that, after leaving the car at night, the headlights stay on for a short time to help you find your front door. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Seat space and comfort Rating ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ There is plenty of space in the front, even for very tall drivers. The cabin is also wide. Space in the back isn’t as good, but it’s still reasonable — a six-footer can sit comfortably behind another six-footer in the front. The rear seat bench is contoured for two passengers, although a third person can sit, rather cramped, in the middle (a three-point centre seat belt is provided). In terms of seat comfort, the optional front sport seats are very comfortable (once you’re in), offering good lumbar adjustment and side support. In the back, under-thigh support is lacking. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Rating ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ We take measurements all around the driver and passenger’s door apertures and note the height of the seat, door sills and step down onto the car floor. The best cars don’t require too much bending or stretching to get in and out. Seat space and comfort We assess seat comfort subjectively, using our road testers’ expert knowledge and experience from thousands of different cars. And we measure the head-, legand elbowroom on offer in every seat, to see how well the car caters for people of all shapes and sizes. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Comfort and practicality continued... How we test Boot and storage Boot and storage ★★★★ The saloon’s 455-litre boot space is almost identical to that of the Mercedes C-Class. There’s also extra storage space under the boot floor. The bootlid automatically locks itself when you drive off - a nice touch. The saloon’s boot opening is quite narrow, so loading and unloading is not as easy as it could be, and folding rear seats are only fitted in the Touring estate. Other downsides are few storage spaces around the cabin, especially in the back. Model tested Boot space (seats up/down) diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 405 litres / 405 litres diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 405 litres / 755 litres diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) 405 litres / 730 litres diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) 405 litres / 755 litres petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) 405 litres / 730 litres Heating and ventilation Rating ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ Air conditioning is standard, with some versions getting climate control. The heater is reasonably powerful, although not the best we’ve tested. Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Rating ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★★ Carmakers give official stats for boot space, but our tests are more realistic. We load the boot up with measuring blocks only as far as the rear window line, so that luggage is well secured and won’t obscure rear visibility. We repeat the test with the rear seats up, and folded down (where possible). Heating and ventilation Feel sorry for the tester who has to warm each car up from a frosty -10 degrees in our climate chamber. Starting with a cold engine, we measure how long it takes to warm up the front and rear of the cabin. Diesel cars usually take longer. We also check the effectiveness of air conditioning, where fitted. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Running costs and depreciation How we test The 3 Series is not cheap to buy as a used car, but it does hold its value fairly well. Most of its engine range is economical. Parts, servicing and insurance can be dear, but the variableinterval servicing rewards those who drive with a gentle touch. Fuel consumption Fuel consumption The 3 Series uses less fuel, model-for-model, than its competitors; most versions are economical, considering their power outputs. The popular 320d is claimed to return 58.9mpg, although we achieved a slightly disappointing 45.6mpg in our tests. The economy-optimised 320d EfficientDynamics version is a genuine fuel miser: its official figure is 68.9mpg, and we achieved 64.2mpg in it, better than many superminis and certainly better than the Toyota Prius hybrid. The 320i petrol is claimed to get a still-excellent 46.3mpg; four-cylinder models have stopstart technology to cut the engine automatically when idling. Petrol (combined mpg, claimed) 22.8 mpg - 47.9 mpg Diesel (combined mpg, claimed) 40.9 mpg - 68.9 mpg We test fuel economy under strict lab conditions – using realistic test cycles – to reveal the facts behind the figures. Our figures rarely match manufacturer claims as, unlike the official mpg test, we measure economy with both a hot and cold engine, and on the motorway. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Running costs and depreciation continued... How we test Emissions Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Urban (claimed/measured) 52.3 mpg/49.6 mpg 49.6 mpg/44.8 mpg 36.2 mpg/34.9 mpg 47.1 mpg/40.9 mpg 47.9 mpg/49.6 mpg 56.5 mpg/64.2 mpg 37.2 mpg/39.8 mpg 28.2 mpg/27.4 mpg 49.6 mpg/36.7 mpg 22.2 mpg/21.7 mpg Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Extra urban (claimed/measured) 70.6 mpg/70.6 mpg 68.9 mpg/65.7 mpg 62.8 mpg/61.4 mpg 68.9 mpg/64.2 mpg 70.6 mpg/67.3 mpg 78.5 mpg/76.3 mpg 61.4 mpg/60.1 mpg 47.9 mpg/48.7 mpg 58.9 mpg/56.5 mpg 44.1 mpg/44.1 mpg Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Motorway (measured) 50.4 mpg 47.1 mpg 45.6 mpg 47.9 mpg 50.4 mpg 51.4 mpg 43.5 mpg 39.2 mpg 43.5 mpg 33.2 mpg Model tested diesel 316d (115bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 318d (143bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (163bhp) manual 4dr (2005) diesel 320d (177bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 320d (184bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 320d Eff’Dyn (163bhp) manual 4dr (2010) diesel 325d (197bhp) manual 4dr (2008) diesel 330d (231bhp) automatic 4dr (2006) diesel 330d (245bhp) manual 4dr (2008) petrol 330i (258bhp) manual 4dr (2005) Combined (claimed/measured) 62.8 mpg/57.6 mpg 60.1 mpg/53.3 mpg 49.6 mpg/45.6 mpg 58.9 mpg/51.4 mpg 60.1 mpg/56.5 mpg 68.9 mpg/64.2 mpg 49.6 mpg/48.7 mpg 38.2 mpg/38.2 mpg 49.6 mpg/45.6 mpg 32.5 mpg/31.4 mpg While testing fuel economy, we also collect exhaust gases to enable us to measure the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted. We also check whether particulate filters are effective at removing sooty emissions from diesel engines. Safety We rate cars for safety using Euro NCAP crash test scores (where available), alongside our own comprehensive safety checklist. Uniquely, we also feed in results from our accident avoidance test – after all, it’s far better to steer around a crash than rely on the airbags... Security Security scores come from the security experts at Thatcham, who break into hundreds of cars each year. Most modern cars are very difficult to drive away, but are still too easy to steal from. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Which? Car Survey results About our survey The Which? Car Survey is the UK’s most robust reliability and owner satisfaction survey. In 2015, drivers told us about 58,000 cars, covering more than 484 million miles in the previous 12 months (that’s equivalent to driving to the moon and back a hundred times). This unique feedback allows us to rate satisfaction and reliability for hundreds of new and used cars. Note: Star ratings below are from 1-5 (1 is very poor and 5 is very good). Percentages shown under ‘Most common faults’ indicate the proportion of owners reporting each problem in the past 12 months. Brand Sample size: 3,170 people BMW ratings Overall owner satisfaction for this brand Brand reliability Dealer Sales Service Dealer Servicing & repair Model: BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Sample size: 283 people Overall owner satisfaction for this range Ease of driving Comfort Dash layout and controls Practicality Value for money Running costs In-car technology - Everyone who takes part in the Which? Car survey tells us about their car and the dealers who sell and service it. We analyse this feedback across all cars to give top-level satisfaction ratings for each brand, including the brand’s reliability record over the last eight years. All star ratings are out of five. Model ownership ratings ★★★★ ★★★ Ownership ratings Driving enjoyment 83% Brand ratings These show how owners score this car in 12 different areas, from performance to heating. Owners’ ratings are subjective – so may differ from Which? Car test scores – but they give a good idea of what the car is like to live with. Where relevant, cars are scored against other cars in the same class (e.g. for space). 82% ★★★★ ★★★★ ★★★ ★★★★ ★ ★★ ★★ ★★★ - Owner’s View Good handling, reliable and economical. Well made, high quality materials, fit and finish. Quiet. Good acceleration and braking. Owner’s View Power to overtake safely and have driving fun when circumstances allow, wonderful handling and ride quality, great build quality. Practicality allied to almost supercar performance. Which? Car review BMW 3 Series (2005-2011) Large cars Which? Car Survey results continued... About our survey Reliability ratings Reliability ratings Overall Reliability Petrol cars Reliability Breakdowns Average annual repair cost Diesel cars Reliability Breakdowns Average annual repair cost All cars Reliability Breakdowns Average annual repair cost ★★★ Up to 3 years old 4-8 years old - - - - - - - - - ★★★ 5% £261 ★★★★ 3% £227 - We split reliability into breakdowns (including failure to start), faults (where parts need replacing) and problems (minor issues e.g. squeaks and loose trim). Where the car has been on sale for some time, and we have numerous survey responses from owners, we also split scores by the age of car and fuel type. Star ratings are out of five – the more stars, the more reliable the car. Most common faults Breakdowns: Percentage of cars suffering a breakdown in last 12 months Average annual repair cost: Average annual cost of repairs (not servicing), in past 12 months Most common faults Up to 3 years old - - - 4-8 years old - - - Fuel System (P) Ignition system (P) Exhaust System (P) Lights Washer / wipers Failure rate: The proportion of owners reporting this problem in the last year 7% 6% 6% 5% 5% Want to know what’s most likely to go wrong as the car gets older? These are the five most common faults reported by owners, grouped by age into new, recent and older cars. A score of 40% means four out of 10 owners reported problems with that part of the car over the previous 12 months. Engine electrics and non-engine electrics (e.g. windows, stereo) cause more headaches than mechanical parts in most modern cars.