COVER DRIVE
With longer warranties being offered on many new cars, we take a fresh look at which brands provide the greatest peace of mind
JACK MORTIMER
jack.mortimer@haymarket.com
Photography: John Bradshaw
AS CARS GET increasingly complex, it’s reassuring to know that many manufacturers are providing longer warranties on their new models. During the warranty period, owners who encounter a fault with their car can usually take it in to have it repaired for free.
Although they offer peace of mind to buyers, one criticism of car warranties is that the manufacturer traditionally covers only the first two years of a car’s life, with any remaining years being provided as an insurance policy that’s managed by franchised dealers.
During the latter years, fewer components are covered and more restrictions are put in place, meaning some owners are faced with paying for the repairs themselves.
WHICH BRANDS ARE BEST AT PAYING FOR REPAIRS?
To find out how many owners had to pay for repairs during the first five years of their car’s life (which covers the typical three-year warranty period and longer policies offered by the likes of Alfa Romeo, Cupra and Hyundai), we analysed data from the latest What Car? Reliability Survey. It contains data on almost 30,000 cars, including any faults that occurred and how much these cost their owners to fix.