A large-scale study has revealed the one car drivers should steer clear of.
In the United Kingdom, researchers have identified the car most likely to let its owners down. According to a comprehensive study conducted by the respected outlet WhatCar?, the 2019 gasoline-powered Nissan Juke was rated the least reliable model, earning an overall reliability score of just 55.2%.
The survey covered 32,493 car owners who drive vehicles less than five years old. In total, 227 models from 30 brands were analyzed. Participants were asked about mechanical issues they had experienced over the past two years, along with repair costs and time spent off the road. These data points formed the basis of the overall reliability index.
Among owners of gasoline Jukes, 24% reported at least one breakdown. Of those, 64% said their cars were out of service for more than a week, and 60% spent over £1,500 (around $2,000) on repairs. This combination of high failure rates, long downtimes, and steep repair bills put the Juke firmly at the bottom of the rankings.
Claire Evans, WhatCar?’s Consumer Editor, commented:
“One in four cars under five years old experienced serious issues. While most were repaired by manufacturers, in cases where that didn’t happen, owners were faced with extremely high costs.”
Despite the Juke’s poor performance, other Nissan models fared exceptionally well. The Qashqai, X-Trail, and LEAF all achieved reliability ratings above 95%, placing them among the top 25 most dependable vehicles in the study.
In response, Nissan said it was disappointed by the Juke’s results, noting that they do not align with the company’s internal data or other independent assessments. The automaker stated it is in discussions with WhatCar? and reaffirmed its commitment to high quality standards and openness to constructive feedback.