Logic suggests that electric cars should experience fewer breakdowns due to having fewer mechanical moving parts compared to traditional petrol or diesel vehicles.
But does this theory hold up in real-world scenarios?According to the latest reliability survey conducted by What Car?, the answer is no.
The publication’s findings indicate that electric cars are outperformed in reliability by small conventional models, which received a higher overall dependability rating in the survey.
For this study, What Car? gathered feedback from owners to assess the reliability of 34 electric vehicle models.
Although the report separates electric SUVs from non-SUV EVs, This is Money was exclusively provided with the combined data for battery-powered vehicles as a whole.
The survey results show that larger electric SUVs achieved an average reliability score of 89.3 percent, while other EV models had a slightly lower average of 87.7 percent.
Here’s a rundown of the ten most dependable electric vehicles along with three models that indicate a higher likelihood of faults, potential breakdowns, and costly repairs.
Also Read: 10 SUVs That Were Popular but Suddenly Disappeared
10. BMW i3 (2013-2022)
- Reliability score: 94.5%
The BMW i3 is one of the longest-standing electric models in the survey, having been on sale since 2013. Fewer than 10 percent of owners of cars up to five years old reported any faults.
The BMW i3 marked the beginning of the German brand’s electric journey when it debuted in 2013. Despite being discontinued, the i3 remains among the most reliable EVs, competing with many newer models in terms of dependability.
Over the past two years, less than one in ten owners reported experiencing an issue. Among those who did encounter problems, the most frequently cited issues involved the air conditioning, non-motor electrical components, and suspension.
While 75 percent of affected cars were repaired within a week, some owners faced expensive bills. Due to the i3’s age, a quarter of the surveyed vehicles were no longer covered by BMW’s warranty, leading some owners to pay between £200 and £1,500 for repairs.
9. Volkswagen e-Up (2013-2023)
- Reliability score: 94.6%
Among VW e-Up models dating back to 2019, only 13 percent of owners reported a fault in the past two years. However, two-thirds of those affected had their cars off the road for more than a week due to repairs.
The e-Up represents an early stage in Volkswagen’s shift toward electric mobility. This compact city car discontinued by VW in 2023 was converted into an electric vehicle with a 36.8kWh battery, offering a city-friendly range of 159 miles.
One downside impacting the e-Up’s reliability score is the extended time some vehicles spent in the workshop.
Of the 13 percent of owners who experienced an issue, two-thirds reported that their car was out of service for more than a week, requiring alternative transport arrangements.
Despite the e-Up’s age, all faulty vehicles were repaired under warranty. The most commonly reported issues were related to the air conditioning system and the 12-volt battery separate from the main battery that powers the car’s electric motor.
8. Kia EV6 (2021-present)
- Reliability score: 94.9%
Similar to the VW e-Up, 13 percent of Kia EV6 owners reported experiencing issues within the past two years.
However, nearly two-thirds of these faulty vehicles were classified as undrivable and remained off the road for over a week.
Kia’s EV6 has gained significant popularity since its launch in 2021, thanks to its distinctive design, practicality for family use, and an impressive range of up to 361 miles on a full charge.
While only 13 percent of owners reported encountering faults, some of these issues appear to be quite serious.
Among the reported problems, six percent of owners experienced failures related to the 12-volt battery, while another six percent cited electrical issues affecting the battery drivetrain.
Although 18 percent of faulty EV6s were repaired and back on the road within a day, an overwhelming 64 percent were deemed undrivable and remained out of service for more than a week.
Fortunately, all repairs were carried out under warranty, meaning owners did not face any out-of-pocket expenses.
7. Renault Megane E-Tech (2022-present)
- Reliability score: 95.5%
Just 14 percent of Renault Megane E-Tech owners reported experiencing problems with their EVs in the past two years and all were repaired free of charge under warranty.
Renault has transitioned the Megane into an all-electric model, though instead of a traditional family hatchback, it now takes the form of a raised crossover.
Since its debut in 2022, only 14 percent of surveyed owners have reported issues with their vehicles.
These problems were mainly related to general electrical malfunctions (not affecting the drivetrain), interior trim, the infotainment and sat-nav system, and suspension components.
None of the faulty cars were rendered undrivable, and all were repaired within a week with a quarter of them fixed in just a day. Thanks to Renault’s warranty coverage, owners did not have to bear any repair costs.
6. BMW i4 (2021-present)
- Reliability score: 95.5%
More than a quarter of BMW i4 owners reported experiencing at least one issue with their vehicle over the past two years. However, more than half of these problems were resolved within a day.
For those seeking a sophisticated executive saloon with electric power, the BMW i4 stands out as a relatively dependable choice, according to owner feedback.
While just over 25 percent of drivers encountered faults in the last 24 months, this was counterbalanced by the fact that every reported issue was repaired under warranty at no expense to the owner.
A significant 56 percent of faulty i4 models were fixed within a day, likely due to the fact that most problems were minor, such as interior trim defects and air-conditioning malfunctions.
However, some owners did report issues with the electric drivetrain and charging system.
5. Nissan Leaf (2019-present)
- Reliability score: 95.6%
Only one in ten Nissan Leaf owners reported experiencing reliability issues in the past two years. The most common problems were related to the brakes, interior trim, or non-motor electrical components.
Now in its second generation, the Sunderland-built Nissan Leaf is one of the most widely seen electric cars on the road. One of the reasons for its popularity is its strong track record for reliability.
Among the Leafs that received feedback about, just 10 percent had encountered mechanical or electrical faults over the previous 24 months.
These issues were typically related to the braking system, interior trim, or non-motor electrical components.
None of these problems caused a complete breakdown, and 60 percent of affected Leafs were repaired and back on the road within a day.
However, not all repairs were covered by Nissan’s warranty 40 percent of owners had to pay out-of-pocket, with repair costs ranging from £301 to £1,000.
4. Volvo XC40 Recharge (2021-present)
- Reliability score: 95.8%
One in five Volvo XC40 Recharge owners have reported reliability issues with their electric SUVs over the past two years.
The stylish XC40 Recharge has been available in the UK since 2021, and in that time, 20 percent of owners have encountered problems with their vehicles. Fortunately, all reported issues were minor.
Some drivers noted minor non-drivetrain electrical faults, but a larger proportion experienced issues with the sat-nav or infotainment screen.
Among the affected vehicles, 20 percent were repaired within a day, while an additional 60 percent were fixed within a week. All repairs were carried out under Volvo’s warranty, meaning owners did not have to pay for any fixes.
3. BMW iX3 (2021-present)
- Reliability score: 96.7%
Some BMW iX3s experienced undrivable faults. While half of those with minor issues were repaired within a day, a third remained off the road for over a week.
The iX3 marks BMW’s first foray into electric SUVs and has been available in UK showrooms since 2021, imported from the German automaker’s Chinese manufacturing plant.
Only 12 percent of iX3 owners reported experiencing issues with their vehicles over the past two years, with most of the faults linked to the air-conditioning system or non-drivetrain electrical components.
However, a few owners did encounter problems with the electric drivetrain.
While half of the vehicles affected by minor faults were repaired within a day, a third of those with more severe issues were deemed undrivable and required over a week in the workshop.
Fortunately, every repair was covered under BMW’s warranty, so no owner had to pay for the fixes.
2. Mini Electric (2020-2024)
- Reliability score: 98.4%
The Mini Electric recently replaced by the fourth-generation BMW-built hatchback has proven to be one of the most reliable electric vehicles on the market, according to What Car? owners.
While it may not offer the longest driving range (a claimed maximum of 144 miles), the Mini Electric stands out for its dependability.
Only 5 percent of owners reported encountering faults over the past two years, with all issues linked to either the 12-volt battery or motor electrics.
Although some repairs took up to a week to complete, every car remained driveable throughout the process, and all fixes were carried out under BMW’s warranty at no cost to owners.
1. Tesla Model Y (2021-present)
- Reliability score: 99.2%
The Tesla Model Y has earned the title of the most reliable electric car, significantly outperforming its smaller sibling, the Model 3, according to What Car? owners.
Elon Musk might want to celebrate this milestone Tesla sits at the top of the reliability rankings.
Just 4 percent of Model Y drivers reported dealing with a fault in the past two years, a stark contrast to the more than 25 percent of Model 3 owners who faced issues in the same period.
The only problem areas noted were non-drivetrain electrics and sat-nav systems, and these occurred in very small numbers.
Half of the affected Model Ys were repaired and back on the road the same day, though a quarter remained in Tesla workshops for over a week. Fortunately, every repair was covered under warranty, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for owners.