Are electric & hybrid cars reliable?
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around electric car reliability – so just how reliable are the different types of electric vehicle?
Consumer watchdog organisation Which? surveys thousands of motorists each year and compiles figures showing the reliability of new cars (under four years old) with different engine types.
The research is split into five categories:
- Petrol (internal combustion engine with no electric power)
- Diesel (internal combustion engine with no electric power)
- Full hybrid ‘FHEV’ (battery charges from the combustion engine with no plug-in option)
- Plug-in hybrid ‘PHEV’ (battery charges via a mains charging cable)
- Electric ‘BEV’ (i.e. no internal combustion engine at all)
In March 2022, the latest update revealed that there are differences in reliability between different types of powertrain, but also that within a particular engine type, there are some standout performers and some manufacturers falling behind.
Most Reliable Engine Type
Among cars less than four years old, Which? found 22.3% of all cars had at least one fault. Fully electric vehicles performed the worst, at 31.4%, while full hybrids performed the best at just 17.3%.
The full shortlist reveals:
- FHEVs: 17.3% had one or more fault, 5.6% reported one or more breakdowns
- Petrol: 18.6% faults, 3.5% breakdowns
- PHEVs: 27.5% faults, 5.4% breakdowns
- Diesel: 29.1% faults, 6.9% breakdowns
- BEVs: 31.4% faults, 8.1% breakdowns
It’s interesting to note that diesel engines – which are widely regarded as more reliable among many motorists – were among the worst performers in this year’s report.
Most Common Electric Car Faults
It’s also worth noting that the type of faults reported vary depending on the engine type. EVs have fewer moving parts, so they are generally less likely to have a serious fault involving the engine (or motor, in a BEV).
Which? found instead that the most common electric car faults were software-related, rather than a hardware problem with the battery pack or motor. The consumer watchdog urged manufacturers to “up their game” to ensure EVs are as reliable as they are sustainable.
So which manufacturers are out in front in terms of reliability – and which are the best new models of electric car to look to if you want to avoid a future breakdown?
Most Reliable Electric Cars
The survey praised the Kia e-Niro for being the most reliable electric car and the most reliable vehicle across the whole of the small or compact SUV category, regardless of engine type.
Only 1% of drivers of new (i.e. less than four years) Kia e-Niros had experienced a breakdown or a failure to start, and just 6% had experienced even a single fault.
Lisa Barber, Which? Home Products and Services Editor, said: “Kia’s e-Niro shows there is a significant opportunity for manufacturers to up their game and provide drivers with a reliable and more sustainable car.”
Final Thoughts
The take-home message is that reliability is not pinned to a single engine type, and some of the widely held beliefs – for example, that diesel engines are more reliable – are not supported by the data.
Instead, you should always check the reliability of a specific make and model of car before you buy, or consider leasing EVs as a way to experience the build quality of different manufacturers over the course of several years on the road.
At Synergy we’re here for the duration of your lease. Your lease vehicle comes with the full manufacturers’ warranty for complete peace of mind. You can also opt for a servicing, maintenance and tyres package to ensure that all your routine servicing is covered with one simple monthly payment. Ask your account manager for more details.
