Best Petrol Cars in the UK (2026)
Ranked by MOT pass rate from 28,894,480 real petrol car tests. Petrol remains the most common fuel type on UK roads by a wide margin.
Updated March 2026. 2957 petrol models analysed.
83%
Avg petrol pass rate
£1,808
Avg annual cost
142p/L
Current petrol price
Petrol cars are the default choice for most UK drivers and represent the largest share of vehicles on the road. Small-engine petrol models (under 1200cc) are among the cheapest cars to run overall, combining low fuel costs, minimal road tax on pre-2017 models, and strong reliability records.
These rankings use real MOT pass rates from DVSA data. A higher pass rate means fewer faults found during testing, which directly correlates with lower annual repair costs.
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Top 20 Most Reliable Petrol Cars
Ranked by MOT pass rate, with estimated annual running costs
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ferrari 488(2018) | 99% | £2,037 | |
| 2 | Ferrari 488(2017) | 99% | £2,037 | |
| 3 | Bentley Continental Gt(2017) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 4 | Bmw M3 Competition Auto(2021) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 5 | Bentley Bentayga(2021) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 6 | Porsche Boxster(2020) | 98% | £1,772 | |
| 7 | Mercedes Gt(2018) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 8 | Lamborghini Urus V8 Auto(2019) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 9 | Lamborghini Urus V8 Auto(2021) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 10 | Bentley Continental Gt V8 Auto(2020) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 11 | Mclaren 600lt V8 S-a(2019) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 12 | Ferrari 812 Superfast S-a(2019) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 13 | Ferrari 488(2016) | 98% | £2,097 | |
| 14 | Porsche 718 Cayman Gt4(2020) | 98% | £2,037 | |
| 15 | Porsche 911(2019) | 97% | £2,037 | |
| 16 | Porsche 911(2017) | 97% | £2,037 | |
| 17 | Porsche 911(2016) | 97% | £2,097 | |
| 18 | Porsche 911(2015) | 97% | £2,097 | |
| 19 | Bentley Continental Gt(2019) | 97% | £2,037 | |
| 20 | Bentley Continental(2014) | 97% | £2,097 |
Cheapest Petrol Cars to Run
Small-engine petrol cars dominate this list, especially pre-2017 models with low road tax bands.
Top 10 Cheapest Petrol Cars to Run
Lowest estimated annual running costs, petrol only
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Suzuki Celerio(2016) | 91% | £1,240 | |
| 2 | Toyota Iq(2014) | 91% | £1,240 | |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Mirage(2016) | 90% | £1,240 | |
| 4 | Toyota Aygo(2016) | 89% | £1,390 | |
| 5 | Vauxhall Corsa(1999) | 89% | £1,390 | |
| 6 | Suzuki Celerio(2015) | 88% | £1,390 | |
| 7 | Mitsubishi Mirage(2015) | 88% | £1,390 | |
| 8 | Toyota Iq(2013) | 88% | £1,390 | |
| 9 | Toyota Aygo(2015) | 87% | £1,390 | |
| 10 | Peugeot 108(2016) | 87% | £1,390 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable petrol car?
The Ferrari 488 (2018) tops our rankings with a 99% MOT pass rate from 1,512 tests. Japanese manufacturers consistently dominate the reliability charts.
Is petrol or diesel cheaper to run?
For most drivers doing under 10,000 miles per year, petrol is cheaper. Petrol costs less per litre (142p vs 148p for diesel), and small petrol cars have the lowest road tax rates. Diesel only becomes cheaper at high mileages where the better fuel economy outweighs the higher fuel price.
What size petrol engine is best for running costs?
Engines under 1200cc offer the best balance of fuel economy and low tax. Pre-2017 models with sub-1400cc engines can pay as little as £30/year in road tax. For everyday driving, a 1.0L to 1.2L turbo petrol gives decent performance without high running costs.
Should I buy petrol or electric in 2026?
Electric cars are cheaper to fuel and maintain, but cost significantly more to buy. If you can charge at home and afford the higher purchase price, electric makes financial sense long-term. If budget is tight, a reliable small petrol car is still the cheapest overall option when you include the purchase price.
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Best Diesel Cars
Diesel models ranked by reliability and cost
Best Electric Cars
EV rankings by pass rate and running costs
Best First Cars
Small, cheap petrol cars ideal for new drivers
Methodology
Rankings are based on DVSA MOT test data. Only petrol models with 1,000+ tests are included. Fuel costs assume 142p/litre petrol and 7,400 miles/year (UK average). Road tax based on registration year and engine size. Repairs predicted from MOT pass rate. Insurance excluded. Data sourced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.