Best Petrol Cars in the UK (2026)
Ranked by MOT pass rate from 23,580,259 MOT tests on cars recorded as petrol (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Petrol remains the most common fuel type on UK roads by a wide margin.
Data: DVSA MOT tests carried out in 2024. 2,432 petrol model years analysed.
83%
Avg petrol pass rate
£2,184
Avg annual cost
174.57p/L
UK average petrol, week of 19 October 2026
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 usually means lower repair bills.
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Top 20 Most Reliable Petrol Cars
Ranked by MOT pass rate, with estimated annual running costs. Sports, performance and luxury cars (such as Ferraris, Bentleys, the Porsche 911 and BMW M cars) are left out of the most reliable lists because they are driven far less than everyday cars: in this data they had covered about 25% fewer miles than other cars of the same age.
| # | Car | Pass Rate | Total/yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Honda Civic SR VTEC(2021) | 97% | £1,630 | |
| 2 | Mazda CX-30 Sport Lux MHEV Auto(2021) | 97% | £2,086 | |
| 3 | Jeep Wrangler(2020) | 97% | £2,086 | |
| 4 | Citroen C1(2021) | 97% | £1,630 | |
| 5 | Porsche Macan(2019) | 96% | £2,086 | |
| 6 | Ford Puma ST-Line MHEV(2021) | 96% | £1,630 | |
| 7 | Porsche Macan(2020) | 96% | £2,413 | |
| 8 | Porsche Macan(2021) | 96% | £2,413 | |
| 9 | Porsche Cayenne(2020) | 96% | £2,413 | |
| 10 | Toyota GR Yaris Circuit 4WD(2021) | 96% | £2,086 | |
| 11 | Volkswagen T-Roc Sel TSI Evo S-A(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 12 | Honda Fit(2013) | 96% | £1,928 | |
| 13 | Volkswagen Polo Active TSI(2021) | 96% | £1,630 | |
| 14 | Ford Puma Titanium First Ed MHEV(2020) | 96% | £1,630 | |
| 15 | Audi A5 S Line 40 TFSI MHEV S-A(2021) | 96% | £2,086 | |
| 16 | Mercedes A 200 Exclusive Edition Auto(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 17 | Volkswagen T-Roc Active TSI Evo S-A(2021) | 96% | £1,853 | |
| 18 | Ford Puma ST-Line X Auto(2021) | 96% | £1,630 | |
| 19 | Mazda CX-30 GT Sport MHEV(2021) | 96% | £2,086 | |
| 20 | Renault Captur S Edition Tce Auto(2021) | 96% | £1,853 |
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% | £1,450 | |
| 2 | Toyota iQ(2014) | 91% | £1,450 | |
| 3 | Mitsubishi Mirage(2016) | 90% | £1,600 | |
| 4 | Toyota Aygo(2016) | 89% | £1,600 | |
| 5 | Suzuki Celerio(2015) | 88% | £1,600 | |
| 6 | Toyota iQ(2013) | 88% | £1,600 | |
| 7 | Toyota Aygo(2015) | 87% | £1,600 | |
| 8 | Peugeot 108(2016) | 87% | £1,600 | |
| 9 | Hyundai i20(2016) | 87% | £1,600 | |
| 10 | Vauxhall Viva(2016) | 87% | £1,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most reliable petrol car?
The Honda Civic SR VTEC (2021) tops our petrol rankings with a 97% MOT pass rate from 1,811 tests, level with 3 others. The pass rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a pass (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Sports, performance and luxury cars (such as Ferraris, Bentleys, the Porsche 911 and BMW M cars) are left out of the most reliable lists because they are driven far less than everyday cars: in this data they had covered about 25% fewer miles than other cars of the same age.
How much does a petrol car cost to run per year?
The average petrol car on this page costs an estimated £2,184 a year to run, covering fuel (at 174.57p a litre, the UK average pump price for the week of 19 October 2026), road tax, MOT and predicted repairs. Insurance is not included. Small petrol cars with engines under 1200cc top our cheapest-to-run list.
Is petrol or diesel cheaper to run?
It depends on the car and how far you drive. Petrol is cheaper per litre (174.57p against 199.33p for diesel, UK average pump prices for the week of 19 October 2026), but a diesel goes further on each litre, so the fuel bills are often close. Diesel's advantage grows the more motorway miles you cover, while petrol suits lower mileages and short trips, which can clog a diesel's particulate filter (DPF).
What size petrol engine is best for running costs?
Engines under 1200cc offer the best balance of fuel economy and low tax. Cars registered before April 2017 are taxed on their CO2 emissions, so the most economical small petrol cars pay as little as £20 a year in road tax (cars registered since then pay the £200 standard rate). 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 for tests carried out in 2024, retests included. The pass rate is the share of tests that ended in a pass. Only petrol cars with 1,000+ tests from 2021 or earlier (old enough for a routine MOT in 2024) are included; vans, motorhomes and taxis are left out. Each model year's figures cover all its tests, and its fuel type is the one recorded first in the data, so a model sold as petrol and diesel is listed only under the fuel type recorded for most of its tests. Fuel costs assume 174.57p a litre for petrol (UK average pump price for the week of 19 October 2026, from GOV.UK weekly road fuel prices) and 7,400 miles a year, with mpg estimated from engine size. Road tax is estimated from the year of first registration and, for 2001 to 2016 cars, an estimated CO2 band; cars that cost over £40,000 new pay more. Repairs are predicted from the MOT pass rate. Insurance excluded. Data sourced under the Open Government Licence v3.0.