Most reliable EVs: Nissan Leaf named UK’s best, Tesla Model S worst
The Nissan Leaf has been named the UK’s most reliable EV by one of the country’s biggest warranty providers.
Based on thousands of warranty claims on more than a dozen different electric models, Warranty Services Group (WSG) reported that the Leaf recorded the fewest claims and one of the lowest average repair costs.
Despite being on sale for longer than virtually any other electric car the Leaf had a claim rate of just 3.06% and an average payout of £300.10. That suggests that despite its now ageing technology the ‘grandaddy of mainstream EVs’ has proved to be a robust choice since going on sale in 2010.
While the second-place MG ZS presented cheaper average repairs, at £225.90, it was subject to a claim rate of 4.76%.
Behind that, the first-generation Audi e-tron was the third most dependable electric car with a claim rate of 5.56% and an average repair cost of £309.72.
As a specialist in providing cover after manufacturer warranties expire, WSG’s list is dominated by early EVs. Elsewhere on the list the now-discontinued Renault Zoe sits in fourth place, while the Volkswagen ID.3 is in fifth.
According to the WSG data, the UK’s least reliable EV is the Tesla Model S. The American firm’s first offering in the UK recorded a disappointing claim rate of 50% and an average cost of £703. Beating that at the lower end of the table were the Volkswagen E-Golf and Kia E-Niro (not to be confused with the later Niro EV).
EV warranty claim costs
Perhaps surprisingly, the Vauxhall Corsa proved to have the highest average claim cost, at £2,261. This, however, appears to have been skewed by a handful of large individual claims. In the most costly case, this was a £6,219 bill to replace the entire electric drive system. That was the biggest individual claim for an EV, ahead of a £4,500 bill to replace the charging control module in a Jaguar I-Pace and a £3,800 replacement charger converter in a Porsche Taycan.
The most common payout by WSG related to EV charge ports, with a claim rate of 3.01% and an average cost of £119.96. It was one of only two EV-specific faults in the list of the five most common claims. The other related to on-board charging systems. While just 2.26% of claims were connected to this, the average payout was a substantial £1,021.
The other failures were linked to tyre pressure monitoring systems, air conditioning condensers and the 12V auxiliary battery – issues which also plague petrol and diesel cars.
It’s important to note that, while instructive, the WSG data only covers 13 all-electric models for which it provides aftermarket warranties. The coming years are likely to see the situation shift as manufacturer warranties expire on a growing number and variety of models and secondhand dealers look to provide aftermarket warranty cover for customers.
