The most reliable city cars - Automotive in INTERIA.PL
German experts from the ADAC automobile club (Allgemeiner Deutscher Automobil-Club) took a closer look at cars up to 10 years old, which have been on sale for at least 3 years, and the number of registrations exceeds 10,000 per year. The list is divided into five classes, and a total of 113 different models and 25 brands were taken into account. The annual ADAC rankings are regarded as a valuable source of knowledge on car reliability. The German automobile club has its own fleet of specialized roadside assistance vehicles. These are well-equipped mobile workshops, equipped with appropriate tools and even universal diagnostic computers.
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Every day on the roads of Germany, the most motorized country in Europe, the so-called "Yellow Angels" from ADAC help drivers whose cars have broken down. The statistics collected in this way are first-hand and reflect data on calls to immobilized cars that cannot continue their journey due to various types of breakdowns. After comparing the number of roadside assistance interventions with the number of copies of a given model, a ranking of vehicles is created that refuse to obey the most and the least often. The lower the score the car gets, the better.
A-segment cars: winner from Japan
The latest edition of the list for models from the A segment, i.e. the smallest cars for the city, clearly indicates the Toyota Aygo as the winner. The legendary reliability of the Japanese manufacturer's cars is confirmed for another year in a row. Aygo outperformed its competition in all age categories, leaving behind other models such as Volkswagen up! and Fox, Skoda Citigo, Seat Mii, Renault Twingo, Opel Adam, Ford Ka, Fiat Panda and Chevrolet Spark.
Two cars top the ranking with excellent reliability results in all (Toyota Aygo) or most of the years tested (Hyundai i10). ADAC statistics for 2020 show that the owners of these cars may be least afraid of a breakdown that will immobilize their car unexpectedly on the route. At the other extreme were the users of cars distinguished by high faults in this ranking. These are the Smart ForTwo and ForFour models and the Fiat 500.
Toyota Aygo
Toyota Aygo wins ADAC's Most Reliable Car of the Year 2020 across all age categories, with a failure rate of 2.5 to 8.7 faults per thousand cars for 2010-2017 models. German experts were unable to identify the most emergency elements of the car. The most common cause of immobilization of this vehicle may be a flat tire, which translates into such good ratings. It is no coincidence that this model has become the most popular representative of the A segment in Poland. In 2012, the 1st generation Toyota Aygo underwent a second modernization, during which, among others, the front and rear, adding signature LED daytime running lights. Under its hood, a 1.0-litre petrol engine with 68 hp worked. Diesel variants were also available, 1.4 HDI (54 hp).
In 2014, at the Geneva Motor Show, the second generation Toyota Aygo was presented with a completely new body, designed in a stylistic language inspired by Japanese youth culture. It gained the recognition of drivers primarily due to the space sufficient for four passengers and an adjustable trunk. Everything fit in a body less than 3.5 m long. The spacious interior is due to the long wheelbase of 2,340 mm. At the same time, the car weighs only 840 kg, and only 4.7 m is enough to make a U-turn. The driver can be additionally assisted by a reversing camera and parking sensors.
Aygo's hallmark has become the front fascia, stylized in the shape of the letter x. Inside there is a 7-inch multimedia screen. The system uses tiles known from computers and mobile devices and the MirrorLink technology, enabling the presentation of images from smartphones on the screen. Another hallmark is the round, electronic-analog array of clocks. There are numerous, visually attractive equipment versions, e.g. x-cite or x-treme.
In 2018, the Toyota Aygo underwent a thorough facelift. Under the hood there is a 1.0 VVT-i engine with a power of 72 HP, produced in the Toyota factory in Wałbrzych, with very low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Improvements have been made to the steering and suspension, and the soundproofing of the interior has also been improved. The car retained the characteristic X-shaped front end, which was given a three-dimensional structure. Aygo gained numerous possibilities of personalization thanks to 10 interchangeable, colorful decorative panels for the body and interior.
Safety is ensured by 6 airbags and the Toyota Safety Sense system with automatic emergency braking and Lane Departure Warning, which recognizes white and yellow road markings. It is worth noting that the Toyota Aygo is the champion of high residual value in its class with a result of as much as 58.6 percent. after 3 years and 120,000 km. For this reason, it was appreciated not only by individual customers, but also by the fleet market.
Hyundai i10
The second position in the reliability ranking of models produced in 2010-2017 was a city car from Korea, gaining ratings from 4.7 to 19.3. In the case of this model, the older copies from 2010-2013 turned out to be the most reliable. The most defective models are from 2014, i.e. the beginning of the production of the second generation of the car. An increased level of defects was also found in cars from 2015 and 2017. The most frequently recorded failures concerned the failure of the battery and spark plugs.
The models of the first generation produced since 2007 are the most reliable. The car was created on the platform of the Kia Picanto model, and its design refers to the compact i30 model. In 2010, the car underwent a facelift, receiving a characteristic radiator grille, as well as new headlights, bumpers, seats and a dashboard. The 1.1-liter four-cylinder petrol engine was replaced by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine with 69 hp. The offer also included a four-cylinder 1.3 engine with 86 hp.
The second generation Hyundai i10 was presented in 2013 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It's a completely different car, designed in Europe and for Europeans. The model was created in the German research and development center of Hyundai in Rüsselsheim. In 2016, the facelift version was presented at the Paris Motor Show. The most visible change was the radiator grille, referring to the other models in the brand's range. The car also received new LED daytime running lights. Already in the basic version it was equipped with front and side airbags and a central lock. The list of additional equipment could not miss electrically controlled mirrors and windows, hill start assist, reversing sensors or cruise control.
Last year, the third generation Hyundai i10 was presented. Under the hood there are 1.0 and 1.2-liter petrol engines and a 1.1-liter diesel engine. The equipment may include automatic transmission, on-board entertainment system with an 8-inch screen and keyless entry. At the last Frankfurt Motor Show, its sporty i10N variant was presented.
Fiat 500
With an eye-catching and style-loving model, we are approaching the other end of the car reliability table. German experts in the ADAC 2020 report awarded it from 7.1 to 29.5 points, which means a high failure rate. Defects in the cooling system concern cars from 2010, in the years 2011 - 2017 the batteries refused to obey. The failure of the cooling system hoses occurred in cars from 2010 and 2011, and in cars from 2012-2015 "yellow angels" reported gearbox failures.
Fiat 500 is primarily a style icon, referring to the iconic model, produced in Turin in the years 1957-1975. Produced since 2007, the contemporary 500 model underwent a facelift in 2014, including changes in the interior, where analog clocks have been replaced with a round digital display. Under the hood there is a 0.9 TwinAir twin-cylinder engine with 105 hp, awarded the title of Engine of the Year.
From the outside, it can be distinguished by xenon headlights and daytime running lights in LED technology available for an extra charge. The rear lights received a distinctive shape with body-colored elements embedded in the center. In the interior of the models available from 2015, there were new seats and a steering wheel, as well as a revised dashboard with a touch screen of the U-Connect multimedia system. The list of surcharges includes: high-quality Beats Audio sound system.
The 500 model is known primarily for its numerous limited, special equipment versions, created, for example, in cooperation with famous fashion designers, such as Gucci, and inspired by luxury products, such as Italian Riva motor boats. There is also a version with an opening fabric roof 500C and a sporty Abarth with engines up to 180 hp.
SmartForFour
As the name suggests, the Smart ForFour is an alternative to the ForTwo model, designed for four passengers. Scores from 9.8 to 31.3 in the ADAC 2020 ranking put it among the most emergency models. This is especially true for the 2015 and 2016 models. Mainly starters and batteries fail.
10 years after the presentation of the 1st generation of the four-seater Smart, in 2014 the 2nd generation ForFour model was presented. However, this is a completely new design, twin with Renault Twingo. The four-seater, five-door version of the Smart is 80 cm longer than the ForTwo variant. It also has a wheelbase one meter longer than it.
Under the hood of the Smart ForFour we will find the same units as in the ForTwo and Renault Twingo models. The basic 1.0 petrol engine has three cylinders and 71 hp (91 Nm). The more powerful version is also a petrol unit, but smaller: 0.9 liter turbocharged with 90 hp (135 Nm). As in the ForTwo model, the engine is located under the boot floor and drives the rear wheels.
Smart ForTwo
Smart ForTwo is one of the three "leading" cars in this year's ADAC list in terms of failure rates. This tiny, two-seater vehicle, which can be parked anywhere, scored from 7.5 to as much as 32.8 - which is the worst result in the entire field. In the 2010-2013 models, the timing drive is defective, and in the 2010 cars, the automatic transmission is also a problem. Copies from 2015-2017 have frequent battery failures, and from 2012-2013 - frequent spark plug failures. The most common faults occur in the 2015 and 2016 models.
In 2010, the 2nd generation Smart ForTwo underwent a slight modernization, and two years later a facelift. Under the hood, petrol engines with a capacity of 1 liter and power of 61, 70, 84 and 98 HP and a diesel 0.8 CDI with a power of 55 HP were installed. In 2014, the 3rd generation Smart ForTwo went on sale, slightly larger than its predecessor. Technically, the latest generation car is closely related to the Smart ForFour and Renault Twingo models.
A distinctive feature of the Smart is the engine and rear-wheel drive located at the rear under the trunk floor. So far, two petrol engines have been installed in the ForTwo model. The first with a capacity of 1.0 liters and the power of 71 hp and the second, turbocharged with a capacity of 0.9 liters, from which the power of 90 hp was obtained. In 2019, the 3rd generation model underwent a facelift, introducing an all-new drivetrain and a refreshed, more modern front and rear fascia. The latest Smart is now only available in an electric version, offered under the name EQ ForTwo.
