Why do Skodas have a heated rear window? Well, it certainly isn’t to keep your hands warm when you’re pushing them, because the Czech firm’s cars are the most reliable on the road.
That’s the conclusion of a British dependability survey based on a poll of 13,451 motorists who bought a new car between April 2012 and March 2014.
Korean firm Kia took the runner-up spot, while at the other end of the 26-strong manufacturer table, Chevrolet’s cars were rated least reliable by their owners.
However, perhaps the biggest surprise was the number of prestige brands that performed poorly, with BMW, Jaguar and Audi all in the bottom five.
One theory is that because people are paying more for these cars they’re less forgiving of faults. But that didn’t stop Mercedes-Benz from finishing in the top five.
Having examined the data closely, the research experts at JD Power, which is behind the survey, believe faults with the cutting-edge entertainment technology premium brands are fitting to their cars are to blame.
Dr Axel Sprenger, senior director of European automotive operations at JD Power, said: “Five of the top 11 problems reported were related to technology in this category. As we’ve seen in studies in the United States and other markets, owners’ expectations of advanced technology capabilities are growing. And when they have a problem they are disappointed.”
JD Power believes this could explain why Skoda is rated so much higher than its more expensive sister brands — Audi and Volkswagen — which get new technologies earlier, possibly before all the bugs have been worked out.
-Telegraph Group Ltd