The 2011 TUV top 10: trustworthy and rustworthy vehicles revealed... The results of over seven million separate tests conducted by Germany’s prestigious TUV inspection agency has revealed that the Porsche 911 is a timeless and trustworthy motor which presented fewest problems across the different plates tested.

Across an extensive array of categorised tests checks and questions posed at TUV test centres, the relatively new and technologically proud Toyota Prius was a close runner-up to the Porsche amongst over 200 other tested models.

Derby, UK (Carbag.co.uk News) 19th January 2012 This is the first time a hybrid motor has featured in an Autobild report but what’s more surprising is the fact that a total of four Toyotas landed a spot in their reliability top ten; not bad when you consider the overall findings reflected similar results from the 1980s. The Autobild report also delivered some bad news for some less fortunate drivers with a decade-old Ford KA in their garage, for at the other end of the reliability scale the Ford owners found themselves rubbing shoulders with drivers of the similarly sub-standard three year old Dacia Logan of Romania, which failed just under13% of tests.

The 196 page report also featured a number of facts and figures including the fact that every fifth car tested was seriously defective and that also, in sharp contrast to that finding, the TUV found over half of all the motors tested were fault free.

Dr. Klaus Bruggemann of the TUV has also addressed concerns over the tests conducted on the industry’s ever-evolving electronics, allaying fears that they may be outdated: “Especially in recent years, computer-based electronic security systems have become more important and there’s an important step in the coming year; examiners may directly refer to the on board diagnostic interface to determine issues for vehicles that are registered from 1 April 2012”.

The 50 year old TUV set out their findings in the following reports:

Reliability Rank: Cars 2-3 Years Old

1. Toyota Prius
2. Toyota Auris
3. Mazda 2
4. Porsche Boxster / Cayman
5. VW Golf Plus
6. Ford Fusion
7. Toyota Corolla Verso
8. Mazda 3
9. Vauxhall / Opel Agila
10. Suzuki Sx4

Reliability Rank: Cars 4-5 Years Old

1. VW Phaeton
2. Toyota Prius
3. Porsche Boxster / Cayman
4. VW Eos
5. Toyota Rav4
6. Toyota Corolla Verso
7. Mazda 2
8. Audi A8
9. VW Golf Plus
10. Toyota Avensis

Reliability Rank: Cars 6-7 Years Old

1. Porsche 911
2. Toyota Corolla Verso
3. Toyota Rav4
4. Honda Jazz
5. Toyota Avensis
6. Mazda3
7. VW Golf Plus
8. Mazda 2
9. Ford Focus C-Max
10. Toyota Corolla

Reliability Rank: Cars 8-9 Years Old

1. Porsche 911
2. Toyota Rav4
3. Honda Jazz
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Toyota Yaris
6. Mazda MX-5
7. Ford Fusion
8. VW Golf
9. Honda CRV
10. Toyota Avensis

Reliability Rank: Cars 10-11 Years Old

1. Porsche 911
2. Toyota Rav4
3. Toyota Yaris
4. Toyota Avensis
5. Mazda MX-5
6. Mercedes SLK
7. Toyota Corolla
8. Suzuki Vitara
9. Mercedes CLK
10. Honda Accord

By Hans Rieder
Motoring Journalist