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Drivers 'should steer clear' of these popular yet unreliable cars

Drivers 'should steer clear' of these popular yet unreliable cars

Daily Mirror01-05-2025

The used car market can be a minefield [stock image] (Image: Scharfsinn86 via Getty Images)
A popular online motoring influencer has flagged several car models for their dismal reliability ratings, cautioning used car shoppers to steer clear. Abigayle Andre is the force behind the TikTok channel @shetalkscars, where she churns out videos doling out advice on slashing car running costs and pinpoints top picks for new and pre-owned vehicles.
In a fresh clip, Abigayle unpacks the UK's least reliable cars, as unearthed by a study from ALA Insurance, warning fans to give the Range Rover Evoque a wide berth if they're hunting for a steadfast SUV. She shared her personal ordeal: "This one is particularly touchy for me. READ MORE: Shoppers 'obsessed' with £20 retinol serum that 'smooths deep wrinkles' in two months
"This channel would not be here if it wasn't for this car breaking down that much."
Adding with a hint of relief: "It's the Range Rover Evoque! I don't miss that thing." Introduced in 2018, the second-gen Evoque is the most accessible Range Rover on the market right now, boasting an array of engines including petrol, diesel, and hybrids.
Nonetheless, ALA Insurance pointed out that owners of the Range Rover Evoque placed 213 warranty claims in 2023 alone, slotting it as the third-most unreliable vehicle in Britain.
For those still tempted by the Range Rover Evoque charm, Abigayle suggests targeting models under three years old that are still covered by the manufacturer's warranty, reports the Express.
A Range Rover Evoque (Image: UGC)
To add to Land Rover's woes, Abigayle later reveals in her video that the two other models at the bottom of the reliability chart also hail from the Jaguar Land Rover family.
She said: "Number two is shocking but not surprising, and I know that this is going to upset people because, for many, this is their dream car. It's the Range Rover Sport.
"And brace yourselves, folks – can you guess what took the number one position? I was totally expecting this one. Ta da! Sitting right at the pinnacle of unreliability is the Land Rover Discovery Sport."
The video has since gone viral, racking up more than 112,000 views and 1,700 likes, sparking a fierce debate amongst drivers on whether Jaguar Land Rover vehicles truly merited such a prominent spot on the list.
One disgruntled viewer shared their expensive ordeal: "A Discovery Sport blew up on me. Out of control, I had to pay for the new engine as it was a write off. £10,000!"
On the other hand, a satisfied customer countered with praise for their vehicle: "Range Rover Sport, five years [I've] had mine. [It] hasn't failed once, the most reliable motor I've had."

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Land Rovers and Jeeps growing bonnet heights ‘a clear threat to children'
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SUVs are a 'growing threat to public safety' and drivers can't see children as old as nine directly in front of them
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SUVs are a 'growing threat to public safety' and drivers can't see children as old as nine directly in front of them

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Call to cap car bonnet heights as SUVs present ‘growing threat to public safety'
Call to cap car bonnet heights as SUVs present ‘growing threat to public safety'

The Independent

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  • The Independent

Call to cap car bonnet heights as SUVs present ‘growing threat to public safety'

A limit on the height of car bonnets is needed as SUVs present a 'clear and growing threat to public safety', according to a new report. The think tank Transport & Environment (T&E) said UK drivers bought a disproportionately large amount of new cars with high bonnets compared with the European Union (EU). The study, which covered the UK, EU and Norway, called for the introduction of a ban on new vehicles with a bonnet height exceeding 85cm. Under the proposal, the restriction would be implemented in 2035 to give manufacturers time to adjust. The study found that the average bonnet height of new cars sold in the UK, EU and Norway had risen from 76.9cm in 2010 to 83.8cm in 2024. That was an average increase of half-a-centimetre each year. This coincided with the rapid growth of SUV sales. They accounted for a third of all new car registrations in the UK last year, compared with some 12% a decade earlier. SUVs are generally taller, wider and heavier than traditional cars, and less fuel-efficient. Many drivers favour their higher seating position. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) and Jeep account for all sales of vehicles in the UK, EU and Norway with bonnets exceeding one metre. The UK accounted for 39% of these transactions, despite just 15% of sales of all vehicles being made in the country. T&E accused JLR and Jeep of 'trading on the intimidation that comes with high-fronted vehicles (and) ignoring their related dangers'. Researchers found that in crashes, vehicles with high bonnets were more likely to strike the heads of children and adults' vital organs. Hitting pedestrians above their centre of gravity meant the person was more likely to be knocked under the car rather than pushed to the side, the report noted. Tests by Loughborough University School of Design found that drivers in the highest fronted vehicles could not see children as old as nine standing in front. The report stated: 'The rise in high-fronted SUVs poses a clear and growing threat to public safety, especially for children. 'With no benefit to society and mounting evidence of harm, it's time for lawmakers at all levels to act. 'Capping bonnet height is a simple, effective step to protect all road users and curb the spread of oversized vehicles. 'It is neither safe nor credible to let bonnet height continue rising.' JLR and Jeep were approached for a comment. Sadiq Khan to seek higher taxes and parking fees for SUVs.

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