
‘Most reliable' car brand on road dubbed an ‘indestructible tank' with 97% safety score is revealed by expert mechanic
These cars are highly-rated second-hand
A CAR mechanic has named one brand as the 'strongest' and 'most reliable' carmaker.
The mechanic said their cars are "built like tanks".
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A top mechanic has revealed that he believes cars made by Volvo are 'indestructible'.
He explained that their cars are "the safest to sit in."
The Swedish manufacturer is widely regarded for its tough designs and exceptionally high safety standards.
The mechanic, who goes by 'Indy', said that he believes Volvo is the most reliable brand choice among car companies.
Speaking on the MotorBodies YouTube channel, Indy added: 'There's one car that is indestructible. I mean it's not indestructible but it's built like a tank: Volvos.
"We had a BMW that collided with a Volvo, and even though the BMW was in absolute pieces the Volvo stayed strong.
"It's one of the reasons that the police use them.
'They are cars that can sustain large impacts but still stay strong.
"So remember, if you want a reliable car built like a tank, buy a Volvo.'
A signature feature of any Volvo is a high test score in European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) tests.
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In 2018, the widely-sold Volvo XC40 boasted a five-star safety rating, and a remarkable adult occupancy safety score of 97%.
Euro NCAP explained: 'The passenger compartment of the XC40 remained stable in the frontal offset test.
' Dummy readings showed good protection of all critical body areas apart from the lower leg of the passenger, protection of which was adequate.
'Volvo showed that good protection would be provided to the knees and femurs of occupants of different sizes and to those sitting in different positions.'
The XC40 was no exception to Volvo's strict safety rules, as the 2017 XC60 not only matched its five-star safety rating, but even surpassed its adult occupancy assessment, scoring an incredible 98%.
More recently, the brand's XC90 was the worthy winner of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's 'Top Safety Pick Plus' award last year.
These are the latest additions to Volvo's long legacy of excellent passenger protection, widely recognised by experts such as American mechanic Scotty Kilner.
He said: 'You've got front and rear disc brakes and airbags all over the place - Volvo were one of the biggest innovators in safety.
'They also sold enough of them that parts aren't a big deal these days. I can get parts from these things all over the place."
It's no surprise therefore that Volvo has been rated one of the best brands to buy used cars from.
Earlier this year, the used car background check provider CarVertical analysed car history checks on the top 20 manufacturers carried out last year to reveal which brands typically have the cleanest records.
Volvo ranked joint-second with Toyota, with both scoring an impressive 70% - beaten only by Honda with 72%.
However, at the bottom were a string of German brands - Audi (52%), Mercedes-Benz (59%), BMW (61%) and Volkswagen (62%).
Kia rounded out the bottom five (58%).
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Auto Car
13 minutes ago
- Auto Car
These are the ten best electric company cars available today
Close When looking for a new job, many drivers consider a company car as a must-have perk. Company cars can save employees money, and choosing an electric car brings a great reduction in benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax. Business users are taxed on a low percentage of the car's value, which can amount to significant annual tax savings. For the 2025/2026 tax year, this figure is just 3% for EVs, while petrol and diesel models come in significantly higher – up to 37%, in fact. In the modern world, EV drivers can also benefit from cheap home charging rates or even charge at the office, should their company offer it. There are many excellent electric company car options out there, with models from Volkswagen, Tesla, BMW and MG all proving popular with the British driving public. The Volkswagen ID 7 stands out as our premier choice, offering remarkable range, unparalleled comfort and excellent practicality, all at a highly affordable monthly cost. 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Inside, the ID 7 boasts comfortable seats, plenty of front and rear leg room and a vastly improved, 15in touchscreen infotainment system. It's generally very practical, as the saloon has 532 litres of boot space, compared with 605 litres in the estate. For 20% taxpayers, an ID 7 can cost as little as £25.20 a month, which doubles for 40% taxpayers. It's certainly a lot of car for the money. Read our Volkswagen ID 7 review 2. Porsche Taycan 9 Design 9 Interior 7 Performance 10 Ride & Handling 9 Costs 8 Pros Outstanding handling poise Sophisticated ride is now even better than before Improved range and DC charging speed Cons Quite heavy Four-seat practicality isn't as spacious as a full-size saloon Ingress and egress are a bit tight BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £47 Monthly BIK at 40%: £94 Porsche's electric saloon-cum-estate is by far and away the most premium option on our list, but that doesn't mean it will break the bank in terms of BIK. Both the saloon and estate-bodied Sport Turismo can cost as little as £47 per month as a company car. It's a surprisingly affordable way of getting behind the wheel of a premium model with a minimum of 435bhp. The Taycan's BIK cost will vary significantly depending on which car you want to choose, though. The Taycan Turbo S, with a mind-blowing 938bhp, will set you back almost twice as much as a regular Sport Turismo. You will need to choose carefully to maximise range too. The entry-level model has the longest range, at 421 miles, while the Turbo GT offers the least, at 344 miles. Read our Porsche Taycan review 3. Renault 5 9 Design 10 Interior 9 Performance 8 Ride & Handling 9 Costs 8 Pros Excellent ride-and-handling balance Excellent value for money Fantastic interior design Cons Disappointing cruising efficiency Rivals are quicker Occasionally noisy suspension BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £11.50 Monthly BIK at 40%: £23 The French firm's retro-styled electric hatchback is one of our favourite cars of 2025, and its all-round quality, plus its beneficial BIK bands, make it a great choice as a company car. It doesn't have the longest range on this list, but 252 miles should be enough for most drivers, especially those with shorter commutes in more urban and suburban areas. Comfort is a strong point with the Renault 5, even exceeding models priced far higher. Everything in the cabin is laid out intuitively, from the 10.3in infotainment system to the physical buttons that sit beneath. It's a nice place to sit and should keep you relaxed on your commute. 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For supercar speeds, look at the i4 M60 xDrive, which will whiz you from 0-62mph in 3.7sec. Range is good too, starting at 304 miles and rising as high as 334 miles. Of course, it's no diesel 3 Series, but it's enough for most commutes. If you do need to charge, you will be able to take advantage of a maximum charging speed of 205kW. For the cheapest i4, you will pay £25 per month in BIK if you're on a 20% salary or £50 if you're a 40% earner. For the high-powered M60, it's £35, which seems like a good deal to us. 7. Skoda Enyaq 8 Design 8 Interior 8 Performance 8 Ride & Handling 8 Costs 8 Pros Roomy, light, inviting interior Refinement at any speed is top-notch Very spacious Cons Disappointing economy Cars without adaptive dampers are a little too firm-riding Don't get your hopes up for a thrilling drive BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £19 Monthly BIK at 40%: £38 The Skoda Enyaq is a remarkably cheap company car option. 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Tesla Model Y 8 Design 7 Interior 8 Performance 9 Ride & Handling 7 Costs 8 Pros Sharper looks Powerful Very spacious Cons Sparse interior design with next to no physical controls Steering takes some getting used to Ride and handling are fine rather than standout BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £22.50 Monthly BIK at 40%: £45 Enjoyed by Uber drivers and businessmen alike, the Tesla Model Y was the best-selling electric car and the overall best-selling car in Europe in 2024. An update in 2025 modernised its exterior design and slightly improved comfort, and, thanks to its impressive efficiency and direct access to Tesla's Supercharger network, it's still one of the best EVs for company car users. The entry-level Model Y gets 311 miles of range, but the Long Range model ups this to a lofty 387 miles. It's also reasonably quick, hitting 0-62mph in 5.6sec. Switch to all-wheel drive and it will complete that same sprint in 5.5sec. Practicality is a particular strong point for the Model Y, with 854 litres of boot space in the back and 117 litres under the bonnet. Read our Tesla Model Y review 9. MG S5 EV 8 Design 8 Interior 9 Performance 8 Ride & Handling 8 Costs 8 Pros User interface is simple but effective Interior is practical, comfortable and quite materially appealing It's a C-SUV for a B-SUV price Cons ADAS tuning isn't as good as it might be No version will crack 300 miles in the real world BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £22.50 Monthly BIK at 40%: £45 Despite the busy segment the MG S5 EV finds itself in, the mid-sized crossover still manages to stand out against a slew of competent rivals. It's the Long Range car you will want to consider here. MG claims a range of 298 miles (or 211 miles in the less powerful Standard Range model). Our real-world tests returned an average of around 220 miles, which admittedly won't suit those with long commutes. It's quick, though. The S5 produces good usable performance from a single, rear-mounted electric motor, with 228bhp and 258lb ft on tap. That's enough to shift it from 0-62mph in a brisk 6.0sec. The real magic, though, is found on the inside. Top-spec Trophy cars get plush materials throughout, including a soft-touch dashboard, Alcantara and faux carbonfibre. Boot space comes in at 453 litres. There aren't many alternatives that can match the S5 for the price. 10. Kia EV3 8 Design 9 Interior 9 Performance 8 Ride & Handling 6 Costs 8 Pros Large battery for the class Excellent infotainment and usability Outstanding drivability and regen control Cons Awful ADAS Bland to drive Could be quicker BIK rate: 3% Monthly BIK tax at 20%: £16.50 Monthly BIK at 40%: £33 Kia's smallest electric car represents a great value option for company car customers, with costs as low as £16.50 per month. For that price, you will get a 58.3kWh battery with 270 miles of range. However, our pick is the larger 81.4kWh battery, which produces a far more competitive range of 375 miles. It will cost you £18 per month, or £38 on a 40% salary band. The EV3 is a supremely easy car to live with, with an intuitive user interface, crisp and clear infotainment and comfortable seats. There's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto too. Boot space is similarly competitive, with 460 litres available with the seats in their regular position or 1250 litres with them folded down. Add in a 25-litre storage space below the bonnet and you will be hard pressed to find a car more practical at such low cost. When choosing the best electric company car, you should consider the following: Costs Why it matters: company cars are available with all types of powertrains, but varying tax rates mean some are far cheaper to buy than others. Electric: EVs are by far the cheapest options for company cars. They previously only commanded a 1% BIK tax banding, but that has since increased to 3%. Size Why it matters: too small and you won't have enough space. Your car might not be suited to your job role, especially for those with big loads to carry. Larger vehicles can accommodate a higher number of passengers. For example, the Kia EV9 can seat up to seven people - and it benefits from low BIK bandings. Range Why it matters: if you have a long commute, you will want a car that can travel long distances reliably. Electric cars will have varying driving ranges depending on weather conditions, outside temperatures and your driving style. Also equipment, such as climate control and heatpumps, will drain battery charge. However, many are now comfortably capable of traveling in excess of 300 miles without needing a charge. When reviewing company cars, we evaluate them against a range of practical, technical and user-focused criteria, as well as considering their monthly costs using the UK government's benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax percentage rates. 1. Efficiency Efficiency is important in any car, but company car drivers often have long commutes and will hit high mileages. When reviewing cars, we compare real-world efficiency measurements with the WLTP figures that are made up of laboratory tests. All the cars on this list are broadly efficient and long-legged. 2. Interior comfort and space We measure leg room, head room and storage space. Cabin noise levels at motorway speeds and ride comfort on various road surfaces are also assessed. 3. Performance We evaluate acceleration, braking and cornering across city, suburban and motorway routes. Overall speed is not important in this review but acceleration is, due to real-world scenarios such as getting up to speed for a motorway. 4. Technology Infotainment systems are tested for ease of use, responsiveness and smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto). We evaluate ADAS features (adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, automated parking) to check if they have been configured to suit the UK's roads. 5. Build quality We inspect fit and finish, panel alignment and interior materials. We look and listen for any rattles, squeaks or cheap-feeling components that might annoy. 6. Practicality We assess ease of entry and exit, visibility, turning circle and parking aids. We also test features such as powered tailgates, storage compartments and child seat installation points (Isofix). 7. Ownership costs We review running costs, including benefit-in-kind tax rates and monthly costs, plus charging costs and speeds. Join our WhatsApp community and be the first to read about the latest news and reviews wowing the car world. Our community is the best, easiest and most direct place to tap into the minds of Autocar, and if you join you'll also be treated to unique WhatsApp content. You can leave at any time after joining - check our full privacy policy here. Next Prev In partnership with


Top Gear
3 hours ago
- Top Gear
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Auto Blog
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- Auto Blog
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