THE Honda Accord is the 99% car. And, judging by the responses of the owners of more than 84,000 cars, you would have to be unlucky to own an Accord and be in the 1% – when it broke down.

The car reliability report was compiled by Which? Car. It reported on breakdowns, faults and niggles to show which cars provide trouble-free driving – and which are more likely to be stranded on the hard shoulder or in the garage for repair

Japanese cars fared particularly well. There were seven cars in the new-car top 10.

The Honda Accord at the top of the table proved to be the very definition of hassle-free motoring, said Which? Car.

Another Honda, the Jazz (98%), was found to be an ultra-dependable supermini, as did the Daihatsu Sirion in third with 98%.

The Hyundai i30 claimed fourth place with 97%. Which? Car says this showed that Korean cars are now a force to be reckoned with.

Britain’s new bestseller, the Ford Fiesta, came fifth with 96%.

Despite German cars’ reputation for solidity, the Audi A5 was the least dependable new car surveyed, with a surprisingly low 76%. This stylish coupé may have the looks but owners reported significant problems with its electrics, said Which? Car.

Second from bottom of the table was the Ford Galaxy with a disappointing 76%, and the much-acclaimed Jaguar XF did little better with 78%. This is bad news for Jaguar as the XF fares even worse than the S-type (81%) which it has replaced.

Electrical systems, which are generally designed to make cars more efficient, reliable and comfortable, are one of the biggest problem areas identified in the survey.

Richard Headland, editor of Which? Car, commented:

“Owning a reliable car can make the difference between getting your summer holiday off to a flying start and sitting on the hard shoulder of the M6. You can’t do better than the Honda Accord, which is one of the most reliable cars we’ve ever surveyed

“Japanese cars in the main seem to run like clockwork, although there are a few exceptions to the rule. It’s also encouraging to see good reliability scores for the bestselling Ford Fiesta and other small, economical cars.”

The Which? Car Top 10 Reliable Cars
1 Honda Accord (2008-present)
2 Honda Jazz (2008-present)
3 Daihatsu Sirion (2005-present)
4 Hyundai i30 (2007-present)
5 Ford Fiesta (2008-present)
6 Honda Jazz (2002-2008)
7 Honda Civic Hybrid (2006-present)
8 Citroën C1 (2005-present)
9 Toyota Prius (2004-present)
10 Mazda 3 (2004-2008)