Toyota Corolla’s built between 2001 and 2007 are the UK’s most dependable family car, according to new research from Warranty Direct.

The results were taken from 30,000 of Warranty Direct’s policies and the Corolla had the smallest chance of break down at 7% each year on average.

The latest Warranty Direct study analysed three to five-year-old cars from the small family, family and MPV categories.

Honda’s Civic (’06-) and Accord (’02-’08) are also among the most dependable family vehicles, both with claim rates of 10%.

Used car buyers looking for a reliable family vehicle should also consider the Mazda 3 and another UK-built car, the Toyota Auris (’07-). The only European manufacturer to make Warranty Direct’s top 10 rundown is Peugeot, with its 308 – the majority hail from Japan. In contrast, no Asian manufacturers feature in the 10 least reliable vehicles.

At the other end of the scale, the Renault Espace (‘02-‘12) and Mercedes R-Class (’06-) were the most likely to break down.

Electrical issues and axle and suspension troubles cause the majority of claims, with the latter often a result of a collision with a pothole or other road defect.