The UK's most reliable car is the Honda Accord, according to the country’s biggest car reliability report.

A total of 77,000 drivers across the UK took part in the Which? survey to assess customer satisfaction. The survey based its results on breakdowns, faults and general niggles over a 12-month period.

Japanese cars fared particularly well with seven in the new car top 10. The Honda Accord at the top of the table proved to be the definition of hassle-free motoring.

Another Honda, the Jazz (98 per cent), was found to be an ultra-dependable supermini, and the Daihatsu Sirion, another sterling supermini, came third with 98 per cent.

The Hyundai i30, in fourth place with 97 per cent, showed that Korean cars are now a force to be reckoned with and Britain’s new best-seller, the Ford Fiesta, came a creditable fifth with 96 per cent.

Despite German cars' reputation for solidity, the Audi A5 was the least dependable new car surveyed, with a surprisingly low 76 per cent. This stylish coupé may have the looks but owners reported problems with its electrics.

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

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